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Words Worth Reading! (Studying the Word of God)

Expression:

“And why this strange contradiction? It is because of the difficulties which studying the Bible presents. We must agree that on beginning it, there are many difficulties and obscurities; and, as much labour is required to clear them up, and the mind of man is naturally idle and lazy, we lose courage little by little and limit ourselves to reading the same scriptures over and over again. This unvaried sort of study hardly penetrates beneath the surface, nor does it learn new things; but always going over the same things repeatedly, inspires in us a kind of weariness, as if the Word of God was not interesting-as if it was not as inexhaustible as God Himself! Beware of thinking, however, that these difficulties are insuperable. No, my friends; but we must be prepared to take trouble; and there, as in prayer and in all parts of the Christian life, God wants man to be co-worker with Him. Knowledge of the Bible, taste for the Bible is the fruit and reward of this humble, sincere and persevering labour…If anyone, using by faith the resources which God puts at his disposal, and relying on God to guide him, follows out these thoughts of mine, which I can at this moment do little more than sketch, he will discover in the Word of God treasures which he never even suspected were there. Then it will become for him as firm a support as it was for Jesus, when He was tempted in the wilderness. And it will become for him what it was for the saints, in both the New Testament and in the Old Testament; what it was for David, and for Daniel, for Paul and all the saints of God.”

Voice: Adolphe Monod

Circumstance: Teaching

Citation: Monod, Adolphe. “A Dying Man’s Regrets 2”. The Study of the Word of God. 20 January 1856, 67.

Read More:
Living in the Hope of Glory: A New Translation of a Spiritual Classic

Adolphe Monod’s Farewell To His Friends And To The Church

Life And Letters Of Adolphe Monod, By One Of His Daughters (s.m.).

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Sexual scandal with Christian leadership

I’m not taking a stance yet about the popular gossip going on against one of the popular Christian leaders. The Lord hasn’t given me understanding or words yet, and I will await His direction. However, I do have my personal thoughts concerning the dangerous position of Christian Leadership with regards to the devil’s lust that is constantly thrown upon them.

Please let me be blunt. Christian leadership in modern history has tried all sorts of techniques to avoid exposure to the tempting lusts of this world, especially when it comes to sexual lusts and perversities. It is a real problem, that is destroying many churches of all denominations, and ruining many victims lives and destroying faith opportunities and works.

Becker Bible Ministries, Inc. loves that their employees, contractors, and representatives take their spouses with them to do our works for the Lord. We believe that an important ministry needs all sorts of support, and a spouse is that best support to help ground the ministries and help raise the arms of leadership. However, as a guard against drifting toward lust, we are not convinced that anything will hinder it, should the Christian leader choose to be tempted.

We believe submitting to temptation is a choice, not a slip-up, of Godly men and women. Recent news in America showed an advanced Christian College leader, who refused to be alone with any female in the most arrogant and attention-seeking ways but used his wife for his sexual perversities to have sex with others as he watched.

Leadership can be as publicly careful as they can and give all kinds of signals that they are following the “Billy Graham” way and refusing to be in the company of the opposite sex alone. But, when you examine it closely, you find that there are many straying leaderships out there of both sexes, tempted by the devil to lust in their heart, and complete the sexual acts soon after.

Quite frankly, I have been at the other side of the “Billy Graham” approach, where religious leaders and political leaders fail to meet with me because of my “female” status, and their wives being unavailable. It is insulting and humiliating; the jobs I do for the Lord Jesus Christ are timely and very important. I have no interest in their sexual proclivities, and one look at me, with consideration of my professional attitude, will shout that out. To not meet with females’ leaders because the wifey is not available is ridiculous!

On the other hand, spouses, if your Christian leader has strayed in the past, don’t let him or her out of your sight as they do the works of the Lord. The ministry can come crashing down quicker than a tornado hitting an old shack should the leader stray toward the lusts when he or she is tempted.

Sadly, with the ways of the world, it is the most difficult sin that leadership confronts. We need to watch each other’s backs, counsel quickly if we see temptation or straying, involve spouses when
apparent harlotry is present or sensual dress, dances, and actions are in your face. But most importantly…

Christian Leadership! Walk the standards of Christ! Quit looking and considering each of the temptations that come your way. You are a Holy Vessel of the LORD God who dwells within your heart. Please do not share that heart with pornography, perversions, and lust. Avoid the world! We have a strong task given us by the Lord Jesus Christ to go out and teach and preach to those that He chooses to bring our way. Your heart cannot be big enough to share both the ministry and the “feel goods” of improper sexual release.

