tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2950322708049549922024-03-27T16:54:17.092-07:00The BattleYeshua is Lordrgoncehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11115453980069044809noreply@blogger.comBlogger165125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295032270804954992.post-76614011818418846792023-08-01T06:57:00.000-07:002023-08-01T06:57:09.181-07:00Thy Word<p> <a data-originalcomputedfontsize="24" data-removefontsize="true" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://youtu.be/a6LC8cu03Ig&source=gmail&ust=1690984425846000&usg=AOvVaw1TJrZbz7pjhw0w4V_ZHaYQ" href="https://youtu.be/a6LC8cu03Ig" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #4285f4; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 1.5rem; word-spacing: 1px;" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/a6LC8cu03Ig</a></p><h3 style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px; min-width: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><br /></h3><h3 style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px; min-width: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span data-originalcomputedfontsize="24" data-removefontsize="true" id="m_-4737712131084615814en-ESV-29847" style="font-size: 1.5rem;">All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God</span></h3><p dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" style="font-size: 1rem;"><span data-originalcomputedfontsize="19.200000762939453" data-originalfontsize="1.2rem" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2000000476837158rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">2 Tim 3:10 </span>You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,</span> <span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" id="m_-4737712131084615814en-ESV-29848" style="font-size: 1rem;"><span data-originalcomputedfontsize="19.200000762939453" data-originalfontsize="1.2rem" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2000000476837158rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">11 </span>my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.</span> <span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" id="m_-4737712131084615814en-ESV-29849" style="font-size: 1rem;"><span data-originalcomputedfontsize="19.200000762939453" data-originalfontsize="1.2rem" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2000000476837158rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">12 </span>Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,</span> <span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" id="m_-4737712131084615814en-ESV-29850" style="font-size: 1rem;"><span data-originalcomputedfontsize="19.200000762939453" data-originalfontsize="1.2rem" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2000000476837158rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">13 </span>while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.</span> <span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" id="m_-4737712131084615814en-ESV-29851" style="font-size: 1rem;"><span data-originalcomputedfontsize="19.200000762939453" data-originalfontsize="1.2rem" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2000000476837158rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">14 </span>But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom<span data-originalcomputedfontsize="10" data-originalfontsize="0.625em" style="display: inline; font-size: 0.625rem; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">[<a data-originalcomputedfontsize="10" data-removefontsize="true" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search%3D2%2520Timothy%25203%26version%3DESV%23fen-ESV-29851a&source=gmail&ust=1690984425846000&usg=AOvVaw1q6X0G3wq9xx-4ZgqXhhqb" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%203&version=ESV#fen-ESV-29851a" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #517e90; font-size: 0.625rem; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" target="_blank" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</span> you learned it</span> <span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" id="m_-4737712131084615814en-ESV-29852" style="font-size: 1rem;"><span data-originalcomputedfontsize="19.200000762939453" data-originalfontsize="1.2rem" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2000000476837158rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">15 </span>and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.</span> <span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" id="m_-4737712131084615814en-ESV-29853" style="font-size: 1rem;"><span data-originalcomputedfontsize="19.200000762939453" data-originalfontsize="1.2rem" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2000000476837158rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">16 </span>All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,</span> <span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" id="m_-4737712131084615814en-ESV-29854" style="font-size: 1rem;"><span data-originalcomputedfontsize="19.200000762939453" data-originalfontsize="1.2rem" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2000000476837158rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">17 </span>that the man of God<span data-originalcomputedfontsize="10" data-originalfontsize="0.625em" style="display: inline; font-size: 0.625rem; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">[<a data-originalcomputedfontsize="10" data-removefontsize="true" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search%3D2%2520Timothy%25203%26version%3DESV%23fen-ESV-29854b&source=gmail&ust=1690984425846000&usg=AOvVaw1-Q9aLmF_V7yMWIDmoIzGO" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%203&version=ESV#fen-ESV-29854b" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #517e90; font-size: 0.625rem; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" target="_blank" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</span> may be complete, equipped for every good work.</span></p><p dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" style="font-size: 1rem;"> The foundations of our faith are found in the Old Testament teaching and stories about God’s calling of His people. There are many stories that point directly to Jesus. I love these stories.</span></p><p dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; word-spacing: 1px;"></p><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><a data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://rgonce.blogspot.com/2013/03/pictures-of-salvation.html&source=gmail&ust=1690984425846000&usg=AOvVaw1fUGwgxJMVG-BTyof8dRfj" href="https://rgonce.blogspot.com/2013/03/pictures-of-salvation.html" style="color: #4285f4; font-size: 1rem;" target="_blank">https://rgonce.blogspot.com/<wbr></wbr>2013/03/pictures-of-salvation.<wbr></wbr>html</a></div>rgoncehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11115453980069044809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295032270804954992.post-71696431886136191932023-07-31T12:19:00.035-07:002023-07-31T12:44:02.695-07:00Fan into Flame<blockquote><strike><i><b></b></i></strike></blockquote>
Fan into flame the gift of God <div><br /></div><div> Fan into flame involves fanning hot coals, even adding charcoal fuel, so that the coals will flare into flame. If the coals are left untended, the fire will die.
So we ask what is the gift that we are to fire up and maintain? Surely we are talking about our love for God, which is demonstrated by our love for each other.
</div><div><br /></div><div>By this shall all know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” </div><div><br /></div><div> Guard the Deposit Entrusted to You
2 Tim 1
3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to[a] a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,[b] 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.[c] 13 Follow the pattern of the sound[d] words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you. </div><div><br /></div><div> Hebrews </div><div>Sacrifices Pleasing to God </div><div><br /></div><div> 13 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. 4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”
7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent[a] have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. </div><div><br /></div><div> 1 Timothy 4:13-15
English Standard Version
13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them,[a] so that all may see your progress.</div>rgoncehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11115453980069044809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295032270804954992.post-51238294589957356192022-10-18T11:05:00.088-07:002022-10-18T14:56:16.318-07:00The Upper Room<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GkuT-T50PvNc2KYbpk9T3SJ2ZPSN9-miGdeiDP6ZGByZrNIuBZWiO9mw9jGJYxViUAZ3vm8I6oV4_QiJCqZ8tq3UUWV6C8ZDxcDPCqngPgumTymsXY-Edcon-wLZLwS2q47_gYG4gIoR1LrVCiqiKPeugVIEfnR54cVj01ioqv4xrTHfBnR2mHVPQg/s3648/IMG_0294.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GkuT-T50PvNc2KYbpk9T3SJ2ZPSN9-miGdeiDP6ZGByZrNIuBZWiO9mw9jGJYxViUAZ3vm8I6oV4_QiJCqZ8tq3UUWV6C8ZDxcDPCqngPgumTymsXY-Edcon-wLZLwS2q47_gYG4gIoR1LrVCiqiKPeugVIEfnR54cVj01ioqv4xrTHfBnR2mHVPQg/w400-h300/IMG_0294.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Rowan, Oran, Linda, and myself were in the cabin on October 17, 2022, studying Acts chapter one and two. Previously we had studied the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Now we had come to Pentecost.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And to the upper room. </span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span class="text Acts-1-12" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">12 </span>Then <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-26924AC" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-26924AC" title="See cross-reference AC">AC</a>)" style="display: inline; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">(<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1&version=ESV#cen-ESV-26924AC" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See cross-reference AC">AC</a>)</span>they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away.</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Acts-1-13" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-ESV-26925" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">13 </span>And when they had entered, they went up to <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-26925AD" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-26925AD" title="See cross-reference AD">AD</a>)" style="display: inline; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">(<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1&version=ESV#cen-ESV-26925AD" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See cross-reference AD">AD</a>)</span>the upper room, where they were staying, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-26925AE" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-26925AE" title="See cross-reference AE">AE</a>)" style="display: inline; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">(<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1&version=ESV#cen-ESV-26925AE" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See cross-reference AE">AE</a>)</span>Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-26925AF" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-26925AF" title="See cross-reference AF">AF</a>)" style="display: inline; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">(<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1&version=ESV#cen-ESV-26925AF" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See cross-reference AF">AF</a>)</span>the Zealot and Judas the son of James.</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Acts-1-14" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-ESV-26926" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">14 </span>All these <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-26926AG" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-26926AG" title="See cross-reference AG">AG</a>)" style="display: inline; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">(<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1&version=ESV#cen-ESV-26926AG" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See cross-reference AG">AG</a>)</span>with one accord <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-26926AH" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-26926AH" title="See cross-reference AH">AH</a>)" style="display: inline; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">(<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1&version=ESV#cen-ESV-26926AH" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See cross-reference AH">AH</a>)</span>were devoting themselves to prayer, together with <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-26926AI" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-26926AI" title="See cross-reference AI">AI</a>)" style="display: inline; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">(<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1&version=ESV#cen-ESV-26926AI" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See cross-reference AI">AI</a>)</span>the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-26926AJ" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-26926AJ" title="See cross-reference AJ">AJ</a>)" style="display: inline; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">(<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1&version=ESV#cen-ESV-26926AJ" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See cross-reference AJ">AJ</a>)</span>his brothers.<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-ESV-26926c" data-link="[<a href="#fen-ESV-26926c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]" style="display: inline; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1&version=ESV#fen-ESV-26926c" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</span></span></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">Where is the upper room? It shows up as Jesus instructs the apostles about arranging a place for the Passover Supper on Wednesday. He told them to follow the man carrying a jar of water.</span></span></p><div class="bible-item-title-wrap col-sm-3" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #952004; flex: 1 1 20%; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 20px; max-width: 225px; min-width: 175px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding-right: 20px;"><div class="bible-item-title-wrap col-sm-3" style="box-sizing: border-box; flex: 1 1 20%; max-width: 225px; min-width: 175px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding-right: 20px;"><a class="bible-item-title" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2014%3A13&version=ESV" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #952004; font-size: 1.8rem; min-width: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Mark 14:13</a></div><div class="bible-item-text col-sm-9" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; flex: 1 1 80%; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; min-width: 0px;">And he sent two <span style="font-weight: bolder;">of</span> his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a <span style="font-weight: bolder;">jar</span> <span style="font-weight: bolder;">of</span> <span style="font-weight: bolder;">water</span> will meet you. Follow him,</div></div><div class="bible-item-title-wrap col-sm-3" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #952004; flex: 1 1 20%; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 20px; max-width: 225px; min-width: 175px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding-right: 20px;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2022%3A10&version=ESV">Luke 22:10</a><br /><span style="color: #2b00fe;">He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters</span><br />Mark 14:14-16<br /><br />English Standard Version<br /><br /><span style="color: #2b00fe;">14 and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2014%3A14%2D16&version=ESV#cen-ESV-24761A">A</a>)‘The Teacher says, Where is (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2014%3A14%2D16&version=ESV#cen-ESV-24761B">B</a>)my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 And he will show you (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2014%3A14%2D16&version=ESV#cen-ESV-24762C">C</a>)a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” 16 And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.</span></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The Passover with the Disciple</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">Matt 26:17 (</span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026&version=ESV#cen-ESV-24068X" style="font-size: large;">X</a><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">)Now on (</span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026&version=ESV#cen-ESV-24068Y" style="font-size: large;">Y</a><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">)the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, (</span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026&version=ESV#cen-ESV-24069Z" style="font-size: large;">Z</a><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">)‘The Teacher says, (</span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026&version=ESV#cen-ESV-24069AA" style="font-size: large;">AA</a><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">)My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The man carrying the jar of water suggests the Essene community, where the priests were celibate, and did their own works of service. I have visited the Essene community visitor center at Qumran, and observed their claims about connection with John the Baptist. Perhaps John had been excluded from the community because he had revealed the secrets of the community to outsiders, as he called all to repentance in preparation for the Kingdom.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.centuryone.org/essene.html" style="font-size: large;">http://www.centuryone.org/essene.html</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://theos-sphragis.info/essene_passover_dates.html" style="background-color: white;">http://theos-sphragis.info/essene_passover_dates.html</a></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The upper room then is a connector between Jesus and the legitimate Aaronic priesthood. Jesus and the apostles observed the Passover as commanded, and was crucified on Thursday by the illegitimate priesthood, dying at 3PM.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="text Isa-53-8" id="en-ESV-18720" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">8 </span>Isaiah 53 <span style="color: #2b00fe;">By oppression and judgment he was taken away;</span></span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-53-8" style="position: relative;">and as for his generation, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-18720P" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-18720P" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)" style="display: inline; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">(<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+53&version=ESV#cen-ESV-18720P" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)</span>who considered</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Isa-53-8" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">that he was cut off out of the land of the living,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-53-8" style="position: relative;">stricken for the transgression of my people?</span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><br /></p></div>rgoncehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11115453980069044809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295032270804954992.post-1837562201812744792022-10-18T09:09:00.004-07:002022-10-25T08:48:20.423-07:00Between the testaments<p> www.shevet.org</p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.shevet.org/?p%3D82859&source=gmail&ust=1666215249244000&usg=AOvVaw2H8qrx04HrULvu1xnrysB6" href="https://www.shevet.org/?p=82859" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" target="_blank">https://www.shevet.org/?p=<wbr></wbr>82859</a></p><h1 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 2.5em; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.333em; margin: 0.1em 0px;">Missing page between the testaments</h1><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Last updated on August 2nd, 2020</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;">I never paid much attention to the multiplying books and articles which claimed (or denied) links between the Essene community of the Dead Sea scrolls and the Jesus movement. I had an impression, gleaned largely via the media, that the Essenes were a strange, fanatical, isolated movement which could have little real impact on the mission of Jesus which was reaching its climax in Jerusalem during the same period.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;">But this year I began to read more about the first community of Jewish believers in Jesus which, according to good historical evidence, was birthed on the western hill of Jerusalem (“Mount Zion”) at Pentecost, and carried on there through the first few centuries AD. And then I learned that all this likely happened in the heart of an Essene Quarter which was within the walls of the city at that time.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">What?!?</span> This finally struck close to home. The life and work of our community has centered on Jerusalem for much of the past 30 years, and one of our favorite jogging routes goes right past the “Gate of the Essenes.” So over the last few months, and particularly the last two weeks of coronavirus quarantine, I’ve found opportunity to dip a toe in the sea of scholarship on this issue, in turns incredulous and inspired by what I’ve found.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">From the lineage of Zadok</strong></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;">So the first thing to know about the Essenes is that their formative leaders were priests from the lineage of Zadok. It was this Zadok whom David ordered in 1 Kings 1 to “Set my son Solomon on my own mule and take him down to Gihon…anoint him king over Israel. You are to blow the trumpet and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’” (Today when a king or queen is crowned in the UK, the coronation anthem is Handel’s beautiful “<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3Dzj65u_VY0uM&source=gmail&ust=1666195620803000&usg=AOvVaw3__on0yVU-0QDOZY_kJSfZ" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj65u_VY0uM" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333;" target="_blank">Zadok the Priest</a>.”)