How about heretic John MacArthur's evil? He is so evil that he takes the position of God All Mighty!!! MacArthur tells us WE can commit occasional acts of adultery!! No wonder he told God "I can override your word that those who take the mark of the beast, can repent later". God said "MacArthur will never eat from the tree of life".
The * is from MacArthur's words.
* "A true Christian possessing saving faith can commit occasional acts of adultery." If that does
not sound like "a license to sin", I've never heard one!
(Hence, MacArthur claims there are some Christian adulterers.) God forbid!
* "A true Christian possessing saving faith can commit occasional acts of drunkenness." If that
does not sound like "a license to sin", I've never heard one!
(Hence, MacArthur claims there are some Christian drunks.) God forbid!
* "A true Christian possessing saving faith can murder himself (be a suicide) and afterwards
go to heaven, even though he died as an unrepentant murderer." If that does not sound like "a
license to sin", I've never heard one! God forbid!
* "A true Christian can commit the list of sins cited in 1 Cor. 6:9, &10 just short of going all the way
back to live like he used to and still have a saving faith." God forbid!
Here is that list, in case you are unacquainted with 1 Cor. 6:9, & 10.
* OR DO YOU KNOW THAT THE UNRIGHTEOUS WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD! DO NOT BE DECEIVED: NEITHER FORNICATORS, NOR IDOLATERS, NOR ADULTERERS, NOR EFFEMINATE, NOR HOMOSEXUALS, NOR THIEVES, NOR THE COVETOUS, NOR DRUNKARDS, NOR REVILERS, NOR SWINDLERS, WILL INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD. (1 Cor. 6:,10
* MacArthur says "no sin regardless how heinous, including child molestation, rape, murder, homosexuality, etc., will ever prevent a person previously saved from entering heaven." Hence, If that does not sound like "a license to sin", I've never heard one! God forbid!
* MacArthur says "Sin works for our good! If that does not sound like "a license to sin", I've never heard one! God forbid!
* MacArthur says, "a person who is lacking saving faith is one whose basic character is summed up in the uninterrupted and unrepentant practice of them [sins] ...(The MacArthur Study Bible, p. 1798, comment on Gal. 5:21). Hence, anything better than an uninterrupted and unrepentant practice of sin could describe a person with saving faith bound for heaven because of eternal security, even though he might be living in many of the sins cited in 1 Cor. 6:9,10. God forbid! Jesus told us to stop sinning!!!!
http://wmcgrew.blogspot.com/2016/01/a-flowchart-depicting-some-of-john.html
http://wmcgrew.blogspot.com/2015/11/some-of-john-macarthurs-anti-christ-and.html
-------------------------
If the root is rotten, the result is a mixed, confused, false gospel. MacArthur is not from God. He told the world that you can take the mark of the beast and repent later. That has just added to his spiritual death. Jesus makes this crystal clear, as we see
Did you know that MacArthur has likely told your children that they can take the mark of the beast and repent later? Jesus says just the opposite. MacArthur is attempting to destroy the children. He is responsible for evil.
----------------------
Revelation 22
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.
18 I TESTIFY TO EVERYONE WHO HEARS THE WORDS OF THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK:
IF ANYONE ADDS TO THEM,
GOD WILL ADD TO HIM THE PLAGUES WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK; [MacArthur added to the book when he said "you can repent later" after you take the Mark of the Beast]
19 AND IF ANYONE TAKES AWAY FROM THE WORDS OF THE BOOK OF THIS PROPHECY,
GOD WILL TAKE AWAY HIS PART FROM THE TREE OF LIFE AND FROM FROM THE HOLY CITY,
WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK. [MacArthur took away the words of this book, when he ignored what Jesus said, if you take the mark of the beast, you will go to hell]
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
The way of Eve or the way of Jesus?
