You Kids Have It To Easy Today

You Kids Have It So Easy Today!

I saw a car commercial about a feature that made parking easy and the father said to the young adult driver, “You kids have it too easy these days.” I’ve heard adults telling that to young people since I was a teenager, I’ve even said it myself.

The truth is that teenagers and young adults do not have it easy in the things of life that are important, in fact the technology that “makes things easy” actually is part of the reason things are not so easy for children and young adults today. In a society where everyone does what is right in their own eyes (heart) there are no true guidelines to help people make decisions on what is right or wrong.

Let’s talk sex, today many voice concern and outrage over the sex trade and sex trafficking but the reality is that just as many participate in both the sex trade and sex trafficking otherwise it would shrivel up and be almost non-existent under the current moral outrage that is expressed in the social and news medias and all the groups that oppose it and work against it and work at rescuing and rehabilitating victims.

How about pre-marital sex?⁵ When I was a teenager most every boy wanted to have sex but most also wanted to marry a virgin, a conflict that kept many from having pre-marital sex. Today both young men and women would rather experiment with sex than wait until marriage. The social guidelines and public education systems telling them of the pit falls of sexual relationships outside of marriage; such as sexually transmitted diseases², unwanted pregnancies and soul ties after a breakup also teaches young people that sex outside of a marriage is ok and then teaches them how to do it. They provide them with disease and pregnancy prevention tools but that doesn’t seem to be working considering how many teen abortions there are in this country each year. There were about 550,000 pregnancies in girls aged 15 to 19 in 2011 in the United States, of these about 40,963 or 13.5% had abortions.¹

How about pornography? When I was an adolescent pornography was harder to get hold of but not impossible. It was mostly glossy magazines and paperback books, there were 8mm films but you needed access to a projector. Later pornography was available on video cassette tapes, then DVDs. All of these required some luck and maybe some adult assistance for teenagers to get, but it was not impossible. Since pornography hit the big time on the internet there is no stopping children of any age from viewing it and becoming addicted to it. Yet the real harm of pornography is the false reality and perversion that it makes seem normal. Pornography is allowed under politically correct but morally corrupt freedom of expression legislation and supported by our government and judicial system. So why do so many decry its negative power and influence over our society while making no restrictions on it availability? Now we have children sexting each other, adults and strangers.

How about trans-gender? There is only one truth about trans-gender, no matter what you believe your gender is, no matter what you do to your body to look like the gender you believe you are, your DNA will always determine what your gender is. Our gender is always what our DNA is. If you want to be a different gender than what you were born as then just admit that you are a homosexual and want to have sex with those of your own gender. Giving it a special name and demanding special considerations is just rude and selfish.⁴

How about world peace? Everybody says they want world peace but no one is putting down their arms and opening their borders. Well some are opening their borders and look what is happening in those countries. There has been no world peace since Cain killed his brother Able.

What about hate speech and behavior? One group’s freedom of expression is another group’s hate speech. One group’s right to practice what they believe is another group’s immorality. With today’s technology and all the forms of social media there are no clear lines of what is acceptable and what is unacceptable communication. We have groups calling for violent demonstrations and murder of those who have opposing views. We have expressions of every kind of sex and lifestyle imaginable.

What about pollution and the environment? We have nations who don’t care about their pollution and what that does to the earth and the health of every living thing. Yet we have the UN and many governments calling for the end of pollution but they are actually not doing anything to solve the problems. There are environmental groups that are so fanatical that they hate those they believe are harming the earth. GOD would approve of their fervor if they were not killing people and destroying property in the name of their environmental cause. Many call for replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources but nothing is happening except agreements and more talk. Why? Because renewable energy sources are more expensive and at this time not able to support the current and growing demand for energy.

What about bullying? Bullying like hate of any kind has been with men from the beginning, Cain feared being bullied because he murdered his brother.⁵ Children learn bullying from adults.

How about suicide? With all the issues facing the youth of today and no real solution presented to them by society or the government it’s no wonder suicide rates are so high.³

These are just a few of the issues that face the youth of today in our country and the world. So how is it that they have it so easy? The only thing that will allow the youth of today to overcome the confusion of what is politically correct and what is reality is to find the ultimate source of truth! What is that source?

