Thursday, October 31, 2013
Heaven
You and/or your who family may have gone to Church all of your life but if you hope for eternal life in God’s kingdom of Heaven then YOU had better be sure that you know God by reading & following His word the Bible
Matt
Matt 24:45
Who qualifies for the job of overseeing the kitchen? A person the Master can depend on to feed the workers on time each day
Matt
Matt 24:43-44
You know that if the homeowner had known what time of night the burglar would arrive, he would have been there with his dogs to prevent the break-in. 44 Be vigilant just like that. You have no idea when the Son of Man is going to show up.
Matt
Matt 24:37-39
37 "The Arrival of the Son of Man will take place in times like Noah's. 38 Before the great flood everyone was carrying on as usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded the ark. 39 They knew nothing — until the flood hit and swept everything away.
Matt
Matt 24:13
Staying with it — that's what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry, and you'll be saved.
So it's not good to think that you are "saved" now!
Matt
Matt 23:9-10
Don't set people up as experts over your life, letting them tell you what to do. Save that authority for God; let him tell you what to do. No one else should carry the title of 'Father'; you have only one Father, and he's in heaven. 10 And don't let people maneuver you into taking charge of them. There is only one Life-Leader for you and them — Christ.
Matt
This is about God’s role to us as humans:
Matt 23:8
You all have a single Teacher, and you are all classmates
Matt
Matt 22:37-40
37 Jesus said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' 38 This is the most important, the first on any list. 39 But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' 40 These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them."
Matt
Matt 22:32
The living God defines himself not as the God of dead men, but of the living.
And we are living so He’s our God now!
Matt
Matt 22:29-30
29 Jesus answered, "You're off base on two counts: You don't know your Bibles, and you don't know how God works. 30 At the resurrection we're beyond marriage. As with the angels, all our ecstasies and intimacies then will be with God.”
Matt
Matt 22:1-14
Jesus responded by telling still more stories. 2 "God's kingdom," he said, "is like a king who threw a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent out servants to call in all the invited guests. And they wouldn't come!
4 "He sent out another round of servants, instructing them to tell the guests, 'Look, everything is on the table, the prime rib is ready for carving. Come to the feast!'
5 "They only shrugged their shoulders and went off, one to weed his garden, another to work in his shop. 6 The rest, with nothing better to do, beat up on the messengers and then killed them. 7 The king was outraged and sent his soldiers to destroy those thugs and level their city.
8 "Then he told his servants, 'We have a wedding banquet all prepared but no guests. The ones I invited weren't up to it. 9 Go out into the busiest intersections in town and invite anyone you find to the banquet.' 10 The servants went out on the streets and rounded up everyone they laid eyes on, good and bad, regardless. And so the banquet was on — every place filled.
11 "When the king entered and looked over the scene, he spotted a man who wasn't properly dressed. 12 He said to him, 'Friend, how dare you come in here looking like that!' The man was speechless. 13 Then the king told his servants, 'Get him out of here — fast. Tie him up and ship him to hell. And make sure he doesn't get back in.'
14 "That's what I mean when I say, 'Many get invited; only a few make it.'"
In this story God used something that could be seen for us to understand it but He was actually referring to faith in Him
Matt
Matt 21:43
God's kingdom will be taken back from you and handed over to a people who will live out a kingdom life on Earth
Matt
Matt 21:33-42
There was once a man, a wealthy farmer, who planted a vineyard. He fenced it, dug a winepress, put up a watchtower, then turned it over to the farmhands and went off on a trip. 34 When it was time to harvest the grapes, he sent his servants back to collect his profits.
35 "The farmhands grabbed the first servant and beat him up. The next one they murdered. They threw stones at the third but he got away. 36 The owner tried again, sending more servants. They got the same treatment. 37 The owner was at the end of his rope. He decided to send his son. 'Surely,' he thought, 'they will respect my son.'
38 "But when the farmhands saw the son arrive, they rubbed their hands in greed. 'This is the heir! Let's kill him and have it all for ourselves.' 39 They grabbed him, threw him out, and killed him.
40 "Now, when the owner of the vineyard arrives home from his trip, what do you think he will do to the farmhands?"
41 "He'll kill them — a rotten bunch, and good riddance," they answered. "Then he'll assign the vineyard to farmhands who will hand over the profits when it's time."
42 Jesus said, "Right — and you can read it for yourselves in your Bibles.”
Matt
Matt 21:28-32
"Tell me what you think of this story: A man had two sons. He went up to the first and said, 'Son, go out for the day and work in the vineyard.'
29 "The son answered, 'I don't want to.' Later on he thought better of it and went.
30 "The father gave the same command to the second son. He answered, 'Sure, glad to.' But he never went.
31 "Which of the two sons did what the father asked?"
They said, "The first."
Jesus said, "Yes, and I tell you that crooks and whores are going to precede you into God's kingdom. 32 John came to you showing you the right road. You turned up your noses at him, but the crooks and whores believed him. Even when you saw their changed lives, you didn't care enough to change and believe him.
Matt
Matt 21:22
Absolutely everything, ranging from small to large, as you make it a part of your believing prayer, gets included as you lay hold of God
Matt
Matt 21:21
21 But Jesus was matter-of-fact: "if you embrace this kingdom life and don't doubt God
...THIS kingdom life...
Matt
Matt 20:28
the Son of Man has come to serve, not be served — and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage
and I am His body so this is why I’m here now
Matt
Matt 20:28
the Son of Man has come to serve, not be served — and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage
Matt
Matt 20:1-16
"God's kingdom is like an estate manager who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 They agreed on a wage of a dollar a day, and went to work.
3 "Later, about nine o'clock, the manager saw some other men hanging around the town square unemployed. 4 He told them to go to work in his vineyard and he would pay them a fair wage. 5 They went.
"He did the same thing at noon, and again at three o'clock. 6 At five o'clock he went back and found still others standing around. He said, 'Why are you standing around all day doing nothing?' 7 "They said, 'Because no one hired us.'
"He told them to go to work in his vineyard.
8 "When the day's work was over, the owner of the vineyard instructed his foreman, 'Call the workers in and pay them their wages. Start with the last hired and go on to the first.'
9 "Those hired at five o'clock came up and were each given a dollar. 10 When those who were hired first saw that, they assumed they would get far more. But they got the same, each of them one dollar. 11 Taking the dollar, they groused angrily to the manager, 12'These last workers put in only one easy hour, and you just made them equal to us, who slaved all day under a scorching sun.'
13 "He replied to the one speaking for the rest, 'Friend, I haven't been unfair. We agreed on the wage of a dollar, didn't we? 14 So take it and go. I decided to give to the one who came last the same as you. 15 Can't I do what I want with my own money? Are you going to get stingy because I am generous?'
16 "Here it is again, the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first."
Matt
Matt 19:26
26 Jesus looked hard at them and said, "No chance at all of getting into God’s kingdom if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it."
so it's not what YOU do, it's what God does!
Matt
Matt 18:23-35
The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. 24 As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. 25 He couldn't pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market.
26 "The poor wretch threw himself at the king's feet and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' 27 Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt.
28 "The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, 'Pay up. Now!'
29 "The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' 30 But he wouldn't do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. 31 When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king.
32 "The king summoned the man and said, 'You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. 33 Shouldn't you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?' 34 The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. 35 And that's exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy
Matt
Matt 18:17
If he won't listen to the church, you'll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God's forgiving love.
the need for repentance AND God’s forgiving love!
Matt
Matt 18:8-9
You're better off maimed or lame and alive than the proud owners of two hands and two feet, godless in a furnace of eternal fire. 9 And if your eye distracts you from God, pull it out and throw it away. You're better off one-eyed and alive than exercising your twenty-twenty vision from inside the fire of hell.
Matt
Matt 18:1-3
At about the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, "Who gets the highest rank in God's kingdom?"
2 For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, 3 and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in
Matt
Matt 17:19-20
19 When the disciples had Jesus off to themselves, they asked, "Why couldn't we throw it out?"
20 "Because you're not yet taking God seriously," said Jesus
Why couldn’t WE throw it out? Not why didn’t God throw it out?
There ARE a few people who have lived AND died who have taken God seriously
Matt
Matt 17:19-20
19 When the disciples had Jesus off to themselves, they asked, "Why couldn't we throw it out?"
20 "Because you're not yet taking God seriously," said Jesus
Why couldn’t WE throw it out? Not why didn’t God throw it out?
Matt
Matt 17:12
treated him like dirt, the same way they are about to treat the Son of Man
if Jesus was treated like dirt and we are His body then we will be treated like dirt too!
Matt
Matt 16:27
You'll get everything you have coming to you, a personal gift.
