Month: December 2019

There are five basic questions every human being on earth has pondered at one time or another in their life. There will always be fear, uncertainty and doubt until you answer these questions. No amount of money, fame or power will help you get to the bottom of it. All the answers you seek, and more, are contained in the wisdom literature of the Holy Bible, the ultimate revelation of God to man, His special creation.

1. Who am I?
You are a child of God. You were made by God for His glory. You are a special creation of God and object of God’s eternal love. God wants to lavish His love on us for all eternity. As Sons of God we will be royalty in heaven.

2. Where did I come from?
We were created by God in His image (with a soul and spirit). Scripture says were fearfully and wonderfully made. Scripture says God knit us together in our mother’s womb and knows us intimately. God knew us before the foundation of the world was laid.

3. Why am I here?
You were put on earth to seek God, find salvation, and emulate the life of Jesus in word and deed to the glory of God. We are here to love God and be loved in return. We are here to witness for Christ and to share God’s love with others.

4. Where am I going?
God gave each of us a part of His eternal spirit at conception and we became immortal beings. We have two possible eternal destinations, with God in heaven or without God in hell. Because of Adam’s original sin we are all born on the path to hell and once the age of decision has passed we have to proactively accept God’s gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  No decision leaves us on the path to hell. We will spent eternity in hell in torment 24/7 or in heaven in the joyous presence of God. We have the free will to choose between the two.

5. How do I get there?
Accept God’s mercy and grace unto salvation. Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God sent to die for our sins. Believe that Jesus died, was buried, and was raised from the dead by God on the third day and ascended back to heaven where He sits at the right hand of God. Repent and make Jesus the Lord and Savior of your life and you will have eternal life. Your name will be irrevocably written in the Book of Life.

I witness for Christ when I get a positive response to the feelers I have out all the time. So far it hasn’t been very often. My Christian blog is a form of passive witnessing for me because my theme and goal of the blog is to study God’s Word so we can witness more effectively, teach others how to witness and actually witness on-line to those who are searching for answers.  Think of it as self-study for witnessing or long distance witnessing.  Many people don’t go to an established church and need to hear the gospel in a different venue such as a blog. You don’t have to be a Bible scholar to lead someone to salvation. I study because I love it.  I’m going to give you the five verses, in order, you can use to lead someone to salvation as long as their heart is right and the Holy Spirit has convicted them of their sin. God does the saving, we just set the table. Keep a copy of these verses in your wallet and you can witness to anyone at any time.

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. (GOD LOVES YOU)

Roman 3:23 -For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (ALL ARE SINNERS)

Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death. (SINS MUST BE PAID FOR)

Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrated His love for us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ((JESUS PAID OUR SIN DEBT IN FULL)

Romans 10:9 – That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. (RECEIVE JESUS AS LORD AND SAVIOR)

A few things should be clear to the world by now. Jerusalem is God’s holy city and God’s name is there. The Jews are God’s chosen people. God has sworn to protect the nation of Israel as His special possession. Common sense should tell the Arabs the truth of what their eyes are seeing but Satan has blinded them with their hatred of Israel. Those who oppose the will of Almighty God will be led to the slaughter.

5. The Sinai War of 1956 against Egypt lasted only a week. Israel captured the Sinai all the way to the Suez Canal and destroyed a quarter of the much larger Egyptian army. 3,000 Egyptian soldiers were killed and 5600 captured. Vast stores of military equipment were seized. Israel suffered 171 killed and 600 injured.

6. In the Six Day War of 1967 Israel launched a preemptive strike on Egypt as the Arabs were massing for an attack on Israel. The Egyptian Air Force was destroyed on the ground (444 planes). Egypt lost 100,000 men, 700 tanks and 450 artillery pieces. Israel lost two planes, 679 killed and 2,563 wounded. Israel seized Sinai, Gaza, the west bank and the Golan Heights, adding 8,000 more square miles to Israel.

7. The Yom Kippur War in 1973 caught Israel by surprise. Egypt and Syria attacked with 5,000 tanks, 2,000 artillery pieces, 1,000 aircraft and 838,000 men. God caused the Arab forces to halt when they were on the verge of victory allowing the Israelis to regroup and win the war. Israel lost 4,000 men but the Arabs suffered much heavier losses.

