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We must overcome the influence of the Spirit of lawlessness (iniquity) Matthew 24: 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. As a matter of fact, it isn't even that subtle. In the five years I have spent on line I would venture statistically based upon internet forum sampling that there are millions of Christians who have taken "not under Law, under Grace"to an extreme of essentially ignoring the Holy Spirit and doing "whatever seems right in their own eyes". Lawlessness includes ignoring Christian unity for personal preference. This occurred when Israel was at its worst state when "there was no king in Israel". Unfortunately, the Lord was the King, and was being rejected. Is Yeshua ruling over His Body, or is His Body doing their own thing? There are people who will drive across town to their church of preference, but not attend services with their neighbor, who attends fellowship down the street because it is "one of those groups", what ever that might mean to them. Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes. This is anomia=iniquity, lawlessness [G458] Matthew 7:23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Hosea 4: 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. 7 The more they increased, The more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame. 8 They eat up the sin of My people; They set their heart on their iniquity. 9 And it shall be: like people, like priest. So I will punish them for their ways, And reward them for their deeds. I know that I am walking in obedience for this reason, I take no pleasure being in online forums. When the Lord approved of my taking early social security at 62 and stopped working, it was on the caveat that I started writing down my daily devotionals. I argued, "Lord, does the world really need another daily devotional?" He laughed at me! And then said, "Oh, you won't be publishing a book". Haha. Then covid struck and I was already prepared, "sheltering in place" in retirement and isolation, and was led to my first forum. What I receive from the Lord each day, I have presented faithfully, in spite of consistent hostility the moment I post anything that rubbed against someone's pet doctrine. I am being totally honest here. Before my retiring from "servile labor", I never heard of Calvinism v. Arminism. I heard of the rapture, but having read such things as "I will gather all mine on the last day and lose nothing", and "endure to the end to be saved", I just ignored it, seeing how it provoked such division. I am astounded by some of the ideas that are expressed, and when I post verses that call a persons belief into question the response is tepid at best. Here's the good news. After presenting more than 700 threads in that time, I have learned more in five years that I had previously, and I was already highly committed to the Word of God, and would not have even considered writing down anything if I did not feel I had a strong foundation. Then the Lord told me to consecrate myself to the task, and gave me an Anointing from Matthew: 13:52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which brings forth out of his treasure things new and old. I have learned that there is an Anointing on "every Word of God", if we will apply ourselves to experiencing every Word possible in our lives. I had read the Gospels, the Law and Prophets, Acts at least a dozen times, the epistles several dozen. And yet, when I came under this Anointing, I found something new every time I opened the Book. Nearly every thread consists of things I had known for decades, but also something not only new, but also applicable to many other circumstances I had not considered before. This is why I add very few comments, and just lay out the scriptures we discuss and let the Spirit do the talking. Sure, I could teach and write extensively, as I am doing now, but it is not about me, and I am surely not interested in all the debating. What drove me to continue was when the Lord pointed out to me that there is often guests numbering 10 to 1 over signed in members. I no longer get heart palpitations from hostile responses. And how did I consecrate myself for the task? I cancelled my subscriptions to chess.com and Spotify music. The chess was particularly expensive and I needed to tighten my budget to stop working. As I spent less and less time playing and studying chess, and listening to music for hours, I was "renewed in the spirit of my mind", and started hearing the Voice of the Lord with astounding clarity. Now, I actually love silence, which I had always avoided before. I was alone sooo much with my children far away and divorced, that I also gladly accepted the Lord's call to be a watchman/intercessor for the saints and Jerusalem. I know many of you think of me the way Festus spoke of Paul: "much study has driven you insane!" I can live with that, for the joy that is set before me. I spend hours daily alone with the Lord, talking and listening to Him. Did you know that the Lord laughs a lot? I don't know, maybe I am funny, but He sure seems to take pleasure in chuckling over many of my comments. I also should point out that during my years of ministry and dealing with people directly, I could quietly listen to what a person would say, read their body, and discern their spirit and 'see' underlying issues to address. This I could not do in this format. Now, I can easily tell when someone is responding to the title of a thread without bothering to read the post. When people who have been doing this awhile cut and paste old, saved responses from their hard drives, often adding unnecessary tangents to the discussions. And I can sure tell when someone has had formal theological instruction, or is "well read" in outside sources, with their rigid dogma and self-confident dismissals. I could say more, but it would be inappropriate. You can rejoice now, because this is the last time (hopefully), or at least it will be awhile before I take time to write out my thoughts and feelings like this morning. When I was new, I proposed seeking ways of being more open and not just chat. I assure you that I was ostracized for making the suggestion. So now, back to the scriptures, with as little of me as possible. I close by praying that all who frequent this forum will grow mightily in the Truth of God's Word.

