Your Jesus is NOT My Jesus! PART 1

I have been very angry. So angry that I want to tell the whole world. I have been doing a lot of reading and studying lately on a certain topic, and what I have come across makes me sick to my stomach!

One of my ‘pet peeves’ is false doctrine. This is something that makes me want to stand on a sky scraper and yell to the whole world that it is a lie!

2nd Cor. 11:4

⁴For if he that comes preaching another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, you might well bear with him.

*** Paul is telling the Corinthians that they have tolerated these false apostles who had preached another gospel. Preaching another Jesus will bring forth another spirit! This spirit will bring forth another gospel!

I refuse to tolerate this willful ignorance!

I am so angry that you can show someone the truth and point out false doctrine and they do NOT care! WHY don’t they care?!? They are perverting MY JESUS!!!

If you change just a small portion of the scripture – then you are preaching ANOTHER JESUS. If you are speaking of another Jesus – then you are NOT speaking of MY JESUS.

So I am apologizing now – just in case I get too hyper. I am sorry if I get hyper and offend you, but I refuse to be sorry for pointing out the error in doctrine.

False doctrine is such an important thing to point out to me that I have made a tab up at the top of this page for it. So far, this page is empty. I just do not have the time to post here on this blog as I would like. I wish this was my full time job. I wish I had time to write all day long. But I don’t. I do plan on getting more posted.

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The Cross is a Place of Defeat?!?

•  NO!  The cross is a place of defeat for Satan, but not for Jesus or believers. Jesus purposely went to the cross and He purposely laid down His life. Nobody TOOK it from Him! He laid it down voluntarily and willingly:  “They” say that Jesus was the biggest loser of the bible! This is sickening!

John 10:17-18

¹⁷  because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

¹⁸No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Jesus satisfied the demands of the broken law on every human being and He did it through His death on the cross. “IT IS FINISHED” = PAID IN FULL! His blood on the cross atoned for all sin. Jesus nailed the charges against us to His Cross. Satan had legal power to hold all men in captivity – but Jesus defeated him by His death on the cross.

Col. 2:14-15

¹⁴ having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

If you truly believe that the cross is a place of defeat for Jesus, than you are following another Jesus. You are not serving the same Jesus I am. MY JESUS defeated Satan on the cross. MY JESUS fulfilled the law on the cross. MY JESUS took the keys to death, hell and the grave away from Satan through His death on the cross. There is POWER in the name of JESUS. There is salvation in the name of Jesus. There is healing in the name of Jesus. There is answered prayers in the name of Jesus. Bondages are broken in the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus, Satan and his demons have to flee.

The Resurrection is a Place of Victory?!?

• So the cross is a place of defeat and the resurrection is the place of victory? Ummm, NO!
• Paul said this:

1 Cor. 1:18

¹⁸ The teaching about the cross is foolishness to those who are being lost, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Paul did NOT say, “For the preaching of the resurrection…”

Gal. 6:14

¹⁴ But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Again, Paul did NOT say, “save in the resurrection…”

So WHY do “teachers” and “preachers” do this? They throw the cross in the dirt while bragging of the resurrection. When Jesus died on the cross He said, “It is finished”. It was all completed at the cross!

Eph. 4:8

When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.

Jesus liberated these people before the resurrection.

Jesus Died Spiritually?

• “They” teach that Jesus become a sinner on the cross (hence, ‘a place of defeat’) – THIS IS UNSCRIPTURAL!
• “They” teach the Jesus, as a sinner, went to the burning side of hell where He suffered horribly for 3 days and 3 nights. Along with Satan and his demons celebrating the defeat of Jesus. – THIS IS UNSCRIPTURAL!
• “They” teach that at the end of the 3 days & nights, Jesus said, “It is enough", and that is when Jesus was then “born again” and resurrected from the dead. – THIS IS UNSCRIPTURAL! 
• I read a book this past week where one of these “teachers” is saying that on the cross Jesus became a homosexual, a thief, a murderer, a drunkard, and so much more. – THIS IS UNSCRIPTURAL!
• One of these “teachers” made this statement regarding these statements:

“You won’t find it in the bible; it has to be revealed to your spirit”

***If I can not find this in the bible, I REFUSE TO ACCEPT IT AS TRUTH!

Jesus Died Physically, NOT Spiritually!

• Peter said,

1 Pet.3:18

¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once for sins (ON THE CROSS), the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit

Jesus was “put to death in the flesh” – He did not die spiritually. To die spiritually, one has to have unbelief in God which separates that person from God eternally (Jn. 16:8-11)

“They” will argue and say that they do not teach that Jesus became a sinner on the cross – but a person does not need to be born again unless they are a sinner. MY JESUS WAS NOT A SINNER! YOUR Jesus may have been a sinner, but MY JESUS was Holy, harmless, undefiled, without spot and blemish, perfect and who knew no sin.

