tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60196910690873533302024-03-05T07:44:47.675-08:00Jesus4EversDaniel Evershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562191355272305470noreply@blogger.comBlogger176125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019691069087353330.post-33587410851216775932022-02-10T20:33:00.000-08:002022-02-10T20:33:50.980-08:00Who we are in Christ<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTV9Jy6fjl3VS-zfIoCIz8HtBjvbCtWcH51htJMfwwm--Rcu7QCRT-3I2vX7_4HkY6cWwN1lrE6ThXkjzoo4fDW2kxiyFsWYDe-G2tHea7zYJMwaoGa7rLnd5auBCoODpMNar-CQEe5sO8LqlI1XzDy8QKwYrn5YBIrwRmKV4nP3z2JogwqJkpcdLz-w=s550" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTV9Jy6fjl3VS-zfIoCIz8HtBjvbCtWcH51htJMfwwm--Rcu7QCRT-3I2vX7_4HkY6cWwN1lrE6ThXkjzoo4fDW2kxiyFsWYDe-G2tHea7zYJMwaoGa7rLnd5auBCoODpMNar-CQEe5sO8LqlI1XzDy8QKwYrn5YBIrwRmKV4nP3z2JogwqJkpcdLz-w=s16000" /></a></div><br /></div></div>
<div>I watched a wonderful Christian movie called “Overcomer” the other day. In one scene of the movie, a woman leads a</div><div>teenage girl to faith in Jesus Christ. After the girl accepted Jesus as her savior, the woman who led the girl to Christ made a wonderful suggestion. She asked the girl to read the book of Ephesians and write down everything she saw in regards to who we are as believers in Jesus Christ.<br />
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In the opening verse of the epistle to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul made it clear that he was addressing the Christians at Ephesus, who are faithful in Christ Jesus. In other words, Paul’s letter applies only to born again believers in Jesus.<br />
<br />
This inspired me to do the exercise, myself. Here’s what I found in just the first chapter of Ephesians.<br />
<br />
<b>We are blessed</b> (Ephesians 1:3)<br />
I find it interesting that, even though Paul wrote this epistle or letter from inside a Roman prison, he could still consider himself blessed. This is most likely because Paul understood that God not only provides His children with physical and material blessings, but He provides us with spiritual blessings as well. In other words, regardless of the blessings we may receive in this life, which include the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we will also receive future heavenly blessings.<br />
<br />
<b>We are chosen</b> (Ephesians 1:4)<br />
We are chosen out of the world to be set apart with Christ. God took the initiative to bring us to faith in Jesus, even while we were still sinners. But of course, even though God chose to give us the free gift of salvation, we had the responsibility to accept that free gift by believing in Jesus.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.<br />Romans 10:9</blockquote>
<b>We are adopted as sons of God</b> (Ephesians 1:5)<br />
As believers, we’re adopted into God’s family with all the rights and privileges of a son of God. Counter to the false teaching of Universalism, which teaches that everyone, even unbelievers, will be saved and go to heaven, the Bible teaches that only born again believers in Jesus are sons and daughters of God. We also see this truth in the book of Romans.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”<br />Romans 8:15</blockquote>
<b>We are accepted</b> (Ephesians 1:6)<br />
It is by God lavishly pouring out His grace on us that makes it possible for sinners like you and me to be accepted by God through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross who paid the penalty for our sins once and for all time.<br />
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<b>We are redeemed and forgiven</b> (Ephesians 1:7)<br />
Redemption means that we have been purchased for a price and that price was Christ’s blood that was shed on the cross. Jesus paid the price that we could never pay and He paid that price in full. Scripture teaches that the wages of sin is death. Only the death of the perfect, spotless, sinless lamb of God, which is Jesus Christ, could redeem us from an eternal death sentence and make the way for us to be forgiven of all the sins we have ever committed or will commit in the future. <br />
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<b>We are guaranteed an inheritance</b> (Ephesians 1:11)<br />
Indeed, as the Apostle Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:4, as a born again believer, you have an “inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you”.<br />
<br />
<b>We are sealed with the Holy Spirit</b> (Ephesians 1:13)<br />
In many cultures, couples who become engaged, seal their commitment to be married with an engagement ring. God seals His commitment to a born again believer with the Holy Spirit. Unlike engagements between couples, God will never break His commitment to us. He gives us the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of His promise. God will preserve the bride of Christ (that’s all born again believers) until we are with the Lord. I find that so very comforting, don’t you?<br />
<br />
The Life Application Study Bible describes it well:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
God gives the Holy Spirit to us as a guarantee confirming that we belong to Him and that He will do what He has promised. The presence of the Holy Spirit is like a down payment, a deposit, a validating signature on God’s contract. The Holy Spirit working in us demonstrates the genuineness of our faith, proves that we are God’s children, and secures eternal life for us.</blockquote>
God has given us the greatest gift I can imagine by making a way for our salvation through Jesus Christ. As we go through the struggles and sorrows of this life, we can find comfort in all that God has promised His children because God always keeps His promises.<br />
<br />
<b>Related topics</b>:<br />
Video: <a href="https://youtu.be/IpqtLdHX_ok" target="_blank">Amir Tsarfari and Barry Stagner: Universalism and the Christian Church</a></div>Daniel Evershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562191355272305470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019691069087353330.post-49142707682892633712019-08-17T20:07:00.005-07:002022-02-19T14:28:19.984-08:00Testimony of Dr. Andy Woods<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDZpNcd8mp5zPd5fGnPV9iJyEVGidg4gQEkcYWCP_Uvy4in5eiI822E8wjBrlCCvyozJs35aWox0fTXQ4NcOgjhR5CR1GBLrZ84G8KHkZczwFhHKfvIwWrwVsTlLfp-0UPGBHeXFZ-Zsl/s1600/Testimony+of+Dr+Andy+Woods+-+Blogger.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDZpNcd8mp5zPd5fGnPV9iJyEVGidg4gQEkcYWCP_Uvy4in5eiI822E8wjBrlCCvyozJs35aWox0fTXQ4NcOgjhR5CR1GBLrZ84G8KHkZczwFhHKfvIwWrwVsTlLfp-0UPGBHeXFZ-Zsl/s1600/Testimony+of+Dr+Andy+Woods+-+Blogger.png" /></a></div>
<br />
I’ve been listening to Dr. Andy Wood’s sermons for several months now. He teaches slowly through entire books of the Bible. I’ve especially enjoyed his teachings on the book of Revelation and his series on Soteriology: the doctrine of Salvation. I truly appreciate his gift for teaching the Bible in a way that’s easy for a regular person like me to understand.<br />
<br />
Andy’s testimony teaches us important life lessons. The first is that you can be active in your church for years and think that you are saved when you’re not. And the second lesson is the one that inspired me to write Dr. Wood’s testimony. Which is that God has a way of directing the circumstances in your life to lead you down the path He wants you to follow.<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">
Andy’s first church experience</span></h2>
For the first 16 years of his life, Andy was a card-carrying Episcopalian, which isn’t too different from Roman Catholicism. Even though some seeds of faith were planted in Andy’s young life, the church services he attended were very high on ritual, which Andy likes to call “the smells and the bells”.<br />
<br />
Once in a while, the priest would chant a homily, but he didn’t really teach the Bible very much. It was a moral church, but it wasn’t a church that preached the gospel clearly, if at all. Andy was involved in various aspects of church life and was even given a cross as a reward for perfect Sunday school attendance. Andy thought that because he was religious, he must be saved. But a life-changing event was about to have an impact of eternal significance.<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">
Andy’s wakeup call</span></h2>
In 1983, Andy’s best friend in high school, who attended a different church, invited him to a home Bible study. It just happened that the teacher of the group was teaching John chapter 3. The following verses, about Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus, convicted young Andy to his core.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Jesus answered and said to him, “<span style="color: red;">Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.</span>” </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Jesus answered, “<span style="color: red;">Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.</span>”<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>John 3:3-8 NKJV</b></div>
</blockquote>
Andy was amazed at what he had just heard because this was the first time he ever heard that he needed to be born again. Until that point in his life, he thought he was fine as he was. He thought that being religious would get him into heaven. This was a divine wake-up call directly from God’s word!<br />
<br />
Andy sat there not fully understanding what the text he had just heard meant. But one thing he understood was that whatever it was, he didn’t have it. Fortunately for Andy, the person teaching the Bible study had enough discernment to realize what was going on in Andy and led him to Christ that very night.<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">
Andy’s next six years</span></h2>
Even though Andy was now saved, for the next six years, he continued to follow the unholy trinity of me, myself, and I. He wanted to live his life on his own terms, and not God’s. That’s definitely something that I can relate with.<br />
<br />
It was a time when the stock market was booming in America and the country was producing lots of millionaires. Enticed by what he saw, Andy’s goal was to go to law school and then make as much money as he could. But little did he know that God would soon begin to disrupt his plans.<br />
<br />
One day, a youth pastor asked Andy to teach a Bible study for young adults. Andy didn’t have any desire to teach a Bible study but agreed to do it for one month. He was surprised when he found that he actually liked doing it and saw that it was producing fruit in the lives of the people he was teaching. Andy had just discovered his spiritual gift.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.<br />
1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT</blockquote>
Meanwhile, Andy graduated from law school and became a member of the California bar. He planned to become an attorney while serving God on the side. He practiced law in California for a couple of years, but God had other plans for his life and would soon disrupt Andy’s plans once again.<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">
F</span><span style="background-color: white;">rom Bible study leader to interim pastor</span></h2>
The pastor of the church where Andy was teaching the Bible study, retired. The church was too small to hire a full-time replacement pastor. So, Andy found himself as the interim pastor at a small church in the Los Angeles area. Things went well for a while as Andy knew one or two books of the bible pretty well. But then an elderly lady in the church asked Andy to teach a bible study on the book of Ezekiel. As Andy began to study the book, he realized very quickly that he didn’t know what he was doing.<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">
Andy seeks a fuller knowledge of God’s word</span></h2>
God began to impress on his heart that, even though he had the gift of pastor-teacher, he wasn’t equipped to teach the full council of God. The Bible verse, James 3:1 which reads “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”, convinced him to seek seminary training.<br />
<br />
Around this time he met his wife, Ann. They prayed about what seminary Andy should choose and ended up deciding on Dallas Seminary because many of the respected pastors they grew up listening to came from there.<br />
<br />
Andy graduated with his Master of Theology (ThM) degree in 2002 and thought he was done. But <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Dwight_Pentecost" target="_blank">Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost</a>, who was a professor there, talked him into going into the PhD program, which Andy started in 2003 and completed in 2009.<br />
<br />
Along the way, he met a teacher named <a href="http://www.cbshouston.edu/israel-loken" target="_blank">Israel Locen</a> who was teaching classes at Dallas Seminary. Israel later began teaching at the College of Biblical Studies in Houston Texas, where he still teaches. As Andy was nearing the completion of his PhD program, Israel Locen called to ask Andy if he’d like to interview for a position as a Bible teacher at the College of Biblical Studies.<br />
<br />
So, Andy interviewed for the job in 2008. The moment he set foot on the campus, he began to sense the presence of God there and felt that God was doing something special there. The school called Andy a couple of weeks later and offered him the job. Andy told his wife Ann, who said: “we’re not going”. Andy was wise enough to leave it in God’s hands and God gradually changed her heart. So, Andy took the job while still working on his doctorate degree.<br />
<br />
Again, Andy thought this was the end of the story, but it turns out that God had something more in store for him.<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">
Finding a church home</span></h2>
Andy and Ann bought a house in Sugar Land, which is about a 15-minute drive from Houston. Since moving from Dallas, and starting his new job, Andy and his wife hadn’t yet found a church to call home. As a Bible teacher at a college, Andy thought this doesn’t look good, so they started attending Sugar Land Bible Church. They weren’t looking for a position of leadership in the church. They just wanted to go there and then go home.<br />
<br />
As it turns out, they were there less than a month when the church almost went through a split due to a moral failure of the pastor. When the elders of the church disciplined the pastor, about half the congregation left because they were devoted to their pastor. Because of the way the situation was handled, the youth pastor and the Christian education pastor both quit, which left the church functioning without the help of any pastors at all.<br />
<br />
Knowing that Andy taught at a Bible college, the elders asked him to fill in at the pulpit. Later they asked him to step in as the interim pastor, which is exactly what happened to Andy in California. Andy says “one of the things to look at when studying your life is to look at the same patterns recurring. If God keeps putting you over and over again in the same position, likely that’s the Spirit trying to tell you something”.<br />
<br />
About six months after becoming the interim pastor at the beginning of 2010, Andy became the pastor of Sugar Land Bible Church. The elders agreed to limit his duties so he could keep his full-time teaching job at the Bible college.<br />
<h3><span style="background-color: white;">
Final thoughts</span></h3>
Andy’s testimony gave me pause to ask myself “What If?”. What if Andy hadn’t agreed to teach a Bible class at his church. If he hadn’t done that, then he might never have discovered his spiritual gift. What if Andy’s best friend from high school hadn’t invited him to a Bible study where Andy learned that he needed to be born again? Andy might still be lost to this day.<br />
<br />
The next time you’re given an opportunity to serve God, take a moment to consider <i>what if</i>.<br />
<br />
I truly appreciate the wealth of videos and other training materials that Andy provides at no cost. For example, you can get all of Andy’s sermons at <a href="http://www.slbc.org/" target="_blank">www.slbc.org</a><span id="goog_541563701"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_541563702"></span> with PowerPoints. He’s a contributor to <a href="http://www.spiritandtruth.org/" target="_blank">www.SpiritAndTruth.org</a><span id="goog_541563706"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_541563707"></span> and has many videos on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd49vtSAApJ01IpfPJ6BVRA" target="_blank">Andy Woods Ministry channel </a>on YouTube that teach through books of the Bible.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
This message is based on <a href="https://youtu.be/RFhVEX6nkus" target="_blank">this video</a> on YouTube.</div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Here are some other inspiring testimonies you may have missed:</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/10/testimony-of-amir-tsarfati.html" target="_blank">Testimony of Amir Tsarfati</a></li>
<li><a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/05/nick-vujicics-amazing-story.html" target="_blank">Nick Vujicic’s amazing story</a></li>
<li><a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/05/testimony-of-pastor-billy-crone.html" target="_blank">Testimony of Pastor Billy Crone</a></li>
<li><a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/05/bens-inspiring-story.html" target="_blank">Ben's inspiring story</a></li></ul>Daniel Evershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562191355272305470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019691069087353330.post-90025358716037871242019-05-26T18:12:00.005-07:002022-02-10T20:01:37.374-08:00Sliding into compromise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5P-qbVDMj_LZYxpo6Mg6iAx_g6Wkom8kuBXRbEYmbp6wiCSF39qn-iSbNP1T3BP-RUaNp2pv_8LTNNt59XQJUPSjGBCMf_SbqWDqUk6QYedwuAtRJ8CgVTuGwdpwMyP-3oMZCirSlWLqy32yjqv8nl-yvWzDodte5PTGjiS5xLaQx-bruzLmny79crw=s550" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5P-qbVDMj_LZYxpo6Mg6iAx_g6Wkom8kuBXRbEYmbp6wiCSF39qn-iSbNP1T3BP-RUaNp2pv_8LTNNt59XQJUPSjGBCMf_SbqWDqUk6QYedwuAtRJ8CgVTuGwdpwMyP-3oMZCirSlWLqy32yjqv8nl-yvWzDodte5PTGjiS5xLaQx-bruzLmny79crw=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
Compromise can be a good thing. Especially when it’s a win-win situation without violating God’s laws. It can also be good when it results in reconciliation. But compromise can also be dangerous. Compromising God’s will for our lives is an insidious danger—one that seems to be always lurking around. The truly insidious thing about ungodly compromise is that it usually starts out as a seemingly insignificant choice but can often lead to bigger and more dangerous ones. Compromising God’s laws always lead to disappointment and often destroys our lives and the lives of others.<br />
<br />
I think most people don’t even realize they’ve slid into compromise until the damage is done. There are many examples of this in the Bible. God told Solomon not to make alliances with other nations or even associate with them. Solomon compromised God’s command by purchasing horses from Egypt. Seems innocent enough, right? But he didn’t stop there. God had commanded the Jews not to take wives from other nations. Solomon breaks that commandment by marrying Pharaoh’s daughter and then hundreds of other wives from other nations.<br />
