A Note on Christians
Easter is almost upon us and over the next few blog entries I will be writing about it. I however thought it interesting to, for just a moment to point to a quote from outside the Bible about Christians. A quote from Pilny the Younger a non-Christian.
Piliny the Younger was a Roman governor of Bithynia in Asia minor writing to Emperor Trajan he wrote,
"They were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food--but food of an ordinary and innocent kind..."
The book of Acts comments on what the early believers did, noting,
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
All the believers were together and had everything in common.
Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Acts 2:42-47.
The early church seems to be a together thing. They looked after each other and met together to break bread, the praised God and enjoyed favour of all the people.
Additionally as they continued in this unity the Lord added to their numbers.
People seen in those early believers something they wanted to be a part of. They seen the reality of Christ in the life of those early Christians.
It is something the world needs to see in believer today.
It is something I believe true believers still show today.
Francis of Assisi wrote, “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
I believe this is what the early church did. I believe also that this is what true Christians today are still doing.
Think about it.
Wednesday, 16 April 2014
Tuesday, 15 April 2014
Passover
Passover
“The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt,
“This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.
Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.
If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbour, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat.
The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats.
Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.
Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the door frames of the houses where they eat the lambs.
That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast.
Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire—head, legs and inner parts.
Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it.
This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD'S Passover.
“On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn—both men and animals—and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.
The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
“This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD—a lasting ordinance.”
Exodus 12:1-14.
Yesterday as I write this our Jewish friends started to celebrate Passover. The time when the death angel passed over the children of Israel and struck the first born of Egypt.
Egypt can be looked on as the symbol of oppression for all generations.
Over the centuries the Jews have been oppressed by it seems like an endless stream of tyrants. All of these oppressors have come to a sorry end.
Hitler the worst in recent memory killing six million men women and children. Their only crime being born Jewish.
The Jewish people are a remarkable people.
Leo Tolstoy wrote,
“The Jew is the emblem of civil and religious toleration, ‘Love the stranger a sojourner,’ Moses commands, ‘because you have been strangers in the land of Egypt.’ And this was said in those remote and savage times when the principal ambition of the races and nations consisted in crushing and enslaving one another.
As concerns religious toleration, the Jewish faith is not only far from the missionary spirit of converting people of other denominations, but on the contrary the Talmud commands the Rabbis to inform and explain to everyone who willingly comes to accept the Jewish religion, all the difficulties involved in its acceptance, and to point out to the would be proselyte that the righteous of all nations have a share in immortality.
Of such a lofty and ideal religious toleration not even the moralists of our present day can boast.
The Jew is the emblem of eternity. He whom neither slaughter nor torture of thousands of years could destroy, he whom neither fire nor sword nor inquisition was able to wipe off from the face of the earth, he who was the first to produce the oracles of God, he who has been for so long, the guardian of the oracles prophecy, and who transmitted it too the rest of the world—such a nation cannot be destroyed. The law is everlasting as is eternity itself.”
I am a firm believer in blessing Israel when ever possible. In Genesis God made a promise to Abram,
“The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.
“I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Genesis 12:1-3.
Today the 15 Nissan 5754 (April 15th 2014) take time to pray for Israel, the Jewish people throughout the world and the peace of Jerusalem.
“The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt,
“This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.
Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.
If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbour, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat.
The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats.
Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.
Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the door frames of the houses where they eat the lambs.
That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast.
Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire—head, legs and inner parts.
Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it.
This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD'S Passover.
“On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn—both men and animals—and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.
The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
“This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD—a lasting ordinance.”
Exodus 12:1-14.
Yesterday as I write this our Jewish friends started to celebrate Passover. The time when the death angel passed over the children of Israel and struck the first born of Egypt.
Egypt can be looked on as the symbol of oppression for all generations.
Over the centuries the Jews have been oppressed by it seems like an endless stream of tyrants. All of these oppressors have come to a sorry end.
Hitler the worst in recent memory killing six million men women and children. Their only crime being born Jewish.
The Jewish people are a remarkable people.
Leo Tolstoy wrote,
“The Jew is the emblem of civil and religious toleration, ‘Love the stranger a sojourner,’ Moses commands, ‘because you have been strangers in the land of Egypt.’ And this was said in those remote and savage times when the principal ambition of the races and nations consisted in crushing and enslaving one another.
As concerns religious toleration, the Jewish faith is not only far from the missionary spirit of converting people of other denominations, but on the contrary the Talmud commands the Rabbis to inform and explain to everyone who willingly comes to accept the Jewish religion, all the difficulties involved in its acceptance, and to point out to the would be proselyte that the righteous of all nations have a share in immortality.
Of such a lofty and ideal religious toleration not even the moralists of our present day can boast.