I was reading Genesis 3-6 recently and I went to the Study Bible I use (The Companion Bible, Kregel Publications) to read the notes it has. It was the passage of Eve, searching, looking and finally eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, that drew my attention:
Genesis 3:6
“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her; and he ate”
“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her; and he ate”
My Study Bible connects the above verse with I John 2 where in verses 15-16 we read:
I John 2:15-16
“Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world”
“Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world”
“The lust of the flesh” …… “the woman saw that the tree was GOOD FOR FOOD”
“The lust of the eyes” …….. “that it was pleasant to the EYES”
“the pride of life” …….. “a tree to be desired to make one WISE”
Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life …. pleasant to the flesh, pleasant to the eyes, to become wise… That is what the first human beings followed. And this is the very thing that we must not do. Sin breaks our fellowship with God and nobody should, like Eve, be deceived to think that he can have it both ways. As Galatians 6:7-8 says, referring to Christians:
Galatians 6:7-8
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows THAT he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption: but he who sows to the spirit will of the spirit reap everlasting life”
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows THAT he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption: but he who sows to the spirit will of the spirit reap everlasting life”
The epistle was written “unto the churches of Galatia” (Galatians 1:2). It is Christians that are called to “not be deceived”. Yes, Christians can be deceived! We Christians, as the text warns, if we sow to the flesh we will reap corruption! The same devil that deceived Eve, is active today and has the same purpose: to deceive us. I Corinthians 11:3 tells us:
II Corinthians 11:3
“But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ”
“But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ”
“As the serpent deceived Eve….”. As the devil did with Eve so also he tries to do with us. Eve followed her senses. She saw, she thought, she acted. It seemed logical and wise but it was the greatest tragedy. What do we do today? Do we follow whatever seems pleasant to the eyes or what feels good? Whatever the world, the many do? Whatever seems wise according to the world’s standards? Or do we follow the wisdom that is of God, that comes from above and which in the eyes of the world is foolishness? I Corinthians 3:18-20 tells us:
I Corinthians 3:18-20
“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness. And again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise that they are futile”
“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness. And again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise that they are futile”
There is only one true wisdom: the wisdom that comes from God. Eve knew the word of God but she was overpowered by what she saw and thought. It is not her example that we must follow but the example of somebody else, also sinless, that came thousands of years after Eve and was tempted by the same enemy. Jesus Christ, our example, was as Hebrews 4:15 says “in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin”. “He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” This is the example that we must follow.
Philippians 2:5-11
“LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man He humbled Himself and BECAME OBEDIENT TO THE POINT OF DEATH, EVEN THE DEATH OF THE CROSS. Therefore God also has highly exalted him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven and of those in earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
“LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man He humbled Himself and BECAME OBEDIENT TO THE POINT OF DEATH, EVEN THE DEATH OF THE CROSS. Therefore God also has highly exalted him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven and of those in earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Please check out Anastasios's book
"The Warnings of the New Testament".
Purchase at Kindle and Amazon or
download for FREE at: http://www.jba.gr/
Articles/pdf/the-warnings-of-the-New-
Testament.pdf
Monday, May 23, 2016
The city without walls and the helmet of Salvation
A talk with a friend inspired me to look a bit closer at the verses that mention the city without walls and the helmet of salvation. The issue of the talk was if a city with walls is like a Christian wearing the helmet of salvation. So we will look if it is so. I would like to show you the verses first and then look at them individually.
Proverbs 25:28
He that has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
He that has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
Ephesians 6:17a
And take the helmet of salvation
And take the helmet of salvation
City without walls
The first verse says that the one whose spirit is uncontrolled is like an unwalled and broken down city. His affections and passions are without any guard against them, no fence about them to check his pride and vanity or to restrain his wrath, anger, revenge, etc. Desire has its seat in the soul, but in the spirit it grows into passion. Behind sensual passions (e.g. over eating, drunkenness), intellectual passions (e.g. ambition) and many other passions rules a false ego. Instead of being held down it rises to an unbounded supremacy. A man who knows not to hold in check his desires and affections is in constant danger of blindly following the impulse of his unbridled sensuality, and of being hurried forward to outbreaks of passion, thus bringing unhappiness upon himself and most likely to others, too. He who doesn’t rule over his own spirit and when temptations to excess in eating or drinking are before him, has no government of himself, or when he is provoked breaks out into exorbitant passions, such a one is like a city that is broken down and without walls. All that is good goes out, and forsakes him; all that is evil breaks in upon him. He lies exposed to all the temptations of Satan and becomes an easy prey to the enemy; he is also liable to many troubles.