</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3Dzj65u_VY0uM&source=gmail&ust=1666195620803000&usg=AOvVaw3__on0yVU-0QDOZY_kJSfZ" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj65u_VY0uM" rel="attachment wp-att-82860" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" height="754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhcz8946PKNX81-nNmK8dLDtJYrjnbua0nphRh5PScL03BxgqK6chxPZ4_j5_3d4SBBwCZes3LttjG_T_jVoXqGg1tDkyubpTVVTeRdUsstl6Iw3qIevPgTOaUDdbsZKdzOXcpYLfRGOX7ItbFbuOd1k4gLDGfMThUDBlaO9Vru62A3i90Ii_2eXce64DH67w=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; float: left; height: auto; margin: 0px 1.5em 1.5em 0px; max-width: 100%;" width="1024" /></a></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;">Zadok’s line can be traced back to Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the firstborn son of Aaron. Phinehas stopped a plague by spearing an Israelite man and Moabite woman for their sexual immorality before the whole congregation in the wilderness, and was therefore in Numbers 25 given by the LORD “a covenant of permanent priesthood for him and his descendants, because he was zealous for his God and made atonement for the Israelites.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;">There was a competing line of priests, descending from Aaron’s young son Ithamar. We all remember Eli, who raised up the prophet Samuel and who was from this line. But since Eli did not restrain the evil practices of his own two sons, in 1 Samuel 2 a fateful word came from the LORD: “I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;">These amazing promises to Phinehas and to Eli both found fulfillment when Zadok became high priest, and the sons of his house indeed served after him for hundreds of years throughout the history of the first and second temples—until the time of the Maccabees circa 150 BC. At this point something happens that should deeply trouble all who cherish the promises of God: this long and glorious priesthood was usurped from the sons of Zadok by Hasmonean rulers, who set themselves up as both king and priest. The implications of this are staggering: the corrupt priesthood that we next meet in the pages of the gospels are in truth not the legitimate holders of that office, according to the ironclad testimony of the Hebrew bible itself.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;">And these appear to be the events that gave birth to the Essene movement. The legitimate Zadokite priest (possibly the “Teacher of Righteousness” known from the scrolls) is forced into exile by the “Wicked Priest” who misleads Israel and makes the temple worship illegitimate.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;">What’s clear to me at this point is that I’m with the Essenes! Anyone who loves the word of God, and the beautiful way his promises unfold over the centuries, cannot help but recognize that they’re the good guys in this story—and that they still have a divine appointment to go in and out before the anointed son of David when he finally arrives.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">John the Excommunicated Essene?</strong></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;">The herald of David’s son is John the Baptist, from none other than an Aaronic (likely Zadokite) priestly family. John of course is identified in the gospels with the very same words with which the Dead Sea scrolls identify the Qumran community: “A voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the LORD.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;">So naturally much speculation arose that John may have himself been an Essene. A better claim may be that he was a former Essene, quite possibly raised in the Qumran community, “in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel” (Luke 1:80), but pushed out precisely for going public with the community’s very private message of repentance leading to baptism. The Community Rule found in the first scrolls cave requires that an Essene “not rebuke the men of the Pit nor dispute with them. He shall conceal the teaching of the Law from men of injustice…”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;">But John took just the opposite approach. “All the country of Judea and all Jerusalem”–from Pharisees to tax collectors to soldiers–flocked to hear him say that it was not enough to be children of Abraham, they must change their lives and produce fruit in keeping with repentance. When John then baptized them he threw open the exclusive message of Qumran to the Jewish multitudes (much as Paul would later throw open the same message to the Gentiles).</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;">Is there though any evidence that this caused his break with the Essenes? Consider this insight from Steve Pfann, a brother here in Jerusalem who I now discover is also an oft-cited scrolls scholar:</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px; padding-left: 40px;">John’s diet is peculiarly close to that of previously excommunicated Essenes. Josephus notes: “Those who are caught in the act of committing grave faults are expelled from the order. The individual thus excluded often perishes, the prey to a most miserable fate; for bound by his oaths and customs he cannot even share the food of others. Reduced to eating grass, he perishes, his body dried up by hunger,” <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Wars </span>II.8.8.143.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px; padding-left: 40px;">Though prevented from partaking of the food of others, the resourceful ex-Essene could find sustenance in the desert. Locusts and grasshoppers (the only insects that weren’t forbidden, cf. Leviticus 11:20–23) are a noted food for desert dwellers, found in abundance in the Judean wilderness.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;">The Essenes also believed that the last days were at hand, and—in keeping with their belief in the ongoing validity of prophecy—several of the Dead Sea scrolls prophesied the final arrival of <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">two </span>anointed ones, one from the house of Aaron and one from the house of David, to usher in the kingdom of God. Could this not parallel Jesus’ affirmation that John had to come first–the Aaronic priest baptizing and anointing the Son of David, just as Zadok had done for Solomon a millennium before?</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Essenes on Mount Zion</strong></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;">Enter now Bargil Pixner, a Benedictine monk living in Dormition Abbey on Mount Zion in the 1970s. He picked up on Josephus’ obscure reference to a Gate of the Essenes on Mount Zion, set out looking for it, and <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://cts.vresp.com/c/?ShevetAchim/1556487336/ae6c093de7/6d450e8ada&source=gmail&ust=1666195620803000&usg=AOvVaw0eHnOtHWM7weVnWWezGI2L" href="https://cts.vresp.com/c/?ShevetAchim/1556487336/ae6c093de7/6d450e8ada" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333;" target="_blank">actually found it</a>. And as he began to reconstruct the history of Mount Zion in the first century, a picture emerged of a substantial community of Essenes–many of them priestly sons of Zadok–living there in their own quarter. (Josephus reports that Essene communities were found in every city in this period, totaling 4000 members compared to 6000 Pharisees).</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;">For me this was the <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Why have I never heard this before? </span>moment. The implications, many of them spelled out in the <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://cts.vresp.com/c/?ShevetAchim/1556487336/ae6c093de7/77e1d8283d&source=gmail&ust=1666195620803000&usg=AOvVaw1_45Oi-WQNNevb8X5_K-M2" href="https://cts.vresp.com/c/?ShevetAchim/1556487336/ae6c093de7/77e1d8283d" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333;" target="_blank">pioneering work of religious studies professor Elizabeth McNamer</a>, are potentially profound for the history of Pentecost and the first community of Jewish believers in Jerusalem.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;">The traditional site of the Last Supper is on Mount Zion, next to the traditional (and disputed) site of David’s tomb. Did the Essenes establish their community there in honor of David, who confirmed and established their priestly line? And when the gospels tell us Jesus directed his disciples to go into the city and find “the upper room” where they could gather, did he send them intentionally to these friendly sons of Zadok, who had in each city an official in charge of hospitality for like-minded pious believers? (One theory holds that the “man carrying a water jar” was not a secret sign, but simply one of the celibate Essenes, since in other Jewish communities this was woman’s work).</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;">Consider these findings from German pastor and theologian Rainer Riesner:</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px; padding-left: 40px;">After the ascension, according to Acts 1:13, the disciples gathered in ‘the upper room’ (the <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">huperóon</span>) somewhere in Jerusalem. The use of the definite article suggests that Luke has in view a specific room. This would not be astonishing if, indeed, he had been a visitor to Jerusalem… Upper rooms are mentioned in the Stobi inscription as part of a synagogue building. Upper rooms appear also in the Rabbinic literature as a preferred meeting place of teachers. It seems that the upper room at Jerusalem where a rather large community met (cf. Acts 1:15) was in the eyes of Luke some kind of Christian synagogue… it is interesting to note that Jesus asks for a guest room (<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">kataluma </span>in Mk. 14:14//Lk. 22:11), a word also mentioned in the Theodotus inscription as part of a synagogue.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;">So here are solid archeological inferences that the upper room of our gospels may have been a large room set aside for such meetings in a synagogue. And who would have maintained such a facility in the Essene quarter?</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;">It was to this same upper room, according to the book of Acts, that the disciples returned after the ascension of Jesus to wait and pray. And it was there that the Holy Spirit fell on Pentecost. The city would have at least tripled in population on this feast day, and the Essene quarter filled with Essenes from across the Jewish world. So who were the people who rushed together at the strange sound, who heard the preaching of Peter (which focused on the tomb of David), were cut to the heart, and 3000 were baptized? Who were the “great number of priests” who we find in Acts chapter 6 had become obedient to the faith? Were they Sadducees and Pharisees? Or is it much more likely they were Essenes–sons of Zadok–primed and ready for the gospel since they’d already lost their positions in the temple due to their faithfulness to the word of God?</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;">Shouldn’t there then be some specific reference to them in the gospels and book of Acts? Well, even in the Dead Sea Scrolls they never identify themselves by name. It was others who called them Essenes, possibly derived from the Hebrew <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Osim</span>, those who not only hear the word of God but <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">do</span> it. One suggestion is that the Essenes do appear in the New Testament under the description “devout men,” such as Simeon who received newborn Jesus in the temple in Luke 2, those Jews gathered in Acts 2:5 at Pentecost, those who buried Stephen in Acts 8:2, and even in Acts 22:12 Ananias who prayed to restore Paul’s sight after his Damascus road encounter.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;">Let’s consider also one of the greatest challenges for those who trust in the faithfulness of all four gospel accounts of Jesus’ final days. Students have long been puzzled how to reconcile the synoptic gospels, which picture Jesus arrested on the night of the Passover meal, with John’s gospel, which seems to already place the death of Jesus at the hour that the Passover lambs were sacrificed. What the Dead Sea scrolls have shown is that one of the chief complaints of the Essenes was that the illegitimate temple authorities had misled Israel by corrupting the times of the feasts. The Essenes insisted that the true Passover according to the Torah begins each year on Tuesday at sunset. <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">If </span>Jesus and his disciples were close to the Essene community, and hosted by them in the upper room, it would indeed follow that their festive meal would have fallen a day or two earlier than the date fixed by the temple authorities. John then describes the chronology of the week according to the Essene calendar, and the synoptics according to the calendar of the temple. A farfetched fringe theory? I was surprised to see the scholarly Pope Benedict XVI wholeheartedly embraced it in his <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/homilies/2007/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20070405_coena-domini.html&source=gmail&ust=1666195620803000&usg=AOvVaw2oOHcn9YZGeJ6ChfmF4L4x" href="http://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/homilies/2007/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20070405_coena-domini.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333;" target="_blank">Passover homily in 2007</a>.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;">The story continues. Strong tradition holds that Mary, the mother of Jesus, remained in that Essene community on Mount Zion for the rest of her life (the huge Abbey of the Dormition where Pixner served was built to commemorate her passing). Her son James, the brother of Jesus, emerged there as the recognized leader of the Jewish believers in Jerusalem. Learned scholars such as Lightfoot believe that the Essenes were largely absorbed into this emerging movement; Mount Zion remained its home base–distinct from the growing Gentile church–into the third or fourth century.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Missing Page between the Testaments </strong></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;">Most of us reading this are Gentile followers of Jesus, and we may find that this potential Essene connection sheds wonderful light on the background of our faith. Yet it’s nothing revolutionary or life-changing for us.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;">But what about the people of Israel, whose very identity has been shaped by fidelity to the Torah through millenia, often at great cost. What if they were to understand that Jesus was likely embraced as Messiah by the legitimate Davidic priesthood? That it is he who represents continuity with the Torah and the prophets and the hope and promises of Israel? As Disraeli used to say about himself, the Essenes could be called a “missing page between the Old and New Testaments.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;">That is exciting to me.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;">And what about that mother synagogue/church on Mount Zion, exercising authority in the first century over believers worldwide, in Acts 15 freeing the Gentiles from the full yoke of the Torah, yet continuing themselves to be “all zealous for the Torah” (Acts 21:20)? What if their voice could be recovered—would it speak to the people of Israel today with the same piercing vibrancy that it did in the first century?</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;">To this question we must next turn our attention.</p><div><br /></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-size: small;"></span>rgoncehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11115453980069044809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295032270804954992.post-87328182483960534022021-02-15T15:17:00.002-08:002021-02-15T17:57:22.174-08:00Letter from Jerusalem #7<span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">We need a return to Jerusalem, a fresh look at the teaching and unity that Jesus called for in His prayer, John 17. We need a letter from Jerusalem calling us back to the unity that is in Yeshua, the Messiah.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The Apostles are no longer physically living in Jerusalem, but we still have their teaching recorded in scripture. And God has sent His Holy Spirit to encourage His children, all who have been born again through the gospel of Jesus Christ, Yeshua Messiah.<br /><br />This information age provides more access for knowing and communicating with each other. Can we use it to encourage each other to go back to Jerusalem, to look afresh at the unity that is in Jesus?</span></span></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If we could consult the Apostles today, what would they write as practical advice to help us escape division and return to the unity that is in Jesus.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps they would remind us of what it was like when the Kingdom of God was first established at Jerusalem.</span></span></div><br />Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.<br /><br /></span><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The Fellowship of the Believers<br /><br />42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2&version=ESV#fen-ESV-26981d">d</a>] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">So the believers had great fellowship and unity at the beginning, helping and sharing with each other as needed. The ekklesia is described as all in every place who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. </span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">1 C</span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">or 1:1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,</span><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:<br /><br />3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">But as the fellowship spread beyond Jerusalem to the other areas of the world, problems developed. Believers began to make distinctions based upon their Bible teacher.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Divisions in the Church<br /><br />1 Cor 1: 10 I appeal to you, brothers,[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians+1&version=ESV#fen-ESV-28357a">a</a>] by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. </span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” </span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? </span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Christ is not meant to be divided. We believers are to be many members in one body. We are baptized into one body and made to drink of one spirit, the Holy Spirit.</span><br /><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">One Body with Many Members<br /><br />1 Cor 12:12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+cor12+&version=ESV#fen-ESV-28631d">d</a>] or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.</span></div></div></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">What happened? There are so many divisions and groups, within the proclaimed believer community today, that it is impossible to keep up with all the names and issues. There was a falling away from true faith in Jesus that began in the time of the Apostles.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Apostasy">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Apostasy</a></span></div><div><br /></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />The Man of Lawlessness<br /><br />2 Thes 2 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers,[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Thes+2&version=ESV#fen-ESV-29646a">a</a>] 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Thes+2&version=ESV#fen-ESV-29648b">b</a>] is revealed, the son of destruction,[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Thes+2&version=ESV#fen-ESV-29648c">c</a>] 4 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. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.</span><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">One of the early divisions among believers developed over different teaching about the nature of Jesus Christ. Some denied the humanity of Jesus, and taught that He is a created divine being. This was countered by those who emphasized the humanity of Jesus, as Son of David, promised Messiah, conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born to Mary.</span></div><div><br /></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Walking in Truth and Love<br /><br />2 John 4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. 5 And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20John%201&version=ESV#fen-ESV-30637a">a</a>] have worked for, but may win a full reward. 9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.</span></span><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So some teaching is critical to unity. It does matter what we believe and teach. We must abide in the teaching of Christ. But how can we define the teaching of Christ?</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This is a link to a basic short course on understanding God's word. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="http://ibsresources.org/courses/understanding/understanding.shtml">http://ibsresources.org/courses/understanding/understanding.shtml</a></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We must return to Jerusalem, and understand the scriptures in their Jewish context. Greek logic and proof text arguments based on texts taken out of context must be subjected to the overwhelming revelation of texts in context, all the narratives of scripture put side by side and compared. Jesus taught in parables. Parallel study, comparing things side by side, and reviewing related teaching, will help establish the teaching of Jesus and the Apostles.