The Jew is the emblem of eternity. He whom neither slaughter nor torture of thousands of years could destroy, he whom neither fire nor sword nor inquisition was able to wipe off from the face of the earth, he who was the first to produce the oracles of God, he who has been for so long, the guardian of the oracles prophecy, and who transmitted it too the rest of the world—such a nation cannot be destroyed. The law is everlasting as is eternity itself.”
I am a firm believer in blessing Israel when ever possible. In Genesis God made a promise to Abram,
“The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.
“I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Genesis 12:1-3.
Today the 15 Nissan 5754 (April 15th 2014) take time to pray for Israel, the Jewish people throughout the world and the peace of Jerusalem.
Monday, 14 April 2014
Giving to the Poor
Giving and the poor
“Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”
Matthew 5:42
Here Jesus point to people in need.
What he is saying is a universal truth.
We need to have compassion on the poor. It’s easy in our society to look down on a poor person especially someone on the street that may be panhandling.
We have no idea why that person is in the position they are. But if we can afford it, it never hurts to give something.
I heard not to long ago a preacher on television condemning people on welfare calling them “lazy bums.” telling them to go out and get a job.
I’ve heard politicians particularly in the United States saying poor people are simply lazy. That they need to pull themselves up by their boot straps and get on with life.
I know a lot of people on welfare.
Most of those I know are not in the system by choice. Some were laid off from their jobs. Others are on it because of medical reasons.
None of these people like going to the government cap in hand asking for a hand out. It frankly is demeaning. And welfare where I live at least pays far below the poverty line. Making it hard sometimes impossible to make ends meet.
True there are a lot who play the system but there not as many as one would like to think.
Most people want to work and many poor people do. The minimum wage where I live is ten dollars an hour a subsistence living at best. Well below the poverty line.
The provincial government realizing it is too low is raising it much to the displeasure of some business groups.
I’ve read that in the United States the basic minimum wage is in some places below five dollars an hour.
This in a country that can’t even offer its citizens a good government health insurance as is done in all other western democracies.
The bottom line is no one in North America can live on five dollars an hour or ten dollars an hour.
Sadly many business groups complain about giving more to those on welfare or raising the minimum wage.
The same business groups that think it only right that a multinational corporation to go to the government for grants and tax incentives to place their factories in a particular jurisdiction.
What one politician in Canada in the seventies called “corporate welfare bums”.
We as individuals and as businessmen and women need to be benevolent towards the poor.
The Talmud tells a story that goes like this,
“Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, “Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?” He answered, “God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love.”
I know there are many businessmen and women out there who give millions to help the needy. And these people are to be lauded for what they do.
I’m not saying here we should encourage people who are able bodied to sit around and collect a check.
What I’m saying is we should be helping the poor. If they need a few bucks fine. But if they need training to start earning a good living then companies and the government should be stepping up and offering it.
The old saying “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day teach him to fish and you feed him for life.” is very true.
We’re always going to have poor among us. But it is up to us as a society to help those we can particularly the sick, the disabled and those who cannot truly help themselves.
Keeping them on a subsistence living simply because it’s going to cost the government more money is not a good excuse.
If these persons were captured and in danger of dying at the hands of terrorist the same government that gives little to help the poor, would spend whatever it took to rescue them.
The Jews have a word for giving to the needy it its called Tzedakah
Philip Bernstein explains it this way,
“If there is one area that identifies and unites Jews, no matter what their personal beliefs and practices, it is Tzedakah. Tzedakah is more than charity or philanthropy, noble as they are, more than man’s humanity to man, exalted as that is, more truly it is righteousness and justice. Without these qualities civilization would perish.
It is the highest ideal in Jewish teaching—for it is the highest application of Jewish ethical values. It is Judaism in action—and Judaism is inherently and deeply a religion of action, a way of life, a way of living.”
The Jews are encouraged to give ten percent of their income to helping the poor. Even someone who is poor themselves is asked to give although they may give less than ten percent.
And there is an admonishing not to give so much as for you to become a burden on society yourself.
One Jewish teacher gave the levels of Tzedakah
1.Giving begrudgingly
2.Giving less that you should, but giving it cheerfully.
3.Giving after being asked
4.Giving before being asked
5.Giving when you do not know the recipient's identity, but the recipient knows your identity
6.Giving when you know the recipient's identity, but the recipient doesn't know your identity
7.Giving when neither party knows the other's identity
8.Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant
I think the above list is something we need to look at carefully
Think about it.
“Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”
Matthew 5:42
Here Jesus point to people in need.
What he is saying is a universal truth.
We need to have compassion on the poor. It’s easy in our society to look down on a poor person especially someone on the street that may be panhandling.
We have no idea why that person is in the position they are. But if we can afford it, it never hurts to give something.
