My dear friends. This is not the normal kind of post that I put on this site. However, I think that there are some forces working underhandedly in the world. These forces would strip us of our Christian rights to worship and also to possess a Holy Bible. They know that a straight out attack on Christianity has never worked in the past, and have moved to more subtle approaches. One of which is a progressive warming of the waters to a slow boil. If you have heard of the analogy that a frog will jump from a boiling pot of water, but he will stay an die in a pot that is slowly heated until it boils him alive. This is the tactic I am speaking of. The changing of a definition. Making it unbinding so no one will care how it is worded. Then later accept the poorly written definition as an accepted policy. Now make the policy a law. This is what is happening right before your eyes.
There is a bill that is silently making its way through Congress. It has already passed the House of Representatives and is awaiting its vote in the Senate. If this bill is passed, it will potentially change the face of Christianity in the US and consequently in the world. This has been a slow multistep progression to silence Christianity in the US and to make the Bible illegal in the US. It made a non-binding definition that was made in Bucharest, Romania a policy of the US State Department. Now this legislation will arm the federal government against Christians in the US.
HR 6090 “Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023” made the State Departments “Defining of Antisemitism” policy, which is based on the Bucharest, May 2016, unbinding definition of antisemitism, into a criminal offense. This is declared in Sec. 4 Definitions of ZHR 6090. Where it reads,
“For purposes of this Act, the term “definition of antisemitism”—
(1) means the definition of antisemitism adopted on May 26, 2016, by the IHRA, of which the United States is a member, which definition has been adopted by the Department of State; and
I am not anti-Semitic, and I think that the Jews should be free of oppression, and allowed to live free of harm, just like any other people. I believe that God has not abandoned them and that he is working actively in the life of Israel to restore his people and blesses those who bless them, and curses those who curse them. However, in this referred to definition, the US Congress makes Christians into criminals, and so opens the door for corporate persecution of Christians in the US and in the world.
The referred to definition in HR 6090 is the one adopted by the US State Department that includes the following line in it’s definition.
Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis. (US Department of State) Defining Antisemitism https://www.state.gov/defining-antisemitism/)
That would make such scripture and the preaching here on a hate crime. This sharing or maybe even just having a Bible that reads the following from Acts and 1 Thessalonians could put you in danger of the government.
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. (Acts 4:10).
For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: (1 Thessalonians 2:14-15).
I know that there are some Arians who use these verses to bring violence against the Jewish people. It is wrong and should be stood up against. However, this bill and definition also says that the Jewish people should not be held accountable for the actions of one or even a few Jewish people or activists, so the Christians should not be held accountable for a few cultic followers or activists.
The thing about this bill is that in it’s definition, it refers to a definition that is outside of the bill itself. It is even a definition that is not under the scrutiny of any US legislation. So as the international community may change the definition, the definition would automatically be changed in the US legal system. How foolish is this? On the face this legislation is something that most lawmakers would want to sign their name to. Who wouldn’t want to be associated with a bill that stands up for the oppressed and the needy, the wrongly accused through history. Every Jewish and Christian legislature would love to have their name on this document. However, would they have done the homework and looked at the source of the definition, then the Christian representative would have seen that in voting for this, they vote away their own freedom of religion, and the freedom of speech would be stripped from every pulpit in America.
I say that if such a bill is to be passed there should be some changes first. (1) The applicable definition should be fully defined within the bill itself, and not refer to an outside document, especial not an international document. (2) Provisions should be given to protect other religious texts and speech that also allow protection for the Jewish community.
Please contact your US Senator to at least have them do the research into the definition of the bill and to see it they would still support such a piece of legislation. There are ways to protect the Jewish members of our society against Antisemitism without criminalizing other religious groups. I just do not fee this bill is what it claims itself to be.
Once again I believe and affirm that the descendants of Abraham, Issac, Jacob, and King David are the blessed and chosen people of God, and that they should be protected.
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 12:3)
Let us find a good way to bless the people of God. Let us help Israel have true peace. Pray for the peace of Israel. Stand in defense of Israel. Share the hope in Jesus Christ with Israel.
The name Timothy is found two different ways in the New Testament. Timothy is found 7 times in the bible. Timotheus is found 17 times in the scripture. Listed below are the references I have found. In them you can see how instrumental Timothy was in the establishment of the church. He had the distinct pleasure of being associated with many charter ministers of the church. His fellowship includes, Paul, Silas, Erastus and many other founders. He is seen in Ephesus, Philippi, Corinth and many places in Macedonia.
[1] Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:
Acts.17
[14] And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.
[15] And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.
Acts.18
[5] And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
Acts.19
[22] So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
Acts.20
[4] And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.
Rom.16
[21] Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.
1Cor.4
[17] For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
1Cor.16
[10] Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.
2Cor.1
[19] For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.
Phil.1
[1] Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
Phil.2
[19] But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
Col.1
[1] Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
1Thes.1
[1] Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1Thes.3
[2] And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
[6] But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
2Thes.1
[1] Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Timothy Found:
2Cor.1
[1] Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:
1Tim.1
[2] Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
[18] This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
1Tim.6
[20] O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
2Tim.1
[2] To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Phlm.1
[1] Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
Heb.13
[23] Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
Timothy was one of Paul’s ministry team members. Paul had originally met Timothy and Timothy’s mother and grandmother in Lystra. Timothy was a half Jew and half Greek. His family overall was well spoken of in the region (Acts 16:1-3). Paul took Timothy with him on his journeys and circumcised Timothy because of the common knowledge of his father being Greek. So Paul circumcised him for his Jewish heritage from his mother’s side. This allowed Timothy to go places where normally a Greek could not enter.
Scripture tells us that together, Timothy and Paul would go from church to church throughout the region and pass along the decrees that were ordained by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. Eventually Paul developed Timothy into a mature disciple and evangelist. He soon confidently sent him on mission to different areas to act on Paul’s behalf and to establish and encourage churches in proper doctrine. Paul recognized that Timothy had exceptional character and an acute understanding of scripture for his age. When a church needed strength and encouragement in the face of persecution, Paul sent Timothy. When a church needed an example of godliness, Paul sent them Timothy. When Paul wrote letters of correction to churches, he included Timothy’s name next to his.
Paul even sent Timothy to the church in Ephesus to restore the proper teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ after some false teachers had corrupted the original teachings. This letter was sent to Timothy, from Paul, at Ephesus to give him guidance on how he should fulfill his mission. Tradition says this letter was written from Laodicea. This letter is effectively a leadership manual. I Timothy opens and closes with the commission of Timothy and has two sections that have instructions for the young pastor to aid him with the issues he will face. There are also 3 poems that exalt Jesus as the risen savior and King of the world.
1 Timothy is written to give Timothy encouragement in fighting the good fight. (1:18). He is warned against false doctrines and encouraged in the Grace of God. Then the Letter turns to the instruction of how the church should conduct themselves. It is always easier for a new manager to come in with an official letter of policy from his higher ups, then to come in and try to create policy on his own. So this letter establishes Timothies authority and the policies of the conduct of church members according to Paul who appointed him. The letter concerns with worship in the church to include prayer and the effective role of women in the church. Then it gives instructions on church leadership and the qualifications of the offices of the church. This all sets the foundation for the next part of the letter on the dangers to the church. Paul gives warning signs of the lurking dangers, and gives the proper defenses with which the church deploy. Part of this is how we should act with regard to one another. How we treat the elders, widows, and the younger alike. Then we see how we treat those around us in society, how we are to react in civil society and how we treat our masters and servants. Paul even goes further to tell us what the proper attitudes of a believer are towards False Teachers, Money, and Godliness. Then Paul gives one more encouragement to keep to the good doctrines that he has been entrusted with and to not be distracted by worthless pursuits into philosophy, false sciences, of other religious teachings.