We haven’t received “the gift” yet
Matt
Matt 16:27
Don't be in such a hurry to make something special of yourself. Before you know it the Son of Man will arrive with all the splendor of his Father, accompanied by an army of angels
Matt
Matt 16:26
26 What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?
Matt
Matt 16:24
24 Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am
We are raised specifically to think that WE are in the drivers seat!
Matt
Matt 16:17-18
17 Jesus came back, "God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. 18 And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.
… You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers…
Matt
Matt 15:8-9
8 people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn't in it. 9 They act like they're worshiping me, but they don't mean it. They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy
Matt
Matt 14:29-30
Peter walked on the water to Jesus. 30 But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, "Master, save me!"
What we CAN SEE will scare & confuse us!
Matt
Matt 14:25
At about four o'clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water
This made no sense & they weren’t used to seeing this!
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
opinions
In life on Earth there IS room for all opinions but not all opinions get Eternal life in Heaven
food
Instead of celebrating food as something special that God has given people it has been made something that requires a specific education and talents to prepare it and IF you have all that then you get a lot of attention AND money
learning
Human people don’t hesitate to do anything necessary to learn because that learning gets them more money on Earth which only makes things better for a short time but only a few people learn from God in His word which gets you Heaven and eternal life forever
Matt
Matt 13:37-39
"The farmer who sows the pure seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, the pure seeds are subjects of the kingdom, the thistles are subjects of the Devil, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, the curtain of history. The harvest hands are angels.
Matt
Matt 13:24-30
God's kingdom is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. 25 That night, while his hired men were asleep, his enemy sowed thistles all through the wheat and slipped away before dawn. 26 When the first green shoots appeared and the grain began to form, the thistles showed up, too.
27 "The farmhands came to the farmer and said, 'Master, that was clean seed you planted, wasn't it? Where did these thistles come from?'
28 "He answered, 'Some enemy did this.'
"The farmhands asked, 'Should we weed out the thistles?'
29 "He said, 'No, if you weed the thistles, you'll pull up the wheat, too. 30 Let them grow together until harvest time. Then I'll instruct the harvesters to pull up the thistles and tie them in bundles for the fire, then gather the wheat and put it in the barn.'
Matt
Matt 13:19-23
19 When anyone hears news of the kingdom and doesn't take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person's heart. This is the seed the farmer scatters on the road.
20 "The seed cast in the gravel — this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. 21 But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.
22 "The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it.
23 "The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams
Matt
Matt 12:38-39
Later a few religion scholars and Pharisees got on him. "Teacher, we want to see your credentials. Give us some hard evidence that God is in this. How about a miracle?"
39 Jesus said, "You're looking for proof, but you're looking for the wrong kind. All you want is something to titillate your curiosity, satisfy your lust for miracles. The only proof you're going to get is what looks like the absence of proof: Jonah-evidence.
They wanted some eye candy!
Matt
Jesus said:
Matt 12:30-31
30 "This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you're not on my side, you're the enemy; if you're not helping, you're making things worse.
31 "There's nothing done or said that can't be forgiven
Matt
Matt 12:18-21
18 Look well at my handpicked servant; I love him so much, take such delight in him. I've placed my Spirit on him; he'll decree justice to the nations. 19 But he won't yell, won't raise his voice; there'll be no commotion in the streets. 20 He won't walk over anyone's feelings, won't push you into a corner. Before you know it, his justice will triumph; 21 the mere sound of his name will signal hope, even among far-off unbelievers.
Are you a servant of Christ? I am!
Matt
Matt 11:27
27 Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. "The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does
So I listen & learn from the Son…
Matt
Matt 11:25-26
25 Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. 26 Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."
Matt
Matt 10:39
39 If your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me.
Matt
Jesus said:
Matt 10:37
37 If you prefer father or mother over me, you don't deserve me. If you prefer son or daughter over me, you don't deserve me.
Matt
Jesus said:
Matt 10:34-35
34 Don't think I've come to make life cozy. I've come to cut — 35 make a sharp knife-cut between son and father, daughter and mother, bride and mother-in-law — cut through these cozy domestic arrangements and free you for God.
…free you for God…
Matt
Matt 10:32
Stand up for me against world opinion and I'll stand up for you before my Father in heaven
against world opinion…
Matt
Matt 10:28
Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life — body and soul — in his hands
I do, do you? or do you just depend on money?
Matt
Jesus said:
Matt 10:21
When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family
When people see that you’re not eye candy…
Matt
Matt 10:16
Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning you. You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don't call attention to yourselves
don't call attention to yourselves
Matt
Matt 10:8
You have been treated generously, so live generously
For us to just be alive we have been treated generously
Matt
Matt 10:5
5 Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands
Humans call them apostles but God calls them harvest hands
the final judgment
At the final judgment there will be many people who will THINK that they lived God’s way but are outsiders to His grace and I don’t want to be like that because it's too late then so rather than waiting and hoping OR relying on human opinions I read & follow God’s word now!
Matt
Matt 9:25
when Jesus had gotten rid of the crowd, he went in, took the girl's hand, and pulled her to her feet — alive
Matt
Matt 9:12-13
12 Jesus, overhearing, shot back, "Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? 13 Go figure out what this Scripture means
Jesus ALWAYS referred people to the Scriptures which is no surprise because the Scriptures are God's word!
the final judgment
At the final judgment there will be many people who will THINK that they lived God’s way but are outsiders to His grace and I don’t want to be like that because it's too late then so rather than waiting and hoping I read & follow God’s word now!
Matt
Matt 8:12
those who grew up 'in the faith' but had no faith will find themselves out in the cold, outsiders to grace and wondering what happened
Matt
Matt 8:2-4
a leper appeared and went to his knees before Jesus, praying, "Master, if you want to, you can heal my body."
3 Jesus reached out and touched him, saying, "I want to. Be clean." Then and there, all signs of the leprosy were gone. 4 Jesus said, "Don't talk about this all over town. Just quietly present your healed body to the priest, along with the appropriate expressions of thanks to God. Your cleansed and grateful life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done."
Matt
Jesus said:
Matt 7:22-23
22 I can see it now — at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, 'Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.' 23 And do you know what I am going to say? 'You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don't impress me one bit. You're out of here.'
Matt
Matt 6:25
living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body
Matt
The Son of God said:
Matt 6:24
You can't worship God and Money both
do you believe what He says?
Matt
Jesus said:
Matt 6:9-13
9 With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this: Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. 10 Set the world right; Do what's best — as above, so below. 11 Keep us alive with three square meals. 12 Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. 13 Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You're in charge! You can do anything you want! You're ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes.
NOTICE THERE IS NOTHING IN THERE LIKE: be sure that you give me what I want! NO! It's about making you able to serve Him
Matt
Matt 6:5
when you come before God, don't turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat?
Matt
Jesus said:
Matt 6:1
Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won't be applauding.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Matt
Jesus said this regarding prayer to God:
Matt 6:8
This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need
Matt
Matt 6:5
when you come before God, don't turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat?
Matt
Matt 6:3-4
3 When you help someone out, don't think about how it looks. 4 Just do it — quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.
Matt
Matt 5:48
Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.
Matt
Jesus said this regarding God’s word:
Matt 5:19
take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom
Matt
Matt 5:18
18 God's Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God's Law will be alive and working.
Matt
Matt 5:14-16
You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. 15 If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. 16 Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand — shine!
Matt
Jesus said:
Matt 5:13
Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.
Matt
Matt 5:1-12
When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down 2 and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:
3 "You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
4 "You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
5 "You're blessed when you're content with just who you are — no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.
6 "You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.
7 "You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'carefull,' you find yourselves cared for.
8 "You're blessed when you get your inside world — your mind and heart — put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
9 "You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.
10 "You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.
11 "Not only that — count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. 12 You can be glad when that happens — give a cheer, even! — for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.
Matt
Matt 4:18-19
18 Walking along the beach of Lake Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers: Simon (later called Peter) and Andrew. They were fishing, throwing their nets into the lake. It was their regular work. 19 Jesus said to them, "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass."
Matt
Matt 4:17
Change your life. God's kingdom is here
It DOESN’T say to join a congregation OR call yourself a Christian! It says to CHANGE your life!
Matt
Matt 4:1
Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the Test. The Devil was ready to give it
If the Devil tested Jesus (God’s son) he will test you!
Matt
Matt 3:1-6
While Jesus was living in the Galilean hills, John, called "the Baptizer," was preaching in the desert country of Judea. 2 His message was simple and austere, like his desert surroundings: "Change your life. God's kingdom is here."
3 John and his message were authorized by Isaiah's prophecy:
Thunder in the desert!
Prepare for God's arrival!
Make the road smooth and straight!
4 John dressed in a camel-hair habit tied at the waist by a leather strap. He lived on a diet of locusts and wild field honey. 5 People poured out of Jerusalem, Judea, and the Jordanian countryside to hear and see him in action. 6 There at the Jordan River those who came to confess their sins were baptized into a changed life.