If you are unable to control sexual lusts for the same sex, opposite sex, or God forbid, children, or animals, please let the Lord know now and get it fixed before His works are destroyed. Your status as a sinning lustful Christian leader is not viable. One slip-up can destroy every good work you have done in His name.

Please, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, commit to a heart of God that is free from the lusts of this world.

In Jesus Christ’s Name I Pray! Amen.

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Carla

She was fourteen-years-old and already had a tiny life growing inside her womb. It was a different time and a different place, and she was not a bad girl. She was in love with her classmate, and they would be married by the time the summer was ended, before the swell of her tummy was seen, before the talk among the magpies scattered dirt along her path. She promised her mother to keep the secret, to move through the small town with the innocence she possessed just two months earlier.

Church Camp was awkward, but her secret remained safe among the giggling girls that gathered to play. The hot days of Bible Study turned into a life changing call to accept Jesus Christ as Savior on the last night, and many girls rushed forward to be counted as His.

She held back, feeling the unworthiness of her soul as a result of her careless sin. The leader of worship saw her watching from the shadows with a look of longing, and he went to her with a personal invitation to come as she was to the Lord.

That Holy Night, she accepted Jesus into her life, and the angels in Heaven rejoiced that another one of His had surrendered her life to Him.

Just as they had planned, as the end of summer drew near, vows of promise and hope were exchanged by the ones that loved. There was some talk heard amongst the embittered that maybe the wedding was necessary for reasons other than love; but, most that witnessed the ceremony saw that the union was meant to be.

As the witnesses gathered together in the church reception hall just next door, to receive the marriage in celebration, the still and quiet voice began singing at the altar, sharing of devotion to God and her new husband.

The crowd hushed and peered through the cracked door as she sang with the truth of her soul of how He had joined them together, and “There is Love.” Not a dry eye of the hidden spectators remained as they quickly closed the doors to their privacy, and prepared for the reception. The witnesses were a little wiser to the real marriage that had taken place.

Some of the words to the wedding song of “There is Love” written by Noel Paul Stookey (Peter, Paul, and Mary)

“…Now to be among you at the calling of your hearts
Rest assured this troubadour is acting on His part.
The union of your spirits, here, has caused Him to remain
For what whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name…

There is Love.

A man shall leave his mother and a woman leave her home
And they shall travel on to where the two shall be as one.
As it was in the beginning is now and till the end.
Woman draws her life from man and gives it back again.

And there is Love.
There is Love.

Well then what’s to be the reason for becoming man and wife?
Is it love that brings you here or love that brings you life?
And if loving is the answer, then who’s the giving for?
Do you believe in something that you’ve never seen before?

Oh there’s Love.
There is Love.

The union of your spirits here has caused Him to remain
For whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name
There is love…oh, there is love.”

The next week the newlyweds prepared together to enter into their new life as husband and wife at their High School. They hugged tightly with their new school clothes crinkling underneath their nervousness of the moment. First days of school were always tough, and the awkwardness of their reality made it even tougher.

He had cleaned their car and buffed it to a shiny glistening the day before, and they bravely jumped into the carriage that would carry them to their tomorrows…

They say that they had only a moment of pain. The drunk ran through the stop sign and plowed into their car head on. They were thrown almost 100 feet into a barbed wired wheat field, and when they found their bodies, they were together, hand in hand.

The funeral was held in the gymnasium as mourners came from miles around. There was the leader of worship who joyfully announced that she was in Heaven that same day she died as a result of her walking in faith toward her Savior that past summer. And her husband was in Heaven that day as a direct result of her sharing her faith. And the precious baby that was was in their arms in Heaven as a result of them allowing him life.

As they closed the lid on the white gowned wife and mother, a still and quiet voice in the midst of the gathered crowd started to sing the song of devotion, that had been sung by her with such tenderness, just the week before…

“There is Love”

Matthew 18:18–20 (KJV 1900)
18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

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Baptism – Bringing Death to a Christian

Salvation comes to Believers through the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Salvation is a two-step process. The first step is one of belief, and the second step is one of action. If the Unsaved believe, but do nothing, they remain unsaved. If the Unsaved do not believe, but go through the action of a repentant sinner, they too remain unsaved.

