Why Pay Taxes

 

Ayn Rand on Socialism

 

Are These The Days?

 

Are These The Days?

 

Are these the days when we are about to see the rise of the anti-christ?

 

There is much speculation in both the Church and the world about the end times and the anti-christ. There are many teachings available based on The Bible and some on just speculation and misinformation.

Here is what we do know:

 

Watch therefore…

Matthew 24:42, 25:13

Mark 13:33-37

1 Thessalonians 5:6

 

We are not to know the seasons or the times…

Matthew 24:36

Mark 13:32

Acts 1:7 one of the very last things JESUS told the disciples.

1 Thessalonians 5:1

Zechariah 14:5b-7

 

We are to know the signs of our time…

Matthew 16:1-4

2 Timothy 3:1

Revelation 1:3

 

Seek GOD! There are many who are seeking signs of the time, they are trying to make the events of today fit the Scriptures; but we are to know the signs of our time by knowing GOD, not seeking signs to verify our truth.

 Matthew 6:33

Isaiah 55:6-7

1 Corinthians 1:22

 

 

If these are the days – what should we be doing?

 

JESUS told many parables about watching and being ready for His return, about knowing the signs of the times in which we live and about the results of being ready and not being ready,

 

The emphasis was always on being ready or else. The or else is eternal damnation, the result of not being watchful and ready was always being cast into outer darkness where there is gnashing of teeth and groaning, sorrow and wailing. Matthew 24:45, 51

 

In the Church this has always been applied to unbelievers, those who reject salvation through JESUS CHRIST. But JESUS was never talking to unbelievers, He was always talking to believers, those who had GOD’s Word and practiced it religiously.

 

Take Matthew 25 for example:

The ten virgins were all invited to the wedding feast, but half of them did not take extra oil for their lamps. The bridegroom was delayed and when his arrival was announced five of them did not have enough oil so they had to go get some more (they were not ready). By the time they got back the bridegroom had arrived and they were locked out. When they knocked to be let in the bridegroom told them, “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.” Then to us He said, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which The Son of Man is coming.” 25:1-13 The moral: to always be ready no matter how long the delay, be prepared for the duration of time because we do not know how long it will be. In the first century they though it would be in their life time and here we are almost 2000 years later and still expecting His return any day.

 

Or the parable of the talents in 25:14-30, The mater gave three men responsibility while he was gone, they did not know how long he was going to be gone so they each did what he thought best. When the master returned he called his servants to account for their time, the first one who he had the most expectation of returned double what he had been entrusted with and was rewarded with greater responsibility. The second man also double what he had been entrusted with and he also returned double and was rewarded with greater responsibility. The third man was afraid of his master and of losing what he had been entrusted with so he had stashed it away for save keeping, his master was angry that he had made no effort to do anything with what he was given, and what he had been given was taken away and rewarded to the first man cast out of the kingdom. “For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” The moral is that there is no such thing as “once saved always saved” and there are no “Sunday go to meeting” Christians in GOD’s Kingdom. We each have a Call and we are responsible to learn, grow and work in it until JESUS returns or we die.

 

Or 25:31-46 the parable of JESUS judging the nations as sheep (right hand) and goats (left hand). The sheep nations are rewarded for doing the works of GOD’s Kingdom love, generosity and care. The goats are rejected because they did not do the works of GOD’s Kingdom of love, generosity and care; they were cast into hell which was prepared; not for humans, but for the devil and his angles. “Then He will say to those on His left hand, ‘Depart from Me you cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angles:…And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life.” 25:41, 46 The moral is the same, do the works of GOD’s Kingdom and receive eternal reward or eternal punishment.

 

You cannot retire from the Kingdom of GOD, you can serve GOD until JESUS returns or until you die. JESUS said, “No one, having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the Kingdom.” Luke 9:62

 

So the original question was, Are these the days when we are about to see the rise of the anti-christ? If yes see above, if no we need to really be praying 2 Chronicles 7:14 for our country is about to go socialist!

 

The Rapture

 

The Rapture

What do you believe about the rapture?

 

When I became a Christian in 1974 it was generally taught that the Christians would go through the Great Tribulation, there was a popular Christian movie made in 1972 called ‘A Thief In The Night’ all about the Great Tribulation and CHRIST’s return, the Christians were caught up to Heaven at CHRIST’s return at the end of the Great Tribulation.

 

Sometime in the 1980’s the current theory of the Rapture; that all Christians will be taken from the earth by JESUS at the beginning of the Great Tribulation started becoming prominent. I was still a young Christian in the mid 1980’s when I was going to Bible College and what was being discussed was the pre, mid and post tribulation theories; I was undecided but leaning toward post tribulation.