Matt
Matt 2:19-23
God's angel appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt: 20 "Up, take the child and his mother and return to Israel. All those out to murder the child are dead."
21 Joseph obeyed. He got up, took the child and his mother, and reentered Israel. 22 When he heard, though, that Archelaus had succeeded his father, Herod, as king in Judea, he was afraid to go there. But then Joseph was directed in a dream to go to the hills of Galilee. 23 On arrival, he settled in the village of Nazareth. This move was a fulfillment of the prophetic words, "He shall be called a Nazarene."
Matt
Matt 2:13-14
God's angel showed up again in Joseph's dream and commanded, "Get up. Take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt. Stay until further notice. Herod is on the hunt for this child, and wants to kill him."
14 Joseph obeyed. He got up, took the child and his mother under cover of darkness. They were out of town and well on their way by daylight
He believed but he also did something!
Matt
Matt 2:7-12
7 Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. 8 Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, "Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I'll join you at once in your worship."
9 Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. 10 They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time!
11 They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.
12 In a dream, they were warned not to report back to Herod. So they worked out another route, left the territory without being seen, and returned to their own country.
Matt
Matt 1:18-25
The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn't know that.) 19 Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced.
20 While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God's angel spoke in the dream: "Joseph, son of David, don't hesitate to get married. Mary's pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God's Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. 21 She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus — 'God saves' — because he will save his people from their sins." 22 This would bring the prophet's embryonic sermon to full term:
23 Watch for this — a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son;
They will name him Emmanuel (Hebrew for "God is with us").
24 Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly what God's angel commanded in the dream: He married Mary. 25 But he did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the baby Jesus.
Hag
Hag 2:4-5
The GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies is speaking! 5'Put into action the word I covenanted with you when you left Egypt
Zeph
Zeph 1:2-3
"I'm going to make a clean sweep of the earth, a thorough housecleaning." GOD's Decree. 3 "Men and women and animals, including birds and fish —Anything and everything that causes sin — will go, but especially people.”
the lineup
Jer 1:17
17 "But you — up on your feet and get dressed for work! Stand up and say your piece. Say exactly what I tell you to say. Don't pull your punches or I'll pull you out of the lineup .
I ONLY POST WHAT HE SAYS BECAUSE I DON’T WANT TO BE PULLED OUT OF THE LINEUP!
Monday, October 28, 2013
Mic
Mic 6:8
God's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what GOD is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don't take yourself too seriously — take God seriously.
Mic
Mic 2:11
11 If someone showed up with a good smile and glib tongue and told lies from morning to night — 'I'll preach sermons that will tell you how you can get anything you want from God: More money, the best wines . . . you name it' — you'd hire him on the spot as your preacher!
Jon
Jonah 3:10
10 God saw what they had done, that they had turned away from their evil lives. He did change his mind about them. What he said he would do to them he didn't do.
Belief AND works!
Jon
Jonah 1:17
Jonah was in the fish's belly three days and nights
Jesus was in the grave for three days and nights
Amos
Amos 6:6
6 Woe to those addicted to feeling good — life without pain! those obsessed with looking good — life without wrinkles!
Amos
Amos 5:14
You talk about GOD, the God-of-the-Angel-Armies, being your best friend. Well, live like it, and maybe it will happen
Amos
God said:
Amos 2:10
I'm the One who delivered you from Egypt, led you safely through the wilderness for forty years
Hos
Hos 13:4
I'm still your GOD, the God who saved you out of Egypt. I'm the only real God you've ever known.
Hos
Hos 6:7
7 You broke the covenant — just like Adam!
If He said this then and God doesn’t change where does that leave us?
Hos
Hos 6:6
6 I'm after love that lasts, not more religion. I want you to know GOD, not go to more prayer meetings.
Hos
Hos 1:2
The first time GOD spoke to Hosea he said: "Find a whore and marry her. Make this whore the mother of your children. And here's why: This whole country has become a whorehouse, unfaithful to me, GOD."
If this is in the Bible and God felt this way then do you think that has changed?
Sunday, October 27, 2013
whitewashing that requires money
Things that require money to buy are now being used as things for whitewash. No matter if it is human or otherwise-even cars, clothes, makeup, education, etc. they are being used by humans for whitewash
opinions
In the Bible Adam & Eve listened to Satan’s opinion and chose to do something that God their creator told them not to do and they all got punished by God so we don’t want to do the same thing so read what God says in the Bible and DON’T LISTEN TO OPINIONS!
whitewash
Whitewash is used to make things look better and the scriptures (God’s word) explain whitewashing a lot. On the Earth whitewashing things is VERY popular in fact ALL television shows, movies, books, commercials, basically everything that is to be shown to humans is whitewashed so that when it is seen by humans it looks the best. This is fine for things that we make but it doesn’t work when we try to whitewash ourselves as humans because God created us to be just as we are. There is no need to be more than we were created to be
being whatever you want
In God’s word it negatively says that ANYONE WITH ENOUGH MONEY could be whatever they want and today ANYONE WITH ENOUGH MONEY can be whatever they want-so is that negative?
making somthing special of yourself
Noah didn’t make any money OR make something visually special of himself when he built the ark,-he simply did what he was told to do. Do we?
depend
People depend on money to make something of themselves BUT they forget that they were created to be the person that they are and they depend on schools to make them special enough for life rather than simply depending on their creator and the way they created and purpose for which they were created in the first place
the law
According to society the law is just as important to people today as it was for people in the Bible then
Dan
Dan 9:15
you are our God, for you delivered your people from the land of Egypt in a show of power
Dan
Dan 9:14
You, our GOD, had a perfect right to do this since we persistently and defiantly ignored you.
This is in the word of God. If Daniel said this back then then what is happening now?
Dan
Dan 8:25
when he takes on the Prince of all princes, he'll be smashed to bits — but not by human hands
…when Satan tries to take on Jesus…
Dan
Dan 7:13-14
13 My dream continued. "I saw a human form, a son of man, arriving in a whirl of clouds. He came to The Old One and was presented to him. 14 He was given power to rule — all the glory of royalty. Everyone — race, color, and creed — had to serve him. His rule would be forever, never ending. His kingly rule would never be replaced.
THIS WAS THE STORY ABOUT JESUS!
Dan
Dan 6:25-27
25 King Darius published this proclamation to every race, color, and creed on earth: Peace to you! Abundant peace! 26 I decree that Daniel's God shall be worshiped and feared in all parts of my kingdom. He is the living God, world without end. His kingdom never falls. His rule continues eternally. 27 He is a savior and rescuer. He performs astonishing miracles in heaven and on earth. He saved Daniel from the power of the lions
Again-saying and doing are very different! His words probably earned him a great deal of respect from the people but did it earn him a place in God’s kingdom?
Dan
Dan 6:25-27
25 King Darius published this proclamation to every race, color, and creed on earth: Peace to you! Abundant peace! 26 I decree that Daniel's God shall be worshiped and feared in all parts of my kingdom. He is the living God, world without end. His kingdom never falls. His rule continues eternally. 27 He is a savior and rescuer. He performs astonishing miracles in heaven and on earth. He saved Daniel from the power of the lions
Again-saying and doing are very different!
Dan
Dan 6:24
24 Then the king commanded that the conspirators who had informed on Daniel be thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children
BUT did he develop faith?
Dan
Dan 6:23
He ordered Daniel taken up out of the den. When he was hauled up, there wasn't a scratch on him. He had trusted his God
There was nothing to see! Hmm, that reminds me of God…
Dan
Dan 4:17
God rules human kingdoms. He arranges kingdom affairs however he wishes, and makes leaders out of losers
Dan
Dan 4:1
King Nebuchadnezzar said to everyone, everywhere — every race, color, and creed
Saying and doing are different and doing something for God means nothing to Him--it's your heart that must change
Dan
Dan 3:28-30
28 Nebuchadnezzar said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel and rescued his servants who trusted in him! They ignored the king's orders and laid their bodies on the line rather than serve or worship any god but their own.
29 "Therefore I issue this decree: Anyone anywhere, of any race, color, or creed, who says anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be ripped to pieces, limb from limb, and their houses torn down. There has never been a god who can pull off a rescue like this." 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
Nebuchadnezzar did many very nice human things but did he develop faith?
Dan
Dan 3:27
All the important people, the government leaders and king's counselors, gathered around to examine them and discovered that the fire hadn't so much as touched the three men — not a hair singed, not a scorch mark on their clothes, not even the smell of fire on them!
Something that they could see!
