Hello Guys and Gals!
As you all know, I am looking to have Bariatric Surgery! I have an appointment this morning with my Dietician who is going to be letting me know if it will be scheduled soon or not. I am very nervous about it. I have been sick with a head cold the last month or so and I know that it affects my blood sugars and therefore my weight. Have I lost? Have I gained? Have I stayed the same? I will find out today.
Then a friend encouraged me this morning. He told me that he liked the positive impact I was having on those around me! To my friend who I will keep anonymous, thank you very much! I needed to hear that!
I was reminded of a verse. Matthew 16:24 which says:
"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?'
Also 1 Timothy 4:7-8:
'discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."
I am reminded by my friend's word of encouragement that it doesn't matter so much that I lose this weight or not; what does matter is me doing God's will in my life! So whether I have this surgery or not, I will continue to use my tongue which is sharper than any two edged sword, to speak the truth as God has revealed it to me! Please note that I will always back up what I say with references to the passages or documents or evidence that has led me to believe what it is I am saying.
So thank you my friend for your word of encouragement this morning!
May God bless each and every one of you this day!
23 February 2011
22 February 2011
So I Lied The Other Day!
Hello Guys and Gals!
I did something that I am profoundly against in my life. I lied!
Let me clarify. I was in a really good mood one night and someone asked me if I was irritated with him. I told him no. This was a lie. But I didn't mean to lie. I really was in a good mood and, at that time, I wasn't irritated with him. I was irritated with some things about him but I didn't really think when I simply responded that I wasn't. But I still lied!
Well, I didn't see him for a few days and the Lord and my conscience nagged at me again and again until I saw him again. So when I saw him again, I waited until we could talk privately and then I told him that I lied to him and also that it wasn't intentionally done but it was done never the less! I then apologized to him for doing so!
I proceeded to talk to him about the irritations that I did have with him and told him that I hope not to hurt his feelings about anything but I still felt the need to tell him anyway.
He was great! He listened patiently as I talked with him and told him the problems I was having. I asked him if he would work on them and he agreed.
I believe that I did the right thing in approaching him and speaking to him and asking his forgiveness for my lying to him. Whether I intended to do so or not, I still sinned against him. This was why I apologized to him.
Then I started to think about what I would do if I never had the chance to correct my mistake. What if I didn't know the person and would never see them again? Or what if something happened to someone which prevented me from being able to apologize? These are all very difficult questions for me!
Has any of you ever done something you regret and not been able to apologize for it? You know the feelings I'm talking about then. The guilt! The shame! The frustration! How do you make up for something that you can't make up for?
Hebrews 4:13 says:
'Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need.'
So you have backslid on God. So you have sinned against your fellow man. So there is no way to right the wrong with that fellow man. But you can right yourself with God! When you find that you have sinned against God or your fellow man, go boldly to His throne of grace and thank Him that He gave His Son, Jesus Christ, so that we may be reunited with God in a loving relationship that is guilt free of the sins we have committed! It doesn't matter how far down the path of sin you have gone or even what sins you have committed! What does matter is that when you turn away from your sins, Jesus is standing right there, right behind you, ready to lead you back to the true path that leads to a loving relationship with God the Father through the Son, Jesus Christ!
I turned from my sin and when I did so, Jesus was right there giving to me His grace that I could work with Him to restore my relationship with my friend and also with God! I can now rest in the knowledge that the grace of God has allowed me be guilt free of all the sins which I have committed, even though I may never see the persons I have sinned against again!
See, forgiveness is not for those whom you have wronged! It is for you who did the wrong in the first place! For a life full of guilt and shame is no good life to live and it will drag you down every time. But being free of that guilt and shame in your life is the true freedom that Jesus came to free us from!
Romans Chapter 6 says this better than I ever could in verses 14-23:
'For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.'
Isn't that one of the most beautiful passages of scripture ever? I do love it! We have been freed from sin! Thank you Lord Jesus for your sacrifice so that we may be restored to a loving relationship with God the Father and Yourself!
May God bless you all this night!
I did something that I am profoundly against in my life. I lied!
Let me clarify. I was in a really good mood one night and someone asked me if I was irritated with him. I told him no. This was a lie. But I didn't mean to lie. I really was in a good mood and, at that time, I wasn't irritated with him. I was irritated with some things about him but I didn't really think when I simply responded that I wasn't. But I still lied!
