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Found 16 results

  1. Hi. I’m so scared. About two weeks ago I started having cursing thoughts because I read verses about cursing in the Bible for example :- Genisis 9:25 he said, "Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers." and 1 Corinthians 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. these verses triggered me and I then started having thoghts in my head saying “curse” and I started getting tempted to think them about people and then I started praying to Jesus and then started getting tempted to think them about Him. I don’t feel emotions for Jesus and I don’t feel like connection and stuff with Him and it triggered me to think stuff. my head has been doing it for like over a week and I’m scared incase because I tube it hardened my heart. I’m scared because anyone I look at or think another my head gets tempted to think it about them. And Jesus. i want my heart to be soft for Him. (I received Him 10/11months ago I’m sure) But prayed to the Father most of the time until a few months ago. im scared for my soul. ? I asked Jesus for help all week and I’m scared because last night I read this verse:- Ecclesiastes 10:20 Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter. im always in my bedroom - barley leave it. my thoghts have been cursing Jesus is king Christians are rich and my head thoghts cursing thoghts. I don’t know what to do. I’m terrified. I’m scared about my standing with God. I want to be saved. I want to be with God.? I don’t even know if He’s with me. I’m scared because of the cursing thoghts and because of the state of the heart and Jesus and the thoghts about Him. thanks for reading
  2. Recently, a young married couple we know, who've only been save a year, ran into some difficulties financially. It wasn't a huge amount, but really there was no way they could pay two specific debts that they were responsible for legally, but morally ... well less certain. Most unfortunate. Anyway, my wife and I prayed about it - together and separately - and we both understood the Lord to say that we should redeem the debt. Anonymously. I'm not posting this about how wonderfully generous we are. We're not - for us (and many people at our stage in life) it's just not a big deal. But after I'd arranged the settlement, I found myself feeling intensely grateful to the Lord. I'm not big on analysing feelings, so I asked Him why. I thought it might be because we were in a position to help a brother and sister in need. But it turns out it wasn't that. I began to understand that as we had shown grace and mercy to this couple, that's a glimpse of the grace and mercy He's shown me and my wife in our lives. Redeeming us - literally spending Jesus's life for that, when we didn't deserve anything! He is so kind and generous. So loving and so full of grace and mercy - Hesed. Just wanted to share God's goodness. Be blessed.
  3. In the amazing sovereignty of God, my Palm Sunday search at Ligoneir.org brought up a message titled "A Puny God." All, please watch and listen to this. It is so appropriate at this time, when the infinite God is shaking the Church and the world with COVID-19 in His anger at sin. It could be so much worse and we deserve so much worse, but God is patient and not only holy, but gracious and merciful. In wrath, He will remember mercy (Habakkuk 3:2). A Puny God by Steven Lawson A Puny God by Steven Lawson If the church has a low view of God, its light will be dim, and the darkness will not be pushed back. Today, our... Love and God bless, Clive Campbell
  4. Because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. – James 2:13 We all have been shown great mercy in our lives. God has shown great compassion and forgiveness towards us in not counting our sins against us. We were in a place were God was ready to punish us and cause us great harm in sending us to hell for eternity for our great sins. Yet he showed great mercy and love towards us, forgiving our sins in his Son. When we therefore show no mercy to others, especially believers, we sin greatly. Warren Weirsbe says, “The most miserable prison in the world is the prison we make for ourselves when we refuse to show mercy.” Such a prison many believers are in not being able to show mercy to others but being a great benefiter of mercy from God. God came down from above as the compassionate one to forgive your sins, yet we cannot show compassion to the sins of another believer. Judgmentalism is one of the great sins in the Church, as we are always faulty in the way we see others, never knowing someones motives and heart (Jeremiah 17:9). When we learn to be full of mercy for others, we start to share the heart of Jesus Christ who did not judge but showed compassion to failing humanity. Look into the eyes of Jesus Christ now and see his wounds where he was pierced for you, can you say to him that you cannot forgive another? Have mercy to another? The Desert Fathers were those who sought the Lord in a life of prayer in solitude, they sought God for God Himself. These were some of the godliest followers of the Lord in that era of Church history. A story of a Desert Father on not judging says, “A brother in Scetis committed a fault. A council was called to which abba Moses was invited, but he refused to go to it. Then the priest sent someone to him, saying, ‘Come, for everyone is waiting for you’. So he got up and went. He took a leaking jug and filled it with water and carried it with him. The others came out to meet him and said, ‘what is this, father?’ The old man said to them, ‘My sins run out behind me, and I do not see them, and today I am coming to judge the errors of another.’ When they heard that, they said no more to the brother but forgave him.” If we see our sins as this old godly brother did, we will not judge but show mercy to a fellow believer on this journey with the Lord. If we judged our own selves we would see our failings as great and have great mercy to others. We should find ourselves as the publican calling out to God for mercy constantly (Luke 18:13). Just like the pharisee in the temple praying we can judge our fellow brothers, looking down on the errors of others, but not seeing our own. Lord have mercy on me and help me to be merciful to others. Amen.