Not so long ago I was talking to my wife in our dining room. We had a guest over who had dropped by and were enjoying one another’s company. I had finished whatever I was snacking on and went to discard the trash into the waste basket. Seeing the trash can reminded me of something that had occurred earlier in the day. I decided that I would share it with my wife. I told her that someone had given me a free study bible, but that I didn’t recognize the name of it. So I went online and tried to find out as much as I could about the bible. The bible was recently released in 1985 and it was reportedly a bible that was to have been translated from the original Greek and Hebrew texts. I told my wife upon discovering this information I promptly through the book away. This was of no surprise to her, but to our guest… well you should have seen the look on her face.
I told her that that was not the bible, despite what the cover may have said. The number one clue is that is says that it is translated from the original Hebrew and Greek, yet the sight did not say if it was the Messianic and Received Text or the Septuagint. In fact is was very difficult to find anything on the translation or transliteration of the text of this version of the Bible. This would indicate that either the publisher or the authors were ignorant or lying. It did indicate that it was in a modern English version and therefore easier to read. That would incline my thoughts that it was a transliteration, or paraphrased bible, as many are today. This is the main argument that most new bible versions make. The original translation and all before this one, were not quite accurate. They were unreadable do to ancient English words, and their new version is more easily understood and more accurate to the intent of the original texts… of which do not exist.
Some arguments just do not make sense. What I am talking about is that many people have come to the belief that the King James Bible was written in Old English and is harder to understand than modern versions. I believe that this is just because the lie has been told so many times, that it has become accepted as the truth. Unfortunately, the truth is not even sought after. The truth is that the King James bible is written in modern English. Here is an example, below it the Lord’s Payer (Our Father), which is something that most all of us are familiar with from the King James version of the Bible.
The Lord’s Prayer King James Version (KJV)
9 Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
The same thing if written in Old English would appear as:
Example of Old English
The Lord’s Prayer (Our Father)
Fæder ure ðu ðe eart on heofenum si ðin nama gehalgod to-becume ðin rice geweorþe ðin willa on eorðan swa swa on heofenum. Urne ge dæghwamlican hlaf syle us to-deag and forgyf us ure gyltas swa swa we forgifaþ urum gyltendum ane ne gelæde ðu us on costnunge ac alys us of yfle.
I think that it is relatively easy to see the difference in the King James Version and the Old English version. The King James is clearly written in modern English and is quite understandable in its delivery of the subject and the matter of prayer. With a little work on ones English vocabulary, using a modern dictionary, we would have no difficulty in knowing the definition of any word we could not readily understand. This is because the words are immediately identifiable in modern English.
Now to look at another point. Are the “latest and greatest” versions of the bible easier to understand than the English of the King James version? Well, let us take a look at just one verse. Psalms 12:6 is a great verse to consider. The reason why is that if we believe that the bible is the inspired word of God and is therefore complete and authoritative then we should pay attention to this verse. In the King James which comes from the Hebrew Masoretic Text and the Greek Textus Receptus which was used by the earliest Christians, it reads as follows.
The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. – Psalms 12:6 KJV
We believe this, correct? The words of the LORD (Jehovah) are pure. They have been tried in a furnace like silver is. They have been done so seven times, meaning that they are completely pure, and therefore do not need to be corrected by man. Is that what we believe? Well, let us take a look at this same verse in The Message Bible. Let us see how they have improved the text and made it easier to understand.
God’s words are pure words, Pure silver words refined seven times In the fires of his word-kiln, Pure on earth as well as in heaven. -Psalm 12:6 MSG
Let us look at the obvious first. How many of you know what a word-kiln is? How many have even heard of such a thing? Is this just some made up word to make the word furnace easier to understand? I mean a furnace seems like a good word to put an image in your mind of a something that is extremely hot and used to purify precious metals in. But the word-kiln? Well, there is a reason for your not understanding. It is a made up word that is a variation of an Old English word.
There is no word-kiln that I could find. But there is a kiln and it is an Old English word which means an oven, or furnace. It has it’s origins from the Latin “culina” meaning “kitchen”. So, in making the bible more understandable to modern Christians he changed the wording to a language that no one has spoken since around A.D. 1150. Well maybe it was just this one thing in this translation, after all many of the original translators from the Masoretic texts had to revise their version as they grew in knowledge of Greek and Hebrew. It would be possible except it is not a translation of the Hebrew and Greek texts at all.
Now if you read the publishers advertisements on this bible version, you will see things like “translation from the original languages” that “accurately communicates the original Hebrew and Greek”, and other such claims. However, the author did not set out to make a more accurate translation of the bible. Instead he noted, “his congregation was bored with the Biblical text as they knew it, and so, in order to stimulate them, he wrote a paraphrase”. (http://www.bible-researcher.com/themessage.html)
This is quite a difference from having a bible in your hand that you can believe is the authoritative word of God. Instead you have the opinion of a man, who may have done some light translations, but then added to that his own meaning, in order to liven up the text. He was just trying to help God out, because it appears that God, in his infinite wisdom, had obviously fallen short in reaching his congregation. I don’t know how the devil talks to such men to pervert the very text they claim to believe in. But he is not the only one who has been mislead by men and devil. It is clear in this referenced verse that his paraphrase of the verse has changed the meaning of the verse altogether. In the Messianic Text version (KJV) God says that his words are completely pure, while in the MSG paraphrase it says that Gods words are pure silver words. This takes away the everlasting context from the Word of God. In other words… LOL the Word of God may have been good and relevant at the time God gave them, but not so much today, or in our current circumstance. This is a dangerous, humanistic point of view. Still not convinced? Here is another one of many:
Romans 9:27-28 (KJV)
27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: 28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
Compared to the same verses in The Message Bible.
Romans -:27-28 (MSG)
27 Isaiah maintained this same emphasis: If each grain of sand on the seashore were numbered and the sum labeled “chosen of God,” They’d be numbers still, not names; salvation comes by personal selection. 28 God doesn’t count us; he calls us by name. Arithmetic is not his focus.
Well… do I need to go into this one? OK, I will just to see if you see the same things that I see. In the first verse there is passion in the heart of Isaiah (Esaias). He is crying and pleading for Israel. In the KJV we see that Isaiah is warning Israel that not everyone who is a citizen of Israel with be saved. No matter how many there are, only a small fragment will be saved. Because God is just and he will complete his work of righteousness, no matter they are prepared or not. This is quite a different view of the text given by the MSG, whose main concern seems to be with arithmetic. While it is still true that God call us all individually, it is of more concern that God can call a nation, and still not save the entirety of a nation. There you see that the paraphrase version once again missed the meaning of the verse and stripped God of his authority to judge in righteousness.