Well, I didn't see him for a few days and the Lord and my conscience nagged at me again and again until I saw him again. So when I saw him again, I waited until we could talk privately and then I told him that I lied to him and also that it wasn't intentionally done but it was done never the less! I then apologized to him for doing so!
I proceeded to talk to him about the irritations that I did have with him and told him that I hope not to hurt his feelings about anything but I still felt the need to tell him anyway.
He was great! He listened patiently as I talked with him and told him the problems I was having. I asked him if he would work on them and he agreed.
I believe that I did the right thing in approaching him and speaking to him and asking his forgiveness for my lying to him. Whether I intended to do so or not, I still sinned against him. This was why I apologized to him.
Then I started to think about what I would do if I never had the chance to correct my mistake. What if I didn't know the person and would never see them again? Or what if something happened to someone which prevented me from being able to apologize? These are all very difficult questions for me!
Has any of you ever done something you regret and not been able to apologize for it? You know the feelings I'm talking about then. The guilt! The shame! The frustration! How do you make up for something that you can't make up for?
Hebrews 4:13 says:
'Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need.'
So you have backslid on God. So you have sinned against your fellow man. So there is no way to right the wrong with that fellow man. But you can right yourself with God! When you find that you have sinned against God or your fellow man, go boldly to His throne of grace and thank Him that He gave His Son, Jesus Christ, so that we may be reunited with God in a loving relationship that is guilt free of the sins we have committed! It doesn't matter how far down the path of sin you have gone or even what sins you have committed! What does matter is that when you turn away from your sins, Jesus is standing right there, right behind you, ready to lead you back to the true path that leads to a loving relationship with God the Father through the Son, Jesus Christ!
I turned from my sin and when I did so, Jesus was right there giving to me His grace that I could work with Him to restore my relationship with my friend and also with God! I can now rest in the knowledge that the grace of God has allowed me be guilt free of all the sins which I have committed, even though I may never see the persons I have sinned against again!
See, forgiveness is not for those whom you have wronged! It is for you who did the wrong in the first place! For a life full of guilt and shame is no good life to live and it will drag you down every time. But being free of that guilt and shame in your life is the true freedom that Jesus came to free us from!
Romans Chapter 6 says this better than I ever could in verses 14-23:
'For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.'
Isn't that one of the most beautiful passages of scripture ever? I do love it! We have been freed from sin! Thank you Lord Jesus for your sacrifice so that we may be restored to a loving relationship with God the Father and Yourself!
May God bless you all this night!
13 February 2011
Let Us Reason Together!
Hello Guys and Gals!
Let us reason together today! What do I mean by that? I mean let us use reason and logic to communicate with each other in an open and honest way so that we can explore the beliefs that we have!
I have often posted in my blog or in other places and my posts are always backed up with links or notes on how to reference the same material which I used to support the argument that I have made! Now there are many times when someone will tell me that I am wrong to say what I say. They go on to tell me that what I have written in my blog is way off target. Okay, how and why?
These same people are always willing to say I'm wrong or off target but never expound upon the reason why I am wrong or off target, let alone back up what they are saying with any supporting evidence of what they talk about. This is an argument that comes purely from emotion. This comes from a person who has not explored the reasons why they believe what they believe. This comes from a person without any foundations to their beliefs!
When I say I want to reason with you, you can be assured that I will be truthful in what I believe and that I will tell you why I believe it as well as giving you a resource so that you can see where I developed that belief within me! I will be more than happy to listen to you and try to grasp what you are trying to tell me even if you do not agree with me. But I will never tell you that you are wrong about a belief you have without telling you why I believe you are wrong and showing you where to get the supporting evidence of my belief!
I guess what I am getting at here is this; if you are going to confront someone on what they have said, have the integrity to also tell them why you believe they are wrong and also know from where you get that belief and show that person whom you are confronting your reasons and foundations for why you are confronting them. If you can't do that, then you are like sounding brass! This means that you are all noise without any music!
Speak your mind! Absolutely! 100%! But do it with logic and reason and not just emotion! Don't get me wrong, emotion is important because it is like an alarm clock within us saying this is important to us when we feel it. But without logic and reason, that emotion is like a brass symbol being banged about without any harmony within us! So listen to your emotion, but also explore why you have that emotion and figure out for yourself why you believe what you believe in order for you to feel that emotion!
May God, my Lord and Savior, give you a special blessing today!