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God had a good reason to command the Jews not to marry outside the Jewish nation. It’s because God knew that doing so would result in the Jews worshiping the false gods of those other nations. And this is exactly what happened. Solomon not only allowed idol worship in Israel, but he even built a high place to worship Molech (1 Kings 11:1-13). The worship of this detestable false god was associated with child sacrifice. Solomon started well but he let his compromises take him further and further out of the will of God.<br />
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There are many other equally horrific examples in the Bible where God’s people made ungodly compromises. David was a great king of Israel. But he compromised by committing adultery with Bathsheba, another man’s wife. This led to numerous sins, including the murder of Bathsheba’s husband (2 Samuel chapter 11). Samson’s fornication with Delilah, a Philistine harlot led to his death (Judges 16:1-30). We should consider these examples as a stern warning from the word of God for our own lives.<br />
<h4>
We’re constantly under attack</h4>
It seems we’re constantly under attack by satanic forces who try to urge, trick, prod, and tempt us into compromising just a little bit here and a little bit there. Satan knows that if he can’t stop us from getting saved, then he’ll go to plan B, which is to keep us from living an obedient and therefore fruitful life of service to the Lord.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Small compromises lead to more serious ones.<br />
With each successive concession, our conscience is weakened.<br />
Ultimately whenever we give way to evil—whether we let go<br />
of a doctrinal belief or simply listen to music<br />
that taints our thoughts—we always lose.<br />
<b>Pastor Charles Stanley</b></div>
</blockquote>
<h4>
How to become a non-compromiser</h4>
In order to become strong enough to resist the temptation to compromise God’s laws, we must develop some essential beliefs and habits. First, we need to believe that the Holy Bible is God’s word and depend on it to guide our daily decisions.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.<br />
<b>2 Timothy 3:16-17</b></blockquote>
We need to learn the godly principles that were handed down to us through the Bible and meditate on them daily. Our prayers should reflect the words of the psalmist, who wrote:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Uphold my steps in Your paths, That my footsteps may not slip.<br />
<b>Psalm 17:5</b></blockquote>
We need to flee from the temptations in life, such as gossiping, flirting with a co-worker, or drunkenness. All too often, these little compromises lead to the bigger, more devastating ones. If we surrender our lives to God, we will shatter our enslavement to compromise and give us rest in Him.<br />
<br />Daniel Evershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562191355272305470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019691069087353330.post-34884154327614400812019-04-20T22:18:00.000-07:002019-04-20T22:18:08.903-07:00The willing Passover Lamb<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAK1sd0JyyNzRMgL8OrKnjId7qI8pJGvGaXehUzAy7MZ62zg2MUQrdWhcOPLv0Ro_8He4lIwNkyIGEAK0KSs9DPQh_7IQjybvuFNfdyUJUIpfz_ai4YIr92uX855E1vzzxGzGSyyq9ztY/s1600/The+willing+Passover+lamb+-+BlogSpot+v2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAK1sd0JyyNzRMgL8OrKnjId7qI8pJGvGaXehUzAy7MZ62zg2MUQrdWhcOPLv0Ro_8He4lIwNkyIGEAK0KSs9DPQh_7IQjybvuFNfdyUJUIpfz_ai4YIr92uX855E1vzzxGzGSyyq9ztY/s1600/The+willing+Passover+lamb+-+BlogSpot+v2.png" /></a></div>
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The first time we see the lamb as an offering to the Lord is in the fourth chapter of Genesis. Abel provided sheep as his offering to the Lord. The Lord accepted Abel’s offering but rejected Cain’s offering of produce from the ground. Why? Because God requires a blood sacrifice to cover sin.<br />
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God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac as a test of his love and obedience. A test that he passed with flying colors, by the way. I have no doubt that Abraham believed that even if he had sacrificed the son he dearly loved, that God would resurrect Isaac from the dead. After all, God had promised Abraham that his offspring would outnumber the sands of the sea. As Abraham and his son ascended Mount Moriah together, Isaac asked his father “where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” (Genesis 22:7). Abraham told Isaac that God himself would provide a lamb for a burnt offering. This proved to be a prophetic statement.<br />
<br />
The sacrificial lamb also appeared at the first Passover, when God told Moses that every Jew should sacrifice a lamb and sprinkle its blood on their doorposts so that the judgment that was about to come upon the Egyptians would pass over them (see Exodus chapter 12). <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.<br />Exodus 12:13</blockquote>
Then the Lord told Moses that this day shall be remembered every year.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
So, this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.<br />Exodus 12:14</blockquote>
As you can see, the Jewish people understood the significance of the sacrificial lamb. So, the day Jesus was baptized, when John declared “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”, the people in attendance should have understood that John was declaring Jesus to be their Messiah because the Jews understood that only God can take away sin.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.” </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”<br />John 1:29-34</blockquote>
Jesus is the same Lamb of God that the prophet Isaiah spoke about in Isaiah chapter 53.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
He was oppressed and He was afflicted,<br />Yet He opened not His mouth;<br />He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,<br />And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,<br />So He opened not His mouth.<br />Isaiah 53:7</blockquote>
You see, it was God’s plan all along to provide a spotless and blameless lamb to redeem the world (1 Peter 1:19). This was God’s plan to pay the penalty for our sin. Jesus paid the debt that we owed but could never pay. <br />
<br />
Jesus was fully aware of His Father’s plan for our redemption. He knew full well what awaited Him at Calvary. So much so that it grieved Him to the point of sweating great drops of blood. While praying to the Father on the Mount of Olives, Jesus said: “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).<br />
<br />
Jesus had the free will to refuse His Father’s plan. He could have refused to pay the price for our redemption. He could have called down the armies of heaven, if need be, to save Himself from that dreadful fate. Satan would have loved nothing more because if Jesus had not been willing to be our sacrificial Lamb, then we would still be lost in our sins. If Jesus hadn’t risen on the 3rd day, then we would have no hope in our own resurrection from the dead. <br />
<br />
I thank God that Jesus was an obedient Son. I’m thankful that He loves His Father and loves us so much that he would pay the price of redemption that we could never pay. Jesus has redeemed all who believe on His name. He has secured our forgiveness and has given us a permanent place in God's family as children of God. <br />
<br />
We should remember and be grateful for this fact every day, but especially on Easter. I pray that you will meditate on what the Father and Jesus have done for you. The Father has given us His only begotten Son (John 3:16). He only asks that we believe on the name of the Lord, Jesus with all our heart.<br />
<br />Daniel Evershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562191355272305470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019691069087353330.post-37460033982851780002019-04-03T21:24:00.002-07:002022-02-15T18:49:28.919-08:00The 3 tenses of salvation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /><span style="font-size: medium;">
Did you know that the Bible refers to salvation in the past, present, and future tense?</span><br />
<h2>
Past tense of salvation</h2><span style="font-size: medium;">
A believer experiences this phase of salvation when they first believed. This occurs the moment you're saved from the penalty of sin by putting your faith in Jesus Christ.<br />
</span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-size: medium;">
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.<br />
Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV</span></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">
When we were saved, we became a new creation. We became children of God. We didn’t have to earn it. How glad are you about that? I know I am because no one can ever earn their salvation by their own efforts. There’s no amount of good works that we could ever do to earn our way into the presence of a holy a just God.<br />
<br />
The Apostle Paul makes this point clear in his letter to Titus:<br />
</span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-size: medium;">
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.<br />
Titus 3:5-7 NKJV</span></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">
Before we were saved, we had no righteousness of our own. This means that we were not in a right relationship with God. But the moment we were saved, the righteousness of Christ was imparted to us. The righteousness of Jesus Christ was credited to our account. What’s more is that once we’re saved, we’re always saved. Forever and ever and ever! <br />
<br />
But don’t take my word for it. Read the words of Jesus for yourself:<br />
</span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-size: medium;">
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.<br />
John 10:27-29</span></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">
Given the dire importance of the first tense of salvation, I feel it necessary to offer a note of caution. We must understand that salvation, and therefore the regeneration of our minds doesn’t come about by only knowing the gospel. Even the demons know that Jesus is the Son of God and they tremble with fear.</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-size: medium;">
You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!<br />
James 2:19 NKJV</span></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">
Rather, I’m talking about salvation that comes from putting our faith in Jesus. The kind of faith that comes from your heart. As Romans 10: 9 says “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”</span><br />
<h2>
Present tense of salvation</h2><span style="font-size: medium;">
After we’re saved, we transition to the next tense of salvation. This is known as the sanctification process. This is the phase of our Christian life where the Holy Spirit works in us to convict us of our sins. Since we all slip up from time to time, this is a life-long process, but one we need to take very seriously.<br />
<br />
As the Apostle Paul said to the Philippian church:<br />
</span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-size: medium;">
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.<br />
Philippians 2:12-13 NKJV</span></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">
Before we were saved, we couldn’t stop sinning. At least not for long. But after we’re saved, the Holy Spirit gives us the power to overcome the sin in our lives. After all, Jesus wouldn’t have commanded us to “sin no more” if we weren’t able to obey that command (John 5:14).<br />
<br />
And yet, all too often we make compromises in this area. We try to justify our sins. We try to convince ourselves (and sometimes others) that they’re not a big deal. But what did the Apostle Paul say? He said to work out our salvation (the sanctification process) with fear and trembling. In other words, this is of vital importance. Not because we might lose our salvation but because there are consequences to compromising. Or, don’t you know that God disciplines His children who practice disobedience (Hebrews 12:6)?<br />
<br />
In addition to opening ourselves to God’s discipline when we’re disobedient, consider these reasons to take the sanctification process seriously:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Disobeying God’s word can cause us to lose rewards and blessings.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">We can lose our sense of peace with God.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Living as a carnal Christian sets a horrible example to others (both other believers and unbelievers alike).</span></li></ul><span style="font-size: medium;">
So how can we work out our salvation?<br />
<br />
Here are some things that help me.</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Listening to and reading the word of God reminds me of God’s will for my life. If we love God, we should want to get to know Him better, and that happens by submerging ourselves in His word “the Bible” (1 Peter 2:2). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Then listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit convicting you of your sins and then take action. We must change our mind (repent) of our sins.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">I also like to think about the imminent return of Jesus to receive His church. This has really motivated me to clean up my life. After all, should the Lord’s bride prepare herself and be ready for His return?</span></li></ul><span style="font-size: medium;">
The good news is that, as a believer, we’re no longer powerless from the death-grasp of sin. Unlike the unsaved, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit gives us the power to resist Satan and his demons.</span><br />
<h2>
Past tense of salvation</h2><span style="font-size: medium;">
Now for the really great news. Once we’re with the Lord in our glorified bodies, we’ll finally be saved from the presence of sin. No longer will we be tempted to war against God’s will. Isn’t that wonderful news?</span><br />
<br />Daniel Evershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562191355272305470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019691069087353330.post-21011283726751790962019-03-24T12:46:00.002-07:002022-02-19T14:31:52.468-08:00Justifying our addictions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
I’ll bet that most of us are struggling with at least one addiction, either openly or in private. You or someone you know might be addicted to alcohol, drugs, fornication, adultery, or pornography. Or even to things you might not think of as being an addiction, such as covetousness, greed, pride, anger, or bitterness.<br />
<br />
For those of us who’ve been saved, the Holy Spirit works in us to convict us of our sins. This is the process of sanctification. But for this process to be fruitful, it requires some cooperation on our part. If we are to mature in our faith, we must choose to change our mind about our sin and turn to God. We must choose to live according to God’s will and not our own.<br />
<h2>
Jesus Is Better Than Porn</h2>
I recently had the privilege of getting to know Hugh Houston, the author of the book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DMF6ZQS" target="_blank">Jesus is Better than Porn</a>. While the author shares his battle with and deliverance from pornography, the sound advice he provides applies to numerous other addictions.<br />
<br />
Like Hugh, I also struggled with porn for decades. I wish I’d read his book years ago. It would have saved me a lot of guilt and wasted time. Hugh interweaves his own struggle with porn throughout the book in a conversational and easy to read way that I could relate to. I liked how it was never judgmental. Much of Hugh’s detailed story of his own struggle reminded me of exactly the kinds of issues and thought-processes that I was going through when I was wrestling with this addiction.<br />
<br />
If you’re currently struggling with porn (or most other addictions, for that matter), I think the insights in this book will help you realize the thought processes you might not be sensitive to. Understanding these thought processes or decisions that lead up to the act of consuming porn is exactly what we need to become aware of and understand so we can take our thoughts captive in order to avoid committing the same sinful act over and over.<br />
<br />
You might be thinking that pornography isn’t all that bad. After all, it’s not like you’re cheating on your spouse! It’s not like you’re hurting anybody, right? Wrong! Consider what Jesus said on this subject:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: red;">But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">Matthew 5:28 NKJV</span></blockquote>
We need to look no further than the ten commandments to know that adultery is a sin.<br />
<br />
The following section is from <i>Chapter 11 Lies I Told Myself</i>, from the book, <i>Jesus is Better than Porn</i>, republished here with the approval of the author, Hugh Houston. I love how Hugh brings to light the lies we tell ourselves when trying to justify our addictions just before we act on them.<br />
<h2>
Lies I Told Myself</h2>
Lies are illusions, mere fiction. 2 + 2 = 4 It’s a fact. If I think that I have the ability to jump off a building and fly, that lie could lead to my death. The law of gravity is the truth, an undeniable fact.<br />
<br />
So what are some of the lies, the illusions which kept me trapped in the compulsive cycle of lust and porn for well over 30 years? I’ll list just a few of them here. Perhaps you can help me add to this list.<br />
<br />
<b>Lie #1</b>: I’m going to quit. Just one more time and then I will give this up for good.<br />
<b>Truth</b>: This went on for decades.<br />
<br />
<b>Lie #2</b>: I know I will eventually give in so it might as well be now. I could fight the urge all day and waste the day or I could just act out now and move on with the rest of my day. <br />
<b>Truth</b>: Urges pass. Feelings come and go. In order to develop new, healthy habits, I will need to overcome these destructive urges and move forward in purity, one hour at a time.<br />
<br />
<b>Lie # 3</b>: Sex is my greatest need.<br />
<b>Truth</b>: I could live a fulfilled life without sex. Many people have.<br />
<br />
<b>Lie #4</b>: I have a higher sex drive than most people.<br />
<b>Truth</b>: When I stop “feeding the beast” then my sex drive returns to “normal” levels. In fact, what is “normal” in the 21st century is not really normal because we are surrounded by provocative material in the media. In reality, a simple smile and a hug from my wife make me feel much better than looking at pictures of porn and masturbating. I’m tired of all these lies and pray that I will find my way to freedom.<br />
<br />
<b>Lie #5</b>: Just a quick peek or a short impure thought is normal and natural. What I am doing isn’t really “pornography”. I’m just admiring the beauty of the female body – part of God’s creation.<br />
<b>Truth</b>: God wants me to avoid all forms of lust and maintain a clean mind 24 hours a day. God condemns adultery committed in the heart.<br />
<br />
<b>Lie #6</b>: They’re just pictures, not real people. Nobody is getting hurt. I’m not cheating. I’m not really lusting because I don’t want to be with them. I just want to look at them.<br />
