General
Alas … but he lied to him
There is a problem when a supposed ally lies to you, you end up dead because of it, and then the ally says, “Alas, my brother.”
A little back history is that the kingdom of Israel was divided after Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, had inherited the kingdom and did not listen to the counsel of the advisors to his father. (Solomon was King David’s son. )
I Kings 12:6 (KJV) And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?
12:8 But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:
12:13 And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him;
So the kingdom was divided and the northern kingdom came under Jeroboam.
Jeroboam built an altar for that portion of the kingdom that broke away. It was an altar used to worship of the idol of the golden calf, not the Lord God.
I Kings 12:28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
29 And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.
30 And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.
31 And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.
32 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.
33 So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.
The image of the golden calf is what the children of Israel worshipped when they gave up on waiting for Moses to come down from the mountain. (Moses was on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments from God, but the children of Israel did not know that and did not know what had happened to him.)
Exodus 32:1 And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
2 And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.
3 And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.
4 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
The image of the golden calf remains until today.
Photo by Harri P on Unsplash
(The Charging Bull near Wall Street)
Statue of a bull outside Islamabad Stock Exchange, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Danish47, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
After Jeroboam built the altars to the calves, God sent a man of God to prophesy against the altar in Bethel. In the Old Testament, God used prophets to speak out against certain evils. After the man of God obeyed the Lord, another prophet lied to him and deceived the man of God. As the saying goes, “with friends like this, who needs enemies?”
The Bible is full of history of real people with real problems and how God keeps reaching out to broken humanity to help it. There are no perfect heroes in the Bible. The only perfect one is the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
I Kings 13:1 And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the Lord unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.
2 And he cried against the altar in the word of the Lord, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the Lord; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee.
3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the Lord hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.
4 And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him.
5 The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the Lord.
6 And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the Lord thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.
7 And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward.
8 And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place:
9 For so was it charged me by the word of the Lord, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest.
10 So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel.
11 Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father.
12 And their father said unto them, What way went he? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah.
13 And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the ass: and he rode thereon,
14 And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I am.
15 Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread.
16 And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place:
17 For it was said to me by the word of the Lord, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest.
18 He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.
19 So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water.
20 And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the Lord came unto the prophet that brought him back:
21 And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the Lord, and hast not kept the commandment which the Lord thy God commanded thee,
22 But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the Lord did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.
23 And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back.
24 And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase.
25 And, behold, men passed by, and saw the carcase cast in the way, and the lion standing by the carcase: and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt.
26 And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the Lord: therefore the Lord hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake unto him.
27 And he spake to his sons, saying, Saddle me the ass. And they saddled him.
28 And he went and found his carcase cast in the way, and the ass and the lion standing by the carcase: the lion had not eaten the carcase, nor torn the ass.
29 And the prophet took up the carcase of the man of God, and laid it upon the ass, and brought it back: and the old prophet came to the city, to mourn and to bury him.
30 And he laid his carcase in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, Alas, my brother!
31 And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spake to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones:
32 For the saying which he cried by the word of the Lord against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass.
33 After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places.
34 And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth.
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
Repost from ZeroHedge re: Christian Baker
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/christian-baker-who-refused-make-lgbt-cake-scores-legal-victory
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
Peace, Peace where there is no peace
Jeremiah 6:14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.
There is a problem that we cry and call and pray for peace without looking to remove the source that foments much of what happens around the world. There are actual entities and people that engineer conflict. That source, part of it, is in Washington, D.C. It stole the 2020 election. But it has done much more than that through the decades. It assassinated RFK Jr.’s uncle, and later also his father. It has sought to destroy President Trump. It lied about WMD’s in order to bring the United States into a war. It was behind the engineered 9-11 attack. It is behind much of the chaotic weather, engineered by weather warfare in one way or another. It opened the US border, defunded the police, had “mostly peaceful protests”, and instigated the January 6 riots. And if you go back in history you could list more. There is so much that comes out of Washington D.C. and its shadowy connections. We are told to pray for the bandaid of peace without cleaning out the putrefaction that is behind war. And let’s not forget Ukraine (which has been forgotten) and Hunter’s laptop and Burisma and the history of what brought Ukraine to today, which history involved the United States and NATO.