Nehemiah 1:3
And they said to me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.
And they said to me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.
The good character of a wise and virtuous man i.e. of someone that has rule over his own spirit, maintains the government of himself, and of his own appetites and passions, and does not suffer them to rebel against reason and conscience. He has the rule of his own thoughts, his desires, his inclinations, his resentments, and keeps them all in good order.
Proverbs 16:32
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
The helmet of salvation
The second verse is the one that speaks about the helmet of salvation:
Ephesians 6:17a
"And take the helmet of salvation"
"And take the helmet of salvation"
The context of this verse is the armor of God which we are to put on.
Ephesians 6:11
Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
This verse clearly says what we are to do with the armour that God gives us – to stand against the wiles of the devil, our enemy. What about the helmet as part of this armour? The following verse is a bit more specific
1 Thessalonians 5:8
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
It’s not an uncertain hope, but one that brings with it no shame of disappointment.
Romans 5:5
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
The head of the soldier was among the principal parts to be defended, as on it the deadliest strokes might fall. The head is the seat of the mind, which, when it has laid hold of the sure Gospel "hope" of eternal life, will not receive false doctrine, or give way to Satan's whispers and temptations to despair. Salvation must be our helmet; that is, hope, which has salvation for its object. A good hope of salvation, well founded and well built, will both purify the soul and keep it from being defiled by Satan. It will also comfort the soul and keep it from being troubled and tormented by him. He would tempt us to despair; but good hope keeps us trusting in God, and rejoicing in Him.
Conclusion
A man that has no command of himself and passions, but gives the reins to them, is exposed to the enemy of our soul, Satan. The city that is incapable of being defended, can be plundered without trouble. Self-control is the ruling of the spirit, the keeping down of the false enslaved ego.
Receive and accept the helmet offered by the Lord, namely, "salvation" to secure the head. The whole armour of God, that no part be naked and exposed to the enemy.
On one hand we have the city without walls and on the other hand the helmet of salvation. Walls and helmet are both to protect. The man who doesn’t control his spirit (from within) is compared to a city without walls. So the man who does control his spirit is like a city with walls, strong to defend external enemies. The one who doesn’t wear the helmet of salvation is in danger to get his head injured (from the outside). Its the head that does the thinking and commands the whole body. It better be guarded well so that we don’t "loose our head".
Actually those two are not quite the same, but we need both – to develop the fruit of the Spirit so that we don’t need to be compared to a city without walls.
Galatians 5:22-25
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
And in order to walk in the Spirit we also need to put on the whole Spiritual armour that God gave us, the helmet of salvation, in this case, to protect our head and our thinking from the enemy.
Andrea Kioulachoglou
Please check out Anastasios's book
"The Warnings of the New Testament".
Purchase at Kindle and Amazon or
download for FREE at: http://www.jba.gr/
Articles/pdf/the-warnings-of-the-New-
Testament.pdf
Thursday, May 19, 2016
I have declared my ways, and you answered me. King David.
