I thought I had a plan.

Posted on 02/15/2012 by remso

This is a response I posted to a new blogger, on another site I go to.

I got on the computer this morning because I thought I had a plan, but  all morning long I have run into people like you, and I cannot stop the tears.

When you ask “why things happen?”, I don’t know why either.

I am now 58, but at 25 Jesus appeared to me and laid my life out before me. I thought, I should write this down, but I did not, and in the morning, when I awoke, I could only remember that he had been there, and the joy I felt knowing the end result.

May I just say that I have wanted to give up and walk away on many occasions. Yes, the thought of suicide crossed my mind many times, but I am still here.

Through the toughest times I always knew that God was right there; I was the one that was distant.

One recent episode (two weeks ago) I lost it at work. I cussed out anything that breathed, including the manager standing in front of me. He told me to go home! Can you imagine how I felt? Whatever just went through your mind would be about right. The next morning I went to one of my favorite churches, because worship time there is always awesome. I stood there in rebellion, my arms crossed. God spoke to me, even through my disgust and anger. I gave into God and let the anger go. That is when He spoke to me.

The awesome aspect of this is that God gave me a word, and told me that He would protect me at work, and He did. The same store manager that pulled me in the office and said, “I can fire you on the spot,” did not. (Thank you Jesus.)

That manager just the other day, sat down with me, in the break room filled with people, and asked about what I was studying and why. Praise God. I shared this same story with him, and I shared it with everyone else that could hear me in the break room. I do not talk quietly, especially when it comes to my Jesus.

I can tell you this. I would not have chosen this path to get to this point in my life. I lost everything, but found a God I thought I knew, but really did not.

I have fallen in Love with Him more than I ever thought possible, and I sense that it is going to get better.

His word, which I have read several times, is jumping off the pages at me, as though they are so new and exciting.

I always had a want to understand Revelation and it’s “fearful” prophetic words. Only recently, I think because I asked the Holy Spirit to make it clear, Revelation and end times events are becoming so clear to me.

As for the fear aspect. I will give you a few quick references that God saw fit to show so that fear is not an aspect of our vocabulary when it comes to our hope in Christ.

  1. There is no fear to those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. He is righteousness. You are in Christ, and there is no fear in love. 2 Timothy 1:7; 1 John 4:18. I have heard these all my life, but only in the last few years have they began to make sense to me.
  2. In Matthew 24:37-39 Jesus, in response to several direct questions about the end of time said this, “But as the days of Noah were, … until the day that Noah entered the ark, ..” The point here is that as you read references to Noah, you find that God closed the door behind him, and then when Noah and his family were safe, God brought the wrath that he had promised.
  3. Peter not only used Noah as a reference about God preserving us from the wrath to come, but added Lot into the mix. Read Genesis 13 and you find Lot choosing sin city to make his home. In chapter 19 of Genesis angels come to get Lot and anyone willing to go with him, out of there. Why? because God’s wrath was coming upon this place. The angels told Lot that they could do nothing until Lot was out of harms way, and then they grabbed hold of all that were going with, and took them out. Clear of harms way, fire fell upon those cities.
  4. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 says, “..Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” No differently than Lot, or Noah. He will deliver us. Therefore we have a strong hope, based not in guess-work, but in the Word of the King of the Ages, God himself.

If we are in Christ then we are new creations. Do you believe that? It is part of your hope.

We study and take drivers tests at Motor vehicle department because we have a hope. A hope that we can obtain a goal, a driver’s license.

Part of the reason many come to the Lord is because we offer them hope. A hope of what? Life and deliverance from God’s wrath. Man’s wrath is a whole other issue, but I implore you ponder Peter’s message to the crowd on the day of Pentecost you will find a freedom that will blast the doors off your thinking.

Peter quoted the Prophet Joel. Peter said, “this is fulfilled in your hearing” It happened there before them and like light has never ceased.
What happened? …. Considering that Joel prophesied about the end times, a time of darkness, gloom, and trembling, what could there possibly be in here that brings hope and life to anyone.

Joel 2:28-32 KJV  ….. I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:  (29)  And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.  ……  (32)  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

Do you realize that this time is now.

We have been given the right to move heaven and earth in behalf of people. Not just people, but captives.

Consider what happened in the garden when they came to take Jesus. Few seem to realize this. They said to him, are you the one we are looking for? Jesus replied, I AM, and they all fell backward at his response.

Oh dear Lord, let us grasp this. For we have denied you and lived in fear, lacking an understanding of who you were for so long.

Read the book Hebrews, starting around chapter 11, and you will find what some call the hall of Faith. Some of these people choose not to be delivered, because they knew their reward was in heaven, and by choice they died.

Hebrews 11:33-35 Moffatt NT  (33)  …who by faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouth of lions,  (34)  quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness won to strength, proved valiant in warfare, and routed hosts of foreigners.  (35)  Some were given back to their womankind, raised from the very dead; others were broken on the wheel, refusing to accept release, that they might obtain a better resurrection;

Jesus himself said to the Romans and Jews:   John 19:11 Moffatt NT  Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me, unless it had been granted you from above.”

Yes, I am telling you there is power in the name of Jesus Christ. Power to still an enemy and an avenger.

This Jesus Christ, chase him, pursue him, follow after him as a deer that longs for water.

Make him your pursuit and your oil will never run dry.

Think about this. The prophet Elisha tells the dear woman, who is on the verge of having to sell her son to pay debts, to gather pots and pour what oil you have into them. The woman and her son did this until they ran out of pots, and then the oil ceased. (Read about this in 2Kings 4:1-6)

Yours is a pot that is endless, and even at that we have the promise that God will continue to pour even if it overflows. He is all in favor of the blessing that you are receiving flowing out onto others.

I am responding to you, but I will tell you this. This has spoken to me too, and in the Name of Jesus Christ, this will minister to others as well. You have no idea, like Queen Esther, that God called you here just for this purpose.

There will be those that speak against this word. You may be one of them. Don’t just sit there, be like the Berean Jews, who heard a word that challenged them, and then looked it up for themselves. We are the Laodicean church because we have denied God, refused His power, and looked to be entertained and not be the ones that set people free. You will know exactly why you are here on this earth the day you step outside yourself and lift someone off their feet to bring them deliverance.