<b>Truth</b>: I am turning a person into an object to be used for my pleasure. My wife feels like she’s not good enough. She feels betrayed. I get so wrapped up in the addiction that I can’t think of anything else. Everyone is getting hurt. Objectifying a woman is dehumanizing and degrading, both for her and for me. Am I no more than my lusts and desires?<br />
<br />
<b>Lie #7</b>: (now this contradicts #6) I want to stop and I’m going to stop but I can’t stop. This force that drives me to look is irresistible. I can’t help myself. I know I will eventually give in, so it might as well be now.<br />
<b>Truth</b>: I always have a choice. Every time I looked, I made a decision to give in to my passions and cravings.<br />
<br />
<b>Lie #8</b>: Masturbation makes me feel good and relieves tension. It will stop my craving for porn.<br />
<b>Truth</b>: Nobody explodes or dies from lack of orgasm. Masturbation feels good for a few seconds but afterward, I feel worse than I did before. It’s a dismal cycle of destruction. Giving in to cravings only increase the cravings. It’s like an alcoholic saying “This harmless glass of beer will stop me from craving whiskey”.<br />
<br />
<b>Lie # 9</b>: My wife doesn’t give me what I need. She isn’t available often enough and she puts everything else before my needs, blah, blah, blah. Therefore, I’m entitled to act out. What my wife doesn’t know won’t hurt her.<br />
<b>Truth</b>: Knowing that I had been choosing my porn girlfriends over her practically killed her.<br />
<br />
<b>Lie #10</b>: Everyone does it. <br />
<b>Truth</b>: Yes, millions are caught up in this perversion, but that doesn’t make it normal or good. God doesn’t grade sin on a curve. How many people are addicted to drugs or tobacco? Is that something you want for yourself or your children?<br />
<br />
<b>Lie # 11</b>: I am strong enough now in my recovery that I can shift my boundaries and watch movies with nudity, mindlessly surf the net, spend hours clicking links on YouTube, etc.<br />
<b>Truth</b>: All of us need to avoid even a hint of sexual immorality (Ephesians 5:3). We need to establish strict, crisp boundaries to protect ourselves from sin. Complacency is often the first step to relapse.<br />
<br />
<b>Lie #12</b>: Discussing my emotions with others will make me seem weak, and will cause my friends to like me less.<br />
<b>Truth</b>: It takes courage to admit our mistakes. Seeking help is an act of wisdom. People respect those who are willing to be vulnerable and change.<br />
<br />
<b>Lie # 13</b>: Porn makes me happy. It will satisfy me.<br />
<b>Truth</b>: It is never satisfying. I always wanted to look at the next picture. Just one more. Using porn induces a hunger for more, More, MORE! Afterward, I feel degraded, guilty, ashamed, and emotionally walled off from the world. All alone. It’s like being in a personal prison.<br />
<br />
<b>Lie # 14</b>: I’ll grow out of this porn habit. I’ll quit after I get married or after my next birthday.<br />
<b>Truth</b>: I remained in this endless cycle for almost 40 years.<br />
<br />
<b>Lie #15</b>: I can beat the addiction by myself.<br />
<b>Truth</b>: I never did. See #14.<br />
<br />
<b>Lie #16</b>: If I say this prayer with enough conviction I will be rid of this addiction forever.<br />
<b>Truth</b>: Of course, there is power in prayer. God can do all things. But I have to want to change and take the steps necessary to seek change. Sanctification and spiritual growth require discipline and effort on my part.<br />
<br />
<b>Lie #17</b>: I can live two lives. The porn life and the one I present to the world.<br />
<b>Truth</b>: I am one person. Porn will bleed over into every corner of my life, rotting my soul and destroying everything that is good about life.<br />
<h2>
Applying this thought process to other addictions</h2>
I think you can see how this thought process can easily translate to other types of addictions. For example, instead of “Sex is my greatest need”, you might be thinking “drugs or alcohol is my greatest need” and so on. If you’re caught in the web of addiction, please take some time to evaluate your own thought processes that lead you to give in to the sinful urges that you so often act upon.<br />
<br />
We can break out of the cycle of being a repeat offender when we become aware of temptation as soon as the thought enters our consciousness. Remember that God will not allow you to become tempted beyond what you are able to resist (1 Corinthians 10:13).<br />
<br />
Here’s some practical advice from the Bible:<br />
<ul>
<li>Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak! (Matthew 26:41 NLT)</li>
<li>Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2 KJV)</li>
<li>Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7 KJV)</li>
<li>Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. (1 Corinthians 6:18 NKJV)</li></ul>
May God give you the strength to overcome whatever struggles you are going through,<br />
Daniel<br />
<h3>
Related Resources</h3>
Book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DMF6ZQS" target="_blank">Jesus Is Better Than Porn</a>, by Hugh Houston<br />
Hugh Houston's Blog: <a href="https://jesusbetter.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Jesus Is The Best</a><br />
Blog post: <a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/12/are-10-commandments-still-relevant.html" target="_blank">Are the 10 Commandments still relevant?</a><br />
Blog post: <a href="http://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/05/you-can-break-free-from-porn-addiction.html" target="_blank">You can break free from a porn addiction </a>Daniel Evershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562191355272305470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019691069087353330.post-25936171122511735462019-02-23T22:14:00.001-08:002022-02-19T14:33:06.745-08:00Supplement your faith<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
In his second letter, the Apostle Peter wrote to the Gentile believers who were dispersed throughout what is today known as Turkey. His goal was to warn them about the false teachers who were infiltrating the churches and to instruct them how to defend themselves against their false doctrines.<br />
<br />
Peter’s letter helps us identify false teachers by contrasting the moral behavior that every believer is expected to pursue with the immoral behavior of the false teachers.<br />
<br />
After assuring them that God has provided everything, through Jesus Christ, that they need to live a godly life, Peter tells them how to be victorious. He instructs them to make the maximum effort to grow stronger in their faith by applying the seven Christian virtues.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith<br />
with goodness,<br />
goodness with knowledge,<br />
knowledge with self-control,<br />
self-control with endurance,<br />
endurance with godliness,<br />
godliness with brotherly affection:<br />
and brotherly affection with love.<br />
2 Peter 1:5-7 CSB</blockquote>
Did you notice how the seven attributes in this list build on one another? To be sure, practicing these Christian virtues with endurance requires all the diligence and effort we can muster, along with the help of the Holy Spirit.<br />
<br />
Let’s take a closer look at these attributes.<br />
<h2>
The seven Christian attributes</h2>
<b>Goodness:</b> This attribute not only communicates that believers are expected to produce good fruit worthy of repentance (Matthew 3:8) but also tells us that believers are to lead lives of moral excellence and virtue. The classical Greek word translated “goodness” describes the God-given ability to perform heroic deeds.<br />
<br />
<b>Knowledge</b> was Peter’s primary solution to counter false teachers. An understanding of God’s word is the best defense against their heresies. False teachers are crafty. They’ll usually speak much truth from God’s word while twisting some of the scriptures they don’t like into something that pleases those with itching ears (2 Timothy 4:3). To avoid being deceived by false teachers, we must diligently study the word of God for ourselves and pursue an understanding of sound doctrine (Titus 2:1).<br />
<br />
<b>Self-control:</b> To achieve moral excellence, we have to control our bodily desires. This begins with controlling our thoughts. Only when we allow ourselves to dwell on the lusts of the flesh, do we act out on them. Exercising self-control contrasts sharply with how the false teachers of the Apostle Peter’s day lived, which made it easier to identify them. It also helps us to identify the false teachers of our day.<br />
<br />
<b>Endurance:</b> Peter warned believers to not only exercise self-control but to do so with endurance. This means we need to control ourselves all the time, even in the face of trials and adversity. We need perseverance—the spiritual staying power that never gives in and never gives up. We can only achieve this with the help of the Holy Spirit.<br />
<br />
<b>Godliness</b> demonstrates reverence and loyalty to God. Perhaps the highest form of godliness is to obey God’s commands. Christians are obligated to follow Jesus’s example “not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). I know this isn’t always easy, but take heart; God has given us the faith and grace we need to live a godly life. <br />
<br />
These first five virtues pertain to our relationship with God. These last 2 pertain to our relationship with people.<br />
<br />
<b>Brotherly affection</b> is demonstrated when we show concern for other people and care for their needs. In my own life, I’ve experienced that my love for God has given me a greater affection for other people than I had known before I was saved.<br />
<br />
<b>Love</b> for other people takes brotherly affection to a new level. When we love someone, our desire is for them to experience the highest good. This is the kind of love that God has for sinners (John 3:16).<br />
<h2>
Applying the seven Christian attributes</h2>
In order to become more like Jesus, we need to pursue the seven Christian attributes with all our heart, soul, and mind. After all, as Peter describes in the following verses, there are wonderful benefits in doing so.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins. Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble. For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.<br />
2 Peter 1:8-11 CSB</blockquote>
Are you making every effort to supplement your faith by pursuing these Christian attributes with all your might and with endurance? If not, I pray that you’ll reevaluate your priorities and give this the serious thought that it deserves.<br />
<br />
May the blessing of the Lord be upon you,<br />
DanielDaniel Evershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562191355272305470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019691069087353330.post-82478382916617155232019-01-27T01:17:00.000-08:002019-02-02T10:30:04.267-08:00The reason we breathe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlWfTrjDhx6fZDaFUJn_AiF9kt0Q200ttApQi_9X5-6kn6Rh0dPJHtZZnKh5R4gVrsfGvLgKvxQFz6Fs31zDGnjMfLS-kdnDOvL9NAgi1PURIE-w8rer4zsx4bpOX8l5PPWI5Rcj6VIIH/s1600/The+reason+we+breathe+-+BlogSpot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlWfTrjDhx6fZDaFUJn_AiF9kt0Q200ttApQi_9X5-6kn6Rh0dPJHtZZnKh5R4gVrsfGvLgKvxQFz6Fs31zDGnjMfLS-kdnDOvL9NAgi1PURIE-w8rer4zsx4bpOX8l5PPWI5Rcj6VIIH/s1600/The+reason+we+breathe+-+BlogSpot.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I just love this line in the song <em>All of Creation</em> by MercyMe because it gets to the essence of why we exist: "The reason we breathe is to sing for his glory". We were made to have a personal relationship with God. We were made to worship him.<br />
<br />
Too many Christians seem to have the wrong attitude about worship. Sometimes it's because they know they don't sing well. Sometimes they just don't enjoy worshiping for other reasons. I'm convinced that God doesn't care how well you sing or the eloquence of your prayers. He just desires our worship.<br />
<br />
Do you have the right attitude about worship?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kkdniYsUrM8/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kkdniYsUrM8?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">Sing to the Lord a New Song. Praise the Lord!<br />
Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly!<br />
Psalm 149:1 (ESV)</blockquote><h3>See Also</h3><a href="http://ghchristianevents.tumblr.com/post/114221413432/5-reasons-people-dont-sing-at-your-church">5 Reasons People Don't Sing at Your Church</a>Daniel Evershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562191355272305470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019691069087353330.post-643891391234912132019-01-27T00:45:00.001-08:002022-02-15T18:55:25.227-08:00Erasing Hell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
People don’t want to believe that Hell is a real place. Who can blame them? After all, we probably all have loved ones or friends who, by all indications, weren’t saved before they died. The thought that someone we deeply care about could go to a place of torment and even worse spend eternity it is hard for us to accept.<br />
<br />
There are many popular beliefs going around today about hell. I’ve met many people, who don’t believe Hell is a real place. I’ve even met people who think they’ll get a second chance after death to work out their sins and get right with God. Some people chose to believe that Hell isn’t a real place because they can’t bring themselves to believe that God would punish people who don’t believe Jesus is who He claimed to be.<br />
<br />
I was astounded to learn that a 2014 Pew Research poll reported that half of Evangelical Christians don’t believe in Hell. This is based on a sample size of 947 men and woman who say they believe Jesus is the son of God, and that He was crucified, and rose again on the 3rd day. How could Evangelical Christians not believe in hell? I can understand people of a different religion or people who have no religion at all not believing hell is real. But Evangelical Christians who are supposed to know the Word of God?! It turns out that a Pew Research poll seven years earlier reported about the same result.<br />
<br />
I grew up in a Bible-believing church that taught Hell is a real place and that the unsaved would end up there forever. But today we have leaders in the church saying that Hell doesn’t exist. No wonder we have evangelical Christians who are confused. This makes me sad.<br />
<br />
I understand that some people interpret scripture differently. But this is a doctrine we absolutely have to get right. We need to know what scripture says.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="padding-left: 30px;">
I love what Francis Chan says about the importance of this subject:<br />
If I say there is no hell, and it turns out that there is a hell, I may lead people into the very place I convinced them did not exist! If I say there is a hell, and I’m wrong, I may persuade people to spend their lives frantically warning loved ones about a terrifying place that isn’t real! When it comes to hell, we can’t afford to be wrong.<br />
—Francis Chan, from the book “Erasing Hell”</blockquote>
I think that these are the key questions that need to be answered if you want a Biblical understanding of Hell:<br />
<ul>
<li>What is hell?</li>
<li>Is hell a real place?</li>
<li>Are hades, sheol, and hell the same place?</li>
<li>Do people go to hell or is it just for fallen angels?</li>
<li>Will those who go to hell suffer forever?</li>
<li>Will anyone get out of hell?</li>
</ul>
<h2><span style="color: #999999;">
What is hell?</span></h2>
Over the past 2 centuries, there have been very diverse opinions about what hell is like. In his book, “Erasing Hell”, Francis Chan writes:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="padding-left: 30px;">
The question “what is hell?” has spawned many answers over the years. For Origen, hell was a place where the souls of the wicked were purified so they could find their way back to God. Dante depicted hell as a place under the earth’s surface with nine levels of suffering, where sinners were bitten by snakes, tormented by beasts, showered with icy rain, and trapped in rivers of blood or flaming tombs; some were even steeped in huge pools of human excrement. C. S. Lewis’s portrayal of hell was significantly less creepy. For Lewis, it was kind of like a dark, gloomy city, or a place where “being fades away into nonentity.” A happier portrait of hell was painted by the band AC/DC, who said that “hell ain’t a bad place to be”—it’s where all our friends are.<br />
—Francis Chan, from the book “Erasing hell”</blockquote>
That’s a pretty diverse smattering of opinions. Now contrast those opinions with what Jesus taught, which, by the way, is what the Jews of His day believed about hell.<br />
<ol>
<li>Hell is a place of punishment after judgment.</li>
<li>Hell is described in the imagery of fire and darkness, where people lament.</li>
<li>Hell is a place of annihilation or never-ending punishment.</li>
</ol>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999;">
Is hell a real place?</span></h2>
Jesus talked about hell more often than He talked about heaven. He chose strong and terrifying language when He spoke about it. The reason is simply that God doesn’t want anyone to go there. Jesus referred to Hell as a place of outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. That doesn’t sound like a place you’d want a loved one to go, does it? It certainly doesn’t sound like the party that the rock band, AC/DC described.<br />
<br />
So the next time someone accuses you of trying to scare them into hell, just remember that Jesus modeled that approach for us.<br />
<br />
In fact, there are seven passages in the new testament that record Jesus referring to hell as “a dark place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth”. Two of them referred to people who thought they were righteous but were not. Their fate was to be thrown into hell (Matthew 8:12 and Luke 13:28). The last five passages were told as parables:<br />
<ul>
<li>The parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30)</li>
<li>The parable of the tares (Matthew 13:24-30 and verses 36-42)</li>
<li>The parable of the dragnet (Matthew 13:47-50)</li>
<li>The parable of the wedding feast (Matthew 22:1-13)</li>
<li>The parable of the faithful and evil servant (Matthew 24:45-51)</li>
</ul>
Paul referred to the fate of the wicked more than any other New Testament writer did. Though he never used the actual word hell, he did speak of death as the result of sin, whereby the wicked would perish or be destroyed by the wrath of God. Paul described the fate of the wicked with words such as perish, destroy, wrath, punish, and others more than eighty times in his thirteen letters.<br />
<h2><span style="color: #999999;">
Are Hades, Sheol, and Hell the same place?</span></h2>
Sheol, sometimes called Hades is mentioned sixty-five times in the Old Testament, and it describes the place where both the righteous and the wicked go after death. In some Bible translations, it’s referred to as the grave or the pit. It isn’t hell and it isn’t the mythical place called purgatory, either. Sheol is a place where the unsaved await judgment before they’re cast into hell. Most biblical scholars teach that the souls of the saved go to heaven immediately after death while their bodies remain in the grave until the resurrection at the rapture.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="padding-left: 30px;">
