Fire Words

James 3:6  The tongue is like a fire. It is a world of evil among the parts of our body. It spreads its evil through our whole body and starts a fire that influences all of life. It gets this fire from hell. 

Controlling the tongue is important to control the damage that it may cause.  The fire of  spoken evil words can spread through your whole body and damage others. The fire of the tongue is from hell. Hell is described as a place of flaming fire and a place of utter darkness and torment.  We do not want to go there. Jesus gave his life and took it up again on the third day to pay the price for the darkness in our souls. Come to Jesus and ask for forgiveness of your sins.  Instead of words to damage, we then shall speak good words, encouraging words of life.

Mat 15:18  But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 

Mat 15:19  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 

Mat 15:20  These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.” 

Psa 119:11  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

I remember a pastor who was helping with a building project. He was driving a nail with a hammer and he struck his finger. He responded "will someone say the appropriate words?"  Now that is restraint. I probably would have failed that test.  Lord help us all with our words. May we bless others and have no dark words to divide and make sad. Let us be a source of love and kindness. 

(Better put that hammer away?)

A Higher Purpose

How to be fruitful.

2Pe 1:3  His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 

2Pe 1:4  by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 

2Pe 1:5  For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 

2Pe 1:6  and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 

2Pe 1:7  and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 

2Pe 1:8  For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

2Pe 1:9  For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 

2Pe 1:10  Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 

2Pe 1:11  For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

In other words live your life as if Jesus were in control of it.  This is the goal of a Christian who has been given a new nature. Put off  sin and put on Christ Jesus.

Faith and Fear

Mar 4:37  And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 

Mar 4:38  And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 

Mar 4:39  And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 

Mar 4:40  And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 

Mar 4:41  And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? 

What was it that Jesus said to the disciples? "Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? " They knew that the wind and waves were strong enough to sink the ship. We would probably be fearful as well. They came to Jesus who was asleep on a pillow. How many find it hard to sleep because of fears and worries?  Jesus was at peace in the storm and he slept. Remember that Jesus was a man but he was also the son of God. He spoke "Peace be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Now the disciples had another kind of fear. They were sinful men in the presence of God.  Nothing could harm Jesus until he allowed it in the fullness of time. I suppose a cliche to remember is that we do not fear when we know that Jesus is in our boat. Our boat the housing of our eternal soul and spirit. In all that has come to bring me fear, I have found peace that comes because of faith in Jesus. He still calms the storms that come. My favorite verse has been:

John 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

God's Mirror

 

Hebrews 4:13  Nothing in all the world can be hidden from God. He can clearly see all things. Everything is open before him. And to him we must explain the way we have lived. 

God sees all but we often do not see things about ourselves, so God uses the Bible as a mirror so that we can see ourselves as He sees us, and correct our way of life. We repent, turn from the wrong way and come to Jesus.  God forgives our sins through Jesus, and he sees us as his son. We are hidden in Christ and accepted by God. The Bible shows us the way through Jesus and corrects our way of life by the Word of God and by His Spirit. James spoke to the believers who had come to Jesus that following our acceptance in Jesus, we have a new heart, and our lives should show this new life.

James 1:21  So get rid of everything evil in your lives—every kind of wrong you do. Be humble and accept God's teaching that is planted in your hearts. This teaching can save you. 

James 1:22  Do what God's teaching says; don't just listen and do nothing. When you only sit and listen, you are fooling yourselves. 

James 1:23  Hearing God's teaching and doing nothing is like looking at your face in the mirror 

James 1:24  and doing nothing about what you saw. You go away and immediately forget how bad you looked. 

James 1:25  But when you look into God's perfect law that sets people free, pay attention to it. If you do what it says, you will have God's blessing. Never just listen to his teaching and forget what you heard.

Only through Jesus do we have the power to live for him.

Seeing Light

Mar 4:21  Then Jesus said to them, "You don't take a lamp and hide it under a bowl or a bed, do you? Of course not. You put it on a lampstand. 

Mar 4:22  Everything that is hidden will be made clear. Every secret thing will be made known. 

The light of God's truth is not to be hidden. The truth reveals what is hidden and also the secret things.