If there is no prayer and corresponding natural effort for the removal of the corruption within the tentacles of Washington, D.C., then it can only be expected to have more of the same somewhere else, sometime else. And it may be coming to a nation near you. This is not rocket science. It’s not prophetic. It is simply common sense.
“Do it once to me shame on you, do it twice to me, shame on me.”
Thomas Jefferson said this.
“‘If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around(these banks) will deprive the people of all property until their children wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.'” Thomas Jefferson Source
The author of the article points out that only 1% benefit. That 1% is behind war. And incidentally, in the language of double speak, that is why when there are those who will say that obvious destruction is “good for democracy” or “the economy has never been better”, it is because the destruction is good for their personal economy, for those who foment destruction. They are invested in the industries of war and picking up the pieces and collateral damage of war as investments at rock bottom prices. While multitudes are being destroyed and suffering, there is a certain tiny percentage that rakes in power and money. And that includes politicians and judges that are bribed to permit it to happen.
This has been quoted before, but worth repeating.
“I know you think you understand what you thought I said but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.” Alan Greenspan
If we keep wanting to pretend that all we need to do is pray and not deal with “cleaning up the act” in Washington, D.C., if we don’t want to wake up and grow up and deal with evil, then we can expect little else. People throw the responsibility to deal with evil upon God | Jesus. God gave the responsibility of this world to mankind. We are to be good stewards.
Personally, I think it will take other nations that are weary of what the United States has done and is doing and who will want some kind of international criminal tribunal against the evil. I personally would welcome this. There has been a coup in the United States, it is not being run according the Constitution. This should be obvious. I think other nations may be ones to help the United States “clean up its act” because they are tired of what comes out of Washington. Since we don’t have the moral rectitude to deal with things at home, God in his mercy may use someone else. It would be honorable if we could do that ourselves, but I don’t know if that will happen.
God gave man dominion. That has never changed. Adam lost it. Jesus won the legal right for mankind to have it back, though it has be picked up, accepted and used. And there are those that do fight, particularly in the Patriotic movement; in the political realm there is Trump and RFK Jr., and there are others. There is a certain amount of pushback and awareness among various groups and leaders, but apparently, not enough, since things continue.
On the 4th of October, I wrote this. This is nothing other than simple common sense and paying attention and sadly, it happened.
“And while we are on the topic, when there are wars generated for the military industrial complex, those who are invested in the industries of destruction stand to make a lot of money … at least until the last Ukrainian is killed and then maybe they will have to move elsewhere and start another war.”
Matthew 16:16 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
There has been a coup in this nation and even that is not widely acknowledged except among those who are labeled as “conspiracy theorists” by the fake news media. If we won’t acknowledge the problem and attempt to fix it, the problem will continue. This is not rocket science. It doesn’t take any special discernment to state the obvious.
Again, I don’t know if this can ever be fixed from within. There is such an unwillingness to deal with it that it may take other nations who can walk in greater righteousness. There has to be some change, at least in enough of humanity, for better results. We cannot throw our responsibilities on Jesus.
I Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
Repost: Johnny Cash sings The Battle Hymn Of The Republic
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms?
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Isaiah 14:4 (KJV) That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!
5 The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers.
6 He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth.
7 The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.
8 Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us.
9 Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.
10 All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?
11 Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;
17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?
18 All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house.
19 But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet.
20 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.
21 Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities.
22 For I will rise up against them, saith the Lord of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew, saith the Lord.
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
Is not the arrow beyond thee?
The book of Jonah indicates that there is a movement between mankind’s response and God’s response. The book of Jonah is towards the end of the Old Testament, only four chapters, and easy to read in one sitting. The Bible is actually a collection of smaller books bound together. Nineveh listened to Jonah’s message and things changed.