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The actual, factual teaching of the Bible is our source of unity in teaching. Do not follow great teachers, but put our faith completely in Jesus and what He taught.</span></div>rgoncehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11115453980069044809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295032270804954992.post-28711850713677875442021-02-08T15:10:00.005-08:002021-02-11T14:48:40.551-08:00Letter from Jerusalem #6<p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">We need a return to Jerusalem, a fresh look at the teaching and unity that Jesus called for in His prayer, John 17. We need a letter from Jerusalem calling us back to the unity that is in Yeshua, the Messiah.</span></span></p><p><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The Apostles are no longer physically living in Jerusalem, but we still have their teaching recorded in scripture. And God has sent His Holy Spirit to encourage His children, all who have been born again through the gospel of Jesus Christ, Yeshua Messiah.<br /><br />This information age provides more access for knowing and communicating with each other. Can we use it to encourage each other to go back to Jerusalem, to look afresh at the unity that is in Jesus?</span></span></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">If we could consult the Apostles today, what would they write as practical advice to help us know the role of immersion in water by the authority of Jesus for our salvation?</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Perhaps they would first remind us of the washings for ritual cleansing required under the Law of Moses, and ask us to understand that the water did not remove the uncleanness, but that it was a person's respect for the command of the Law that caused God to </span><span style="font-family: arial;">accept the person as clean.</span></span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">From Jewish Virtual Library</span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #e69138;"> ABLUTION (Heb. טְבִילָה; "immersion"), act of washing performed to correct a condition of ritual impurity and restore the impure to a state of ritual purity. The ritually impure (or unclean) person is prohibited from performing certain functions and participating in certain rites. Ablution, following a withdrawal period and, in some cases, other special rituals, renders him again "clean" and permitted to perform those acts which his impurity had prevented. Ablution must not be confused with washing for the sake of cleanliness. This is evident from the requirement that the body be entirely clean before ablution (Maim., Yad, Mikva'ot 11:16), but there may nevertheless be some symbolic connection. The ablutions, as well as the impurities which they were deemed to remove, were decreed by biblical law, and understood by the rabbis in religious and not in hygienic or magical terms. This is shown by R. Johanan b. Zakkai's retort to his disciples who had questioned an explanation he gave to a non-Jew about ritual purity: "'The dead do not contaminate and the water does not purify.' It is a command (gezeirah) of God and we have no right to question it" </span></span><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">(Num. R. 19:4).</span><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Because of the immersion required under the Law of Moses, the people of Israel were familiar with immersion being connected with ritual cleanness. Therefore, when John the Baptist came preaching repentance in preparation for the coming Kingdom of God, he immersed those who believed his message in the Jordan River.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">He also immersed Jesus, who is the King of the Kingdom. Jesus was showing His submission to His Father, and He was acknowledged by His Father at the time of His immersion.</span></div><div><br /></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The Baptism of Jesus<br /><br />Mat 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him,[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%203&version=ESV#fen-ESV-23209c">c</a>] and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son,[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%203&version=ESV#fen-ESV-23210d">d</a>] with whom I am well pleased.”</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The disciples of Jesus also practiced the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins in preparation for the then coming Kingdom. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">John 4 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3 he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. </span><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">But the baptism of repentance and forgiveness of sins in preparation for the coming Kingdom is different from the baptism preached by Peter on the day of Pentecost. Baptism in the name of Jesus, (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), is part of obeying the gospel, as Paul taught clearly.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Rom 10:11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”<br /><br />14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+10&version=ESV#fen-ESV-28187c">c</a>] And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.</span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Paul had written earlier in chapter six about the relationship between the gospel and immersion. A penitent sinner who has repented, died to sin, is buried with Jesus by baptism into death, and raised from the death by the glory of the Father. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Dead to Sin, Alive to God<br /><br />Rom 6 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.<br /><br />5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+6&version=ESV#fen-ESV-28059a">a</a>] was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+6&version=ESV#fen-ESV-28060b">b</a>] from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">So we bury a person who has died in his relationship to God because of the sin that separates one from God. God grants forgiveness of sins and gives new life because the recipient has put his/her trust in Him, through faith in the blood shed by Jesus on the cross.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Perhaps part of the reason for putting off water immersion until a convenient time is because it takes some planning and effort to immerse the believer in water. It is easier to have them pray a prayer for which there is no commandment in scripture, and arrange the baptism for a convenient time. So an assumption is made that justification is by faith without water baptism, and the immersion becomes a symbol of something that already happened. Yes, baptism is a symbol of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. But the converting sinner is to have his/her place in that burial. We bury dead people.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">How were three thousand people immersed on the Day of Pentecost following their response to Peter preaching the gospel? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The sermon took place in the morning. After the response to Peter's preaching, likely the responders went with Peter, the Apostles, and other disciples down to the Pool of Siloam.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://tulsaworld.com/archive/biblical-pool-of-siloam-is-discovered/article_96e03529-d904-5a8d-828e-7ae9b7b07eb8.html#:">https://tulsaworld.com/archive/biblical-pool-of-siloam-is-discovered/article_96e03529-d904-5a8d-828e-7ae9b7b07eb8.html#:</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The pool was 225 ft long with hewn stone steps on three sides. Seventy disciples of Jesus and the Apostles had been practicing immersion of preparation for the coming kingdom. Now they were to immerse penitent believers who had confessed that Jesus is the Christ in His name, by the authority of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">There was ample room in the pool for eighty people to do the immersing, as believers waded out to them in the pool.. So each baptizer would have helped about forty people with their immersion. Three thousand could have easily been baptized within three hours. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">As we study the book of Acts, we find that when people confirmed their faith that Jesus is the Son of God, arrangements were made for their immersion that same day. Why was the timing important? Because you bury dead people, and you want them to have life as soon as possible. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">No, the water does not take away the sins. The scriptures do not teach ritual baptismal regeneration. But Jesus and the Apostles commanded immersion in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, so the one who has faith does it. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">God keeps His promises. </span></div>rgoncehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11115453980069044809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295032270804954992.post-21452949887070092021-02-04T13:35:00.001-08:002021-02-04T13:39:37.691-08:00Letter from Jerusalem #5<p style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We need a return to Jerusalem, a fresh look at the teaching and unity that Jesus called for in His prayer, John 17. We need a letter from Jerusalem calling us back to the unity that is in Yeshua, the Messiah.</span></p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />The Apostles are no longer physically living in Jerusalem, but we still have their teaching recorded in scripture. And God has sent His Holy Spirit to encourage His children, all who have been born again through the gospel of Jesus Christ, Yeshua Messiah.<br /><br />This information age provides more access for knowing and communicating with each other. Can we use it to encourage each other to go back to Jerusalem, to look afresh at the unity that is in Jesus?</span></span><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">If we could consult the Apostles today, what would they write as practical advice to help us know the place of the great confession in our salvation?</span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Perhaps they would remind us of the time when Jesus asked His disciples about what others were saying about Him, and then asked Peter about what he thought.</span></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><br /></div>Matt 16:13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+16&version=ESV#fen-ESV-23690b">b</a>] I will build my church, and the gates of hell[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+16&version=ESV#fen-ESV-23690c">c</a>] shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+16&version=ESV#fen-ESV-23691d">d</a>] in heaven.” </span><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Yes, Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Upon this confession, upon this cornerstone, God built His house. Upon the fact of Jesus being the Christ, the Son of God, He built His called out people. The Greek word Ekklesia is translated assembly or congregation. It refers to God's people who have been called out from the world into fellowship in the Body of Jesus.</span></p><p><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/definition-ekklesia.html">https://www.gotquestions.org/definition-ekklesia.html</a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Our personal confession before witnesses that we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, is a central part in our being called by the gospel for salvation.</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Rom 10:8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”</span></p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+10&version=ESV#fen-ESV-28187c">c</a>] And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.</span><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><i><u>"if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." </u></i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">"If" sounds conditional. As Paul explains, "they have not all obeyed the gospel."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">How can Paul be talking about obeying the gospel? The gospel is the good news that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and raised the third day, winning the victory over sin and death.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The Resurrection of Christ<br /><br />1 Cor 15 Now I would remind you, brothers,[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15&version=ESV#fen-ESV-28703a">a</a>] of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.<br /><br />3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.</span><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">But Paul says we are being saved if we hold fast to the word preached by Jesus and the Apostles. Salvation is conditional upon fidelity. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Matt 10:32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>rgoncehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11115453980069044809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295032270804954992.post-62864658598356748112021-02-03T08:37:00.003-08:002021-02-03T11:45:15.750-08:00Letter from Jerusalem #4<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">We need a return to Jerusalem, a fresh look at the teaching and unity that Jesus called for in His prayer, John 17. We need a letter from Jerusalem calling us back to the unity that is in Yeshua, the Messiah.</span></span></p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />The Apostles are no longer physically living in Jerusalem, but we still have their teaching recorded in scripture. And God has sent His Holy Spirit to encourage His children, all who have been born again through the gospel of Jesus Christ, Yeshua Messiah.<br /><br />This information age provides more access for knowing and communicating with each other. Can we use it to encourage each other to go back to Jerusalem, to look afresh at the unity that is in Jesus?</span></span><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">If we could consult the Apostles today, what would they write as practical advice to help us understand the role of repentance in our salvation?</span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">They would remind us that Jesus taught repentance as a personal responsibility. Neither our sins nor Adam's sin removes us from personal responsibility before God, but our sin separates us from God and calls out the need for our return to Him. Repentance is returning to trust in God.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Repent or Perish<br /><br />Luke 13 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”</span><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Yes, Jesus taught repentance for those who want salvation. This is at the heart of the message of the gospel, which calls all who want salvation to change their direction, stop moving away from God, and move back toward God. Thus Jesus emphasized repentance in the gospel message, repentance for the forgiveness of sins. <br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Luke 24:45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for[</span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24&version=ESV#fen-ESV-26028c" style="font-family: arial;">c</a><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">] the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Remember the words of Peter in Acts 2, after the Holy Spirit had come on him? When asked by believers "What shall we do?" he told them to repent and be immersed in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Repentance brings us to Jesus for salvation through the new birth, and repentance must be a constant part of our lives as we follow Jesus. We are promised that if we confess our sins and pray for forgiveness, we will be continually cleansed by the blood of Jesus. </span></p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+5&version=ESV#fen-ESV-30354b">b</a>] 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br />Walking with Him requires a constant desire to please Him rather than pleasing our human tendencies. When we find ourselves making wrong choices or thinking wrong thoughts, repent and pray.<br /></span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />Walking in the Light<br /><br />1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.</span></div>rgoncehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11115453980069044809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295032270804954992.post-83397430126489223412021-01-30T15:08:00.004-08:002021-01-30T17:24:58.378-08:00Letter from Jerusalem #3<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> <span style="background-color: white;">We need a return to Jerusalem, a fresh look at the teaching and unity that Jesus called for in His prayer, John 17. We need a letter from Jerusalem calling us back to the unity that is in Yeshua, the Messiah.</span></span></p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />The Apostles are no longer physically living in Jerusalem, but we still have their teaching recorded in scripture. And God has sent His Holy Spirit to encourage His children, all who have been born again through the gospel of Jesus Christ, Yeshua Messiah.<br /><br />This information age provides more access for knowing and communicating with each other. Can we use it to encourage each other to go back to Jerusalem, to look afresh at the unity that is in Jesus?</span></span><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">If we could consult the Apostles today, what would they write as practical advice to solve the divisions about understanding the role of faith in salvation? </span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Yes, they would likely say that we are saved by grace through faith, not of works. so that we cannot boast that we earned salvation. But they would want us to understand what faith is. For that understanding, they would send us back to the Scriptures for stories about faith, as the author did in the letter to the Hebrews, chapter 11.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />By Faith<br /><br />Heb 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.<br /><br />4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.<br /><br />8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.<br /><br />13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.<br /><br />17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20 By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.<br /><br />23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.<br /><br />29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.<br /><br />32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two,[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2011&version=ESV#fen-ESV-30193a">a</a>] they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.<br /><br /></span><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. </span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The word in Greek (fid) that is translated faith means trust, loyalty, and fidelity. The word focuses more on action than it does on thought. Just thinking in our minds that something is true is not faith. Faith involves putting our trust in the thing we believe.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Thus James, brother of Jesus, wrote this about faith. </span></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />Faith Without Works Is Dead<br /><br />James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2&version=ESV#fen-ESV-30293b">b</a>] is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.<br /><br />18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.</span><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Fidelity and trust involve action. This is why there is no live faith separate from works. But the works do not earn salvation. Faith produces work, because when we trust, we respect what He teaches. Jesus says that we should go and make disciples, immersing them and teaching them to observe all that Jesus taught.</span></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />The Great Commission<br /><br />16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28&version=ESV#fen-ESV-24211b">b</a>] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”</span><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The Apostles never taught a believer to say the "Sinner's Prayer" as the response of faith to hearing and believing the gospel. The Apostles never taught that one is hindered by "original sin" from hearing and responding to the gospel. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://rgonce.blogspot.com/2013/02/sinners-prayer.html">https://rgonce.blogspot.com/2013/02/sinners-prayer.html</a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">As Mark wrote, <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Mark 16:</span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">15 And he (Jesus) said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. <br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></div>rgoncehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11115453980069044809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295032270804954992.post-2598932966354521562021-01-29T15:00:00.001-08:002021-01-29T15:12:30.855-08:00Letter from Jerusalem #2<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">We need a return to Jerusalem, a fresh look at the teaching and unity that Jesus called for in His prayer, John 17. We need a letter from Jerusalem calling us back to the unity that is in Yeshua, the Messiah.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">The Apostles are no longer physically living in Jerusalem, but we still have their teaching recorded in scripture. And God has sent His Holy Spirit to encourage His children, all who have been born again through the gospel of Jesus Christ, Yeshua Messiah.<br /><br />This information age provides more access for knowing and communicating with each other. Can we use it to encourage each other to go back to Jerusalem, to look afresh at the unity that is in Jesus?</span></span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">If we could consult the Apostles today, what would they write as practical advice to solve the divisions about understanding the Kingdom of God?