Try it. I dare you!
In Gods loving arms and grace, until the day of His appearing.
Ozzie

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Birthday Party

Posted on 02/15/2012 by remso

 

This is one of those things you stumble upon that changes everything about the way you think.

Birthday Party.

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The President & The Prophet: Obama’s Unusual Encounter With Eric Metaxas

Posted on 02/14/2012 by remso

 

Reading Material into 2011
Reading Material into 2011 (Photo credit: Bob AuBuchon)

The President & The Prophet: Obama’s Unusual Encounter With Eric Metaxas.

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A word to the body of Christ. Yes, that is you.

Posted on 02/12/2012 by remso

God has grabbed my attention and shown me an image like a noisy drill sergeant, which snaps out commands to soldiers under his authority. You soldiers are Marines, and he gives a series of instructions, finishing with an energetic “Semper Fi” (Always faithful.)

Why? Knowing little about the background of those under his command, he must create in these new recruits a skill level, so that during times of war they will not have to be coached on how to survive and who they are.

God called and you enlisted you; now through God’s word He has trained you and you have become the person God designed you to be. You have questioned your standing with God and wondered why you have struggled with the simple sins; it seems as though you cannot rise above life’s circumstances.

Romans 5:15 Gives you an answer.

… For if by the transgression of the one (Adam) the many died, (the entire human race) much more did the grace (favor though undeserved) of God and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.

We were all born into sin, and sin required a death. Jesus paid the price required for us, brought on by Adam, with His own life.

If you think you are alive because you breathe, know this, it is only through Christ that you live, and move, and have your being.

If you have not been commissioned, or do not understand who you are, then I would have you stand to your feet and commission you. I would look into your eyes so that I could see that what is being said to you is becoming an image that is emblazoned in your memory and heart. Another way of putting this is in relationship to knighthood. You would be announced before the public, and given the parameters on your abilities, your sphere of influence, and how you impact others and the kingdom.

Perhaps you understand these concepts already and yet you struggle; I would remind you of whom you are.

As you stand before God the King, I commission you this day before the presence of the God whom I serve and have sent me; I declare by God’s hand who you are this day.

You have been adopted into a royal family, a family whose nobility shall never end. This adoption of yours came through your acknowledgment of Jesus Christ as the redeemer of your life. I declare that from this day forward you are free from the sinful nature that held you down and separated you from God. I declare to you that because you have accepted Christ’s death and burial that you have buried you old nature with Him and like Christ, you are now raised to new life. A life in which your human nature is now hidden in Christ, regardless of what it seems like.

Will you have opportunity to stumble? Absolutely, but you are to remember this day; the day that God’s servant declared to you who you were. You are nobility and through the Word of God you have trained yourself to rule and conduct yourself as a king. Your calling in life is to rise to your highest potential in Christ, and carry His presence in you as you wear the royal robe; a robe that was washed in the blood of the one who made you able to be adopted. When you stumble you are to get up, dust yourself off, remind yourself of who you are, and stand in an erect, dignified manner for you represent the Kingdom of the Most Exalted God. The only One to who praise is due.

You have been: Washed, Clothed in Him, made new, brought into the family of God, established, caused to reign, and given the Father’s authority to rule over and change this life.

Let God’s Grace, which poured out toward you when you did not deserve it be the light that you pour out toward others.

Until we reign together in Glory, all my love in the Holy Spirit.

Ozzie

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Thoughts on John 5:17

Posted on 02/08/2012 by remso

John 5:17 Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.”

They were already furious with him. He had, contrary to the law, ordered the man to carry his bed roll on the Sabbath. It did not matter that the Sabbath belonged to God; It did not matter that this man, a man they recognized (maybe) was now well; It did not matter that this kind of thing, a healing, was a rarity, and there should have been great excitement over that.

One of the early incidents, as Israel wandered, was someone caught gathering firewood on the Sabbath. Those that caught the man brought him to Moses for a judgment. The man was stoned to death. That should cause you to think that these Pharisee’s, the keepers of the Jewish law, took this very serious.

Now, in response to their attack about the Sabbath issue, Jesus says, “My Father is…”
Father is the Greek word pater and means no less. The KJV also translated the word as parent.

Let’s assume that was all he said, obviously it was not, but it was known that Jesus parentage was in question, for they (the Jews) had tried to throw him off the cliff previously over such a statement. If the Jews took it as a physical parent then the barrage about him being an illegitimate child would have begun again. There was nothing about this statement that was anything less than Jesus declaring his role as God’s Son, and (omit) the strengths of the Father were his, and they understood clearly what he meant.

The look on their faces must have been priceless. Silence filled the air for a moment, long enough for him to finish his thought. He buried them in the glory of who He was. Statements that should have sent them to their knees, and yet all they could do was scream and start looking for boulders to throw.

In the “Revelation”, John says, “who is this King of Glory”. Dear lord, he was standing before their faces. They should have been blinded by his glory; they were blinded alright, by the god of this world, for they could not see him standing directly in front of them.

“My Father is always at work to this very day, …”
That seems like an odd statement. It tends to imply that there were those that did not know or believe that God was still at work. How could you not believe that?

Keep in mind that Israel had just gone through about 400 years of what appeared to be silence from God. Did not the man who was healed walk before them? Perhaps they attributed the miraculous to: the devils work, or some strange mysticism. In the Acts there is the story of Simon, the sorcerer, and he had a following. People have a tendency to follow the dramatic, at least for a time, but they also follow what appears to be results.

The word translated work is ergazomai in the Greek, and means to toil (as a task, or occupation), by implication it means to be engaged in or with.

Consider that not everything in Greek directly translates, therefore much of what we read has been conceptualized. An example of that is this verse. In the KJV it reads: “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work”. The word hitherto is the same concept used to produce “is always at” in the NIV. The word here is heos and it is a conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until (of time and place). From Mickelson’s Greek Dictionary

If I restated what Jesus said, I might be able to say that My Father has never stopped being engaged with us and will continue to do so until the desired time has been accomplished.

Jesus arrival on this earth was and is monumental, but even he stated that we were to hold on, because there is more to come. The end of all things will be a time of God showing us the things he has prepared for us.

Knowing that the Father is working toward a goal, Jesus stated that the goal was his cause also. You saw some of that goal demonstrated that day. Jesus went to one who was broken, unwanted, hopeless, had no way to change his life without the savior, and gave him the freedom to hope again.