Heb 4:12  God's word is alive and working. It is sharper than the sharpest sword and cuts all the way into us. It cuts deep to the place where the soul and the spirit are joined. God's word cuts to the center of our joints and our bones. It judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts. 

Heb 4:13  Nothing in all the world can be hidden from God. He can clearly see all things. Everything is open before him. And to him we must explain the way we have lived. 

Lord of the Flies

Exo 8:29  Then Moses said, “Behold, I am going out from you and I will plead with the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow. Only let not Pharaoh cheat again by not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.” 

Exo 8:30  So Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD. 

Exo 8:31  And the LORD did as Moses asked, and removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; not one remained. 

Exo 8:32  But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and did not let the people go. 

Each of the plagues given to Egypt were against the many gods that the Egyptians served.  Baalzebub is a reference to the lord of the flies, a god of the Philistines as seen in 2Kings.

2Ki 1:2  Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria, and lay sick; so he sent messengers, telling them, “Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this sickness.” 

2Ki 1:3  But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? 

The angel of the LORD was telling the prophet Elijah to redirect the messengers. Do not go to a demonic god, trust in the God of Israel. Whether you are healed or not is up to your God who is Lord of all life.

Beelzebub is mentioned again in the gospel of Matthew. Satan is referred to as being Beelzebub, the prince of demons.The lord of flies: Flies are nasty and pesky tormentors. The devil's demons are as that to the souls of people. Again the focus was on healing and by what power.

Mat 12:22  Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 

Mat 12:23  And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 

Mat 12:24  But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 

Mat 12:25  Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 

Mat 12:26  And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 

Mat 12:27  And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 

Mat 12:28  But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 

Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. In Egypt it was Jehovah who removed the flies and he worked through Jesus to drive out the demons and to heal.

Deu 10:17  For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. 

Rev 19:11  Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 

Rev 19:12  His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 

Rev 19:13  He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 

Rev 19:14  And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 

Rev 19:15  From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 

Rev 19:16  On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. 

Jesus is coming to earth again to defeat the enemies of God. Will we be as Pharaoh with a hardened heart towards the Lord of Lords? Come to Jesus who shed his blood to remove our sins and who is coming again to remove the evil. He is the Lord of eternal life. He is the Lord of lords.

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The Fruit of the Spirit

 

Gal 5:22  But the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person's life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

Gal 5:23  gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these kinds of things. 

Gal 5:24  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their sinful self. They have given up their old selfish feelings and the evil things they wanted to do. 

Gal 5:25  We get our new life from the Spirit, so we should follow the Spirit. 

Gal 5:26  We must not feel proud and boast about ourselves. We must not cause trouble for each other or be jealous of each other. 

The fruit of the Holy Spirit is listed above from the ERV, the Easy Read Version of the Bible. The words are simple and can be understood.  All the fruit of the spirit are from love; God's love for us and our love displayed. The word love, can be used casually and sentimentally to the point that it could become a fleeting emotion without substance. The word here used for love is from the Greek word agape. It is the kind of love that God has for us through Jesus. It is a sacrificial love, a giving love. The results of this love are listed: joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and faithfulness.  If you  walk in the fruit of the Spirit you will be a blessing to others.  If these things offend you, then you have gone too far into the madness of the world, where evil is counted as good and good is rejected as undesirable.  Grab hold of what is the love of God and be a blessing. Our nation needs the fruit of the spirit.

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Family of God

Mar 3:31  And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 

Mar 3:32  And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” 

Mar 3:33  And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 

Mar 3:34  And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 

Mar 3:35  For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

There is the natural family and there is the spiritual family.  Jesus identified more with the family of God then to his own flesh family. His brothers James and Jude did not believe in him until after his resurrection. The book of James and the book of Jude were written after they believed in their half brother whose father was God. Sometimes the natural family opposes the things of God. We are to love God more than the unbelieving family.

Luk 14:26  "If you come to me but will not leave your family, you cannot be my follower. You must love me more than your father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters—even more than your own life! 

Does this mean we are to disrespect our parents? No, we are to honor them.

Exo 20:12  “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. 

By being faithful to God, then you might save your natural family in him as well. Jesus is the entrance to God's eternal kingdom.  We should be thinking about the things of God. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and he will bless you and your family.

