It is intriguing and interesting to observe that the Bible has both general commands and then actual real-life examples or case studies of people actually ignoring or obeying His commands.
The Christian idea of justification by faith, and the proving of such faith, called sanctification, is but one:
Many Bible verses address the topic of justification by faith and the sanctification of souls to show that we actually prove our faith and fear of God.
Abraham, is referred to as, our father in faith, in the Roman Catholic Church's Eucharistic Prayer. I would concur!
In early human history, God waited patiently for the man to fulfill His desire for a family of those who would follow Him. Abraham was also one of Jesus Christ's literal historical ancestors (Luke 3:34), the line of the promised Messiah!
We are introduced to Abram (his initial name) in Genesis 12. Here God told Abram to "get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house." In Genesis 12:3 God promised Abram, "I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you..." Abram did as he was told, (Case Study I Justification, or faith in God's promise).
In Genesis 12:10-20, Abram left Canaan (the land God showed him) and went down to Egypt. Afraid of being killed by the Egyptians, Abram said that his wife Sarai was his sister (she was a half-sister). The Pharaoh admired her and took her as his wife. Despite, being misled, the Pharaoh was cursed (Case Study I Sanctification, or promised fulfilled) for cursing Abram. Genesis 12:17 notes, "...the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai..." After Pharaoh discovered this, he let Sarai and Abram go on their way.
After that Egyptian adventure, Abram, Sarai and his nephew, Lot, went back to Canaan and were blessed materially there. Actually, Lot and Abram split up since they became too numerous for the land to support them. After having to rescue Lot in his newly chosen land, and acknowledging his material blessings, Abram poured out his heart to God in complaint, saying, 'Look, You have given me no offspring...'
Here, in Genesis 15:5, God promised, 'Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.' And he said to him, 'So shall your descendants be.' In Genesis 15:6 we have Case Study II Justification, as the verse says, "And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted to him for righteousness." This is the same type of faith the new Christian possesses. John 3:16 notes, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes (like Abraham, our father, active belief is required) in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
So, we continue with Abraham's literal, historical life. His name is changed to Abraham, meaning "father of many nations." Sarai, getting old, decides to give Abram a child through his servant girl, Hagar. This son, Ishmael grows. But in Genesis 18:8 the promise of a son between Abraham and Sarai is affirmed. Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed for rampant homosexuality (Genesis 19:4-5, 24).
And, after all this, Abraham's wife Sarai gives him a son, Isaac. Abraham was literally 100 years old (Genesis 21:5) when Isaac was born. Case Study II Sanctification, partially.
And, finally Abraham's faith was tested again when God asked him to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering. Only when he was ready to slay him did the Angel of the Lord stop him. Case Study Sanctification II Final for testing Abraham's faith. However, Abraham didn't actually see the descendants as the stars part, but it has happened.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Friday, November 1, 2013
Thoughts on God's wisdom...
Proverbs 4:7 notes, "WISDOM IS THE PRINCIPAL THING; Therefore get wisdom,
And in all your getting, get understanding." Why? Because wisdom--or the understanding of what is true, right or lasting--is the essence of living a successful life.
*Here are some of the reasons why the Bible calls wisdom the principal thing:
She is a shelter and a protection. Ecclesiastes 7:12 ESV notes, "For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it."
She is a guide. "Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path." Proverbs 2:9 NKJV
She makes life pleasant. Proverbs 3:17 declares, "Her (wisdom) ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace."
She will promote and honor you. Proverbs 4;8 notes, "Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you."
She brings wealth and long life. Proverbs 3:16 NIV says, "Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor. Also see Proverbs 8:18-19,21.
...AND HOW YOU GET IT:
Fear of God. Proverbs 1:7 states, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but fools despise wisdom and discipline."
Trust in God. Proverbs 3:5-6 adds, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."
Humility. Proverbs 22:4 declares, "Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life."
Delighting in God's Word. Psalm 112:1 notes, "Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in His commands. Also see Psalm 119, Psalm 1 and Joshua 1:8.
Respect & embrace her. See Proverbs 4:8 above.
Consider her your sister. In the current, modern-day American vernacular..be on wisdom, like white on Wonder Bread, green on grass. Proverbs 7:4 declares, "Say to wisdom, 'you are my sister'..."
And in all your getting, get understanding." Why? Because wisdom--or the understanding of what is true, right or lasting--is the essence of living a successful life.
*Here are some of the reasons why the Bible calls wisdom the principal thing:
She is a shelter and a protection. Ecclesiastes 7:12 ESV notes, "For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it."
She is a guide. "Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path." Proverbs 2:9 NKJV
She makes life pleasant. Proverbs 3:17 declares, "Her (wisdom) ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace."
She will promote and honor you. Proverbs 4;8 notes, "Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you."
She brings wealth and long life. Proverbs 3:16 NIV says, "Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor. Also see Proverbs 8:18-19,21.