Romans 10:9-10
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9-10 KJV)

PERSONAL STEPS TO SALVATION
1. Know that you are a sinner, and cannot save yourself.
2. Confess the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior
3. Believe that Jesus Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient to atone for your sins.
4. Be confident that Jesus Christ physically rose from the dead.
Salvation comes by faith in Jesus Christ.

Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 KJV)

The confessor of Jesus Christ as Savior is crucified with him. A Believer is joined to the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ through faith. When Christ is confessed and accepted as a Believer’s Savior, Christ shares both His crucifixion and Resurrection. This makes the Believer eligible to receive the Baptism of Jesus Christ. However, it is vitally important to note that this Baptism does NOT bring salvation to the soul; it is only faith in Christ as Savior, developed during a physical lifetime, that offers eternal salvation. The dead are not given an opportunity to develop faith in Christ after their demise.

THE BAPTISM OF JESUS CHRIST

Revelations 20:4–5
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of [his] resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” (Romans 6:1-18 KJV)

Followers of Christ are crucified with his Crucifixion by their faith, and that faith alone, gives promised salvation. (Galatians 2:20) The Baptism of Jesus Christ allows them to immediately ascend to Heaven upon their physical death. This is called the “First Resurrection.” (Revelation 20:4–5)

If people die without the Baptism of Jesus Christ, but were believers in faith that Christ is their Savior, then they will be resurrected on the great Judgment Day into the Resurrection of Life. (John 5:28–29) Even they only experience one death. Sadly, they cannot go to Heaven immediately because they did not experience death through baptism. They must sleep in their graves in their first death. However, when Christ resurrects them from the grave, faithful believers will ascend to Heaven and join those faithful Baptized Christian that have gathered around His throne.

If people die without the Baptism of Jesus Christ, and did NOT believe in Christ’s salvation, they are resurrected from their grave on the great Judgment Day into the Resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28–29) They, as well as death and Hell, will be cast into the lake of fire. This is called the “second death.” (Revelation 20:11–15)
Those Unbelievers who reject Christ’s salvation in their lifetime, sleep in their graves until Christ raises them to His Judgment Seat to finalize His verdict. (Revelations 20:11–15)

All of the benefits of Salvation are given to a Faithful Believer the moment he accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. (Romans 10:9-10)

But there is one more step a believer must fulfill to see Heaven immediately upon physical death. A faithful Christian must also be baptized into the death of Jesus Christ, and be buried with Him also. Faith allows Believers to share His Crucifixion, and their Baptism allows them to experience His Burial and His Resurrection. This death releases the hold of original sin and the devil.

Those experiencing the death of Jesus Christ and His burial through the experience of Baptism, will not die a second death. When Baptized Christians experience physical death, they immediately ascend to Heaven. Those baptized with the Baptism of Jesus Christ go to their ONLY grave within the baptismal waters. When they rise up from their baptismal water graves, they resurrect into the NEW LIFE, with a NEW BIRTH. Baptized Believer’s souls will never go to the grave again! (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)

CRUCIFIED ONCE, BURIED ONCE AND RESURRECTED ONCE!

Revelation 21:1-7
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” (Revelation 21:1-7 av)

Heaven is a temporary dwelling place, until His chosen Time, when a new Heaven and a New Earth will be established according to His Will.

The unbaptized Believers, who were faithful in the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, but failed to complete the process of going to the grave in Baptism, will go to an earthly grave to sleep for a period (Daniel 12:1-4). The Unbaptized but Saved Believers will be resurrected from their graves, in His time, and given Eternal Life through His Grace of Salvation (Revelation 20:13).

Through their belief and confession of Jesus Christ, the UNBAPTIZED, BUT SAVED BELIEVERS will go on to Eternal Life after their resurrection from their graves and their soul journey to Heaven.

Through their belief and confession of Jesus Christ, the BAPTIZED, SAVED BELIEVERS will go to Heaven for a while, and then on to Eternal Life on the New Earth, where all Believers will begin a new and blessed life under the rule of their King Jesus Christ.

Conclusion
The Baptism of Christ causes death to come one time to a Believer, and Resurrect in Christ’s example, granting eternal life when rising out of the baptismal waters. Those that are already dead are not going to be made alive again through the rising out of the baptismal waters in the likeness of the Resurrection of Christ. They will merely be wet dead people, asleep in death until resurrected by Christ on Judgment Day.

The most valid interpretation to Paul’s reference in 1 Corinthians is the understanding that the grace the LORD God gives followers of Christ must come through faith, and faith can only come through a personal response of a living person.