I heard not to long ago a preacher on television condemning people on welfare calling them “lazy bums.” telling them to go out and get a job.
I’ve heard politicians particularly in the United States saying poor people are simply lazy. That they need to pull themselves up by their boot straps and get on with life.
I know a lot of people on welfare.
Most of those I know are not in the system by choice. Some were laid off from their jobs. Others are on it because of medical reasons.
None of these people like going to the government cap in hand asking for a hand out. It frankly is demeaning. And welfare where I live at least pays far below the poverty line. Making it hard sometimes impossible to make ends meet.
True there are a lot who play the system but there not as many as one would like to think.
Most people want to work and many poor people do. The minimum wage where I live is ten dollars an hour a subsistence living at best. Well below the poverty line.
The provincial government realizing it is too low is raising it much to the displeasure of some business groups.
I’ve read that in the United States the basic minimum wage is in some places below five dollars an hour.
This in a country that can’t even offer its citizens a good government health insurance as is done in all other western democracies.
The bottom line is no one in North America can live on five dollars an hour or ten dollars an hour.
Sadly many business groups complain about giving more to those on welfare or raising the minimum wage.
The same business groups that think it only right that a multinational corporation to go to the government for grants and tax incentives to place their factories in a particular jurisdiction.
What one politician in Canada in the seventies called “corporate welfare bums”.
We as individuals and as businessmen and women need to be benevolent towards the poor.
The Talmud tells a story that goes like this,
“Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, “Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?” He answered, “God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love.”
I know there are many businessmen and women out there who give millions to help the needy. And these people are to be lauded for what they do.
I’m not saying here we should encourage people who are able bodied to sit around and collect a check.
What I’m saying is we should be helping the poor. If they need a few bucks fine. But if they need training to start earning a good living then companies and the government should be stepping up and offering it.
The old saying “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day teach him to fish and you feed him for life.” is very true.
We’re always going to have poor among us. But it is up to us as a society to help those we can particularly the sick, the disabled and those who cannot truly help themselves.
Keeping them on a subsistence living simply because it’s going to cost the government more money is not a good excuse.
If these persons were captured and in danger of dying at the hands of terrorist the same government that gives little to help the poor, would spend whatever it took to rescue them.
The Jews have a word for giving to the needy it its called Tzedakah
Philip Bernstein explains it this way,
“If there is one area that identifies and unites Jews, no matter what their personal beliefs and practices, it is Tzedakah. Tzedakah is more than charity or philanthropy, noble as they are, more than man’s humanity to man, exalted as that is, more truly it is righteousness and justice. Without these qualities civilization would perish.
It is the highest ideal in Jewish teaching—for it is the highest application of Jewish ethical values. It is Judaism in action—and Judaism is inherently and deeply a religion of action, a way of life, a way of living.”
The Jews are encouraged to give ten percent of their income to helping the poor. Even someone who is poor themselves is asked to give although they may give less than ten percent.
And there is an admonishing not to give so much as for you to become a burden on society yourself.
One Jewish teacher gave the levels of Tzedakah
1.Giving begrudgingly
2.Giving less that you should, but giving it cheerfully.
3.Giving after being asked
4.Giving before being asked
5.Giving when you do not know the recipient's identity, but the recipient knows your identity
6.Giving when you know the recipient's identity, but the recipient doesn't know your identity
7.Giving when neither party knows the other's identity
8.Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant
I think the above list is something we need to look at carefully
Think about it.
Sunday, 13 April 2014
Treasure
Treasure
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”
Matthew 13:44-46
Unfortunately many people in the world today particularly in North America are failing to see that the Bible and Jesus are indeed treasures of great price.
They see a material world only. Their only goal in life is to gather as many toys as they can before they die.
I once heard a very rich businessman say “the pursuit of wealth is the most noble of pursuits one can do in this life.”
He dose not believe in anything beyond this life.
My brother an atheist is fond of saying “the one who has all the toys at the end of life is the winner.”
Trouble is at the end of life the toys go to someone else. Materialism is ultimately useless as we come into this world with nothing materially and cannot take any of our material possessions with us.
Ask the Egyptian Pharaoh’s. They were buried with riches but the riches remained in this world while they are long gone to stand before God.
Take a look at particularly the rock stars over the years who have had fame and fortune only to die by their own hand in hopelessness.
A minister friend of mine many years ago sat at the bedside of a very rich man. He’d spent a lifetime accumulating wealth and little else.
He told my friend that while he admitted he liked the fun of acquiring the wealth, it meant nothing to him now as he prepared to enter eternity.
He only wished he’d got to know Christ sooner.
Materialism and for that matter atheism is in the end an empty cup.