Jesus gave him a new life.

 

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Reflexiones sobre Juan 5:16

Posted on 02/07/2012 by remso

(Juan 5:16) Por lo tanto, Debido a que Jesús hacía estas cosas en sábado, los Judios le perseguían.
Jesús entra en la zona de la piscina, a propósito, pero que en realidad no lo sé. Dios tiene una razón para todo, y esto puede ser diferente.

¿Se escoja el hombre y la ubicación, porque representó la forma rota y abusado Ellos fueron los Judios y la religión eran en ese momento?

Fue el hombre destacado, al igual que Judas, sabiendo que iba a delatar a el Salvador después de haber sido sanado?

El hombre era claramente un Judio, porque el primer lugar se va después de haber sido curado es el templo. Supongo que es como estar en estado de shock después de un accidente de coche, usted no puede hacer más claras las decisiones, pero que vaya al lugar familiar, en su caso, el templo.

Si hubiera sido puesto out y declarado inmundo por causa de su enfermedad, y ahora va al templo para mostrarles, con la esperanza de ser declarado limpio, y restableció de nuevo en la comunidad.

La parte loca de su regreso al templo es que llevaba su comida con él. Que la evaluación había sido su amigo desde hace muchos años, y él no puede estar pensando en lo recto. Ahora, para darle el beneficio de la duda me voy a usar como ejemplo. Trabajo en la ferretería me preguntan constantemente en busca de ayuda. Yo escucho a los clientes y la descripción en un esfuerzo por determinar lo que necesitan de mí (lo que vimos aquí fue preguntas a Jesús pidiendo de los demás sobre el hombre). Si yo no entiendo (la manera vaga el hombre respondió Jesús me hace pensar que él no entendía bien-) que continúan haciendo preguntas hasta que vea que yo no voy a entrar Cualquier superior (Cuando el hombre respondió, aliado de la lógica, sino indirectamente, a interrogar a Jesús acerca de ser así, Jesús cambió de táctica y le ordenó a sus pies). En ese momento me quedo con lo que sé. El problema con esto es que la imagen en mi cabeza me puede dar lugar a apoderarse de los objetos a la mano, porque son nostálgicos, tienen sentido, pero me han llevado en la dirección opuesta a donde tengo que estar.

Si no sabes quién eres curado, o cómo, y usted era un Judio, lo que podría hacer usted? Ir al templo. En este punto, ¿qué otra cosa tiene él, la familia? Yo no lo creo, porque él mismo dijo que no tenía a nadie para ponerlo en el agua.

Realice una copia de los versos. “… Debido a que Jesús hacía estas cosas en sábado, ..”
¿Qué hizo Jesús? Llegó, vio, le preguntó a preguntas sobre el hombre, curó a los hombre, y él le dijo que tome su saco de dormir.

Llevar el saco de dormir todo el día de reposo era una cosa mala. Jesús conocía la ley, lo hablaba, todo el mundo lo sabía, y sin embargo el hombre lo hizo de todos modos. ¿Por qué? Por lo menos él fue obediente.

Éxodo 20:10 (NVI) “, pero el séptimo día es reposo para Jehová tu Dios. En él no harás ningún trabajo, ni tú, ni tu hijo o hija, ni tu siervo o sierva, ni tu bestia, ni extranjero que está dentro de tus puertas. ”

Jeremías 17:21 (NVI) “Esto es lo que dice el Señor: Tenga cuidado de no llevar una carga en el día de reposo y de meterla por las puertas de Jerusalén.”

Deuteronomio 5:13 (NVI) “Seis días trabajarás, y harás toda tu obra”

Este pasaje es difícil, porque queremos entender lo que estaba sucediendo aquí. Parece que Jesús rompió sus propias leyes. Por suerte para nosotros que responde a las preguntas siguientes en breve.

“.. Debido a que Jesús hacía estas cosas en sábado, los Judios le perseguían.” Una vez más, ¿cuáles fueron las cosas? Él sanó en sábado, y que pudo haber sido percibido como un trabajo. Debe haber querido decir algo más a la comunidad religiosa. Piense en el proceso de limpieza. Marcos nos da una pista cuando se nos muestra el hombre que viene a Jesús y le preguntó si le haría limpiar. Esa responsabilidad cayó sobre el capó sacerdote, y sin embargo, Jesús lo hizo. Jesús señaló cómo la corrupción eran, y que pudo haber visto una parte de su ira por la corrupción En la actualidad, cuando se limpió el templo de los cambistas y los vendedores de animales. Pero hizo algo más, ordenó al hombre a recoger a su lecho, y anda.

La palabra en griego, que se tradujo perseguido, es Dioko y los medios para perseguidor. Por implicación – de Perse lindo.
Ciertamente, la intención de Perse lindo él, pero hasta entonces, empezaron a seguirlo con la intención de hacerse cargo de él. Esto se evidencia por el hecho de que Junior se fue arriba por todas partes, tratando de atraparlo, y que le permiten decir algo que podrían haber matado a.

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Thoughts on John 5:16

Posted on 02/07/2012 by remso

Paolo Veronese - Healing of the Lame Man at th...

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(John 5:16) So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him.

Jesus comes into the pool area, on purpose, but we do not really know that. God has a reason for everything, and this may be no different.

Did he pick out the man and the site because it represented how broken and abused the Jews and their religion were at the time?

Was the man singled out, like Judas, knowing that he would rat out the Savior after being healed?

The man was clearly a Jew, because the first place he goes after being healed is the temple. I suppose it is like being in shock after a car crash, you may not make the clearest decisions, but you go to the familiar place, in his case the temple.

Had he been put out and declared unclean because of his illness, and was now going to the temple to show them, hoping to be declared clean, and reestablished back into the community.

The crazy part of his return to the temple is that he carried his mat with him. That mat had been his close friend for many years, and he may not be thinking so straight.

Now to give him the benefit of the doubt I will use myself as an example. Working at the hardware store I am asked for help constantly. I listen to the customers descriptions to find out what they need from me (Jesus asked questions of others about the man). If I do not understand (the vague way the man answered Jesus makes me think that he did not understand either) I continue to ask questions until I see that I am not going to get any further (When the man responded, logically, but indirectly, to Jesus question about being well, Jesus changed tactics and ordered him to his feet). At that point I run with what I know. The problem with that is that the picture in my head may lead me to grab the objects at hand, because they are familiar, they make sense, but they have led me in the opposite direction of where I need to be.