  5. When I blow it – God longs to quickly restore me God’s door – it’s always open to me When I’m: -Seething with anger, resentment and unforgiveness, or -Wallowing in self-pity and seeking sympathy, or -Pouting with pride and self-justification, or -Overcome with guilt and self-loathing falsely believing this is humility, And therefore I’m unhappy, troubled and with a totally dark and negative outlook on everything and I suddenly realize where I am – in a pit – I should: Go to God immediately and nowhere else, for He will always lovingly cleanse and deliver me from my anger, self-pity, pride and guilt, and the misery of them. He will completely change my perspective on my circumstances and on people to one that is positive, light and peaceful so restoring my happiness and confidence in Him. Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 13:5&6 ...For He has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man can do to me. The more I do this, going directly to God when I’ve messed up and I’m in trouble, the more it becomes a good habit and the easier and quicker I’m able to do it. God’s love for me never changes, never diminishes, His welcome is unwavering no matter what I’ve said or done I can never wear it out. If He wants me to extend forgiveness to others at least seven times seventy times what do you think the extent of His forgiveness towards me is – limitless. Remember the prodigal son; he messed up big time, what happened when he turned back to his father (a symbol of God our Father)? Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. Jeremiah 31:3 (God speaking)...Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love: God will never not forgive me – I really need to know that. Whenever I go to Him, after stumbling, and spend time quietly alone with Him my determination should be that I’m not going to leave until He has made me right again. I seek Him with my whole heart knowing that He can always be found. I am instantly and sincerely ready to say I’m sorry for any and all the wrongs I may have done, because I know that Jesus purchased my forgiveness at Calvary by taking those sins I just committed on Himself. I am completely unafraid of God’s reproof or correction or instruction because He does it by His Spirit through His word and, since He is love, He always does it in love. I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I Peter 2:24 Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree... II Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: I John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love;... When I go to Him He never fails to restore me to peace and to cause a morsel of scripture to come alive to my heart and thereby to strengthen, comfort and establish me. It is very safe always to go to God when I’m in trouble, He never turns me away and He always blesses and refreshes me. John 6:37 ...He who comes to me I will by no means cast out. Acts 3:19 ...When the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; My enemy doesn’t want me to go to God When I yield to temptation and sin, be it pride, anger, self-pity or whatever, it wasn’t God that tempted me, it was Satan who the Bible describes as the tempter. Having then successfully tempted me it is Satan again who heaps accusing and condemnation thoughts on me for what I’ve just done. Part of that condemnation will always include how I do not deserve to be forgiven (as if forgiveness was on the basis of what I deserve) and therefore I shouldn’t even think about going to God. This thought coupled with the fact that I may not “feel” like going to God, because my flesh may want to savor its anger, pride or self-pity, keeps many believers from a quick recovery and they remain captives. These lying thoughts and feelings can only be overcome if my heart is established in the truth that God wants me to come to Him regardless, and if I then act on the truth instead of the lie. James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts He any man: 1 Cor. 7:5 ...That Satan tempt you not... Rom. 8:34 Who is he that condemns, is it Christ that died...? 1 Tim. 3:6 ...lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Of course if the enemy of my soul can trick me (that’s what “wiles of the devil” means) into believing that God was responsible for my fall with a thought such as “why did you let this happen to me God?” then Satan really has me in a headlock. Not only am I not going to God to free me, but now I have a resentment against God, the very worst thing a Christian can possibly do. Once again, it is only my knowing the truth in my heart that God always desires to either lead me away from temptation or sustain me in and deliver me from the temptation that will keep me from this awful snare of the devil. Mat. 6:13(God wants me to pray and believe daily) And do not lead me into temptation (so that He can then always lead me out of it). 1 Cor. 10:13 There is no temptation that has taken you that isn’t common to man but God is faithful and will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able to bear, but will along with the temptation also make a way of escape that you might be able to bear it. Hebrews 2:18 For in that He (Jesus) Himself has suffered being tempted, He is able to aid (assist and relieve) those who are tempted. I am in a war, the battle is in my thought life & it’s only winnable through God, Whether we know it or like it or not we Christians are constantly engaged in warfare and it’s a thought warfare. Unless I know the truth in my heart, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God is always good to me, always does the right thing, will always take care of me and can be utterly trusted, then I will be dead meat in the hands of my enemy. I will inevitably fall easy prey to the fiery darts of the character assassinating thoughts he gives me about God. Oh but when I believe in the unchanging goodness of God, turn quickly towards Him in my heart when trouble comes and stay anchored to the truth of His word, then the devil is dead meat and runs away in fear. Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles (deceiving thoughts) of the devil. Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood (people), but against ...wicked spirits... Psa. 27:13 I would have lost heart (and given up the fight) unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord... Psalms 145:9 The LORD is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works. James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. When I know who my enemy is, it’s easier to always forgive people, as I should. Pride, anger and self-pity always come with contention, hostility and resentment towards other people, which will remain as invisible prison bars, with me the prisoner, until I forgive everyone of everything. This forgiveness is made easier when I understand that Christian people (me included) often do and say things contrary to their true nature when their thoughts, words and deeds are to varying degrees under the influence of wicked spirits. Unsaved people, according to the Bible, are unknowingly, by virtue of their being unsaved, much more heavily influenced by demons. It would be foolish of me to expect godly behavior from an unsaved and therefore ungodly person. Yes, as the scripture in Ephesians quoted above says, my fight is really not with people but with the spirits behind the people. Eph. 2:2-3 ...Following the prince of the power of the air (you were (Amp. Version) obedient to him and under his control) the demon spirit that still constantly works in the sons of disobedience...among these we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves... When these realities are combined with the fact that the one who extended mercy towards me and my sins, requires and will enable me to extend the same mercy to others, then granting forgiveness becomes both desirable and achievable. Especially since the alternative, of harboring unforgiveness towards another, forfeits my own forgiveness from God. Mat. 10:8 ...Freely you have received (forgiveness) freely give Eph. 4:32 ...Forgiving one another even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you. Phil. 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Mat. 6:15 But If you do not forgive men (everyone of every thing) their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. The same spirits that may have induced a person to wrong me will endeavor, through thoughts, to induce me to not forgive them. If I am to remain free I must come down on the side of God’s truth, knowing that He will empower me to do so, and, regardless of my feelings or even if the person is sorry, forgive them. After I’ve blown it and God has restored me, When I’m restored and learning to live more at peace in the spirit than in the flesh and troubled, it would be wise for me to let God start to strengthen my heart with His word in the area(s) of my weakness. Whether that weakness is anger, self-pity, pride, condemnation or whatever God not only will restore me when I fall but better yet His living words in my heart will literally change me so that I’m no longer vulnerable to falling in the same pit over and over again. Under the New Covenant God no longer requires that I measure up through self-effort and will power to His standard of right behavior, no, He offers to change my nature and actually make me more like Jesus. How, through planting individual scriptures in my heart as living seeds – these words of His in me are alive and very powerful and are the exclusive way God transforms a Christian into the image and likeness of His Son. Heb. 4:12 The word of God is alive and powerful... 1 Thes.2:13 ...The word of God which works mightily also in you that believe 2Cor 3:18 But we all...are being changed into the same image (of Jesus) Rom.8:29 ...To be conformed to the image of His Son... Scriptures, any one of which, if in my heart, will change my nature, Anger: The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger; and it is to his glory to overlook a transgression. Proverbs 19:11 Self-pity: For consider Him that endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. Hebrews 12:3 Pride: Only by pride comes contention (arguing and quarreling).. Prov.13:10 Guilt: There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Rom. 8:1 Thank you Father for Your forgiveness!
  6. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. – Jonah 4:2 We all know the story of the prophet who was swallowed by the fish. Children are amused and enough the thought of it! Yet as adults when we take time to read through the details we realize a much more serious and importance message is being given to us. Jonah was a holy prophet and admired by the people of Israel. He heard the voice of God many times and obeyed in sharing the truth with the people of God. But when the voice of the Lord told him to go to a very wicked people who worshipped the fish god, Jonah said no. He went the opposite direction in a boat but the Lord had a way of getting his attention and encouraging him to obey and speak repentance to those people. Jonah had seen time and time again God show mercy to Israel when they did not deserve it and it turned his stomach to think he would show mercy to the very wicked people of Nineveh. Even after preaching and seeing the peoples repentance Jonah still felt that God should judge them in some way (Jonah 4:1). We all can be like Jonah at times, especially if we are the people who have been hurt by others. The people of Nineveh enslaved and caused great harm to Israel before so the thought of forgiving them and even God showing mercy to have them become believers was too much for Israel or their prophet Jonah to accept. Have we been hurt by others in the world who we have not forgiven? Maybe we have forgiven them but do we want them to be saved? St. Benedict of Nursia says, “To hate no one. Not to be jealous or envious. To hate strife. To evidence no arrogance. Never despair of God’s mercy.” God’s heart is full of grace, meaning he wants to extend his love and mercy to those who do not deserve it especially. God is compassionate and very slow to anger against those that we feel deserve it. We are never called to hate anyone, desire evil for anyone, if we share the true Spirit of Christ we will seek for mercy and love for all of humanity. This also extends to the body of Christ that we would seek the good of all those who call upon the Name of the Lord.