The author of Ecclesiastes states,
“ I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”
Ecclesiastes 1:14
The book of Ecclesiastes concludes with,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”
Ecclesiastes12:13,14
There is an old saying that still rings true. “Only one life will soon be past only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Where will you be at the end of your life? Will you stand before God as a pauper and here him say I never knew you, or will he welcome you as his child? The child of a king with all the rights there of.
Think about it.
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”
Matthew 13:44-46
Unfortunately many people in the world today particularly in North America are failing to see that the Bible and Jesus are indeed treasures of great price.
They see a material world only. Their only goal in life is to gather as many toys as they can before they die.
I once heard a very rich businessman say “the pursuit of wealth is the most noble of pursuits one can do in this life.”
He dose not believe in anything beyond this life.
My brother an atheist is fond of saying “the one who has all the toys at the end of life is the winner.”
Trouble is at the end of life the toys go to someone else. Materialism is ultimately useless as we come into this world with nothing materially and cannot take any of our material possessions with us.
Ask the Egyptian Pharaoh’s. They were buried with riches but the riches remained in this world while they are long gone to stand before God.
Take a look at particularly the rock stars over the years who have had fame and fortune only to die by their own hand in hopelessness.
A minister friend of mine many years ago sat at the bedside of a very rich man. He’d spent a lifetime accumulating wealth and little else.
He told my friend that while he admitted he liked the fun of acquiring the wealth, it meant nothing to him now as he prepared to enter eternity.
He only wished he’d got to know Christ sooner.
Materialism and for that matter atheism is in the end an empty cup.
The author of Ecclesiastes states,
“ I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”
Ecclesiastes 1:14
The book of Ecclesiastes concludes with,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”
Ecclesiastes12:13,14
There is an old saying that still rings true. “Only one life will soon be past only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Where will you be at the end of your life? Will you stand before God as a pauper and here him say I never knew you, or will he welcome you as his child? The child of a king with all the rights there of.
Think about it.
Saturday, 12 April 2014
The Mustard Seed
The Mustard seed
“He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.
Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.”
He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
Matthew 13:31-33.
Here Jesus uses a parable to explain how His kingdom will grow.
At the time the mustard seed was the smallest seed used by farmers. Yet it could grow up to three meters or more under good conditions.
This is how the Jesus’ kingdom grew.
It started out under humble conditions. From a stable in an insignificant town in a back water of the mighty Roman empire. Yet it has grown over the centuries to reach into every country in the world.
At approximately 2.2 billion believers it is the largest religion in the world today.
Why? Because the hand of God is upon it and nothing man can do will stop it. The proof is as they say in the pudding.
Christianity today is the most persecuted religion in the world one statistic I read was that one Christian dies every eleven minutes for their faith somewhere in the world. Meanwhile others languish in jail for their beliefs.
Yet despite all of this our faith is still growing.
The reason it’s growing is that it truly brings hope to all who embrace faith in Jesus Christ.
Christianity in it’s purest form is a faith of mercy. It shows God’s mercy toward mankind.
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16,17.
The Apostle Paul reminds us,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23,24.
He also states,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9.
Christianity is God reaching down to man and saying, I love you. Despite your short comings and problems I love you.
He calls out,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Think about it.
“He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.
Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.”
He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
Matthew 13:31-33.
Here Jesus uses a parable to explain how His kingdom will grow.
At the time the mustard seed was the smallest seed used by farmers. Yet it could grow up to three meters or more under good conditions.
This is how the Jesus’ kingdom grew.
It started out under humble conditions. From a stable in an insignificant town in a back water of the mighty Roman empire. Yet it has grown over the centuries to reach into every country in the world.
At approximately 2.2 billion believers it is the largest religion in the world today.
Why? Because the hand of God is upon it and nothing man can do will stop it. The proof is as they say in the pudding.
Christianity today is the most persecuted religion in the world one statistic I read was that one Christian dies every eleven minutes for their faith somewhere in the world. Meanwhile others languish in jail for their beliefs.
Yet despite all of this our faith is still growing.
The reason it’s growing is that it truly brings hope to all who embrace faith in Jesus Christ.
Christianity in it’s purest form is a faith of mercy. It shows God’s mercy toward mankind.
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16,17.
The Apostle Paul reminds us,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23,24.
He also states,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9.
Christianity is God reaching down to man and saying, I love you. Despite your short comings and problems I love you.
He calls out,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Think about it.
Friday, 11 April 2014
Weeds
Weeds
“Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.
When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
“ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
“ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them.
Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ”
Matthew 13:24-30
Here Jesus talks about the good seed and the bad seed and how its hard to tell them apart especially when they are just sprouts.
He again give an explanation for this parable Matthew recoding,
“Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.
The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.
The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.
They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.”
Matthew 13:36-43
Often in this world we cannot tell who is telling the truth about God and who isn’t.
We look in the churches and at those who claim to be Christians in the media both evangelist, pastors and others and they all look alike. It can be very hard to tell the real Christian from the fraud.