If you did not know who healed you, or how, and you were a Jew, what might you do? Go to the temple. At this point what else does he have, family? I do not think so, for he said he had no one to put him in the water.

Back to the verse. “… because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath,..”

What did Jesus do? He came, he saw, he asked questions about the man, he healed the man, and he told him to take up his bedroll.

Carrying the bedroll around on the Sabbath was a bad thing. Jesus knew the law, he spoke it; everyone else knew that, and yet the man did it anyway. Why? At least he was obedient.

Exodus 20:10 (NIV) “but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.”

Jeremiah 17:21 (NIV) “This is what the LORD says: Be careful not to carry a load on the Sabbath day or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem.”

Deuteronomy 5:13 (NIV) “Six days you shall labor and do all your work,”

This passage is difficult, for we want to understand what was happening here.

It appears that Jesus broke his own laws. Fortunately for us he answers the ensuing questions shortly.

“..because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him.”

Again, what were the things?

He healed on the Sabbath, and that may have been perceived as work. It must have meant something else to the religious community.

Think about the cleansing process. Mark gives us a clue when he shows us the man coming to Jesus and asking him if he would make him clean. That responsibility fell upon the priesthood, and yet Jesus did it. Jesus pointed out how corrupt they were, and we may have seen a part of his anger over their corruption when he cleaned the temple of money changers and animal sellers.

But he did something else, he ordered the man to pick up his bed and walk.

The word in Greek, that was translated persecuted, is dioko, and means to pursue. By implication – to persecute.

They certainly intended to persecute him, but until then they began to follow him with the intent to overtake him. This is shown by the fact that they showed up everywhere he went, trying to trip him up, and catch him saying something that they could have him killed for.

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You will never believe this, unless someone shows it to you.

Posted on 02/04/2012 by remso

Acts 13:14-41

I knew I could not do it. I jumped back into the book of Acts once again, determined to read through it briskly. What a joke that is for me.

As I sat a dinner reading, and yes, marking up my bible, a couple walks in. He must have noticed the bible right off the bat, either that or he was just friendly, because he gave me a nod. About 15 minutes later he walked over to the table, and asked the usual question, “That is a bible, right? Are you a pastor?” Yes, this is a bible, and no, I am not a pastor.

I know what is on my mind when I approach somebody reading what appears to be a bible. I really want to hear them tell me how great their God is. Perhaps it would be best if I did not put my ideals on others. What I mean is, this dear man may have just wanted to make an acknowledging contact; that seems benign enough. But here you are talking to me, and with no purpose?

Seriously, – I am reading the book of Acts now, and though I have read it many times, it has come alive like never before. I feel as though I have looked through God’s lens as Peter came off that rooftop in Joppa, and as I have read Paul I see that he let no opportunity slip by. If you walked up to his table, you were going to get Jesus Christ preached to you.

I will warn you now. If you open the door in front of me, I will walk through it, and I did with this man. There was an awkward moment of silence, as the mind, unprepared, decides what to say next. He said, “I am a Christian too.” I said, “then you should be aware that the King is coming quickly, and it is imperative that we put out the clarion call for people to get ready.”

He just stood there looking at me. A couple of seconds passed when I said, “then let me point something out to you. Matthew 25 tells us of ten virgins with oil lamps, all intending to go to the wedding, but five run out of oil. The remaining five were called in and the door was closed behind them, leaving the other five effectively locked out. I do not know with certainty what that oil is, but I know I want it. I believe that it is vital, and necessary. What if that oil is nothing more than zeal, passion, desire, attentiveness, and drive to have all of Jesus Christ that a man can handle?”

(If you have an understanding of God’s word then your head should be screaming at you, at this point. We are told that our cup will overflow, and that out of our inner being will flow rivers of living water. So, I implore you to pursue all you can get.)

Again, he just looked at me. A couple of seconds passed and he said, “I go to the Baptist church over here in San Dimas.” Our conversation was over, and he went back to his table. Strangely, even though I invited back to sit with me anytime you see me, he never made eye contact again, but his wife did.

(As an addendum – I had my father read this just to see if I am making any sense. Trust me, he will tell me if I do not. The first thing he says is, “you were too harsh on that man.” Yes, Paul was way to harsh on the Jews as well, but then that is my opinion and not Gods. What did Jesus tell them? Look it up – Matthew 10:34-37.)

I made it to Acts chapter 13.

Something that is dominant in my thinking is that the Apostles, and the multitudes of disciples, did not have Bibles, they were the bible. The acts that they did, in faith, were becoming the bible. Really, they were our examples of what to do.

What advantage did they have?

For several years the Apostles had the idea that God only intended this message for the Jews; after all He was their messiah. The Jews understood the serious nature of their status, and mandated that Jewish children go to synagogue schooling, where they were required to memorize, and have a working knowledge of the law and prophets. Saul/Paul was an honor student, with high hopes. He may have had dreams of becoming the high priest someday, I do not know, but I know he was good.

You saw evidence of this education as Stephen gave the high council a precise history of Israel, and included some things that are not common knowledge to us, but caused these learned men no grief. Now we see Saul/Paul, entering into the synagogue in Antioch, on the Sabbath, along with Barnabas. Paul too is about to deliver a history lesson, but this time with a spin on it.

I have a moment’s hesitation as Paul, who moved quickly into the realm of the Gentiles, is now doing what I perceive as something that would exclude the gentiles from receiving the message.

Paul’s “habit” of entering the synagogue tells me that there something richly important that we are missing, by not understanding the Jewish traditions, and that preaching to the house of Israel is still vitally important to him.

As you read through the passage you will see Paul do something else that puzzles me, for he addresses the “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who worship God,”. Gentiles were not allowed in the synagogue, but converted ones were. Who were these men? Our clue comes from the phrase “who worship God,”.

The gospel had been preached in Antioch by Paul and Barnabas for about a year,and I can assure you that they made a huge impact.

As I noted earlier, the early church was the bible that we now read, so they were preaching a good news of Jesus Christ, with signs and wonders following.