 

It was not until I started just reading The Bible daily that I began to see flaws in some of the theology I had been taught in Bible College and from the pulpit. This caused me to start studying The Bible to learn what it said rather than depending on others to tell me what it said. Though the years as I have studied The Bible and Christian doctrines I have strengthened my core beliefs in the Word of GOD and I am confident that I teach The Truth of The Scriptures, not because I am a Bible Scholar or that I’m really smart, not just because I use reference material, old and new; but because I read with an open heart to hear The SPIRIT of GOD, I allow myself to be wrong until I am positive. In other words I doubt my understanding until The SPIRIT and The Word prove to me that I understand what I believe and I can show it Scripturally.

 

All that is to say that I do not believe in the pre-tribulation rapture of the Church as it is commonly taught in the Church today.

 

The main Scriptures that are used to prove this are 1 Corinthians 15:50-58, the highlight passage is 51-52, “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed – in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” And 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, the highlight passage is 15-17, “For this we say to you by The Word of The LORD, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of The LORD will by no means precede those who are asleep. For The LORD Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of GOD. And the dead in CHRIST will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet The LORD in the air. And thus we shall always be with The LORD.”

They also use Matthew 24:22, “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.” This passage is used to claim that GOD will not leave the Believers here for the Great Tribulation; this is incorrect, read it in context (24:3-28) this is a description of what is going to happen during the Great Tribulation. Verse 15 is the three and one half year point in the seven years of the Great Tribulation, “Therefore, when you see the ‘abomination of desolation’, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the Holy Place, (whoever reads, let him understand),” This is not the description of what happened to Israel under the Romans because no one stood and proclaimed himself god, they tore down the temple after desecrating it. During the Great Tribulation the anti-christ will stand in the third Temple and proclaim himself god. During the Roman time the people would have already fled except the ones trapped in Jerusalem by the Roman siege. During the days of the Great Tribulation many people will be living in and around Jerusalem, these are the ones CHRIST is telling prophetically to flee. Verse 22, “Unless those days were shortened,” this is a past tense statement, GOD determined the number of days of the Great Tribulation in the beginning so that humanity (especially the Believers) would survive until CHRIST’s return to rule over the nations.

 

The whole concept that GOD would deliver the Believers of the Great Tribulation is not Biblical: in the days of Noah, he and his family were not the only ones who loved and served GOD, Methuselah was not the last believer other than Noah and his family when he died; but only Noah and his family were saved.

Also the Word of The LORD to Abraham was that his descendents would be in captivity for 400 years but they were in captivity for 430 years.

When Israel was sent into seventy years of captivity Daniel (Belteshazzar), Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach) and Azariah (Abed-Nego), all went into the captivity; Jeremiah lived through it in captivity of the Jews; Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther were all born during the captivity, Mordecai may have been taken into captivity or born in captivity. And the captivity did not end in the seventieth year, the return of the people started in the seventieth year but it took many years before the majority returned to Israel and some stayed in the land of their captivity for personal reasons.

GOD did not deliver the Israelis from the Greek and Roman occupations.

During the destruction of Israel and Jerusalem by the Romans, many believing Jews and Christians were killed and taken as slaves or dispersed from their homelands.

The most telling verses that tell us that GOD does not deliver us from tribulation are 2 Chronicles 7:12-15, most Christians can quote part or all of verse 14, “If My People who are called by My Name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

But verses 12-13 are the key to verses 14-15, “Then The LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said, to him: ‘I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My People,…” GOD uses tribulation to judge us and the world, to call us and the world to repentance!

 

All of that said, now I will show by the Scriptures why I believe there is not a pre or mid tribulation rapture. In The revelation of JESUS CHRIST as given to John Zebedee on the island of Patmos, Greece; it is clear that the last trumpet Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4 is the seventh trumpet as revealed to John in Revelation 14.

First understand that all the events in Revelation are not given chronologically (in the order of their timing). Revelation 1 is the introduction and description of John’s experience. Revelation 2-3 are CHRIST’s letters to the seven Churches of Asia. Revelation 4-5 are about John’s glimpse into Heaven. Revelation 6:1-8 are about the first four seals of the scroll that only The Lamb of GOD can open, these things have been going on since the days after the flood, but they may be heightened in the Great Tribulation. If there were to be a pre-tribulation rapture is would happen after Revelation 6:9. Revelation 6:9-11 is about the martyrs before the Great Tribulation, whose number is to be increased. Revelation 6:12-17, the sixth seal sounds like the Day of The LORD, 17, “For the Great Day of His Wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” The seventh seal does not happen until Revelation 8. Revelation 7 is about the 144,000 virgin men of Israel who are sealed (have His Father’s Name written on their foreheads) to the service of The LORD, who follow Him wherever He goes (Revelation 14:1-5) Revelation 7:9-17 is about the enumerable host of humans and angelic beings in Heaven who worship GOD; the host of humans are those who come out of the Great Tribulation, verses 13-14, “Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, ‘Who are these arrayed in white robes, ad where did they come from?’ And I said to him, ‘Sir, you know.’ So he said to me, ‘These are the ones who come out of the Great Tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in The Blood of The Lamb.’”