Let us reason together today! What do I mean by that? I mean let us use reason and logic to communicate with each other in an open and honest way so that we can explore the beliefs that we have!
I have often posted in my blog or in other places and my posts are always backed up with links or notes on how to reference the same material which I used to support the argument that I have made! Now there are many times when someone will tell me that I am wrong to say what I say. They go on to tell me that what I have written in my blog is way off target. Okay, how and why?
These same people are always willing to say I'm wrong or off target but never expound upon the reason why I am wrong or off target, let alone back up what they are saying with any supporting evidence of what they talk about. This is an argument that comes purely from emotion. This comes from a person who has not explored the reasons why they believe what they believe. This comes from a person without any foundations to their beliefs!
When I say I want to reason with you, you can be assured that I will be truthful in what I believe and that I will tell you why I believe it as well as giving you a resource so that you can see where I developed that belief within me! I will be more than happy to listen to you and try to grasp what you are trying to tell me even if you do not agree with me. But I will never tell you that you are wrong about a belief you have without telling you why I believe you are wrong and showing you where to get the supporting evidence of my belief!
I guess what I am getting at here is this; if you are going to confront someone on what they have said, have the integrity to also tell them why you believe they are wrong and also know from where you get that belief and show that person whom you are confronting your reasons and foundations for why you are confronting them. If you can't do that, then you are like sounding brass! This means that you are all noise without any music!
Speak your mind! Absolutely! 100%! But do it with logic and reason and not just emotion! Don't get me wrong, emotion is important because it is like an alarm clock within us saying this is important to us when we feel it. But without logic and reason, that emotion is like a brass symbol being banged about without any harmony within us! So listen to your emotion, but also explore why you have that emotion and figure out for yourself why you believe what you believe in order for you to feel that emotion!
May God, my Lord and Savior, give you a special blessing today!
10 February 2011
Two Competing Worldviews!
Hello Guys and Gals!
I keep hearing this phrase or quote being bandied around today, ‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend!’ This is worrisome to me. I hear that Islam is embracing this thought along with Communists and Athiests and all those who are against America and the ideas and beliefs which the US was founded upon!
It is actually an Arabian Proverb that is often compared to a Chinese Proverb which states, ‘It is good to strike at the serpent’s head with your enemy’s hand!’ Both of which take on this idea that it is good to form an alliance or friendship with someone just because they are the enemy of your enemy!
I have seen this thought on various websites:
The Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jamal-dajani/the-enemy-of-my-enemy-is_b_185585.html
The New York Times: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/14/the-enemy-of-my-enemy/
Shoot, even the Conservative websites are talking about how the Left, Communism, and Islam are embracing this thought:
Talking Points Memo: http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2005/11/14/my_enemys_enemy_is_my_friend/
Integral World: http://www.integralworld.net/harris9.html
Front Page Mag: http://frontpagemag.com/2010/10/04/islam-the-communism-of-today/
ShadowSpear: http://www.shadowspear.com/vb/threads/communism-islam-working-together-for-a-better-tomorrow.8946/
I find this type of belief disturbing. The reason why is because there have been times when I have made friends with someone simply because they didn’t get along with someone I didn’t get along with. In almost every single instance, I have found that the person who was my enemy’s enemy is just as likely to strike at me as my enemy is!
But what does the bible lead us to believe in this type of thinking?
Matthew 12:30 states, ‘He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.’
Jesus is speaking about what is known as the Unpardonable Sin which is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, or for more clarification, stating that the works of the Holy Spirit are of Satan! But back to the thought of what Jesus actually says. Jesus declares that if you are not with Him, then you are against Him! This means that the enemy of your enemy, he too is your enemy! If they are not your enemy, then they will have the same values, beliefs, and morals that you do and will stand with you against your enemy!
Forming an alliance with someone for the common purpose of defeating an enemy is an evil thought and wicked at its very core! I believe that it comes from trying to conceive a way to overcome a problem in a subversive way. This is taking matters into your own hands and not letting God show His might through his all powerful hand! The simple fact is, if you stick with truth and integrity and walk in the ways of God, having a good relationship with Jesus Christ, then you will not ever need to unite with those who do not believe the same as you!
Rely upon the power of God and His truth and righteousness and you will not have to lay down with the serpents in order to defeat the snakes! Yes, I used two synonyms for Satan because in both Communism and Islam, Satan is at the core of their belief systems which is why they are against Christianity and all it stands for!