Heb. 7:25-26

²⁵ Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
²⁶ For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;

In the Old Testament, the animal for the sacrifice had to be perfect, without spot and blemish (Ex. 12.5). God could not accept a polluted sacrifice. Jesus was made to take on our sin penalty, which His physical death on the cross. He offered Himself as a sacrifice. He did not become become a sinner. He was perfect, holy, without spot and blemish! He became a sin OFFERING.

2 Cor. 5:21

²¹ For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him

Isa. 53:10

¹⁰ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him;
      He has put Him to grief.
      When You make His soul an offering for sin, 
     

Jesus could not have been an offering for sin, had He been a sinner. God could not accept a polluted sacrifice.

HELL?

Jesus did not go to the burning side of hell to suffer for His sins. He went to Paradise.

• Paradise: (Lk. 16:19-31;  23:43) This was the non-burning place where the righteous people (including the Old Testament Saints) went when they physically died (before Christ died).
  • The righteous souls  were held captive by the devil against their will until Christ conquered death, hell and the grave. When Christ died he went down there & captured these souls & took them up to heaven with Him. Paradise is now empty! Righteous souls go  directly to heaven now at the time of their physical death.
  •  Before Christ’s death, righteous souls were held captive in hell. After His death righteous, saved, born again people are free to go immediately to heaven with Him!! 

Firstborn?

These “teachers” claim that Christ was born again in hell. THIS IS BLASPHEMY!

“They” teach this by using Rom. 8:29,

²⁹ God knew them before he made the world, and he chose them to be like his Son so that Jesus would be the firstborn of many brothers and sisters.

The word ‘firstborn’ here means that Jesus was the One who made it possible for all men to be ‘born again’. NOT that He was the first be be born again!

Col. 1:18

¹⁸And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

“Firstborn from the dead” means that His resurrections has made it possible for all believers to also be resurrected.

The Veil in the Temple

When Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn in half (Mt. 27:51) meaning that redemption was now complete. From that time of His death, all people could come directly to God for salvation through Jesus instead of through the Old Testament sacrificial law. If Jesus had become a sinner and needed to become ‘born again’ – then that veil of the temple was torn in half prematurely.

When Jesus died, he spoke the words, “It is finished: Father, Into Your hands I commend My Spirit” (Jn. 19:30; Lk. 23:46) – If Jesus had become a sinner, He would not have used the word “Father”. Sinners don’t call God, “Father”.

To suggest that Jesus had become a sinner is not only stupidity, but it is blasphemy!

My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?

• When Jesus spoke the words, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Jn. 19:30, Lk. 23:46) “There was a darkness over all of the Earth” (Lk. 23:44).

During this 3 hour period of darkness – these “teachers” claim that Jesus became a lost sinner.

• THE TRUTH? During this 3 hour time period, Jesus was bearing the sin of the world and taking the sin penalty (which was physical death). God could not look upon this. When Jesus died, this sin penalty was paid in full. This sin debt was finished & taken care of once and for all! And God could once again look at Him and help Him when He said the words, “Father; Into Your hands I commend My Spirit”
• Again, Jesus could not have referred to Him as Father if He had become a sinner.

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And now I want to know:

How have people been so ignorant to believe this junk?!?

The Word of God is SO CLEAR. HOW do people fall into false doctrine?

I am so angry that people take this lightly.

IGNORANCE!

WILLFUL IGNORANCE!

There is only ONE ABSOLUTE TRUTH and anything else is “another Jesus”.

Hosea 4:6

⁶ My people will be destroyed,
       because they have no knowledge.
    You have refused to learn,
       so I will refuse to let you be priests to me.
    You have forgotten the teachings of your God,
       so I will forget your children.

• This ‘knowledge’ is the bible. The word of God.
• The ‘lack of knowledge’ is not speaking of ignorance or not understanding the bible. This is speaking of WILLFUL REJECTION of the Word of God.

It wasn’t that they didn’t know –

It was that they didn’t want to know!

Monday’s Life In Him–Hope

Happy Monday Everyone! Who wants to join in “Monday's Life In Him”? It’s easy… Just grab this button below & post it somewhere either on your blog post or on your main page. Then… Write a post about HIM (Jesus) Sometimes I just post a verse, sometimes I share a short story or sometimes I write a short study.Either way… Let’s spread His Word and His Love! <a border="0" href="http://wedonthaveitalltogether.blogspot.com/search/label/Life%20In%20%27Him%27" target="_blank"><img src="http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab13/jacquiblogger/danielle/buttonlifeinhim1.jpg" width="125" height="125" /> </a>

^{Here is what I have for today:}

^{More random thoughts…}

^{If you are a reader here, you know that I have been standing some trials lately… and I thank GOD for my friends that have kept me going. I sometimes feel at the very end of my rope until I open my email and get an encouraging message from you readers.}

^{I thank you all for that.}

^{Today I am going to share a few of these encouraging messages from the last few days that have really helped me.}

^{This morning I read from Katie @ On The Banks of Squaw Creek said,}

“Things don't always turn out the way WE think they are supposed to, but God has a plan for us, right?”