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,<br />
Some to everlasting life,<br />
Some to shame and everlasting contempt.<br />
—Daniel 12:2</blockquote>
<h2><span style="color: #999999;">
Do people go to hell or is it just for fallen angels?</span></h2>
Some have argued that God created hell for the fallen angels only. But the Bible teaches otherwise. After the great tribulation, the righteous people who died after the rapture, as well as the wicked people, will be resurrected from their graves to face judgment. He will separate the righteous from the wicked and place the righteous on the right and the wicked on the left (see Matthew 25:31-33). The righteous will receive their eternal inheritance. The wicked did not fare so well.<br />
<br />
Jesus foretold what would befall the wicked:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="padding-left: 30px;">
Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels<br />
Matthew 25:41</blockquote>
<h3><span style="color: #999999;">
Will those who go to hell suffer forever or will they be destroyed?</span></h3>
I was surprised to learn that there’s some controversy over this question. That’s understandable because there seems to be scripture supporting both sides of this question. As I mentioned earlier, I had been taught and always believed that people who go to hell will be tormented forever. Let’s see what scripture says about it.<br />
<h3><span style="color: #999999;">
Scripture that speaks of eternal punishment</span></h3>
In Matthew 18:8, Jesus said “the wicked will be thrown into “everlasting fire”. You might assume this implies that because the fire is everlasting that the suffering will be everlasting as well. But that could be a wrong assumption.<br />
<br />
The longest and clearest example is Jesus’ account of the judgment that follows his second coming (see Matthew 25:31–46). Verse 46 of this passage makes it clear that the wicked will suffer eternal punishment.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
And these will go away into everlasting punishment,<br />
but the righteous into eternal life.<br />
Matthew 25:46 (NKJV)</blockquote>
An important thing to note about this verse is that the words “everlasting” and “eternal” are translated from the same Greek word, which means <em>everlasting</em> or <em>forever</em>. So, if believers have eternal life, then it would follow that the wicked will have eternal punishment, right?<br />
<br />
Then Revelation 20:10 says “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever”. This seems like the silver bullet in the argument for eternal suffering.<br />
<h3><span style="color: #999999;">
Scripture that speaks of the destruction of the condemned</span></h3>
Matthew 10:28, Jesus says “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell”.<br />
<br />
Jesus also warns us to “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it” (Matthew 7:13 NKJV).<br />
<br />
The obvious question is this. <i>If the body and soul of people are destroyed, can they still suffer?</i><br />
<br />
You could go either way on this one, but even if you knew you’d be eventually destroyed (so that you have no consciousness), after a period of horrible suffering, would you risk going to hell? It seems to me that would be a foolish risk. Even if you were right, and there would eventually be an end to your suffering, just stop and think about the eternal rewards you could have enjoyed from Jesus. As if eternal life with the Lord wasn’t enough of an incentive!<br />
<h3><span style="color: #999999;">
Will anyone get out of hell?</span></h3>
Many believe that people will have to stay in a place of torment until their sins are paid and only then can they can go to heaven. Let me be clear: There’s no place on Earth or under the Earth where you can pay for your sins and then get a ticket to paradise. The only one who can pay for your sins is Jesus. And the only time you can accept His free gift of salvation is while you are still alive in your mortal body.<br />
<br />
In the parable of Lazarus and the Rich man (Luke 16:19–31 NKJV), Jesus taught that no one will be able to cross-over from the place of torment to heaven.<br />
<h3><span style="color: #999999;">
Summing up</span></h3>
I think that we’ve seen that:<br />
<ul>
<li>Sheol and Hades are two names used that refer to the grave</li>
<li>Hell is a real place and unsaved people will go there</li>
<li>No one can get out of hell and then go to heaven</li>
</ul>
The good news is that you can avoid hell altogether by accepting the free gift of Salvation. If you haven’t made a decision to follow Jesus, please do so today. If you have friends and loved ones who aren’t saved, please share the gospel with them (see 1 Corinthians 15:1-4) and pray for them.<br />
<br />
Much of my research on this subject came from the book “Erasing Hell” by Francis Chan and Preston Sprinkle. Francis is a former pastor and currently an evangelist, speaker, and author. Preston is a seminary professor who’s done a great deal of research on the topic of Hell. What’s great about the book, is that unlike other books on this subject (and there are many), Francis has taken Preston’s scholarly research and turned it into a book that’s easy to understand and read. I promise I don’t have any financial connections to this book whatsoever. I just want you to know that if you want a deeper understanding of this subject than I was able to cover here, I encourage you to read his book.<br />
<h4><span style="color: #999999;">
Related messages</span></h4>
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/08/how-to-be-saved.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">How to be saved</a><br />
<a href="http://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/05/get-off-fence.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Get off the fence</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/07/arguments-that-wont-get-you-into-heaven.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Arguments that won’t get you into heaven</a><br />
<a href="http://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/05/will-god-forgive-my-worst-sins.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Will God forgive my worst sins?</a><br />
<a href="http://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/05/the-rapture-and-second-coming.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The Rapture and the Second Coming</a><br />
<br />Daniel Evershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562191355272305470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019691069087353330.post-63994702704428993402019-01-26T18:40:00.002-08:002019-01-26T18:40:24.203-08:00Dead people don't normally do that<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The resurrection of Jesus Christ is at the very core of the Christian faith. As the Apostle, Paul said, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins" (1 Corinthians 15:17). Referring to the resurrection of Jesus, Professor Gary Habermas said you have to ask yourself these two questions: “First, did Jesus die on the cross? And second, did he appear later to people? If you can establish those two things, you’ve made your case, because dead people don’t normally do that.”<br />
<br />
In my earlier message, <a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2019/01/did-jesus-really-die-on-cross.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Did Jesus really die on the cross?</a> I made the case that Jesus did, in fact, die on the cross. In this message, I’ll discuss the evidence for Jesus’ resurrection.<br />
<h2>
The disciples and other witnesses</h2>
William Lane Craig, a foremost scholar of the resurrection said, “When you read the New Testament, there’s no doubt that the disciples sincerely believed the truth of the resurrection, which they proclaimed to their deaths.<br />
<br />
The Apostle Paul summarized the eyewitness accounts when he wrote this to the Corinthian church:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.<br />1 Corinthians 15:3-9 (NKJV)</blockquote>
What makes this evidence especially compelling is that Paul mentioned specific people and groups of people who saw the resurrected Jesus. Not only that but he made this statement at a time when anyone who cared to do so could have verified what he was telling them was true. He was virtually inviting people to check it out for themselves. They could have gone directly to James or Cephas (Peter) or any of the other Apostles. They could have asked any of the 500 brethren who were still alive. Paul was a brilliant man. He would never have made these claims if they weren’t true. He wouldn’t have put his credibility in jeopardy over a lie that could be so easily discredited.<br />
<br />
Referring to the resurrection account in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, German historian Hans von Campenhausen said, “This account meets all the demands of historical reliability that could possibly be made of such a text. Besides, you don’t need to rely on the reference to the five hundred to make the case for the resurrection. Usually, I don’t even use it.”<br />
<br />
Speaking in a synagogue in Antioch, the Apostle Paul boldly declared:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people.<br />Acts 13:27-31 (NIV)</blockquote>
Here's a rundown of other post-resurrection appearances of Jesus:<br />
<ul>
<li>He appeared to Mary Magdalene (John 20:10–18)</li>
<li>Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (Matthew 28:1–10)</li>
<li>To Cleopas and another disciple on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–32)</li>
<li>To eleven disciples and others with them (Luke 24:33–49)</li>
<li>To ten disciples and others (Thomas was absent) (John 20:19–24)</li>
<li>To Thomas and the other apostles, in John 20:26–31</li>
<li>To seven disciples (John 21:1–14)</li>
<li>To the 11 disciples in Galilee (Matthew 28:16–20)</li>
<li>To the disciples at the Mount of Olives before Jesus’ ascension (Luke 24:50–52)</li>
</ul>
As prominent British theologian Michael Green said, “The appearances of Jesus are as well authenticated as anything in antiquity. There can be no rational doubt that they occurred and that the main reason why Christians became sure of the resurrection in the earliest days was just this. They could say with assurance, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ They knew it was he.”<br />
<h2>
The Apostles went to their death defending the truth</h2>
After Jesus was crucified, the disciples were discouraged and depressed. The movement was all but stopped in its tracks. That is until they met the resurrected Jesus. That’s what changed the Apostle’s lives and started the church. The book of Acts is evidence of this. They gave up their occupations to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, even though doing so offered no earthly benefit to them. In fact, most of the Apostles faced a horrible death defending what they knew to be true. The truth that Jesus Christ was the Messiah, who died on the cross, was raised to life and was seen alive by them. If it were all a lie, wouldn’t some of them have fallen away? Wouldn’t some of the Apostles have recanted a lie rather than facing a gruesome death? Of course, they would have. People will die for a lie they believe to be true. But nobody willingly dies for something they know is a lie.<br />
<br />
And another thing: James, the brother of Jesus didn’t believe that Jesus was who He claimed to be until he met the resurrected Jesus. If James didn’t believe after all the time he had spent with Jesus before the cross, there’s only one reason he would become a believer and a leader in the Jerusalem church after Jesus was crucified. It’s because James saw the resurrected Christ.<br />
<h3>
Related resources</h3>
Bio: <a href="http://www.liberty.edu/divinity/?PID=12818" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Dr. Gary Habermas</a><br />
Book: The Case for Easter by Lee Strobel<br />
<h3>
Related messages</h3>
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2019/01/did-jesus-really-die-on-cross.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Did Jesus really die on the cross?</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/06/9-proofs-that-jesus-rose-from-dead.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">9 Proofs that Jesus rose from the dead</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/04/15-prophetic-signs-fulfilled-by-jesus.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">15 prophetic signs fulfilled by Jesus</a>Daniel Evershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562191355272305470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019691069087353330.post-13286649469690183782019-01-26T18:23:00.001-08:002019-01-26T18:23:17.397-08:00Did Jesus really die on the cross?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There’s no doubt in any reasonable person's mind that Jesus Christ was crucified. There's just too much historical evidence both in the bible as well as in the writings of historians of the time, such as Flavius Josephus.<br />
<br />
What has been disputed, is whether Jesus really died on the cross. The Quran was probably the first to make the claim that Jesus didn't actually die on the cross but instead fainted or was given a drug to make it appear that He was dead and was later revived in the coolness of the tomb. Others, who don't want to believe in God, have also made this claim. But can they defend this swoon theory that keeps appearing in popular literature?<br />
<br />
Emory University scholar Luke Timothy Johnson said that the swoon theory is “the product of fevered imagination rather than careful analysis”.<br />
<br />
Can their claim that Jesus didn't die on the cross hold any merit whatsoever? This is the crucial question because if Jesus didn't die on the cross, then He wasn't raised from the dead on the 3rd day, proving that He is who He claims to be, the Son of the living God.<br />
<br />
Just as important, if Jesus didn't die on the cross then none of us can be saved. If Christ didn't die, then we’re still lost in our sins. The Apostle Paul said:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.<br />1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (NKJV)</blockquote>
<h2>
Evidence that Christ died on the cross</h2>
The Bible has enough details of the crucifixion of Jesus that believers can be satisfied that He really died on the cross. However, skeptics need more convincing. If you're squeamish, be warned that the evidence I'm about to describe isn't going to be pleasant to hear.<br />
<br />
You see, the Romans perfected the art of subjecting people to the maximum amount of pain and torture before their victims died. Roman crucifixion was so brutal that the Romans wouldn’t crucify their own citizens, except in the case of high treason. It was so painful, that the word "excruciating", which literally means “out of the cross” had to be invented to describe the intense pain of crucifixion.<br />
<h2>
Evidence #1: Hypovolemic shock</h2>
A person who suffers the effects of losing a large amount of blood is said to be in hypovolemic shock. In this condition, a person experiences these symptoms:<br />
<ul>
<li>Their heart races to pump blood that’s no longer there.</li>
<li>Their blood pressure drops, often causing fainting or collapse. This is probably why the Roman soldiers compelled another man to carry Jesus’ cross (see Mark 15:21).</li>
<li>They become very thirsty (see John 19:28).</li>
</ul>
Before Jesus was even nailed to the cross, He was made to wear a crown of thorns and then flogged. Roman floggings were known to be terribly brutal. The victim was usually subjected to 39 lashes, or more, with a whip that was designed to rip open the flesh from their shoulders to the back of their legs. These whips were made of braided leather with metal balls and sharp bones woven into them.<br />
<br />
When I was a kid, a neighbor came back from vacationing in Mexico with a real whip that was made of braided leather. He decided it would be fun to try it out on me. I can tell you that those things sting like you can’t imagine. (Suffice it to say that we didn’t become friends.) Now, consider the addition of metal balls in the Roman whips that produced deep bruising and contusions and the sharp bone that tore away chunks of flesh. Now you not only have a very painful experience but a whip that produces massive blood loss as well.<br />
<br />
The victim of a Roman flogging would be left with torn flesh (sometimes exposing the spine), torn muscles, and open veins. Many people would die before they could even be crucified. There’s no question that Jesus was in serious to critical condition, even before the 5 to 7-inch nails were driven through his hands and feet.<br />
<br />
<b>Note</b>: In those days, the wrist was considered part of the hand, so the nails would have been driven through His wrists, just below the palms of His hands.<br />
<br />
The blood loss, not to even mention the eventual infection from your wounds, would eventually kill you. But, for those being crucified, there was another slow killer working against them.<br />
<h2>
Evidence #2: Asphyxiation</h2>
Dr. Alexander Metherell, M.D., PH.D. said: “Once a person is hanging in the vertical position, crucifixion is essentially an agonizingly slow death by asphyxiation. The reason is that the stresses on the muscles and diaphragm put the chest into the inhaled position; basically, in order to exhale, the individual must push up on his feet so the tension on the muscles would be eased for a moment. In doing so, the nail would tear through the foot, eventually locking up against the tarsal bones. After managing to exhale, the person would then be able to relax down and take another breath in. Again he’d have to push himself up to exhale, scraping his bloodied back against the coarse wood of the cross. This would go on and on until complete exhaustion would take over, and the person wouldn’t be able to push up and breathe anymore”.<br />
<br />
As your breathing slows, your body goes into respiratory acidosis which increases the acidity of the blood and eventually leads to an irregular heartbeat. In this condition, Jesus would have known that He was at the moment of death, which is when He was able to know when to say “It is finished” and gave up His spirit (see John 19:30). Jesus likely died of cardiac arrest due to asphyxiation.<br />
<h2>
Evidence #3: Blood and water came out</h2>
The Roman soldiers were held responsible to make sure that everyone who was crucified was dead before they were taken down from the cross. If they failed at this just one time, it could mean a death sentence for the responsible soldiers. This is why they broke the legs of the thieves that were crucified next to Jesus. This ensured that the thieves died from asphyxiation more quickly. But seeing that Jesus was already dead, instead of breaking His legs, a soldier thrust a spear into His side.<br />
<br />
This resulted in clear fluid coming out followed by a large amount of blood as John described in his gospel (see John 19:31-37). John probably would not have known why he saw both clear fluid (which he called water) and blood pour out of Jesus’ side. But John’s description is consistent with what modern medicine would expect to happen.<br />
<h2>
Conclusion</h2>