Mat 6:33  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 

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River of Blood

Exo 7:19  And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone. 

Exo 7:20  And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. 

Exo 7:21  And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. 

Exo 7:22  And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said. 

Exo 7:23  And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also. 

Exo 7:24  And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river. 

Exo 7:25  And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river. 

Satan tries to steal the glory of God.  The magicians of Egypt by the power of satan were able to turn water into blood as did Moses and Aaron.  They could do evil, but satan cannot do good miracles.  Where did the magicians find fresh water to make into blood? The Egyptians dug around the Nile in search of fresh water. The magicians turned this source of water into blood. How helpful was that?

We must be aware that satan is a copier of the things of God.  He is fake and what he does is never for good.  The best way to recognize what is not true is to study what is true. The whole word of God is truth. When something appears to be of God, put it to the test. Is it Biblical and what kind of fruit is being produced? Look beyond appearance, look deeper and test the spirit.

1Co 2:11  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 

Demon Witnesses

Mar 3:7  Jesus went away with his followers to the lake. A large crowd of people from Galilee followed them. 

Mar 3:8  Many also came from Judea, from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from the area across the Jordan River, and from the area around Tyre and Sidon. These people came because they heard about all that Jesus was doing. 

Mar 3:9  Jesus saw how many people there were, so he told his followers to get a small boat and make it ready for him. He wanted the boat so that the crowds of people could not push against him. 

Mar 3:10  He had healed many of them, so all the sick people were pushing toward him to touch him. 

Mar 3:11  Some people had evil spirits inside them. When the evil spirits saw Jesus, they bowed before him and shouted, "You are the Son of God!" 

Mar 3:12  But Jesus gave the spirits a strong warning not to tell anyone who he was. 

I see that Jesus could hardly move around because of his popularity. He gave the evil spirits a strong warning not to tell anyone who he was. No good can come from a demon witnessing.  

Now this is only my thoughts here.The word demon reminds me of the root word in demon strator?  We see demonstrators in the cities with looters and evil people out to tear down and destroy. Many are more like demon traitors, who mingle with the sincere ones. That was  what I was seeing.

The apostle Paul was followed around by a young woman who had a spirit of divination. At the least she was a distraction. He  was irritated with her for witnessing to others  that they were servants of the most high God.

Act 16:16  And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 

Act 16:17  The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. 

Act 16:18  And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. 

The masters of the soothsaying girl were not happy that the demon spirit was removed because she had made them wealthy with her words. Are not false teachers those with a bad spirit who use the word of God deceitfully? We are not to be taught by demons; no good will come of it. When a liar tells the truth, then the truth is suspect. We must be careful who we follow and examine the fruit of their labor. Do they seek to control you and put you into bondage?

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Prophecy : A ruined Dwelling Place

 

Mic 2:7  But people of Jacob, I must say these things. The LORD is losing his patience because of the bad things you did. If you lived right, I could say nice words to you. 

Mic 2:8  But you attack my people like enemies. You steal the clothes off the backs of people walking by. They think they are safe, but you are there to treat them like prisoners of war. 

Mic 2:9  You have taken nice houses away from the women of my people. You have taken my wealth away from their small children forever. 

Mic 2:10  Get up and leave! This will not be your place of rest, because you ruined it. You made it unclean, so it will be destroyed! It will be a terrible destruction! 

Mic 2:11  These people don't want to listen to me. But if a man comes telling lies, they will accept him. They would accept a false prophet if he comes and says, "There will be good times in the future, with plenty of wine and beer." 

This prophesy was given to Israel before the Assyrian invasion. It may well be applied to some of our large cities who are being governed poorly, making the citizens unsafe and insecure. Is the LORD loosing his patience? Do you see him warning us in the things that are happening? Come to Jesus, he will save you now.

Only Trust Him

2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 

2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 

Being United

 

Gal 3:26  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 

Gal 3:27  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 

Gal 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 

We are all become one in Christ. We are become spiritual creations, the children of God.  You can see how well this worked with Christian America?  By being one people in God we are better citizens and more united in the United States of America.  Communism, under the title of socialism seeks to divide people by their differences and pit them against one another. They say they seek diversity, but really their goal is to remove the cultural values founded on the idea of a society that believes in the God of the Bible. They want big government in control of everything.  They seek to remove our guns and to weaken and remove the police. There would then be a government controlled "Gestapo", that will seek to remove the undesirables, the deplorable's. They will come after the people of God.  Is this going to happen?  Not if we can help it. Let us be united in the founding values of our nation. In God We Trust, together and forever.