8. The Russian War hasn’t happened yet but it’s been prophesied in the Bible so it will happen. Russia will invade Israel and attempt to destroy Jerusalem and God has promised to kill 6 out of 7 Russian troops and destroy the invading army.

9. The Battle of Armageddon also hasn’t happened yet but rest assured God will destroy the antichrist and the combined armies of the world when they attack Israel and surround Jerusalem.

When God brought the Israelites to the promised land He was with them in every battle they won. There have been battles where God’s deliverance was so clearly evident to any observer they bear mentioning:

1. When Joshua entered Canaan God miraculously caused the walls of Jericho to fall so the city could be captured. Excavations at the site prove the biblical account.

2. Gideon with 300 men routed 10,000 Midianites. God had Gideon send all his men home save 300, which God used to defeat the enemy, to the glory of God.

3. In 701 B.C. King Hezekiah threw himself on God’s mercy when Sargon II of Assyria surrounded Jerusalem with the intent of destroying Israel. God sent His death angel to deliver Israel and 185,000 Assyrian troops were slain in a single night.

A death angel is just a regular old angel sent for the sole purpose of causing death on earth. All the angels in heaven can be used for this purpose and there are many millions of angels in heaven. The firepower of our God is beyond our comprehension.

4. When Israel was declared a nation on May 14, 1948, they were attacked the next day by the combined forces of Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. Israeli forces had a handful of rifles and sub-machine guns and very little ammunition. Four old artillery pieces were the only heavy weapons.  Israel had one Piper Cub airplane.  The mechanized Arab troops outnumbered the Israeli forces 40 to 1 and in equipment the advantage was 1,000 to one against Israel. This was about the same odds Gideon faced battling the Midianites. Lets face it, God wants a battle where He is vastly outnumbered so the victory will be to His glory. When the fighting ended Israel had won the war and gained 23% more territory.

I used to fear death but not anymore. I know I’m going to heaven one day, my real home. I know I’ll be with the Lord forever and it will be wonderful beyond my wildest imagination. However, I haven’t finished my race here on earth and I’m afraid. My greatest fear is disappointing God. I mean, I’ve wasted so much time! I’ve been such a sinner all my life and I’m an old man now.  I envy those people who were raised in a godly home and groomed at a young age to serve the Lord and have done so all their lives. I know what I must do but I’m late to the party in my estimation. I trust God completely. God doesn’t make mistakes. I’m where God wants me to be so I’ve started where I am and I’ll continue my personal walk with the Lord until I’m called home.

I’m comforted by the example of the Apostle Paul. Paul was the greatest enemy of Christianity until his conversion on the road to Damascus. Once Paul knew the truth he immediately started serving the Lord and his past sins were forgiven. Paul went on to become the greatest Christian to ever live.  Now that we know the truth we need to follow the example of Paul and serve God with conviction and passion.  What was Paul’s secret? Paul’s greatest fear was disappointing God and it drove him to do great things for the kingdom. The lesson here is start where you are and serve the Lord faithfully going forward. God will forget your past and see only the good going forward.

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Psalm 19:7 – The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.

1 Corinthians 9:16 – Woe unto me if I preach not the gospel!

Romans 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile.

In Scripture it says you cannot please God without faith. I’ve got news for you, you also cannot please God if you don’t witness for Christ. It’s the main reason the Lord still leaves His saints on this earth after salvation is secure.  It won’t really help you much if you go to church regularly, are a deacon in your church, and give lots of money to the church if you don’t also share the gospel of Jesus with unbelievers. Witnessing for Christ is job number one for all Christians. Once you understand that you need to figure out how you can best accomplish that task.  Your works on this earth have eternal ramifications.

Jesus set aside His heavenly crown, emptied Himself, and came to earth for one reason. Jesus came to save sinners from hell and unceasing torment in the lake of fire, FOREVER.  The restoration of man’s fellowship with God was the main reason Jesus came and the thing closest to the heart of Jesus. We know this from references in just about every chapter in the Bible.  The final command of Jesus to His disciples, and all Christians through them, prior to His Ascent back to heaven was the Great Commission, to preach the gospel to all the world in order to save sinners. God told us how to save sinners and Jesus set the example for us to follow.

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Luke 19:10 – The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

1 Timothy 1:15 – Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

Mark 2:17 – I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.