This is a phrase we find in Psalms 119:26. David says that he declared his ways to God and God answered him. I believe the "and", after the comma, shows that the answer of God was a result of David declaring his ways. Many of us we keep from God. We have hidden compartments that we never open, even to God. Many people keep their hurts hidden because it is supposed that all their hurts come due to personal failures and therefore they are not to have any. Others they never speak and pray for specific subjects or cares because they believe that God does not care about such "trivialities of life" as our cares. Such things are to be faced completely by us alone, they think. Others they have dreams, fears and desires that they will never reveal to Him. It really sounds like a relationship where one of the sides constantly denies to reveal his/her heart to the other. How do we call such relationships? Shallow, I would say. And this is the relationship that many have with the God of the Bible that is OUR FATHER and loves us with love that went so far as to give His only begotten Son for us (John 3:20). I believe that openness of heart is a measure that can be used to measure a relationship, and also our relationship with God: our openness of heart determines the degree of relationship we have with Him. How much do you communicate with Him? What do you say to Him? How many of your ways you declare to Him? David declared his ways and I believe by this he means he declared everything. He opened his heart before his Creator and told Him about everything. He wanted to walk on the way of the Lord and asked for the Lord’s help. If it is cares that you keep for yourself, God wants you to cast all of them upon Him. Here is what His Word:
I Peter 5:7
"and all your cares cast upon Him for He cares for you"
"and all your cares cast upon Him for He cares for you"
and again Philippians 4:6-7
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
In everything, says the Word, let your requests be made known to Him! Are there sins that you keep hidden, because you believe that God would never forgive you for these? Here is what His Word says:
I John 1:8-10
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us."
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us."
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us. But it does require an action from our side. To speak to Him. To confess our sins. To tell Him our wrongs. He is faithful and just to forgive us.
Is it dreams that you hide from Him, for you probably believe that they are not relevant to Him? It may be that dreams are not relevant to the dry, cold and chaotic world in which we live, but they are to the Lord. He thinks for us thoughts that cannot be numbered! It says it in Psalms 40:5:
Psalms 40:5
"Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered"
"Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered"
And again Ephesians 3:20-21
"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
Romans 8:31-32
"If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"
"If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"
And Psalms 84:11
"For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly."
"For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly."
The thoughts of God for you are more than can be numbered. There is nothing good that will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. He can do for you far beyond what you think, dream or ask. But you have to speak. You have to ask! Relationship requires communication. Whenever there is no communication there is no relationship. "You do not have because you do not ask", says James (James 4:2). "But does not God knows everything ?" some may say… It is not a matter of knowing or not. Of course He knows everything. Of course God knows all your cares, sins, dreams, hurts…. He knows it ALL. However, He desires something by asking for full openness of our hearts to Him. And what He desires is communication, fellowship, RELATIONSHIP. And relationship without communication cannot exist. It is not therefore whether God knows it or not … He knows EVERYTHING! But it is matter of communication. David declared all his ways to the Lord and the Lord answered him! Do you want the Lord to answer you? Then take time, time for communication with Him, time of declaring your ways, your requests, dreams, failures or sins to Him. It is guaranteed that He will hear you and He will answer.
Please check out Anastasios's book
"The Warnings of the New Testament".
Purchase at Kindle and Amazon or
download for FREE at: http://www.jba.gr/
Articles/pdf/the-warnings-of-the-New-
Testament.pdf
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
The sadness of God's heart for the sin of His people
In the times of Jeremiah, the people of Israel were in apostasy. This kept on actually for quite some years and the writings of many of the prophets are in many cases, not to say in most, pleads for return and repentance and warnings for the coming judgment. Unfortunately, the people of God did not respond to these warnings. Reading some records from Jeremiah and Hosea will show us what great sadness and distress this caused to God. This may sound surprising to our ears as many implicitly or explicitly have difficulties to connect God with feelings we have over situations. Well, God’s Word tells us that we were made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26) and it also shows us that we can make God joyful, pleased, angry or sad. If we think that our behavior has no effects to God’s heart but it only adds some points against us or for us then we are totally wrong. We can make God glad and we can make God sad! All depends on our behavior. In the case of the Israelites of the time of Jeremiah and Hosea, we can see that they had seriously hurt God’s heart. In Jeremiah 8:18-9:3 God is pouring out His heart revealing the effect the rebellious behavior of His people had on Him:
Jeremiah 8:18-9:3
I would comfort myself in sorrow; My heart is faint in me. Listen! The voice, The cry of the daughter of my people from a far country: "Is not the LORD in Zion? Is not her King in her?" "Why have they provoked Me to anger with their carved images - With foreign idols?" "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved!" For the hurt of the daughter of my people I am hurt. I am mourning; Astonishment has taken hold of me. Is there no balm in Gilead, Is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery for the health of the daughter of my people? Oh, that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! Oh, that I had in the wilderness a lodging place for travelers; That I might leave my people, and go from them! For they are all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men. And like their bow they have bent their tongues for lies. They are not valiant for the truth on the earth. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know Me," says the LORD.