RIGHT. And I keep telling myself this. Maybe the house that ***WE*** really wanted was not as perfect as ***WE*** thought it would be. I don’t know how that is possible, but God does. I will trust that God has a better plan for us.

Jazmin from Happily Ever After told me to rebuke the devil from my home… WHY didn’t I think of this?!? Most of the time I am aware of this, but I have been so overwhelmed lately – it just slipped my mind. Thanks for the reminder that,

“greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world”

And then there is my bloggy friend Janet from Homeward Bound… I can’t say enough good things about Janet. She has really helped me lately. She is full of wisdom that I hope to have one day. Her emails I have kept in my inbox and I open her emails numerous times throughout the day to read the verses she has sent me. She even wrote about me here and titled it “Hope”. She used Romans 5:3,

“Rejoice in your suffering, suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character hope”

Here are some other verses Janet has sent me over the past week:

Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Psalm 35:27-28
Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindication;
And let them say continually, "The LORD be magnified,
Who delights in the prosperity of His servant."
And my tongue shall declare Your righteousness
And Your praise all day long.

Psalm 5:12
For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous;
With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

Psalm 84:8-12

⁸O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;
         Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah.
⁹Behold our shield, O God,
         And look upon the face of Your anointed.
¹⁰For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside.
         I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God
         Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
¹¹For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
         The LORD gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
¹²O LORD of hosts,
         How blessed is the man who trusts in You!

And probably more of what I need to hear:

1 Tim 6:17
Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.

 
3 John 2
Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.

These are important for me to realize that as long as I have my family, our health, a roof over our head and food on the table… we are beyond blessed!

Thank you Janet. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. You have helped me more than you know this past week.

And thanks to all others who have sent me encouragement this past week. You know who you are and I appreciate you all!

Much Love,

Jehovah-Jireh = The Lord Will Provide

I turned this post into “Glimpses of  God” Go check it out  & link up :)

I think everyone in the world recognizes Psalm 23. Maybe not by title – but by the words, “The Lord Is My Sheppard, I Shall Not Want.”

This morning I heard something that really touched me, so I want to share. I hope it touches you.

There is a lot of struggling going on lately. Too much struggling. It seems too much for one person to bear. Financial struggles, relationship struggles, health struggles and struggles with battles within our own personal walk with God. People I know have lost loved ones recently. So much seems to be going on.

I heard a description this morning that I really want to share. I hope it is comforting to someone who needs to hear this right now.

 First of all, read:

Psalm 23

¹ The Lord is my shepherd;
       I have everything I need.
² He lets me rest in green pastures.
       He leads me to calm water.
³ He gives me new strength.
    He leads me on paths that are right
       for the good of his name.
⁴ Even if I walk through a very dark valley,
       I will not be afraid,
    because you are with me.
       Your rod and your shepherd's staff comfort me.
⁵ You prepare a meal for me
       in front of my enemies.
    You pour oil of blessing on my head;^[a]
       you fill my cup to overflowing.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will be with me
       all my life,
    and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

Now lets look at vs.. 3 that says, “He leads me on paths that are right for the good of his name”

“He leads me on paths” – the shepherd leads his lamb on this path that is ‘right’. 

We have all probably seen pictures of Jesus with a staff like this:

{Notice the lamb on his shoulder?}

Here is a Jewish illustration:

The shepherd leads his lamb on this path that is ‘right’. 

At times the lamb will wander away from the appointed path. Sometimes he becomes tangled in the briars of the rocky byway. Being unable to free himself, he calls out for his shepherd and begins to bleat (baahh, baahh). Very soon the shepherd comes and retrieves the lamb from the midst of the thorns, briars, and rocky defiles. The shepherd extends his staff and uses the crook to pull the little lamb back onto the path of safety. If the little lamb were to remain there, he would be devoured by a wolf of other wild animal.

Too often, the same lamb again leaves the appointed path and finds himself in an area that will lock him in. Every time when he cries out, the shepherd comes and retrieves the little one with his shepherds staff. If the lamb refuses to stay on the appointed path, the final alternative is the following: 

The lamb again leaves the appointed path, and as usual,  finds himself in difficult straits.  As before, he begins to cry out for the shepherd to come; however at this stage, the shepherd must teach the little lamb a lesson. So the good shepherd does not come immediately when the lamb begins to to call. Finally, the little voice grows hoarse from bleating and it is forced to stop crying out  altogether. At long last, the shepherd does finally come. As before the shepherd removes the wayward lamb, but now he does something different….