Shalom, everyone! At shiloh357's suggestion, I'm starting this thread to give a BIBLICAL definition to "holy" and "holiness." See, I'm not a huge fan of the "science" of theology. Theology to me is like commentaries; just more human words to confuse the issues. As Paul said, Romans 3:4 4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. So, let's get a running start: First of all, the Hebrew word translated as "holy" is "qaadowsh": 6918 qaadowsh (kaw-doshe'). Or qaadosh {kaw-doshe'} (spelled without the vav); from qaadash; sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a sanctuary -- holy (One), saint. 6942 qaadash (kaw-dash'). A primitive root; to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally) -- appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, defile, hallow, (be, keep) holy(-er, place), keep, prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify(-ied one, self), X wholly. And, Yesha`yahuw (Isaiah) said, Isaiah 6:1-5 (KJV) 1 In the year that king Uzziah (Hebrew: `Uzziyaahuw) died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims (Hebrew: sraafiym = "burning ones" or "poisonous [serpents]") each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy (Hebrew: Qaadowsh, qaadowsh, qaadowsh) is the LORD of hosts (YHWH ts'va'owt? the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. And, just for confirmation, here's the Hebrew (transliterated): Yeesha`yahuw 6:1-5 (JPS Hebrew-English TANAKH) 1 Bishnat-mowt hamelekh Uzziyaahuw, vaa'er'eh et-Adonaay yosheeV `al-kicee', raam v-nissaa'; v-shuwlaayow m-lee'iym et-haheekhaal: 2 Sraafiym -- `omdiym | mimma`al low sheesh knaafayim sheesh knaafayim l'echaad; bishtayim ykhacceh paanaayow, uwbishtayim ykhacceh raglaayow, uwbishtayim y`owfeef: 3 Vqaaraa' zeh 'el zeh v'aamar qaadowsh | qaadowsh qaadowsh YHWH tsVaa'owt mlo' khaal haa'aarets kVowdow: 4 Vayaanu`uw ammowt haccipiym miqqowl haqqowree' vhabayit yimmaalee' aasaan: 5 Vaa'omar owy-liy khiy nidmeeytiy -- kiy iysh Tmee'-shfaatayim aanokiy uwVtowkh `am Tmee' shfaatayim -- aanowkhiy yowseeV kiy et hamelekh YHWH tsVaa'owt raa'uw `eeynaay: Now, some say that "holy" means "set apart"; others say that "holy" means "righteous"; still others say that "holy" means "ceremoniously sacred," but the Scriptures tell me that this word means "clean" or "pure" (for that is how the word is used wherever it is found). So, when we read something like... Leviticus 19:1-4 (KJV) 1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 "Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy. 3 Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God. 4 Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD your God." He is simply saying, "You shall be clean, for I YHWH Eloheinuw am clean!" And, then He proceeds to show them how they can be clean. Thoughts?

The sin offering in the Old Testament sanctuary service symbolized the Lamb of God. The study in this video reveals that in the amazing reality to which the sin offering pointed, believers are to eat the Lamb of God. Much is said about the importance of Christ's blood releasing us from the guilt of our sins. In what ways does the concept of eating the Lamb of God clarify the purpose for Christ's shed blood?

I have observed quite a number of developing trends in our churches that beg the frightening question of who we are worshiping. Common among those trends are the tendency of persons to spend more time on their cell phones than they do in worship and the tendency to 'make an entrance' when entering the sanctuary. I can't help but ask myself - What kind of message are we sending to the world as Christians? I'll begin this discussion with an understanding of the word 'worship'. Worship is derived from the Old English word 'Woerthship' which means to give worth to something. So when we worship God, we give worth to Him. Sadly, it appears that the saints are giving worth to other things in the house of the Lord. Here I will identify two obvious reasons that are rather disturbing to fathom but as it is a reality within the churches I will make mention of them today. The 'cellphone syndrome' We all need to communicate with others over the phone for different reasons. But I find it very disrespectful for the saints to perpetually excuse themselves from the sermon to be on the outside messaging and talking for an extensive period. Not that it is anybody's business to know the nature of these conversations, but when it happens more often than not I'm afraid that we are sending the wrong message to our unsaved visitors. Do we not show reverence to the Lord anymore? I especially observe this trend among our young people of which group I am a part. I fail to believe that our young people use their discretion for they excuse themselves in large numbers at once. It appears that the cellphones get the 'worth' that should have been given to God and therefore it automatically becomes the god that is worshiped. Our God has feelings too. I am more concerned about His feelings than I am with the reputation of the church. For many saints, the time spent in the house of the Lord is the longest and sometimes only time spent with God. If the latter is the case then all the more reason why He deserves our undivided attention. Let's face it, three hours of prayer and worship is the least we can give to God considering all that He does for us on a daily basis. The church needs to be careful not to provoke the Holy Spirit and not to send the wrong message to those who are lost and in need of our guidance. The problem with 'making an entrance' By now many of us would have realized that persons go to church for different reasons; to spectate, to see friends, to wear a nice suit and a few to seek God. There are many other reasons but these are the few I could think of today. Having said that, there are many within the church who perpetually make an entrance under the influence of a 'disruptive spirit' I suppose. This trend may not be very evident in the larger churches, but as my church is small the trend is becoming more noticeable. Saints are not only expected to be present for sermons but are expected to be there on time. It is very distasteful when visitors arrive in the sanctuary before the members do and to make matters worse, our visitors are distracted each time someone walks through the aisle to take a seat. What about respecting the time of the Holy Spirit? I understand that anyone can be late but when the same persons have heads spinning each week, their actions shift from just being late to 'making an entrance'. Leaders are often times included and I don't just mean Pastors, Bishops, Deacons etc. I mean any person within the church body who demonstrates his leadership abilities in even the smallest possible way. Why are persons making an entrance? It is certainly not because of a desire to be noticed by God but rather 'god', who is seated somewhere in the sanctuary. This is one of the reasons why it is increasingly harder to convince an unsaved or even a backslider to return to God. These groups of persons are understandably confused by the double standards that exist within the church. No wonder there is a growing number of non-denominational Christians in our societies today. The church has a voice and we want to be heard, but let us consider addressing some of the ongoing issues among ourselves before we advocate for modesty and decency anywhere else. These are two growing trends that I have observed in church. Have you observed any other?