We have to look carefully at what is being said and evaluate it in accordance with God’s word the Bible.
It all comes down to what Jesus said,
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Matthew 7:22,23.
This is what Jesus is saying in the parable of the sower.
Think about it.
“Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.
When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
“ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
“ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them.
Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ”
Matthew 13:24-30
Here Jesus talks about the good seed and the bad seed and how its hard to tell them apart especially when they are just sprouts.
He again give an explanation for this parable Matthew recoding,
“Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.
The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.
The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.
They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.”
Matthew 13:36-43
Often in this world we cannot tell who is telling the truth about God and who isn’t.
We look in the churches and at those who claim to be Christians in the media both evangelist, pastors and others and they all look alike. It can be very hard to tell the real Christian from the fraud.
We have to look carefully at what is being said and evaluate it in accordance with God’s word the Bible.
It all comes down to what Jesus said,
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Matthew 7:22,23.
This is what Jesus is saying in the parable of the sower.
Think about it.
Thursday, 10 April 2014
Seeking Meaning
Seeking Meaning
“The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.
This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “ ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’
But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.
For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”
Matthew 13:10-17
Kenneth L. Barker in the Zonderban NIV study Bible copy right 2002 states,”Jesus used parables more extensively as a means of teaching. They were particularly effective and easy to remember because he used familiar scenes. Although parables clarified Jesus’ teaching, they also included hidden meanings needing further explanation. These hidden meanings challenged the sincerely interested to further inquiry, and taught truths that Jesus wanted to conceal from unbelievers. From parables Jesus’ enemies could find no direct statements to use against him.”
It’s interesting that today many hear and read the Bible but the majority of people fail to understand fully the truths therein.
I have spoken to many very well educated people who have read the Bible and know it’s content yet fail to fully comprehend the deep meaning inside. They see the Bible as a combination history and philosophy book and Jesus as a good moral teacher.
Most of these people are more interested in trying to find fault with the Bible than the truths it has for them. So called mistakes.
If there are mistakes with the Bible they are of man’s own doing.
When someone tells me the bible has mistakes or contradictions for the most part they can’t show them to me.
I do recognize that over the years so called Christian groups have interpreted the Bible with their own particular bent.
They have misinterpreted words and whole passages to conform it to their way of thinking. Such things are the only errors that occur. Man made errors.
The Bible interpreted correctly and in context has no contradictions or errors.
I have found over the years that those who truly are seeking God. Who are seeking a meaning for life do indeed search for the hidden truths in the Bible and ultimately find them.
They find the truths God wanted them to.
Being a Christian is a lifestyle. A way of life one cannot enter into half heartedly. It is a daily walk of faith. The writer of Hebrews noting
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
Think about it?
“The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.
This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “ ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’
But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.
For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”
Matthew 13:10-17
Kenneth L. Barker in the Zonderban NIV study Bible copy right 2002 states,”Jesus used parables more extensively as a means of teaching. They were particularly effective and easy to remember because he used familiar scenes. Although parables clarified Jesus’ teaching, they also included hidden meanings needing further explanation. These hidden meanings challenged the sincerely interested to further inquiry, and taught truths that Jesus wanted to conceal from unbelievers. From parables Jesus’ enemies could find no direct statements to use against him.”
It’s interesting that today many hear and read the Bible but the majority of people fail to understand fully the truths therein.
I have spoken to many very well educated people who have read the Bible and know it’s content yet fail to fully comprehend the deep meaning inside. They see the Bible as a combination history and philosophy book and Jesus as a good moral teacher.
Most of these people are more interested in trying to find fault with the Bible than the truths it has for them. So called mistakes.
If there are mistakes with the Bible they are of man’s own doing.
When someone tells me the bible has mistakes or contradictions for the most part they can’t show them to me.
I do recognize that over the years so called Christian groups have interpreted the Bible with their own particular bent.
They have misinterpreted words and whole passages to conform it to their way of thinking. Such things are the only errors that occur. Man made errors.
The Bible interpreted correctly and in context has no contradictions or errors.
I have found over the years that those who truly are seeking God. Who are seeking a meaning for life do indeed search for the hidden truths in the Bible and ultimately find them.
They find the truths God wanted them to.
Being a Christian is a lifestyle. A way of life one cannot enter into half heartedly. It is a daily walk of faith. The writer of Hebrews noting
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
Think about it?
Wednesday, 9 April 2014
An Admission
An Admission
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement!”
James 2:12,13.
I am the first to admit there are many Christians particularly in North America who at the very least don’t seem to be showing mercy to those outside what they consider to be Christianity.
I’ve heard the words spouted by some evangelist and pastors“homosexuals are going to hell” “people on welfare are lazy bums” “mental illness is a crutch” or worse “demon possession”.