Dan
Dan 3:16-17
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, "Your threat means nothing to us. 17 If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us from your roaring furnace and anything else you might cook up
Dan
Dan 2:48-49
48 Then the king promoted Daniel to a high position in the kingdom, lavished him with gifts, and made him governor over the entire province of Babylon and the chief in charge of all the Babylonian wise men. 49 At Daniel's request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to administrative posts throughout Babylon, while Daniel governed from the royal headquarters.
Hmm, sounds like Joseph…
Dan
Dan 2:24
24 So Daniel went back to Arioch, who had been put in charge of the execution. He said, "Call off the execution!
The execution included many more people than Daniel and his friends! So he saved others just like Jesus did.
Dan
Dan 2:26-28
26 The king asked Daniel (renamed in Babylonian, Belteshazzar), "Are you sure you can do this — tell me the dream I had and interpret it for me?"
27 Daniel answered the king, "No mere human can solve the king's mystery, I don't care who it is — no wise man, enchanter, magician, diviner. 28 But there is a God in heaven who solves mysteries, and he has solved this one
Dan
Dan 2:19-23
Daniel blessed the God of heaven, 20 saying, "Blessed be the name of God, forever and ever. He knows all, does all: 21 He changes the seasons and guides history, He raises up kings and also brings them down,he provides both intelligence and discernment, 22 He opens up the depths, tells secrets, sees in the dark — light spills out of him! 23 God of all my ancestors, all thanks! all praise! You made me wise and strong. And now you've shown us what we asked for. You've solved the king's mystery."
Dan
Dan 2:17-19
17 Daniel then went home and told his companions Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what was going on. 18 He asked them to pray to the God of heaven for mercy in solving this mystery so that the four of them wouldn't be killed along with the whole company of Babylonian wise men.
That night the answer to the mystery was given to Daniel in a vision. Daniel blessed the God of heaven
Dan
Dan 1:17
17 God gave these four young men knowledge and skill in both books and life. In addition, Daniel was gifted in understanding all sorts of visions and dreams
Dan
Dan 1:13
Make your decision on the basis of what you see
Daniel knew that he was dealing with a human!
Saturday, October 26, 2013
perfection?
There is a huge difference between God and humans! Humans demand, expect and require you to be exactly correct and perfect but God (who knows you BETTER than you know yourself) knows you well enough to base His evaluation not on what you do but on your intent and that’s the difference!
God knows you
God knows you better than you know yourself so if you intend one thing and do something else He knows it but humans are not the same—with humans what you do must be exactly correct!
Noah
At the time of Noah only a very few people in the entire world were saved and God never changes so at judgment it won’t be much different because God hasn’t changed
Eze
Ezek 20:44
you'll also realize that I am GOD when I respond to you out of who I am, not by what I feel
Eze
Ezek 11:12
Instead of following my ways, you've sunk to the level of the laws of the nations around you
The “way of the world”…
Eze
Ezek 8:18
They can shout all they want, but I'm not listening
Hmm, sounds like Eternal judgment…
Friday, October 25, 2013
God's glory
My main focus in life on Earth is God’s glory! I live my life for the purpose of promoting that
Jer
Jer 17:9-10
9 The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out. 10 But I, GOD, search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be."
Jer
Jer 11:4
4 The terms are clear. I made them plain to your ancestors when I delivered them from Egypt
Jer
Jer 2:36
You think it's just a small thing, don't you, to try out another sin-project when the first one fails?
Thursday, October 24, 2013
WOW!
To succeed eternally you must WOW God on Earth but to succeed in your life on Earth you must WOW people so God loses out on Earth and you lose out Eternally!
forever
It may seem to people on Earth that “forever” may be a time with no end on Earth BUT according to the Bible Earth will end and Eternity will never end thus the word forever has a meaning that doesn’t even include Earth!
eternity
With my main goal being my position in Eternity which can’t be seen it reminds me of God who can’t be seen…
Isa
God said:
Isa 66:2
there is something I'm looking for: a person simple and plain, reverently responsive to what I say
Isa
Isa 64:8
GOD, you are our Father. We're the clay and you're our potter: All of us are what you made us
Isa
Isa 55:8
8 "I don't think the way you think. The way you work isn't the way I work." GOD's Decree.
Isa
Isa 54:5
your Maker is your bridegroom, his name, GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies! Your Redeemer is The Holy of Israel, known as God of the whole earth
Isa
Isa 50:10
10 Who out there fears GOD, actually listens to the voice of his servant? For anyone out there who doesn't know where you're going, anyone groping in the dark, Here's what: Trust in GOD
God's kingdom
Heaven is God’s kingdom so if you want to go there then you’d better be supporting the king now on Earth!
Isa
God said:
Isa 30:15
Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Isa
Isa 17:10
you have forgotten God-Your-Salvation, not remembered your Rock-of-Refuge. even though you are very religious
Isa
Isa 7:14
A girl who is presently a virgin will get pregnant. She'll bear a son and name him Immanuel (God-With-Us)
Ecc
Eccl 11:5
5 Just as you'll never understand the mystery of life forming in a pregnant woman, So you'll never understand the mystery at work in all that God does.
Ecc
Eccl 8:15
The only earthly good men and women can look forward to is to eat and drink well and have a good time — compensation for the struggle for survival these few years God gives us on earth.
But we’re not earthly people-we’re eternal people!
Ecc
Eccl 8:12
I'm still convinced that the good life is reserved for the person who fears God, who lives reverently in his presence
Ecc
Eccl 8:3-4
Don't worryingly second-guess your orders or try to back out when the task is unpleasant. You're serving his pleasure, not yours. 4 The king has the last word
God is our king!
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Pro
Prov 20:24
24 The very steps we take come from GOD; otherwise how would we know where we're going?
Pro
Prov 15:33
33 Fear-of-GOD is a school in skilled living — first you learn humility, then you experience glory.
Pro
Prov 14:12
12 There's a way of life that looks harmless enough; look again — it leads straight to hell.
a Godly life
Just because you always have food on the table that doesn’t mean that you’re living a Godly life
pleasing our parent
Children always want very much to please their parent and as children of God we should very much want to please our parent who is God
Pro
Prov 3:5-7
5 Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. 6 Listen for GOD's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. 7 Don't assume that you know it all.
Psa
Ps 146:3-5
3 Don't put your life in the hands of experts who know nothing of life, of salvation life. 4 Mere humans don't have what it takes; when they die, their projects die with them. 5 Instead, get help from the God of Jacob, put your hope in GOD and know real blessing!
Psa - favorite!
This s my favorite thing in the Bible:
Ps 139
GOD, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. 2 I'm an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I'm thinking. 3 You know when I leave and when I get back; I'm never out of your sight. 4 You know everything I'm going to say before I start the first sentence. 5 I look behind me and you're there, then up ahead and you're there, too — your reassuring presence, coming and going. 6 This is too much, too wonderful — I can't take it all in!
7 Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? 8 If I climb to the sky, you're there! If I go underground, you're there! 9 If I flew on morning's wings to the far western horizon, 10 You'd find me in a minute — you're already there waiting! 11 Then I said to myself, "Oh, he even sees me in the dark! At night I'm immersed in the light!" 12 It's a fact: darkness isn't dark to you; night and day, darkness and light, they're all the same to you.
13 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb. 14 I thank you, High God — you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration — what a creation! 15 You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. 16 Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day.
17 Your thoughts — how rare, how beautiful! God, I'll never comprehend them! 18 I couldn't even begin to count them — any more than I could count the sand of the sea. Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you! 19 And please, God, do away with wickedness for good! And you murderers — out of here! — 20 all the men and women who belittle you, God, infatuated with cheap god-imitations. 21 See how I hate those who hate you, GOD, see how I loathe all this godless arrogance; 22 I hate it with pure, unadulterated hatred. Your enemies are my enemies!
23 Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I'm about; 24 See for yourself whether I've done anything wrong — then guide me on the road to eternal life.
Monday, October 21, 2013
all opinions
In life on Earth there is room for all opinions but not all opinions get eternal life with God in Heaven
responsibility
I have been given the purpose of teaching other human beings but I don’t have the weight of the world on my shoulders. It is a responsibility to do it but how it turns out is not my responsibility
focuing on God
If your focus is on what you can do that completely neglects what God can do and if you want to live eternally with Him then you don't want to do that!
focus
Focusing on what you have earned and deserve-thus ONLY on you just neglects the gifts that God gives to undeserving people.
life
Because we are eternal beings we must make a decision to either try to impress other human beings on Earth or impress God and since we want to live eternally with Him in Heaven-we should focus on Him!
Eternal
You MUST realize that you are an eternal being! Where you spend Eternity is up to you alone!
choices
There is a HUGE choice that you must make during your life on Earth! You can choose to make memories spending time either with God OR with Earthly things. If you choose to spend time with God you won’t be accepted by people on Earth but you may go to Heaven to live eternally with God, however if you choose to spend time on Earthly things while the people on Earth will accept you BUT you may not live eternally with God in Heaven
Psa
Ps 40:4
4 Blessed are you who give yourselves over to GOD, turn your backs on the world's "sure thing," ignore what the world worships
Psa
Ps 49:7-9
There's no such thing as self-rescue, pulling yourself up by your bootstraps. 8 The cost of rescue is beyond our means, and even then it doesn't guarantee 9 Life forever, or insurance against the Black Hole.