Revelation 8 is about the seventh seal which starts the seven trumpet judgments, verses 7-13 are the first 4 trumpets, verses 12-13, the fourth trumpet is three woes, the fifth, sixth and seventh trumpets; this all sounds like the days of the Great Tribulation. Revelation 9 is about trumpets 5 and 6, this is more of the Great Tribulation. Revelation 10 is about the seven thunders whose words are not recorded and the little book that John eats so that he can continue to prophesy. Revelation 11:1-13 is about the two witnesses, some believe this is the middle of the Great Tribulation and if there is a mid-tribulation this would be the place for it. Revelation 11:14-19 is the seventh trumpet.

Revelation 12 is an overview of the history of the devil, Israel, CHRIST and The Church.

Revelation 13 is the story of the rise of the anti-christ, the false prophet and the image of the anti-christ, this should be the beginning of the Great Tribulation. Revelation 14:1-13 is about standing on Mount Zion with the 144,000 and the proclamation of three angels, one with the Everlasting Gospel to preach and to praise GOD and give Him Glory, one announcing the fall of Babylon and one announcing the judgment for those who worship the anti-christ.

 

Revelation 14:14 through Revelation 20:6 happen on one day, the day the seventh (last) trumpet sounds – The Day of The LORD when CHRIST returns to the earth and establishes His Reign over the nations of the earth that will last one thousand (1000) years.

The day begins when CHRIST appears in the Heavens and harvests the earth (the rapture as described in 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4), Revelation 14:14-16. Next is the harvest of the fruit of the earth which is thrown into the winepress of GOD’s wrath (the seven bowl judgments. the judgment of Babylon the Great and the battle of Armageddon) Revelation 14:17-20. Revelation 15-16 are about the bowl judgments; Revelation 17-18 are about the judgment of Babylon the Great; Revelation 19 is about the battle of Armageddon; and Revelation 20 is about CHRIST establishing His thousand year reign over the nations.

There are some who believe that from Revelation 14:14 to Revelation 19:21 will take one (1) year, I do not believe this, I see no evidence in the Scripture to support this theory. That is like those who believe that the six days of creation was six thousand years rather than six 24 hour days.

John 3:27

 

John 3:27

 

“John answered, ‘A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from Heaven.’” TLV

 

“We have this notion that we can consecrate our gifts to GOD. We cannot consecrate what is not ours; there is only one thing that we can consecrate to GOD, and that is our right to ourselves.” Oswald Chambers

 

 

What Does Proverbs Say For Today Part 7

 

What Does Proverbs Say For Today Part 7 

Wise Man

¹ Wise = adj. having the ability to form true judgments; discerning.

Wiseacre = n. a would-be wise person; a stupid person who thinks he knows it all.

² Wise Men = 1. Men of understanding and skill in ordinary affairs. 2. The magi; astrologers.

           

“A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain (acquire) wise counsel, the wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the legacy of fools. Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. ‘If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff, you will bear it alone.’ The wise in heart will receive commands, but a prating fool (lit. the foolish of lips) will fall (be thrust down or ruined). Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding, but a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding (lit. lacks heart). Wise people store up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. To do evil is like sport to a fool, but a man of understanding has wisdom. He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins (lit. takes, in the sense of brings, cf.) souls is wise. A man will be commended according to his wisdom, but he who is of a perverse heart will be despised. He who tills (works or cultivates) his land will be satisfied with bread, but he who follows frivolity (lit. vain things) is devoid of understanding (lit. heart). The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise. A fool’s wrath is known at once, but a prudent man covers shame. There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health. He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed. The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands. In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, but the lips of the wise will preserve them. A wise man fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident. Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, but what is in the heart of fools is made known. The king’s favor is toward a wise servant, but his wrath is against him who causes shame. A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother. As messengers of death is the king’s wrath, but a wise man will appease it. He who heeds the word wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he. The wise in heart will be called prudent, and sweetness of the lips increases learning. The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips. A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, and will share an inheritance among the brothers. Rebuke is more effective for a wise man than a hundred blows on a fool. The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. There is desirable treasure, and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man squanders it. A wise man scales the city (climbs over the walls) of the mighty, and brings down the trusted stronghold. There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord. A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished. The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise child will delight in him. A wise man is strong, yes, a man of knowledge increases strength; for by wise counsel you will wage your own war, and in a multitude of counselors there is safety. A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; the simple pass on and are punished. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered. Scoffers set a city aflame, but wise men turn away wrath. If a wise man contends with a foolish man, whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace. A fool vents all his feelings (lit. SPIRIT), but a wise man holds them back. (Proverbs 1:5; 3:35; 9:8-9, 12; 10:8, 13-14, 23; 11:29-30; 12:8, 11, 15-16, 18; 13:20; 14:1, 3, 16, 33, 35; 16:14, 20-21, 23; 17:2, 10; 18:15; 21:20, 22,30; 22:3; 23:24; 24:5-6; 27:12; 28:26; 29:8-9, 11)