In the last 100 years scientists have confirmed three things about our universe:

1.  The universe had a beginning from a single point and the universe was made out of nothing. Since there was a beginning there had to be a “beginner”, and that would be God.

2.  The universe is expanding rapidly and accelerating. The universe is expanding at exactly the right speed to allow life to exist.

3.  The universe is fine-tuned for life. Everyone knows the first two things but few people are aware the universe was crafted so that man could live here. 

Scientists today know of over 200 known parameters necessary for a planet to support life; every single one of which must be perfectly met, or the whole thing we call life falls apart. If the ratio of nuclear and electromagnetic forces in the universe was off by even 1 X 10 to the 17th power no stars could form and therefore no planets. We exist by the thinnest of margins. Life exists on the edge of a knife blade and we keep trying to screw that up.

Isaiah 45:12 – I have made the earth, and created man on it. I – My hands – stretched out the heavens, and all their host I have commanded.

Psalm 119:89-91 – O Lord, your Word is established in heaven forever. Your faithfulness endures throughout every generation. You set the earth in place, and it continues to stand. All things continue to stand today because of your regulations, since they are all your servants.

Psalm 148:4-6 – Praise Him, you heaven of heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created. He also established them forever and ever, He made a decree which shall not pass away.

Isaiah 42:5 – Thus says God the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it.

Jeremiah 10:12 – He has made the earth by His power, He has established the world by His wisdom, and had stretched out the heavens at His discretion.

If we can’t obey the original ten commandments God gave Moses in the Old Testament (plus the two Jesus added) then we can’t please God so lets be sure we comply with those commandments first. Everyone should memorize these 12 commandments and do them. Some commandments have no comments added.

1. You shall have no other Gods before me.
Jehovah is God and He is a jealous God not wishing to share His glory. All other Gods are false and are sponsored by Satan to lead man away from the truth of the gospel message. Satan also steals the gospel from the hearts of unbelievers before it takes root so that many who hear the gospel don’t recognize the truth.

2. You shall not make any graven image.
God is Spirit and must be worshiped is Spirit. God hates idol worship using images of wood, metal and stone as gods or as a representation of God.

3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

4. Remember the Sabbath, to keep it holy.                                                                                                        A designated day of worship and rest. Probably the commandment we disobey the most.

5. Honor your father and mother.
The only commandment where God promises a blessing to all who obey. God promises prosperity and long life.

6. You shall not kill.
All living things are made by God and we are not to kill without a good reason.

7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness.
10. You shall not covet.
11. You shall love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
12. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Some verses in the Bible have multiple commands from God and some commands fit in multiple categories. These lists are flexible and meant as general guidelines so we can get a sense of what God expects of us in different areas of our lives. Knowing God’s commands helps us pinpoint our areas of weakness and will help us track our progress as we attempt to be obedient to God.  I have a handful of commands left over that I’ve lumped together in a category I call resisting evil. I know I’ve covered several of these commands earlier. God addresses Satan and evil in at least 10 commands for the saints to follow. Here are some of them:

Jas 4:7 – Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Eph 5:11 – And have no fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

1 Pet 2:1 – Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking.

Rom 6:12 – Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in lusts.

Rom 6:11 – Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gal 5:25 – If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Mt 5:16 – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

God tells us in His Word what we should avoid:

1 Tim 6:20 – Guard what has been entrusted to you (the gospel). Turn away from Godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge.

Titus 3:9 – But avoid foolish controversies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.

2 Thes 3:14 – And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.

On a positive note, God also tells us what we should be doing as believers in the body of Christ:

Mt 7:`12 – Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law of the Prophets.

2 Cor 6:17 – Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.  Do not touch what is unclean and I will receive you.

1 Cor 10:32 –  Give no offense, either to the Jews, or the Greeks (Gentiles) or to the church of God (Christians).

1 Thes 5:14 – And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

2 Tim 2:24 – And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.

Mt 10:16 – I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.  Therefore be shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

Jude 22-23 – And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

1 Pet 5:8 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Obeying God’s commands concerning personal relationships may not eliminate all the strife and discord in your life but it’ll remove 90% of it. God has also promised to give us His peace which will allow us to live in harmony with everyone. The more commands we follow the more our lives emulate Christ, which is God’s will for us. This is what we call sanctification which is an ongoing process while we’re down here on earth. When we get to heaven God will complete our transformation (glorification) so that we cannot sin and we can fellowship with God forever.