This is only one of many new versions of the bible that are out there. They all have these smooth-talking words that sound good and great, but they totally miss the meaning of the text and the character of God. What is worse is the subconscious effect on how we see the authority of God. I cannot tell you how many times, as a preacher, that someone has come up to me and asked, what version should I read? I tell them there is only one Bible, the rest are impersonators. This one we were able to debunk in an easy textual criticism and research with a quick google on the authorship of the version. Other versions we have to go deeper into the authorship, the texts, and the political climate, and financial reasoning for their releases.
If you ask me which English version of the bible to use, I will always say to use the oldest and most reliable version that has been around for over 400 years and who the devil has been trying to discredit and burn since before it’s inception, the King James, Authorized Version of the Holy Bible.
Many of us are facing great distress in these days. COVID has taken loved ones from us, or they are currently fighting against this virus and it’s ravaging effects on our loved one, maybe upon you. I know of one young lady who was perfectly health and then contracted this virus. Although she survived the virus, it made devastating changes in her health. Causing her blood to thicken and as a result she has suffered a debilitating stroke.
Some of use not only are dealing with these types of things, but we have also lost confidence in our government and our sources of information in the media. It seems that every report from the government, and the media, contradicts the last thing that we have heard. The only thing we know for sure is that the government is powerless to confront this virus and to protect it’s citizenry from it.
Meanwhile, the other troubles of life continue at an alarming pace. We have lost loved ones, not only to COVID and it’s related effects, but to cancer, heart decease, and other chronic conditions. We may have had more personal disasters like loss of employment, loss of transportation, and loss of a place to lay our heads at night. The times we are living in seem to compound these issues and have taken a toll on our families.
Some of us have had to separate from our loved ones, not only do to isolation and death, but in divorce. We are dealing with emotions of loss, betrayal, and frustration. It seems that we have no recourse or no place to turn to for help. We feel as if the whole world is against us, and that God is nowhere to be found. My heart breaks as I look out of my window and see all the things that are working to tear us apart. These troubles make us feel overwhelmed and defeated.
If this is the way you feel, then I encourage you to read Psalm 56. In this Psalm, that is connected to David when he was seized by the Philistines in Gath (possibly in 1 Samuel 21). This Psalm is described as a lament with a strong emphasis that confesses trust in God.
Now David was under great distress. We know this because he mentions, “he fighting daily oppreseth me”, “Mine enemies would daily swallow me up”, and “they wait for my soul”. Is this the way that you are feeling? Do you feel like you are just being swallowed up with everything that is going on around you? Are you falling into a deep pit like David is here in this Psalm? If so, then please continue with me as we see how David handled these powerful emotions of vulnerability and loneliness. For in this plea of David to the Most High we can see that David has not lost his hope. David despite the loss of everything he had, and despite the father of his best friend and his one-time mentor desired to kill him with all the resources and reaches of king. A king who hunted David so hard that he went to his enemies for a place to hide. This desperate man, turned to the one who he knew he could trust.
David began, “Be merciful unto me, O God”. David sought the mercy of God. David understood that God is the one who could turn events around. He also knew that if God chose to do nothing, that God was still God. David needed for God to look at him and his situation. David understood that God can change his predicament. This shows that David trusted God that if he would listen to his pleas, that God would be faithful and deliver him. So, he sought the mercies of God. He explained to God why he needed his aid. David was surrounded and had no place to hide from his enemies. There was no one that he could trust.
David said, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” What an amazing thing to say to God. Notice that he did not blame God. David did not ask God, “Where are you?” Instead, David told God I seek you because I am afraid, and I know that anytime I have been afraid, I have sought you. I seek you God because I know you have mercies that are revived daily. The David goes even further. David tells God that I will praise you in your word. David has trust in the word of the Lord. What God has said he will fulfill. David says these things, “In God I will praise…”, “I will trust in thee”, “I have put my trust in thee”, “I will not fear what flesh may do to me”, and “this I know; God is for me”.
So here we see a proper response in our time of distress.
Understand the Lord is sovereign
Seek the Lord’s mercy
Praise the Lord in his Word
Put your full trust in the Lord, not men
Have confidence that when you cry, the Lord hears you
Know this… God is for you (you are his child)
Know this… God honors his Word (he is faithful)
Know this… God keeps his Vows (his word is he bond)
Remember that God delivered you from death
Remember that God keeps us from failing, because he desires us to walk with him. (You are important to God)
What an amazing God we serve in faith. We trust him because in our past he has proven himself to be trustworthy – even when were not. He loves us with an unconditional and unfailing love. God commended his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. He did this so that anyone who believes in him (Jesus), they can have eternal life. No earning it, no trying to justify why you should deserve it. No, not one single thing other than believing that Jesus is the Son of God and the one who bore our sin upon his back and dies in our place on the cross at calvary. Believing that Jesus is the Lamb of God who was sacrificed to justify the forgiveness of your sin is what God has said, and that he is faithful to his Word.
Scripture tells us the God is love. We know this because it is God who laid down his own life for us. Now knowing this, that we believe in Jesus and trust in God, we know that God loves us. Therefore, since God is love and he loves us then we should not walk in fear. We know that we can trust him in ever situation we find ourselves in. David put it this way, in this Psalm, “When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know’ for God is for me.” We, who are believers on Jesus Christ, can say the same thing in confidence. “When I cry to God, I know that he will defend me.”
Therefore, in our distress, we can cry to the Lord and give thanks and praise to the one who delivers us out of all our miseries. We can have joy knowing that he is our defender and our shield. Isaiah wrote, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when though walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” (Isaiah 43:2) Now isn’t that promise a reason for praise?
The name Nehemiah means Comforted of Jehovah. As we read through the book of Nehemiah we can surely see how God was the only comfort for Nehemiah. He faced insurmountable odds of completing such an enormous task. God shows through Nehemiah that what ever tasks he sets us to, that he will be faithful to equip, defend, and enable us to the completion his ordained will, and for the glory of his name. God will leave or abandon us, and God remains faithful to his promises. He is a God who redeems and sanctifies.
The book of Ezra told of the events of the Jews return to their homeland after their exile to Babylon, for seeking other gods. From Ezra we heard about the near 50,000 former captives that had returned to Palestine. We also see Ezra’s struggles in rebuilding the Temple and the great efforts of Ezra to re-educate the Jews on their Hebrew ancestry and the Law of Moses.
The book of Nehemiah continues this story with Nehemiah receiving grave news concerning the state of things in Jerusalem. In this continuation of the saga of the restoration of Israel we see the providence of God, and the intricacy of his planning. God has positioned Nehemiah in a position that gives him access and favor of King Artaxerxes. We also are given a proper manor in which we should deal with situations of great distress that are out of our hands.
Nehemiah has received word that the city and survivors in Jerusalem are, “in great affliction and reproach.” In addition, Nehemiah is told that the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and the gates lay destroyed by fire. This leaves the city defenseless to bands of marauders and enemies of the Jews. There is no sense of cohesion, nor security from within or without. In learning of these things, Nehemiah weeps and mourns in fasting and prayer for days. He pleads with God for mercy and confesses the sins of his nation. He reminds God of his promise to restore Israel if they repented and returned to keep his commandments. Then Nehemiah calls to the Lord that he knows that the Lord has indeed redeemed his people by his great power and his strong hand, and that abandoning his children after delivering them is not in his nature. Then we see that God opens the door for Nehemiah to come to Jerusalem with the blessings of King Artaxerxes, and with the full authority of the king and his protections to rebuild the city of Jerusalem.