 

Proverbs 12:12 says, “The wicked covet the catch of evil men, but the root of the righteous yields fruit.”, and Proverbs 11:30 says, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins (lit. takes, in the sense of brings, cf.) souls is wise.” A wise man lives his life in the righteousness of GOD in CHRIST JESUS. The fruit of The SPIRIT that is yielded by a righteous life causes people to be drawn to us so that we can tell them the reason for our joy is GOD’s gift of salvation for every person through JESUS CHRIST so that they can be delivered and discipled into His Kingdom. 1 Peter 3:15.

 

“Wise people store up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed. A wise man fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident. The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands. A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother. A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, and will share an inheritance among the brothers.” Proverbs 10:14, 13:20, 14:1, 16, 15:20, 17:2

 

It is clear that we are to seek to be wise, but not in our own strength or ability or gifting. When we submit our life to GOD and The SPIRIT of GOD that dwells in us we will walk in His wisdom and do His will and see His Kingdom come. That is what a wise man does. A key teaching is that if we hang with fools or those who do evil things we will reap the same reward (punishment) as they do. Many of us have experienced this or know someone who has. There is not much that is worse that suffering the punishment of a fool just because you were with them (with no wicked intent) when they did some wicked thing and you all got caught.

 

“To do evil is like sport to a fool, but a man of understanding has wisdom.”  Proverbs 10:23 In our society today we see entertainment that makes evil behavior into a financially rewarding competition; in reality TV shows, fictional TV shows and movies. Starting in the 1970s criminals were portrayed as heroes, romanticized like Bonnie and Clyde and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Going back even farther in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries when dime novels portrayed Billy the Kid and Jessie James as victims and heroes. Since the original human sin of Adam’s disobedience in the Garden humanity has leaned toward wickedness rather that righteousness as a lifestyle. But those who have understanding have wisdom, because wisdom teaches us that a lifestyle of righteous living is better no matter its hardships. Those who chose to live a righteous life whether by keeping the law or by the Grace of GOD through CHRIST JESUS will live a happier and more fulfilled life no matter what, because they are eternal minded not fleshly minded.

 

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of GOD, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5

War!

 

War!

 

“This day The LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a GOD in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is The LORD’s and He Will Give you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:46-47

It’s not about who we are, it is about GOD!

The Israelites feared to go into battle against one giant of a man; even though the king was there the priests and The Ark was there, everyone in the army was afraid to go to battle with Goliath. David a shepherd boy who was sent there by his father to being food to his brothers was the one GOD used, because David was offended by Goliath’s blaspheming of GOD. GOD used a young man, under twenty years old or he would have been in the army, to defeat those who opposed Him.

 

 “Blessed be The LORD, my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle – my Lovingkindness and my Fortress, my High Tower and my Deliverer, my Shield and The One in Whom I take Refuge, Who subdues my people under me.” Psalm 144:1-2

Years later David writes this Psalm to declare GOD’s faithfulness to those who do the warfare of GOD’s Kingdom in the earth.

JESUS, as determined by GOD before the foundation of the earth was laid, came as GOD’s Rock (Matthew 21:42-43; 1 Peter 2:4-10) to be used by the Believers in CHRIST to destroy the works of the devil in the earth.

The Rock is, “You are The CHRIST, The Son of GOD.” when we anchor our life in JESUS we cannot be moved because JESUS is our sure foundation, our Rock. (Matthew 7:24-29; 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 10:1-4)

 

“When JESUS came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that I, The Son of Man, am?’ So they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But Who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are The CHRIST, The Son of GOD.’ JESUS answered and said to him, ‘Blessed are you Simon-Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood had not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in Heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter; and on this rock I Will build My Church and the gates of hell shall not be victorious against it. And I Will give you the Keys of The Kingdom of Heaven – whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in Heaven and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in Heaven.’” Matthew 16:13-20.

The Keys of The Kingdom on the earth is that we have the authority to loose and bind on earth what is loosed and bound in Heave.

 

“The gates of hell will not be victorious…” Most teachings about this scripture are about the Church being attacked by hell or hell extending it’s territory in the Church, that is actually surrender by the Church. Gates represent the entrance and it is The Church that is supposed to be attacking the gates of hell and taking back it territory the devil has stolen.

We have to stop surrendering and start attacking! That is what the following Scriptures teach – warfare nor defence!