The shepherd takes the same staff, by which he reached down into the rocky crevice and retrieved the wayward one. He pulls out one of the lambs forelegs and cracks it sharply with the staff,  which instantly breaks the leg. Then the shepherd carefully sets the leg, and lays the lamb on  his shoulder, close to his heart. He carries it until the wound is healed. Then when he puts the lamb back down on the paths  of righteousness it no longer desires to go astray.

This is called chastising the one he loves.

Hebrews 12:5-11 (New Century Version)

⁵ You have forgotten the encouraging words that call you his children:
    "My child, don't think the Lord's discipline is worth nothing,
       and don't stop trying when he corrects you.
⁶ The Lord disciplines those he loves,
       and he punishes everyone he accepts as his child." — Proverbs 3:11–12

⁷ So hold on through your sufferings, because they are like a father's discipline. God is treating you as children. All children are disciplined by their fathers. ⁸ If you are never disciplined (and every child must be disciplined), you are not true children.⁹ We have all had fathers here on earth who disciplined us, and we respected them. So it is even more important that we accept discipline from the Father of our spirits so we will have life.¹⁰ Our fathers on earth disciplined us for a short time in the way they thought was best. But God disciplines us to help us, so we can become holy as he is. ¹¹ We do not enjoy being disciplined. It is painful at the time, but later, after we have learned from it, we have peace, because we start living in the right way.

This is how much He loves us! One thing we need to understand is Jesus is our shepherd. All we have to do is follow Him. He will never leave you. You can leave Him… but He will never leave you!

Hebrews 13:20 (New Century Version)

^20-21 I pray that the God of peace will give you every good thing you need so you can do what he wants. God raised from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, because of the blood of his death. His blood began the eternal agreement that God made with his people. I pray that God will do in us what pleases him, through Jesus Christ, and to him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Sometimes God has no choice to let us fall down to our lowest level. So low that we have no possible hope left… and the ONLY thing left to do is finally call out on Jesus! How many times have we hit rock bottom?

How many times have we hit rock bottom… and finally given up & said, “Ok Lord. I have tried everything I know to do. Now I need your help. I give up!”

Now  read Psalm 23 over again:

¹ The Lord is my shepherd;
       I have everything I need.
² He lets me rest in green pastures.
       He leads me to calm water.
³ He gives me new strength.
    He leads me on paths that are right
       for the good of his name.
⁴ Even if I walk through a very dark valley,
       I will not be afraid,
    because you are with me.
       Your rod and your shepherd's staff comfort me.
⁵ You prepare a meal for me
       in front of my enemies.
    You pour oil of blessing on my head;^[a]
       you fill my cup to overflowing.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will be with me
       all my life,
    and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

This is comforting to know, isn’t it?!? 

We have everything we need if we are ‘In Christ’. He gives us strength.

We do not have to fear when we are walking through dark times because He is with us!

When we are struggling with things in our life, look up to Him and know that He is right along side of you waiting for you to call upon His name! 

His staff is outstretched and all we have to do is grab on to it.

Take that first step of faith & reach out to Him. He is waiting for you.

Jehovah-Roi = The Lord is my shepherd

Jehovah-Jireh = The Lord will provide

Jehovah-Shalom = The Lord our peace

Do you have peace today, knowing that Jesus will provide for you, because He is your shepherd and you are His lamb?

Read more on Battles, Trials and Faith… or what it means to be "In Christ"

Tithing Means 10% & It’s A Command From God. Deal With It.

Sorry to be blunt like that… but we all need to suck it up & deal with the fact that we OWE God 10% of what we earn. Simple as that. So stop crying about it & trying to make excuses for why you don’t have to!

I know I am going to be disliked for this one… but this will be on tithing. Not too many can agree on this doctrine. Mostly because it hits our precious pocket book. And we don’t like being told what to do with our money. Only problem with that? It’s not OUR money. It’s His. He gives it to us. No scripture even mentions a substitute program for tithing in the New Testament.

There is a difference between tithing and offering. Tithing is a command. Offering is just that. Offering. Tithing is a tenth. A tenth off of the top of your profit. Whether it be your paycheck or your crops ‘back in the day’. A tenth of your earnings should go to God before it is touched for ANYTHING else. Before your mortgage, car payment, groceries.

I heard someone say once, If you want to know what is most important to someone… look in their check book. On the day of payday when that money is deposited… what is the very first thing money is withdrawn for?

Is it God?

It should be. Here is why. First of all, it is commanded by God. Secondly, the true Word needs to be spread.

Mark 16:15 (King James Version)

¹⁵And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

How are we to make sure the true Word of God gets spread if we don’t support the church?