Please be careful who you stand with so that you are not tempted to stray from Jesus!
May God bless you all this day!
I keep hearing this phrase or quote being bandied around today, ‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend!’ This is worrisome to me. I hear that Islam is embracing this thought along with Communists and Athiests and all those who are against America and the ideas and beliefs which the US was founded upon!
It is actually an Arabian Proverb that is often compared to a Chinese Proverb which states, ‘It is good to strike at the serpent’s head with your enemy’s hand!’ Both of which take on this idea that it is good to form an alliance or friendship with someone just because they are the enemy of your enemy!
I have seen this thought on various websites:
The Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jamal-dajani/the-enemy-of-my-enemy-is_b_185585.html
The New York Times: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/14/the-enemy-of-my-enemy/
Shoot, even the Conservative websites are talking about how the Left, Communism, and Islam are embracing this thought:
Talking Points Memo: http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2005/11/14/my_enemys_enemy_is_my_friend/
Integral World: http://www.integralworld.net/harris9.html
Front Page Mag: http://frontpagemag.com/2010/10/04/islam-the-communism-of-today/
ShadowSpear: http://www.shadowspear.com/vb/threads/communism-islam-working-together-for-a-better-tomorrow.8946/
I find this type of belief disturbing. The reason why is because there have been times when I have made friends with someone simply because they didn’t get along with someone I didn’t get along with. In almost every single instance, I have found that the person who was my enemy’s enemy is just as likely to strike at me as my enemy is!
But what does the bible lead us to believe in this type of thinking?
Matthew 12:30 states, ‘He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.’
Jesus is speaking about what is known as the Unpardonable Sin which is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, or for more clarification, stating that the works of the Holy Spirit are of Satan! But back to the thought of what Jesus actually says. Jesus declares that if you are not with Him, then you are against Him! This means that the enemy of your enemy, he too is your enemy! If they are not your enemy, then they will have the same values, beliefs, and morals that you do and will stand with you against your enemy!
Forming an alliance with someone for the common purpose of defeating an enemy is an evil thought and wicked at its very core! I believe that it comes from trying to conceive a way to overcome a problem in a subversive way. This is taking matters into your own hands and not letting God show His might through his all powerful hand! The simple fact is, if you stick with truth and integrity and walk in the ways of God, having a good relationship with Jesus Christ, then you will not ever need to unite with those who do not believe the same as you!
Rely upon the power of God and His truth and righteousness and you will not have to lay down with the serpents in order to defeat the snakes! Yes, I used two synonyms for Satan because in both Communism and Islam, Satan is at the core of their belief systems which is why they are against Christianity and all it stands for!
Please be careful who you stand with so that you are not tempted to stray from Jesus!
May God bless you all this day!
09 February 2011
Words Can't Describe!
Hello Guys and Gals!
I would like to speak to you today about the feeling which I think is greater than all others. I'm not sure what to call it though. I believe that the bible refers to it as 'groanings'. Romans 8:26 states:
'26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;'
Have you ever felt something inside of you that is so great that words cannot describe it? Whether it is joyful, painful, or just confusing; I believe that these are our groanings. This is when you have an emotion so deep and profound that words cannot express what you are truly feeling at that moment. I am sure that all of you have felt this way at one time or another.
I have these groanings occasionally and I'm here to tell you that when I focus in on them, there is only One who can bring comfort to me at those times, Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit!
But whenever you enter a time like this, please know that God is there waiting to help you and that the Holy Spirit, which has been given to us by Jesus Christ, is there explaining and translating to God the Father our groanings, the desires and pains and loves and sorrows of our heart!
Romans 8:27-30 continues and states:
'27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.'
We now know that, even when we cannot utter what it is we are feeling to God in prayer, and even when all we can do is exist in that moment because nothing else exists for us at that time, that God knows what we are feeling and that the Holy Spirit is actively translating at that very moment, what it is we are feeling and bringing God the Father's attention to us!
Be comforted in this! Even when our emotion is the guilt we feel at sinning, yet again, against God; even that emotion and pain and guilt is understood by God through the translation of the Holy Spirit!
What does this mean for us? This means that even in our worst of times and best of times and any time in between those times, the Holy Spirit is making sure that God knows what we are going through and God's attention is focused upon those who love Him!
I sincerely pray that God blesses each and every one of you this day!