What is good news to a legalistic Jew? Freedom. They knew that sacrifices were only temporary relief from a bondage to sin. They understood this better than anyone. That is why they made more rules, bringing more bondage.

What is good news to a person who does not live under the laws? Health, love, freedom from mental anguish, knowledge that there is a hope, and the understanding that they can have a peace with God.

So what do we see happening in the early church? They followed Jesus example of going about and doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil.

What we see is action!

Open your bibles and let’s dive in.

Bracketed and italicized wording is mine.

Acts 13:14-41 NIV From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch.

On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down.

  1. After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”

    [Perhaps they have a guest speaker policy in this synagogue. I noticed that Paul and Barnabas came in and quietly sat down to listen and I suppose, take part. When the leadership called upon Paul and company to speak they opened the door, and Paul walked through it.]

  2. Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! (17) The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power he led them out of that country; (18) for about forty years he endured their conduct in the wilderness; (19) and he overthrew seven nations in Canaan, giving their land to his people as their inheritance. (20) All this took about 450 years. “After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. (21) Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years.

    (22) After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’

    [After, is from the Greek word – kata: meaning “according to”. Jesus was precisely this. God himself honored his Son in saying that he was well pleased. Jesus told them that he only did the Father’s will. Acts 13:22 KJV ….. a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.]

(23) “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised.

[Matthew 1:1-16 The lineage of Joseph. Luke 3:23-38 pulled from Mary’s family lineage.]

(24) Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. (25) As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for. But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’

[John the Baptist spoke of his coming.]

(26) “Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.

[The Jews were the ones chosen by God. As you read through the book of Acts you see some exclusivity on the part of the early church and it’s leadership. Peter’s vision of the unclean things, made it clear that all were included.]

(27) The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.

[The blindness is suffocating. How is it that you can read it, and not see it. They carried out what God had planned like a skilled actor.]

(28) Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed.

[Matthew 27:16-23; Mark 15:7-14; John 18:40; Acts 3:14]

(29) When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb.

[God so prescribed their every action, even to laying him in a tomb.]

(30) But God raised him from the dead,

[Decisively]

(31) and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people.

[This is one of the establishing aspects that anchors our hope and faith, that what He said is true. I will come back for you so that you may be with me.]

(32) “We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors (33) he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: “‘You are my son; today I have become your father.’

[What God promised, he has fulfilled. He has kept his word, and he proved it by raising Jesus from the dead.]

(34) God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said, “‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’

(35) So it is also stated elsewhere: “‘You will not let your holy one see decay.’

[Having become one in Christ through faith in him, are we not now the holy ones? If so then we will not see decay either.]

 (36) “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. (37) But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.

(38) “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.

(39) Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to get under the law of Moses.

(40) Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you:

(41) “‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.'”

 We Christians should all understand that we have obtained forgiveness of sins through Jesus, but for some reason, we act like it is temporary. We worry about our state of readiness; we preach about sin in our churches, as though there are some that are not so proficient at it. LISTEN, we all know how to sin, we do it daily, our selfishness proves that out. We were born in sin, almost like that chicken you are making soup out of. BUT, the message of Jesus is good news.

Allow me to state it one more time, loudly. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin.If we are to believe his word then we have to believe it all. If we are to preach good news then lets preach it all.

I must tell you a story that I have told before; perhaps this is new to you. As a young man, growing up in church, we were “forced” to go out to neighborhood doors, and try to win the lost, and get them into church by preaching this “good news” that we were taught.

I do not remember any door but one. I was so shy back then, and desperately wanted to fit in. I considered many of these kids to be cool, even when they were necking under the blankets on the church bus.

We approached a door, and a hippie popped his head out. (This was the late 60’s the age of Aquarius, get it.) He listened politely to the spill and said no thank you.

 What were we offering him?

I do not even know, but the reaction of the others to his polite rejection was atrocious, as they now threw rants at him about his going to hell. They all left, and I just stood there. I think mostly from shock. I would not have appreciated any of that either. He turned to me and said, “what do you have to say?”, I said, “I am so sorry”, and I turned and walked away.

I will tell you this, that incident scarred me. I have never wanted to see that happen again, and I have never wanted to be a part of anything like that.

A little time has passed since I started this paper, and another incident occurs to me. I had gone to a Christian retreat in the mountains. I really love being there. I believe this might have been my second time, so it did not have that rookie feel to it. Chow line was always long, but there was always a mountain of food. You could get involved in some great conversations or listen in on others. This particular year there were some “bikerish” looking Christians there. This idea that we have to keep up our intimidation appearance puzzles me. These guys are preaching to the choir, in a sense, for they were pushing a technique for bringing people to the Lord, coercing them to admit their rotten sinful ways. I understand, more now than before, what they were doing. They were trying to light a fire, as I do, but after moving out in the Holy Spirit with an acquaintance of theirs, they pulled me into their circle under false pretense and started this garbage on me. Perhaps I was not as sanctified as I thought, but I told them that what they did in asking over to their table was deceptive and wrong. I rudely got up and walked away.

 Coming to realize that Jesus Christ paid a sufficient price for the worlds sins, makes me think that our approach to the world is completely backward. Paul told those self-righteous Jews, and devoutly religious Gentiles, that anyone who believes in Jesus Christ, the last sacrifice, is from that point forward completely freed from sin.

 How is that possible?

It is so because either Jesus was enough, and we know he was, or this whole thing is a farce and there is nothing but the hell that this earth has to offer.

 Do you not begin to see why God had the prophet make such a statement. ‘I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’ Many of you reading this have said in your hearts, that this is not so, but it is. I know this because I listen to the radio pastors constantly preaching about sin. Why don’t they try preaching about life, and hope, those are the things people struggle with; sinning is easy, living victoriously is hard.

The people milling about around you, have been forgiven, they merely need to know it, and accept the one who paid for it. This should change and turn your world upside.

 Preach Jesus, the same Jesus who went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed of the devil. This last half of this sentence is whole other can of worms, but if you are paying attention, anyone who needs a healing has the devil tormenting them in some form.

Preach Jesus – He came as stated; he did what he said he would do; he followed the Father’s will explicitly; he was murdered according to scripture; he rose from the dead, just as he said he would; he came back and was witnessed by over 500+ people (Paul knew some of these guys.); he sent the Holy Spirit, as he said he would, and he is coming back for us, to rescue us from the wrath that is to come, so that we can be with him in heaven, as he said.