Tithes. Used 23 times in the bible.

Tithe. Used 14 times in the bible.

Tithing. Used 2 times in the bible.

Tithe  means tenth.

It’s really very simple. This does not mean a tenth of your time. This is a tenth of your earnings. Look at all the biblical examples. These people gave what they earned! Not just some ‘community service’ as they chose. That doesn’t mean painting the church in your spare time, or preparing meals for the sick or homeless or donating your baked goods for the church bake sale, or helping the youth on your free day.  All of those things are wonderful, but it all is considered offerings… not tithing!

The very first mention of tithing was in Gen. 14:20, Gen. 28:22 and again in Heb. 7:1-11. This practice was 430 years BEFORE the Law  of Moses!  So we will see, that the doctrine of tithing was practiced before the Law of Moses (Old Testament), Under the Law  of  Moses, and also in the New Testament (after the Law was finished). In the New Testament, Christ taught it & Paul taught it. It was commanded in both Old & New Testaments.

Tithing Under The Law Of Moses:

First of all it was commanded in Lev. 27:30 & Mal. 3:10.

Five Purposes for tithing:

• For  the Levites Num. 18:21-24  {“This is their payment for the work they do serving”}
• Tithes of the tithes every 3 yrs for the poor and the ministers Dt. 14:27-29, 26:12-14
• To  supply God’s house Mal. 3:10
• To honor God Prov. 3:9-10

When were tithes to be brought? Yearly, along with all other offerings for the feast Dt. 12:6-7, 14:22-26

These tithes belonged to God, not the people who paid them Lev. 27:30-34, Mal. 3:8

Where tithes were brought: 2nd Chr. 31:12, Neh. 10:38, 12:44, 13:5 & 12

If someone borrowed  then 20% interest had to be added when it was paid back Lev. 27:31

Tithing in the New Testament:

Christ taught it: (Mt. 23:23 <--- command, Lk. 11:42), Lk. 18:11-12,

Matthew 10:10 (New Century Version)

¹⁰ Don't carry a bag or extra clothes or sandals or a walking stick. Workers should be given what they need.

Luke 10:7-8 (New Century Version)

⁷ Stay in the same house, eating and drinking what the people there give you. A worker should be given his pay. Don't move from house to house. ⁸ If you go into a town and the people welcome you, eat what they give you.

Paul taught it:

God ordained the support of ministers 1 Cor. 9:7-14

Melchisedec priesthood is eternal & must be supported Heb. 7:1-11

Here are some examples of those mentioned in scripture who paid tithes:

• Abraham (Gen. 14:20, Heb. 7:1-11)
• Jacob (Gen. 28:22)
• Levi in Abraham (Heb 7:9)
• Hezekiah and Israel (2 Chr. 31)
• Nehemiah and Israel (Neh. 13)
• Hypocrites (Mt. 23:23, Lk. 11:42; 18:12)
• Christians (1 Cor. 9:7-14; 16:2, 2 Cor. 7:11; 8:1-15, Gal. 6:6, 1 Tim. 5:17-18, Heb. 7)

Here are blessings mentioned for paying tithes:

• Blessings for obedience (Rom. 4:12, Heb. 7:6-10, 1 Cor. 9:7-14, 1 Tim. 6:17-18. Compare to Mal. 3:8-10, Pr. 3:9-10, Gen. 14:20, Dt. 8:10-20)
• God’s house will not want (Mal. 3:10)
• God’s ministers will not want (1 Cor. 9:7-14, 1 Tim. 5:17-18, Neh. 13:10)
• Material and spiritual blessings (Mal. 3:8-10, Pr. 3:9-10, 2 Chr. 31, Neh. 13)

Malachi 3:10-12 (New King James Version)

¹⁰ Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
      That there may be food in My house,
      And try Me now in this,”
      Says the LORD of hosts,
      “ If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
      And pour out for you such blessing
      That there will not be room enough to receive it.
¹¹ “ And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
      So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
      Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”
      Says the LORD of hosts;
¹² And all nations will call you blessed,
      For you will be a delightful land,”
      Says the LORD of hosts.

Tithes and offerings belong to God. To use them for personal gain is robbery of what belongs to God. Robbing God of tithes and offerings brings a curse. The purpose of tithes and offerings was to support the priesthood and the work of God in general. In vs.. 10, God challenges men to prove Him regarding the rewards of tithing.

We have all said, “I can’t afford to pay God the full 10% this week” because we have bills due. But someone once told me, “I can’t afford NOT to pay God this week”. Have you ever been faithful with your 10% for a long period of time… and then slacked off for a couple of weeks. ‘Jipped’ God out of His 10%? Then something unexpected came up? Like… your car broke down. Or something in the house went wrong? An extra bill came or you got a ticket? Remember that curse in vs.. 8 & 9? God WILL get His money one way or another.