 

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in GOD for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of GOD, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of CHRIST, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

We first have to war against our flesh and old nature that want to sin and bring them into submission to JESUS and The Father’s Will. (Matthew 6:9-10; Mark 8:34-38; Galatians 2:20-21, 5:1)

 

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in The LORD and in The Power of His Might. Put on the Whole Armor of GOD, that you may be able to stand against the schemings of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up The Whole Armor of GOD that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand therefore having Girded your waist with Truth, having put on the Breastplate of Righteousness, and having shod you feet with the preparation of The Gospel of Peace; above all, taking the Shield of Faith with which you will be able quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take The Helmet of Salvation and The Sword of The SPIRIT, which is The Word of GOD; Praying always with all Supplication in The SPIRIT, being watchful to the end with all Perseverance and Supplication for all the Saints.” Ephesians 6:10-18

 

Our warfare is Obedience to GOD in CHRIST JESUS! Yes, we have to resist temptation and sin! Yes, we have to stand against the evil of the world!

We have to confront individuals, groups, religions and governments that are controlled by the devil; not just is word and deed but in spiritual warfare. We will only be successful if we are abiding in JESUS, Who is seated at The Father’s right hand in Heaven, but Who lives in Us by His SPIRIT (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

JESUS said that if we do not abide in Him we can do nothing (John 15:5), but that if we abide in

His Word we will know the Truth and the Truth will set us free. (John 8:31-32).

Seek GOD while He may be found! Isaiah 55:6.

Jabez's Prayer

 

Jabez’s Prayer

1 Chronicles 4:9-10

 

“Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother named him Jabez saying, ‘Because I bore him with pain.’ Jabez called out to The GOD of Israel, saying, ‘If only You would greatly Bless me, and enlarge my territory (border). Let Your hand be with me and keep me from harm so that I might not suffer pain.’ ADONAI granted what he asked.” TLV

 

What do we know about Jabez? He was a descendent of Judah and he sought GOD for a blessing and GOD answered his prayer.

 

Many of the teachings on the prayer of Jabez are on GOD’s Faithfulness to answer prayer and so we should seek GOD’s Blessing. I believe the emphasis should be on the fact that Jabez, about whom almost no information is given in a book about the descendents of the Patriarchs of the nation of Israel; should be on seeking GOD.

 

His name literally means, “He will cause pain.”, in the KJV the term “sorrow or sorrowful” is used. His name is also the name of a city (1 Chronicles 2:55) in Hebrew it is Ya‘bêts (Jabets) which is from an unused root probably meaning to grieve or sorrowful. (Strong’s 3258)

 

It says he was more honorable than his brothers, in Hebrew it is kâbad or kâbêd a prime root; to be heave, i.e. in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable). Obviously this pronouncement is in the good sense, then honorable must have meant in his life style, the way he lived his life, that is what GOD is after in all of our lives. (Strong’s 5315)

 

What he prayed for was for GOD to enlarge his territory (border), in the KJV it is “coasts”. In Hebrew it is g^ebûwl or g^ebûl, from gûbal, probably meaning a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the territory enclosed: – border, bound, coast, X great, landmark, limit, quarter, space. (Strong’s 1366)

 

And GOD answered his prayer!

 

The teachings I have heard on this passage of Scripture are about seeking GOD’s Blessings, but that is not the theme of The Bible, the theme of The Bible is to seek GOD!

Deuteronomy 4:29; 1 Chronicles 16:10-11, 22:19, 28:8-9; 2 Chronicles 7:14, 11:16, 14:4, 15:2,12, 19:3, 29:3-4, 30:19, 31:21, 34:3; Ezra 4:2, 6:21, 7:10, 8:21-22; Job 5:8, 7:21, 8:5; Psalm 9:10, 22:26, 24:6, 24:4,8, 34:10, 40:16, 53:2, 63:1, 69:6,32, 70:4, 83:16, 104:21, 105:3-4, 119:2,45, 122:9; Proverbs 2:4, 8:17, 28:5; Isaiah 26:9, 34:16, 51:1, 55:6, 58:2; Jeremiah 29:13, 50:4; Daniel 9:3; Hosea 3:5, 5:6,15, 10:12; Amos 5:4,6,8; Zephaniah 2:3; Zechariah 8:21-22; Malachi 3:1; Matthew 6:33; Luke 12:31; Acts 15:17, 17:27; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 11:6. All of these  Scriptures are about seeking GOD, His Kingdom, His Righteousness and His Wisdom, I am going to highlight only two, two of the most well know Scriptures; Isaiah 55:6 and Matthew 6:33.

“Seek ADONAI while He may be found, call on Him while He is near.” This Word from The LORD comes in between the revelations about the coming Messiah and the revelation about the Glory of the end of time.