In this exchange we see that Nehemiah not only wept, confessed sin, and sought the Lord before he did anything else, but in the waiting on the Lord, Nehemiah also made plans and preparations for when the Lord would answer him. Oh, what a model of faith we see in Nehemiah. This is the constant pattern we see in the book of Nehemiah. We should take note of this faith and responsibility to God that Nehemiah demonstrates. For every obstacle that presented itself in attempts to thwart Nehemiah’s rebuilding of the wall and the re-education of the Jews towards their heritage and the Law of Moses was met with prayer and seeking of God first. God answered Nehemiah faithfully with resources, protections, and wisdom.
Jewish tradition tells us that Nehemiah is the author of this book. There is such detail and firsthand knowledge concerning the events which took place in this volume that leads to Nehemiah as the author of this chronicle. There is not knowledge of the life of Nehemiah prior to this event. However, we can ascertain that he was raised in teachings and study of the scriptures. We can also see that since he was the cup bearer to the king, he must have been a man of integrity. King Artaxerxes himself must have been very familiar with Nehemiah’s character and attitudes, because he noticed a change in Nehemiah’s demeanor. In addition, Nehemiah was a very trusted servant who was given the authority of the king as his Governor over Palestine. How great a witness we could have if we, as Christians walked in the integrity of the Lord, and in whom was no reproach found from our secular authorities appointed over us. For it is God who appoints kings of nations, not men.
Nehemiah shows us the importance of living a godly life, in a secular work environment. Nehemiah was not a priest, nor was he some great prophet. He was a single man, who feared God, loved his people, and endured many hardships. God uses people from all corners of life, and every kind of careers. Surely each one of our secular jobs is a mission field that the Lord has appointed us to. Give thanks to the Lord for where you are today and plan for where he leads you tomorrow.
There has been a slow change to Christianity over the decades since the 50s. Much of this is due to the initiation of humanistic philosophies, introduced by the acceptance of Eastern Religious thought, into society, higher educational facilities, and the church compiled with a lack of proper discipleship in the church. One of the more recent implementations of this is seen in the humanistic views of enneagrams being taught and accepted into mainstream Christianity. Enneagrams are the study of personality traits as a model of the human psyche so that one can better understand themselves and their motivations and how they interact with others. These personality behaviors are based on a model of 9 persona (types) that all people fit into.
The Reformer – The Rational, Idealistic Type: Principled, Purposeful, Self-Controlled, and Perfectionist The Helper – The Caring, Interpersonal Type: Demonstrative, Generous, People-Pleasing, and Possessive The Achiever – The Success-Oriented, Pragmatic Type: Adaptive, Excelling, Driven, and Image-Conscious The Individualist -The Sensitive, Withdrawn Type: Expressive, Dramatic, Self-Absorbed, and Temperamental The Investigator – The Intense, Cerebral Type: Perceptive, Innovative, Secretive, and Isolated The Loyalist – The Committed, Security-Oriented Type: Engaging, Responsible, Anxious, and Suspicious The Enthusiast – The Busy, Fun-Loving Type: Spontaneous, Versatile, Distractible, and Scattered The Challenger – The Powerful, Dominating Type: Self-Confident, Decisive, Willful, and Confrontational The Peacemaker – The Easygoing, Self-Effacing Type: Receptive, Reassuring, Agreeable, and Complacent
Seminaries have moved away from teaching Biblical Counselling that is based on scripture and have moved into humanistic psychologies which emphasize personal worth of the individual, the centrality of human values, and the dynamic nature of human beings. This means that Christian Counselling has by and large succumbed to self-help strategies that promote the idea that “at the heart we are all good people”. If you look at these 9 Personality types. None of these are bad or evil traits. All of these traits are good characteristics that when out of balance becomes bad. Therefore, if a Christian starts with this assumption, then they have already begun from an improper foundation. They have left the truth of scripture. Instead they have believed a lie.
This lie seeks to influence in a deception that basically we are all good and caring beings who just have different ways of living life. The false teachers are spreading a lie. This lie being told to Christians, is that they should seek to learn their personality type and isolate scripture that only addresses their personality. In focusing on the scriptures that apply to their personality types they can then overcome their shortcomings and be set free from bondage and become a good enough person to God.
Since all these personality types are actually positive types there is not need to address sin, or repentance. Instead you are a good person and only need to know what scriptures are needed to make you a better person. In being better you can become one with God and the universe. This is the ultimate goal of Buddhism. It is a state of complete bliss, liberation from the limitations and cares and desires of the physical world, and the end of the cycle of rebirth and suffering. This is referred to as Nirvana. Nirvana comes from “Moksha” from Jain literature and literally means liberation or salvation of soul. In order to achieve Karma.
The Eight Aspects of Karma are: of knowing, of seeing, of attachment, and concerning age, name, caste, feeling and obstacles.
There are four levels of Nirvana
Stream-Enterers – Those who have destroyed first three chains of life (false view of self, doubt, and clinging to rites and rituals)
Once-Returners – Those who have destroyed three chains of life and have lessened the chains of lust and hatred
Non-returners – Those who have destroyed five chains of life, which binds to the world of senses.
Arahants – Those who have reached Nirvana
Therefore, reaching of Nirvana (Karma) is breaking the Karmic cycles and liberating the soul from those temporal binds. This relieves us of such restrictions as age, sexual identity, marriage, family contructs, political influences, religious beliefs, patriotisms, ethnicities, right and wrong, ultimate truth, etc…
On the surface the lie seems to be ok, acceptable. After all what is wrong with someone learning how to identify who they are and how to become a better person? Surly we all want to live in harmony and not live in a world filled with hate and violence. See, that is a nice lie rolled up into a lie we can discuss later. But you can see how appealing the lie is. Furthermore, for you to not accept the lie then that makes you an enemy of humanity and selfish. You become the very evil of society because you do not accept the lie that they are telling you. You are hated because you are a hater, and if you are a hater as a bible-believing Christian, then Christians are haters and thereby hypocrites who do not even live by what they preach about loving one another. We already have Christians who are paralyzed by this false teaching and therefore refrain from church discipline or warning others about how the sins they live in is killing them. This is only the beginning of the trouble.
The problem is that we have a generation of young evangelical Christians who have been brought up into this humanistic theology at home, school, and in the church. Now we have a whole generation that does not know what the truth of scripture is. They see Christianity as a means of a moralistic mechanism that is practiced by a “good person”, or one seeking to be a “good person” instead of a means of restoring a lost relationship with God. With this view one has to be good enough for God to accept you. Others see the church as something therapeutic that is there to help them with psychological issues, marriage counselling, and the sort. Others see Christianity more of as a philosophy that has its own way of reaching enlightenment. By and large many Christians can no longer identify the core beliefs that make one a Christian. They are victims of improper discipleship. This leaves them susceptible to the lies of the whore Babylon and the One World Religion that has come into the world.