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Change my mind and perspective if you are able!

After posting my rules, about not accepting friendships with orphanages, I was deluged with all kinds of contacts.

So lets talk about it.

I will tell you my current mindset and perspective. Can you change my mind?

Since I am almost 70-years-old, share my Bible Teachings and writings freely, and I have never become rich with monetary value, it is doubtful I will have spare money. If I do, and God designates it for the orphans, I will select orphanages that have a clear mission; a good example is Abba Home Orphanage for Girls This is my reasoning. If the Lord is moving a ministry for orphanages then it is not just food that God will provide, but spiritual and natural enrichment as well. Posing orphans eating scant amounts of food and getting dirtier and skinnier is not how my Lord would care for orphans. It has been my experience on Facebook, that there are many orphanages that are making the caretakers rich enough to pose well with their nice clothes, while the children suffer. I don’t want to be a part of that. So IF I ever have money that God earmarks for orphans, I would NOT be giving that money haphazardly; rather, I would give that money to ministries I know that have the best interest in the children’s welfare. That’s my take on things at this point in my life.

(Important note to the distraught caretaker threatening to kill himself) – Threatening suicide or death to the children does not help feed your chosen children. You need to pray to God to relieve you of your post in your care of the children, and place another in your position. Then you need to get a close relationship with the Lord and get on with your life. You are not doing anyone, the orphans or yourself, any good in trying to make it work when God is NOT in it. If God was in it, your children would not be starving. Get those poor kids some real help now by moving them to a place with food in the presence of God’s works. Contact missionaries and churches in your area and tell them of your extreme troubles; there are many churches in your area that will NOT let your children starve! Get those children HELP!!! and give up the little bits of money you are trying to make.

Caretakers of orphans – Can you change my mind? (Please limit pictures to two)

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How do I choose friends when requested?

Just a quick note:

If there are orphans or needy children without a full-fledged ministry, I do NOT accept. I am poor, and unable to contribute anything except for prayers. Every picture I see breaks my heart that I can NOT help. It is NOT productive for me to be friends with ministries that cause such despair, and it takes an enormous amount of effort to deal with all the requests for money.

I also reject all requests for friends that have sexual content. I want friends that can control the lusts that are placed on their pages.

I reject most requests for friends by the “posers.” Thats the requesters that pose with many “fine” clothing outfits and try to look the part of rich or cool or suave. Just not interested.

I reject all requests for those that tell me I am beautiful or offer marriage proposals. I am taken, happy, and NOT interested!

I reject all spammers that I can figure out.

And I HATE those “fatty” advertisements of poor women advertising diet stuff so money can be made at their expense. Reject them almost immediately.

The ones I accept are those that have obvious reference to Christ, and an active Facebook account with words of encouragement, teachings, praise, or goodness that can help elevate me as I write the things of God on my pages.

Everyone can follow me! But, I’m becoming more and more selective of who can be my friends. If I reject your offer of friendship, please don’t take it personally. I get thousands of requests, and I want to make certain I choose those that will help me and others best in this journey together.

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The Beatitudes are the Blessings that are Given to Believers

I might have been naive when I was first a Christian. When I read the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, I thought that the Lord Jesus Christ was teaching about individuals. I also wrongly thought that you could just be in one category. Has any of my readers got confused that way?

So, now that I am a mature Christian and digging for every piece of wisdom I can receive from the Lord, I took a look again. WOW! I recognized that the Beatitudes were blessings that are given to all Believers! Here is my journey:

Matthew 5:6 (KJV 1900)
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Hunger – 4277 πεινάω (peinaō): vb.; ≡ Str 3983; TDNT 6.12—1. LN 23.29 be hungry, be in a state of hunger (Mt 25:35); 2. LN 25.17 desire strongly (Mt 5:6; Lk 6:21+)

Thirst – 1498 διψάω (dipsaō): vb.; ≡ Str 1372; TDNT 2.226—1. LN 23.39 be thirsty, a basic bodily desire for liquid (Mt 25:35; Jn 4:13), also a figurative extension of a spiritual need that God can satisfy (Jn 4:14; 7:37; Rev 7:16; 21:6); 2. LN 25.17 desire strongly (Mt 5:6)

(James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).

1. Christ says that those that desire his teachings strongly, that have spiritual needs that cause a frantic searching for answers or a deep desire to know God, will be blessed.