GOD’s Word to humanity, the Bible.⁵ In the Bible is everything a person needs to know about GOD and His plan for their life. The Bible reveals GOD as the creator of everything, the one who forms us in our mother’s womb, the one who loves us so much that He came as a man, Jesus Christ, to die in our place so that we would not go to hell but live with Him for eternity. If you reject GOD’s love and salvation then you chose hell. The Bible tells us how to live our life in peace and harmony with Him in His eternal Kingdom (Heaven) now, we do not have to wait for some future time after we die. The Bible tells us how to live with one another in love and harmony protecting our environment. The Bible is everything we need to know and it is more than we can ever fully know.

Stop making excuses for why things are the way they are! Start being part of the solution! Just know that joining a silent, moderate or radical group that is for or against something will not make anything better. Just like ignoring the problems will not make them go away but allows them to grow worse. All true change must start in our own heart, Jesus said, “For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.”⁵ If you really want change in the world you must seek the one who made the world and follow His instructions for correcting the wrongs in the world.

“How?” you ask; admit that you cannot do it yourself and that humanity as a whole cannot do it either. So if we are serious then we must do it GOD’s way which is through Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that we must recognize that we have fallen short of GOD’s requirements and expectations (sin) and that we are not able on our own to change our life and live as He created us to live.⁵ Once we recognize that we cannot save ourself or our planet then we must ask, “Who can?” Jesus, the one who created everything that exists, the one who gave His life as a ransom for everyone who will receive it, the one who sent His Holy Spirit to live in us and teach us how to live for Him and His Kingdom.

Notes:

¹ Teen pregnancy, birth and abortion rates in the United States all reached new historic lows in 2011, according to two new analyses (national and state) from the Guttmacher Institute. In 2011, about 553,000 pregnancies occurred among teen women aged 15–19, for a national rate of 52.4 pregnancies per 1,000 women in that age-group. This is the lowest rate observed in the last four decades, and it marks a 23% decline from the 2008 teen pregnancy rate of 68.2. National teen birth and abortion rates have also declined sharply: in 2011, there were 31.3 births per 1,000 teen women (down from 40.2 in 2008) and 13.5 abortions per 1,000 teen women (down from 18.1 in 2008). Guttmacher Institute, April 5, 2016 news release. (Emphasis mine)

² Adolescents ages 15-24 account for nearly half of the 20 million new cases of STD's each year. Today, two in five sexually active teen girls have had an STD that can cause infertility and even death. Also, though rates of HIV are very low among adolescents, males make up more than 80 percent of HIV diagnoses among 13- to 19-year-olds. STDs often have no obvious sign or physical symptom, so regular screenings are critical. The most effective way to prevent STDs is to abstain from sexual activity; if teens are having sex, they should be using a condom correctly and with every sexual act. HHS.gov Office of Adolescent Health, Adolescent Development and STDs, Content last reviewed on September 12, 2016. (Emphasis mine)

³ Suicide is the SECOND leading cause of death for ages 10-24. (2015 CDC WISQARS)

Suicide is the SECOND leading cause of death for college-age youth and ages 12-18. (2015 CDC WISQARS) More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease COMBINED. Each day in our nation, there are an average of over 5,240 attempts by young people grades 7-12. The Parent Resource Program, The Jason Foundation http://prp.jasonfoundation.com/facts/youth-suicide-statistics/

⁴ My brother and one of my sisters are homosexual, my sister-in-law, a niece, a great-niece and at least 1 cousin are homosexual. One of my grandsons was a homosexual now he says he is a transgender. I have known homosexuals since I was 16. I have worked with and had supervisors who were homosexual. I have known macho, effeminate, and regular homosexuals and one bi-sexual male and I have known homosexuals who left the lifestyle. I believe all my relatives and friends who are homosexual by choice know my belief about the morality of homosexuality and that does not stop us from loving each other or helping each other or being involved in each other’s lives.

⁵ The following scriptures show GOD’s will for the above noted statements, but you should read the whole Bible to learn about GOD and His plan for you and all creation. Get a translation that is easy for you to read and read 15 to 30 minutes everyday. Understand that the books of the Bible were not written with chapter and verse divisions and sometimes they breakup a thought or teaching. Start with John then Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts and Romans, read Psalms and Proverbs also; there are 31 chapters in Proverbs so you can read one each day of the month; read both the Old Testament and New Testament, it does not matter if you read the Bible Genesis to Revelation or skip around just read it.