There’s no doubt that Jesus died on the cross. In his 1986 article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Dr. William D. Edwards concluded, “Clearly, the weight of the historical and medical evidence indicates that Jesus was dead before the wound to his side was inflicted…. Accordingly, interpretations based on the assumption that Jesus did not die on the cross appear to be at odds with modern medical knowledge.”<br />
<br />
Jesus knew exactly what He would have to endure and He willingly went through it to pay the penalty that we owe. Jesus was the only one who could redeem us. Without our redeemer, we would still be lost in our sins. All we need to do to be saved is to believe in our heart that Jesus died on the cross, was raised to life on the 3rd day, and that He is the Son of God. If you haven’t made the decision to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I implore you to do so today. None of us know if we’ll awake tomorrow. So, believe in your heart that Jesus is who He claimed to be, and choose to follow Him for the rest of your life.<br />
<h3>
References</h3>
Book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Case-Easter-Journalist-Investigates-Resurrection/dp/0310339502/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521606046&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Case+for+Easter%3A+A+Journalist+Investigates+the+Evidence+for+the+Resurrection&dpID=413wufrx-zL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The Case for Easter: A Journalist Investigates the Evidence for the Resurrection</a>, by Lee Strobel.<br />
YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxYFz5TQoE0&t=848s" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The Case for Easter</a> – Lee Strobel<br />
<h3>
Related messages</h3>
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/06/the-centurion-who-believed.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The Centurion who believed</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/06/the-thieves-on-cross.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The Thieves on the Cross</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/06/9-proofs-that-jesus-rose-from-dead.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">9 Proofs that Jesus rose from the dead</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/05/he-is-risen-indeed.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">He is risen, indeed</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/04/15-prophetic-signs-fulfilled-by-jesus.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">15 prophetic signs fulfilled by Jesus</a>Daniel Evershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562191355272305470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019691069087353330.post-2477169191703451602019-01-26T17:38:00.002-08:002022-02-19T14:39:08.381-08:00The problem with a living sacrifice<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>The problem with a living sacrifice is that it tends to crawl off the altar. </strong></span>I’ve been guilty of crawling off the alter many times in my life. Perhaps you can relate to this.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Jesus said “… “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me (Luke 9:23 ESV). The Apostle Paul told the Galatian church that “… those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24 ESV). Paul also urged the church at Rome to present their bodies to God as a <em>living sacrifice</em>.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.<br />
Romans 12:1 (NASB)</blockquote>
Perhaps, like me, you too have felt a bit hypocritical when singing the old hymn “I Surrender All” which goes like this:<br />
<br />
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span>All to Jesus I surrender,</span><br />
<span> All to Him I freely give;</span><br />
<span> I will ever love and trust Him,</span><br />
<span> In His presence daily live.</span></span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span> I surrender all,</span><br />
<span> I surrender all;</span><br />
<span> All to Thee, my blessed Savior,</span><br />
<span> I surrender all.</span></span></div>
<br />
Or the more recent Christian song “White flag” by Chris Tomlin that says, “<span style="color: #073763;">We raise our white flag, we surrender all to you…</span>”.<br />
<br />
Both of these songs talk about total surrender to God’s will, which is certainly God’s will for our lives. If you can sing these songs without feeling at least a little bit hypocritical, then you're probably not listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. The truth is that none of us can obey God’s will perfectly, and we won’t be perfect until we’re with the Lord in our eternal bodies. But while we’re in our earthly bodies, we need to listen for the promptings of the Holy Spirit that convict us to make changes in the way we live. Then we need to apply those changes in our lives.<br />
<br />
The Holy Bible shines God’s light on the things in our lives that need to change, and the Holy Spirit prompts us to be doers of the Word and not hearers only (see James:1:22).<br />
<br />
Today, I encourage you to reflect inwardly on your life. See what’s hiding just below the surface that you’d be embarrassed to be seen out in the open. Then make a commitment to change. Make a commitment to become more like Christ. Surrendering everything to Jesus is a big commitment but it’s also God’s will for your life.<br />
<h3>
Related messages</h3>
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/06/characteristics-of-christ-follower.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Characteristics of a Christ follower</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/06/how-to-become-more-obedient-to-christ.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">How to become more obedient to Christ</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/06/four-promised-benefits-of-obedience.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Four promised benefits of obedience</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/06/13-benefits-of-knowing-and-meditating.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">13 benefits of knowing and meditating on God’s word</a><br />
<a href="http://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/05/will-god-forgive-my-worst-sins.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Will God forgive my worst sins?</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/11/what-it-means-to-be-perfect-in-christ.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">What it means to be perfect in Christ</a>Daniel Evershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562191355272305470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019691069087353330.post-30224553533510411402019-01-26T17:15:00.002-08:002019-01-26T17:15:33.882-08:00Please stop saying Try Jesus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOZ6pI6zgPZbann3N4cr0-WdWT1wfhS6Ogh8hulGFUEPnxMLvhGbCWrhZPGDg2apHCvmyTJVNpD5ASjymMpkoG6zX3zrpoFkZkdJCfOPrXUJhP0ezakPijX1z8JZgO_vHn8kJXUELNwdx/s1600/Please+stop+saying+Try+Jesus+-+Blogspot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="331" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOZ6pI6zgPZbann3N4cr0-WdWT1wfhS6Ogh8hulGFUEPnxMLvhGbCWrhZPGDg2apHCvmyTJVNpD5ASjymMpkoG6zX3zrpoFkZkdJCfOPrXUJhP0ezakPijX1z8JZgO_vHn8kJXUELNwdx/s1600/Please+stop+saying+Try+Jesus+-+Blogspot.png" /></a></div>
There's a saying that's been going around for many years. It goes like this: "Try Jesus, if you don't like him, the devil will take you back". It's cute. It's clever. It's funny. But is it biblical?<br />
Let's look into God's word and find out, shall we?<br />
<br />
You might recall that Jesus said:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
… If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.<br />Luke 9:23 (NET)</blockquote>
It sounds to me like Jesus desires a commitment from us, to follow Him every day, even if we don't feel like it sometimes. Here's one that's even more convicting.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”<br />Luke 9:62 (NET)</blockquote>
Jesus isn't interested in people who only have a superficial interest in him. He isn't interested in people who pretend to follow Him outwardly, often with wrong motives. I had one person tell me that she would become a Christian if I could guarantee that Jesus would give her a grandchild. Of course, I declined to offer that guarantee.<br />
<br />
Others might pretend to follow Jesus for popularity, or power, or even to make money. Please understand, Jesus doesn't want a multitude of pretenders who say to Him, Lord, Lord, didn't we do all kinds of good works in your name, only to tell them, "I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers" (see Matthew 7:21-23).<br />
<br />
Jesus is only interested in people who are willing to yield their lives to His lordship. Besides, giving Jesus a try doesn't save anyone. I don't care how many times they've said the sinner's prayer or wept over their sins. Jesus said that unless you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). This only happens if you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead (see Romans 10:9).<br />
<br />
When Jesus was asked by an expert in the Mosaic law, which commandment in the law is the greatest:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Jesus said to him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind."<br />Matthew 22:37</blockquote>
How can you possibly fulfill the greatest commandment if you treat Jesus as a trial subscription that you can cancel at any time? The Apostle John made it very clear that those who left the faith were never really Christians in the first place. And, by the way, if you're not really a Christian, you stand condemned before the Lord. Here's the Apostle John's explanation for why some people had left the church:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us, because if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But they went out from us to demonstrate that all of them do not belong to us.<br />1 John 2:19 (NET)</blockquote>
They never would have left the faith if they had really believed. When you believe something so deeply that nothing can change your mind… when the threat of pain, or loss of belongings, or death can't cause you to deny the Lord your God, then you believe the gospel of Jesus Christ <em>in your heart</em>.<br />
<br />
I once told a friend, who is a casual Christian (so to speak) that I would never deny Jesus, even if it cost me my life. I have never seen anyone's eyes get so big. But, my friends, this is the kind of commitment that the Lord requires of us.<br />
<br />
If you're saying "Try Jesus, if you don't like him, the devil will take you back" to people, please stop. It really isn’t cute, or funny, once you've really thought about it from a biblical point of view.<br />
<h3>
Related messages</h3>
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/06/characteristics-of-christ-follower.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Characteristics of a Christ follower</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/06/how-to-become-more-obedient-to-christ.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">How to become more obedient to Christ</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/05/why-do-you-call-me-lord-lord.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Why do you call me Lord, Lord?</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/05/how-to-die-in-your-sins.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">How to die in your sins</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/04/if-im-good-enough-will-god-let-me-into.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">If I’m good enough, will God let me into his heaven?</a><br />
<a href="http://www.jesus4evers.com/?page_id=5815" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Assurance of salvation eBook</a>Daniel Evershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562191355272305470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019691069087353330.post-33839536456908037792019-01-26T13:10:00.004-08:002022-02-15T19:02:32.063-08:00Ezekiel 38: The pieces are lining up<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-mw2nbqBE9rAEPAaD70SW_xsJcq7-5NMiC6B14z3aWseZmTx-e392GwxllZaFLmQEJYyTUb-GEBwi390A3JDZsCBbW_xZzyJF4tEZvIE4qxVNd0oVa8MGJnGZ4Ar4T5iDa0NL7LkLO2a/s1600/Ezekiel+38+The+pieces+are+lining+up+-+Blogspot.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="331" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-mw2nbqBE9rAEPAaD70SW_xsJcq7-5NMiC6B14z3aWseZmTx-e392GwxllZaFLmQEJYyTUb-GEBwi390A3JDZsCBbW_xZzyJF4tEZvIE4qxVNd0oVa8MGJnGZ4Ar4T5iDa0NL7LkLO2a/s1600/Ezekiel+38+The+pieces+are+lining+up+-+Blogspot.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From left to right: President Hassan Rouhani of Iran, President Vladimir Putin or Russia, <br />and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br /><div>
If you compare current events with Bible prophecy, as I do, then you might think this is an exciting time to be alive. If you don't follow Bible prophecy, but you pay any attention to the news coming out of the middle east, then you're probably very disturbed or even frightened by what's happening in the world.<br />
<br />
This last couple of years have been interesting to me because, for the first time in my life, I can see Bible prophecy that was given thousands of years ago about to come to pass. If you don't care much about Bible prophecy or think it's a waste of time or only something that crazies get excited about, then let me tell you this: There's a reason that between one fourth and as much as one-third of the Bible is prophetic. It's because God wants us to know what He's going to do so we'll believe in Jesus and be ready for the Lord's return.<br />
Jesus said:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I have told you now before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe.<br />John 14:29 (NET)</blockquote>
We're expected to be aware of prophetic events as they unfold. About two thousand years, the Jews weren't ready for the first coming of Jesus, even though they had been giving ample signs to watch for. We don't have to make the same mistake. After all, Jesus made it clear that He expected the Pharisees and Sadducees to know the times and seasons. Don't you think Jesus expects the same from us?<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven.<br /><span class="text Matt-16-2" id="en-NKJV-23675">He answered and said to them, <span class="woj">“When it is evening you say, ‘<i>It will be</i> fair weather, for the sky is red’;</span></span><span class="text Matt-16-3" id="en-NKJV-23676"><sup class="versenum"> </sup><span class="woj">and in the morning, ‘<i>It will be</i> foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’</span> <span class="woj">Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot <i>discern</i> the signs of the times.</span><br />Matthew 16:1-3</span></blockquote>
<h2>
The prophetic time clock is nearing midnight</h2>
Some time ago, I wrote about a future war that the prophet Ezekiel foretold more than 2,500 years ago. It's commonly referred to as the Ezekiel 38 war. In this war, Israel will be attacked by a coalition of nations, led by none other than Russia. The other key members of this coalition will be Iran and Turkey. These countries have never been aligned with each other before but they're now not only allies, but they all have military forces in Syria, which is on the northern border of Israel. The very place where the prophet Ezekiel said they would enter the holy land to attack Israel.<br />
<br />
Russia has built a naval port in the region and Iran has made it clear they have no intention of leaving Syria. Russia is in Syria for only one reason. They want to control the oil in the region. In case you haven't heard, Israel has discovered vast quantities of oil and natural gas in the Golan Heights and off its Mediterranean coast. When Russia leads the axis of evil to invade Israel, their motivation will be to take control of Israel's wealth (Ezekiel 38:13).<br />
<br />
Iran has built a military base near the Syrian border, only 30 miles (48 km) from the Golan Heights, which is a place that's strategic to Israel's defense. They're also constructing a highway from Iran into Syria that they'll be able to use to quickly move troops and weapons from Iran into Syria. Iran has been shipping military hardware to Syria for months and Israel continues to destroy those weapons. Iran has long vowed to annihilate the Jews because the Jewish people won't submit to Islam. And the president of Turkey wants to establish himself as the leader of an Islamic Caliphate.<br />
<h2>
Iran's aggression</h2>
In addition to its old tricks of funding terrorist groups, and its rush to build a nuclear bomb, Iran is preparing for war with Israel. In addition to building military bases along Israel's border that I mentioned earlier, Iran has also built weapons factories in Syria and Lebanon (both are neighboring countries to Israel). Israel's greatest security concern is the factories inside Lebanon where Iran is attempting to retrofit thousands of missiles that are already in Lebanon with guidance technology that will greatly increase their accuracy of hitting the target. There's only one reason they're doing this. To prepare for a war with Israel.<br />
<h2>
Israel's response</h2>
The Jewish state isn't taking this aggression lying down. During a visit to Moscow, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made this clear to Russian President Vladimir Putin.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
“If Iran is not stopped,” Netanyahu reportedly told Putin, “then Israel will stop it.”<br />
<br /></div>
Netanyahu told Russian President Vladamir Putin that Israel will put a stop to the building of advanced missiles in Lebanon. This, of course, means military action. Netanyahu has also vowed that they won't allow Iran to entrench along their border. Israel has already stuck an Iranian military base near its border but Iran stubbornly continues to build up its military presence in Syria.<br />
<br />
In 2018, Iran flew a surveillance drone into Israel. Within 2 minutes of entering their air space, Israel shot it down. Just to prove that Israel won't tolerate Iran's aggression, Israel sent four F16s to destroy about half of the anti-aircraft systems around Damascus. One of the F16s was shot down by the same anti-aircraft systems that Israel was destroying but the plane crashed in Israeli territory and the pilots ejected to safety. Although hurt, both pilots are doing okay.<br />
<h2>
The drums of war</h2>
An Israel Defense Forces chief once warned that we're seeing the calm before the storm. It seems that the calm has passed and the storm is rapidly approaching. It's only a matter of time before someone makes a really bad decision and sets this tinderbox that is the Middle East, into a roaring blaze. I think it's a good possibility that this will involve the utter and total destruction of Damascus (see Isaiah chapter 17), which could very well be the spark that leads to the Ezekiel 38 war.<br />
<br />
This is the time to wake up, Church. It's time to get ready because the King of King and Lord of Lords draws near.<br />
<h3><span style="color: #999999;">
Related posts</span></h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/06/signs-of-end-ezekiel-38-39-war.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Signs of the End: The Ezekiel 38-39 War</a></li>