In my opinion the people who are saying these things while they may be Christians by the slimmest of margins are not showing mercy.
Some Christians like to say hate the sin but love the sinner. Sadly when they express such a thing it is heard by the person as “I hate your sin therefore I hate you.”
Unfortunately Christians are human. They have human frailties and prejudges. Thus they have used the bible over the years to justify everything from slavery to war to capital punishment.
Sadly they have forgot the words of James quoted above,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement!”
It is the mercy of God Christians are called to present to the world. As a Christian I would ask the none-Christian world to forgive those who are constantly judging.
One day those who judge others will be judged by God. They will be held accountable for everyone they turned away from God.
I would ask however that those who are not of the Christian faith to take a good look at the Bible. Read particularly the New Testament.
The New Testament is truly a book of mercy. It is God reaching down to mankind and offering mankind a free gift of Eternal life for simple faith in His one and only Son Jesus Christ.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8.
All Christians will admit they are sinners, be they the pope, Billy Graham or the person sitting in the pew of some small church.
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17
If God did not send his Son into the World to condemn the world then no evangelist, preacher or priest has the right to judge the world.
What I would say to the non-Christian is to ask questions of Christians. Take time to go to a Church and engage the pastor in discussion about his or her beliefs.
I know Baptist churches, Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Churches are willing to answer any questions you might have.
Think about it.
Post script
For the record I do not attend a Baptist church or a Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Church at this time. I attend a small non-denominational church. However over the years I have attended churches from both groups and find them for the most part to be very open and honest with people who are truly searching for true spiritual truth.
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement!”
James 2:12,13.
I am the first to admit there are many Christians particularly in North America who at the very least don’t seem to be showing mercy to those outside what they consider to be Christianity.
I’ve heard the words spouted by some evangelist and pastors“homosexuals are going to hell” “people on welfare are lazy bums” “mental illness is a crutch” or worse “demon possession”.
In my opinion the people who are saying these things while they may be Christians by the slimmest of margins are not showing mercy.
Some Christians like to say hate the sin but love the sinner. Sadly when they express such a thing it is heard by the person as “I hate your sin therefore I hate you.”
Unfortunately Christians are human. They have human frailties and prejudges. Thus they have used the bible over the years to justify everything from slavery to war to capital punishment.
Sadly they have forgot the words of James quoted above,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement!”
It is the mercy of God Christians are called to present to the world. As a Christian I would ask the none-Christian world to forgive those who are constantly judging.
One day those who judge others will be judged by God. They will be held accountable for everyone they turned away from God.
I would ask however that those who are not of the Christian faith to take a good look at the Bible. Read particularly the New Testament.
The New Testament is truly a book of mercy. It is God reaching down to mankind and offering mankind a free gift of Eternal life for simple faith in His one and only Son Jesus Christ.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8.
All Christians will admit they are sinners, be they the pope, Billy Graham or the person sitting in the pew of some small church.
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17
If God did not send his Son into the World to condemn the world then no evangelist, preacher or priest has the right to judge the world.
What I would say to the non-Christian is to ask questions of Christians. Take time to go to a Church and engage the pastor in discussion about his or her beliefs.
I know Baptist churches, Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Churches are willing to answer any questions you might have.
Think about it.
Post script
For the record I do not attend a Baptist church or a Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Church at this time. I attend a small non-denominational church. However over the years I have attended churches from both groups and find them for the most part to be very open and honest with people who are truly searching for true spiritual truth.
Tuesday, 8 April 2014
If You
If You
Many non-Christians wonder quite often why we Christians are so firm in our beliefs? Why do we want to convert people?
Today Christianity is the largest religion in the world. It is also the most persecuted.
According to a report given to the British Parliament, one Christian dies for their faith every eleven minutes somewhere in the world. Never-the-less we Christians persist on taking our message to the world.
The reason we persist is simple we believe we have a great treasure.
Jesus said,
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”
Matthew 13:44-46.
Jesus also said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
John 3:16,17
We believe that God reached down to earth in love through His one and only Son Jesus Christ to reconcile us to himself.
I know to hear a lot of evangelist on television today one would think that God is a God that wheels a big stick ready to crack unbelievers over the head and toss them into hell.
To hear some preachers in the Media everyone is a dirty sinner going to hell.
That preacher that’s spouting hell fire and brimstone is as guilty of sin as anyone else in the world.
In fact it could be worse for him or her, because they may be judging the world something Jesus tells us not to do.
You See Christians have a job to do we are to go into all the world and present the love and mercy of God.
It is the job of the Holy Spirit to convict man of sin. NOT A PREACHER. God may use a preachers words. Still it is not the preachers job to convict men of sin.