I would like to speak to you today about the feeling which I think is greater than all others. I'm not sure what to call it though. I believe that the bible refers to it as 'groanings'. Romans 8:26 states:
'26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;'
Have you ever felt something inside of you that is so great that words cannot describe it? Whether it is joyful, painful, or just confusing; I believe that these are our groanings. This is when you have an emotion so deep and profound that words cannot express what you are truly feeling at that moment. I am sure that all of you have felt this way at one time or another.
I have these groanings occasionally and I'm here to tell you that when I focus in on them, there is only One who can bring comfort to me at those times, Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit!
But whenever you enter a time like this, please know that God is there waiting to help you and that the Holy Spirit, which has been given to us by Jesus Christ, is there explaining and translating to God the Father our groanings, the desires and pains and loves and sorrows of our heart!
Romans 8:27-30 continues and states:
'27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.'
We now know that, even when we cannot utter what it is we are feeling to God in prayer, and even when all we can do is exist in that moment because nothing else exists for us at that time, that God knows what we are feeling and that the Holy Spirit is actively translating at that very moment, what it is we are feeling and bringing God the Father's attention to us!
Be comforted in this! Even when our emotion is the guilt we feel at sinning, yet again, against God; even that emotion and pain and guilt is understood by God through the translation of the Holy Spirit!
What does this mean for us? This means that even in our worst of times and best of times and any time in between those times, the Holy Spirit is making sure that God knows what we are going through and God's attention is focused upon those who love Him!
I sincerely pray that God blesses each and every one of you this day!
07 February 2011
A Further Clarification On Esau!
Hello Guys and Gals!
I have been thinking about this and I wanted to add something more.
The reason that God 'hates' those who have descended from Esau is very clear to me and I took for granted that it would be clear to you as well. I may have been wrong there. So now I will explain why God 'hates' Esau and his descendants.
This reason is simple and I believe it ties directly to Islam as a religion.
1. The religion of Islam is saying that Allah is the one true God! He is not! If you look at Allah's attributes and compare them to YHWH's attributes, you see a vastly different diety. And since YHWH is a jealous God, then clearly those who worship Allah are placing Allah in direct contention with YHWH!
2. Yet another reason is the tenants of Islam. Keep in mind that people of Islam are saying that Allah is the one true god here. Yet they claim that they have the freedom from Allah to do whatever is necessary to either convert or destroy the 'infidels', or those who are not of the Islamic Tradition. Followers of Islam believe that violence against infidels are not only okay, but will give them a sure place in their Heaven with something like 70 Virgin Brides. But more critical than that is the fact that they not only are approved to lie, but are encouraged to do so when speaking to an infidel! Please see my earlier post about how YHWH hates lying and how it is at the heart of all sin!
Now if you knew this already, I apologize for expounding upon it. For those who did not know this, I hope I have made this a little bit more clear as to why God 'hates' Esau and his descendants.
Please remember that all people, even the descendants of Esau, have the ability to come to know YHWH through Jesus Christ and get their sins forgiven just like any other follower of Jesus! But they have to repent and form that individual relationship with Jesus!
God bless you all this day!
I have been thinking about this and I wanted to add something more.
The reason that God 'hates' those who have descended from Esau is very clear to me and I took for granted that it would be clear to you as well. I may have been wrong there. So now I will explain why God 'hates' Esau and his descendants.
This reason is simple and I believe it ties directly to Islam as a religion.
1. The religion of Islam is saying that Allah is the one true God! He is not! If you look at Allah's attributes and compare them to YHWH's attributes, you see a vastly different diety. And since YHWH is a jealous God, then clearly those who worship Allah are placing Allah in direct contention with YHWH!
2. Yet another reason is the tenants of Islam. Keep in mind that people of Islam are saying that Allah is the one true god here. Yet they claim that they have the freedom from Allah to do whatever is necessary to either convert or destroy the 'infidels', or those who are not of the Islamic Tradition. Followers of Islam believe that violence against infidels are not only okay, but will give them a sure place in their Heaven with something like 70 Virgin Brides. But more critical than that is the fact that they not only are approved to lie, but are encouraged to do so when speaking to an infidel! Please see my earlier post about how YHWH hates lying and how it is at the heart of all sin!
Now if you knew this already, I apologize for expounding upon it. For those who did not know this, I hope I have made this a little bit more clear as to why God 'hates' Esau and his descendants.