</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Perhaps they would remind us of what Jesus said about the Kingdom,</span></span><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">John 18:</span></span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” </span><br /></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And the Apostles might remind us that the prophet Daniel predicted the time that the kingdom would be established, </span></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Dan 2:44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”</span><div><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">In the days of the Roman Empire kings, God will set up His kingdom. We know the history, how Augustus became the first Caesar of the Roman Empire, </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustus">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustus</a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">during the time that Jesus was born. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Tiberius was the second Roman Emperor,</span></div><div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustus">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustus</a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">and ruled at the time the Kingdom was established on the Day of Pentecost, AD 30.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The Apostles and Elders at Jerusalem would want us to remember that Jesus taught that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand when He began His ministry. </span></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />Jesus Begins His Ministry<br /><br />Matt 4:12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:<br /><br />15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,<br /> the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—<br />16 the people dwelling in darkness<br /> have seen a great light,<br />and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,<br /> on them a light has dawned.”<br /><br />17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+4&version=ESV#fen-ESV-23227a">a</a>]</span><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Also they might remind us of what Jesus told Peter upon the occasion of Peter making the great confession. </span></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ<br /><br />Matt 16:13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+16&version=ESV#fen-ESV-23690b">b</a>] I will build my church, and the gates of hell[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+16&version=ESV#fen-ESV-23690c">c</a>] shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+16&version=ESV#fen-ESV-23691d">d</a>] in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.</span><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Peter used the keys to the kingdom on the day of Pentecost, after the promised Holy Spirit had come on the Apostles who were gathered at the Temple in Jerusalem. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />The Coming of the Holy Spirit<br /><br /><br />Acts 2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2&version=ESV#fen-ESV-26941a">a</a>] on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.<br /><br />5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”</span><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Peter's Sermon at Pentecost<br /><br />14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2&version=ESV#fen-ESV-26953b">b</a>] 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:<br /><br /><br />17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,<br />that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,<br />and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,<br /> and your young men shall see visions,<br /> and your old men shall dream dreams;<br />18 even on my male servants and female servants<br /> in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.<br />19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above<br /> and signs on the earth below,<br /> blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;<br />20 the sun shall be turned to darkness<br /> and the moon to blood,<br /> before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.<br />21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’<br /><br />22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus,[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2&version=ESV#fen-ESV-26961c">c</a>] delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him,<br /><br /><br />“‘I saw the Lord always before me,<br /> for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;<br />26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;<br /> my flesh also will dwell in hope.<br />27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,<br /> or let your Holy One see corruption.<br />28 You have made known to me the paths of life;<br /> you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’<br /><br />29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,<br /><br /><br />“‘The Lord said to my Lord,<br />“Sit at my right hand,<br />35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’<br /><br />36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”<br /><br />37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.<br />The Fellowship of the Believers<br /><br /><br />42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2&version=ESV#fen-ESV-26981d">d</a>] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div>rgoncehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11115453980069044809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295032270804954992.post-9771085930768039512021-01-27T10:41:00.003-08:002021-01-27T10:54:13.216-08:00Letter from Jerusalem<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">Acts 15:23 “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers[<a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">c</a>] who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. 24 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you[<a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">d</a>] with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 25 it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”<br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">This letter, sent from the Apostles and Elders at Jerusalem, to the Gentile churches, gave practical advice about how Gentile believers should behave with regard to the influence of idolatry in their culture. While Gentile believers were not required to keep the Law of Moses, they were to respect God’s teaching for righteous conduct. <br /><br /><br />Apostle Paul teaches about this in his letter to the Roman believers, Rom 14, teaching that we should be concerned about how others believe regarding dietary rules, and be careful that we do not offend others for the sake of food and drink. Our concern for each other should be more important than what is lawful for us.</span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">So from the beginning the peace and unity of the believer community (those who believe and follow Yeshua, Son of God, and Messiah) has been threatened by arguments about what is lawful. </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">J</span><span style="font-size: large;">esus prayed for unity among those who believe in Him. John 17:20<span style="color: #2b00fe;"> “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”</span><br /></span><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Jesus’ prayer for unity focused on faith and love. From the beginning, the unity of believers has been disrupted by teachers focusing on what they know from a human perspective. Pride in human reasoning which led to division and apostasy violated the unity pleas of Jesus. <br /><br />We need a return to Jerusalem, a fresh look at the teaching and unity that Jesus called for in His prayer. We need a letter from Jerusalem calling us back to the unity that is in Yeshua, the Messiah.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The Apostles are no longer physically living in Jerusalem, but we still have their teaching recorded in scripture. And God has sent His Holy Spirit to encourage His children, all who have been born again through the gospel of Jesus Christ, Yeshua Messiah. <br /><br />This information age provides more access for knowing and communicating with each other. Can we use it to encourage each other to go back to Jerusalem, to look afresh at the unity that is in Jesus?<br /></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" class="cf gJ" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; margin-top: 0px; width: auto;"><tbody style="display: block;"><tr class="acZ" style="display: flex; height: auto;"><td class="gF gK" style="display: block; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; max-height: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 636.141px;"><table cellpadding="0" class="cf ix" style="border-collapse: collapse; table-layout: fixed; width: 636px;"><tbody></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>rgoncehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11115453980069044809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295032270804954992.post-77387742504322370972021-01-18T13:29:00.003-08:002021-01-18T13:36:57.296-08:00Pride and Fall<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Pride comes before fall. This saying has been claimed by the folks of Appalachia, and I have heard it extensively since my childhood. Ever time I heard Trump boast about himself, my self drew up a bit. But even a proud man can accomplish some </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">good things before his fall..</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Nebuchadnezzar witnessed the power of God, and commanded his people to worship God.</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Nebuchadnezzar Praises God</span></p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />Dan 4 [<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%204&version=ESV#fen-ESV-21839a">a</a>] King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.<br /><br /><br />3 How great are his signs,<br /> how mighty his wonders!<br />His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,<br /> and his dominion endures from generation to generation.</span><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">But King Nebuchadnezzar got carried away with his human pride, and obsessed about his greatness.</span></p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />Nebuchadnezzar's Humiliation<br /><br />Daniel 4:28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” </span><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">31 While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” </span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">3</span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">3 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Nebuchadnezzar Restored<br /><br />34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,<br /><br /> </span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span class="text Dan-4-34" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; position: relative;">for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Dan-4-34" style="position: relative;">and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;</span></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="text Dan-4-35" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-ESV-21873" style="background-color: white; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">35 </span>all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Dan-4-35" style="position: relative;">and he does according to his will among the host of heaven</span></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Dan-4-35" style="position: relative;">and among the inhabitants of the earth;</span></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="text Dan-4-35" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; position: relative;">and none can stay his hand</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Dan-4-35" style="position: relative;">or say to him, “What have you done?”</span></span></span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">So King Nebuchadnezzar came to his senses, and his place in his kingdom was restored. I hope that President Trump has such a good outcome in his coming years. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Meanwhile we need wisdom to deal with our circumstances in this time of turmoil. And I am not interested in having the government spend tax money to educate me about how to think. Having the government involved in indoctrination of citizens is called propaganda. </span></p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda</a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And I have personally witnessed how sustained efforts by those who are against Biblical Faith (Judea-Christian) have inserted themselves into places of strategic value for promoting secular humanism in our government and educational institutions. </span></p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_humanism">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_humanism</a></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Wisdom is the quality of </span><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">having experience, knowledge, and good judgment. Wisdom helps us be givers instead of takers. Have you noticed the emphasis on what our government can give us? The things the government has to give are mostly what they take from someone. I would rather give my gifts directly, to those who I have opportunity to help. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">In the words of John F. Kennedy, </span><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br />“Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country,” <br /></span></b><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Understanding the value of being givers rather than takers is our opening to wisdom. </span></p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Proverbs 16:16 How much better to get wisdom than gold!<br /> To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.<br />17 The highway of the upright turns aside from evil;<br /> whoever guards his way preserves his life.<br />18 Pride goes before destruction,<br /> and a haughty spirit before a fall.<br />19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor<br /> than to divide the spoil with the proud.<br />20 Whoever gives thought to the word[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+16&version=ESV#fen-ESV-16861b">b</a>] will discover good,<br /> and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Trusting the Lord is much better than trusting our government. As bad as our government may be, it is far better than the Roman pagan government under which Jesus lived and faith flourished. Persecution does not defeat faith, but rather refines faith. It is time for faith to flourish. </span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="poetry top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;"><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span class="text Prov-6-6" id="en-ESV-16547" style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span class="versenum" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">6 </span></span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Prov 6:6 Go to the ant, O sluggard;<br /> consider her ways, and be wise.<br />7 Without having any chief,<br /> officer, or ruler,<br />8 she prepares her bread in summer<br /> and gathers her food in harvest.<br />9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard?<br /> When will you arise from your sleep?<br />10 A little sleep, a little slumber,<br /> a little folding of the hands to rest,<br />11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,<br /> and want like an armed man.<br /><br /><br />12 A worthless person, a wicked man,<br /> goes about with crooked speech,<br />13 winks with his eyes, signals[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+6&version=ESV#fen-ESV-16554c">c</a>] with his feet,<br /> points with his finger,<br />14 with perverted heart devises evil,<br /> continually sowing discord;<br />15 therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;<br /> in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.<br /><br /><br />16 There are six things that the Lord hates,<br /> seven that are an abomination to him:<br />17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,<br /> and hands that shed innocent blood,<br />18 a heart that devises wicked plans,<br /> feet that make haste to run to evil,<br />19 a false witness who breathes out lies,<br /> and one who sows discord among brothers.</span></span></p><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span class="text Prov-6-6" style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span class="text Prov-6-6" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">So it is time to stop trashing Trump. History will sort through the evidence, the lies will be trampled underfoot, and what is good will be revealed. Students of history already understand the outcome of promoting secular humanism. Let us speak up for what is just and right, but in a way to build up instead of tear down. </span></span></p><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span class="text Prov-6-6" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span class="text Prov-6-6" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Let's make good plans.</span></span></p><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span class="text Prov-6-6" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span class="text Prov-6-6" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Lord God, give us wisdom.</span></span></p></div></div>rgoncehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11115453980069044809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295032270804954992.post-38371114071866430152020-12-08T13:14:00.010-08:002021-01-25T16:13:40.998-08:00184 Miles of Blood<div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">1600 stadia is about 184 miles, a bit less than the distance from Bass Hollow to Auburn, which Google maps says is 208 miles if you take the short cut. A river of blood from here to Dadeville, AL, where we used to live, is a powerful picture.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">What is this river of blood? Maybe it represents the life force of this world, the world that follows Satan. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Leviticus 17:14<br /><br />14 For the life of every creature[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2017%3A14&version=ESV#fen-ESV-3250a">a</a>] is its blood: its blood is its life.[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2017%3A14&version=ESV#fen-ESV-3250b">b</a>] Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.</span><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">In the Revelation vision, the angel harvests the cluster of the earth, and casts it into the winepress of the wrath of God. The blood is the lifeforce of the clusters being harvested. The wages of sin is death. The valley of Hinnon is where the refuse was burned, just out the Dung Gate and into the valley south of the City Jerusalem. From there the blood would have flowed into the Dead Sea. But the distance does not work. This is a picture of spiritual dimensions. </span><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The Harvest of the Earth</span></div><div><br style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;" /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">Rev 14:14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” 16 So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped.</span><br style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;" /></span><br style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;" /><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">17 Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse's bridle, for 1,600 stadia.[</span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+14&version=ESV#fen-ESV-30931c" style="font-family: arial;">c</a><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">]</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Yes, it is a picture of spiritual dimensions. Paul, writing to the believers at Corinth, said that Jesus must reign until all His enemies are put under His feet. Is He treading the winepress?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">1 Cor 15:24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Jesus called Satan the father of liars. "</span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;">When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies". </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Perhaps lies are the lifeforce of those who belong to this world. Those who reject the lies and put their trust in Jesus become free from slavery to this world. And they escape the winepress of the wrath of God.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;">The Truth Will Set You Free</span></div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br />John 8:31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” </span></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”<br /><br />34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+8&version=ESV#fen-ESV-26404b">b</a>] to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”<br /><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">You Are of Your Father the Devil<br /><br /></span></span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” </span><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” </span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” </span><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. <u>He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. </u>When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This great picture of the winepress of the wrath of God should give pause to those who are tempted to trust in this world for their life. This world is still dominated by those who follow the lies of Satan. Every day Satan's disciples tell us to trust the scientists and experts for our salvation. These experts are often the same folks who deny the existence of God, and who believe that the socialist collective can save us. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The record of socialist collective movements are full of brutal slaying. It is estimated that eight million were murdered in China's Cultural Revolution, but China does not encourage study of this subject. And their persecution of believers continues today.