There are examples in the Bible where intercession changed outcomes. We are called to prayer and intercession to help change situations.
I Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
In any situation, a person “reads” the situation differently. If a family drives up to the summer cabin for vacation, the dad may see some yardwork to do, the mom may get busy in the kitchen, and the kids will go to the swings.
Jesus said, right before he ascended back to heaven … in brief, Jesus had risen from the dead, showed himself alive for 40 days, and then ascended … right before he ascended to heaven one of the things Jesus said was this:
Acts 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
That is part of a longer portion in Acts Chapter 1.
Acts 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
Reading the news or viewing the news nowadays involves to a certain extent extracting oneself from the psychological matrix that has been created to create a narrative that is given for public consumption. Some facts may be correct and some facts may not be widely published. The narrative is formed and created, not to say that there are not real things happening, but the who, what, where, when, why and how … the real who, what, where, when, why and how, may be adjusted to direct humanity’s view in one direction to avoid looking in another. It is the magician’s trick.
Remember the “mostly peaceful protests” with fires burning in the background?
There are things that go on that the instigators know, and the whistleblowers know (like the fraudulent Russian dossier, the fraudulent 2020 election results, the Hunter laptop, the actual January 6 instigators, where weapons and money sent to Ukraine are going, etc.) that others don’t know, until they do.
I Samuel 20:18 Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.
19 And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel.
20 And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.
21 And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, and no hurt; as the Lord liveth.
22 But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the Lord hath sent thee away.
23 And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the Lord be between thee and me for ever.
24 So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat.
25 And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, and David’s place was empty.
26 Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.
27 And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David’s place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day?
28 And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem:
29 And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king’s table.
30 Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother’s nakedness?
31 For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.
32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?
33 And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.
34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.
35 And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him.
36 And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
37 And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee?
38 And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan’s lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.
39 But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
The Door of the Sheep
(I am the door of the sheep)
[[File:Я дверь овцам. Картина XXI века.jpg|Я_дверь_овцам._Картина_XXI_века]]
Andrey Mironov, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Jesus connected who he was to being “the door of the sheep”, “the good shepherd”, “who giveth his life for the sheep”.
And it is in this that Jesus differs from “climbing up some other way”.
Jesus life, death (giveth his life for the sheep), burial, resurrection and ascension undid the consequences of the Fall in the garden of Eden.
Every other attempt to relate to God, even if it is full of good works, will not result in being born into the kingdom of God, being “born again”. Any attempt to reach God that does not go through Jesus as the Door is a thief and a robber of the new birth. The new birth, being birthed into the kingdom of heaven, is a sovereign work of the Holy Spirit entering into the heart of man, man’s part being to request it through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ and his redemptive work. “Ask and it shall be given you.” “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
John 10:1 (KJV) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
21 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.
24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
30 I and my Father are one.
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,
40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.
41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.
42 And many believed on him there.
Titus 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Good works proceed from being born again, not as a means to attain the kingdom of heaven.
Cornelius, a Roman Centurion, had good works, he gave alms or charity or donations as we might say today, but he still needed salvation, he still needed the born again experience. Here is his story and the back story of how Peter came to Cornelius to share the gospel with him. Even though he had been giving alms, God noticed, but Cornelius still need to hear the gospel, receive Christ, and be born again.
Acts 10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate,
18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and he had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
Buy the Truth and Sell It Not
David James Henry, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Today’s post will be in relation to internet browsing and AIs.
It is important to understand how much Google controls what you do or do not see. And according to this article, “tech platforms lean into viral trends, instead of quality news.” (Axios) It is good to read the whole article here.
[Let’s add to that statement about “viral trends,” who is creating the viral trends? AIs? Globalist inspired? Atheists? Those trends may be very much psychologically manipulated and based on fake news.]
So if you find a site that gives you good information, in any realm, in regards to your profession, your education, your church, anything, keep that url safe. You might not be able to easily find it again.