Please remember that all people, even the descendants of Esau, have the ability to come to know YHWH through Jesus Christ and get their sins forgiven just like any other follower of Jesus! But they have to repent and form that individual relationship with Jesus!
God bless you all this day!
01 February 2011
Israel And Islam; The Truth Revealed!
Hello Guys and Gals!
Romans 9:13 states, ‘13 Just as it is written, “JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED .”’
This is a tough matter. But Islam has come to the world through Muhammad. And Muhammad is Muslim and a descendant of Esau! So then does God hate Esau and his descendents?
Malachi 1:1-4 states, ‘1 The oracle of the word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi. 2 “I have loved you,” says the LORD . But you say, “How have You loved us?” “ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD . “Yet I have loved Jacob; 3 but I have hated Esau, and I have made his mountains a desolation and appointed his inheritance for the jackals of the wilderness.” 4 Though Edom says, “We have been beaten down, but we will return and build up the ruins”; thus says the LORD of hosts, “They may build, but I will tear down; and men will call them the wicked territory, and the people toward whom the LORD is indignant forever.”’
Islamic tradition states that “In Medina, he preached about Allah and monotheism and urged all people to return to the true faith of Abraham.” (http://carm.org/muhammad) So we now know that Muhammad was teaching that all should practice the true faith of Abraham! But look above again and we see that the promise passed through Jacob’s line and not Esau’s line. God loved Jacob and hated Esau.
Now I realize that there are some commentaries that say that this hate does not pass on to Esau’s descendents. But if we look closer at Malachi, we see again that the LORD declares, “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD . “Yet I have loved Jacob; 3 but I have hated Esau, and I have made his mountains a desolation and appointed his inheritance for the jackals of the wilderness.”
What I see here is that God has made the mountains in which Esau resides a desolation and appointed his inheritance for the jackals. So I ask the question, If God does not pass on His hatred of Esau to his descendents, then why does this speak of desolation and appointing inheritance for the jackals? Is not the word, ‘inheritance’ refer to something passed down through descendents?
But what about Jesus? “Islam says that Jesus not only is not the Son of God, but that He did not even die on a cross in Jerusalem” (http://bibleprobe.com/muhammad.htm)
If then, that Islam preaches that Jesus is not the Son of God and He did not die on a cross in Jerusalem, then we know that this Allah is not the same as YHWH the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob!
In 1 John 4:15 it states, ‘15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.’ Then we know that Jesus is the Son of God!
But what about denying that Jesus is the Son of God? Matthew 10:33 states, ‘33 “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.’ Luke 12:8-9 states, ‘8 “And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God;9 but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.’ And if that is not clear enough, look at 1 John 2:22 which states, ‘22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.’ Now we have clear evidence that Muhammad not only is not of God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But that Muhammad is also to be considered the Anti-Christ! This does not mean that this is the Anti-Christ referred to in Revelation, but one of the many who deny Jesus Christ!
Paul states it best in Galatians 1:8-9 which states, ‘8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!’
Where did Muhammad get his teaching though? ‘The tradition of Islam claims that in the year 610, Muhammad, while on a retreat to Mount Hira for meditation during the month of Ramadan, received his first revelation from the Archangel Gabriel.’ (http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/95dec/muhammad.html)
By this we see that Muhammad received his teachings from Gabriel, an Angel, according to Islamic Tradition. But didn’t Paul state that anyone, even an angel from heaven, which preached different than what he preached to them to be accursed? That’s what I understood it to mean as well!
As I understand the Word of God, YHWH, the God of the Christians, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; then any who does not declare that Jesus is the Son of God, then they will be denied by Jesus to His Father! Why is this important? Because in John 14:6 it clearly states, ‘6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’ Therefore we know that there is no other way to come to YHWH, the Father but through Jesus Christ, the Son of God!
Why have I written this? Because I think that you have a right to know not only what Scripture says, but also how Islam does not align to Christianity and that Allah of the Quran is not YHWH of the Torah or the Bible! The simple fact is, Islam is nothing more than an attempt by Satan to pervert the true teachings of Jesus Christ so that many will be led astray from the true path to God the Father!
In closing I would like to say that if any of Esau's descendents receive salvation through Jesus Christ, claiming Him as the Son of God, then they become heirs to the promise that passed through Jacob and not Esau!
Please research what I have researched and feel free to comment if you agree or disagree with what I have shown here!