 He is coming back for those who wish to be his bride, and pursue him. Everyone else, though not judged for sins, will not have the opportunity to escape through the grace we now have, but will have to prove their allegiance, most likely, at the edge of a sword.

 Preach Jesus, for there is life and freedom in him alone.

Posted in Freedom from sin, Thoughts, Thoughts on scripture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Now is the time to step forward.

Posted on 01/31/2012 by remso

I chose to return recently to a bible study that I was a regular attendee at for several years. I left because I wanted depth and I was not getting it, so I moved on. I also had an irregular work schedule that kept me away at times.

I happen to think that God has everything planned out, and even my random choice to go the bible study that night was destined to be.

I walked in and found everyone intently writing something on paper. A couple of the men acknowledged me and one jumps up to give me a hug. I can be terrible at times, and so I started harassing them about taking a test and how the test is now over. They told me to wait and all would be explained in a moment, and, I would get to take part.

The exercise is one that missionaries have explained the Christians, in a particular communist country, with limited bibles, do.

They all copy the passage(s) exact, then recopy that verse in a way that they might use to share this truth with others on the street, and then make a point of putting it into practice throughout the week.

Here is the passage:

Ephesians 4:17-24 NIV So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. (18) They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. (19) Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. (20) That, however, is not the way of life you learned (21) when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. (22) You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; (23) to be made new in the attitude of your minds; (24) and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Asked to rewrite this, possibly like Eugene Peterson might. I wrote this.

Because God is that important to me, and I am deeply concerned about the condition of your soul, I implore you to not live as the world does.

I understand you want to be accepted and blend in, but you are choosing to follow their useless thinking when you do this.

Think about the things they say, it is proof that their way of thinking is clouded and their actions prove that God has no place in their lives. They will only bring you down to their level.

The pursuits of those that do not believe are evidence that they have given themselves over to selfish desires, and they do not care who they injure in their pursuits.

Greed consumes their every thought, as they go through life. It is only themselves that they think about.

Living a wretched life like this is not what I taught you. You have been taught to rise above.

Using Jesus as the example of a truthful, rich, full life I explained to you that there is hope and satisfaction in knowing Him.

Remember that I explained how you became remade at the moment you gave yourself to Christ; Christ, the one who loves you and gave himself for you, desiring only the best for you as you emulate his life.

Clinging to that old way of can do nothing more than destroy any progress you have made in him.

Pursue him wholeheartedly, allowing Him to create a new image on the inside of you and watch the changes overwhelm you as he trains you to be the king you were meant to be.

We then had to read this back to the group.

I will tell you that I wrote as if God/Paul had talked to me, and I was in tears before I could finish writing. When I read it back I was in tears, because it spoke to me as well.

God moves through me as I give out words of encouragement to people.

This gift, if you must call it something, is not that difficult, for Revelation 19:20 tells us that the testimony of Jesus Christ, is the spirit of prophecy. Therefore, if you give someone encouragement from scripture, are you not prophesying over them. Declaring those things that be not, as though they were.

I stepped forward and spoke specifically into the lives of two men. Upon direction from the Holy Spirit, I asked the younger of them, what is your dream and hope for the future? He responded with, I want to be a drug and alcohol counselor. I immediately stood to my feet, commanded him to stand, and when he did not, walked over to him, held out my hand, and lifted him up. I spoke words of life and wisdom over him, and anointed him by the laying on of my hands, to walk in the ways and wisdom of the Lord.

What will become of him? That is God s business, for I did my job.

I am writing this down as a legacy and instructions.

God has called you forth, and you have struggled, not knowing what to do or who to ask. There may be no one human that will be able to give you the answers that you desire outside of the Holy Spirit, and there will be more than enough detractors, telling you that you cannot.

You are going to have to learn to trust the Holy Spirits ability to speak into your life. Ask him to speak to in simple matters, He will. You will then have act upon those things. Do not get stupid on me, be real and reasonable. You already know when to use the toilet, but there is no doubt that He can use that moment as well.

There is nothing that we do that does not have God’s hand involved.

Peter stood before the crowds, many of the detractors, and said,

Acts 2:13-17 NIV Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” (14) Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. (15) These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! (16) No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: (17) “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

The last days are upon us, and that certainly includes you.

Now is the time for those who have the calling upon them, and those who want the best that God has to offer, to step forward. Be bold, and brave.

Will you suffer for it? No doubt. Killing off God s anointed has always been the response of the non-believing religious zealots.

Live for Him like there is no tomorrow. You will find it to be the most exhilarating thing you have ever done in your life.

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If my God gets magnified, then there is nothing minor about it.

Posted on 01/29/2012 by remso

 

A look into the book of Acts

Acts 7:42

Stephen, standing before the high council, is responding to their demand as to whose authority he is operating under.He presents them with the longest discourse in scripture, giving a fairly concise history of Israel.

Unlike the reaction that the Apostle got, where the council determined they were unlearned men, this is never said of Stephen. The things that Stephen said were not challenged until he pointed out that they were the murderers of Jesus Christ, the Just one.

Although I do not remember most of what he said, Dr. Chuck Misler, spoke about this discourse as one that carried the central themes, and some hidden treasures to be gleaned about Israel. An example: Stephen is the one that notes in Acts 7:18 that everything changed for Israel when “another king arose, which knew not Joseph.” Who was this guy? History has now shown us, but for centuries the answer to this question lay hidden in the earth.

Consider that gleaning comes after the normal harvest, and if you have witnessed a harvest then you know that something is always left, whether it falls to the ground, or is simply bypassed.

I got hooked into going to breakfast at the place where the “ex” goes. I used to go hang out there with the older men. Fortunately they are Christians, but we never talked about the goodness of God. Never! That did not stop me from trying, but I always got shot down. One of the brothers there had come out of a Christ based cult that operates in a militaristic fashion. In a sense he escaped. He now attends a church that is slightly more liberal, but still has a hard time with grace.

If I must be here then I will attempt to bring up my Lord, once again.

Don’t look at me like that! 

I have come to realize that it is not just me, but anyone who is enthusiastic about something (motorcycles, cars, sports) will talk about it, constantly. I don’t do sports! So, I took my bible and note pad. Bert (I will call him that to protect his secret identity – evil grin.) glared at me.