And on the flip side – If you are faithful with your 10%… imagine the blessings!! God knows what we need. He knows if we are struggling with our bills. He also knows if we are struggling with the idea of paying Him or not paying Him.

If we are faithful in paying Him, then He will provide for us. He will take care of our needs. Don’t forget:

”If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
      And pour out for you such blessing
      That there will not be room enough to receive it.”

He is faithful to us.

Are we faithful to Him?

Eternity’s Past – Part 1

Eternity, Before Adam and Eve – Part 1

I have a lot on my mind that I really want to get put down here. I am hoping I can keep some sort of structure here, but somehow I doubt that will happen. There is a chance I will be all over the place, because I am such a random person.

Even if I am all over the place, I hope this is interesting enough to hold your attention for a few minutes. To me, this is one of the most interesting topics to study! I can’t get enough of it.

So let’s get started!

Eternity = The Dateless Past

Eternity.

Before Adam & Eve.

Wow, imagine that! How much time was before Adam & Eve?

We can’t measure eternity, right? But what we do know are some details. So let’s discuss some details. Grab your bible & open to Genesis 1:1.

Genesis 1:1 - “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” This first verse refers to prior acts of God in some period of time in eternity’s past.  NOT the 6 days of creation. The following verses refer to the earth under the flood (Lucifer's Flood) and judgment (judgment being ‘without form, void, darkness’). Then after that the earth is restored to a second habitable state as before the curse of vs.. 2.

Job 38:4-7 makes it clear that the heavens were created first – how else could the stars have rejoiced when the earth was created? Another verse on this dateless past of eternity before the 6 days of creation - Proverbs 8:22-23.

Now here are some interesting facts: 2 very important words that make all the difference in the world!

Hebrew word “bara” = to CREATE (for the first time out of nothing) - to bring into being (Hebrews 11:3). This word is used 7 times in Genesis 1-2. All other places the words “made” and “make” are used, showing that God’s 6 days of work was reconstructive work.

• In Genesis 1:1 – the universe is brought into existence
• In Genesis 1:21 – sea creatures are created
• In Genesis 1:27 – man is created.

The word “bara” is used for the introduction of 3 great things:

• the world of matter
• natural life (all living creatures) 
• spiritual life represented by man

Hebrew word “asah” = made, make, to make out of already existing material. It is the opposite of “bara” (to create).

“Asah” occurs 2633 times in scripture and it is translated:

• “make” or “made” 653 times
• “do” 1333 times
• “wrought” 52 times
• “execute” 48 times
• “prepare” 37 times
• “work” 29 times
• and various other ways

So when scripture says “in six days the Lord made the heaven and earth” it is referring to their restoration after Lucifer’s flood (after the curse of Gen. 1:2) and not to their original creation in the beginning (eternity).

Now, another very important word!

“Let” is used 14 times in Genesis chpt. 1 and 1497 times in the rest of the bible.

This word is expressing “permission” and “purpose” in connection with already existing things. The light, firmament, waters, earth, darkness and all other things mentioned here were already in existence. The purpose of their existence had been annulled because of sin in Lucifer’s time. {Jer. 4:23-26, 2 Pet. 3:5-7} God simply commands these things to function properly again {as they did all through Lucifer’s time} according to their purpose. In the restoration to perfection, God merely speaks commands. He commands the sun to give light again {Gen. 1:3}. In Gen. 1:4, He commands the sun, moon and stars to divide the day and night forever {w/out a daily command}.

In the creation of beasts and man, their bodies were formed but their life was created. Man was a work of God, not of molecules and monkeys. Big difference in these two words!

Another couple of interesting facts:

In Gen. 1:28 God commanded Adam to “replenish” the earth. REplenish! Fill it AGAIN! This proves that the earth had been filled before this. God gave the same command to Noah after the second universal flood in Gen. 9:1.

In Genesis 1:2 – the word ‘was’ is from the verb ‘to become’, not the verb ‘to be’, which shows that the earth became waste & empty since it’s original creation in the beginning.

This sums up Part 1 of “Eternity – Before Adam and Eve”. This is the part about the creation. In Part 2 I want to discuss Lucifer’s flood in detail. Hopefully I can get this out tomorrow!