Proverbs 23:23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
When it comes to searches on Google, the scripture below applies. If you do a search for any topic, more of the same will appear. If you click on an ad, more the same will appear. You have probably noticed that if you are searching for something, whether shoes, tires or anything, the majority of the ads that appear relate to whatever you have been searching. Google draws your searches into more of the same.
Revelation 22:11 that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
In addition, after having found a site with information, that does not necessarily mean that the information is complete and / or correct. You need to know your sites and who runs them. AIs write a lot of what is on the internet. Sometimes there is an editor that goes over it, but sometimes not. And you can tell the really egregious AI errors. You need to find human beings who know what they are talking about, whatever the subject.
I’ve had this example for quite a while. If I link the site, the example might go away, but I have copied and pasted the original below. All I did was change out some nouns, verbs and made a few adjustments so the source article doesn’t go away. The original was as nonsensical as this. This was on a gardening site. The first paragraphs were decent. Then the article went to this (adjusted, as explained).
The coyote, which had travelled from the South, was killed on a Rhode Island highway while on the go. In the FAQs, the address 891). McIntosh apple, San Francisco orange, Taiwan pear, yellow lemon, green banana, purple banana, kiwi, garlic, sprouts, super kale, game system, and candy peach were just a few of the foods and drinks I had in my ice box. Other flowers are not shrubs; they produce fruit, but not from them. There isn’t much cold weather in northern Canada; in fact, it is not cold for very long. How a HVAC is installed and used is very much related to house construction and climate. In lots of geographical locations, but maybe not, I wouldn’t want to be there if it couldn’t. When gardening, don’t add soil beneath shrubs.
In addition to incomplete information or misinformation from AIs there is another AI issue. AIs can be used to post likes or dislikes. If you are placing your whole self worth on likes and dislikes, and AIs contribute to those dislikes, or even contribute to some of the comments, do you want to spend your life focused on what AIs say to you? Why place your future on what an AI is telling you?
Here is another problem. It may happen that AIs rewrite the Bible.
What are the implications? For one thing, buy an actual Bible. Have a real one in your possession. Don’t rely on the internet only. I realize when you are out and about you might want an electronic version but don’t assume it will always be available. What if the internet goes down?
Attend a live gospel preaching church. If you only read articles, how do you know if those articles are correct unless they are matched against information that is confirmed by knowledgeable preachers, pastors, teachers, and apologists? And again, if your the first “gospel” article you read is written by an AI, and then Google brings up more of the same (see the beginning part of the article) you can be sucked into a black hole of a false gospel.
II* Corinthians 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
And while we are on this topic, let’s just get out in front of it and point that some kind of “raising up from a mortal wound” kind of event for political advantage could be possible if a realistic looking AI is used. Cyborgs and doubles are already being used in politics. Between cyborgs and photoshop, it’s quite possible to make something realistic looking. Again, deal in real life with real people. Don’t be virtual only. Virtual realities are controlled by those who create the virtual realities. Do those who create virtual realities serve the Lord Jesus Christ? What other things are going on in the background when you are immersed in those virtual realities?
Revelation 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
* Older Bibles and research books use the Roman numeral numbering system. One of the ways to confuse the next generation is to dumb them down so they no longer understand what is being said and give up trying. Things are changed slightly over generations until one generation can no longer understand the information being passed on by another. Here is more information on the Roman numeral numbering system. You may have a Bible that uses the Roman numeral numbering system for I and II Corinthians, I Peter and II Peter, etc.
I = 1
II = 2
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
The Necessity for Righteous Leaders
Syrio, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
When there is bad natural human leadership, there is evil influencing that leadership.
There is always a dual kingdom. In the garden the serpent, a satanic spirit appearing in the form of a serpent, convinced Adam and Eve to give up what God had given them, which was Eden, a place of peace and prosperity, as well as the stewardship the Lord God had given Adam (God called their name Adam) over the world.