This is not Jeremiah’s personal sorrow. Many commentators present it as so, but a reading of the passage (see especially the phrases: “they provoked Me” and “says the Lord”) would make clear that it is God that is speaking here. It is God that expresses His heart and feelings here. It is God that was provoked to anger with their images and it He that wanted to leave them and cry endlessly because they didn’t know Him. God was terribly sorrowful for the sin of His people. And God is sorrowful when we sin. The New Testament tell us clearly “to grieve not the holy spirit of God, by which we were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30). The spirit of God can be grieved. God IS sorrowful when we reject Him. When we willfully forsake His way to walk somewhere else, due to personal passions, wills and ambitions. When instead of bowing down to Him and say “your will be done and not mine” we move ahead carelessly and without fearing Him. The spirit of God is not indifferent but sorrowful in such cases.
Hosea Hosea 11 is another passage where God expresses His feeling towards the apostasy of His people:
Hosea 11
"When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son. As they called them, so they went from them; They sacrificed to the Baals, and burned incense to carved images. "I taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by their arms; But they did not know that I healed them. I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love, and I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them. "He shall not return to the land of Egypt; But the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to repent. And the sword shall slash in his cities, devour his districts, and consume them, because of their own counsels. My people are bent on backsliding from Me. Though they call to the Most High, None at all exalt Him. "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I set you like Zeboiim? My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is stirred. I will not execute the fierceness of My anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim. For I am God, and not man, The Holy One in your midst; And I will not come with terror. "They shall walk after the LORD. He will roar like a lion. When He roars, then His sons shall come trembling from the west; They shall come trembling like a bird from Egypt, like a dove from the land of Assyria. And I will let them dwell in their houses," Says the LORD. "Ephraim has encircled Me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit; But Judah still walks with God, even with the Holy One who is faithful.”
This passage shows another aspect going on in the heart of God concerning the rebellion of His people. His fierce anger and his sympathy were in struggle in Him. When the Bible says that his people provoked him to anger it is very real! God is a long suffering God and slow to anger but He does get angry! It takes long to make Him angry. He is VERY patient but He can do indeed get angry and rebellion of His people is certainly a main reason. In the above case, it is like God struggling against this anger. His heart was churn within Him!
Many people think of God as an Almighty but rather motionless being. This is not at all true. We have a real relationship with God and as in any relationship we can make him glad, blessed, sad, angry etc and this due to our behavior. Our God is not a set of cold rules which if you follow you will succeed. He is a LIVING GOD desiring a living relationship with each one of His kids. God desires a living relationship with YOU and YOU can make God, the Almighty Creator glad or sad. You can make Him pleased or displeased. Isn’t this amazing? Isn’t amazing that God has opened Himself so much to us human beings , to me and you, so that we can even hurt Him! I find this really amazing! Our relationship is with the LIVING GOD and it is up to us to make His heart not sad but glad! To make Him not wanting to cry but smile! Amazing!
Please check out Anastasios's book
"The Warnings of the New Testament".
Purchase at Kindle and Amazon or
download for FREE at: http://www.jba.gr/
Articles/pdf/the-warnings-of-the-New-
Testament.pdf
I would comfort myself in sorrow; My heart is faint in me. Listen! The voice, The cry of the daughter of my people from a far country: "Is not the LORD in Zion? Is not her King in her?" "Why have they provoked Me to anger with their carved images - With foreign idols?" "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved!" For the hurt of the daughter of my people I am hurt. I am mourning; Astonishment has taken hold of me. Is there no balm in Gilead, Is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery for the health of the daughter of my people? Oh, that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! Oh, that I had in the wilderness a lodging place for travelers; That I might leave my people, and go from them! For they are all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men. And like their bow they have bent their tongues for lies. They are not valiant for the truth on the earth. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know Me," says the LORD.