2. He saw that you were hungry and thirsty for the real Word of God and righteousness, and He provides bread for you to learn deeper things! You are blessed! You are being FILLED with new understanding and new learning of the Word of God which leads to righteousness.

3. Note how both the Greek words for hunger and thirst mean to “desire strongly.” This desire speaks of the spiritual needs that God can satisfy in Christians. Praise be to God!

Matthew 5:7 (KJV 1900)
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Merciful – 1798 ἐλεήμων (eleēmōn), ον (on): adj.; ≡ Str 1655; TDNT 2.485—LN 88.77 merciful, pertaining to those who show compassion on the lowly (Mt 5:7; Heb 2:17+) (Ibid)

4. That that show compassion on the lowly, shall receive compassion from the Lord. It is what Christians do.

Hebrews 2:17–18 (KJV 1900)
17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

5. The Lord Jesus Christ knows how to be merciful in all things pertaining to the LORD God.

6. It is the attribute of mercy and faithfulness of a high priest that makes reconciliation for the sins of the people.

7. Jesus will give mercy to us if He sees us giving mercy to those lower than us.

8. And let us not forget the most famous standards of mercy for the LORD God in the Lord’s Prayer!

Matthew 6:9–15 (KJV 1900)
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

9. Before forgiveness can be offered, mercy must be bestowed. The LORD God and the Lord Jesus Christ are watching to see that Christ’s followers are compassionate, even when they don’t
have to be! That is the basis for which their mercy is applied to each of us, and the extent that forgiveness of debts is given.

Matthew 5:8 (KJV 1900)
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Pure in heart – 2754 καθαρός (katharos), ά (a), όν (on): adj.; ≡ DBLHebr 3196, 3197; Str 2513; TDNT 3.413—1. LN 79.48 clean, physically clean (Mt 23:26; 27:59; Jn 13:10a); 2. LN 53.29 pure,
ritually clear of responsibility, innocent Mt 5:8; Lk 11:41; Jn 13:11; Jas 1:2710 (Ibid)

10. Another standard of Christ is to be “pure in heart.”

11. He declares them that have purity of heart as blessed because “they shall see God.”

12. Pure in heart means to be clean, ritually clear of responsibility, and innocent.

13. It is easy for baptized Christians to be clean and innocent of sin, because they are washed in the blood of the lamb, our Lord Jesus Christ.

14. But, consider the “ritually clear of responsibility.” That means that Christians no longer must sacrifice a lamb for their sins. Once they are clean, they are clean forever. Christ’s blood washes them completely, once and for all.

15. Christians that have pure heart, and they would not be Christians if they did not, WILL SEE GOD!

Matthew 5:9 (KJV 1900)
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

16. Christians make peace and reconcile differences when possible. They are never war-mongers, gossipers, trouble-makers, fighters, hypocrites or worldly rioters.

17. Children of the LORD God do not fight to force their belief or standards upon anyone on their own. If the LORD God is not directing the fight and sharing His mighty power with you to be
victorious, then you must be at peace with everyone in your life.

18. Christians may have to separate from those of the world that seek to create harm through fighting if peace cannot be obtained. Jesus teaches us the rules of confrontation later in His Word which we will study soon.

Matthew 5:10–12 (KJV 1900)
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

19. Christians ARE ALWAYS persecuted for righteousness’ sake!

20. If you find a Christian in this world that have not been persecuted, then you have NOT found a Christian. It is a fact of life for Christians in this fallen, sinful world.

21. Jesus promises blessings to come to those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.

22. Those persecuted get to dwell in the Kingdom of Heaven

23. Even simple persecution, like when men revile you and say all manner of evil against you falsely because Jesus is in your life; that type of persecution also brings blessings.

24. When even simple persecution comes to you, Rejoice! And be exceedingly glad! You will receive great reward in Heaven.

25. The Prophets of old were persecuted, and you will be persecuted also. This is the reality of following Christ.

Check these Beatitudes out as a group! They all are about being a CHRISTIAN, a follower of Jesus Christ! So many times, Christian leaders teach the Beatitudes as very individual specific blessings for certain people that have hardships in life. But it is not that at all! Jesus begins his teachings by talking of all the blessings EVERY Christian has by following Him! Thanks be to God!

We are all the poor in spirit, mournful, and meek. All Christians hunger and thirst after righteousness, are merciful, and stay pure in heart. Christians are peacemakers. They experience persecution for righteousness’ sake! Do you understand?