This humanistic approach to Christianity is contrary to scripture. What part? Glad you asked… the whole part is contrary to scripture. A Christian who teaches these things is a false teacher. If you are one who claims the title of being a Christian, then I would hope that this would be an obvious declaration to you. However, I am not ignorant. I know that there are many out there who claim to be Christians, but they have no idea what that means. For example, one might believe that a person is saved by “faith” and that would be a correct statement. So then that person says that they are a Christian because they believe in Jesus. But if we ask them, are all religions equal then they would say, “yes, as long as they have faith”. You see this is a humanistic view that is not supported by scriptural belief in Jesus Christ as the One True God. This then is a denial of, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3)
Jesus said that he is the Alpha and the Omega, he is the beginning and the end. Creation began with Jesus’ creating it. Creation will end with Jesus destroying it. He is the only one who has that authority. (Matthew 28:18-20) Because all power and authority has been given to him, we are to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and we are to make disciples in his name and teach then everything that he commanded. Surely as a good disciple you know everything that he commanded us to teach others, or at least you are in a good Sunday school and in regular church attendance so that you may learn everything he wants you to know. Second Timothy chapter three and verse sixteen tells us, “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” (2 Timothy 3:16)
Listen very carefully to what Jesus says, “Sanctify them through thy truth: they word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through thy truth.” (John 17:17-23) This is part of a prayer that Jesus prayed for his disciple just before he was sacrificed to make atonement for sin. Sanctification comes through knowledge of the truth. The word of God, the scriptures contained in the cannon of the Holy Bible is the truth of Jesus Christ. We are sanctified through Jesus Christ. He is the only way that we receive sanctification. Why do we need sanctification?
We need sanctification because we are not good at heart. Maybe, in the original creation, we were good at heart. However, sin entered man through Adam. Since then we have not grown better over time and self-improvement techniques. Instead we have grown worse. “As it is written there is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10) Humanism says that you are basically good or righteous, or that you can be if you try hard enough and focus on your goodness. God says that will not work, because a lemon tree cannot produce grapes.
Within the first 1500 years of man’s existence the scriptures tell us, “it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” (Genesis 6:6) Why was this? Because God say how wicked men had become. He saw that everything that man imagined, and desired in his heart, was evil. Man was depraved at his core. Man did not just make an error in the garden, he continued in error and like a rotten apple spoils the whole barrel, all of man was rotten. We have an old saying, “the blind leading the blind”. This means that both parties are doomed to fail because if the guide cannot see, there is no hope for those who are led by him. Why then would Christians who have the light allow themselves to be let astray by the false teachings of humanism? You see this is the blind leading the blind.
Man is now inherently evil in his heart; even a “good man”. Noah who built the ark and warning his neighbors of the impending judgement of God shamed himself, after being delivered from destruction by God, through getting drunk and passing out naked. Abraham a man who God called his friend and the father of Israel lied to protect himself from harm instead of trusting God. Lot committed incest. King David who is known for being “a man after God’s own heart” committed adultery and murder. The bible is full of “good men” who had were not good men. It is the mercies of God, who is good who saved them from themselves. Not their own will to overcome imperfection. The Apostle Paul said, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) Jesus himself said that there is none good but God. (Matthew 19:17) Mankind is gone astray and everyone is self-seeking, even the humanistic philosophers.
The 12 steps to AA and recovery are originally based in scripture. In Alcoholics Anonymous the first step to recovery begins with admitting to oneself that they are powerless over their addiction and their lives had become unmanageable. Romans 7:18 says, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” That means that although I would want to do good, I have no idea how to do good, because in my heart I am not good. Christian do you remember the day that you finally saw that you are not the good person you thought that you were? Do you remember when you realized that no matter how good you wanted to be, you could not look in the mirror for all the terrible things you did to yourself, to others, and to God?
That was the first step in actually becoming better. You realized that you could not do it. This is not humanistic. This is a revelation brought to you by being confronted with the truth in scripture. Sin is real. Sin leads to more sin. Sin leads to destruction of homes, family relationships, loss of friendships, jobs. It causes illnesses and eventually leads to death. “For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) This is truth. We know it is. We know by previous examples in our own lives the end result of sin. We can use that truth to cling onto the rest of this statement, “But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. This is the way to eternal life.
God had given us this gift of eternal life through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ paid for our sin debt. The debt of death. He did this with his own death. His death is a substitute for our death penalty. It would be like being convicted of a crime and then being sentenced to death. Then while you were on death row the guard suddenly opens the cell and say you are free to go. When you ask why, he takes you to the observation window of the lethal injection chamber. To our astonishment you see your big brother strapped to the table with needles in his veins, then he looks at you and says I am paying your debt because I love you. This is the same thing Jesus did for you. He literally died in place of you. That made you a free man. Free from the penalty of your sin.
Then Jesus rose from the grave. Well, he is God, you say. I would then agree, he is God. Thant in itself should move you, God himself died for you. But that is not all he did. He rose from the grave. He actually defeated death. Now, this gives you the ability to have eternal life through his resurrection. So what about today? Sin has been paid for, all sin. Death has been defeated, now there is no fear of death for the believer. Now Jesus had all authority in heaven, because he is God. He has all authority on earth, because he is the creator. He has all authority over the grave, because he vanquished death. There is something else that Jesus is still doing for you today. He is interceding for you before God the Father. Jesus is praying for you. “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Romans 8:34)
Romans 8:34 is such an awesome verse! Who is going to condemn those who believe in Jesus? Listen Jesus has set us free from the Law and Sin, and Death. He is the one who is judge of all creation. He has the authority to condemn, but why would he? He himself knows the penalty has been paid. By believing in him and him alone, you are a recipient of this free gift. So no, he will not condemn you. Paul says, instead of condemning you he is praying for you. He is on your side. He is earnestly paying attention to you for success. Now in scripture are there ways that we can become a better person, a better servant to God and to one another? Yes there is. But for the believer, you don’t need to identify your personality type to become a better person so that God will love you more. He already loves you enough that he died for you. He already loves you enough that he gives you the free give of this atonement. So we study the Word and grown in knowledge not of ourselves, but of the God who saves us. Why, because we want to know him better, not ourselves. We want to understand his love for us. We want to learn how to show that love to others, because we want them to know about his love. This is why we “sanctify” our selves. We set ourselves apart to be a useful servant in what he desires. What does he desire? “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:8-10) God desires for everyone to repent, believing on Jesus and be saved from condemnation. He is patiently waiting for anyone who will believe.
What is your part in this? “How then shall they call on him whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14) This is what we should be doing. Instead of us being influenced by the humanistic One Word Religion, we should be influencing them with the truth of Jesus Christ by “preaching”. This is not talking about a preacher like we understand the preaching in the pulpit today. It is meaning that we should be declaring the truth of Jesus Christ in the scripture. Who cares about who we used to be? We are to tell who we are in Christ now. We are forgiven, we are free, we are in life, all because of the gift of grace demonstrated in Jesus Christ. Chris is our righteousness. We are justified before God because of Jesus Christ, not our own effort. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
Well here we are, a little over 40 days until Election Day. Everyone in the United States knows that no matter who wins, the US will never be the same. Marxist and Communist are in positions of power and influence and openly run for high offices in a land where once the very mention of communist affiliation brought the possibility of imprisonment. Our youth has been successfully programmed away from the Lord God and the higher moral convictions of the Christian faith that founded this once great country. Now as atheism had taken over, we have lost our innocence from our youth, way too soon. History has been re-written and heroes of our republic have been removed and replaced with Marxist icons. We here stupid remarks form the “educated” college elites like, “History is written by the victors”. This is a quote once made by Winston Churchill which is essentially vade ad victor spolia, to the victor go the spoils. In using this quote, they mean to say that the ones who have lost in the great struggles of society have been cheated their voice and should have recompenses made of it. This is their war cry to tear apart society. Yet their very atheistic views concerning “survival of the fittest” demand that no such recompense be made. But that is another matter we can discuss another time.