So please come back to read Part 2 :)

Going All the Way With Jesus

I just read this on FB. It comes from "Trumpet Call" (aka Billy Quickel) I thought I would share this:

 

“Going all the way with JESUS” (Revelation 3:14-22)

In these last days there will be 2 CHURCHES; "THE LUKEWARM"(FALSE CHURCH) and "THE BRIDE OF CHRIST"(TRUE CHURCH). We will all be faced with a decision and there are only 1 of 2 choices; COMPROMISE or TOTAL SURRENDER to the LORDSHIP of JESUS CHRIST...RUTH 1:1-18...THE FAMINE IN THE LAND:(RUTH1:1, AMOS8:11, 1stSAM.3:1) There has been a FAMINE of the "TRUE WORD" of GOD and of His PRESENCE in the church world and because of it the church has turned to the things of this world to try and satisfy their emptiness-MOAB represents the world(IDOLATRY) Moab was the incestuous son of LOT, it was he(Moab) who caused ISRAEL to stumble in the wilderness, God forbade ISRAEL to marry Moabinite women because He knew they would cause them to worship false gods. We as God's people are to be separate, "come out from among them,be ye separate" saith the LORD...1st JOHN 2:15-17...True religion and undefiled is to be untainted and unspotted from the world.There's been a famine in the land because of compromise by mingling with the world.(1stTIM. 4:1, 2nd THESS.2:3, HEB. 6:4-6, 2nd PET. 2:1,2&19-22) God is visiting His people once again(Ruth 1:6,7-Joel 2:28) He is sending His "TRUE WORD" through true Shepherds, He is feeding His people once again with true manna from heaven He's opening up the windows of heaven and He's pouring out His Spirit upon all flesh, the RIVER is beginning to flow once again, God has heard the cries of His people and He is sending REVIVAL!...HALLELUJAH!...In these last days you will either be totally surrendered to the HOLY SPIRIT or you will be overcome by the "antichrist spirit"(JOHN chapter15)...when God starts moving you had better get up and follow...The sole purpose of the famine has been to awaken His people to their desperate need of Him, nothing of this world can satisfy, only the touch of the Masters hand can satisfy our inner most being,are you tired of be empty, unsatisfied, unfulfilled, living in fear doubt & unbelief, depressed, lonely, living in misery...then GET OUT OF MOAB!...FLEE THE WORLD!, and run back to JUDAH(RETURN TO THE CROSS) Totally surrender to JESUS and Totally forsake the world...The purpose of the "GREAT LAST DAY REVIVAL"; GOD wants to do something much deeper then just make you feel good, He is pouring out His Spirit upon all flesh that everyone may be brought to a place of "DECISION"; COMPROMISE or SURRENDER(THE BRIDGE OF DECISION) RUTH1:8-15...Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision...ORPAH,(STIFFNECKNESS) represents the "lukewarm" church those which will compromise and continue to harbor some "secret sin", they will hold on to the things of this world(sadly this church will be made up of the majority of the church world and they will be "spued out of" Jesus mouth(the true body of Christ) Rev.3:16,17...RUTH(FRIEND & COMPANION) Who ever is a friend of the world is an enemy of GOD...RUTH 1:16,17...The REMNANT, THE TRUE CHURCH, THE SPOTLESS BRIDE, those who are totally in love with JESUS and have surrendered to His Lordship and WILL. this is who JESUS is coming back for, REVIVAL is coming but its purpose is to prepare HIS BRIDE FOR HIS RETURN/ THERE WILL BE A SEPARATION!

Battles/struggles & the "sin nature"

When Adam and Eve 'fell' they fell from the level of total God-consciousness ... down to the lower level of sin-consciousness. They were then controlled by the "sin nature". And then the entire human race became one of sin. Every single unredeemed person is controlled by the sin nature. No matter how you want to argue this fact - it is a FACT that the unsaved are ruled by the sin nature. US before we got saved were also ruled by the sin nature. The sin nature has POWER OVER us if we are unsaved. Our own WILL POWER is not strong enough to fight the sin nature. We may win at times. But ultimatly the sin nature has complete dominion over us. From the minute a baby is born the sin nature is in control. Do you need to teach a child how to lie? No. If you put two infants in a crib together along with one bottle... what happens? They fight over it. THIS is the SIN NATURE. (Eph. 2:1-3) Born in original sin, mankind is controlled by the sin nature, which is the cause of all war, strife, and man's inhumanity to man.

So how does a Christian STOP SINNING? If you take a poll and ask, "How do you stop sinning?" (I will use some big examples here: alcohol, drugs, sex, cheating, gossiping) - The answer you get will probably be the WRONG ANSWER! This saddens me. It is sad and depressing to battle something in your Christian life. It is sad and difficult to see someone else battle something in their Christian life when you don't know how to help.  If you have ever battled something in your walk that is similar to an addiction - then you have probably wondered the same thing: "HOW DO I STOP DOING THIS THING THAT I REALLY DON'T WANT TO DO...but I can't help but DO?" This answer can be found in Romans chpt. 6 & 7.  However the answer you will get from most ministers, teachers, fellow brothers & sisters in Christ... "DO" something. Read your bible more. Pray more. Stay away from the things that may lead you to be tempted to sin. Go to the preacher and have him lay hands on you. Stand in the prayer line. All these things are wonderful things to do in your Christian life, but they are not the answer to your struggles. My personal favorite...GIVE IT TO GOD! My answer to that one...HOW?!?!? Have you ever had a battle and sat there and talked to God and said, "Ok God - take this battle from me. I am giving it to you." How has that worked for ya? You have probably slipped to the battle not long after you asked God to take it from you, right? The reason that will not work is this: The believer who talks to God and says, "Take this from me"...is NOT putting his faith in the right area.