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/chinese-christians-told-replace-christ-with-mao-or-lose-government-support-50764">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/chinese-christians-told-replace-christ-with-mao-or-lose-government-support-50764</a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">So we need to arm ourselves for the battle between truth and lies. Let us leave the deception of trusting in ourselves behind, and march in the Army of God. </span></div><div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />The Whole Armor of God<br /><br /></span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Eph 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. </span></div><div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. </span></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Yes, we need to keep on keeping on, and pray for strength and power over sin. God's Spirit working in us will help us through the struggle. And do not be deceived by Satan's lies. We cannot save ourselves, but we must trust in our Savior, who will trample the liars underfoot.</span></div>rgoncehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11115453980069044809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295032270804954992.post-62672322868346616992020-09-25T17:26:00.002-07:002020-09-26T06:55:41.651-07:00Back to the Beginning<br style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;" /><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Awakening#First_Great_Awakening">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Awakening#First_Great_Awakening</a><div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">History has witnessed many attempts to return to first century believer assembly, sometimes calling it a restoration movement. For example, the Cane Ridge Assembly invited people to come together for prayer and teaching, and to experience the power of God through interacting with His people. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cane_Ridge_Revival">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cane_Ridge_Revival</a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Many decided to give up the institutions that divide believers, and to unite in assembly that determined to use the Bible as the standard for teaching, and to practice the priesthood of the believer, with control vested in the local assemblies. Over time it was agreed that immersion in water of believers who have repented is the way into the family of God, by the new birth. John 3</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restoration_Movement">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restoration_Movement</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">But differences in opinions and struggles for preeminence prevented the growth of unity. Different factions developed that demanded particular doctrines for fellowship. Divisions over music, name, faith only, etc. prevented the development of unity of believers in one body. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">But Jesus wants His followers to be united. His prayer recorded in the Gospel of John, shows this clearly. John 17. In the beginning believers were united by their faith in Jesus, and by the teaching given by the Power of the Holy Spirit. </span></div><div><br /><br /><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">The Coming of the Holy Spirit</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Acts 2:</span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2&version=ESV#fen-ESV-26941a">a</a>] on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.<br /><br />5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”<br /><br /></span><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Peter's Sermon at Pentecost<br /><br />14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2&version=ESV#fen-ESV-26953b">b</a>] 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:<br /><br />17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,<br />that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,<br />and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,<br /> and your young men shall see visions,<br /> and your old men shall dream dreams;<br />18 even on my male servants and female servants<br /> in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.<br />19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above<br /> and signs on the earth below,<br /> blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;<br />20 the sun shall be turned to darkness<br /> and the moon to blood,<br /> before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.<br />21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’<br /><br />22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus,[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2&version=ESV#fen-ESV-26961c">c</a>] delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him,<br /><br />“‘I saw the Lord always before me,<br /> for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;<br />26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;<br /> my flesh also will dwell in hope.<br />27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,<br /> or let your Holy One see corruption.<br />28 You have made known to me the paths of life;<br /> you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’<br /><br />29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,<br /><br />“‘The Lord said to my Lord,<br />“Sit at my right hand,<br />35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’<br /><br />36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”<br /><br />37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.<br />The Fellowship of the Believers<br /><br />42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2&version=ESV#fen-ESV-26981d">d</a>] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. </span></div></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">So how do we go back to the beginning? We need to acknowledge that the Old Testament scriptures are important for our knowing God. He chose Israel to be a sign to all people, a sign of the blessings and cursing of God. Blessings for faith, and cursing for unbelief. The message of the Old Testament is that the Messiah is coming, and the Kingdom is coming. And that without faith it is impossible to please God. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">What is faith? Faith is trusting God. Faith always requires us to do something. What we do does not establish faith, but faith produces the action. Faith alone is a mistaken idea. All the arguments about baptism not being part of faith come from a misunderstanding of Paul's comment to the Ephesians, </span></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />By Grace Through Faith<br /><br />2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2&version=ESV#fen-ESV-29216a">a</a>] and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2&version=ESV#fen-ESV-29216b">b</a>] 4 But[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2&version=ESV#fen-ESV-29217c">c</a>] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We do not save ourselves by good works, but faith includes good works. Obeying the simple commands of the gospel is part of what real faith is, it is trusting God. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The Resurrection of Christ<br /><br />1 Cor 15 Now I would remind you, brothers,[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Cor+15&version=ESV#fen-ESV-28703a">a</a>] of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.<br /><br />3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.</span><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Paul explained the connection of baptism (immersion in water by faith in Jesus) to being united in Jesus, </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Gal 3:23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gal+3&version=ESV#fen-ESV-29114g">g</a>] nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.</span><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We need to go back to the beginning, for unity in Jesus (Yeshua, the Messiah).</span></div>rgoncehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11115453980069044809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295032270804954992.post-21535396952010918912020-09-18T06:50:00.003-07:002020-09-18T17:44:38.956-07:00Upside Down<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Man hauling firewood on a bicycle in Malawi, Africa. </span></p><p> <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/376191375099298602/">https://www.pinterest.com/pin/376191375099298602/</a></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Those men who have turned the world upside down!</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Paul and Silas in Thessalonica</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Acts17:1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. 5 But the Jews[</span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+17&version=ESV#fen-ESV-27515a" style="color: #2b00fe;">a</a><span style="color: #2b00fe;">] were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” 8 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. 9 And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.</span></span><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The focus of this world is distribution of physical wealth, power, and control. Satan uses the desire to feel good and look good to focus our interest on temporary things. Satan encourages us to think that our way is the way. Physical wealth enables selfishness. But true wealth comes from giving. Upside down.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">James, brother of Jesus, says that God has chosen the poor as to this world to be rich in faith. Thus the man riding the bicycle in Malawi has an advantage over the wealthy tycoon when it comes to trusting God. The rich have a tendency to trust in themselves, while the helpless cry out to God for help.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The Sin of Partiality<br /><br />James 2:1 My brothers,[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2&version=ESV#fen-ESV-30278a">a</a>] show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Our focus on physical wealth is at best misdirected. Consider the story of Flukey Stokes. Being buried in a Cadillac with hands stuffed with $100 bills is not a blessing. </span></div><div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flukey_Stokes">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flukey_Stokes</a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Our greatest blessings are in our family relationships. First place is our relationship to God in His family. All spiritual blessings, those that really count, are in Him.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Next, the blessings of the nuclear family are treasured by those of us so blessed. The liberal movement to destroy the nuclear family and replace it with the community family goes against God's plan. Hillary's statement that it takes a village to raise children has a dangerous context. The destruction of the patriarchal structure of family goes against our Judeo-Christian heritage. Families with no father are the bitter legacy of the Great Society welfare arrangements that penalize families with fathers. Time to wake up. "Woke" is not cool. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Family is the foundation of our culture as God intended. Using our own efforts to provide for our own and others is a blessing. Having government take from others and give to me may be a curse, if I lose my desire to do good works. Jesus taught that it is more blessed to give than to receive. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Those of you who are interested in communal living should study the history of the Kibbutz settlements in Israel. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kibbutz">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kibbutz</a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The basic problem with socialism is that human nature is basically selfish. Once converted to faith in Jesus Christ, and united in His family, communal living might work. But Satan's brand of worldly socialism is doomed to failure. As they used to say in the USSR, "We pretend to work, and they pretend to pay us."</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_political_jokes">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_political_jokes</a> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">On the other hand, the blessings that God has planned for His children make the sufferings of this life a small thing. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Future Glory<br /><br />Rom 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. </span>rgoncehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11115453980069044809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295032270804954992.post-7470787036676189852020-09-17T07:26:00.002-07:002020-09-17T12:19:48.298-07:00Tribulation<p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThDwS79HPhs">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThDwS79HPhs</a> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">From the Princess Bride, "Life is pain! Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Tribulation is defined as a state of great trouble or suffering. World War II, the Great Depression, and the Spanish Flu of 1918 were great tribulations. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Roman attack and destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, AD 70, was great tribulation. The revolutions in Russia and China were great tribulations. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Many are wondering out loud if 2020 is a time of great tribulation. From the porch of our cabin in the Crow Creek Valley, it does not seem so bad. But what is coming?</span></p><p><a href="https://rgonce.blogspot.com/2012/12/from-peaceful-visa-of-front-porch-of.html"><span style="font-size: large;">https://rgonce.blogspot.com/2012/12/from-peaceful-visa-of-front-porch-of.html</span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Some folks are offended by my talk about life being a battle. But it is. Life is a battle between the forces of good and evil. Life is our proving grounds. And the main issue is what do I believe about Jesus? Is He the Messiah, the Son of God?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Wrong thoughts and actions produce pain and suffering. The human experience is the source of suffering. There is a way (many ways) that seem right to mankind, but the end of that is the way of death. Satan promised greatness and delivered death to Eve. The lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life rule our human nature. We need a savior. </span></p><p><a href="https://rgonce.blogspot.com/2013/03/pictures-of-salvation.html"><span style="font-size: large;">https://rgonce.blogspot.com/2013/03/pictures-of-salvation.html</span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Yet, despite the evidence of history, many are enamored of the idea that mankind can save him/her self. Instead of seeking eternal value, some manage to trap themselves in the very limited scope of this life, and refuse to look beyond. I am offended by all the talk about listening to our experts, the very people who have advanced the mess in which we find ourselves mired. I will listen to people who believe Jesus is Messiah.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I know how blessed we are in this nation. I have visited the precious people in India, Africa, Nepal, Bangladesh, and even Papua New Guinea. People who live a primitive life style, by the labor of their hands and caring for one another. All were once trapped in Paganism, but faith in Jesus transforms their lives and helps them to make good decisions, helping each other. When I first visited, many did not know Jesus. But now faith is growing, and I get many messages from people who now have cell phones. How times change. Every day I get pictures on messenger of people who have come to believe in Jesus, and are being immersed in water as He commanded, by His authority, and so they are being added to the number of God's family. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But our own nation is trying to go backward, away from the Judeo- Christian values which have blessed us. Do not be deceived. Whatever a man sows, he will reap. Sow the wind and reap the cyclone. If you think this is tribulation, you ain't seen nothin yet. </span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span class="text Rev-14-17" id="en-ESV-30928" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">17 </span>Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Rev-14-18" id="en-ESV-30929" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">18 </span>And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.”</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Rev-14-19" id="en-ESV-30930" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">19 </span>So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Rev-14-20" id="en-ESV-30931" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">20 </span>And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse's bridle, for 1,600 stadia.<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-ESV-30931c" data-link="[<a href="#fen-ESV-30931c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+14&version=ESV#fen-ESV-30931c" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One hundred eighty four miles. </span> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>rgoncehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11115453980069044809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295032270804954992.post-34672659256691347022020-08-21T11:42:00.006-07:002020-12-17T16:15:51.954-08:00Unity in Yeshua<p><a href=" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenism#Ancient_apostolic_churches"> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenism#Ancient_apostolic_churches</a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Efforts to develop unity among believers world wide must struggle with perceived needs to preserve traditional institutions and existing power structures. Thus things get bogged down in endless political intrigues, and preservation of self interest. Cherished institutions prevent a return to the unity of believers that Jesus prayed for in the garden shortly before His death. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">In fact, unity among believers is a difficult proposition, as Paul discovered in his interaction with believers in Corinth. </span></span></p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Divisions in the Church<br /><br />1 Cor 3 But I, brothers,[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians+3&version=ESV#fen-ESV-28395a">a</a>] could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?<br /><br />5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.<br /><br />10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians+3&version=ESV#fen-ESV-28404b">b</a>] master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.<br /><br />16 Do you not know that you[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians+3&version=ESV#fen-ESV-28410c">c</a>] are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.</span><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Yes, believers are the temple of God, living stones built up into a dwelling for God's presence in the Spirit. One temple. And we are to build up that edifice on the foundation of Jesus the Christ.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">From the beginning there were divisions among the followers of Jesus. There was a big discussion about whether people of other nations, not Jews, should be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses when they became believers in Jesus. Finally there was a meeting of the Apostles and Elders, at Jerusalem, and a letter was sent out to the churches with instructions regarding keeping the Law. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Maybe we need to go back to the beginning. After 70 AD there were no elders and Apostles at Jerusalem. The gospel went into all the world, expedited by the Roman legal structures and Roman roads, from England to India. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Constantine attempted to develop some unity based upon the power of the Roman Empire, with councils of church leaders. But differences produced division, and finally the East and West separated. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">It was never intended that the power of world empire, human politics, should be the source of unity for God's people. The Holy Roman Empire became a scourge against freedom of conscience. Those persecuted by the political power centered in Rome are the torch of true faith down through the centuries. The history of the Anabaptist is of interest when we discuss unity. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anabaptism">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anabaptism</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">If we are to have a united community of believers, we must agree on fundamental teaching of the scriptures. There is no unity in diversity. A fundamental teaching of the Bible is that one who believes in Jesus as the Son of God must repent and be immersed in water because of the believer's faith. Jesus commanded immersion for believers. Infants can not believe and repent. <br /></span><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">We need to go back to Jerusalem and encourage Jews to have faith in Yeshua as the Jewish Messiah. Believing Jews who have faith in Jesus are to be immersed in water, and be added to the Temple of God. The Temple is not a new structure built of stone, but the House of God built upon the foundation of Yeshua the Messiah. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">This is the house God promised to build when He had the discussion with David about the temple at Jerusalem, speaking through Nathan the Prophet. </span></p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">2 Samuel 7 Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Samuel%207&version=ESV#fen-ESV-8197c">c</a>] Your throne shall be established forever.’” </span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Yeshua today is reigning from the throne of David, and He wants us to bring glory to Him by being united in our faith in Him. On the day of Pentecost, following the resurrection of Jesus, the gospel went forth from Jerusalem into all the world, inviting believers to unite in God's House. Now we believers are returning to Jerusalem, back to the beginning, to be one in Jesus Christ. Join with us as we go back to the beginning. Together we will build up the House of God upon the foundation of Jesus the Christ. And we will find unity in Him, by the power of His Spirit in us. </span></div>rgoncehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11115453980069044809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295032270804954992.post-27824776918592258592020-08-13T06:19:00.004-07:002020-08-13T16:41:00.137-07:00World Community<p> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">What should be the attitude of those who believe and follow Jesus Christ toward the world community?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">God so loved the people of the world that He gave His one and only Son to die on the Cross as a sacrifice sufficient to pay the price for the sins of the world community. But that forgiveness is appropriated individually by faith, not by merit, but by obedient faith in what God has revealed, and what He is doing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Therefore I must recognize the value of all people, and work to lead them to the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">As Jesus told His disciples, </span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px; min-width: 0px;"><span class="text Matt-28-16" id="en-ESV-24208"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">The Great Commission</span></span></h3><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span class="text Matt-28-16"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">Matt 28:16 </span>Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.</span> <span class="text Matt-28-17" id="en-ESV-24209"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">17 </span>And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.</span> <span class="text Matt-28-18" id="en-ESV-24210"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">18 </span>And Jesus came and said to them, <span class="woj">“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-28-19" id="en-ESV-24211"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">19 </span>Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-ESV-24211b" data-link="[<a href="#fen-ESV-24211b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28&version=ESV#fen-ESV-24211b" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</span> the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,</span> <span class="text Matt-28-20" id="en-ESV-24212"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">20 </span>teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">The modern movement to deny revealed moral values while accepting everyone on the basis of human feelings misses the mark. Jesus Christ never taught the acceptance of sin, but rather told people to stop sinning. And the transforming power of the new birth by faith gives the believer resurrection power. We are given God's Spirit and raised to walk in newness of life. <br /><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">In that new life, we are instructed to walk with Jesus, and to make a distinction between ourselves and the world community of unbelievers. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Therefore believers are not called to develop a secular humanist world movement based upon human values and human feelings. Such a movement (that encourages rejection of moral values taught in the Bible) belongs to this world which is passing away. My citizenship is in the Heavenly Kingdom, with eternal life in glory.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">There is conflict between the two movements, between the forces of this world and the Eternal Kingdom. Therefore the believers in Jesus are instructed to put on the whole armor of God, and to fight the Good Fight. </span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px; min-width: 0px;"><span class="text Eph-6-10" id="en-ESV-29331"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">The Whole Armor of God</span></span></h3><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span class="text Eph-6-10"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">10 </span>Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.</span> <span class="text Eph-6-11" id="en-ESV-29332"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">11 </span>Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.</span> <span class="text Eph-6-12" id="en-ESV-29333"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">12 </span>For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.</span> <span class="text Eph-6-13" id="en-ESV-29334"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">13 </span>Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.</span> <span class="text Eph-6-14" id="en-ESV-29335"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">14 </span>Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,</span> <span class="text Eph-6-15" id="en-ESV-29336"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">15 </span>and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.</span><span class="text Eph-6-16" id="en-ESV-29337"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">16 </span>In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;</span> <span class="text Eph-6-17" id="en-ESV-29338"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">17 </span>and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,</span><span class="text Eph-6-18" id="en-ESV-29339"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">18 </span>praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Yes, we are called to repent, to change our minds about how we live. We are to give up self will as our master, and to submit our minds and hearts to Jesus Christ, and to His teaching and leading in the Kingdom of Heaven. As Apostle Paul taught King Agrippa, </span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span class="text Acts-26-19" id="en-ESV-27828" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">Acts 26:19 </span>“Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Acts-26-20" id="en-ESV-27829" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">20 </span>but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Yes, believers must not participate in the works of darkness promoted by the secular humanist agnostic atheistic world community. This community spirit leads to destruction. Giving approval to satanic practices brings harm to society. Marriage was given for one man to one woman for the purpose of producing children who can become children of God. The family is the foundation of society. World movements that destroy the family are not from God. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Christ Our Advocate</span></span></p><p class="chapter-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span class="text 1John-2-1"><span class="chapternum" style="bottom: -0.1em; display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: 0px; line-height: 0.8em; position: relative;">1 John 2 </span>My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.</span> <span class="text 1John-2-2" id="en-ESV-30536"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">2 </span>He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.</span> <span class="text 1John-2-3" id="en-ESV-30537"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">3 </span>And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.</span><span class="text 1John-2-4" id="en-ESV-30538"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">4 </span>Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,</span> <span class="text 1John-2-5" id="en-ESV-30539"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">5 </span>but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:</span> <span class="text 1John-2-6" id="en-ESV-30540"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">6 </span>whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.</span></span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px; min-width: 0px;"><span class="text 1John-2-7" id="en-ESV-30541"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">The New Commandment</span></span></h3><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span class="text 1John-2-7"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">7 </span>Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.</span> <span class="text 1John-2-8" id="en-ESV-30542"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">8 </span>At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-ESV-30542a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-ESV-30542a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John+2&version=ESV#fen-ESV-30542a" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</span> the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.</span> <span class="text 1John-2-9" id="en-ESV-30543"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">9 </span>Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.</span> <span class="text 1John-2-10" id="en-ESV-30544"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">10 </span>Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-ESV-30544b" data-link="[<a href="#fen-ESV-30544b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John+2&version=ESV#fen-ESV-30544b" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</span> there is no cause for stumbling.</span> <span class="text 1John-2-11" id="en-ESV-30545"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">11 </span>But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.</span></span></p><div class="poetry top-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;"><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span class="text 1John-2-12" id="en-ESV-30546" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">12 </span>I am writing to you, little children,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text 1John-2-12" style="position: relative;">because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.</span></span><br /><span class="text 1John-2-13" id="en-ESV-30547" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">13 </span>I am writing to you, fathers,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text 1John-2-13" style="position: relative;">because you know him who is from the beginning.</span></span><br /><span class="text 1John-2-13" style="position: relative;">I am writing to you, young men,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text 1John-2-13" style="position: relative;">because you have overcome the evil one.</span></span><br /><span class="text 1John-2-13" style="position: relative;">I write to you, children,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text 1John-2-13" style="position: relative;">because you know the Father.</span></span><br /><span class="text 1John-2-14" id="en-ESV-30548" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">14 </span>I write to you, fathers,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text 1John-2-14" style="position: relative;">because you know him who is from the beginning.</span></span><br /><span class="text 1John-2-14" style="position: relative;">I write to you, young men,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text 1John-2-14" style="position: relative;">because you are strong,</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text 1John-2-14" style="position: relative;">and the word of God abides in you,</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text 1John-2-14" style="position: relative;">and you have overcome the evil one.</span></span></span></p></div><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px; min-width: 0px;"><span class="text 1John-2-15" id="en-ESV-30549"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Do Not Love the World</span></span></h3><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span class="text 1John-2-15"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">15 </span>Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.</span> <span class="text 1John-2-16" id="en-ESV-30550"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">16 </span>For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-ESV-30550c" data-link="[<a href="#fen-ESV-30550c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John+2&version=ESV#fen-ESV-30550c" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</span>—is not from the Father but is from the world.</span> <span class="text 1John-2-17" id="en-ESV-30551"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">17 </span>And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.</span></span></p><h1 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="text 1John-2-17"><span face="">"Abides forever"! </span><span style="font-family: arial;">What a blessed promise. Human revolutions do not produce eternal value. God has given us eternal value in Himself, through Jesus Christ, for whosoever will.</span></span></span></h1><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;"><br /></p>rgoncehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11115453980069044809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295032270804954992.post-24437159403981388682020-08-11T07:55:00.003-07:002020-08-31T09:15:03.682-07:00The Kingdom of Heaven<p> </p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px; min-width: 0px;"><span class="text John-18-33" id="en-ESV-26807"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">My Kingdom Is Not of This World</span></span></h3><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span class="text John-18-33"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">33 </span>So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”</span> <span class="text John-18-34" id="en-ESV-26808"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">34 </span>Jesus answered, <span class="woj">“Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?”</span></span> <span class="text John-18-35" id="en-ESV-26809"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">35 </span>Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?”</span> <span class="text John-18-36" id="en-ESV-26810"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">36 </span>Jesus answered, <span class="woj">“My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”</span></span> <span class="text John-18-37" id="en-ESV-26811"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">37 </span>Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, <span class="woj">“You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”</span></span> <span class="text John-18-38" id="en-ESV-26812"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">38 </span>Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Pilate asked a great question. What is truth?? The answer is that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">No one enters the kingdom of Heaven except through Jesus Christ. As Jesus told Nicodemus-</span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px; min-width: 0px;"><span class="text John-3-1" id="en-ESV-26111"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">You Must Be Born Again</span></span></h3><p class="chapter-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span class="text John-3-1"><span class="chapternum" style="bottom: -0.1em; display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: 0px; line-height: 0.8em; position: relative;">3 </span>Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.</span> <span class="text John-3-2" id="en-ESV-26112"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">2 </span>This man came to Jesus<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-ESV-26112a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-ESV-26112a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3&version=ESV#fen-ESV-26112a" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</span> by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”</span> <span class="text John-3-3" id="en-ESV-26113"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">3 </span>Jesus answered him, <span class="woj">“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-ESV-26113b" data-link="[<a href="#fen-ESV-26113b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3&version=ESV#fen-ESV-26113b" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</span> he cannot see the kingdom of God.”</span></span> <span class="text John-3-4" id="en-ESV-26114"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">4 </span>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?”</span><span class="text John-3-5" id="en-ESV-26115"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">5 </span>Jesus answered, <span class="woj">“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.</span></span> <span class="text John-3-6" id="en-ESV-26116"><span class="woj"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">6 </span>That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-ESV-26116c" data-link="[<a href="#fen-ESV-26116c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3&version=ESV#fen-ESV-26116c" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</span></span></span> <span class="text John-3-7" id="en-ESV-26117"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">7 </span>Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-ESV-26117d" data-link="[<a href="#fen-ESV-26117d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3&version=ESV#fen-ESV-26117d" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See footnote d">d</a>]</span> must be born again.’</span> <span class="text John-3-8" id="en-ESV-26118"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">8 </span>The wind<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-ESV-26118e" data-link="[<a href="#fen-ESV-26118e" title="See footnote e">e</a>]" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3&version=ESV#fen-ESV-26118e" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See footnote e">e</a>]</span>blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span class="text John-3-9" id="en-ESV-26119"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">9 </span>Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”</span> <span class="text John-3-10" id="en-ESV-26120"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">10 </span>Jesus answered him, <span class="woj">“Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?</span></span> <span class="text John-3-11" id="en-ESV-26121"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">11 </span>Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-ESV-26121f" data-link="[<a href="#fen-ESV-26121f" title="See footnote f">f</a>]" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3&version=ESV#fen-ESV-26121f" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See footnote f">f</a>]</span> do not receive our testimony.</span><span class="text John-3-12" id="en-ESV-26122"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">12 </span>If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?</span> <span class="text John-3-13" id="en-ESV-26123"><span class="woj"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">13 </span>No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-ESV-26123g" data-link="[<a href="#fen-ESV-26123g" title="See footnote g">g</a>]" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3&version=ESV#fen-ESV-26123g" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See footnote g">g</a>]</span></span></span> <span class="text John-3-14" id="en-ESV-26124"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">14 </span>And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,</span> <span class="text John-3-15" id="en-ESV-26125"><span class="woj"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">15 </span>that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-ESV-26125h" data-link="[<a href="#fen-ESV-26125h" title="See footnote h">h</a>]" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3&version=ESV#fen-ESV-26125h" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See footnote h">h</a>]</span></span></span></span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px; min-width: 0px;"><span class="text John-3-16" id="en-ESV-26126"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">For God So Loved the World</span></span></h3><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span class="text John-3-16"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">16 </span>“For God so loved the world,<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-ESV-26126i" data-link="[<a href="#fen-ESV-26126i" title="See footnote i">i</a>]" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3&version=ESV#fen-ESV-26126i" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See footnote i">i</a>]</span> that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.</span> <span class="text John-3-17" id="en-ESV-26127"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">17 </span>For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.</span> <span class="text John-3-18" id="en-ESV-26128"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">18 </span>Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.</span> <span class="text John-3-19" id="en-ESV-26129"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">19 </span>And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.</span> <span class="text John-3-20" id="en-ESV-26130"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">20 </span>For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.</span> <span class="text John-3-21" id="en-ESV-26131"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">21 </span>But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”</span></span></p><div><span class="text John-3-21"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The nations of the earth have been ruled by human power under the influence of Satan, even when nations claimed to be part of the Holy Roman Empire, or part of the great Anglican British Empire. Or the German Lutheran Princes who fought against the Roman Catholics. Eight million of the population of Europe was killed in the Thirty Years war. </span></span></div><div><span class="text John-3-21"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_Years%27_War">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_Years%27_War</a><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Many of the immigrants who settled North America had a desire to exercise freedom of conscience in matters of religious faith. When finally the Bill of Rights was adopted in our constitution, the first amendment attempted to guarantee freedom of conscience.