<li><a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/06/the-destruction-of-damascus.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Destruction of Damascus</a></li></ul>
<h3><span style="color: #999999;">
References</span></h3>
<ul>
<li>Fox News: <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/02/13/syria-warns-israel-more-surprises-as-tensions-boil-over-following-iranian-drone-incident.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Syria warns Israel of 'more surprises' as tensions boil over following Iranian drone incident</a></li>
<li>Jerusalem Post: <a href="http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Signs-of-war-540369" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Signs of war</a></li>
<li>Jerusalem Post: <a href="https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jpost.com%2FArab-Israeli-Conflict%2FIranian-winter-coming-to-northern-border-analyst-warns-542550&data=02%7C01%7C%7C17ff987601434cead6d608d57417bd07%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636542567651498482&sdata=F9bvP78aFxxZE%2FE%2BTNY%2F6yFOoGYq96RfRUBpC53hdB0%3D&reserved=0" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Iranian 'winter' coming to northern border, analyst warns</a></li>
<li>BBC News: <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-41945189" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Iran building permanent military base in Syria - claim</a></li>
<li>VOA News: <a href="https://www.voanews.com/a/israel-air-strike/4248772.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Israel Dealt 'Severe Blows' to Iranian, Syrian Targets</a></li>
<li>YouTube: <a href="https://youtu.be/LpdGKEekwLU" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Middle East Current Events Update, Feb. 14, 2018</a></li>
<li>YouTube: <a href="https://youtu.be/RSALL3ksxr4" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Prophecy Update: War between Israel and Syria?</a></li></ul>
<h3><span style="color: #999999;">
Recommended reading</span></h3>
<ul>
<li>Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39</li>
<li>Isaiah chapter 17</li>
</ul>
</div>Daniel Evershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562191355272305470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019691069087353330.post-22012721335761462632019-01-26T11:51:00.002-08:002022-02-20T13:25:53.984-08:00My favorite digital bibles and why I went digital<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWl5l-dIue2aZu1ccH7GV8-XOYfu-Iu8Tbnl7SrkcUWVNB_kZDDZSvPSeyFoFZ8_c-5r3HQvcZrelsq5ydwwXHCmQZpSKigEeCh3ydwcjY-cc-T3wjyDrfN8RZUs8Vel9M-yRQpbjyUQH/s1600/My+favorite+digital+bibles+-+Blogspot.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="331" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWl5l-dIue2aZu1ccH7GV8-XOYfu-Iu8Tbnl7SrkcUWVNB_kZDDZSvPSeyFoFZ8_c-5r3HQvcZrelsq5ydwwXHCmQZpSKigEeCh3ydwcjY-cc-T3wjyDrfN8RZUs8Vel9M-yRQpbjyUQH/s1600/My+favorite+digital+bibles+-+Blogspot.png" /></a></div>
A wise man once said, “<span style="color: olive;"><i>The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible</i></span>”. Whether you read the Bible or just listen to it being read to you, it’s absolutely vital that you get a helping of God’s word on a regular basis. After all, it’s food for your soul and you don’t want to be spiritually malnourished, do you?<br />
If you haven’t already made a habit of spending time in God’s word every day, I encourage you to commit to spending 15 minutes in the Bible and prayer for the next 7 days. By then you’ll have developed a habit that I think you’ll learn to enjoy. I know you’re busy. We all are. But without spending adequate time in God’s word, there can be no spiritual growth.<br />
<h2>
Going Digital</h2>
You probably already own a bible, or maybe six of them. If you’re the kind of person who prefers the feel of paper in your hands, I totally understand. I own several printed bibles myself. They rarely get used anymore, though, since I’ve gone almost entirely digital.<br />
There are several reasons I prefer digital bibles over the printed ones.<br />
<ul>
<li><strong>They’re more mobile</strong>. I can carry dozens of translations of the Bible as well as study Bibles, commentaries, and more than 100 books on a tablet that weighs less than any of my printed bibles. It’s great when I visit a friend or go on vacation because I can take my whole library with me.</li>
<li><strong>I can make the text as small or large as I like</strong><b>.</b> This may seem trivial to some, but with my poor eyesight, this is very important to me. Besides, those large print bibles weigh a ton.</li>
<li><strong>Some digital bibles will read the bible to you</strong><b>.</b> I rarely use this feature, but I know people who prefer listening to the bible being read to them more than they like reading it. Also, with a digital Bible on a tablet or smartphone, you can listen to God’s word while driving to work or when you’re doing chores around the house.</li>
<li><strong>You can read one or more translations side-by-side</strong>. I know there are bibles in print that do this, but the print tends to be smaller than I’m comfortable with. Also, it’s a good practice to read a passage of scripture in several different translations because it can help you pick up on things you might have otherwise missed.</li>
<li><strong>Easier to look up cross-references</strong>. I can see the full text of bible verses that are cross-referenced with just a click or two, without losing my place.</li>
<li><strong>Built-in linguistic tools</strong>. Some digital bibles (I list one below) will show you the original language word that was used and its meaning in that language. This is useful since the original meaning is sometimes lost in the English translations of the bible.</li>
<li><strong>Search</strong>. Have you ever tried to remember a bible verse but could only remember a few words of it? You can use search in a digital bible to find it quickly. By the way, Google is also pretty good at this as well.</li>
</ul>
<h2>
My favorite digital bibles</h2>
Here are some of my favorite digital Bibles. The best part is, they’re all free!<br />
<h3><span style="color: #999999;">
Free Bible apps</span></h3>
<strong>John MacArthur Study Bible</strong><br />
(Available on iPad, Android tablets, and iPhones)<br />
You can download the John MacArthur Study Bible for free from <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-study-bible/id992237916?mt=8" rel="noopener" target="_blank">https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-study-bible/id992237916?mt=8</a>. It provides three free translations of the Bible that you can read or listen to, even when you’re not connected to the internet. It includes the ESV, NASB, and KJV. Of the three, the ESV (English Standard Version) is my favorite translation. For $6.00 you can buy John MacArthur’s Notes from iTunes, which plug into this app to make it a full-fledged MacArthur Study Bible. That’s why this is my favorite Bible app and the reason I bought an iPad in the first place.<br />
<br />
<strong>YouVersion</strong><br />
(Available on iPad, PC, and smartphones)<br />
This free app gives you 50 different translations of the Bible. Many of them can be downloaded to your iPad so you can read them even when you’re not connected to the internet. I’d recommend the NET (New English Translation) because it’s easy to read and more accurate than some of the other easy-to-read translations. Some of the translations will also read the bible to you. For example, you can listen to the NLT (New Living Translation) with this app.<br />
<strong>Note</strong>: I didn't review any apps for Android tablets because I don't own one.<br />
<h3><span style="color: #999999;">
Bibles in your web browser</span></h3>
There are many free Bibles that you can read or listen to right from your internet browser. They provide dozens of English translations of the Bible and some of the translations will read the Bible to you. They provide the ability to show one or more translations side-by-side. You have to be online to read some of the bible translations but you can also download some of the translations so you can read them even when you’re not connected to the internet.<br />
<br />
<strong>BibleWebApp</strong><b><br />
</b>This one’s my favorite of the browser-based Bibles because you can click or tap on a word in a bible verse and it shows you the word in the original language (for example, Hebrew or Greek) as well as a description of the word’s meaning in the original language.<br />
<a href="http://biblewebapp.com/study" rel="noopener" target="_blank">http://biblewebapp.com/study</a><br />
<br />
<strong>BibleGateway</strong><br />
Provides about 50 English translations of the bible and several more in other languages.<br />
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">www.biblegateway.com</a><br />
If you have a favorite that’s not listed here, please tell me about it in the comments section below.<br />
May the Lord bless you richly as you grow in His word,<br />
Daniel Evers<h2 style="text-align: left;">My favorite bible app</h2><div>The way I study the bible the most these days is with the Teccarta bible app. You can access the app in your browser, iPad, or smartphone. I don't have an android device but I would guess the app is also available in the android store. You can download the app for free to your tablet or phone. It comes with the King James Bible for free. To access Tecarta bible in your browser, go to <a href="https://tecartabible.com/">https://tecartabible.com/</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, here's my favorite part. Once you have Tecarta bible, you can purchase other bible versions, study bibles, and commentaries. If you sign-up for their news letter, they'll notify you of their yearly half price sale. <br />
<h3><span style="color: #999999;">
Related messages</span></h3>
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/06/13-benefits-of-knowing-and-meditating.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">13 benefits of knowing and meditating on God’s word</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/07/three-reasons-to-study-bible.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Three reasons to study the Bible</a><br />
<a href="http://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/05/the-bandage-and-bible.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The Bandage and the Bible</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/05/6-ways-your-bible-is-better-than-your.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">6 ways your bible is better than your cell phone</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/06/superfood-for-soul.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Superfood for the soul</a></div>Daniel Evershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562191355272305470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019691069087353330.post-64062825920722822262018-12-31T15:46:00.003-08:002018-12-31T15:46:34.077-08:00My New Years Resolution for 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvSDA91MEVhiruVwdyya3LkyAgsDTrWEamJy86iwAuRx7vpK5BYUBJAjeMHe15L4IVjnqyOQKpD-Q-yzxvcXi7Gnelin_GF8rZwHdXToRd08Qh9NI3uHSoO32jOvkUXMpQtJVlzep2m4k/s1600/My+New+Years+Resolution+-+Blogspot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="331" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvSDA91MEVhiruVwdyya3LkyAgsDTrWEamJy86iwAuRx7vpK5BYUBJAjeMHe15L4IVjnqyOQKpD-Q-yzxvcXi7Gnelin_GF8rZwHdXToRd08Qh9NI3uHSoO32jOvkUXMpQtJVlzep2m4k/s1600/My+New+Years+Resolution+-+Blogspot.png" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
It’s a tradition with many people to make resolutions for the new year. They determine to do some things differently in the coming year or to do some new things they should have been doing already. Popular among them is to exercise more or to lose weight. As usual, most people break their resolutions (or just lose interest in them) in short order. How about this year, we do something different?<br />
<br />
I must admit that I lost interest in setting New Year’s resolutions a long time ago for the very reason I stated above. But the Lord has put it on my heart that Jesus is coming soon, so I need to be sure that I finish the race well.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
… let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.<br />Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV</blockquote>
We see that the apostle Paul took his own advice when he wrote:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.<br />2 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV</blockquote>
Dear friends, my prayer for you is that you’ll ask the Lord what He wants you to do (or stop doing) in order to finish well. My resolution for 2019 is to stay on the narrow path that leads to eternal life and to be a light for others so they can find that narrow gate.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: red;">Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV</span></blockquote>
May 2019 be a year full of blessings for you and your loved ones. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!<br />
Your brother in Christ,<br />
DanielDaniel Evershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562191355272305470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019691069087353330.post-2303726312658765842018-12-24T20:17:00.001-08:002018-12-24T20:20:27.067-08:00The first Christmas gifts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
For many of us, Christmas is the most frantic season of the year. We shop until we drop. We spend hours trying to find just the right gifts for our friends and loved ones. Then we wrap them in pretty paper with ribbon and a bow. But did you ever wonder where the tradition of giving each other gifts on Christmas day began?<br />
<br />
The first Christmas gifts were given to Jesus by the kings of the East. I find it interesting that their gifts say something about who Jesus is. The gold pointed to Christ’s role as King; the frankincense to His role as Priest; and the myrrh pointed to His role as Savior and to His redeeming death.<br />
<br />
In addition to their spiritual significance, these gifts also had great financial value. I believe they were God’s way of providing Joseph and Mary with the resources they needed to flee to Egypt in order to keep Jesus safe from King Herod.<br />
<br />
As you give and receive your Christmas presents this year, keep in mind that the greatest gift ever given was our Lord Jesus Christ. And then share the good news of this gift with others.<br />
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.<br /> John 3:16</span></blockquote>
<h4>
Related topics:</h4>
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/05/who-were-wise-men-who-worshiped-baby.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Who were the wise men who worshiped baby Jesus? </a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/05/christs-humble-beginnings.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Christ’s humble beginnings</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/12/three-practices-for-this-christmas.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Three Practices for this Christmas</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/12/season-of-joy-or-time-of-stress.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Season of Joy or a time of Stress</a>Daniel Evershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562191355272305470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019691069087353330.post-80986018287602628532018-12-22T23:38:00.000-08:002018-12-22T23:38:09.218-08:00God literally put His name there<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonJ2AgDFYAJyU63BUPa_OT3x4Qt_Fo5mIAWDvPlkB_1aM9J1IcXL4-a_ewMZhVl-Bkdt80i5003TS3VQLk7Obp6s8gbllV_xTqJRU9zepwH_XWOM58FWlJJPwzmoF_mcpHEz8nsLI-Idc/s1600/God+literally+put+His+name+there+-+BlogSpot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonJ2AgDFYAJyU63BUPa_OT3x4Qt_Fo5mIAWDvPlkB_1aM9J1IcXL4-a_ewMZhVl-Bkdt80i5003TS3VQLk7Obp6s8gbllV_xTqJRU9zepwH_XWOM58FWlJJPwzmoF_mcpHEz8nsLI-Idc/s1600/God+literally+put+His+name+there+-+BlogSpot.png" /></a></div>
God has chosen to put His name on one particular place on the face of the earth. That place is the apple of God’s eye (Zechariah 2:8 ESV). That place is Jerusalem, the most disputed plot of ground on the planet. During its long history, Jerusalem has been destroyed at least twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times.<br />
<br />
You might wonder why such a small piece of land that has no natural wealth to offer has been fought over so many times. I believe it’s because God declared Jerusalem as His own and Satan wants to take it away from God so that Satan can put his own name there.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="padding-left: 30px;">
Yet I have chosen Jerusalem, that My name may be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.<br />2 Chronicles 6:6</blockquote>
What I find really fascinating is how God actually put His name there… literally. To understand how He did this, you need to know a little bit about the Hebrew alphabet and the geography of Jerusalem.<br />
<h2>
The letter Shin and the geography of Jerusalem</h2>
<br />
You see, the 21st letter in the Hebrew alphabet is called Shin (pronounced "Sheen"). The ancient Hebrews chose this letter to represent the name of the one true God. The Shin is shaped much like the English letter W.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmB5yjNdMn3AFndFomZFGUUIaksLYHmuD-DHfZNsy0gCwJHt5y9vUXmQnIxf8abrmWfNR9Kf1AZLJ-uDgPF8TzWVvaA5jY4dibo6kYK6tEi6zVg2HugzaDiUZsHMorUMJVUO1myk3PT6g/s1600/Shin+1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="71" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmB5yjNdMn3AFndFomZFGUUIaksLYHmuD-DHfZNsy0gCwJHt5y9vUXmQnIxf8abrmWfNR9Kf1AZLJ-uDgPF8TzWVvaA5jY4dibo6kYK6tEi6zVg2HugzaDiUZsHMorUMJVUO1myk3PT6g/s1600/Shin+1.PNG" /></a></div>
The old biblical map of Jerusalem shows three significant valleys: Kidron, Hinnom, and Tyropoean. These valleys converge just south of the Old City of Jerusalem to form the shape of the letter Shin.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7l1YpInd8gPPRSP8dUXN3vZOylkNzgCxQK9er7mlyDat-NsrTCir-4nIa4ejgzknHsPu9Pysk1VEb2lj9iYHl4ePMZAoownSZ2DLis_IpDa7JcKnV8yU842Q9z0FkZ1JUgy-fM52gEpcV/s1600/Shin+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7l1YpInd8gPPRSP8dUXN3vZOylkNzgCxQK9er7mlyDat-NsrTCir-4nIa4ejgzknHsPu9Pysk1VEb2lj9iYHl4ePMZAoownSZ2DLis_IpDa7JcKnV8yU842Q9z0FkZ1JUgy-fM52gEpcV/s1600/Shin+2.png" /></a></div>
Isn’t it fascinating how God put His name on the city of Jerusalem in a way that only a sovereign and all-powerful God could? I think so.<br />
<h2>
Satan wants to put his name there</h2>
To emphasize the point that Satan wants to claim (or destroy) all that belongs to God, during the tribulation, the Antichrist (the man who Satan gives his power to) will declare himself to be god. Can you guess where? That’s right, from the Jewish temple that will be rebuilt in Jerusalem.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="padding-left: 30px;">
Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.<br />2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 (ESV)</blockquote>
I’ve read to the end of the book, so I know how this story ends. God wins!<br />
<h3>
Related topics</h3>