The Beatitudes are the blessings that come to Christians and explain exactly the basic standards of following Jesus Christ. Every Christian reading the beatitudes is experiencing the conditions that bring the blessings forward!

No instruction of these standards of basic Christian blessings are needed. They come to the Christians as they accept their Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and are baptized with His Holy Spirit. These blessings are what Christians carry with them as a direct result of following the teachings of Christ.

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The importance of the Promises of the LORD God to Christians

Romans 4:21–5:2 (KJV 1900)
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. 5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

When we teach young Christians who are beginning their faith walk with Christ, we talk most often about our beloved Lord Jesus Christ. After all, it is His blood that brings salvation to all of us, and is the most important doctrine that becomes a part of all the other doctrines that help contribute to us becoming righteous.

But, as we mature, we must understand deeper, the things of God through His Word. The Lord Jesus Christ shed His blood for the remission of sin in those that follow Him. Jesus Christ was given the power by the LORD God to forgive sins on this earth. The Lord Jesus Christ is our teacher, our mentor, our Lord, and our King. He is the risen Lord from His crucifixion, and that contributes to our hope of one day following Him in Resurrection into Eternal Life. His teachings and examples contributed to us becoming righteous, a condition necessary for us to serve our LORD God.

But the Lord Jesus Christ is NOT the LORD God. He is separate. He has His purposes, goals, and ways that enforce the things of the LORD God and contribute to God’s program.

The Trinity members (the LORD God, Lord Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit) are equal in nature, distinct in Person, and submissive in duties. They are ONE GOD with THREE PERSONS.

That distinct “in Person” is the knowledge that mature Christians must understand before they can achieve full enlightenment of the Word of God. So let me make it a bit easier.

The important promises of our Christian faith come from the LORD God. Not Jesus Christ. Not the Holy Spirit. Those promises come from the LORD God of Omniscience (Holy), Omnipresence (Everywhere), and Omnipotence (Powerful).

If we BELIEVE those promises, if we have HOPE of those promises then that is called FAITH. When we have faith, we are saying that we believe all the promises that the LORD God has made to us in the Word of God.

The forgiveness of sin on this earth by the Lord Jesus Christ has happened to us as Christians. And the going to our Baptismal grave and resurrection in eternal life has been promised when our
physical bodies die.

We have faith that it all works because the LORD God promised it. He promised that His only begotten Son would lead us to Him. So, though faith as a young Christian is expressed in the surety of forgiveness of sin and eternal life through Jesus Christ, as mature Christians, we must understand it more deeply. When we say we have faith, we are saying that we believe without doubt that the LORD God will keep His promises. Then as mature Christians, we start exploring the Word of God, to sort out exactly what those promises are, and what they mean to us as we seek after righteousness.

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The Promises of the LORD God

Acts 2:38–40 (KJV 1900)
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. (Acts 2:38-40)

Untoward – 5021 σκολιός (skolios), ά (a), όν (on): adj.; ≡ Str 4646; TDNT 7.403—1. LN 79.90 crooked (Lk 3:5+); 2. LN 88.268 unscrupulous, corrupt, morally crooked (Ac 2:40; Php 2:15; 1Pe 2:18+) (James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).

1. . The LORD God promises:
a. If you are called by God, you can repent of your sins
b. If you are called by God, you can be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. (Please note: Remission means you are released from the power of sin through your baptismal grave)
c. If you are called by God, you can receive the Holy Ghost
d. If you are called by God, you can save yourselves from the immoral, corrupt, crooked, worldly generation (Separate your presence from them).

Hebrews 6:9–12 (KJV 1900)
9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. 10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

2. The LORD God promises through salvation:
a. To NOT forget your works and labors of love that you did in His name
b. To righteously keep His promises for those with faith and patience, full assurance,
and diligence to the end

2 Corinthians 6:16–7:1 (KJV 1900)
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 7 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all
filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

3. The LORD God promises:
a. You will be the temple of the living LORD God
b. The LORD God will dwell in you (through the Holy Spirit)
c. The LORD God will walk with you (through the Holy Spirit)
d. The LORD God will be your God
e. You shall be part of the LORD God’s people
f. The LORD God will receive you if you separate yourself from the unclean things of the world
g. The LORD God will be a Father to you
h. You will be a part of the LORD God’s sons and daughters

Luke 5:22–24 (KJV 1900)
22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? 23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? 24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

1 John 1:7–10 (KJV 1900)
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

4. The LORD God promises:
a. To give the Lord Jesus Christ power to forgive sins on earth
b. To allow the blood of Jesus Christ to forgive and cleanse all those that walk in the light with his Son and have fellowship with other Christians
c. To allow Christ to cleanse His Followers from all unrighteousness

Continue to next post to learn why these promises are so important to Christians!