Psa
Ps 40:6
6 Doing something for you, bringing something to you — that's not what you're after. Being religious, acting pious — that's not what you're asking for.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
paradise
If I had a choice to have a paradise on Earth or a paradise in Heaven then I would choose to wait for a paradise in Heaven
WOW factor
Would I rather want an immediate earthly WOW factor or an Eternal WOW factor in Heaven? I would prefer an Eternal WOW factor in Heaven!
opinions
There’s room for all opinions in life on Earth but not all opinions gain eternal life in Heaven!
family
Jesus when told that His earthly family wanted to see Him said: “My family are those who do the will of my Father in Heaven” so when I needed help I went to my family not to earthly organizations
Psa
Ps 27:4
4 I'm asking GOD for one thing, only one thing: To live with him in his house my whole life long. I'll contemplate his beauty; I'll study at his feet.
Psa
Ps 14:6
6 Do you think you can mess with the dreams of the poor? You can't, for God makes their dreams come true.
Psa
Ps 1:1-3
How well God must like you — you don't hang out at Sin Saloon, you don't slink along Dead-End Road, you don't go to Smart-Mouth College. 2 Instead you thrill to GOD's Word, you chew on Scripture day and night. 3 You're a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, Never dropping a leaf, always in blossom.
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Heb
Heb 11:1
The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see
2 Chron
2 Chron 16:9
GOD is always on the alert, constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to him
2 Chron
2 Chron 12:1
12:1 By the time Rehoboam had secured his kingdom and was strong again, he, and all Israel with him, had virtually abandoned GOD and his ways.
This was Solomon’s son!
1 Chron
1 Chron 29:17
I know, dear God, that you care nothing for the surface — you want us, our true selves
Friday, October 18, 2013
our future
Life is much more than the “here and now” because the “here and now” only applies to our lives on Earth and we are eternal people so we must look beyond this Earth to properly plan our future
#1
Satan has made money #1 in our society but our creator has said that He is #1 in our lives and we expect to spend eternity with Him so we should listen to Him
2 Kings
2 Kings 19:35
an angel of GOD came and massacred a hundred and eighty-five thousand Assyrians
2 Kings
2 Kings 17:32
32 They honored and worshiped GOD, but not exclusively
Hmm, sounds like people today!
2 Kings
2 Kings 17:13
13 GOD had taken a stand against Israel and Judah, speaking clearly through countless holy prophets and seers time and time again, "Turn away from your evil way of life. Do what I tell you and have been telling you in The Revelation I gave your ancestors and of which I've kept reminding you ever since through my servants the prophets."
2 Kings
2 Kings 17:7
The children of Israel sinned against GOD, their God, who had delivered them from Egypt and the brutal oppression of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They took up with other gods
2 Kings
2 Kings 4:42-44
42 One day a man arrived from Baal Shalishah. He brought the man of God twenty loaves of fresh baked bread from the early harvest, along with a few apples from the orchard.
Elisha said, "Pass it around to the people to eat."
43 His servant said, "For a hundred men? There's not nearly enough!"
Elisha said, "Just go ahead and do it. GOD says there's plenty."
44 And sure enough, there was. He passed around what he had — they not only ate, but had leftovers.
2 Kings
2 Kings 3:16-17
16 He then said, "GOD's word: Dig ditches all over this valley. 17 Here's what will happen — you won't hear the wind, you won't see the rain, but this valley is going to fill up with water and your army and your animals will drink their fill.
1 Kings
1 Kings 19:11-12
A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before GOD, but GOD wasn't to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but GOD wasn't in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake fire, but GOD wasn't in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper
1 Kings
1 Kings 11:11-13
11 GOD said to Solomon, "Since this is the way it is with you, that you have no intention of keeping faith with me and doing what I have commanded, I'm going to rip the kingdom from you and hand it over to someone else. 12 But out of respect for your father David I won't do it in your lifetime. It's your son who will pay — I'll rip it right out of his grasp. 13 Even then I won't take it all; I'll leave him one tribe in honor of my servant David and out of respect for my chosen city Jerusalem."
1 Kings
1 Kings 11:1-6
11:1 King Solomon was obsessed with women. Pharaoh's daughter was only the first of the many foreign women he loved — Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite. 2 He took them from the surrounding pagan nations of which GOD had clearly warned Israel, "You must not marry them; they'll seduce you into infatuations with their gods." Solomon fell in love with them anyway, refusing to give them up. 3 He had seven hundred royal wives and three hundred concubines — a thousand women in all! And they did seduce him away from God. 4 As Solomon grew older, his wives beguiled him with their alien gods and he became unfaithful — he didn't stay true to his GOD as his father David had done. 5 Solomon took up with Ashtoreth, the whore goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech, the horrible god of the Ammonites.
6 Solomon openly defied GOD; he did not follow in his father David's footsteps
WOW!
Human beings financially support television networks where other human beings create things that others view and say: WOW! The problem with that is that God created everything and few people say: WOW!
Thursday, October 17, 2013
our job
God does not respond to us rather we respond to Him and if we hope to live eternally with Him in Heaven then that’s what we have to do during our lives on Earth—the Bible says so!
The Temple of God
When Solomon built the temple of God A LOT of attention was paid to how it looked and very little attention to how people should live therefore for people it became a hot place to be (eye candy) rather than focusing on how God wanted for people to live
1 Kings
1 Kings 6:11-12
11 The word of GOD came to Solomon saying, 12 "About this Temple you are building — what's important is that you live the way I've set out for you and do what I tell you, following my instructions carefully and obediently
So it wasn’t about the building it was about his life
1 Kings
1 Kings 4:29
God gave Solomon wisdom
It doesn’t say that he had wisdom because had a degree or went to this or that college-NO! It says that God gave him wisdom
1 Kings
1 Kings 3:28
that it was God's wisdom that enabled him to judge truly
…God’s wisdom NOT his wisdom!
1 Kings
1 Kings 3:3
Solomon loved GOD and continued to live in the God-honoring ways of David his father, except that he also worshiped at the local shrines, offering sacrifices and burning incense.
Except…
2 Sam
2 Sam 4:4
4 It so happened that Saul's son, Jonathan, had a son who was maimed in both feet. When he was five years old, the report on Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and ran, but in her hurry to get away she fell, and the boy was maimed. His name was Mephibosheth.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
competition
The huge difference between me & other people is that I see myself as a God created being for His purpose and so I don’t compete with other people but others just see themselves as individual human beings that were created by their parents and they deserve all the glory so they compete with each other to see who is the best
all opinions
In life in Earth there’s room for all opinions but not all opinions get eternal life in Heaven
1 Sam
1 Sam 16:22
22 Saul sent word back to Jesse: "Thank you. David will stay here. He's just the one I was looking for. I'm very impressed by him."
It doesn’t matter whether WE’RE impressed or not! What matters is that God is impressed!
1 Sam
1 Sam 16:13
The Spirit of GOD entered David like a rush of wind, God vitally empowering him for the rest of his life
1 Sam
1 Sam 16:11
11 Then he asked Jesse, "Is this it? Are there no more sons?"
"Well, yes, there's the runt. But he's out tending the sheep."
1 Sam
1 Sam 16:7
GOD told Samuel, "Looks aren't everything. Don't be impressed with his looks and stature. GOD judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; GOD looks into the heart."
1 Sam
1 Sam 15:22-23
Do you think all GOD wants are sacrifices —empty rituals just for show? He wants you to listen to him! Plain listening is the thing, not staging a lavish religious production. 23 Not doing what GOD tells you is far worse than fooling around in the occult. Getting self-important around GOD is far worse than making deals with your dead ancestors.
So how can you listen to God? READ THE BIBLE!
1 Sam
1 Sam 14:30
believe me
humans expect this to happen for their mortal selves but then they don’t believe in the ultimate power and majesty of God their creator
1 Sam
1 Sam 13:11-12
11 Samuel said, "What on earth are you doing?"
Saul answered, "When I saw I was losing my army from under me, and that you hadn't come when you said you would, and that the Philistines were poised at Micmash, 12 I said, 'The Philistines are about to come down on me in Gilgal, and I haven't yet come before GOD asking for his help.' So I took things into my own hands, and sacrificed the burnt offering."
REMEMBER IT’S GOD’S WILL AND NOT YOURS!