Genesis 1-4; Matthew 5-7, Matthew 7:19-21; Mark 8:34-38; John 1-3, John 12:25, John 14:1-18; Romans 1:18-2:16, Romans 3:9-26, Romans 8:18-30; 1 Corinthians 6:8-20, 1 Corinthians 10:1-11:1; Ephesians 5:1-21; 2 Timothy 3:10-17; Revelation 21:1-8

To Die For

Charlene and I were at a gathering with some family and friends recently, there was one person there who was a good story teller about their life and family and they used this phrase several times, “to die for” about a wide variety of things. Later Charlene and I commented to each other how that statement did not seem correct for the things they were talking about. About the second time they said it I thought that there was only one thing “to die for” and that was eternal life with Jesus.

Jesus said that if we wanted to live we had to die to ourself but that if we sought our own life we would lose it, or die. So how do we die to live eternally? Jesus taught that if we surrendered our life to our Heavenly Father through Him we would have to stop living for ourself and live for His Kingdom. He said that we had to seek His Kingdom first and then all of our needs would be met, therefore we should not worry about such things as clothing and shelter but about doing what GOD called us to do in His Kingdom here on the earth.

Eternal life is not about someday when we die of going to Heaven to be with GOD. Eternity starts the moment we are conceived in our mother’s womb. The Bible tells us that GOD forms us as a spirit, soul and body and that He places a call in our life for His Kingdom. His Kingdom is all of creation; the heavens, the seas and the earth; the heavens are the sky above, the spiritual realm and GOD’s dwelling place. That means that when we realize that GOD does not want us to go to hell but He does want us to be with Him that we must make a decision to surrender our life to Him or live it for ourself.

If you are a Christian you should know this and be familiar with the Bible enough to know how to search these things out. If you are not a Christian or for some reason are not familiar with the Bible then I recommend that you read the following 6 books of the Bible to see what it says. Start with John then Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts and then Romans. Once you are familiar with the teachings of these books you can read any book of the Bible with understanding. Read a translation that is easy for you to read, there are many good English translations.

A couple of things you should know about reading the Bible. The books of the Bible were not written with chapter and verse divisions and sometimes those breakup a thought or lesson, so read several chapters at a time so that you get the continuity of events or lessons. Read slowly and ask yourself questions about what you are reading. Use reference materials to help you understand, such as a concordance and/or Bible dictionary. The most important thing to do while reading the Bible is to ask GOD to help you understand what you are reading and how it applies to your life; listen as you read and ask, He will speak to your heart and mind.

Suffering and Pain

Suffering and Pain

By Sadhu Sundar Singh From ‘The Christian Witness of Sadhu Sundar Singh’, 1989

Originally Published as Chapter 4 of ‘The Real Pearl’ in Urdu

1.      In the world there are two kinds of suffering, physical and spiritual. Spiritual suffering comes through the separation from GOD caused by sin; physical suffering is due to some sickness or injury. Other creatures besides human beings experience suffering and pain corresponding to their condition and stage of development, but they do not feel it to the extent that man does. Man’s emotions, his superior intelligence and powers of discernment and thought, intensify his suffering greatly, because the more he thinks the more aware he is of his suffering.

Often predatory animals and birds have the kind of teeth, claws, beaks, etc., which make it difficult for their prey to escape. It is good that it is so, so that the prey may die immediately, rather than escape wounded and suffer all the more. And the poison of poisonous reptiles, like snakes, renders the body numb and without feeling, making death painless. Except in certain special circumstances death always occurs painlessly, because the one to whom it comes is in a state of drowsiness or sleep, or else has been numbed by some poison or injury. So there is not really as much pain and suffering in any given condition as we suppose. To be sure, pain resulting from sin, whether spiritual or physical, causes great suffering and agony.

2.      There are many kinds of pain and suffering that help us to grow and advance in the spiritual life. It is not GOD’s will that we try to escape from these. Many things with a nasty bitter taste are really very beneficial; indeed many poisons and bitter things are the cure or antidote for some illness or other. But just because we are ignorant of their real nature we call them poison; they cause harm because we do not know their right use. Actually GOD created everything to serve some particular purpose, and in its right place each is useful and serviceable. The Creator made nothing which is itself bad or is harmful to any of His creatures. Similarly all pain, suffering and misfortune is a means of spiritual progress (Romans 8:28). Poisonous and harmful effects come only from a wrong use of one’s GOD-given powers, and from disobedience.