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The value of a dead man in Tokyo, and the Mona Lisa

Years ago, I was walking in Tokyo’s Ueno Park, and a dead man lay upon the sidewalk. Apparently deceased, with rigor mortis setting his joints solidly, the view was surreal as his well-pressed suit arm was raised as if he was reaching out to pedestrians to shake their hands, and to be noticed lying upon the crowded sidewalks. As one walker after another approached the decaying body of the dead, but apparently affluent man, their direction of travel would be diverted slightly with an even slighter glance, and they would walk past him without horror or care. This tender and focused culture shocked me with their indifference to one of their own laying dead upon the sidewalk, and wisely discerning it best to act as the culture I was visiting, I walked on to my destination.

I had ridden the crowded Tokyo subway for one reason…to see the “Mona Lisa” which was on loan to the Ueno Art Museum. Shaken from the shock of a culture’s lack of care toward it’s dead, my emotions were running up and down like a roller coaster by the time I had entered in the museum. As I walked passed the statute of Rodin’s “The Thinker” (either a copy, or maybe also loaned to the museum), I marveled at the Japanese artists that surrounded the statue on all sides, with easels and oils capturing the artist’s views. Every painting was different, and every sketch with a perspective of the artist that changed as I walked the circle.

The crowd began moving toward the gallery where the famed “Mona Lisa” was attached to the center, lit wall of a grand hall. It was the only picture on display, and the lines of people there to see it slowly moved past, stopped often and gave reverence to a surprisingly tiny painting, and the scene reminded me of state funerals of a society’s beloved. More often than not, the stoic Japanese, both men and women, would pause for a moment in front of the picture, and you could see their breath exhale in an escape of extreme moving, and tears would form in their eyes. Anticipation enveloped me as I watched them, and as I approached the painting, I excitedly waited to feel the same thing.

It was my turn to stand in front of the famous painting of the woman who did not smile. Nothing happened. I had no tears, I had no release of extreme pleasure, nor did my soul leap. The painting mattered nothing to me. What mattered to me, is that a dead man was lying upon a sidewalk, and I had walked past him to pleasure myself with a beauty that culture has declared with value. It had no value to me, but the drama of a human life that lay dead on a sidewalk in the busy Tokyo street was valuable to me; and that was where I returned to wait for help to come, and I stood watching and valuing a life that I did not know, but surely must have had value because it was created by my Lord.

I am actually a little ashamed that I didn’t realize my values immediately and stop in the first place. I have all kinds of excuses…I was young, I was in a foreign culture and felt a little lost, excited to reach my destination, and I suspect I probably had a little voice reminding me that “he was dead anyway, what could I do.”

By returning and standing by the body until authorities removed it, I hope I was at least offering contemplation to the value of life. Certainly, the U.S. Embassy and my commanding officers had to consider my values when they got a bill for the burial expenses of the man I had discovered. Apparently, Japanese tradition charges those who last have control of a dead body for burial fees. By me standing over the body in declaration of my values, his value became the United States responsibility.

Regardless of the trouble that came my way, inside my own soul, it made a difference, and I must believe that it made a difference to some passerby, or some military finance officer, or maybe to someone I tell the story to. My love for art continues, and I jump at chances to go to museums. My value for art, however, does not take precedence over my values of Christ, and that was a lesson I learned in the strangest of ways in my young faith, in the busy city of Tokyo.

How do citizens of a powerful nation speak of such high ideals, while at the same turning a blind eye to the lower end of a culture’s spectrum?

If Christians do not start focusing more on the social issues in our country, and start standing up for the homeless, lost, orphans, widows, disabled, and crazy, then we are going to lose ourselves. We can have the greatest works of art produced in our country, the smartest books, and most entertaining movies, but if we don’t start looking at real life and reflecting the impoverished with reality rather than illusion, our culture will one day die a pathetic death. As part of a Christian culture, we must shine the light of Christ to illuminate reality, and make it shine in focus and transparency, so the value of life matters once again.

James 2:1-13
1 ¶ My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

8 ¶ If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. (James 2:1-13)