1 Sam
1 Sam 10:17-18
Samuel called the people to assemble before GOD at Mizpah. 18 He addressed the children of Israel, "This is GOD's personal message to you:
"I brought Israel up out of Egypt. I delivered you from Egyptian oppression — yes, from all the bullying governments that made your life miserable
And God doesn’t change…
1 Sam
1 Sam 10:9
9 Saul turned and left Samuel. At that very moment God transformed him — made him a new person!
1 Sam
1 Sam 9:2
2 He had a son, Saul, a mo st handsome young man. There was none finer — he literally stood head and shoulders above the crowd!
This is in the Bible to teach us what happens when we want what we view to be the best
1 Sam
1 Sam 8:19-20
19 But the people wouldn't listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We will have a king to rule us! 20 Then we'll be just like all the other nations. Our king will rule us and lead us and fight our battles."
Satan manages the Earth so you don’t want to be like everybody else
1 Sam
1 Sam 6:19-20
The whole town was in mourning, reeling under the hard blow from GOD, 20 and questioning, "Who can stand before GOD, this holy God? And who can we get to take this Chest off our hands?"
No one said: “what did we do?” NO! They placed blame on the chest instead of on themselves!
Jud
Judg 20:13-16
The Benjaminites refused to listen to their brothers, the People of Israel. 14 Instead they raised an army from all their cities and rallied at Gibeah to go to war against the People of Israel. 15 In no time at all they had recruited from their cities twenty-six divisions of sword-wielding infantry. From Gibeah they got 700 hand-picked fighters, the best. 16 There were another 700 super marksmen who were ambidextrous — they could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.
Humans wouldn’t DARE ask God for help! They think that they can do everything by themselves and their own abilities!
Jud
Judg 17:13
13 Micah said, "Now I know that GOD will make things go well for me — why, I've got a Levite for a priest!
God doesn’t help us because WE do certain things!
Jud
Judg 17:8
seeking his fortune
You already have God! A fortune is only an Earthly thing… Why would anyone need more than God?
Jud
Judg 17:3-4
3 As he returned the 1,100 silver pieces to his mother, she said, "I had totally consecrated this money to GOD for my son to make a statue, a cast god." 4 Then she took 200 pieces of the silver and gave it to a sculptor and he cast them into the form of a god.
She had not consecrated the money to God she has consecrated the money to something Earthly instead
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
everyone has their own personal opinions
Even though God created everything and He rules us everyone has their own personal opinions
personal pride
Personal pride will help you during your life on Earth but personal pride won’t help you at all in Eternity!
world
Since God chose Satan to manage the Earth then when something has the word: “world” in it I am rightfully turned off by it
I deserve this
Because our life is run not by our will but by God’s will we can NEVER say: “I deserve this!”
Jud
Judg 13:3
3 The angel of God appeared to her and told her, "I know that you are barren and childless, but you're going to become pregnant and bear a son
power
In the Bible God teaches us that humans DO have power over us on Earth BUT after that God will have power over us for an eternity
Jud
Judg 8:23
23 Gideon said, "I most certainly will not rule over you, nor will my son. GOD will reign over you."
Jud
Gideon said:
Judg 8:3
What have I done compared with you?"
When they heard this, they calmed down and cooled off.
So being the “best” or doing the “most” is not as important as people think
Jud
Judg 7:19-20
Gideon and his hundred men got to the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after the sentries had been posted. They blew the trumpets, at the same time smashing the jars they carried. 20 All three companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars
Was this action sufficient to win a battle? NO! But with God's help they won!
Jud
Judg 7:2
2 GOD said to Gideon, "You have too large an army with you. I can't turn Midian over to them like this.”
See? Your size doesn’t matter but your source does!
Jud
Judg 6:19
19 Gideon went and prepared a young goat and a huge amount of unraised bread
Unraised bread… Nothing to make it into something that it wasn’t already!
Jud
Judg 6:14-15
GOD faced him directly: "Go in this strength that is yours. Save Israel from Midian. Haven't I just sent you?"
15 Gideon said to him, "Me, my master? How and with what could I ever save Israel? Look at me. My clan's the weakest in Manasseh and I'm the runt of the litter."
It wasn’t up to him OR what he was OR what he could do—it was up to God!
Josh
Josh 24:29
29 After all this, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of GOD, died
God’s purpose for him was done
Josh
Josh 11:11
not a breath of life left anywhere
THIS is what happened in the Old Testament but in the New Testament we are alive forever so our destination is how it will be for us forever. I can't walk now on Earth but in Eternity I will!
Josh
Josh 11:1-6
11:1 When Jabin king of Hazor heard of all this, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon; to the king of Shimron; to the king of Acshaph; 2 to all the kings in the northern mountains; to the kings in the valley south of Kinnereth; to the kings in the western foothills and Naphoth Dor; 3 to the Canaanites both east and west; to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, and Jebusites in the hill country; and to the Hivites below Hermon in the region of Mizpah.
4 They came out in full force, all their troops massed together — a huge army, in number like sand on an ocean beach — to say nothing of all the horses and chariots. 5 All these kings met and set up camp together at the Waters of Merom, ready to fight against Israel.
6 GOD said to Joshua: "Don't worry about them. This time tomorrow I'll hand them over to Israel, all dead. You'll hamstring their horses. You'll set fire to their chariots."
It wasn’t up to Joshua…
Josh
Josh 10:42
Joshua took all these kings and their lands in a single campaign because GOD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.
It DOESN’T say that all this happened because he was so good…
Josh
Josh 10:5
5 So the five Amorite (Western) kings — the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon — combined their armies and set out to attack Gibeon.
They thought that strength was by position…
Josh
Josh 9:14
14 The men of Israel looked them over and accepted the evidence. But they didn't ask GOD about it.
Josh
Josh 9:12-13
12 "This bread was warm from the oven when we packed it and left to come and see you. Now look at it — crusts and crumbs. 13 And our cracked and mended wineskins, good as new when we filled them. And our clothes and sandals, in tatters from the long, hard traveling."
Personal AND false opinions
Josh
Josh 7:15
15 The person found with the cursed things will be burned
Hmm, sounds just like eternal life…
Josh
Josh 7:3
3 They returned to Joshua and reported, "Don't bother sending a lot of people — two or three thousand men are enough to defeat Ai. Don't wear out the whole army; there aren't that many people there."
Second guessing with opinions
Josh
Josh 7:3
3 They returned to Joshua and reported, "Don't bother sending a lot of people — two or three thousand men are enough to defeat Ai. Don't wear out the whole army; there aren't that many people there."
Second guessing
Josh
Josh 5:15
15 GOD's army commander ordered Joshua, "Take your sandals off your feet. The place you are standing is holy."
The same thing happened to Moses at the burning bush!
Josh
Josh 5:12
As soon as they started eating food grown in the land, there was no more manna for the People of Israel
Josh
Josh 4:1-3
4:1 When the whole nation was finally across, GOD spoke to Joshua: 2 "Select twelve men from the people, a man from each tribe, 3 and tell them, 'From right here, the middle of the Jordan where the feet of the priests are standing firm, take twelve stones. Carry them across with you and set them down in the place where you camp tonight.'"
God gave the humans some eye candy
Josh
Josh 3:15-16
When the priests got to the Jordan and their feet touched the water at the edge (the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest), 16 the flow of water stopped. It piled up in a heap — a long way off — at Adam, which is near Zarethan. The river went dry all the way down to the Arabah Sea (the Salt Sea). And the people crossed, facing Jericho.
The same thing that happened to the Red Sea!
Monday, October 14, 2013
Deu
Moses said:
Deut 29:14-15
14 I'm not making this Covenant and its oath with you alone. 15 I am making it with you who are standing here today in the Presence of GOD, our God, yes, but also with those who are not here today
That’s us!
Deu
Deut 19:15
You cannot convict anyone of a crime or sin on the word of one witness. You need two or three witnesses to make a case
And there are 2; God the Father an Jesus the Son
Deu
Deut 17:8
8 When matters of justice come up that are too much for you — hard cases regarding homicides, legal disputes, fights — take them up to the central place of worship that GOD, your God, has designated
It DOESN’T say to take them to court so you can judge them by the law!
Deu
Deut 17:6
No one may be put to death on the testimony of one witness
In the same way no one soul go to Hell because of an opinion of another human!
Deu
Deut 8:19
19 If you forget, forget GOD, your God, and start taking up with other gods, serving and worshiping them, I'm on record right now as giving you firm warning: that will be the end of you; I mean it — destruction
Deu
Deut 7:25
Don't get greedy for the veneer of silver and gold on them and take it for yourselves — you'll get trapped by it for sure. GOD hates it; it's an abomination to GOD
And God doesn’t change!
Deu
Deut 7:9
God you can depend upon. He keeps his covenant of loyal love with those who love him and observe his commandments
Deu
Deut 7:6
God chose you out of all the people on Earth for himself as a cherished, personal treasure.