“Seek you first The Kingdom of GOD and His Righteousness, and all of these things will be added to you.” JESUS is dealing with the worry about our natural life when He is offering us His Eternal life. (Mark 8:35-38)

 

There are many scriptures that tell us that there is a time when people will seek GOD and He will not be found! Not dwelling on the negative I will only show two.

Proverbs 1:20-32 “Then they will call on Me, but I will not answer; they will seek Me diligently, but they will not find Me.” verse 28.

Isaiah 1:10-15 “When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers I will not hear, your hands are full of blood.” verse 15.

 

JESUS told us to store up treasures in Heaven not on the earth (Matthew 19-21, 24). The emphasis of The Scriptures is always about the eternal, the natural comes first as a type of what is eternal. I Corinthians 15:35-49, “And so it is written, ‘The first man Adam became a living being.’ The last Adam became a Life giving SPIRIT. However the spiritual (eternal) is not first, but the natural and afterward the spiritual.” verse 45-46.

 

So seek GOD first while He is willing to be found! There will be a time when people will seek GOD but He will not be willing to be found and they will die in their sin.

One is immediately after death when the lost will want to be forgiven but cannot.

The other is the last day, the day on which the battle of Armageddon is fought and CHRIST establishes His millennial reign over the nations.

The Gospel Message

 

The Gospel Message!

 

Luke 9:23-26 “Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My Words, of him The Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own Glory, and in His Father’s and of the holy angels.”

 

These four verses have the full Gospel message:

1. You have to want GOD in your life!

JESUS told us to seek the Kingdom of GOD and His Righteousness in Matthew 6:33 (Genesis 5:24; Isaiah 55:6; Matthew 5:6; John 12:42-50).

 

2. You have to obey GOD’s commands.

JESUS told us to keep His commandments (John 13:34-35).

JESUS tells us if we are to be His disciples we must keep His Commands (John 8:31-32; John 15:10).

 

3. You have to live in and for JESUS.

JESUS tells us we have to serve The Father’s Will, just as He did (Matthew 6:9-10; John 15:7; John 17:20-26).

 

4. You have to proclaim JESUS as your LORD and Savior to everyone you can.

JESUS tells us that we are not to be ashamed to proclaim Him, but we must proclaim Him (Matthew 16:27; Mark 16:14-18; Romans 1:16-17; Romans 10:8-13).

 

What have we learned?

We have to want God in our life.

We have to obey GOD’s commands.

We have to live (abide) is JESUS.

We have to proclaim the Gospel to everyone.

What Does Proverbs Say For Today Part 6

 

What Does Proverbs Say For Today Part 6

 

Benefits of Wisdom

“To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive (understand or discern) the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion—a wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, to understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure (at ease), without fear of evil. For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path. When wisdom enters your heart and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you, to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things, from those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness; who rejoice in doing evil, and delight in the perversity of the wicked; whose ways are crooked, and who are devious in their paths; to deliver you from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words, who forsakes the companion of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her GOD. For her house leads (sinks) down to death, and her paths to the dead; none who go to her return, nor do they regain (Lit. reach) the paths of life—so you may walk in the way of goodness, and keep to the paths of righteousness. For the upright will dwell in the land, and the blameless will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off (destroyed) from the earth (land), and the unfaithful will be uprooted from it.” (Proverbs 1:2-7a, 33; 2:6-22)

 

These 25 verses say everything there is to say about the benefits of wisdom: The blessings of GOD and protection from evil. So what are they: increased learning ability, the ability to understand wise counsel, the ability to understand what others do not, the ability to live safe and secure not fearing evil.

 

This last one seems impossible many believers get sick and injured, many die prematurely, many face financial ruin and poverty, in life everything that happens to non-believers happens to believers. The verses say that GOD gives knowledge and understanding and He stores up wisdom for the upright and that these will deliver us from all the evils of humanity. But that doesn’t seem to be our reality, why? Because GOD is always speaking eternally; we live in a linear time reality that GOD created for us, GOD is not constrained by this linear time reality and everything He does and says is eternal. This is part of the knowledge of who GOD is and the understanding of how things work in His Kingdom, we are made eternal spiritual beings in a mortal (time bound) body which will pass away; GOD told us in Genesis 3:19, “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” or as it’s put in Hebrews 9:27-28, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so CHRIST was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” We have to stop thinking about GOD and His Kingdom in the linear time reality that we live our mortal life in.