Our moral compass has been misled by the strong magnetism of the atheist and their misleading and often untruthful sciences. We replaced the truth of God with the unproven theories, and speculations of mere men. We have stopped trusting in the truth of God for the known lies of men. In doing so we have lost our identity. We who are created in the very image of God and crowned above anything else in creation have succumbed to a lie that we are no more important then the animals that serve us for food, or entertainment. We have replaced the natural love of our children for the unnatural love of an animal. Many cherish their pets above their own children. In many public places in Europe and the US it is more tolerable to bring your pet to diner in a fine restaurant than it is to bring your children. You may think it funny when you see those commercials that depict this very thing on the television, but what you fail to see it the truth of what it shows. You also fail to see that you are being taught what this world system wants you to be.
With this new ideal of the lack of uniqueness of man, we have opened the door to the atheistic views of “survival of the fittest”. We no longer need to show compassion to anyone. Rather we can live to satisfy our own selfish desires. Since there is no God then there is no moral law giver. With no moral law there is no one who can judge me. If no one can judge me then no one can hold me accountable. If no one can hold me accountable, then no one can punish or reward me. I am the only one who can reward me. I am free to seek my reward at the expense of anyone around me because I answer to no one.
This is the society we have fallen to. No longer a society of care or concern for one another but one that is only concerned with what I can get out of others, and who can pay my way to fill my gluttony. It used to be that when we went down the highway and saw a vehicle disabled, that we would stop to render aid. Now we dare not even slow the car down for fear that we may get shot. Greed and violence has filled our culture to the point of brokenness. How far has sin taken our country, that we cannot even have an election without widespread mayhem. So, with all of this you may be asking what can we pray for concerning this election?
I think we may consider the words of the psalmist in Psalm 85 as a place to start. Bring us back, O God our savior, and stop being displeased with us! Will you be angry with us forever? Will your anger never cease? Make us strong again, and we, your people, will praise you. Show us your constant love, O Lord, and give us your saving help. (Psalm 85:4-7)
We can cry out to God with all our hearts and plead with him in our distress. We can cry out to the Lord to bring us back to the culture that sought after his face. Bring us back to being the ones who listened to the counsel of his Word. We can beg his anger to be withheld. We can pray for peace between us, the United States, and with Him, the one who first established our nation when it fled tyranny. We can seek his mercies to keep us from returning to a different tyranny.
We must start with a prayer of repentance. Today there is no one who takes responsibility for their own actions. There is no one who recognizes that God is the one who establishes the rulers of the land, and who gives them wisdom to rule. (Daniel 2:21) We must fall on our faces before God. I mean, lay to the prone and in great urgency, beg the Lord on behalf of ourselves, our neighbors, our churches, and our government in repentance. We must seek the forgiveness of the Lord for the idolatrous worship of the creation over the Creator. We have loved money, power, influence, sexual immorality, and ourselves more than we have loved Christ. I am speaking to the church. We would expect such behavior from the unsaved, but not from those who profess the name of Jesus Christ. We must be the first on our knees, and to lay prostrate.
We must plead as the psalmist, “Bring us back, O God our savior”. Jesus in the garden prayed in anguish to the Father, “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” (Luke 22:42) We must pray and seek the will of the Lord. We can pray for this election and the events that may come from it. We can pray for the will of God to be accomplished in this election. We can also pray for our acceptance of his will. We must understand that he is in charge and his will, is what will be accomplished. We must be in acceptance of that will.
Looking again at Psalm 85 we can look forward in hope. It says, “ I am listening to what the Lord God is saying; he promises peace to us, his own people, if we do not go back to our foolish ways. Surely he is ready to save those who honor him, and his saving presence will remain in our land.” (Psalm 85:8-9) Isn’t it amazing! The Lord has an answer for us. We must listen to the Lord God! We, his own people, in Christ Jesus, are to be separate from the world. Not returning to the things that we were once delivered from.
The Apostle John writes a warning from God to us, “Nevertheless I have [somewhat] against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou are fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” (Revelation 2:4-5) We then should remember from where we have fallen, who we left behind, and turn away from those behaviors which led us astray. We are to return to the first works. The first works are those that have supreme importance.
The first commandment is to love the Lord your God above everything else. In Matthew 10:37 Jesus explains how deep our love for him should be. He said that if we love our closest family members more than we love him, then we are not worthy of him. That is the kind of love that the Lord desires from us. Then we are to love one another. We are to love one another in truth. We are to love one another sacrificially just like Jesus loved us. That means that we love genuinely. Genuine enough to counsel one another and yes… warn one another when we see that another is falling into sin. This is not a hypocritical judgement, but something that we are mandated to do in scripture. We are also commanded to love one another by praying for one another, encouraging one another, providing for one another. That is to freely give to one another the things that are needed with no expectancy of return. So, one of the first works is “love”. We need to return to an active love of God and of one another. Supporting one another with more than just words; making real sacrifices for the kingdom of God and one another.
Love of God is our supreme motivation and our first work. I know you are wondering, “why have you gotten so far off topic?” Well I needed to make sure that we are starting from the right place when we pray. Prayer is also one of the first works. I we look in the book of Acts when the Holy Spirit was given to the church, they were in earnest prayer. Looking through the gospels we see that Jesus was in constant prayer. When the early church made any decision on church business, or mission, or even in correspondences they prayed. This is a first work; pray. Many believers today in America do not pray on a daily basis, much less in continuously. Remember when you first got saved? Remember how you could not read enough scripture, or talk to God enough? Don’t you miss that time with God? We should return to consistent, unending prayer and fellowship.
What are we to pray for? Well, before we can pray for others, we need to first address our own standing with God. “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14) Wow! God seems clear that those who are called by his name are to repent, then he will heal their land. So, when we pray for these elections and our country we first, need to humble ourselves. Humble ourselves? Yes, we must not enter the throne room of God with an attitude that we are better then those we are praying for. What condemnation we would bring upon ourselves to walk in such arrogance before the Lord who judges the very hearts of men. He already knows the hearts of those you are praying for, he does not need you to tell him their shortcomings. He is aware of their stumbling blocks and yours. Love is your first work. We do not need to pray bad things to happen to those who are hijacking our country, we need to pray for a change of heart.
We then come humbly in the knowledge that it is Jesus Christ who has made it possible for us to enter his throne room. We seek his face because he is the one who establishes kings and countries. He is the on who has authority over the enemy. It is his kingdom that we seek and represent here on earth. Still we should stand for righteousness. Righteousness is what we pray for, for righteous men to be enthroned here in this office of the President, and at all levels of the government and in the bureaucracy of the United States before God. That wicked men and women will be removed from places of power and influence in our government, educational systems, and businesses. This includes all the way down to our municipal entities.