3.      Suffering and pain and various diseases are admonitory and beneficial not only to the person who experiences them but also to those who help the afflicted, because by rendering help their spiritual power is exercised and increased, and this is essential if they are to become mature. Real success and victory do not lie in being saved from the cross, death, evil and so on and being immediately transported to Heaven, but, by the grace of GOD, in turning suffering into joy, the cross and death into life, and evil into good. This is why we have been set among conditions of conflict and strife–because, ‘To enter the Kingdom of GOD we must pass through many hardships’, (Acts 14:22).

Without suffering, bitterness, evil and death the true values of their opposites, joy, sweetness, goodness and life, cannot be discerned. Therefore it is GOD’s will that before we enter His Kingdom and go to live in eternal happiness with Him we should first experience Him under all these conditions, and learn an enduring lesson.

4.      The pearl-oyster in the sea has to endure a great deal of trouble, because anything that gets into it, such as a small fish of grub or a grain of sand, becomes a source of irritation to it; and this irritation results in the creation of beautiful pearls. It is through pain and irritation that beautiful pearls come into being. But if pearls are not properly looked after, they lose their luster through contact with greasy substances like fat, until they turn into a brown powder and mingle once more with dust. So it has been observed from some old tombs that when pearls were buried with the body they turned into dust with the body. Similarly, like the beautiful pearl, the spiritual life cannot be attained without suffering and tribulation, and if, having achieved this delightful condition, we do not continue united to the LORD in humility, gratitude and love, we shall be in danger of tumbling from our exalted position to ruin (1 Corinthians 10:12), because it is essential to keep prayerfully on the watch.

5.      Diamonds and other precious stones reach the perfection of their beauty when they have been subjected to conditions of heat and cold, underground for hundreds and even thousands of years. In the same way we must reach maturity by experiencing both pleasure and pain. Remember that rubies, diamonds, etc. do not attain to their present beauty in a single day! Though men have made artificial diamonds and the like by their own efforts, on close examination their real nature and defectiveness are immediately apparent. So we must not suppose that straightway, in a single day, we shall become so perfect that not a fault will be left. Rather, be ever continually living in the presence and close fellowship of our Heavenly Father, we shall reach a perfection like His.

6.      Tempestuous wind and rain storms appear to be destructive, yet they are really beneficial, because they carry away destructive germs of various diseases and pestilences and become for us a physical health and blessing. So the breath of the Holy Spirit (John 3:8) and the gusts and storms of suffering and misfortune are par excellence a means of blessing and of spiritual health for us. Through the warmth of the sun water evaporates and forms clouds, to bring rain, and winds arise from the desert and hot areas. Just so the water of the rivers of life flows from the Sun of Righteousness to bestow life on us.

7.      There are some people who do not know that the demand of the spirit is satisfied by communion with GOD, so, not seeing this demand met in the world to come, nor even in the life of this world, in their stupidity they are prepared to commit suicide. Not only immoral and guilty people, but even philosophers commit this sin.

In contrast true spiritual Christians endure many afflictions in the world, because the fact that they make spiritual progress means that their troubles, misfortunes and difficulties increase proportionately, something ordinary worldly people are unable to understand. Therefore instead of helping and sympathizing with them they oppose them, and yet such Christians do not destroy themselves, because they have ‘denied themselves’ and found true joy and peace in communion with GOD. Although his spiritual need is fulfilled by GOD, still man, being human, wants the sympathy and fellowship of his fellow-man as well, and when this desire is unfulfilled Christ, who is both GOD and man, fulfills both these human needs. He knows, not only theoretically, but through His own personal experience, the difficulties and troubles of humanity, because He Himself became a man, endured suffering and pain, and can now fully sympathize with and help those who are afflicted (Hebrews 2:18).

8.      The good and spiritual man will always endure suffering in the world (2 Timothy 2:12), because people cannot understand him; and as their conscience and feelings, by means of which they should find the truth and value it, are desensitized and deadened through sin, whenever they come across a good man they discover that his nature and his ways are incompatible with theirs, and so are compelled to persecute him. But those whose spiritual sensitivity and conscience are alive and alert uphold the truth, and are influenced by the upright man’s fragrant and winsome life. The life of a true Christian is like sandalwood–instead of harming in any way the axe that cuts it imparts its own fragrance to it.