"When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son. As they called them, so they went from them; They sacrificed to the Baals, and burned incense to carved images. "I taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by their arms; But they did not know that I healed them. I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love, and I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them. "He shall not return to the land of Egypt; But the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to repent. And the sword shall slash in his cities, devour his districts, and consume them, because of their own counsels. My people are bent on backsliding from Me. Though they call to the Most High, None at all exalt Him. "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I set you like Zeboiim? My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is stirred. I will not execute the fierceness of My anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim. For I am God, and not man, The Holy One in your midst; And I will not come with terror. "They shall walk after the LORD. He will roar like a lion. When He roars, then His sons shall come trembling from the west; They shall come trembling like a bird from Egypt, like a dove from the land of Assyria. And I will let them dwell in their houses," Says the LORD. "Ephraim has encircled Me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit; But Judah still walks with God, even with the Holy One who is faithful.”
Please check out Anastasios's book
"The Warnings of the New Testament".
Purchase at Kindle and Amazon or
download for FREE at: http://www.jba.gr/
Articles/pdf/the-warnings-of-the-New-
Testament.pdf
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
We serve a risen Savior!
It was nearly three days and three nights after the crucifixion. The body of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Messiah, was laid in a tomb outside Jerusalem, near the place He was crucified. They had anointed it with a lot of perfumes and dressed it with nice clothes. But what would be the benefit of this all? A dead body is a dead body, regardless of the clothes it is dressed or the perfumes and oils it is anointed. Lazarus’ body was dead and smelling decay. What would remain of it, if the Lord had not raised him from the dead would be just a sum of bones. But not this body! Not Jesus’ body. HIS BODY WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT DIDN’T SEE CORRUPTION. JESUS WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT DIED BUT RAISED AGAIN, LIVING FOREVER. He is the first fruits of the dead (I Corinthians 15:20)! He had told the disciples that he would die and raise again after three days but they didn’t understand Him. They put Him in nice but grave clothes and anoint His body with nice perfumes, like they would do to a very honorable dead. They didn’t expect what happened three days and three nights after the crucifixion. May be nobody expected it: HE WAS RISEN! God raised Jesus Christ from the dead! Matthew gives us a summary of the wonderful things that happened that day:
Matthew 28:1-10, 16-20
“ Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. "And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you." So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me."… Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
“ Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. "And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you." So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me."… Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
Those who guarded the dead, became as dead and the one that was dead became alive! Christianity’s Head is alive! As the Word of God says in II Corinthians 13:4 :
II Corinthians 13:4
“For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God.”
“For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God.”
And as Paul told the Jews in Acts 13:26-39
Acts 13:26-39
"Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent. "For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. "And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. "Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. "But God raised Him from the dead. "He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. "And we declare to you glad tidings----that promise which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: `You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.' "And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: `I will give you the sure mercies of David. "Therefore He also says in another Psalm: `You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.' "For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; "but He whom God raised up saw no corruption. "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; "and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
"Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent. "For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. "And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. "Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. "But God raised Him from the dead. "He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. "And we declare to you glad tidings----that promise which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: `You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.' "And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: `I will give you the sure mercies of David. "Therefore He also says in another Psalm: `You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.' "For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; "but He whom God raised up saw no corruption. "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; "and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
God raised Jesus form the dead! As it also says in Romans, by this it is proven that He is God’s Son (Romans 1:4), the only begotten Son of God! What a wonderful reality brothers! What a wonderful reality! In this present evil age, humanism and Satan, its god, have elevated good morals kicking out the name of our wonderful Lord. But we don’t serve a teacher of good morals. We serve the raised Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, King of kings and Lord of lords!
Please check out Anastasios's book
"The Warnings of the New Testament".
Purchase at Kindle and Amazon or
download for FREE at: http://www.jba.gr/
Articles/pdf/the-warnings-of-the-New-
Testament.pdf
Saturday, May 14, 2016
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