 

JESUS said that if we are one with Him then we are one with the Father as He is one with the Father. He said this while He was alive in the flesh and He said that His life in the flesh was to do the will of His Father. He told us that if we are in Him then no one nor anything could take us from the Father, He also told us in Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your GOD, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” and in Hebrews 13:5-6, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  Remember JESUS said the only one we need to fear is the one who can destroy the flesh and the soul and cast us into hell; GOD. (Study Matthew 5:11-12, 10 7-31; Luke 12:4-7, 49-53; John 4:31-38, 10:14-15, 15:18-21, 17)

 

And there are dozens more verses in Proverbs that speak of the benefits of Wisdom 3:1-4, 13-26, 32-35; 4:1-13,18, 20-27; 5:1-2, 7; 6:20-24; 8:6-21, 35; 10:8, 13-14, 17, 19, 23; 11:12; 12:1; 13:15-16; 14:6, 8, 24, 29; 15:21, 24, 31; 16:22; 27:27; 18:4; 21:11; 22:18-19, 21; 24:3-4, 13-14; 27:11; 28:2; 29:3, 18.

 

In Ecclesiastes 2:12-13 Solomon sums up his experience with wisdom and foolishness, “Then I turned myself to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what can the man do who succeeds the king?—only what he has already done. Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.”

 

 

What Does The Book Of Proverbs Say For Today? Part 5

 

What Does Proverbs Say For Today Part 5

 

Results for Ignoring Wisdom

 

“Wisdom calls aloud outside (in the street) she raises her voice in the open squares. Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, because you disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, when your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, they would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies. For the turning away (waywardness) of the simple will slay them, and complacency of fools will destroy them; My son, pay attention to my wisdom; lend (Lit. bow) your ear to my understanding, that you may preserve discretion (appreciate good judgment), and your lips may keep knowledge. For the lips of an immoral (Lit. a strange) woman drip honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death, her steps lay hold of hell (or Sheol). Lest you ponder her path of life – her ways are unstable; you do not know them. Therefore hear me now, my children, and do not depart from the words of my mouth. Remove your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house, lest you give your honor (vigor) to others, and your years to the cruel one; lest aliens be filled with your wealth (Lit. strength), and your labors go to the house of a foreigner; and you mourn at last, when your flesh and your body are consumed, and say: ‘How I hated instruction, and my heart despised correction! I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me! I was on the verge of total ruin, in the midst of the assembly and congregation.’  My son, keep your father’s command, and do not forsake the law of your mother. Bind them continually upon your heart; tie them around your neck. To keep you from the evil woman, from the flattering tongue of a seductress. Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, nor let her allure you with her eyelids. For by means of a harlot a man is reduced to a crust of bread; and an adulteress (wife of another, lit. a man’s wife) will prey upon his precious life. Can a man take fire to his bosom and his clothes not be burned? Can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be seared? So is he who goes into his neighbor’s wife; whoever touches her shall not be innocent. But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; all those who hate me love death. He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, but he who refuses correction goes (leads) astray. He who is devoid (Lit. lacks heart) of wisdom despises his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his pace. Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, and he sins who hastens with his feet. Cease listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge. Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. A man who wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead. A ruler who lacks understanding is a great oppressor, but he who hates covetousness will prolong his days. “ (Proverbs 1:20, 24-32; 5:1-14; 6:20-21, 24-29; 8:36; 10:17; 11:12; 19:2, 27; 20:1; 21:16; 28:16)

 

Proverbs 10:17b says, “…but he who refuses correction goes (leads) astray.” Those who choose to do evil will lead the simple and foolish, the scripture is clear, ignoring wisdom results in destruction and death. Paul says in Romans 16:17-19 and Titus 3:9-11, “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our LORD JESUS CHRIST, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple (innocent) concerning evil. But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition (warning), knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.” Study 2 Peter 2.

 

Solomon’s teachings are clear that not seeking wisdom and living our life by the knowledge and understanding that come from wisdom our life now and through eternity will be painful and disastrous. There is no good thing that comes from seeking our own way and desire. “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weights the spirits. A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the LORD’s—that will stand. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weights the hearts.” Proverbs 16:2, 9, 25; 19:21; 21:2 If we submit to GOD’s will for our life and seek His wisdom on how to live it we will receive His blessing and rewards. If we seek our own will and pleasure we will receive His correction and judgment.

 

This is a common theme throughout the Bible and it divides into two categories; believers and non-believers. Non-believers are pretty straight forward for believers to understand; non-believers reject GOD and His Word because they reject His authority as Creator and Redeemer. They believe the lie of the serpent in the garden to Eve and irregardless of the evidence around them in life they cling to the hope that they can be in charge of their life. Though there are those who do evil because they enjoy it and get power from it and their judgment will be all the greater (Revelation 20:11-15); “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses (enticements to sin)! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” Matthew 18:6-7.