We pray for repentance of those who are leading this anti-God social agendas and that their salvation will bring a great testimony to all the nations, just as Saul’s salvation did in the early church. We can pray for men and women of righteousness who seek the goodness of the Lord will be raised up and put in places of power and influence in this country. We can pray for judges that uphold the scriptural foundations of our laws and constitution. We can pray for lawmakers of moral courage and of good conscience will be elected. We can pray for a populace that will suffer whatever is needed to bring forward the righteousness of God in this country. You see we are a very unique populace of citizens here in the United States, we can actually vote away our own freedoms, by electing the wrong people into places of power and influence because we desired a handout instead of honest work before God. So we must pray for those who vote and for those who chose to not vote, because we are all responsible to God on who is elected into our government at all levels. To say that a Christian is to not be involved in such matters is a great lie sold to us by the enemy. Where God has blessed us to have the opportunity to be an ambassador of His Kingdom we will surely be held accountable. We can pray for this cup to pass, and for us to accept his will. We can pray for righteous and blessed things to come from this election. We can look forward to peace. What?
Remember Psalm 85? In verse eight he promises us peace. Repentance of his people and of a nation defers wrath and brings peace with God. He is ready to save those who honor him. (v.9) Verse 10 says, “Love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will embrace.” God will actually look down hear; look down from heaven, show us mercy, and heal our land. More than that he will make the nations that fear him to prosper.
We don’t need to be in fear when we pray. We can have confidence in the Lord. He is God and therefore in control. He can hear us and wants to come to our aid. Let us pray that his will be done in love and in caring for one another. Let us pray for the repentance of our fellow citizens, and their return to God as a nation.
“And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.” (Genesis 35:10)
The name Jacob means “seizing by the heel”. Jacob was named this because when Jacob and Esau were born, they were born as twins. Even in the womb they struggled against one another. Esau came out first which meant that he was the eldest and that he would have the inheritance of his Father. Blessings would have been bestowed on him, as the first born, that far exceeded the blessings received by his younger brother Jacob. Jacob was born holding onto the heel of Esau, as if trying to stop him from being born first. Now this is probably just a little of my mind running into fantasy, to imagine that an infant would know of such things as inheritances and birthrights from the womb. However, the fact that these two fought with one another in the womb is documented in the scriptures.
There is another meaning to the name Jacob, supplanting. Supplanting is defined as to replace, displace, supersede, or to take the place of another, as through force or scheming. We would consider this deception. So much so that Jacob’s name has become to be called “deceiver”. Jacob had most definitely lived up to his name. In his younger life Jacob tricked his older brother, Esau, into selling his birthright to Jacob for a pot of chili. He took advantage of his brother in his weakened state and took away his future as the air to Isaac and the promises of God inherited from Abraham. Later Jacob would deceive Isaac into bestowing the greater blessings of God onto him instead of his older brother. He did this through an elaborate scheme that involved many levels of deception and lying.
Yet the inheritance had been passed on and so had the blessings been given to Jacob because of his scheming and deceptions. God is honorable and faithful, so he keeps his word to Abraham, and Isaac in honoring their designation of Jacob as the heir and patriarch of the family. These events were not a surprise to God. He even predicted that these events would transpire. When Rebecca, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother, was feeling the struggling in her womb, before their birth, she asked God why this was happening. God’s reply is recorded in Genesis 25:23, “And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger”. Thus God gave Rebecca a prophecy concerning not only her sons, but the nations that would descend from each of them. Still we look at Jacob and we say to ourselves, “what a despicable man he was”.
What kind of selfish, arrogant man would lie, steal, and cheat their own family brother out of what was rightfully his? Who would be so selfish to tear his family apart for his own desires? What kind a callous heart it must take to deceive the father that had protected and cared for you your whole life. What a shameful display of arrogance to take advantage of the blind, and elderly. Only a dishonorable, opportunistic man takes advantage of the hungry and feeds them with such devastating deception? We can point the finger all day long at Jacob; can we not? Still we must be honest enough to see a little of Jacob in us as well.
Have some of us not deceived others for our own gain? Have some of us not told a little lie to ease the harshness of the truth in our selfishness? Mother’s hide snacks from the children. Children seem to never know “who broke the lamp or got into the cookie jar”. Husbands and wives lying to one another about where they have been, what they were doing, who they were doing it with. Shaving a little time here and there at work, stealing from their employers. Maybe false reporting on earned income for taxes, or other things of like these. There are countless ways that we put our own selfish desires ahead of others and lie and deceive others to get ahead. We deceive others by omitting information, denying the truth, exaggerating information, and even fabricating information.
There is even a definition for using “true” statements to give a false or distorted view of the truth in order to influence the impressions of other and mislead their decision making. This is referred to as paltering. If you have ever watched syndicated news or a politician, you have probably been a victim of such a ploy. My dad used to always tell me that if someone asked you a question, always tell them the truth, but; don’t tell them any more than they asked for. That is sound advice from someone who is trying to tell themselves that they are an honest man, who does not want someone getting the wrong impression from knowing the whole of the truth.
Let me further illustrate. One night, when I was a teen, I borrowed my step-mom’s car. I ended up getting in an accident and I totaled the car. When my dad asked why I was driving, I told him I just wanted to go see a friend. That was the truthful answer to his question. What I didn’t include was that I was going to see a friend that my dad had told me to stay away from. You see I did not tell him that I was in disobedience of his wishes. This lie saved me from a severe punishment. I am sure you can find in you past some kind of half-truth you have told to get away with something or to avoid chastisement.
We are not so far from the shameful actions of Jacob, are we? You see we are a namesake to our father. We lie because that is what we know how to do. Jesus said, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is not truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a lair, and the father of it.” (John 8:44)
Jacob lied because he was carnal. He was of the kingdom of Satan. One of the Hebrew names for the devil is cheater. This also carries the following synonyms: deceitful, deceiver, fraudulent, swindler. See when we act in these manners, we are also acting like Jacob. Jacob was acting out his sinful nature, given to him at the beginning by the fall of man, by the deception of Satan. We also are a product of this sinful state. We do not know what it means to truly be “good”. We could care less about trying to be good. Like Jacob, we are also of our father the devil, there is no truth in us. The good news is that God already knew this about Jacob, and he already knows this about us. God already had a plan for Jacob that started before he was in the womb.
God told Jacob, “thy name shall not be called any more Jacob”. God removed Jacob’s identity. He removed the shame associated with the name of Jacob. Jacob, had left his home for 20 years, running from the things he had done in his past. Now God was giving him a second chance at life. A life that would be far greater than the one he had left behind. God not only took his old name away; he gave him a new name. This name would be a greater name then the one he previously had. He was given a clean slate and a new promise and a new way of life. A life that would bring the promises of God to bear in his life, the life of his descendants, and the lives of everyone in the world. God would fulfill his promises to Abraham. This is such a great picture of what Christ has done for those who believe on him.
