In the book of John, Jesus says:
John 14:10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
The key focus in this text is when Jesus says: "The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority." We could probably read all that Jesus said in about 2 or 3 hours, or perhaps maybe even quicker depending on how fast we read. If you have one of those Bibles which has His words highlighted in red, it is even easier to read them. I believe that in order to get closer to God we need to focus greatly and deligently on any word or words which Jesus spoke. The four gospels have the largest percentage of Jesus's words. I believe that we need to inscribe these words in our hearts and minds beacuse they focus on Gods will for this planet. When Jesus taught us how to pray he said In Mathew :
Mathew 6:10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
In closing, this entire creation is about God's plan.... We need to fall into His plan, He does not fall into our plan no matter how hard you wish to pray to have it changed. Therefore, as Jesus said: "The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority."If we want to hear God's voice then we should start by reading Jesus's words. After all, we are called Christians when we deny ourselves as Jesus said in Mathew:
Mathew 16:24 Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Moreover, we have to let our light shine, and our light is Jesus...the light of the world who stepped down into darkness, and opened our eyes to let us see.
Mathew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Reference:
ESV Bible
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
thanks e-sword
I am really very grateful for Rick Meyers and e-sword for really giving me the electronic edge on my scriptural searches...may God bless you greatly and abundantly.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
On Tithing
In 2009, we are not under the Law, Jesus said In Luke 16:16: “the Law and the prophets was until John the Baptist (voice crying in the Wilderness in Isaiah).”John the Baptist died about 2000 years ago.
Luke 16:16 says:
"The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it ( ESV Bible).”
Churches collect tithe. People give tithe and it is the Law. If we wish to be under the Law then we should follow it completely. What does the Bible say on Tithing?
Deuteronomy 26: 11-12says:
“And thou shalt rejoice in all the good which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thy house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is in the midst of thee.
When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithe of thine increase in the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, to the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be satisfied ( JPS Tanakh),”
The tithe from the increase on the third year was to be divided into 4 parts (the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow) according to the law. In other words 2.5%+2.5%+2.5%+2.5%= 10%, that is how you split that into 4 parts.
Should we give? Yes, it is better to give than to receive. If you are not under the Law God may ask you to give more or less, we should hear His voice to know what we are to give. The Pharisees followed the Law, but what did Jesus say about them and tithing?
Mathew 23: 23 says:
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others (ESV Bible).”
Jesus said that tithing was not as important as judgment, mercy, and faith. I have heard many messages where Finances have been taken out of the context of Gods word, and that is why I wrote this thus far. If anything I would be more concern that Jesus does not call me the following: “Woe unto you, scribe and Pharisee, hypocrite!”
Next time you hear God asking you to give, give what he asks you to give….
We must give! But, if you wish to give under the Law then read what Jesus said about the Law in Luke 16: 16-17….
Luke 16:16 says:
"The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it ( ESV Bible).”
Churches collect tithe. People give tithe and it is the Law. If we wish to be under the Law then we should follow it completely. What does the Bible say on Tithing?
Deuteronomy 26: 11-12says:
“And thou shalt rejoice in all the good which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thy house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is in the midst of thee.
When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithe of thine increase in the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, to the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be satisfied ( JPS Tanakh),”
The tithe from the increase on the third year was to be divided into 4 parts (the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow) according to the law. In other words 2.5%+2.5%+2.5%+2.5%= 10%, that is how you split that into 4 parts.
Should we give? Yes, it is better to give than to receive. If you are not under the Law God may ask you to give more or less, we should hear His voice to know what we are to give. The Pharisees followed the Law, but what did Jesus say about them and tithing?
Mathew 23: 23 says:
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others (ESV Bible).”
Jesus said that tithing was not as important as judgment, mercy, and faith. I have heard many messages where Finances have been taken out of the context of Gods word, and that is why I wrote this thus far. If anything I would be more concern that Jesus does not call me the following: “Woe unto you, scribe and Pharisee, hypocrite!”
Next time you hear God asking you to give, give what he asks you to give….
We must give! But, if you wish to give under the Law then read what Jesus said about the Law in Luke 16: 16-17….
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Apologetics?
I do not know if you are a believer or not, but Apologetics is basically defending the faith. What faith? Well, if you read some of the writings on here, you will find out. If you have questions, ask them, and I will try to give you the best answer I possibly can. I am not Lee Strobel, Ravi Zacharias or Billy Graham, but I will try to answer you. I will try to always post things I feel should be said. I hope you enjoy your visit, and may God bless you....
do we eat too much, and is it a sin?
Well eating too much might not be one of the six abominations as it says in the book of Proverbs:
Pro 6:16 There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: Pro 6:17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, Pro 6:18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, Pro 6:19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
But, when we research Sodom which was destroyed by God in the book of Genesis because of sin, then we see that fulness of bread and not helping the poor and the needy was their sins as Ezekiel says:
Eze 16:49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom: pride, fulness of bread, and careless ease was in her and in her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. Eze 16:50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before Me; therefore I removed them when I saw it.
Strange, but in the foregoing verses, homesexuality is not even mentioned as some tend to believe was the problem. Sin is sin no matter if it is heterosexual or homosexual.
Perhaps all of these things are the reason Jesus says the following in Mathew:
Mat 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, Mat 25:36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'
Somehow, I seem to tie all these things together as something to think and act on.
References:
JPS Tanakh
ESV Bible
Pro 6:16 There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: Pro 6:17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, Pro 6:18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, Pro 6:19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
But, when we research Sodom which was destroyed by God in the book of Genesis because of sin, then we see that fulness of bread and not helping the poor and the needy was their sins as Ezekiel says:
Eze 16:49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom: pride, fulness of bread, and careless ease was in her and in her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. Eze 16:50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before Me; therefore I removed them when I saw it.
Strange, but in the foregoing verses, homesexuality is not even mentioned as some tend to believe was the problem. Sin is sin no matter if it is heterosexual or homosexual.
Perhaps all of these things are the reason Jesus says the following in Mathew:
Mat 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, Mat 25:36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'
Somehow, I seem to tie all these things together as something to think and act on.
References:
JPS Tanakh
ESV Bible
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
on fasting
Mathew 9:15 says:
And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.
Acts 1:11 says:
and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
My thought on both of these verses is that the bridegroom has been taken away, and we do not know when He will return; however, we should be fasting because of the fact that for now, He has been taken away.
Reference:
ESV Bible
And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.
Acts 1:11 says:
and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
My thought on both of these verses is that the bridegroom has been taken away, and we do not know when He will return; however, we should be fasting because of the fact that for now, He has been taken away.
Reference:
ESV Bible