This was for Israelites then but for Christians now
Deu
Moses said:
Deut 6:6-9
Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you 7 and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. 8 Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; 9 inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.
So is once per week worship enough?
Deu
Deut 6:5
5 Love GOD, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that's in you, love him with all you've got!
Deu
The Israelites said:
Deut 5:24-27
"Our GOD has revealed to us his glory and greatness. We've heard him speak from the fire today! We've seen that God can speak to humans and they can still live. 25 But why risk it further? This huge fire will devour us if we stay around any longer. If we hear GOD's voice anymore, we'll die for sure. 26 Has anyone ever known of anyone who has heard the Voice of GOD the way we have and lived to tell the story?
27 "From now on, you go and listen to what GOD, our God, says and then tell us what GOD tells you. We'll listen and we'll do it."
And that’s why we have the Bible!
Deu
Moses said:
Deut 3:26
But GOD was still angry with me
Now, knowing what Moses had already done for God don’t for a minute think that you are any different!
Deu
Deut 1:43
You rebelled at the plain word of GOD
Don’t do the same thing! God tells us what He wants for us to do in the Bible so like the physical land was to them your Eternal destination rides on your acceptance of what God has told you SO READ YOUR BIBLE!
Deu
Deut 1:34-35
When GOD heard what you said, he exploded in anger. He swore, 35 "Not a single person of this evil generation is going to get so much as a look at the good land that I promised to give them
God can say the same thing about Heaven!
Deu
Deut 1:28
Our brothers took all the wind out of our sails, telling us, 'The people are bigger and stronger than we are; their cities are huge, their defenses massive — we even saw Anakite giants there!
After they knew that God had freed them from slavery in Egypt they said this! We don’t want to do the same thing that they did!
Deu
Deut 1:28
Our brothers took all the wind out of our sails, telling us, 'The people are bigger and stronger than we are; their cities are huge, their defenses massive — we even saw Anakite giants there!
After they knew that God had freed them from slavery in Egypt they said this!
Deu
Deut 1:17
Don't play favorites; treat the little and the big alike; listen carefully to each. Don't be impressed by big names
Deu
Deut 1:1
1:1 These are the sermons Moses preached
I’ll bet that you didn’t know that Moses was a preacher…
Sunday, October 13, 2013
ta dah!
God created everything from nothing and that is completely outlined in the Bible but nowhere in the Bible does it say that He ever said: “ta dah!”
maximizing
If I only focused on maximizing my life on Earth I may miss out on maximizing my life in Eternity so my focus is VERY different!
maximize
Most people want to maximize their lives on Earth and they will do whatever it takes to get there but I want to maximize my life in Eternity and I will do whatever it takes to do that. My life on Earth is very short compared to my life in Eternity
looking ahead
Looking ahead for most people is what’s the next thing to do for their lives on Earth but for me it’s the next thing to do for my life in Eternity
dreams
People “dream” of many things that they want to experience during their lives on Earth but I “dream” of what I want to experience during my life in Eternity
Num
Num 35:30
no one can be executed on the testimony of only one witness
…and only one opinion is not valid either!
Num
Num 25:10-11
10 GOD spoke to Moses: 11 "Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has stopped my anger against the People of Israel. Because he was as zealous for my honor as I myself am
I want for God to say this about me!
Num
Num 22:38
38 Balaam said to Balak, "Well, I'm here now. But I can't tell you just anything. I can speak only words that God gives me — no others."
Me too!
Num
Num 22:5-6
Balak's emissaries said, "Look. A people has come up out of Egypt, and they're all over the place! And they're pressing hard on me. 6 Come and curse them for me — they're too much for me. Maybe then I can beat them; we'll attack and drive them out of the country. You have a reputation: Those you bless stay blessed; those you curse stay cursed."
People THINK that they know everything but they don’t because God does!
Num
Num 14:39-40
When Moses told all of this to the People of Israel, they mourned long and hard. 40 But early the next morning they started out for the high hill country, saying, "We're here; we're ready — let's go up and attack the land that GOD promised us. We sinned, but now we're ready."
You can’t do this in Eternity!
Num
Num 14:20-35
20 GOD said, "I forgive them, honoring your words. 21 But as I live and as the Glory of GOD fills the whole Earth — 22 not a single person of those who saw my Glory, saw the miracle signs I did in Egypt and the wilderness, and who have tested me over and over and over again, turning a deaf ear to me — 23 not one of them will set eyes on the land I so solemnly promised to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with such repeated contempt will see it.
24 "But my servant Caleb — this is a different story. He has a different spirit; he follows me passionately. I'll bring him into the land that he scouted and his children will inherit it.
25 "Since the Amalekites and Canaanites are so well established in the valleys, for right now change course and head back into the wilderness following the route to the Red Sea."
26 GOD spoke to Moses and Aaron: 27 "How long is this going to go on, all this grumbling against me by this evil-infested community? I've had my fill of complaints from these grumbling Israelites. 28 Tell them, As I live — GOD's decree — here's what I'm going to do: 29 Your corpses are going to litter the wilderness — every one of you twenty years and older who was counted in the census, this whole generation of grumblers and grousers. 30 Not one of you will enter the land and make your home there, the firmly and solemnly promised land, except for Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
31 "Your children, the very ones that you said would be taken for plunder, I'll bring in to enjoy the land you rejected 32 while your corpses will be rotting in the wilderness. 33 These children of yours will live as shepherds in the wilderness for forty years, living with the fallout of your whoring unfaithfulness until the last of your generation lies a corpse in the wilderness. 34 You scouted out the land for forty days; your punishment will be a year for each day, a forty-year sentence to serve for your sins — a long schooling in my displeasure.
35 "I, GOD, have spoken. I will most certainly carry out these things against this entire evil-infested community which has banded together against me. In this wilderness they will come to their end. There they will die."
This same thing will happen in Eternity!
We can’t think that what we can see with our own eyes is more powerful than God!
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Exo
Ex 17:3
the people were thirsty for water there. They complained to Moses, "Why did you take us from Egypt and drag us out here with our children and animals to die of thirst?"
we’ve got to be careful that we’re not just like them! After their salvation they still complained to Moses!
Exo
Ex 16:11-12
11 GOD spoke to Moses, 12 "I've listened to the complaints of the Israelites. Now tell them: 'At dusk you will eat meat and at dawn you'll eat your fill of bread; and you'll realize that I am GOD, your God.'"
Exo
Ex 16:8
8 Moses said, "Since it will be GOD who gives you meat for your meal in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, it's GOD who will have listened to your complaints against him. Who are we in all this? You haven't been complaining to us — you've been complaining to GOD!"
It wasn’t just manna but I’ve ONLY been told that it was in Church!
Exo
Ex 14:15-18
15 GOD said to Moses: "Why cry out to me? Speak to the Israelites. Order them to get moving. 16 Hold your staff high and stretch your hand out over the sea: Split the sea! The Israelites will walk through the sea on dry ground.
17 "Meanwhile I'll make sure the Egyptians keep up their stubborn chase — I'll use Pharaoh and his entire army, his chariots and horsemen, 18 to put my Glory on display so that the Egyptians will realize that I am GOD."
Exo
Ex 8:18
18 The magicians tried to produce gnats with their incantations but this time they couldn't do it
Exo
Ex 4:21-23
21 GOD said to Moses, "When you get back to Egypt, be prepared: All the wonders that I will do through you, you'll do before Pharaoh. But I will make him stubborn so that he will refuse to let the people go. 22 Then you are to tell Pharaoh, 'GOD's Message: Israel is my son, my firstborn! 23 I told you, "Free my son so that he can serve me." But you refused to free him. So now I'm going to kill your son, your firstborn.'"
Exo
Ex 4:1-17
4:1 Moses objected, "They won't trust me. They won't listen to a word I say. They're going to say, 'GOD? Appear to him? Hardly!'"
2 So GOD said, "What's that in your hand?"
"A staff."
3 "Throw it on the ground." He threw it. It became a snake; Moses jumped back — fast!
4 GOD said to Moses, "Reach out and grab it by the tail." He reached out and grabbed it — and he was holding his staff again. 5 "That's so they will trust that GOD appeared to you, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob."
6 GOD then said, "Put your hand inside your shirt." He slipped his hand under his shirt, then took it out. His hand had turned leprous, like snow.
7 He said, "Put your hand back under your shirt." He did it, then took it back out — as healthy as before.
8 "So if they don't trust you and aren't convinced by the first sign, the second sign should do it. 9 But if it doesn't, if even after these two signs they don't trust you and listen to your message, take some water out of the Nile and pour it out on the dry land; the Nile water that you pour out will turn to blood when it hits the ground." 10 Moses raised another objection to GOD: "Master, please, I don't talk well. I've never been good with words, neither before nor after you spoke to me. I stutter and stammer."