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/05/twelve-ways-to-identify-antichrist.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Twelve ways to identify the Antichrist</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/06/the-abomination-that-causes-desolation.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The abomination that causes desolation</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/06/final-7-years-how-we-can-know-when.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Final 7 years: How we can know when the tribulation has begun</a><br />
<h3>
References</h3>
Wikipedia: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Jerusalem</a><br />YouTube: <a href="https://youtu.be/aZO_eRmR2ho" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Jerusalem - I Will Put My Name There - Amazing Revelations</a>Daniel Evershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562191355272305470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019691069087353330.post-86459220137712852632018-12-22T23:19:00.000-08:002018-12-22T23:19:20.783-08:00Michelangelo's prisoners<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Michelangelo was probably the greatest sculptor of all time. He believed that, as a sculptor, he was a tool of God, not creating but simply revealing the powerful figures already contained in the stone. His task was only to chip away the excess, to reveal what was already there.<br />
<br />
Michelangelo had the uncanny ability to see the finished sculpture in his mind before he chipped away the first flake from the stone. That's why his unfinished sculptures are referred to as <em>Michelangelo's prisoners</em> because the magnificent figure is held captive in his unfinished work.<br />
<br />
We're much like Michelangelo's prisoners, in that we too are an unfinished work. After we're saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, the process by which we're progressively conformed to God's will begins. God sees what we can become, and he works through the Holy Spirit to conform us into the image of His son, Jesus. <strong>That is if we let Him</strong>.<br />
<br />
Consider the words of Jesus:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="padding-left: 30px;">
I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.<br />John 15:1-2 (NKJV)</blockquote>
God doesn't force us to bear more fruit. That comes naturally, as a result of becoming a new creation when we're saved. However, even though we're a new creation, we're still stuck with our sinful nature. But, as long as we abide in Christ, God will prune our sinful tendencies so we can bear even more fruit for the kingdom of God. But, unlike Michelangelo's prisoners which can't resist the sculptor, we can choose to resist God's pruning shears. That is to say, we can resist God's will for our lives, slowing the pruning process significantly.<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jesus isn't going to put you in a headlock while Father God forcibly prunes you.</span><br />
</blockquote>
We're all being changed into the image of Christ at different speeds. Some of us are changing quickly while others are changing very slowly. Sometimes we even veer off the path of righteousness and headlong into sin for a time. When that happens, we have a father in heaven who is faithful to forgive us our sins and bring us back into fellowship with Him.<br />
<br />
My prayer for you is that you'll make the commitment to let God prune the bad stuff from your life. Allow Him to work in you to remove the things that are keeping you from bearing good fruit. Don't be like Saul of Tarsus, and so many others, who choose instead to kick against the goads (Acts 26:14 NKJV).<br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>Recommended reading:</strong> John 15:1-8<br />
<h4>
Related resources</h4>
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/04/you-will-know-them-by-their-fruits.html" target="_blank">You will know them by their fruits</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/06/we-are-all-slaves.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">We are all slaves</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/05/five-ways-to-fight-virus-of-sin.html" target="_blank">Five ways to fight the virus of sin</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/06/four-promised-benefits-of-obedience.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Four promised benefits of obedience</a><br /><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/kick-against-the-pricks.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">What does it mean to kick against the goads?</a>Daniel Evershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562191355272305470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019691069087353330.post-61361072123419442442018-12-22T23:04:00.003-08:002022-08-09T17:39:11.980-07:00The dangers of the Charlie Charlie challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjr5M3TzA1tpXaXYGnSGWhqNFZYx15lVpV3pefg55S0La-TProz_QLyc6ZI3nHdp0sKHyQhhzfB5-SS9Q2_3--pPAKNr9DUm8FyoPMrL9LG4csPHUT7fPcpMAvqIgZuSUoBuhP2bub0WZHPIfjjRcxAXfCHRFSND93fQhDTa2c0bX8GrmZ1krD5uzr7XA=s550" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjr5M3TzA1tpXaXYGnSGWhqNFZYx15lVpV3pefg55S0La-TProz_QLyc6ZI3nHdp0sKHyQhhzfB5-SS9Q2_3--pPAKNr9DUm8FyoPMrL9LG4csPHUT7fPcpMAvqIgZuSUoBuhP2bub0WZHPIfjjRcxAXfCHRFSND93fQhDTa2c0bX8GrmZ1krD5uzr7XA=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
There's a game sweeping the nation that's thrown the door to the occult wide open for our children and youth. To them, it's just a scary game. Scary in a fun sort of way (to them, that is). You don't need to buy a video game or even a board game to take the "Charlie Charlie challenge". All you need is a piece of piece of paper, two pencils, and the ability to say "Charlie Charlie, are you here?". This is a dangerous game because, whether they realize it or not, our kids are attempting to summon a demon.<br />
I've known about this for a while now since it's been viral in the United States since at least 2015. I'm writing about it now because I just found out that one of my friend's young daughters likes to play this game.<br />
<h2>
Why the game is so popular</h2>
The reason this game (or challenge) is sweeping the nation is that it's being popularized by an endless stream of YouTube videos, that are posted mostly by teens. But some of them are posted by young children. As if that weren't bad enough, MTV has encouraged our kids to play the game and they've even provided step-by-step instructions for how to summon 9 different demons.<br />
<br />
Here's a 4-minute video by Pastor Billy Crone about the dangers of the Charlie Charlie challenge.<br />
<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CQhfo9OV-zY/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CQhfo9OV-zY?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<h2>
Please warn your kids and your friends</h2>
Parents, please be aware and watch your children closely. Summoning demons using an Ouija board may have gone out of style, but Satan and his demons haven't given up on attempting to corrupt mankind. Speaking of conjuring demons using an Ouija board, check out <a href="http://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/05/tony-greves-inspiring-story.html" target="_blank">Tony Greve's inspiring story</a>.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="padding-left: 30px;">
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.<br />Ephesians 6:12 NKJV</blockquote>
<h3>
Related Resources</h3>
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/05/demonic-attacks-are-real-my-personal.html" target="_blank">Demonic attacks are real: My personal experience</a><br /><a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/05/how-to-avoid-being-repossessed.html" target="_blank">How to avoid being repossessed</a><br />
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<br />Daniel Evershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562191355272305470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019691069087353330.post-10155868225602446462018-12-22T21:39:00.000-08:002018-12-22T21:39:00.754-08:00Season of joy or time of stress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Advent is a season that many Christian's observe each year during the weeks leading up to the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus. It's a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. It's intended to be a season of great joy, as we remember the significance of what God did for us by sending His Son so that you and I might be redeemed.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="padding-left: 30px;">
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.<br />John 3:16 (KJV)</blockquote>
But for many of us, both Christians and non-religious types alike, it's a time of stress and fatigue. We're stressed because we get so wrapped up in the tradition of the season. We're worried about how we're going to pay for the presents. Or maybe, you're stressed out because you can't afford to give any presents. Maybe you're worried that you forgot to buy a gift for someone or that they might not like what you got them.<br />
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On top of all that, between shopping, until we literally drop and decorating the house, yard, and the Christmas tree, we're totally exhausted. We need a vacation, just to recover from all the madness.<br />
Now, I'm not saying that buying presents for people or decorating your home for Christmas is a bad thing. Not at all. What I'm saying is that we have a tendency to lose the joy that the season should bring when we spend too much time preparing to make Christmas the most perfect day of the year. We tend to forget why we're celebrating it in the first place. Here's a clue… We're celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior.<br />
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In all the hustle and bustle, I hope you'll take a deep breath, and thank God for what He's done for us by sending His only begotten Son into the world. It just might be the spark that warms your heart so you can experience true joy.<br />
<h3>
Related messages</h3>
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/12/three-practices-for-this-christmas.html" target="_blank">Three Practices for this Christmas</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/05/christs-humble-beginnings.html" target="_blank">Christ’s humble beginnings</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/05/who-were-wise-men-who-worshiped-baby.html" target="_blank">Who were the wise men who worshiped baby Jesus?</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/05/giving-thanks.html" target="_blank">Giving thanks</a><br /><a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/04/15-prophetic-signs-fulfilled-by-jesus.html" target="_blank">15 prophetic signs fulfilled by Jesus</a>Daniel Evershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562191355272305470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019691069087353330.post-4786819391427609872018-12-22T14:41:00.000-08:002018-12-22T14:41:19.212-08:00Are the 10 Commandments still relevant?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This question may seem ludicrous to you. At least I hope so. But some Christians I’ve talked to have claimed that the 10 Commandments are no longer relevant. They reason this is so because the Old Testament is irrelevant, and, after all, Christians are covered by God’s grace. It’s true that Christians are covered by God’s grace but as I will show in this message, God’s grace doesn’t nullify God’s law.<br />
<h2>
Jesus came to fulfill the law</h2>
Jesus said “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17 NKJV). The Jews used the phrase “the Law or the Prophets” to refer to the Old Testament. The verb translated ‘to fulfill’ in this verse means literally ‘to fill’ and indicates that Jesus was not repealing the Old Testament laws, of which the 10 commandments are a key part.<br />
In His book, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount, John Stott points out that the Old Testament also has ethical precepts, otherwise known as the moral law of God. These precepts were often misunderstood and even more often disobeyed. Jesus fulfilled the entire law, including the precepts perfectly. He did this by living a sinless life so that he could become the spotless sacrifice for everyone who believes in Him.<br />
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Not only did Jesus come to fulfill the law but he also came to fulfill the words spoken by the prophets. Throughout His ministry, Jesus claimed that the scriptures bore witness to Him. In fact, out of more than 300 prophecies about Jesus, many have already been fulfilled.<br />
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Jesus went on to say “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:18 NKJV). This means that the fulfillment of the law won’t be complete until the heaven and the earth themselves pass away. That won’t happen until after the millennial reign of Christ on the Earth (following the great tribulation) when Jesus makes all things new (see Revelation chapter 21).<br />
<h2>
Jesus clarified the law</h2>
Jesus also clarified the intended meaning of the sixth and seventh commandments. This was necessary because the scribes and Pharisees were guilty of perverting the law in order to make it easier for them to appear as though they were obeying it.<br />
<br />
Jesus clarified that the sixth commandment included hate.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.<br />
<b>Matthew 5:21-22</b></blockquote>
This is why forgiving others is so important. We need to be slow to anger and quick to forgive.<br />
<br />
Jesus also clarified that the seventh commandment included lust.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.<br />
<b>Matthew 5:27-28</b></blockquote>
I can almost see their jaws dropping when they heard this one. They thought they were doing just fine because they hadn’t killed anyone or slept with anyone’s wife. But now they were being told that just lusting after anyone was a sin. Today, we live in a culture that demands even more vigilance to keep this commandment. We’re overrun with rampant pornography as well as television shows and movies that are full of lust and simulated sex. But this doesn’t excuse us from disobeying God’s law. We need to be like Job and make a covenant with our eyes.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I have made a covenant with my eyes;<br />
Why then should I look upon a young woman?<br />
For what is the allotment of God from above,<br />
And the inheritance of the Almighty from on high?<br />
Is it not destruction for the wicked,<br />
And disaster for the workers of iniquity?<br />
Does He not see my ways,<br />
And count all my steps?<br />
<b>Job 31:1-4</b></blockquote>
<h2>
The purpose of the law</h2>
The law was given to reveal to us how God wants us to live. Specifically, it defines how God wants us to treat Him and how we should treat other people. Take the 10 commandments, for example (see Exodus 20:3-17). I’ll paraphrase them for you here:<br />
<ol>
<li>Don’t worship other (false) gods.</li>
<li>Don’t make or worship idols.</li>
<li>Don’t take the name of your Lord God in vain.</li>
<li>Keep the Sabbath as a holy day of rest.</li>
<li>Honor your father and mother.</li>
<li>Don’t murder.</li>
<li>Don’t commit adultery.</li>
<li>Don’t steal.</li>
<li>Don’t bear false witness against anyone.</li>
<li>Don’t covet other people’s things.</li>
</ol>
The first 4 commandments describe our relationship to God. The remaining 6 describe our relationship to other people.<br />
<h2>
Does God expect Christians to keep the law?</h2>
The scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ day were famous for their righteousness. Keeping God’s law was the passion of their lives. They calculated that the law contains 248 commandments and 365 prohibitions, and they aspired to keep them all. How then can we live up to what Jesus said next?<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.<br />
<b>Matthew 5:20</b></blockquote>
Jesus was not teaching a new doctrine of earning salvation by doing good works. He was teaching that the outward appearance of righteousness that the scribes and the Pharisees had isn’t what makes you right with God. What God wants is the righteousness that flows from a changed heart. A heart that has been regenerated by receiving the Holy Spirit.<br />
<h2>
Obeying God’s word is a sign that you’re saved</h2>
One of the key characteristics of someone who’s genuinely saved is that they obey God’s commandments (the best they can) out of a deep heartfelt love for Him. The Apostle John taught that love goes hand in hand with obedience. Meaningful obedience can’t be separated from a heartfelt love for God. The love we have in our heart for what God has done for us motivates a genuine believer to desire to be obedient to His commandments.<br />
<br />
Look at it this way. When you realize how big God’s love is for you, when you understand how you can depend on His holiness and righteousness and His love for you, and when you really understand what He’s done to offer you salvation, this brings forth an overwhelming sense of peace and joy that always leads to obedience.<br />
<br />
But it gets even better. Our obedience to God’s word brings forth more joy which leads to even more obedience. It becomes a cycle of joy leading to more obedience leading to more joy.<br />
Of course, you can’t obey God’s commandments if you don’t know what they are. How many of the ten commandments have you memorized? After you’ve recalled as many as you can, then compare your list to Exodus 20:3-17.<br />
<br />
The apostle Paul wrote:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”<br />
<b>Romans 7:7</b></blockquote>
On one occasion, after the Pharisees and Sadducees failed to trip Jesus up with their questions, a lawyer among them decided to give it a try. He asked Jesus to tell them which of all of God’s commandments is the great commandment in the law. So, Jesus summarized the entirety of God’s law for them. He boiled it down to the essence of the law in just two commandments.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”<br />
<b>Matthew 22:33-40</b></blockquote>
How’s that for simplifying things? I challenge you to find even one commandment in the ten commandments (Exodus 20:3-17) that isn’t covered by these two commandments. For example, if you love God with all your heart, soul, and mind you won’t worship other gods, will you? If you love your neighbor as much as you love yourself, you won’t try to kill him or seduce his wife, steal his things, or tell lies about him, will you? Of course not!<br />
<br />
Some churches today teach that it doesn’t matter how much you sin after you’ve been saved because you’re covered by God’s abundant and perfect grace. Although it’s true that genuine believers are covered by grace, the Holy Spirit who indwells a true believer compels them to obey God’s word.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">God’s grace is His unwarranted, unearned, and undeserved favor towards us.</span></blockquote>
But understand this: God isn’t interested in obedience that’s offered out of selfish motives. It’s a futile endeavor to even try to be obedient by your own power in order to earn God’s favor because God desires obedience that flows from a grateful heart. Do you see the love-obedience connection?<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Meaningful obedience can’t be separated from a heartfelt love for God.</span></blockquote>