What GOD showed Henry Suso in a vision has been experience by countless Christians: ‘Your good reputation will be publicly destroyed, and wherever you expect to find love and faithfulness you will meet with deceit, suffering and affliction.’

In the world, where all GOD fearing people, prophets, apostles, even our LORD Himself, have been persecuted, to expect an easeful life is to go against the facts, turn one’s back on GOD, and ally oneself with the world. On the other hand, it is a great privilege to ‘share the sufferings’ of the LORD (Philippians 3:10). Then at the appointed time we shall also share with Him in eternal glory, and reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12).

9.      Before reaching his final goal man has to go through suffering, afflictions and temptations in the world; and it is GOD’s will, too, that we should experience all those conditions that are highly beneficial for our spiritual life and future good. If GOD had not wanted it this way we would not have been subject to these conditions; and if He wants it so, then who are we to object and question it? So it is essential that we gladly accept whatever befalls us, and not allow room in our hearts for anyone’s doubtings, because doubt turns away for GOD, rendering it worthless and useless, that spiritual inclination and aptitude by which man becomes reconciled to GOD, and enters full enjoyment of His fellowship.

As long as we are in the world we have to undergo both joy and sorrow. The bee not only gathers honey; to serve a particular purpose it also carries a sting. It is not without reason that beautiful fragrant roses are accompanied by thorns; and Paul’s ‘thorn in the flesh’ too (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) contributed to the fulfillment of a lofty objective. In the same way it is absolutely necessary, for us too, to go through such experiences for the fulfillment of a final eternal purpose.

The Call and Unity of GOD

The Call and Unity of GOD

The call to serve GOD and to unity both center around His creation of humanity and His purpose for creation from the very beginning.

The first call of GOD for His creation – humanity is to have dominion over the rest of His creation and the earth, Genesis 1:26¹ “Then GOD (Elohim) said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over all the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’” In verse 27 GOD created humanity in His image and likeness and in verses 28-30 GOD commissioned humanity! In verse 31 GOD saw that His work was good.

Elohim = the most frequent Hebrew word for GOD (over 2500 times in the OT). Plural in form, but singular in construction (used with a singular verb or adjective). When applied to the one true GOD, the plural is due to the Hebrew idiom of a plural of magnitude or majesty (Gen. 1:1, etc.)…Means either “be strong” or “be in front,” suiting the power and preeminence of GOD. Jesus is quoted as using a form of the name from the cross (Matt. 27:46, Eli; Mark 15:34, Eloi).²

Dominion = supreme authority; a territory subject to such authority as a part of an empire but with much power of self-rule in local matters.³

The first call of unity is marriage, Genesis 2:24 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Adam and Eve did not have earthly parents, but in GOD they were united and became one flesh. At some point in history government took the responsibility for the marriage covenant but GOD is the author and only He can make a couple one flesh. Jesus said in Matthew 19:6, “So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what GOD has joined together, let no man separate.” Study Matthew 19:1-15

Chrystal Evans Hurst said, “Adam and Eve had the best parents and they still had the right to choose.”⁴ This led to the first sin of lawlessness or being a law unto oneself. Because of Satan’s deception they believed they could be like GOD. Study Genesis 3; 2 Corinthians 11:1-4

Marriage is a dominion of unity, it is a territory of GOD’s Empire (Kingdom). Family which comes out of marriage is an expanded territory in GOD’s Kingdom, families make a community which is an even larger territory in GOD’s Kingdom. In all these territories we have self rule under GOD’s authority.

He called Noah, He called Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, He called Moses and Aaron, He called Israel, He called Joshua and the Judges, He called David and Solomon, He called the Prophets, He called Jesus Christ, He called the Apostles, He called the Church, He called Barnabas and Saul (Paul), He called America, He called you and me. Everyone that GOD called He called not just to his purpose but He called to unity with Himself and those He called them to.