11 GOD said, "And who do you think made the human mouth? And who makes some mute, some deaf, some sighted, some blind? Isn't it I, GOD? 12 So, get going. I'll be right there with you — with your mouth! I'll be right there to teach you what to say."
13 He said, "Oh, Master, please! Send somebody else!"
14 GOD got angry with Moses: "Don't you have a brother, Aaron the Levite? He's good with words, I know he is. He speaks very well. In fact, at this very moment he's on his way to meet you. When he sees you he's going to be glad. 15 You'll speak to him and tell him what to say. I'll be right there with you as you speak and with him as he speaks, teaching you step by step. 16 He will speak to the people for you. He'll act as your mouth, but you'll decide what comes out of it. 17 Now take this staff in your hand; you'll use it to do the signs."
Exo
Ex 3:4-22
4 GOD saw that he had stopped to look. God called to him from out of the bush, "Moses! Moses!"
He said, "Yes? I'm right here!"
5 God said, "Don't come any closer. Remove your sandals from your feet. You're standing on holy ground."
6 Then he said, "I am the God of your father: The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob."
Moses hid his face, afraid to look at God.
7 GOD said, "I've taken a good, long look at the affliction of my people in Egypt. I've heard their cries for deliverance from their slave masters; I know all about their pain. 8 And now I have come down to help them, pry them loose from the grip of Egypt, get them out of that country and bring them to a good land with wide-open spaces, a land lush with milk and honey, the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
9 "The Israelite cry for help has come to me, and I've seen for myself how cruelly they're being treated by the Egyptians. 10 It's time for you to go back: I'm sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the People of Israel, out of Egypt."
11 Moses answered God, "But why me? What makes you think that I could ever go to Pharaoh and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?"
12 "I'll be with you," God said. "And this will be the proof that I am the one who sent you: When you have brought my people out of Egypt, you will worship God right here at this very mountain."
13 Then Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the People of Israel and I tell them, 'The God of your fathers sent me to you'; and they ask me, 'What is his name?' What do I tell them?"
14 God said to Moses, "I-AM-WHO-I-AM. Tell the People of Israel, 'I-AM sent me to you.'"
15 God continued with Moses: "This is what you're to say to the Israelites: 'GOD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob sent me to you.' This has always been my name, and this is how I always will be known.
16 "Now be on your way. Gather the leaders of Israel. Tell them, 'GOD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, appeared to me, saying, "I've looked into what's being done to you in Egypt, 17 and I've determined to get you out of the affliction of Egypt and take you to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, a land brimming over with milk and honey."'
18 "Believe me, they will listen to you. Then you and the leaders of Israel will go to the king of Egypt and say to him: 'GOD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness where we will worship GOD — our God.'
19 "I know that the king of Egypt won't let you go unless forced to, 20 so I'll intervene and hit Egypt where it hurts — oh, my miracles will send them reeling! — after which they'll be glad to send you off. 21 I'll see to it that this people get a hearty send-off by the Egyptians — when you leave, you won't leave empty-handed! 22 Each woman will ask her neighbor and any guests in her house for objects of silver and gold, for jewelry and extra clothes; you'll put them on your sons and daughters. Oh, you'll clean the Egyptians out!"
Exo
Ex 2:23-25
The Israelites groaned under their slavery and cried out. Their cries for relief from their hard labor ascended to God:
24 God listened to their groanings.
God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
25 God saw what was going on with Israel.
God understood.
Exo
Ex 1:20-21
God was pleased with the midwives. The people continued to increase in number — a very strong people. 21 And because the midwives honored God, God gave them families of their own.
Exo
Ex 1:17
the midwives had far too much respect for God and didn't do what the king of Egypt ordered
Gen
Gen 25:21
21 Isaac prayed hard to GOD for his wife because she was barren. GOD answered his prayer and Rebekah became pregnant
Friday, October 11, 2013
Gen
Gen 15:6
6 And he believed! Believed GOD! God declared him "Set-Right-with-God."
Abram just believed what God told him! He didn’t ask someone for their opinion! And God talks to us in the Bible so if you want to be set right with God then read your Bible and believe it!
Gen
Gen 6:5-8
GOD saw that human evil was out of control. People thought evil, imagined evil — evil, evil, evil from morning to night. 6 GOD was sorry that he had made the human race in the first place; it broke his heart. 7 GOD said, "I'll get rid of my ruined creation, make a clean sweep: people, animals, snakes and bugs, birds — the works. I'm sorry I made them."
8 But Noah was different. GOD liked what he saw in Noah.
Gen
Gen 5:24
24 Enoch walked steadily with God. And then one day he was simply gone: God took him
There are NO sermons on this!
2 huge problems
The very first book in the Bible teaches us about two huge problems that humans have: opinions and eye candy
Gen
Gen 3:6
6 the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it
Eye candy….
Gen
Gen 2:16-17
16 GOD commanded the Man, "You can eat from any tree in the garden, 17 except from the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil. Don't eat from it. The moment you eat from that tree, you're dead."
The moment you eat from that tree, you're dead
Gen
Gen 1:27-28
27 God created human beings; he created them godlike, Reflecting God's nature. He created them male and female. 28 God blessed them: Prosper! Reproduce!
Society calls this “nature”
Rev
Rev 11:15
The kingdom of the world is now the Kingdom of our God and his Messiah! He will rule forever and ever
Rev
God said:
Rev 3:18
Here's what I want you to do: Buy your gold from me, gold that's been through the refiner's fire. Then you'll be rich. Buy your clothes from me, clothes designed in Heaven. You've gone around half-naked long enough. And buy medicine for your eyes from me so you can see, really see.
1 John
1 John 2:15-17
15 Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. 16 Practically everything that goes on in the world — wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important — has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. 17 The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out — but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.
1 John
1 John 2:6
Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived.
first sin
Humans think that no opinion is better than their own which is very interesting because in the first sin in the Bible, Satan thought the same thing!
Thursday, October 10, 2013
2 Peter
2 Peter 1:20-21
The main thing to keep in mind here is that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of private opinion. 21 And why? Because it's not something concocted in the human heart. Prophecy resulted when the Holy Spirit prompted men and women to speak God's Word.
1 Peter
1 Peter 3:20
You know, even though God waited patiently all the days that Noah built his ship, only a few were saved then, eight to be exact
1 Peter
1 Peter 2:9-10
9 But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you — 10 from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.
…chosen by God… It wasn’t something that you did-was His choice!
1 Peter
1 Peter 1:23
Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God's living Word
Born again…
1 Peter
1 Peter 1:17
Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God
Do schools teach this? NO!
James
James 4:12
12 God is in charge of deciding human destiny. Who do you think you are to meddle in the destiny of others?
James
James 1:27
27 Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.
Heb
Heb 13:21
Make us into what gives him most pleasure
what gives Him the most pleasure… It’s not about YOU!
Heb
Heb 12:5-7
My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline, but don't be crushed by it either. 6 It's the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. 7 God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children
Heb
Heb 11:17-31
17 By faith, Abraham, at the time of testing, offered Isaac back to God. Acting in faith, he was as ready to return the promised son, his only son, as he had been to receive him — 18 and this after he had already been told, "Your descendants shall come from Isaac." 19 Abraham figured that if God wanted to, he could raise the dead. In a sense, that's what happened when he received Isaac back, alive from off the altar.
20 By an act of faith, Isaac reached into the future as he blessed Jacob and Esau.
21 By an act of faith, Jacob on his deathbed blessed each of Joseph's sons in turn, blessing them with God's blessing, not his own — as he bowed worshipfully upon his staff.
22 By an act of faith, Joseph, while dying, prophesied the exodus of Israel, and made arrangements for his own burial.
23 By an act of faith, Moses' parents hid him away for three months after his birth. They saw the child's beauty, and they braved the king's decree. 24 By faith, Moses, when grown, refused the privileges of the Egyptian royal house. 25 He chose a hard life with God's people rather than an opportunistic soft life of sin with the oppressors. 26 He valued suffering in the Messiah's camp far greater than Egyptian wealth because he was looking ahead, anticipating the payoff. 27 By an act of faith, he turned his heel on Egypt, indifferent to the king's blind rage. He had his eye on the One no eye can see, and kept right on going. 28 By an act of faith, he kept the Passover Feast and sprinkled Passover blood on each house so that the destroyer of the firstborn wouldn't touch them.
29 By an act of faith, Israel walked through the Red Sea on dry ground. The Egyptians tried it and drowned.
30 By faith, the Israelites marched around the walls of Jericho for seven days, and the walls fell flat.
31 By an act of faith, Rahab, the Jericho harlot, welcomed the spies and escaped the destruction that came on those who refused to trust God.
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