Revelation 2:17 tells us a promise made by God. He says, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.” Isn’t that awesome, we have a new name in Christ. We have a new identity that is given to us by God himself. This name is holy to the Lord. Only you and the Lord will know your new name. Your slate has been wiped clean. You have a new identity. You are no longer the shameful creature held in bondage by sin and death. Instead you will be alive like never before. You will eat of the blessings of God and be called by a new name, a redeemed soul!
The Apostle Paul also tells us about this when he writes to the Corinthians. Paul tells us that anyone who believes and follows Jesus Christ is a new creature. He uses the verb “is”, it has already happened. The old person we used to be and all the things we did in the past are gone. Everything about us has become new in Christ. Paul tells us that this process if part of our reconciliation to God. This is only possible through the blood of Jesus Christ, who was made sin for us. Jesus was the righteousness of God. He was guilty of no sin. However, he accepted the blame and penalty for our sin. In this way, our sin was transferred to him, and his righteousness was accounted towards us. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21) Now, John says, not only are we forgiven, but we have a new heavenly Father. (1 John 3:1)
Now with this new identity, and this new Father, we can be like him instead of our previous father. We no longer must submit to the will of the flesh and Satan. We are set free from that previous live and now obey our spiritual Father in Heaven. Just as Jacob no longer had to live under the shame of his previous life, but instead could live a victoriously and blessed in his new life, we can also live a blessed and victorious life in Jesus Christ. We have been redeemed, not because of what we did or even our own will. We have been redeemed because of what God did of his own will, because he loved us even when we were his enemy. But now, we who live in faith in Jesus Christ are no longer his enemies.
We are his son’s and daughters. We are his ambassadors. We are the witness of his love and his grace. If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God who came and took the blame for your sin, and died in your place. Knowing in your heart that his death paid the price for your sin, and you believe that he was resurrected on the third day, then you have eternal life. Now that your eternal salvation is secure in Christ, you need to testify to that end. You need to take your first step in obedience and be baptized by emersion. Baptism is not necessary for salvation, but it is necessary in your testimony. Baptism is recognized throughout the world as a mark of believing in Jesus Christ.
In the 33rd chapter of Jeremiah the Lord gives reassurance to the prophet and reaffirms the Davidic covenant. In this he says, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” (v.3) and later the Lord states, “Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.” (v.6). This is such an awesome chapter of hope and reconciliation, and of the healing of the land and the people. We can see the care that God has for his people. He loves and cares, he is a shield and protector to his people. He loves so much that he not only delivers, but he reals and restores.
This is the hope that we have. That Jesus Christ came and died for us to pay the debt of death that we owe. He was buried and took the keys to hell and death. He then rose from the dead, and ascended to the Father. Now he makes intercession for us as our advocate. We who believe in him are no longer tied to this earth, or this body. We have a great hope inside that gives us joy. This hope is in the resurrection of life. Even as Jesus was raised from the dead and received a glorified by, so shall we.
We are no longer trapped here in this existence. We, followers of Christ Jesus, have been given a new life. This new life is one of the spirit. We have been set free from the bonds of the flesh. We know that the few things we posses here in this world are worthless and will eventually rot, and decay. The things we look forward to are everlasting. We now are pilgrims on our way to the promises of God, to be reconciled with him in Jesus Christ. We will soon be glorified, although we do not yet fully understand what that entails, we will understand when we finally see him face to face. This is the gift of God. We have received unmerited favor from God as demonstrated in the grace he bestowed upon us in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Death has no hold on us, no bind is there to keep us in the grave.
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. (Romans 5:6-11)
Look to Jesus, as the Lord says, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee”. Hope is right here waiting for you to call out! Life is right here waiting for you to seek Him! Love is right here waiting for you to open your heart! Peace is right here waiting for you to rest within. There is no fear in Love. You do not need to fear the Lord. He has demonstrated his love towards us.
I was listening to Lauren Daigle sing Noel. Her voice is so powerful and inspiring that it began to fill my heart with excitement and my mind with wonder. Her strong vocals cry out, “Noel! Come see what God has done!” Wow! I began to ponder on what the shepherds must have felt like when they saw the angels after Christ was born. Here is the scripture that relays that account.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. –Luke 2:7-11
Now this word, “Noel” has a Latin root ‘natalis’, which means ‘birth’. The French word ‘nouvelles’ means ‘news’. Then we have the English, ‘nowel’, meaning “shout of joy”. Historically a noel was a joyous herald of a new born baby. It is now almost unique to Christmas and the Christmas Carol and associated with this scripture reference in Luke.
This song, Noel, and the verses strongly associated with it brings some great thoughts to my mind’s eye. When I most often here of this in a sermon much is made of the fear that the shepherds felt. This is quite understandable. God is holy and is not to be toyed with. In ancient times, angels were not perceived like they are now days. These shepherds were not looking at little fat babies flying around with stubby feathered wings, looking down from white, cotton soft clouds, playing miniature harps. In ancient times angels were seen as enforcers of God’s will on man. When an angel appeared, someone was going to receive the judgement of God. They were seen as battle hardened soldiers of the Most High and carried his full authority in the matter they were sent to deal with. They represented God directly. However, I want to take a different look today. What about the herald?
Imagine the excitement that the angels had in being able to announce the arrival of the messiah. The possibly billions of angels that could have been selected to give this message, and God chose them. All of creation moaned and desired deliverance from the bondage of sin and death that was brought into it through the fall of just one man. Now, through the birth of just one man, that very deliverance was now made possible. There was no more waiting. God’s plan from before the beginning of time was starting to unfold before their very eyes, and they were the ones who were to announce to the world, a savior is born. God had now entered the stage!
So now back to Lauren Daigle and Noel. “Noel, Come see what God has done!” This is an amazing event, probably the most amazing event in the history of mankind. God himself became flesh and now dwelt among men. Israel’s king was now preparing for his kingdom. God had just directly intervened in the fate of man. The love of God so compelled him that he could no longer sit on the sidelines and watch the love of his life destroy itself. This wasn’t the first time God intervened.
I can see Adam and Eve proclaiming, “Noel, Come see what God has done!” When God shewn mercy and covered their sin with the skins of the first sacrifice. I can see Noah stepping out of the ark and calling to his children, “Noel, Come see what God has done!” He has saved man from total destruction and turned away from his anger. I can see the angels talking to one another, “Noel, Come see what God has done!” When God shewn mercy at the Tower of Babble and confused the languages instead of condemning man for their rebellion. Then I can see Moses looking on the destruction of the Egyptian army at the Red Sea and telling the children of Israel, “Noel, Come see what God has done!”
Time and time again God has delivered us from destruction. I can think how my own heart declares to all who will listen, “Noel, Come see what God has done!” See how he took this broken vessel and remade it into a new vase. Those of us who have heard others declare this message, “Noel, Come see what God has done!” now have our own message of hope and redemption to share. We can declare to others the love and healing given through the mercies of his love. “Noel, Come see what God has done!”
What God has done is to provide for us, a way to return to fellowship with him. The one who created the universe, thought enough of you to give you the gift of eternal life. Although this gift is free to all who accept it, was not free to God. God had to make a sacrifice that we could not make. He had to sacrifice his only son. This one we call Jesus who is Christ. His birth heralded an event that had never been seen before, nor would it ever repeat. God himself became man, born for the sole purpose of physically dying to make a way for us to live spiritually in the presence of God. “Noel, Come see what God has done!”
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