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "libre franklin", sans-serif; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px; word-spacing: 2px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: x-large;">Amendment I</span></h3><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "tex gyre schola", serif; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; word-spacing: 2px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: x-large;">Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "tex gyre schola", serif; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; word-spacing: 2px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So most of us who support the election of Donald Trump to another term are not promoting him as our religious leader. He is running for President of the United States, a nation that guarantees religious freedom. He does not have to pass a religious test, but we are interested in what he proposes to accomplish through another four years of presiding, God willing. He has promised to support the continuation of our Judaeo-Christian heritage, as opposed to the God hating communist movement that has possessed the Democratic Party. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "tex gyre schola", serif; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; word-spacing: 2px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">His promotion of America first is national politics, a recognition that nations are important, and each nation is to look out for their own affairs, while being fair to others. He is getting us out of dangerous world empire meddling which had caused us so much grief and treasure in the last twenty years. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "tex gyre schola", serif; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; word-spacing: 2px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Yes, the Kingdom of Heaven is about all being united in Jesus Christ, and our showing love and concern to all. But Unitarianism has no place in the Kingdom of Heaven. All who are faithful in Jesus Christ have membership in the Eternal Kingdom. All who refuse faith in Jesus are condemning themselves to Hell. So we persuade all to come to Jesus, and to His Eternal Kingdom.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "tex gyre schola", serif; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; word-spacing: 2px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It would be good for you to personally consider whether a respect for our traditional values is of more value than allowing the imposition of Godless communist revolution. Study history. Our nation has been the source of many blessings to others because of our Christian heritage. Godless communism has brought destruction to every people where it has been instituted by revolution. It should be plain to all that we are faced with making a choice between Christian values and Godless communism. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "tex gyre schola", serif; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; word-spacing: 2px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Please ask Jesus to help you decide how you should vote in the upcoming Presidential election.</span></p></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span class="text John-18-38"><br /></span></span></p>rgoncehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11115453980069044809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295032270804954992.post-15629859302356332432020-08-02T04:58:00.000-07:002020-08-02T05:07:17.739-07:00Return to Eden??<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Garden in Eden</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gen 3:5 When no bush of the field[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%202&version=ESV#fen-ESV-36a">a</a>] was yet in the land[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%202&version=ESV#fen-ESV-36b">b</a>] and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, 6 and a mist[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%202&version=ESV#fen-ESV-37c">c</a>] was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground— 7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">8 And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Perhaps a return to Eden is in order for us to move forward with developing useful resources for life on planet Earth. God placed Adam and Eve in a garden, to care for it and eat from its produce. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I grew up gardening, and have always had a garden except when I was in school at Auburn. Today there is a great interest in gardening because of survival concerns. Garden seed and canning supplies are scarce. I think there may be value in finding ways that people stuck in unproductive situations may move to some place where they can have a garden, and live in a productive community. Can we have a return to Eden?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Since working on the Ezekiel Project, I have been interested in a developing gardening system using sea water. Sundrop Farms in Australia has built a huge commercial development. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.sundropfarms.com/">https://www.sundropfarms.com/</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thankfully there is no shortage of sea water, and there are many desert areas where sea water green house agricultural production could be located in unpopulated areas. One such area is in southern California, around the Salton Sea east of Los Angeles. Other areas include the northern Sahara in Africa, and the Namib dessert in Namibia, Africa. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namib">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namib</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namibia">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namibia</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Arava south of the Dead Sea in Israel and Jordan is probably the best possible location for Seawater Greenhouse production, and has already been done experimentally by Jordan with the Sahara Forrest project. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.saharaforestproject.com/office-2/">https://www.saharaforestproject.com/office-2/</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3igiVzqjltQ"><span style="font-size: large;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3igiVzqjltQ</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Ezekiel Water Project can provide sea water for the Arava, and would be a great blessing to the region, providing strategic electric power reserve and a deep layer of Med Sea water on top of the existing shrinking Dead Sea. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There are solutions already known and working for our global climate problems. There is an opportunity to provide useful lives for people who are trapped in non-productive areas and situations. Instead of moving people into the suburbs with instant ghettos financed by the government, we should shift our focus to providing encouraging opportunities for life changing community. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Gardening and community can transform lives. Eden was a garden. Why don't we recognize and enjoy the joys of gardening?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Instead of destroying existing civilization structures, it would be more useful to build productive communities that meet the challenges of joyful life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But one thing is most needed. Adam and Eve enjoyed a great relationship with their Creator until they lost it by rebellion. A joyful community today would need the renewed relationship with God that has been made available through faith in Jesus the Messiah. God made some garments from the skins of animals to provide clothing for Adam and Eve. This pictured the covering for our shame provided when we place our faith in Jesus Christ. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://rgonce.blogspot.com/2013/03/pictures-of-salvation.html">https://rgonce.blogspot.com/2013/03/pictures-of-salvation.html</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gal 3:23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+3&version=ESV#fen-ESV-29114g">g</a>] nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.</span></div>
rgoncehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11115453980069044809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295032270804954992.post-48474504215716100452020-07-24T17:07:00.000-07:002020-07-26T06:43:47.524-07:00The Crux of the Matter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #777777; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;">https://rgonce.blogspot.com/2019/09/radical-agenda.html</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #777777; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">https://rgonce.blogspot.com/2015/02/faith-get-real.html</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What is at the heart of the division in our nation, and in the world? What is the crux of the matter, when it comes to making a decision about how to vote come November?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For me, it is a simple matter. We are in a pitched battle between good and evil, so we need to decide which side we are on, good or evil? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then we need to decide which side in the upcoming election, Democrat or Republican, represents the greater good, or greater evil, for our nation. Everyone can see that we are at a crisis, and we have never before seen such confusion among our people. Families are divided, churches are divided, communities are divided, as we search for a way forward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Part of the problem is that too much information, both true and untrue, is easily available. Just go to google search, put in some words, and hundreds of thousands of responses pop up. What is useful and what is rubbish?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Crux of the Matter</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">About 19,600,000 results (0.45 seconds) <br /><br />Search Results<br /><br />Featured snippet from the web<br /><br />crux of the matter. Also, heart of the matter. The basic, central or critical point of an issue. For example, In this trial the bloodstains represent the crux of the matter, or We think the second clause is the heart of the matter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The crux of the matter is that we do not know what to believe, unless we have a background of information about what we are searching. Those of us who are trained in Bible study have a background of information that has braved the test of time and trouble. That standard of informed thinking is considered old fashioned by the leftist. The Marxist has rejected faith in God and the Bible, and will turn their anger against believers as they have opportunity. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Marxist rejects the old ways, and destroys its components, so as to institute new ways informed by the elite thinkers who have jumped on board the revolution. Soon the elite are in charge, and arrange things to their own liking, and make themselves kings. And they destroy whatever they perceive to be in their way. We have seen it at work in Portland and Seattle. When will we ever learn? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I copied the article below from the Facebook page of Df. Doc Carter. You are welcome to get acquainted with her. </span></div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/dfdoc.carter.9?__cft__[0]=AZVNkZfEbPdhyY6HD0tzKactuJIDaKmFDi_Zy-skrNE6kpPXz9sZb8cf8GRp8L584sEAQj5U7Nt0TQ96tsXPfsXdl7C4kjnYp7rU6joTcgcWxRWcpZ1OemhnJCqfgv644575QNcCBNW_iGFyZ8C5ro47&__tn__=-UC%2CP-y-R">Df Doc Carter</a><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/dfdoc.carter.9/posts/312523200156304?__cft__[0]=AZVNkZfEbPdhyY6HD0tzKactuJIDaKmFDi_Zy-skrNE6kpPXz9sZb8cf8GRp8L584sEAQj5U7Nt0TQ96tsXPfsXdl7C4kjnYp7rU6joTcgcWxRWcpZ1OemhnJCqfgv644575QNcCBNW_iGFyZ8C5ro47&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-y-R">5d</a> · <br /><br />THE DAY THE POLICE WERE NO LONGER NEEDED</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> August 19, 1966 - Chinese students launched a fight for social justice to fight for the rights of the oppressed in China. It was widely believed that the 'patriarchal system' in China had been created by the 1% and held down women, minorities, and the working class. The students cried out for a revolution and change, and consequentially launched the infamous Chinese Cultural Revolution.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Students put a red band around their arm to stand in solidarity with the oppressed and called for a change on old ideas that they called the FOUR OLDS. The Four Olds were: Old Customs, Old Culture, Old Habits, and Old Ideas.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The movement was supported by the Chinese media.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mass demonstrations and looting by the students ensued.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chinese architecture was destroyed.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Classical literature and Chinese paintings were torn apart and burned.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Cemetery of Confucius was attacked.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The corpse of the 76th-generation Duke Yansheng was removed from its grave and hung from a tree.<br />Wealthy homes were attacked and destroyed.<br />Many families' long-kept genealogy books were burned to ashes.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">All of history, in short, was to be removed and replaced. This was the central meaning of Cultural Revolution: That China was going to destroy every trace of its bourgeois (privileged) past and replace it with a new culture built on the principles of Maoism and Marxism.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Communist leaders like President Liu Shaoqi were taken out of power and replaced with men Mao believed were not critical of his reign.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Public leaders who were considered to be oppressive were tried by angry mobs and vigilantes.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Three days later, August 22, 1966, a central directive was issued to stop police intervention. The police were disbanded in the city and the students formed a community solution called the RED GUARD. The RED GUARDS policed the communities and punished anyone who did not agree with their ideas. Even people that supported the movement, but had bad thoughts ("wrong think") could be punished.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Though many Christians supported the movement in the beginning, they quickly became the number one target of the RED GUARDS and public trials were held to condemn them to death.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many of those that were on board with the cause of the rebellion, in the beginning, saw that it was not really what they had signed up for, but by then it was too late. The power that the Red Guard wanted had already been given.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">More people died during the cultural revolution in China than any war, famine, or natural disaster in the history of man. An estimated 20 to 30 million people were killed.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Are you listening America?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yes, the crux of the matter is a choice between God and mankind. There is a way that seems right to mankind, but the end of that way is the way of death. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life for those who put their trust in Jesus Christ. His cross is the crux of the matter. </span></div>
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rgoncehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11115453980069044809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295032270804954992.post-83172465861697410322020-07-18T06:35:00.000-07:002020-07-27T14:16:35.577-07:00The Divide<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A skillful observation may be one trained by years of following Jesus and trusting His power. 80 years helps. (As Oran would say, "Maybe".)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A friend who has a wonderful way with words commented on my response on facebook, where I had mentioned that I only see one political party who is supporting riots and lawless demonstrations, </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/rob.woodfin.3/posts/10220378839013304"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">https://www.facebook.com/rob.woodfin.3/posts/10220378839013304</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">by saying that "<span style="background-color: #f0f2f5; color: #050505;">Observation is a skill. Accusation requires none."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #050505; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">I responded that I had made a skillful observation. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #050505; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">I have friends on both sides of the divide, and need encouragement from my wife and others to be kind. But love demands speaking the truth. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">While I was thinking about this, Dr. Alveda King appeared on the news and said that we need God's Power to solve our divide. I say Amen!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are good people on both sides of the divide, but none of us is good by our own merit. The divide is between those who are willing to trust in God through Jesus Christ, and those who want to trust in human solutions. Those trusting human solutions can be identified by constant references to science and medical experts, as if our trusting our experts is the solution to our dilemma. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The fear of death has been exploited as a political tool. As bad as Covid-19 is or may be, it is no reason to stop living our lives. I am in that class of people, 80 yrs old with heart condition, who will likely die if I am infected with the dread virus. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But God has blessed me abundantly. He has sufficiently revealed His presence in the universe, in history, and in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am blessed to be His child through faith, and look forward to the resurrection and eternal life with Jesus. How can I fear death? It is a passing over the Jordan River to the Promised Land. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And I am blessed to have experienced the joys and blessings, along with the trials, of nuclear family, one man married to one woman for life. Such a blessing!! God gives us direction to a blessed life. He has revealed His wisdom in the Bible, a collection of writings that were guided and protected by God's Power, the Holy Spirit, and whose instruction is able to make us wise unto salvation. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Godlessness in the Last Days<br /><br />2 Tim 3:1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy+3&version=ESV#fen-ESV-29851a">a</a>] you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy+3&version=ESV#fen-ESV-29854b">b</a>] may be complete, equipped for every good work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yes, we need God's Power to solve our divide. And God's Power does not encourage lawlessness and slander. The moral character of a person is of concern, but the law demands legal process for accusations, and dumping floods of obvious slander is not helpful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dan Rather, the New York Times, and the Washington Post are not tools of God's Power. This is my skillful observation. They are serving a lower dominion. They are serving the power of the human collective, the idea that people can work together by ignoring the rule of law, and demanding mob rule.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You can use your power of skillful observation to see which political party is more supportive of God's Power. If you need expert help, please contact Dr. Alveda King. </span></div>
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rgoncehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11115453980069044809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295032270804954992.post-20252842090687870432020-07-10T15:21:00.000-07:002020-07-10T15:31:44.696-07:00Seven Prompts for Faith<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://rgonce.blogspot.com/2013/03/pictures-of-salvation.html"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">https://rgonce.blogspot.com/2013/03/pictures-of-salvation.html</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last week I was contacted by an 80yr old physicist, an inventor who had seen <a href="http://www.deadseapower.com/">www.deadseapower.com</a> and wanted to tell me about his invention of a pipeline that could move water very economically, suggesting it should replace the tunnel in the proposed project. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I told him about Ezekiel's vision in chapter 47, and said I would stick with the tunnel design. </span><br />