  7. This entire blog was spawned from a sermon entitled, What about Jacob? Or, can a man find healing in a woman? To make this brief, I did not understand, nor was I able to track with what the pastor said, as he tried to prove his point about Jacob. Sorry, I can't really see it but I am enjoying the study, as usual. As we finished part one of our look at Jacob, the grand deception was complete. Do you think Rebekah and Jacob gleefully danced around the campfire that night as they celebrated how well they pulled it off? Hardly, for Esau, as you will see, has every intention of killing Jacob once Isaac is dead. Notice how there is no concern on the part of Esau for how this will affect his mother. And, all this evokes another question, is it possible for Esau to regain his birthright? I don't think so, at least not in God's eyes. Cheating not only Esau but your father as well, you would think that Jacob would be gone already, but only minutes from now Issac calls Jacob before him and commands him to not a wife from the same cluster of women that Esau had chosen from. Isaac directs Jacob to Laban, Rebekah's brother. Maybe, Isaac knows full well what kind of man Laban can be considering the backhanded maneuver Rebekah has just pulled on Isaac. With that said, let's continue on. I mentioned in the previous post, that Esau did not take this selling of the birthright serious. If he had Wouldn't it seem logical to say something to Isaac? Wouldn't Isaac have known? Why would Esau bother to respond Isaac as though there was not a problem? “As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac, his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting.” Jacob logically only has seconds to get out of Esau's presence, and, his fathers. Genesis 27:30-37 ESV As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac, his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting. He also prepared delicious food and brought it to his father. And he said to his father, "Let my father arise and eat of his son's game, that you may bless me." His father Isaac said to him, "Who are you?" He answered, "I am your son, your firstborn, Esau." Then Isaac trembled very violently and said, "Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed." As soon as Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry and said to his father, "Bless me, even me also, O my father!" But he said, "Your brother came deceitfully, and he has taken away your blessing." Esau said, "Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing." Then he said, "Have you not reserved a blessing for me?" Isaac answered and said to Esau, "Behold, I have made him lord over you, and all his brothers I have given to him for servants, and with grain and wine I have sustained him. What then can I do for you, my son?" The deception is pulled off, and now you would think that Jacob has to flee, an exile. And Esau is the reason. Genesis 27:38-41 NASB Esau said to his father, "Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father." So Esau lifted his voice and wept. 39) Then, Isaac, his father answered and said to him, "Behold, away from the fertility of the earth shall be your dwelling, And away from the dew of heaven from above. 40) "By your sword, you shall live, And your brother you shall serve; But it shall come about when you become restless, That you will break his yoke from your neck." 41) So Esau bore a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him; and Esau said to himself, "The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob." So Rebekah calls Jacob in once again. Genesis 27:42-45 NASB Now when the words of her elder son Esau were reported to Rebekah, she sent and called her younger son Jacob, and said to him, "Behold your brother Esau is consoling himself concerning you by planning to kill you. 43) "Now, therefore, my son, obey my voice, and arise, flee to Haran, to my brother Laban! 44) "Stay with him a few days, until your brother's fury subsides, 45) until your brother's anger against you subsides and he forgets what you did to him. Then I will send and get you from there. Why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?" But Jacob still hasn't left. To make matters worse, we now learn of Esau's wives and what grief they are causing Rebekah. Genesis 27:45 NASB until your brother's anger against you subsides and he forgets what you did to him. Then I will send and get you from there. Why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?" In response to Rebekah, Issac calls Jacob in once more. Genesis 28:1-5 NASB So Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and charged him, and said to him, "You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan. 2) "Arise, go to Paddan-aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother's father; and from there take to yourself a wife from the daughters of Laban your mother's brother. 3) "May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples. 4) "May He also give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your descendants with you, that you may possess the land of your sojournings, which God gave to Abraham." 5) Then Isaac sent Jacob away, and he went to Paddan-aram to Laban, son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau. While Isaac's command is that he get a wife from Laban's daughters, we don't see anything that tells us he knows what he is looking for. Jacob, in a sense, stumbles upon Rachel, and she is a vision of how a girl should look. He wants her and is willing to work for her to get her. There is an irony here in that Rachel, is not an accident by any means, for Laban, her father is Jacob's uncle. (Consider: If Rebekah knew how to be devious it only makes sense that Laban, Rachel's father, would also know how to be underhanded.) Jacob makes no effort to negotiate for her but tells Laban that he will work seven years for her. (That timeframe may be significant on several levels. Seven is the number of perfection, redemption, and a theme that recurs throughout scripture.) It may be essential to consider Rachel's age at this time. I doubt he would have pursued her if he did not think she was old enough to marry. “Joseph married at about age 30 (Gen_41:45). This was old by Egyptian standards, since most males were still only boys when they married. Yet it is clear that a boy had to be not only sexually mature but also able to provide for his wife and thus settled in his occupation before he married. Girls seem to have married between about twelve and fourteen. They did not have to wait until established in a career. Some royal marriages, occurring for dynastic or other political reasons, took place when the individuals were very young. For example, Tutankhamen died at the age of eighteen or nineteen after a nine-year reign and marriage, so he must have been nine or ten when married.” NELSON'S Bible Manners & Customs, How the People of the Bible Really Lived, Howard F. Vos, THOMAS NELSON PUBLISHERS Jacob does not do what many desperate men would do, and rape her, he waits the seven years. He then goes to Laban and demands that she