Unfortunatly this stuggle with the sin nature happens more to the believers who are the most consecrated. They love the Lord and to fail the Lord is a burden almost too heaye to bear. This make a Christian - a MISERABLE Christian. Not understanding how and where to get the victory, they are constantly failing the Lord. These people are lead to believe that the Christian experience is a daily struggle. IF a Christian is struggling with sin then he is fighting a battle which he can not win. Christians are to "Fight the good fight of faith" (1Tim. 6:12) but that should be the extent of our stuggle. Scripture says: "But this Man (Jesus), after He had offered one sacrafice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; from hence forth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool. For by one offering, He has perfected forever them who are sanctified" (Heb. 13:20) In other words: Our Lord totally and completely defeated sin at the Cross of Calvary. His sacrifice of Himself was so perfect, so total, so complete, and so finla that it will never have to be repeated. Paul refers to this at "The everlasting convenant" in Heb. 13:20.

THE  ANSWER...
When a believing sinner comes to Christ, the sin nature is then made absolutely dormant. The sin nature has NO HOLD on the person anymore. The sin nature has NO CONTROL over the person anymore. The chains of sin fall off. The only way for this to happen is for the believer to register his faith totally and completely in Christ and the cross - and then MAINTAIN that faith. FAITH that when Jesus died on the cross and rose 3 days later... HE BROKE THE DOMINION that the sin nature HAD on us!! THIS IS WHERE OUR FAITH MUST BE!!! JESUS and the CROSS!!!! Jesus did so much more than just die on the cross!!! HE BROKE the POWER of the sin nature when He died!!! So the only answer to our sin 'battle' = Jesus and Him crucified!!!! FAITH in what HE DID on the cross!!! "FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH" (1Tim 6:12) We don't have to fight the sin nature - JESUS ALREADY DID!!!! That is exciting!! !!! There is NOTHING we can 'DO' except have FAITH in Jesus and His FINISHED WORK on THE CROSS

Here is a little formula regarding the sin nature and victory:
FOCUS:  The Lord Jesus Christ (Jn. 14:6)
OBJECT OF FAITH:  The Cross Of Christ (Rom. 6:3-5)
POWER SOURCE:  The Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:1-2, 11)
RESULTS:  VICTORY!! (Rom. 6:14; Gal. 2:20)

Now - this is the formula that most Christians will tell you to use:
FOCUS: Works (Rom. 4:2)
OBJECT OF FAITH: Performance - try harder (Gal. 2:21)
POWER SOURCE: Self (Gal. 5:2)
RESULTS:  FAILURE! (Gal. 5:4)

WANT HELP FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT?
 IF a believer continues to place his faith in Jesus & His finished work at the cross, then the Holy Spirit will work mightily in the heart and life of such a believer, bringing about righteousness, holiness, Christlikeness, and the Fruit of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit can not work any other way. The Holy Spirit is the 'dispenser' of the GRACE of GOD. Paul said, "For the LAW of THE SPIRIT of LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS has made me FREE from the LAW of SIN and DEATH" (8:2) The Holy Spirit works ONLY within the parameters of the Atonement.  It is the CROSS which makes it possible for HIM to live permanently within our hearts and lives, and to carry out HIS ministry as The Dispenser of GRACE on our behalf. HE ONLY REQUIRES FROM US FAITH IN CHRISTAND WHAT HE DID AT THE CROSS!!!!  However if the believer places his faith in anything other than the finished work on the cross... (for example: pray more. read more...) the Holy Spirit can not function. The Holy Spirit will not help that believer function under works & law. The Holy Spirit only functions under GRACE & FAITH in what Jesus did at the cross.

To sum it all up:  ALL the believer has to do is to understand that everything that comes to us from God has all been made possible through Christ and what He did at the CROSS. This is why Jesus said, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself (deny his own ability & strength), and take up his cross daily, and follow ME.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it" (Lk. 9:23-24) The "Cross" is so important that Jesus said we must take it up ON A DAILY BASIS. This is the only sucessfull way to follow Christ. When we do this, the Holy Spirit then works within our hearts and lives... to be sure the sin nature will then REMAIN DORMANT causing the believer no problems whatsoever.

It's all a matter of faith.

To read more about the sin nature I recommend this study guide:
"The Sin Nature"