...AND HOW YOU GET IT:
Fear of God. Proverbs 1:7 states, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but fools despise wisdom and discipline."
Trust in God. Proverbs 3:5-6 adds, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."
Humility. Proverbs 22:4 declares, "Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life."
Delighting in God's Word. Psalm 112:1 notes, "Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in His commands. Also see Psalm 119, Psalm 1 and Joshua 1:8.
Respect & embrace her. See Proverbs 4:8 above.
Consider her your sister. In the current, modern-day American vernacular..be on wisdom, like white on Wonder Bread, green on grass. Proverbs 7:4 declares, "Say to wisdom, 'you are my sister'..."
Monday, July 1, 2013
Support the Public Advocate of the U.S. against radical "gay" agenda!
I feel strongly to urge support for Eugene Delgaudio and his Public Advocate of the U.S. organization (www.PublicAdvocateUSA.org or 800 29-Eugene) as he stands against the radical homosexual agenda. I get this man's letters and based on my own experience with fighting the homosexual agenda I feel for him as he is in the midst of spiritual battle.
Sadly, so many Christians refuse to fight the homosexual agenda or they end up turning on those fighting the battle. Those who support homosexuality are opposing the Word of God's commands in Genesis 19:23-29, Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:26-27, and I Corinthians 6:9-11 among others. And, in a very real sense, they oppose Jesus Christ, or they are antichrist, because John 1:1 declares, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." In short, Jesus is the Word.
Many foolishly think it unloving to oppose sin and they use deceitful rationalizations like, "I may not be able to talk about Jesus to a homosexual person" or other nonsense. The Word tells us in I Corinthians 13:6 NKJV that , "...love does rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth."
The Bible also warns:
*against passivity in Matthew 5:13 notes, "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?",
*against sanctioning wickedness in Romans 1:32, "Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them" and also , and
*condemning the righteous in order to win the praise or friendship per Proverbs 17:15, "He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord."
Sadly, so many Christians refuse to fight the homosexual agenda or they end up turning on those fighting the battle. Those who support homosexuality are opposing the Word of God's commands in Genesis 19:23-29, Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:26-27, and I Corinthians 6:9-11 among others. And, in a very real sense, they oppose Jesus Christ, or they are antichrist, because John 1:1 declares, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." In short, Jesus is the Word.
Many foolishly think it unloving to oppose sin and they use deceitful rationalizations like, "I may not be able to talk about Jesus to a homosexual person" or other nonsense. The Word tells us in I Corinthians 13:6 NKJV that , "...love does rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth."
The Bible also warns:
*against passivity in Matthew 5:13 notes, "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?",
*against sanctioning wickedness in Romans 1:32, "Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them" and also , and
*condemning the righteous in order to win the praise or friendship per Proverbs 17:15, "He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord."
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
The Favor of God
"For you bless the righteous (you have to be righteous to claim the verse), O Lord;
you cover him with favor as with a shield." Psalm 5:12 ESV
The favor of God is definitely worth having, or seeking after, for it:
*Makes life more pleasant (Proverbs 3:17),
*It, in turn, gives favor with people (Proverbs 3:3-4),
*The Lord will make your path straight (Proverbs 3:5-6),
*The Lord can open doors of grace (unmerited favor) in your life (Revelation 3:8),
*Forgive your sins & treat you with compassion (Psalm 103:3,10)
A few specifics, how God's favor works...:
*As a student, God's favor can smooth your way in a class, moving on a professor to give an "A" and not a "B",
*As a driver, God's favor can get that policeman to give you a warning, not a ticket,
*As a salesman, God's favor can make your ineptitude, success, or
*If your ways please God, He makes your enemies be at peace with you (Proverbs 16:7).
And now a little plug, Jerry Savelle and Kenneth Copeland did an excellent, inspiring teaching on the favor of God during the week of 12/10-12/14/2012. It is available on www.kcm.org under the Media tab.
you cover him with favor as with a shield." Psalm 5:12 ESV
The favor of God is definitely worth having, or seeking after, for it:
*Makes life more pleasant (Proverbs 3:17),
*It, in turn, gives favor with people (Proverbs 3:3-4),
*The Lord will make your path straight (Proverbs 3:5-6),
*The Lord can open doors of grace (unmerited favor) in your life (Revelation 3:8),
*Forgive your sins & treat you with compassion (Psalm 103:3,10)
A few specifics, how God's favor works...:
*As a student, God's favor can smooth your way in a class, moving on a professor to give an "A" and not a "B",
*As a driver, God's favor can get that policeman to give you a warning, not a ticket,
*As a salesman, God's favor can make your ineptitude, success, or
*If your ways please God, He makes your enemies be at peace with you (Proverbs 16:7).
And now a little plug, Jerry Savelle and Kenneth Copeland did an excellent, inspiring teaching on the favor of God during the week of 12/10-12/14/2012. It is available on www.kcm.org under the Media tab.
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