be given to him for he has paid for her. Laban deceives Jacob just as Jacob had deceived Esau and gave him Leah. Laban makes a statement here, in response to Jacob's shock and disappointment, that I never noticed before. And Laban answered It is not done thus in our country, to give the younger before the elder. Genesis 29:26 Brenton) As that particular pastor exclaimed: "this had to cut Jacob like a knife, as this is precisely what Jacob and his mother had done to Esau.” And, Uncle Laban may well have been told of it. If not, it is amazing how the Holy Spirit puts words in your mouth. According to the pastor, the premise behind all this is that Jacob, a broken man, (I am not so sure he could understand that for a long time,) pursues Rachel, the vision of perfection, in hopes that she would heal him and make him a better man. I am not sure I see all that, but it makes sense, as most men do just that. While the hope of finding something that calms the inward brokenness he feels may be going on in the back of his mind, it is not directly noted in scripture; many things aren't, and yet the more in-depth answers and subjects are there if we pursue them. One of the things that I see in scripture is that God is in control, regardless of how lousy the circumstances seem to be. The pastor said, “that God gives us examples of people who are messed up so that we can know what not to do.” If that theory is correct, then why would God tell Israel, explicitly, not to learn from the surrounding nations, for the surrounding nations were doing everything wrong, worshiping idols, and sacrificing their children to gods. While I might argue that learning from my neighbor how to work with Iron could be a necessity that would allow a civilization to create water pipes. However, there is often a hazard in close associations, especially with those not so grounded, as it can cause us to be drawn away by the deviant and those used by Satan. Along with that, I have had several acquaintances that claimed to be Christians. One, it turns out, was in a men's home (the men's home is somewhat irrelevant except that you can make an obvious assumption - and that is that the person from the home has had some mighty struggles in the past.) While the leadership of the men's home had mandated church services and Bible studies they had to attend, they could not seem to get the world out of this brother. He, in a short period, took a job on the night crew, and I rarely saw him after that. His reattachment to the world seemed to grow and he left the group home he was a part of. You shall make no covenant with them or with their gods. They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against Me; for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you. (Exodus 23:32-33 AMP) And you shall consume all the peoples whom the Lord your God will give over to you; your eye shall not pity them, neither shall you serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you. (Deuteronomy 7:16 AMP) You didn't merely live by their ways and act according to their disgusting practices, but in a very short time, you acted more corruptly than they in all your ways. (Ezekiel 16:47 CJB) Is it the person becoming the snare? Perhaps, but what we do know is that Satan will deceive you through any means possible. In some cases, it might be an innocent but attractive looking woman. Yes, Jacob's life is one huge psychodrama. He is a liar, a cheat, and a general a mess; he does not even seem to slow down all those years later when he meets Esau again. But there is a method to God's madness. God seems to use broken people; he even seeks them out. He seems to find pleasure in lifting them up and healing them. On the plus side, our savior is a descendant of the line from Jacob. My point: That no matter how messed up the narrative, or, our story is, we can and should glean as much as we can from each one, for it is God's story. Sure, you think it is all yours, but it is never anything less than God's plan, you merely get to be a part of it. "For I know what plans I have in mind for you,' says Adonai, plans for well-being, not for bad things; so that you can have hope and a future. " (Jeremiah 29:11 CJB)
  8. Matthew 12: 1-21 · Matthew 12:2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” This reminds me that the Pharisees often accuse without knowing the purpose, heart of a man, or the reason that things are done. They are just looking to find fault with others, or look superior over people. This is a great reminder of how we ought not to be. Another good reference of this type of behavior is in Luke 18:9-14. It says, To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people-robbers, evildoers, adulterers-or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' " I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." · Matthew 12:7 If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’[a] you would not have condemned the innocent. God wants us to be obedient, but He wants us to be merciful with others because He’s been merciful with us. How we show Him love is obedience and how we show others love is by our treatment of them, which should be kind. · Matthew 12:13-14 Then he (Jesus) said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. The thing that stood out to me the most is that Jesus does good, restores, and heals a man, and right after that good work the Pharisees look to harm, destroy, and even kill Jesus. We too are told that for following Jesus we will be hated in this way. Matthew 10:22, "You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.” I think sometimes right after we do good, the enemy attacks, so we need to be on guard and not surprised when this happens. LEVITICUS 14 · Just a general thought of this passage. When I read about the very specific details in just one aspect of following the law, I realize how hard it would be to live up to every aspect of the law. On the flip side, I think it would be nice to know that when you do the process of cleansing that molds and skin diseases (including sores) would be gone. · Leviticus 14:33-34 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “………..I put a spreading mold in a house in that land…..”. I find it interesting that the Lord is the one that put the mold in the house. Why would He do such a thing? Was it to create obedience in that individual’s life, was it punishment for sin, or something else? There is definitely a purpose/reason to all that God does, but sometimes from a human perspective, it’s hard to understand. PROVERBS 26 · Proverbs 26:2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. I get why a curse would be fluttering (constant) source of sorrow or difficulty, but does anyone know why it’s undeserved? · Proverbs 26:4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. I think this is a good reminder not to engage in debate with someone that is just trying to fight, unwilling to learn, and unwise in their beliefs. I think if we do, we can get sucked in to their drama, arguing, and it is not profitable at all, and we become like them which we don’t want to be like.