May God, YHWH, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Father of Jesus Christ, bless you all this day!
Romans 9:13 states, ‘13 Just as it is written, “JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED .”’
This is a tough matter. But Islam has come to the world through Muhammad. And Muhammad is Muslim and a descendant of Esau! So then does God hate Esau and his descendents?
Malachi 1:1-4 states, ‘1 The oracle of the word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi. 2 “I have loved you,” says the LORD . But you say, “How have You loved us?” “ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD . “Yet I have loved Jacob; 3 but I have hated Esau, and I have made his mountains a desolation and appointed his inheritance for the jackals of the wilderness.” 4 Though Edom says, “We have been beaten down, but we will return and build up the ruins”; thus says the LORD of hosts, “They may build, but I will tear down; and men will call them the wicked territory, and the people toward whom the LORD is indignant forever.”’
Islamic tradition states that “In Medina, he preached about Allah and monotheism and urged all people to return to the true faith of Abraham.” (http://carm.org/muhammad) So we now know that Muhammad was teaching that all should practice the true faith of Abraham! But look above again and we see that the promise passed through Jacob’s line and not Esau’s line. God loved Jacob and hated Esau.
Now I realize that there are some commentaries that say that this hate does not pass on to Esau’s descendents. But if we look closer at Malachi, we see again that the LORD declares, “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD . “Yet I have loved Jacob; 3 but I have hated Esau, and I have made his mountains a desolation and appointed his inheritance for the jackals of the wilderness.”
What I see here is that God has made the mountains in which Esau resides a desolation and appointed his inheritance for the jackals. So I ask the question, If God does not pass on His hatred of Esau to his descendents, then why does this speak of desolation and appointing inheritance for the jackals? Is not the word, ‘inheritance’ refer to something passed down through descendents?
But what about Jesus? “Islam says that Jesus not only is not the Son of God, but that He did not even die on a cross in Jerusalem” (http://bibleprobe.com/muhammad.htm)
If then, that Islam preaches that Jesus is not the Son of God and He did not die on a cross in Jerusalem, then we know that this Allah is not the same as YHWH the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob!
In 1 John 4:15 it states, ‘15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.’ Then we know that Jesus is the Son of God!
But what about denying that Jesus is the Son of God? Matthew 10:33 states, ‘33 “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.’ Luke 12:8-9 states, ‘8 “And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God;9 but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.’ And if that is not clear enough, look at 1 John 2:22 which states, ‘22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.’ Now we have clear evidence that Muhammad not only is not of God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But that Muhammad is also to be considered the Anti-Christ! This does not mean that this is the Anti-Christ referred to in Revelation, but one of the many who deny Jesus Christ!
Paul states it best in Galatians 1:8-9 which states, ‘8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!’
Where did Muhammad get his teaching though? ‘The tradition of Islam claims that in the year 610, Muhammad, while on a retreat to Mount Hira for meditation during the month of Ramadan, received his first revelation from the Archangel Gabriel.’ (http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/95dec/muhammad.html)
By this we see that Muhammad received his teachings from Gabriel, an Angel, according to Islamic Tradition. But didn’t Paul state that anyone, even an angel from heaven, which preached different than what he preached to them to be accursed? That’s what I understood it to mean as well!
As I understand the Word of God, YHWH, the God of the Christians, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; then any who does not declare that Jesus is the Son of God, then they will be denied by Jesus to His Father! Why is this important? Because in John 14:6 it clearly states, ‘6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’ Therefore we know that there is no other way to come to YHWH, the Father but through Jesus Christ, the Son of God!
Why have I written this? Because I think that you have a right to know not only what Scripture says, but also how Islam does not align to Christianity and that Allah of the Quran is not YHWH of the Torah or the Bible! The simple fact is, Islam is nothing more than an attempt by Satan to pervert the true teachings of Jesus Christ so that many will be led astray from the true path to God the Father!
In closing I would like to say that if any of Esau's descendents receive salvation through Jesus Christ, claiming Him as the Son of God, then they become heirs to the promise that passed through Jacob and not Esau!
Please research what I have researched and feel free to comment if you agree or disagree with what I have shown here!
May God, YHWH, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Father of Jesus Christ, bless you all this day!
Lies, Witchcraft, and Sorcery!
Hello Guys and Gals!
I have been struggling with some issues lately. Not to mention being sick as well. But a good friend of mine informed me about something that I thought would be appropriate to share with you guys today.