We talked about a gun that blew up because of Chinese bullets. He showed us a picture of it on his new phone; others talked about life in general. In the last couple of minutes that I was there, the opportunity arose to say something about my Lord so I pointed to my pad, mentioning that I write constantly, and this is one of the latest things I have been looking at, Stephens discourse to the high council.

Quickly pointing out the amazing wealth of information that one can gain from the briefest of stops. (An example for me is, writing six pages on one verse. Not that I set out to do that, but I write what the spirit is showing me.) My old buddy Bert (as Ernie from Sesame Street used to say.) immediately goes into a quiet tirade about people that major on minor things that are not essential to our Christian walk.

  1. That makes the huge assumption that you know what I am talking about. Seeing as I had not made any point at all before he jumped in, he was operating on pure assumption.
  2. If what I was talking about was so minor, and no I did not even get that out of my mouth before he dove in. Why then was it important enough for Stephen, under the influence of the Holy Spirit to divulge this information to the High council? And why does the Holy Spirit seem to think that we needed to know this? You cannot deny that it is in here. There is information given in Stephens discourse that we do not readily see anywhere else in scripture.
  3. I am standing right there in front of him, and yet he made his tirade generic, as though I did not exist, and therefore would not notice how extraordinarily hurtful his comment was, especially directed at another Christian.

“Why do people focus on minor things that have little to no impact on our Christian walk?”

I tapped on my pad, looked him in the eyes, and said, “are you talking about this scripture I am referring to?”If you have something to say, then say it to my face. I am not a good apologist and everyone around you will probably think that you won your battle by humiliating me, and really, isn’t that the point; you making every else think that your right and dominant. Perhaps then they will worship you too.

I just turned and walked out. Dad was the one that brought me, and he is now getting into his car. Catching up quickly, I reiterated to him why I will probably never go back there again.

A thought just popped into my head, so I am writing it. This example that I just gave is indicative of the Laodicean church. They are lukewarm, lazy, and do not care. I am not a pastor, for if I were then my heart would cry out daily in pleas for them to repent and return to the Living God. And yet, if you read my posts, I believe that this is exactly my heart.

I know this about me, I do not have the patience to beat my head against such walls of apathy.

If my God gets magnified then there is nothing minor!

Now to the passage.

Open your bibles to Acts 7:42. I always wanted to say that.

Acts 7:42 KJV Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?

 Before I carry on, I have something I need to say. I have been looking at this for several days, pondering its significance, and weighing the negative inputs. In other words I am taking an internal beating in which Satan, if I may say that, is trying to get me to back down.

I don’t know what to call it, depression, insecurity, or the possibility that my ex-girlfriend was right; I am just full of myself. If you knew me, then you would know how much of an internal struggle I go through, and what a lack of confidence I have.

It is the feedback that I get from others, across the globe, that tells me otherwise. I truly believe that I am doing what God has asked me to do. That being said, and gotten off my chest, I plow on.

Still considering Stephens recap of Israel’s history, he describes the scene when Moses comes off the mount to find most of Israel worshiping a golden calf that they created. (A sorry aspect of this scene includes Aaron’s lame excuse of throwing the gold into the fire, and this popped out. Who would have thought. – My judgmental side would have eliminated Aaron along with them.)

Stephen gets rather specific with the identities of these gods, Molech and Rephan.

Molech, though having several spellings is easy enough to find,

Molech – Fire-gods appear to have been common to all the Canaanite, Syrian and Arab tribes, who worshiped the destructive element under an outward symbol, with the most inhuman rites.

According to Jewish tradition, the image of Molech was of brass, hollow within, and was situated without Jerusalem. “His face was (that) of a calf, and his hands stretched forth like a man who opens his hands to receive (something) of his neighbor. And they kindled it with fire, and the priests took the babe and put it into the hands of Molech, and the babe gave up the ghost.” (Smith’s bible dictionary)

Leviticus 20:2-3 KJV Again, thou shalt saSvenska: Molok English: Molochy to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones. (3) And I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.

Leviticus 20:5-6 KJV Then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all that go a whoring after him, to commit whoredom with Molech, from among their people. (6) And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.

If this is what Moses saw, as he came down off the mountain, then it is surprising to me that Aaron was not consumed with most of Israel that day, or at the least, Moses did not throw the tablets directly at Aaron’s head.

Do you not begin to get a feel for God’s possible reasons for anger if he finds them;

  1. Acting against explicit instructions,
  2. Dancing around a cow headed idol called Moloch,
  3. Roasting their children in this monstrous things arms. All of which is horror, whether God told them not to or not. When you factor in Jesus receiving little children you should get a better feel for the heart and character of God.

Matthew 19:13-14 GNB Some people brought children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and to pray for them, but the disciples scolded the people. (14) Jesus said, “Let the children come to me and do not stop them, because the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

The word Rephan, which is the other name that the NIV translators used, has caused me some grief.

Just try and find a direct reference to this spelling; you won’t. The KJV spells it Remphan, and that one will score a hit in the Strong’s concordance. This is also a reference to Amos 5:26, but here the god mentioned is Chiun, the star god, which they made.

Two things to note here:

“…God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven;..”

There is nothing polite about the word turned, as used here. The Greek word is strepho, meaning to literally turn  “worship the host of heaven”. That sounds benign enough, and after all, that is where God lives, right. But the inquiring mind should also be thinking about other aspects that have been included in the “host of heaven”.

  1. We know that there are a host of angels in heaven. The shepherds got a dose of their singing when Jesus was born.
  2. Originally Lucifer/Satan, along with another third of the “host of heaven” got tossed out.
  3. And there are the physical objects of heaven, such as stars, planets, and an expanding universe.

As I looked at translations that could help define this host of heaven aspect, it seemed that no one really hit the nail on the head for me, therefore I give you a couple of them.

Acts 7:42 GW “So God turned away from them and let them worship the sun, moon, and stars. This is written in the book of the prophets: ‘Did you bring me sacrifices and grain offerings in the desert for 40 years, nation of Israel?

 This would certainly be in line with the meanings implied in both the word Remphan and Chiun.