  9. Ok. I am a new member here, and I really need some advice. I am a Christian and I have a pretty close relationship with God. I'm having trouble knowing what God wants me to do in the situation I am in. I have 2 sisters, both older than me. My oldest sister is annoying and I have trouble getting along with her occaisionally, but she isn't overly bad or abusive. My middle sister, however, has caused so much drama and pain and upset to all of us for the past 5 or so years. She moved out because she got mad at our mother over something stupid and left to live at their dad's house. I have a different dad than them. She got really into alcohol and drugs and almost died in a bathtub. Then she decided she was Christian and went to church every Sunday and acted all proper after she quit the drugs. That only lasted a few months however, and she was only doing it to get approval from her dads side of the family. Well she worked with a bunch of rather, well, sleazy people and had all this casual sex and all these boyfriends and does all these absolutely terrible things and still acts like she's such a good Christian. I'm not saying I don't sin and I don't do bad things. None of us are worthy of gods gift. But the bible clearly says that if you talk the talk you should walk the walk and she doesn't even TRY. She has become rather abusive towards our mother verbally, and even hit her Sunday when she told her to quit arguing with her boyfriend in the store in the phone because we were getting uncomfortable. She punched my mom in the chest and my mom has a bad back so her back went out from the twisting motion. I wanted so badly to hurt her for doing that to our mother. Livid doesn't even begin to describe it. I managed to turn the other cheek and not hit her, but I'm now struggling with how we should handle her. I love her, she's my sister, but it just isn't healthy for us to be around her. God says to show mercy to those who don't deserve it, and I want to, but I also need to put my foot down and give her an ultimatum. Either she straightens up and quits dating trashy men and abusing our mom, or she isn't welcome anymore. Is this too harsh? Would that be unmerciful?
  10. We Are Fighting Demons More Than Democrats Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions. Proverbs 10:12 (New American Standard Bible) ........ What I’m calling for is simple and clear. It is for followers of Jesus to seek God’s face in prayer with a deep sense of urgency, asking Him to have mercy on our nation. It is for us to humble ourselves before Him in deep repentance for our own sins and failings. It is for us to renew our commitment to the Great Commission and to focus once again on winning the lost and making disciples. It is for us to shine like lights in dark places, confronting evil and injustice, helping the poor and the hurting, making a tangible difference for good wherever God has placed us. It is for us to live in the light of eternity, recognizing that what we do (or don’t do) in our time on earth will have implications in both this world and the world to come. In short, it is for us to take the Bible seriously, and that means submitting to God, resisting the devil, and pushing back the forces of darkness by the power of the gospel. Not only can it be done, with God’s gracious help, it must be done. Are you with me? https://townhall.com/columnists/michaelbrown/2017/03/30/we-are-fighting-demons-more-than-democrats-n2306510
  11. Matthew 6:11 - "Give us this day our daily bread". IS ANYONE STARVING IN HEAVEN? HEAVEN SETS THE STANDARD FOR A CHRISTIAN'S MATERIAL WORLD - ENOUGH TO SATISFY THE DESIRES BORN OF GOD AND ENOUGH "FOR EVERY GOOD WORK." OUR LEGAL BASIS FOR PROVISION COMES FROM THE HEAVENLY MODEL GIVEN TO US IN CHRIST JESUS: "AND MY GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEED ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY BY CHRIST JESUS." ACCORDING TO WHAT? HIS RICHES. WHERE? IN GLORY. HEAVEN'S RESOURCES ARE TO AFFECT US HERE AND NOW. 2 Corinthians 9:8 - "And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need, be self-sufficient - possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation." Ephesians 2:8 - "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." Paul says that grace saves us "through faith." Faith unlocks the power of grace and releases it to function in our world--and faith itself is another gift of God. The difference between both gifts is, the grace-gift must be activated by the faith-gift. WE MUST: 1. Believe that God is "rich in mercy". 2. We must accept as true that God loves us with "great love." 3. We must not doubt that He atoned for "our transgressions." 4. We must be confident we are "alive together with Christ." John 1:16 - "For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace." AFFIRMATIONS: I don't postpone my breakthrough -- I believe that God's grace is here to release me! I don't run from the mountains in my life -- I face them with faith -- and shout "Grace, grace" to them and let God make my mountains into "a plain." I speak to the mountain of discouragement, sickness or financial need -- GRACE, GRACE! John 17:17 - "Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth." Jesus was saying, "Father, purify them of the lies and illusions of this age through your penetrating word." Paul tells us that Christ sanctifies the church by cleansing her "by washing of water through the word....that she should be holy and blameless." (Ephesians 5:26,27) This then, embracing that truth and allowing the word of truth to do its work of sanctification (THROUGH AFFIRMATION, MEDITATION, AND SEEING YOURSELFIN THE TRUTH), cleansing and purification in our lives, is the process through which we become holy. Loving the truth is the beginning of our freedom from sin. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  12. So this is a very long story but I am going to make it as short as I possibly can. I must also apologize I am new, this is my first post, and I am unaware of the political/religious beliefs/boundaries you all have. I'm also not sure if this was the correct place to post something like this. In June I was diagnosed with an incurable disease and it has basically devastated every part of my life. I have put my life on pause for now as I am on a spiritual journey. My past consists of a very spirit filled family but much tragedy. My family used to consist of a pretty good number of people but because of disease many people died far too early. All of these tragedies happened before I was born but all of the miraculous events also happened before I was born. So the faith I have always had was more like "belief." Which consisted of the basics. Fast forward 25 years, I myself am a chemical engineer, so when I found out I was sick I intially turned to my mind and exhausted every possible option that mankind has to offer which left me back at square 1. I figured I was like the story of the guy who gets lost at sea and prays to God to save him, while a boat and a kayak come up to pull the guy out of the water, he says no no God will save me, he drowns, asks God why he didn't save him and God says, I tried. So I turned to God in September which was in the midst of what can only be described as the worst depression that you can imagine. I lost 30 pounds in a mater of a couple weeks, wasnt eating, was so anxious I couldnt sleep for days, I would pace like a lion at home, constant racing thoughts and I was so suicidal I thought of myself as too worthless to even kill myself, all I would be is a further burden. Fast forward a bit, saw a counselor which helped and started to meet with multiple religious figures and spiritual learders weekly. So I went further into it (faith). My prayer life started to increase and things, coincidences, which I hear don't exist with people of faith, started to happen regularly. Thankfully my family has ties to many still living spiritual people, one in particular, prayed for me and in the middle busted out in tongues which I had never experienced or heard before and he was the only person I had a physical manifestation from after his prayer, 5 or 6 surges, kind of like goosbumps, but very quickly all in a row. I had further medical testing done which could not pick up the previously detected disease, however still left room for error. I took to scripture as I did science, reading and researching, studying all I could. After enough preparation I performed a self-deliverance which rid me of all the voices and constant thoughts in my head. Which I was told sounds like a successful deliverance. I prayed, almost constantly, almost every waking moment of the day I was praying or studying scripture. "Things" really started to happen (which if anyone cares to know I'll post as a response I have a directive for right now). I had joined a bible study group and they had been pushing me to be baptized for weeks and weeks. I was resistant, I was still somewhat suicidal, and when I make a commitment to something as big as baptism I don't quit, and my battle wasnt that I could quit on God, but quit on life. I also wanted it to be genuine, I didn't want to feel like I was using God to get something, which I really was all in all, but I didnt want it to feel thag way. I eventually was baptized in late Oct/early Nov. I started to research about the gifts of the holy spirit, a hot topic I soon learned, not something openly talked about. I wanted these gifts, I coveted them. Not because I wanted more from God but because, - Im not acquainted with any of you but if you have ever had something happen to you that no one can do anything about, where divine intervantion is your only option, and don't say your grandma or even your kid was sick yadda yadda, I know these things are sad, but rhere js something different when it happens to you, something innately different. This caused me to change, my whole perspective on life, you appreciate anything and everything, I havent driven in my car with the music on in 6 months, so I can look outside, feel and smell the air, your desires, aspirations, goals, and dreams all change - but because I wanted to help people. My family had two miracles happen, both to people who sadly died of other things not too long after, but both were miraculously healed of things with no medical expliantion. I not only wanted to be healed but I wanted to spread the love and the possibilities and the power that is God. Just before thanksgiving I began speaking in tongues, so for all you doubters, its real, its not fake, and I have even recorded and looked up some phrases that I noticed I kept repeating, and they turned out to be real words in other languages. These languages changed, from Italian all the way to Japanese. Mind you all I speak is a little bit if German, and fluent English and pig latin....ha. I was practicing this daily, yes you can voluntarily do it, its some not power that takes over your body, I would do it and shortly after I would be exhausted no matter what time it was and I would have vivid dreams if I spoke in tongues before I fell asleep. For me to remember my dreams was highly unusual. Then I started to do it less and almost not at all last week. Then last Friday I decided to do it right before I went to sleep, I didnt do it for very long, just something quick and I ended up having the most intense dream I have ever had. A dream within a dream, which I have never had before, and it had the D....the devil in it. (A pretty detailed summary of that I also have if you're interested and I would be interested especially if someone on here has the ability to interpret dreams). So now what I wrote all of this for, I am looking for a legitimate, credible, person with the gift of healing. Not exactly found in the yellow pages. Don't direct me to any of these televangelists, Binny Hinn, and all his wannabees. These people are frauds, Matthew 10:8 "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." Jesus was humble, he didn't broadcast his abilities, his apostles did, the believers did, and he didn't turn anyone away. I have found some in my couple months of searching. These are people you won't find on TV or on the news or in a legal investigation. These are humble quiet people in regular houses with no microphones, no radio stations, and lead the average life. The man who prayed over me believes he has the gift of healing. I found an elderly woman who has documented healings near me. I also found out about a lutheran pastor on the East coast after pulling my own pastor's teeth if he knew someone, apparently he knows another but this guy's job could be injeopardy if it got out. Apparently much of the modern church is against people being relieved of suffering at the hand of those blessed with spreading the work of God. I live in the Chicago suburbs, so in that general area would be nice, but this isnt just finding a good pizza place, this is to ascertain a miracle, I'll go anywhere. If you would need to contact me perosnally we can figure that out, not sure how lol, but I don't intend on having anyone's name blasted out who prefers privacy. Thank you for your time, this platform, and your help. God bless.