<a href="http://ezekielproject.org/history.shtml"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://ezekielproject.org/history.shtml</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Turns out he is an avowed atheist, and had stopped having religious discussions sixty years ago. He commanded me to stop talking with him about religion. After a few more exchanges, I asked him to explain to me how gravity works. He called me on the phone, and we had a ten minute discussion about politics in the Middle East, and various connections. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Highly educated atheists are a real challenge to those of us who want to share our faith in Jesus. My experience has been the reception of rabid insults in response to suggesting study about YHWH and Yeshua. I tell them that I just want to examine factual information, including science and history. But atheists seem to be afraid to open themselves to inquiry about faith in God, having decided to reject faith, and having no desire to revisit their decision. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Bible is a remarkable book. It has stood the challenge of endless critique, and mindless affronts. Those of us who believe should not be thin skinned about our faith. We should be ready to suffer insults, and still be kind and gracious. But I will not stop talking about Jesus. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The challenge is to identify information that is factual and supported by science and history. For example, when I visited the coast of Israel at Palmachim, I noticed that the stones jutting through the surf looked </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">familiar. </span><br />
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmachim"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmachim</span></a><br />
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurkar"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurkar</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The calcarious sandstone at Palmachim is very similar to the calcarious sandstone boulders that have rolled down the mountain at my house. Our ancient stone wall was built of such stones, and from my childhood I had wondered at the sea shells embedded in the stones. Turns out that this stone is formed in the surf of a sandy beach, of sea shells mixed with sand and cemented with the calcium from sea creatures. I am very familiar with this stone as I used it to build the foundation wall of the cabin where we live. </span><br />
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<a href="https://rgonce.blogspot.com/2012/12/from-peaceful-visa-of-front-porch-of.html"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">https://rgonce.blogspot.com/2012/12/from-peaceful-visa-of-front-porch-of.html</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yes, the mountain behind my house was once a sea coast, and the sea shells in my foundation stones speak of Psalms 104, </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">He</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">set the earth on its foundations,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-104-5" style="position: relative;">so that it should never be moved.</span></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="text Ps-104-6" id="en-ESV-15578" style="background-color: white; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">6 </span>You covered it with the deep as with a garment;</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-104-6" style="position: relative;">the waters stood above the mountains.</span></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="text Ps-104-7" id="en-ESV-15579" style="background-color: white; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">7 </span>At your rebuke they fled;</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-104-7" style="position: relative;">at the sound of your thunder they took to flight.</span></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="text Ps-104-8" id="en-ESV-15580" style="background-color: white; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">8 </span>The mountains rose, the valleys sank down</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-104-8" style="position: relative;">to the place that you appointed for them.</span></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="text Ps-104-9" id="en-ESV-15581" style="background-color: white; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">9 </span>You set a boundary that they may not pass,</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-104-9" style="position: relative;">so that they might not again cover the earth.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What are some of the narratives of the Bible that have historical and factual support, and which can help us develop faith in YHWH, the great I Am?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">1. In the beginning, the story of creation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">2. The Flood</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">3. Abraham</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">4. David</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">5. Birth of Jesus</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">6. Miracles of Jesus</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">7. Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Why is faith so important? Because it gives us the hope of eternal glory, of one day sharing the eternal existence of God. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hebrews 11:6 <span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;">And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God </span><span style="background-color: white;">must believe that he exists and </span><span style="background-color: white;">that he rewards those who seek him.</span></span></span></div>
rgoncehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11115453980069044809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295032270804954992.post-80969455189229033502020-06-26T11:05:00.000-07:002020-07-05T05:06:24.967-07:00Book of Sevens<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gae-n0Pb7Q">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gae-n0Pb7Q</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ibsresources.org/courses/revelation/revelation.shtml">http://ibsresources.org/courses/revelation/revelation.shtml</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">John's Revelation, a series of visions that go from Jesus to the Judgment, gives an overview of the reign of Jesus Christ, which began when He ascended to Heaven from the Mount of Olives, and will culminate with His coming again on resurrection day for the Judgement of all people who have ever lived. Revelation is a picture of the reign of Jesus, and ends with His complete victory over the forces of evil, with the last thing overcome being death, at our resurrection.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Paul, writing to believers at Thessaloniki, gives a picture of what happens when Jesus returns. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Coming of the Lord<br /><br />1 Thes. 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord,[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thes+4&version=ESV#fen-ESV-29602d">d</a>] that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught P together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Paul wrote to believers at Corinth about the reign of Jesus, and he tells us that Christ must reign until all His enemies are subjected to him, and the last enemy is death. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Resurrection of the Dead<br /><br />1 Cor 15:12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15&version=ESV#fen-ESV-28721b">b</a>] in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.<br /><br />20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15&version=ESV#fen-ESV-28729c">c</a>] has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Folks seem to want to apply the visions of Revelation to their own time. Jesus gave several parables about our being prepared, because we do not know the time of His return. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Since we meet the Lord after death, and we do not know when we will die, we should always be ready for His return, or for our death, whichever comes first. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many link the events of today with the idea of Antichrist, and candidates range from George Soros to Barach Obama, whoever is trying to set up a one world global community based upon secular humanist principles (atheistic communism). Maybe Putin should be a candidate? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But the Antichrist denies that Jesus had a human existence. Antichrist is a false teaching within the "Christian" community.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">1 John 2:18</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">1 John 2:22</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><span style="color: blue;">Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.</span><br /> <br /><span style="color: blue;">1 John 4:3</span><br /><span style="color: blue;">and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">2 John 1:7</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><span style="color: blue;">For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes the Harlot of Revelation is confused with antichrist. But the early church identified the Harlot of Revelation with Rome, the seven hilled city. The prophet Daniel promised that Rome would be destroyed by the Kingdom of Jesus. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts<br /><br />7:1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. 2 Daniel declared,[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%207&version=ESV#fen-ESV-21936a">a</a>] “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was like a lion and had eagles' wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. 5 And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’ 6 After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Ancient of Days Reigns<br /><br />9 “As I looked,<br />thrones were placed,<br /> and the Ancient of Days took his seat;<br />his clothing was white as snow,<br /> and the hair of his head like pure wool;<br />his throne was fiery flames;<br /> its wheels were burning fire.<br />10 A stream of fire issued<br /> and came out from before him;<br />a thousand thousands served him,<br /> and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him;<br />the court sat in judgment,<br /> and the books were opened.<br /><br />11 “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Son of Man Is Given Dominion<br /><br />13 “I saw in the night visions,<br />and behold, with the clouds of heaven<br /> there came one like a son of man,<br />and he came to the Ancient of Days<br /> and was presented before him.<br />14 And to him was given dominion<br /> and glory and a kingdom,<br />that all peoples, nations, and languages<br /> should serve him;<br />his dominion is an everlasting dominion,<br /> which shall not pass away,<br />and his kingdom one<br /> that shall not be destroyed.<br />Daniel's Vision Interpreted<br /><br />15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%207&version=ESV#fen-ESV-21949b">b</a>] was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. 16 I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things. 17 ‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’<br /><br />19 “Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet, 20 and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions. 21 As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.<br /><br />23 “Thus he said: ‘As for the fourth beast,<br />there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth,<br /> which shall be different from all the kingdoms,<br />and it shall devour the whole earth,<br /> and trample it down, and break it to pieces.<br />24 As for the ten horns,<br />out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise,<br /> and another shall arise after them;<br />he shall be different from the former ones,<br /> and shall put down three kings.<br />25 He shall speak words against the Most High,<br /> and shall wear out the saints of the Most High,<br /> and shall think to change the times and the law;<br />and they shall be given into his hand<br /> for a time, times, and half a time.<br />26 But the court shall sit in judgment,<br /> and his dominion shall be taken away,<br /> to be consumed and destroyed to the end.<br />27 And the kingdom and the dominion<br /> and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven<br /> shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High;<br />his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,<br /> and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%207&version=ESV#fen-ESV-21961c">c</a>]</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rome killed Paul and Peter, and Nero was famous for his persecution of those who believed and followed Jesus. Believers were commanded to offer worship to the Roman Emperor to prove their loyalty to the Pagan Roman Emperor worship cult. Those who refused to worship the Emperor were killed in horrible fashions, including burned at the stake, mauled by lions in the Colosseum, beheaded by sword or axe, even crucified upside down, as was Peter. After Nero's death, and after the destruction of the Temple at Jerusalem in 70 AD, the Emperor Domitian revived the horrible persecutions of believers. Domitian exiled Apostle John to Patmos, where John wrote the Revelation about 95 AD.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Earlier John had written that the Anti-Christ was already at work. </span></div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Warning Concerning Antichrists<br /><br />1 John 2:18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+2&version=ESV#fen-ESV-30554d">d</a>] 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+2&version=ESV#fen-ESV-30559e">e</a>]—eternal life.<br /><br />26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A huge division developed within the world wide community of believers in Jesus. The believers in the East were connected by the Metropolitan Bishops of large cities such as Antioch, Alexandria, and Constantinople. The believers in the West were influenced by Rome, which declared that the Roman Bishop was ruler of faith. The West developed a formula for identifying the faithful. They were required to say that Mary is the Mother of God. They taught a unity of the human and divine nature of Jesus, claiming that He is fully divine during his human adventure on Earth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many believers refused to say that Mary is the mother of God. Mary is the mother of the human nature of Jesus. Jesus is the son of David, through Mary, and conceived by the Holy Spirit, the Power of God, thus also Son of God. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But there was a sect of people who put their trust in human wisdom, who denied the human nature of Jesus. The Gnostics believed that the physical is basically evil, and that people need special knowledge and mystic relationship with God achieved by meditation. They denied that God could live as human, and said that Jesus only appeared to be human. Some call their belief Monophysite, one nature.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosticism">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosticism</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monophysitism">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monophysitism</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">earth. They denied the sacrificial basis of our salvation, and denied the clear facts of the gospel. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The first church councils of Bishops from cities east and west debated the nature of Jesus, whether He was always fully God, or if He had two natures, human and divine. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyophysitism">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyophysitism</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The biblical distinction about the human nature of Jesus was given by Paul in his letter to believers at Philippi. Jesus left His divine position as Logos, the Word of God, and became human, gave His human life as a sacrifice for sin (the wages of sin is death), was resurrected and ascended to Heaven. There He has been given all authority and power, ruling the Kingdom of God from the Throne of David.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Phil 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2&version=ESV#fen-ESV-29380a">a</a>]6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2&version=ESV#fen-ESV-29381b">b</a>] 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2&version=ESV#fen-ESV-29382c">c</a>] being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jesus Christ is Lord. The Revelation tells the story of the reign of Jesus. Some of the story is very disturbing, with blood flowing to the depth of a horse's bridle for 184 miles.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Harvest of the Earth<br /><br />Rev 14:14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” 16 So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped.<br />17 Then another angel came out the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse's bridle, for 1,600 stadia.[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2014&version=ESV#fen-ESV-30931c">c</a>] </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The earth and all its treasures will be destroyed. Therefore what should our focus be? Eternal life and eternal glory is offered to whosoever will have real faith in Jesus. Not faith only, but obedient, following faith. The faith represented by the number seven, complete in Him.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Day of the Lord<br /><br />1 Thes 5:1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers,[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians+5&version=ESV#fen-ESV-29606a">a</a>] you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians+5&version=ESV#fen-ESV-29610b">b</a>] of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.</span></div>
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rgoncehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11115453980069044809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295032270804954992.post-43227669761180321942020-06-14T17:20:00.002-07:002020-06-15T13:01:18.037-07:00Love never fails<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The English word love has a multitude of meanings, yet is used loosely in discussions about relationships and attitudes, with comments about loving each other being the solution to our civic problems. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am reminded of Woodstock, and the anti war protests of the sixties. Peace and love was the theme. But what happened at Woodstock did little to establish any meaning for the words peace and love. One of the songs of the time was "Where have all the flowers gone?" by Peter, Paul, and Mary. I have borrowed a phrase from that song, "When will we ever learn?" and used it for questioning civic theories. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I did not join in the protests, but neither did I enlist in the armed forces. I had enrolled in Air Force ROTC at Auburn. I did some marching and shoe polishing, and studies about war. But I was not drafted and did not volunteer. President J. F. Kennedy made college enrollment a basis for not being drafted, and by the time that ended, marriage was a draft deferment, and I was married. So I never served in the armed forces. But I do appreciate those who served, and am honored to be married to the daughter of Neill Ray, who gave his life in battle in Italy during World War II. And Colonel David Hackworth is an honored relative I share with cousin Joe Hogan. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hackworth">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hackworth</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So far as I know, rioting and looting to protest actions by civil authority does not show love. Also using particular phrases such as Black Lives Matter does not show love. We show love by actually helping the people we love. If we love all people, then we look for ways to actually help them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">How many times have you heard the phrase, "It is better to teach a man to fish, than to give him a few fish." Personal freedom, individual responsibility, and opportunity are useful for helping people have rewarding lives. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Too many are looking for an easy life, without concern for what they are contributing to the collective. Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">President Kennedy said, "</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country."</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.ushistory.org/documents/ask-not.htm">https://www.ushistory.org/documents/ask-not.htm</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">People living in the public housing ghettos of our cities have many problems, including unemployment and dis-functional family structures. The Great Society efforts to provide economic support to children in poor families made a huge mistake. Paying unwed mothers child support had the consequence of encouraging families without husbands. Fathers are important.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_family_structure">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_family_structure</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Love requires us to find a way forward that actually identifies and helps overcome the problems. Government cannot solve these problems. People who honor God's commandments and who want to live useful lives must be helped to have opportunity to step up to meaningful lives. Yes, Jesus teaches us to help each other as we have opportunity. Real help means making resources available that can make a difference in peoples lives by their personal engagement in activities that are useful to society. Love teaches a person to fish. </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/78-challenge-of-agape-love-the">https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/78-challenge-of-agape-love-the</a><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />The Way of Love<br /><br />1 COR 13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned,[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+cor+13&version=ESV#fen-ESV-28652a">a</a>] but have not love, I gain nothing.<br /><br />4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+cor+13&version=ESV#fen-ESV-28654b">b</a>]6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.<br /><br />8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.<br /><br />13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.</span></div>
rgoncehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11115453980069044809noreply@blogger.com1