 

Believers is more complicated and many Christians are confused about “Once saved always saved!” or, “Can a Christian lose their salvation?” or, “Were they truly saved at all?” Proverbs is written to the Jewish people who are believers, or at least most of them are. It is also written to all believers from creation until New Jerusalem so we need to pay attention to its teachings. So when Solomon talks about not heeding the voice of Wisdom, of doing good not evil, of keeping the Commandments of GOD he is talking to believes as well as non-believers. I’m only going to quote two verses to support this. Matthew 7:21-23 and Revelation 22:12-21. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘LORD, LORD,’ shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven. Many shall say to Me in that day, ‘LORD, LORD, have we not prophesied in Your Name, cast out demons in Your Name, and done many wonders in Your Name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” “‘And behold, I Am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work. I Am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last (NU, M First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.), Blessed are those who do His Commandments (NU wash their robes,), that they may have the right to the Tree of Life, and may enter through the Gates into the City. But (NU, M omit But), outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. I, JESUS, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the Churches. I Am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.’ And the SPIRIT and the Bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the Water of Life freely. For (Nu, M omit For) I testify to everyone who hears the Words of the Prophesy of this Book; If anyone adds to these things, GOD (M may GOD add) will add to him the plagues that are written in this Book; and if anyone takes away from the Words of the Book of this prophesy, GOD (M may GOD take away) shall take away his part from the Book of Life (M Tree of Life), from the Holy City, and from the things which are written in this Book. He who testifies of these things says, ‘Surely I Am coming quickly.’” “Even so come, LORD JESUS! The Grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST be with you all (NU with all; M with all the Saints). Amen.”

 

 

 

No Fear in 2023

 

No Fear in 2023!

 

Wherever you get your news, whatever news you get, it all seems bad!

There is so much fear in the world today, people fear the future as much as they fear today.

“You will hear of wars rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must happen…and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.” Matthew 24:6-7.

 

The future is brighter than the present if you are a believer in JESUS CHRIST! “If you confess with your mouth that JESUS is LORD, and believe in heart that GOD raised Him from the dead you will be saved.” Romans 10:9.

 

There was a song when I was young, “Whatever Will Be, Will Be” (Que Sera, Sera); in the song the singer is asking their mother about their future and the mother’s response is always, “Whatever will be, will be.”

 

The reality is that how we chose to live our life will determine what will be in our life; but how other people chose to live their life will also affect what will be in our life. Since the devil is lord of the earth and sin in so prevalent in the world, our life may not be what we want (Revelation 12:9-12). We may not live a good life, even worse it may be against GOD’s Purpose for our life (Psalm 139:13-18; Romans 7:13-25).

 

To live an overcoming life free of fear for today and the future we have to live our life in CHRIST JESUS. “The devil comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I JESUS, The Son of GOD have come that those who believe in ME as LORD might have life and life in abundance!” John 10:10 (my paraphrase) .

 

How do we have this Life in abundance? By living our life in CHRIST JESUS! “I AM The True Vine and My Father is the Gardener…Abide in Me and I will abide in you…The one who abides in Me and I in them bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:1-5.

 

JESUS prayed for us, “Father, the hour has come, Glorify Your Son, so The Son may Glorify You. Even as You have given Him authority over all flesh, so may He give Eternal Life to all those You have given Him. And this is Eternal Life, that they may know You, The Only True GOD and JESUS CHRIST, The One You sent.” John 17:1-3.

 

So what do we do with this Eternal Life? “JESUS came up to them and said, ‘All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to Me, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in The Name of The Father and The Son and The HOLY SPIRIT, teaching them to observe all I have commanded you. And, remember! I Am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8).

 

JESUS told us to pray for GOD’s Will to be done in the earth as it is in Heaven (Matthew 6:9-13) How do we do the work of GOD’s Kingdom in the earth as it is in Heaven? “Seek first the Kingdom of GOD and His Righteousness and all these things will be added to you. Take no thought for tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:33-34.

 

Our Call is not to worry about what is happening and what will happen; our Call is to obey CHRIST’s commands and do the Will of GOD. “Then JESUS said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed and you shall know the Truth, and The Truth will make you free. Therefore if The Son makes you free, you are free indeed.’” John 8:31, 32, 36.

 

So as we enter into 2023 there are wars, there are rumors of war, there are earthquakes; there are famines; just as there always have been. They will increase as the end of the age gets closer, as evil rises to power over the whole earth (the anti-christ’s reign for 7 years) so also the Faith of the True Saints (servants of GOD) will increase (Revelation 12:11).

 

Our joy and peace come from abiding in JESUS and doing the Work of GOD’s Kingdom in the earth as it is in Heaven. We must seek GOD while He can be found (Isaiah 55:6) and we must proclaim The Gospel of JESUS CHRIST to the lost (Romans 1:16-17). Then we can live without fear for we know that GOD is our Salvation (Joshua 1:8-9).

 

There is a hymn that the chorus goes, “Because He Lives I can face tomorrow, because He Lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future; and life is worth the living just because He Lives.” This should be our theme song, just change “He Lives” to “You Live” and worship GOD!