  13. Luke 9:23 - "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me." Spiritual storms, winds, and billows will blow into our lives, pulling us this way and that. Sometimes, in the face of winds and danger, we know there is a place of safety in God, but still we don't fly to that safe place in Him. Instead, we fly away, resisting the wisdom that tells us to fly to Him. Why do we all seem to do this? Because we all know in our spirits what flying toward Him will mean. We know it will require first going to the Cross. Peace, safety, comfort, rest are found in God, but testing and discomfort are also woven into His design. Therefore, we should turn around and start running toward what is uncomfortable, because that is exactly where we are going to find Him. We will find our rest only after we choose to nest on a crossbeam. David knew this. In Psalm 84, he tells us to fly to that place in God – the secret place, often the place of our greatest testing, known only to God and us. By abiding in this place, we build a strong history with God. Every trial and storm He brings us through becomes a part of the nest. Day by day, He lines our nest with His faithfulness, His goodness, His mercy, and His comfort. We rest secure in His strong tower, built to last. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  14. 1. What is a righteousness consciousness? Answer: Righteousness consciousness is the state of being aware of your right standing with God. Righteousness means the ability to stand in the presence of Father God without the sense of guilt, inferiority or condemnation. "But if Christ lives in you, although your bodies are going to die because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because you have been put right with God." - Romans 8:10 "And He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. - 1 Peter 2:24 2. Why are we the righteousness of God? Answer: We are righteous because of God's love, because of who we are in Christ not because of our own conduct. our righteousness is not because we have done something to deserve it; but because God has chosen not to hold sin against us. "For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." - Ephesians 2:10 "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." - 2 Corinthians 5:21 3. How is it possible to believe that God loves you with the same love that he loves Jesus? Answer: Answer in the scriptures. "He was given over to die because of our sins, and was raised to life to put us right with God." - Romans 4:25 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." - John 3:16 "In our union with Christ Jesus He raised us up with Him to rule with Him in the heavenly world. He did this to demonstrate for all time to come the extraordinary greatness of his grace in the love He showed us in Christ Jesus." - Ephesians 2:6,7 4. Explain how you can develop a righteousness consciousness? Answer: Allow the Holy Spirit to paint a picture on the inside of you by meditationg on God's loving kindness. His grace, and His mercy towards you. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." - Matthew 6:33 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neaither can you unless you abide in Me." - John 15:4 5. What result or effect does right standing with God have on your relationship with him? Answer: It builds our confidence in God's willingness to use His power in our behalf. We become aware of His love for us and perfect love casts out fear. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whetever you wish, and it will be done for you." - John 15:7 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has torment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us." - 1 John 4:18 INTO ACTION: Affirm and meditate on the indicated scriptures several times daily until the renewing of your mind is made real to your spirit. AFFIRMATIONS: God imputes righteousness to me since I believe the He raised Jesus from the dead for my justification. (Romans 4:24.25) God loves me with the same love that He loves Jesus. (John 17:26) God, who is rich in mercy and love, has quickened me with Christ and has raise me up tobether with Christ and made me sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4-6) ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  15. One Sunday morning, as I was on my way to Church I encountered a big and vicious looking stray dog. It started to run towards me, while barking and forcing. I was so terrified that I did not know what next to do. As the dog got about 4 feet close to me, instantly I shouted, "Jesus help me"! Immediately, the dog stopped, turned around and ran away in fear. His name is above all names, and at the mention of His name every knee must bow.
  16. There is no hell right now. The dead from the past, bad or good, are in their graves. when the word "hell" is used many times over in the Bible is means grave or pit. The majority of times the greek word hades is used or Hebrew's " sheof ' 2Peter 2:4 uses tartarus which means restrained referring only to the fallen angels. Gehenna is the only soul killer. Think of the billions that have died without knowing Christ. Where are they now? Dante's Inferno is responsible for a lot of misunderstanding. No one currently dead are being tortured in a hell fire now. That torment is only reserved for Satan and his demons.Matt 25:41 None of our loved ones are suffering right now. Since we have mortal souls 1 cor 15:53-54 and can perish in Gehenna, only the unrepenting souls will be thrown in and burn up completely.Those saved will become immortal spirits-the others will experience the second death-Rev 20;15 We can't burn forever unless we are immortal spirits and only satan and his demons are immortal spirits and will be tortured forever. that's the way I see it.
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