When Suffering Comes

Today is 911, and as we remember that date in 2001, many were killed and many suffered unjustly. I am sure that God was there giving grace to the innocent. Even atheists call out to God when there is tragedy.

 1Pe 2:19  For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 

1Pe 2:20  For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 

1Pe 2:21  For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 

1Pe 2:22  He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 

1Pe 2:23  When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 

In every life there will be a time of suffering. In the context of these scriptures there is more grace given when we suffer unjustly.  If we receive punishment for wrong doing, there is no credit.  God is very familiar with suffering, for His son suffered the most excruciating pain at the hands of demonic men. He suffered for us; can we suffer for him, giving all glory to our Lord to the very end? In our weakness he gives more grace.

LORD God if I forget to thank you and praise you in the midst of suffering and in my final days in this life I want you to know that you are my great hope, I love you and delight in you and thank you for this life and I am so grateful to be with Jesus in eternity. His suffering and blood paid for my salvation and he has made me acceptable by his grace. Thank you so much for choosing me.

The Law of the LORD

 

Psa 19:7  The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; 

Psa 19:8  the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; 

Psa 19:9  the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. 

Psa 19:10  More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 

Psa 19:11  Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 

Psa 19:12  Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. 

Psa 19:13  Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. 

Psa 19:14  Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. 

Everything about the LORD is perfect. His law is perfect and Jesus kept the law perfectly. In Christ Jesus we are free from the penalty of not keeping the laws perfectly. I thank the LORD for this and I want to be like Jesus so I do seek to obey him in all things. We need the laws of God to bring order in a nation and because our nation has removed them from schools and public life we are reaping the results. Where there is no law there is rebellion, chaos and destruction. Their values are not our values.

Gal 3:24  So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 

Gal 3:25  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 

Gal 3:26  for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 

So, an important step to receiving Christ Jesus is an understanding of the law. The law gives boundaries and shows the right way to live. Oh how we need this in our schools and our nation. People are happier when they know right from wrong. They respect authority and try to get along with others.

Mat 5:9  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 

Justified

Gal 2:16  yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. 

Gal 2:20  I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 
Gal 2:21  I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. 

The world needs Jesus. Through faith in Jesus we receive grace and salvation. We are saved from hell and justified, declared not guilty of our sins. Galatians is the book of grace, God's unearned favor, by faith in Jesus Christ.

My first book to teach from was Galatians. The former teacher was a truck driver and he was called away, so I was given his position to continue teaching at our church. The year was 1981. Rodger is a kind hearted Vietnam vet, who  just pitched in and helped wherever he was needed. He definitely has the gift of helps. When he taught Galatians he repeated over and over that Galatians was about grace.  Only in the sacrifice of Jesus do we receive justification and enter into God's eternal life.  Apart from grace we are judged by the law and just one sin can keep you from heaven. The world needs Jesus, our nation needs Jesus, we all need Jesus and his grace.

Tempted

Mar 1:12  The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 
Mar 1:13  And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. 

This is the shortest version of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. Jesus was tempted by the devil, he was exposed to wild animals, and at the end he was ministered to by good angels. Satan has his fallen angels, demons that oppose us too. He may use wild animals and out of control mobs against the people of God but Jesus is greater, his Father is greater and the angels minister to the people of God.

Heb 1:13  And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? 
Heb 1:14  Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? 

God does not tempt us, but he may test us. Fallen human nature can be tempted.

Jas 1:13  Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 
Jas 1:14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 

For the Christians God has promised that we may escape temptation and trials.

1Co 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 
1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 
1Co 10:14  Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. 

God cannot be tempted. The Son of God had no sin, but we have sins and are being tempted in our thoughts and from the world and the devil's demons. God has promised that we may escape temptation.  It is important to fill our minds and hearts with the word of God. Jesus overcame the devil by speaking the word of God.