A key sign that we’ve been saved is that we keep God’s commandments. Not in order to become acceptable to Him but out of our love for Him. Isn’t it obvious that in order to learn to be obedient to God’s word, we must first understand who God is and know what He commands us to do, as well as what not do?<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
We know that we have come to know Him if we keep His commandments. Whoever says, “I know Him,” but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.<br />
<b>1 John 2:3-4 (NIV)</b></blockquote>
This must be a terrifying thought to someone who isn’t truly saved or to someone who isn’t sure their salvation is real. Certainly, if the Holy Spirit is inside us and our spirit is alive and listening for the voice of Almighty God, then we must surely know Him, right?<br />
<br />
But the reality is that we all mess up from time to time, which means that we need to repent of our sin and determine to do better. I wrote about this in <a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/06/how-to-become-more-obedient-to-christ.html" target="_blank">How to become more obedient to Christ</a>.<br />
<br />
Let me leave you with this final thought. We learn who God is by reading His word, the Holy Bible. That’s a good thing to do but we can’t stop there. A genuine believer not only learns what God’s word says but obeys His word. This means that you apply what God says to your life. Otherwise, we deceive ourselves into thinking we’re saved when we really aren’t.<br />
<h4>
Related topics</h4>
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/11/unhitching-from-old-testament.html" target="_blank">Unhitching from the Old Testament</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/04/15-prophetic-signs-fulfilled-by-jesus.html" target="_blank">15 prophetic signs fulfilled by Jesus</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/p/deeper-study.html" target="_blank">Assurance of salvation</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/06/the-importance-of-forgiving-others.html" target="_blank">The importance of forgiving others</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/06/how-to-become-more-obedient-to-christ.html" target="_blank">How to become more obedient to Christ</a>Daniel Evershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562191355272305470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019691069087353330.post-57514981730244907292018-12-22T13:43:00.002-08:002019-01-26T19:25:38.873-08:00Three practices for this Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It never fails. We run around frantically buying presents for our family, friends, and loved ones only for the magic moment to peak amid a flurry of Christmas paper being torn and flung in the air. All too often, someone is disappointed that they didn’t get everything they had hoped for.<br />
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Friends, this is not how it’s meant to be. This is not how God intended for us to live. For a happier more satisfying life, consider incorporating these three practices into your life this Christmas.<br />
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<h2>
Practice Simplicity</h2>
Our lives have become way too complicated. It often feels like our things end up owning us instead of the other way around. We spend our time and money just keeping them maintained and up to date. The marketing gurus of Wall Street aren’t doing us any favors, either. As soon as we get the latest smartphone or other shiny things, a new one comes along that beckons for our attention. Meanwhile, little Johnny wants that new action figure and a dozen other things he saw on TV and Susie wants a dollhouse, new clothes for her dolls and an easy bake oven.<br />
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The fact is that we love to own things. Consider what the Apostle Paul said to the Corinthian church,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #b45f06;">Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">1 Corinthians 7:31 NLT</span></blockquote>
We need to learn how to unclutter our lives and practice simplicity. We need to learn the difference between a need and a want because a simple life is a happier and less stressful life.<br />
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<h2>
Practice Contentment</h2>
Do you realize that we train our children to be discontent at Christmas time? In our generosity and love for our kids, as soon as they unwrap one present, we’re shoving another one at them. My pastor told a funny story about how he made his one-year-old son cry because he took away the toy that he had just unwrapped and was playing with so he could get him to unwrap the next one. The boy was perfectly content with the first present he was given but he was unwittingly being taught to be discontent. I’ve been guilty of doing that myself pretty much every Christmas, haven’t you?<br />
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Consider these words from the Apostle Paul,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #b45f06;">Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “</span><span style="color: red;">I will never leave you nor forsake you.</span><span style="color: #b45f06;">”</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">Hebrews 13:5</span></blockquote>
The downside of wanting more things we don’t really need is that instead of bringing satisfaction when we get them, it breeds the desire for even more things. Everything in our culture teaches us to be discontent with what we have and this vicious cycle of discontent seems to be getting worse.<br />
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Consider these statistics:<br />
<ul>
<li>The average ten-year-old in the U.S. owns 238 toys but only plays with 12.</li>
<li>Only 3.1% of the world’s children live in America but they own 40% of the toys.</li>
<li>There are 300.000 items in the average American home.</li>
<li>The average American home has tripled in size over the past 50 years.</li>
<li>The average American woman owns 30 outfits. That’s one for every day of the month! In 1930, that figure was 9.</li>
</ul>
By the way, when a woman says she doesn't have anything to wear, what she means is <i>she doesn't have anything new to wear</i>. When a man says he doesn't have anything to wear, he means <i>he doesn't have anything clean to wear</i>.<br />
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Yes, discontent is a vicious cycle but it’s one we can choose to break free from. The key word here is “choose”. The Bible teaches us that “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6).<br />
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<h2>
Practice Gratitude</h2>
God wants His children to be thankful in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT). So why is there such a lack of gratitude in the world? I think there are a couple of reasons for this.<br />
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<b>We have the tendency to lose perspective</b>. When the busyness of life wears us down and we find ourselves exhausted and stressed, we tend to forget how blessed we really are. Do you realize that if you have a bed to sleep in, a roof over your head, and food in your refrigerator that you’re richer than the majority of people on Earth?<br />
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Sometimes all we need to do to be content is to put things in the right perspective and thank God for all our blessings.<br />
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<b>We focus on the things of the world instead of on the things of heaven</b>. When we let the distractions of the world dominate our time and thoughts we neglect to spend time with the Lord. We opt for another hour of entertainment instead of spending time each day in God’s word. Have you noticed that spending time in God’s word and spending time in prayer makes you feel more content and grateful? I have. If you haven’t discovered this in your life, I encourage you to give it a try.<br />
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Just remember that a simplified life breeds contentment which in turn leads to a grateful heart. Compare this to a complex life that breeds discontent and leads to an ungrateful heart.<br />
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If you want to be truly happy, then I encourage you to simplify your life, learn to be content with what you have and you’ll find that you are much more grateful for what you already have. And don’t forget to “delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).<br />
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May God bless you richly as you practice simplicity, contentment, and gratitude this Christmas and all year long,<br />
Daniel<br />
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<h4>
Related messages</h4>
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/05/choosing-that-good-part.html" target="_blank">Choosing that good part</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/05/christs-humble-beginnings.html" target="_blank">Christ’s humble beginnings</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/05/who-were-wise-men-who-worshiped-baby.html" target="_blank">Who were the wise men who worshiped baby Jesus?</a>Daniel Evershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562191355272305470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019691069087353330.post-25548481947890640142018-11-18T18:26:00.003-08:002018-11-18T18:26:34.233-08:003 ways to prepare for the Goliaths in your life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Believers and unbelievers alike face challenges in their lives that are bigger than themselves. I'm talking about the storms that inevitably come crashing down on us and would surely overwhelm us if not for the providential power that's outside of ourselves. It appears that some people need to hit rock bottom and be completely broken before they will call out for God's help. And who better to call than our heavenly Father?<br />
<br />
The giants that we all face remind me of the story of David and Goliath.<br />
<h2>
Facing the giant</h2>
Goliath was the champion of the Philistines who taunted Israel's army into a contest to decide who would be declared the winner of the battle. If anyone in Israel's army could defeat him, then Israel would be declared the winner and the Philistines would be Israel's servants.<br />
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The problem is that Goliath was a giant, towering 9 feet 9 inches tall. The tallest person on Israel's side was King Saul, and he wasn't about to fight the giant. And who would blame him? After all, the giant's armor of leather and bronze weighed about 125 pounds and the iron tip of his spear alone weighed 15 pounds. Not only that but he carried a bronze javelin on his back, and a huge sword at his side. Just try to imagine how strong Goliath must have been, just be able to carry all of that armor and weaponry. No wonder no one in Israel's army was willing to fight him. Even after King Saul promised to make the victor wealthy, exempt from taxes, and give him the hand of his daughter in marriage (1 Samuel 17:25 NKJV).<br />
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They were not only afraid but they were dismayed and greatly afraid (1 Samuel 17:11 NKJV). Perhaps the Israelites had forgotten the victories God had given Israel in times past. Forgetfulness of God’s past deliverance diminishes our confidence when we face conflict. But then there was David, a young man who trusted in God so completely that even as a teenager, he was not only willing but was determined to face Goliath, even when no one else would.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #b45f06;">Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”</span><br /><span style="color: #783f04;">1 Samuel 17:32 NKJV</span></blockquote>
What's really interesting to me is how God had prepared David for Israel's adversary, beforehand. As David stood before Saul declaring that he would face the Philistine champion, he explained to the king how his past victories over a lion and a bear gave him the faith to trust God for victory.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #b45f06;">But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” Moreover David said, “The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #b45f06;">And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!”</span><br /><span style="color: #783f04;">1 Samuel 17:34-37 (NKJV)</span></blockquote>
Then David faced the giant with nothing but a sling, the typical weapon of a shepherd, and 5 smooth stones. Have you ever wondered by David gathered 5 stones instead of just one? It's not because he thought he would miss. It's because Goliath had brothers!<br />
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Well, I bet you know how this story ends. David kills Goliath with the first stone and then cuts off his head with Goliath's own sword.<br />
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Just as God gave victory to His servant, David, our heavenly Father will give you victory over the giants in your life, if only you will put your trust in Him. But realize that the wise prepare for the battles they know are looming on the horizon. So let's see how we can prepare for the battles that will surely come your way and how we can weather them when those storms arrive.<br />
<h2>
Study God's word</h2>
God speaks to us through His word. But we need to not only read His word, but we also need to actually understand it so we can apply it to our lives. This takes dedication. This requires us to make an effort to actually study the bible and not only glance over the words.<br />
<br />
Just like pilots use radar to detect storms so they can fly around them, do you realize that we can avoid many of the storms in life and the schemes of our adversary, the devil if we learn and heed God's instructions? Yes, the bible is full of do's and don'ts but it's not because God doesn't want us to have any fun. It's because He knows what's best for us. If our Father in heaven warns us not to do something, we should take what He says to heart and obey. After all, if you're a Christian doesn’t that make you a child of God? Yes, it does, and children should obey their fathers. Of course, in order to obey God, we need to learn what He expects from us. And we learn what He expects by knowing His word.<br />
<h2>
Pray continually</h2>
How many times have you found yourself in the middle of a situation that had spun totally out of control? We should pray for God's protection over our lives each day. But when we find ourselves in the middle of the storm, prayer should be our first response, not our last. Pray until you get an answer. God will provide the answer in His time, not ours. So be diligent in prayer.<br />
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You might try praying for guidance while reading the bible. Sometimes God directs you to the exact passage of scripture that you need to solve your problem.<br />
<h2>
Lean on Godly people</h2>
God didn't intend for us to do life alone. Just as God recognized that Adam needed a helper when He created Eve, He knows that we all need someone to lean on from time to time. This is why Jesus instructed us to love one another (see John 13:34-35). Seek guidance from Godly people who have a solid understanding of God's word. Ask for their guidance so that you can avoid stumbling and to lift you up when you fall.<br />
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Remember, we all face giants in life. Problems that are sometimes too big for us to handle on our own. But with the right preparation, faith in God, and help from a Godly friend, we can be like a large tree with deep roots that stands strong in the storm. When you put down deep roots in God's word, you too can weather any storm this world might send your way.<br />
<h3>
Related messages</h3>
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/06/13-benefits-of-knowing-and-meditating.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">13 benefits of knowing and meditating on God’s word</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/11/spurgeon-on-how-to-read-bible.html">Spurgeon on how to read the bible</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/06/15-biblically-based-reasons-to-pray.html">15 biblically-based reasons to pray</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/06/how-god-speaks-to-us.html">How God speaks to us</a>Daniel Evershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562191355272305470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019691069087353330.post-49557528994055746722018-11-18T18:00:00.001-08:002022-02-15T19:09:08.244-08:00The dry sponge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A completely dry sponge isn't of much use, is it? Add a little water, and then it’s suddenly a useful tool. Likewise, a Christian who doesn't know the word of God is like that dry sponge. Without the word of God in their heart, they can't shine God's light into this spiritually dark world. They can't be a living example for other Christians to follow. And they can't be mentors or teachers of God's word. They're of little use to further the kingdom of God.<br />
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We need to be totally saturated with God's word. We need to have so much exposure to the holy scriptures that when the world presses in on us, we would gush forth God's word.<br />
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Don't be like the Corinthians who the Apostle Paul rebuked for not maturing spiritually.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #ffa400;"><span>But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready.</span><br /><span>1 Corinthians 3:1-2 (ESV)</span></span></blockquote>
The apostle Paul was addressing those Christians who, although God's word was preached to them, they never meditated on the word and therefore it didn't cause spiritual growth. They remained babies in the faith.<br />
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The book of Hebrews strongly rebuked its readers for not growing in righteousness. They weren't maturing in the faith because they hadn't learned the basics of Christian doctrine, which means they weren't living as God intended.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #ffa400;"><span>For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.</span><br /><span>Hebrews 5:12-14 (ESV)</span></span></blockquote>
Do you crave the solid food of God's word? Do you seek the deeper truths that can only be found by studying and meditating on the word of God? I hope so because this world needs more mature Christians who can nurture those who are still children in their faith.<br />
<h3>
Related messages</h3>
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/11/spurgeon-on-how-to-read-bible.html" target="_blank">Spurgeon on how to read the bible</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/07/three-reasons-to-study-bible.html" target="_blank">Three reasons to study the Bible</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/05/6-ways-your-bible-is-better-than-your.html" target="_blank">6 ways your bible is better than your cell phone</a><br />
<a href="https://jesus4evers.blogspot.com/2018/06/13-benefits-of-knowing-and-meditating.html" target="_blank">13 benefits of knowing and meditating on God’s word</a>Daniel Evershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562191355272305470noreply@blogger.com0