While that sounds fantastic, even today there are stories about elephants that paint or dolphins that can be trained or horses or dogs that can learn higher level routines. Going back to the beginning of time it is not too fantastic to understand things could be different than today in terms of communication. After all, Noah called the animals to the ark.
Genesis 7:1 And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
2 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.
3 Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.
4 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.
5 And Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him.
6 And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.
7 And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.
8 Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth,
9 There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah.
If someone who went by covered wagon two hundred years ago time travelled to today, that person would not comprehend today’s communication devices and iphones. We can’t judge the past by the present. We have to go back in history and try to understand the setting as it was then, not as it is today.
In any case, at the time of the Fall, a natural form of a serpent | evil influence was at play. It is no different today. When a natural flesh-and-blood politician (or cyborg) says that you should castrate your children or do some other crazy, destructive idea, then there is a physical person (or AI) mouthing an idea from an evil entity.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Jesus defeated satan and his minions at the cross. Jesus left it to the church to enforce that defeat in the name of Jesus.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Prayer works to remove these entities and as they are removed, those individuals connected to them go away.
But it is important that as people who are subject to evil spirits are removed from office, that there are trained righteous leaders to take their places. It is necessary to fill the house with righteousness, otherwise something 7X worse can happen.
Matthew 12:43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
This seven times principle is mentioned other places in scripture.
Leviticus 26:18 And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.
19 And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass:
20 And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits.
21 And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.
It’s almost like if we (mankind) can’t get it right the first time, it takes a much heavier chastisement to get the point across. It’s like the old writing sentences on the board. If ten times on the board doesn’t work, maybe 100 times will get the point across.
It is set in place like gravity. Due to translation, it sounds like God is doing it, but it’s more like if you drop a plate it will break. The law of gravity is in place.
Psalm 103:19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
“Though the mills of God grind slowly; Yet they grind exceeding small;
Though with patience He stands waiting, With exactness grinds He all.”
Friedrich von Logau
translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The point is, when things are cleaned out, righteousness needs to be ready to move in, to fill the house, to keep out a relapse of evil.
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
Different Rules, Different Muscles
When it comes to various sports, it is an accepted fact that there are different rules for each sport. There are also different muscles used in each sport. While you might have a Tim Tebow who moves from football to baseball, it would be unlikely for a heavy weight wrestler to move to ballet. There are different rules and different muscles for each sport.
And, regardless of the sport, it is necessary to be “all in” in order to succeed. If something is done half-heartedly, the results are less than satisfactory. A good coach looks for the person with the heart to the game, not one just going through the motions.
Likewise Jesus indicated that one has to be “all in.”
Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
One of the biggest tests of finances is the test of the tithe. Those who tithe, consistently, find out the promise is true. But those who dabble with tithing, and only tithe once in a while, may not be as enthusiastic, because sporadic tithing, like sporadic trips to the gym, may not yield the desired results.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
Malachi 3:6 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
Where should you tithe? You should tithe to wherever you get your spiritual food.
You don’t eat at McDonald’s and pay Wendy’s. Neither should you get your spiritual food from one church and pay elsewhere. You can give offerings to other things … missionaries, evangelistic crusades, outreaches like Samaritan’s Purse; there are many good places to give offerings and you should pray for direction from the Lord as to where to donate. But the tithe is the Lord’s and the storehouse is where you draw your spiritual meat from, likely your local church or maybe an online church.
If week after week you draw spiritual meat and strength and never give back, never pay your tithe, you put yourself in the position of being chastened.
Hebrews 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Years ago … years ago … there was someone who was able-bodied who would not work. Not … could not ….. but … would not. At one point in prayer, there was a word of knowledge that God hates a liar, and so the next thing you know, something happened and the person could not work, because he would not work when he could.
Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.
If you say that sounds harsh, sometimes for the salvation of a soul things get a little rough. Sometimes the only time someone will look up to God and pray is when that person is on his back in a hospital bed.
Acts 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.