Jas 4:6  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 
Jas 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 
Jas 4:8  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 

It is so sad to hear of leaders in the faith who have fallen because of temptations. We must pray that God's people and our nation be faithful to God and receive his protection. LORD have mercy.

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Sack Cloth

Mar 1:4  John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 
Mar 1:5  And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 
Mar 1:6  Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.

In Bible times when people repented, they wore sack cloth that was made from goat hair.  John was wearing repentance garments when he baptized others to prepare them to meet the Messiah. He was called of God and God fed him naturally until his ministry was over. Jesus highly regarded John.  When Messiah Jesus died and had paid for all sins of those who believe in him, I believe that John received the good news and was ushered up to Paradise with the saints.  

I remember seeing sacks filled with flour or grain that were of colorful patterns. During the depression people used the sacks to make their clothes. Girls wore sack cloth dresses and boys wore sack cloth shirts. My mom would make herself dresses from sack cloth.

 My Jeans were handed down from two older brothers. Some had holes in the knees, that made me feel kind of ashamed.  Now this is how they come new.  Another sign of a crazy mixed up world. There are a lot more choices now in clothing. Perhaps the holes in Jeans is a reminder of those who worked and sacrificed to bring us a better life, maybe? Think so? May we love one another and repent of sins, and believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, so that we will be in God's family forever.

Pleasing People

Gal 1:10  Now do you think I am trying to make people accept me? No, God is the one I am trying to please. Am I trying to please people? If I wanted to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. 

Whether we please people or not when sharing the Bible depends on whether or not we speak the truth in an understandable way. If we are excited about something, we tend to make others interested or at least curious about why we are excited. If I share that Jesus came from heaven to save us from satan's power and to give us eternal life, I speak the truth and what good news that is. If we want to tickle ears and be popular telling people what they want to hear, then we may be speaking another truth, another gospel, which is not the truth. If we love God and humans too, we need to be honest and transparent. If by doing this we make friends and perhaps share a cup of coffee, then that is a good thing; we all want to be liked. If people are forgiven their sins, then we please God too.

Luke 19:10  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. 

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Repentance and Mercy

Jer 18:7  If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, 
Jer 18:8  and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. 

There is no better illustration of these words than the people of Nineveh who repented after Jonah spoke of their destruction.

Jon 3:4  Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 
Jon 3:5  And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. 

One man, Jonah the reluctant prophet, when he finally obeyed God, brought a nation to their knees and they showed repentance; sackcloth and ashes even covering their animals with sackcloth showing their humbling before God and God spared them. Oh that our nation would all seek God in true humility. 

The LORD spoke to Solomon at the height of his power, at the completion of the Temple in Jerusalem.What God builds, he can take down. May we find favor with God.

2Ch 7:14  if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

 Jonah hated the cruel people of Nineveh, nevertheless he obeyed God.  Obeying God brought about a miracle. We are not to run from God, but to be still, listen and obey him. He can use us to do the impossible. With God all things are possible.

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Obey God and choose life

The Children of Israel prospered in Egypt until a new king saw them as a threat.  Their population had greatly increased and they had not interbred with the Egyptians. The Hebrew midwives were ordered to kill all male babies of the Hebrews. By killing the male children a generation would be weakened. The devil was involved because he did not know when the Messiah would be born and as the days of Herod all male babies were a threat. 

Exo 1:16  And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. 
Exo 1:17  But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. 
Exo 1:18  And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive? 
Exo 1:19  And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them. 
Exo 1:20  Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. 

Two things I see right off; they told a lie to save lives and they obeyed God over the commands of government authority. If evil replaces that which is good, we obey God. 

When women's "rights" mean they can kill their babies, then God says no. When government is promoting the killing of infants in and out of the womb, we need to obey God and not man. If a nation promotes their version of what is right and wrong, we must fear and obey God.  Now is the time to study the Bible and put it in your heart, for a time is coming that the people of God will be called the enemy and their Bibles will be called evil.

John 3:19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 
John 3:20  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 
John 3:21  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

May we stay in the light of God's word and stand up for what he says is good and right. Our nation is in a spiritual battle that is being fought in our cities and streets where violence and hate are seen as the right thing and our "one nation under God" motto is seen as the enemy. We have the good news, let it be heard and keep the faith. May we remain a blessed nation.

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