We as Christians believe that we are on the right road. We believe the words of Jesus that there is only one way to heaven through Jesus Christ and his atoning death on the cross.
We believe that he died and rose again and lives forever. That He will one day judge the world.
He will judge it with justice for he and only he knows what goes on in a mans heart mind and soul.
The Psalmist wrote,
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”
Psalm 139:13.
God understands why we fall short of him and he offers us salvation as a free gift.
Paul writing to the Ephesians states,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9.
God knows there are many things in our lives that we cannot change that is why He sent Jesus into this world to pay the price for our falling short.
That’s why he didn’t ask us to do anything for our salvation except through faith believe in Him.
Do you believe in that Jesus is the Saviour of the world.
Think about it.
Many non-Christians wonder quite often why we Christians are so firm in our beliefs? Why do we want to convert people?
Today Christianity is the largest religion in the world. It is also the most persecuted.
According to a report given to the British Parliament, one Christian dies for their faith every eleven minutes somewhere in the world. Never-the-less we Christians persist on taking our message to the world.
The reason we persist is simple we believe we have a great treasure.
Jesus said,
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”
Matthew 13:44-46.
Jesus also said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
John 3:16,17
We believe that God reached down to earth in love through His one and only Son Jesus Christ to reconcile us to himself.
I know to hear a lot of evangelist on television today one would think that God is a God that wheels a big stick ready to crack unbelievers over the head and toss them into hell.
To hear some preachers in the Media everyone is a dirty sinner going to hell.
That preacher that’s spouting hell fire and brimstone is as guilty of sin as anyone else in the world.
In fact it could be worse for him or her, because they may be judging the world something Jesus tells us not to do.
You See Christians have a job to do we are to go into all the world and present the love and mercy of God.
It is the job of the Holy Spirit to convict man of sin. NOT A PREACHER. God may use a preachers words. Still it is not the preachers job to convict men of sin.
We as Christians believe that we are on the right road. We believe the words of Jesus that there is only one way to heaven through Jesus Christ and his atoning death on the cross.
We believe that he died and rose again and lives forever. That He will one day judge the world.
He will judge it with justice for he and only he knows what goes on in a mans heart mind and soul.
The Psalmist wrote,
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”
Psalm 139:13.
God understands why we fall short of him and he offers us salvation as a free gift.
Paul writing to the Ephesians states,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9.
God knows there are many things in our lives that we cannot change that is why He sent Jesus into this world to pay the price for our falling short.
That’s why he didn’t ask us to do anything for our salvation except through faith believe in Him.
Do you believe in that Jesus is the Saviour of the world.
Think about it.
Monday, 7 April 2014
The sign of Jonah
The sign of Jonah
“Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.”
He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.
The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here.
“When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.
Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order.
Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”
Matthew 12:38-45
Here the Pharisees and teachers wanted to see miraculous signs from Jesus. To which Jesus basically said no.
Instead he said they would only see the sign of Jonah who had spent three days in the belly of a big fish. This being a reference to Jesus spending three days in the tomb before rising again.
(Note that Jesus was according to Jewish reckoning of the day, actually three days in the tomb as they considered part of the day as a day. So using that way of reckoning Jesus was in the tomb part of the first day all of the second and part of the third, three days in all.)
He notes that “The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah”
“The Queen of the South (the queen of Sheba) will rise at the judgement with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom.”
The reason being, he Jesus is greater than Jonah or Solomon.
He goes on to say,
“When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.
Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order.
Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”
Simply put Jesus is saying that a person who gets his life in order who casts out the evil from his life but fails to put anything else in its place, in other words accept Christ into their life, the evil will return twice as bad.
He notes that this is how it will be for the entire generation.
Today our society is taking God out of the picture. It is trying to eliminate God from our way of life.
In doing so I believe it is removing a moral compass.
Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society. Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
God and the Bible lay down a moral compass for us to live by. They teach us how to live with and treat our fellow man.
Jesus said,
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
John10:10
To take God out of our society is to leave a vacuum than will ultimately lead to the down hill spiral of our society.
Think about it.
“Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.”
He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.
The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here.
“When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.
Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order.
Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”
Matthew 12:38-45
Here the Pharisees and teachers wanted to see miraculous signs from Jesus. To which Jesus basically said no.
Instead he said they would only see the sign of Jonah who had spent three days in the belly of a big fish. This being a reference to Jesus spending three days in the tomb before rising again.
(Note that Jesus was according to Jewish reckoning of the day, actually three days in the tomb as they considered part of the day as a day. So using that way of reckoning Jesus was in the tomb part of the first day all of the second and part of the third, three days in all.)
He notes that “The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah”
“The Queen of the South (the queen of Sheba) will rise at the judgement with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom.”
The reason being, he Jesus is greater than Jonah or Solomon.
He goes on to say,
“When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.
Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order.
Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”
Simply put Jesus is saying that a person who gets his life in order who casts out the evil from his life but fails to put anything else in its place, in other words accept Christ into their life, the evil will return twice as bad.
He notes that this is how it will be for the entire generation.
Today our society is taking God out of the picture. It is trying to eliminate God from our way of life.
In doing so I believe it is removing a moral compass.
Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society. Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
God and the Bible lay down a moral compass for us to live by. They teach us how to live with and treat our fellow man.
Jesus said,
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
John10:10
To take God out of our society is to leave a vacuum than will ultimately lead to the down hill spiral of our society.
Think about it.
Sunday, 6 April 2014
Jesus the Son of David
Jesus the Son of David
Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.
All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”
But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?
And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
“Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.
“He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.
And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned
Matthew 12:22-37
Here Jesus drives out evil spirits and the Pharisees accuse him of being “Beelzebub, the prince of demons,”
Jesus makes an important point that he couldn’t be Beelzebub because it would be counter productive for the prince of demons to cast out demons.
Jesus noting,
“And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”
Obviously the Pharisees were driving out demons in the name of God and it’s inferred that they are doing it in the name of God. Then why are they accusing him of doing it in the name of Satan when he’s giving God the glory.
He goes on to note that anyone who is against him pushes people away but those who are for him gather the lost.
He also notes,
“And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”
It’s controversial what the blaspheming the Holy Spirit is but one commentator I’ve read makes sense.
Kenneth L. Barker in Zondervan’s NIV Study Bible (2002) states, that from the text it,
“suggests that the unpardonable sin was attributing to Satan, Christ’s authenticating miracles done in the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Jesus goes on to note,
“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Ultimately all of us Christians and non Christians will have to stand and give an account of ourselves before God.
How will he judge you?
Think about it.
Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.
All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”
But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?
And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
“Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.
“He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.
And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned
Matthew 12:22-37
Here Jesus drives out evil spirits and the Pharisees accuse him of being “Beelzebub, the prince of demons,”
Jesus makes an important point that he couldn’t be Beelzebub because it would be counter productive for the prince of demons to cast out demons.
Jesus noting,
“And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”
Obviously the Pharisees were driving out demons in the name of God and it’s inferred that they are doing it in the name of God. Then why are they accusing him of doing it in the name of Satan when he’s giving God the glory.
He goes on to note that anyone who is against him pushes people away but those who are for him gather the lost.
He also notes,
“And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”
It’s controversial what the blaspheming the Holy Spirit is but one commentator I’ve read makes sense.
Kenneth L. Barker in Zondervan’s NIV Study Bible (2002) states, that from the text it,
“suggests that the unpardonable sin was attributing to Satan, Christ’s authenticating miracles done in the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Jesus goes on to note,
“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Ultimately all of us Christians and non Christians will have to stand and give an account of ourselves before God.
How will he judge you?
Think about it.
Saturday, 5 April 2014
Jesus Fulfils Prophesy
“But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick, warning them not to tell who he was.
This was to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him ,and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory.
In his name the nations will put their hope.”
Matthew 12:14-21.
Here Jesus knowing of the plot to kill him moves away but many followed them and he healed their sick. Warning them not to tell anyone who he was.
Matthew pointing out that this was the fulfilment of the prophesy by Isaiah.
Jesus wanted to be known as the Messiah not as a good man, not as a miracle worker.
Although he was all of those things. Jesus was first and foremost the suffering Messiah mentioned in Isaiah.
“See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
Just as there were many who were appalled at him—his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness— so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.
Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter ,and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it was the LORD'S will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
I know many especially in the Jewish community cannot accept that Jesus is the suffering Messiah mentioned in Isaiah. Still I would ask that you look at what Isaiah says and compare it to the life of Jesus.
At least read the New Testament gospels of Matthew Mark, Luke and John and
Think about it.
Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick, warning them not to tell who he was.
This was to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him ,and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory.
In his name the nations will put their hope.”
Matthew 12:14-21.
Here Jesus knowing of the plot to kill him moves away but many followed them and he healed their sick. Warning them not to tell anyone who he was.
Matthew pointing out that this was the fulfilment of the prophesy by Isaiah.
Jesus wanted to be known as the Messiah not as a good man, not as a miracle worker.
Although he was all of those things. Jesus was first and foremost the suffering Messiah mentioned in Isaiah.
“See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
Just as there were many who were appalled at him—his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness— so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.
Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter ,and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it was the LORD'S will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
I know many especially in the Jewish community cannot accept that Jesus is the suffering Messiah mentioned in Isaiah. Still I would ask that you look at what Isaiah says and compare it to the life of Jesus.
At least read the New Testament gospels of Matthew Mark, Luke and John and
Think about it.
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