As I continued pondering this passage, the other aspect that jumps at me almost looks like a question. But why would God ask them a question, unless it is one that does not require an answer. When I looked at other translations it appears as a statement, and suddenly it makes not only more sense, but at the same time rocks my assumptions of how Israel lived, during those 40 years of wandering. I give you the adjoining verse to help clarify this.

Acts 7:42-43 CJB So God turned away from them and gave them over to worship the stars — as has been written in the book of the prophets, ‘People of Isra’el, it was not to me that you offered slaughtered animals and sacrifices for forty years in the wilderness! (43) No, you carried the tent of Molekh and the star of your god Reifan, the idols you made so that you could worship them. Therefore, I will send you into exile beyond Bavel.’

 Forty years of acting out a part. This tells me that the majority still had their hearts and heads embedded in Egypt, and the pagan ways they lived there. God rescued them for something better. My Sunday school education did not convey this to any degree. The way Israel performed is beyond my imagination. They carried, and set up their own temple to Molekh, at the same time Aaron was setting up God’s temple. This is something that you do not see until you get to Stephens discourse.

I can hear many of you challenging this concept. Even stating that if it is not clearly stated in scripture then it did not happen, and should not be considered. Consider this. Stephen made these statements before men more skilled in the law and prophets than he, and NONE of them contradicted or disputed with him about these aspects. They did have Stephen murdered because he called them murderers, in reference to Jesus.

“So God turned away from them and gave them over …” Verse 43 of chapter 7 says, “..Therefore, I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.”

If you have read the saga of Israel’s trek through the wilderness, did you ever see God leaving them, or abandoning them? No, and God does not lie, so you do eventually see them go into captivity.

This has to be another one of those situations where God makes a clear cut statement, but withholds his judgment, because of some act of repentance and contriteness of heart. Read the story, and you will find that the only heart that God gives consideration to is Moses, who pleads with God on behalf Israel.

If you are looking for an example to back this concept up then look no further than Jonah.

Jonah’s entire angst over delivering this prophetic word of destruction, which he most likely was all in favor of, had to do with his understanding that God would show these people mercy, which is exactly what he did, at that time. Don’t kid yourself, God did not let their bad behavior pass. Nineveh was consumed, and only recently have they uncovered traces of that place.

There has to be point or there is no purpose. In reading a book about better writing, they instruct you to know your audience. Do I know you? Only in the spirit. God has been very specific about telling me about you. There are those who have a strong understanding of scripture and gain much encouragement from these words, but there are those who live there whole lives in church, dependent upon someone telling them what they can and cannot do. Does that mean you are incapable of making decisions? No, for some of you run your own businesses, but you do not have a clue as to the heart and character of God.

Many of you are absolutely shaken by the events around you, and know this, they are only going to get worse. In opposition to the unfounded belief that there is no hope for you if should miss the “rapture”. (Trust me on this, you will know when it happens, whether you go or stay.) The Holy Spirit is not taken off this earth, for God is continuing to draw people unto himself, and that is a clear cut act of the Holy Spirit.

Joel chapter 2 tells us:

Joel 2:28-29 KJV And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: (29) And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

This entire chapter, which Peter quoted in the second chapter of Acts, saying, “this prophecy has been fulfilled in your ears”, is about the second coming of Jesus Christ, and is a time of judgment upon the earth, as well as a time of darkness and gloom. A time after the rapture of the church.

Those that come to him now, have the advantage of this age of grace that we are under. That all ends on that day. And anyone wishing to live a life with the Father, after the rapture, will have to pay full price for admission. Jesus paid with his life and blood so that we do not have too. I fully recommend that you take full advantage of that.

God turned his back on Israel, because they turned their backs on him. Will God turn his back on you? Never, for you see, Christ died for us while we were ungodly, and unlovable, paying that horrid price to give us life.

Religion will tell you that you are a sinner. Oh, you sin, of that there is no doubt, but God paid the price for that sin, regardless of when or where. Do your sins affect others? Certainly, are you stupid. You can see the look on their faces as they limp away, but for sin you will not be judged.

Religion will fight me on this. Why? Because religion does not believe that God is capable of doing what he said he would do, and that is not losing you to the world, and it’s ways. At some point you have to decide that God is big enough, and truthful enough to do what he said. He already proved himself when Jesus gave up his life on that cross.

Scripture does tell me that there is a judgment coming, but it is based upon people’s actions and heart. We are so ready to send people to hell. Yes, there is a hell, but it was not made for you, therefore you have the choice not to go there. Hell was made for Satan and the angels that rebelled against God. Those that follow him, are doing exactly what Satan had hoped for, and that was to make that loser their god. As a follower of Satan you are entitled to the same reward that he has coming.

The Great Tribulation time is not going to be anything less than horrific, but those that call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. There will be those that are not killed because of their (possibly new found) faith. And even then, I see a merciful God sorting out those that demonstrated a God like heart when they offered a drink of water, visited someone in prison, fed the poor, and generally acted in some manner other than pure selfishness.

Stephens discourse is meant to show us what not to do, plain and simple. Is it easy? Generally yes. Are there speed bumps along the way? Absolutely, but knowing that God will never leave you or forsake you should give you a little comfort, as you pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and re-educate yourself.

I wrote a note to a friend recently and quoted from a powerful source. Allow me to give it to you now.

Ten Bears: These things you say we will have, we already have.
Josey Wales: That’s true. I ain’t promising you nothing extra. I’m just giving you life and you’re giving me life. And I’m saying that men can live together without butchering one another.
Ten Bears: It’s sad that governments are chiefed by the double tongues. There is iron in your words of death for all Comanche to see, and so there is iron in your words of life. No signed paper can hold the iron. It must come from men. The words of Ten Bears carries the same iron of life and death. It is good that warriors such as we meet in the struggle of life… or death. It shall be life.
(Memorable quotes for The Outlaw Josey Wales)

Here is the truth in the above quote. No signed paper can hold the words of life, they only come from God. Fortunately he had those words put on paper so that we can quickly find them, and run back to the life in them. God words are words of iron. Do you realize what that means? Strength unimaginable. These are not mere words, but words paid for by the blood of His son. Paid for to guarantee a life for those who will run to the words of life.

Stephen told that council that God gave Israel lively words. When you pursue the depth of meaning in what Stephen said, you find that it means following those words, words of iron, bring life.

Run to life.

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