Have you ever known anyone to take a seed of truth and construct a lie around it so that the lie is given power to believe it? I have! What I didn't know was that this practice is a form of witchcraft! My friend informed me of this last night. I won't get into why he brought it up other than to say that it got me asking him for some resources that back that up.
In John 8:44-45 it states, "44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof.45 But because I say the truth, ye believe me not."
In this passage we find that all lies and all who tell or spread lies are of their father, which is Satan.
Did you know that all supernatural power comes from only two sources? God being one and Satan being the other. God gives power to those who believe the truth. Satan gives power to those who believe a lie. It is important to note that in witchcraft, all spells are crafted around a distracter, which is also known as a lie!
Now you know that I have talked about Sorcery before as it relates to drugs. But here is something more that I just recently found out about. The word pharmakia is the greek word. The root of which is pharm! This part of the word refers to drugs, potions, and poisons. In witchcraft, these drugs, potions, and poisons are used in order that one may alter their state of consciousness so that they may commune with spirits!
So now we know that witchcraft and sorcery are tied together with a lie!
In Revelation 22:15 it states, "15 Without are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and every one that loveth and maketh a lie."
Please note the very end of that verse. It states that 'everyone that loveth and maketh a lie' will be without. Without means that they will not be able to pass the gates of the city where they can have access to the Tree of Life!
In Revelation 21:8 it is stated even stronger, "8 But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death."
Look here how 'all liars' are to have their part in 'the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.' This refers to Gehenna, or the Lake of Fire, which is also known as the death of the soul and true separation from God as God will pull His Spirit away from that place! Jesus is the only one who has suffered through God removing His Spirit from him as one of the punishments Jesus had to endure so that He would suffer the full punishment of Sin on the cross!
So please, consider very carefully when you think you should tell a lie, however small. Any lie is of Satan the father of lies! So when you speak, tell the truth always! Do not let deceit of any sort enter into your heart or tongue. Also know that with truth, even if that truth is painful to you, there will always come healing!
So rest in your knowledge of God and always speak the truth and God will bless you for your integrity!
God bless you all this day!
I have been struggling with some issues lately. Not to mention being sick as well. But a good friend of mine informed me about something that I thought would be appropriate to share with you guys today.
Have you ever known anyone to take a seed of truth and construct a lie around it so that the lie is given power to believe it? I have! What I didn't know was that this practice is a form of witchcraft! My friend informed me of this last night. I won't get into why he brought it up other than to say that it got me asking him for some resources that back that up.
In John 8:44-45 it states, "44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof.45 But because I say the truth, ye believe me not."
In this passage we find that all lies and all who tell or spread lies are of their father, which is Satan.
Did you know that all supernatural power comes from only two sources? God being one and Satan being the other. God gives power to those who believe the truth. Satan gives power to those who believe a lie. It is important to note that in witchcraft, all spells are crafted around a distracter, which is also known as a lie!
Now you know that I have talked about Sorcery before as it relates to drugs. But here is something more that I just recently found out about. The word pharmakia is the greek word. The root of which is pharm! This part of the word refers to drugs, potions, and poisons. In witchcraft, these drugs, potions, and poisons are used in order that one may alter their state of consciousness so that they may commune with spirits!
So now we know that witchcraft and sorcery are tied together with a lie!
In Revelation 22:15 it states, "15 Without are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and every one that loveth and maketh a lie."
Please note the very end of that verse. It states that 'everyone that loveth and maketh a lie' will be without. Without means that they will not be able to pass the gates of the city where they can have access to the Tree of Life!
In Revelation 21:8 it is stated even stronger, "8 But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death."
Look here how 'all liars' are to have their part in 'the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.' This refers to Gehenna, or the Lake of Fire, which is also known as the death of the soul and true separation from God as God will pull His Spirit away from that place! Jesus is the only one who has suffered through God removing His Spirit from him as one of the punishments Jesus had to endure so that He would suffer the full punishment of Sin on the cross!
So please, consider very carefully when you think you should tell a lie, however small. Any lie is of Satan the father of lies! So when you speak, tell the truth always! Do not let deceit of any sort enter into your heart or tongue. Also know that with truth, even if that truth is painful to you, there will always come healing!
So rest in your knowledge of God and always speak the truth and God will bless you for your integrity!
God bless you all this day!
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