He called Jesus the Christ and Jesus was totally yielded to the Father, John 6:38-40, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” In the Garden of Gethsemane He said, “Father if it is Your will take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will but Yours be done.” Luke 22:42

But Jesus did not just come to fulfill His predestined purpose of redeeming humanity and creation. He came to bring humanity and creation back into unity with GOD as they had been before the fall by Adam. Study John 14:1-11, 15:1-8, 16:5-15, 17:1-26; Romans 5:1-11, 8:18-30; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, 15:20-28; Ephesians 1:15- 2:22, 4:1-24; Philippians 2:1-11; Hebrew 3:1-6; 1 Peter 2:1-10; 1 John 3:1-3

The scripture is clear that Adam’s sin of lawlessness led to his death or loss of eternal unity with and in the presence of GOD. This caused a genetic change in Adam that is passed down to every human being. Study Genesis 3 thru 6; Romans 5:12-21; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28; 1 John 3:1-9

Jesus called the Church to obey His commands and to love one another. Then before He ascended He called us to the works of His Kingdom on earth, we call it the great commission which is to preach the gospel in all the nations, lay hands on the sick and see them recover, cast out demons, tread on serpents and scorpions, raise the dead, make His enemies His footstool and disciple the nations of the earth into His Kingdom. Study Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:14-18; John 13:31-35, 14, 20:19-23; Acts 1:4-8

Our Call

In many testimonies we hear the term, “When I found the LORD.” The truth is most believers were not looking for Him before they became a believer, we were avoiding Him as much as possible, but He knew where we were and what we were and He pursued us until we found Him. It’s because of His Love for us that we should be faithful to pursue Him and obey His call for our life.

Based on 1 Corinthians 7:24, “Brethren, let each one remain with GOD in that state in which he was called.” KJV Oswald Chambers says, “We all have to find our niche in life. In order to do this we must have companied with Jesus; we must know Him as more than a personal Savior.”⁵

Paul of Tarsus also said, “For the gifts and calling of GOD are irrevocable.” In Romans 11:29

There is a repeated theme in Paul’s letters, Christ crucified, raised and ascended to the Father so that we being a new creation in Him should be obedient to the call and the unity of GOD. Romans 12:3-8, “For I say through the grace given to me to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly that he ought to think, but to think soberly as GOD has dealt to each a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we being many are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us let us use them: if prophecy let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches in teaching; he who exhorts in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy with, cheerfulness.” Study 1 Corinthians 1, 2:1-5; Galatians 2:19-21, 6:11-15; Ephesians 1:15-23

Psalm 139:13-18, “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My bones were not hidden from You when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me when as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me O GOD! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake I am still with you.” Study Job 10:8-12; Psalm 119:73; Isaiah 49:1-2; Jeremiah 1:4-5; Zechariah 12:1; Romans 8:26-30; Galatians 1:11-17

So it should be clear that GOD not only created us, he formed us and called us. He has a plan and purpose for each of us, no matter who we are or where we were born and live. His plan is based not on our desires and wants but on His Kingdom coming and His Will being done in the earth as it is in Heaven. As we walk with and serve Him our desires will conform to His call and gifts for our life and we will find true joy and fulfillment in them.

How do we find our Call?

Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the Kingdom of GOD and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.” 7:13-14, “Enter by the narrow gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life and there are few who find it.” 7:19-20, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” 7:21-23, “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 will 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 I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

Finding our personal call is dependent on us, many find it by pursuing what they enjoy because GOD will make our calling something we will enjoy. Many find it by seeking GOD and being obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Some never find it and they chose to do something else for whatever reason. In 2 Timothy 3:16-4:2 we are reminded that the Bible is GOD’s Word for everyone and every believers’ call includes preaching the Gospel.

In Hebrews 12:25-29 we are exhorted to hear the voice of GOD and serve it in obedience, in chapter 13:1-8 we are given examples of what that means. Study Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; James 1:27

Unity

Psalm 133 is the best description of the result of our unity with each other and GOD. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commanded the blessing – life forevermore.” Study Hebrews 10:19-25; Ephesians 4; 1 John 4

Our call, gifting, love and unity are all combined in our life by Holy Spirit we must ask and permit Him to do His work in our life. If He through the Word, dreams, visions, prophecies or promptings does not guide us we are likely to make mistakes and miss our calling.

Why is it so hard for us to walk in obedience to GOD in being unified as the Body of Christ (the Church) in the world? I’m not actually going to try to answer that, I’m going to try to explain what it means to be a body.

Think about your body, what a marvelously mysterious thing it is! Medical science has only begun to understand how and why our body is and functions. The truth is, as much as they know there is so much more they do not, but this is not a medical or scientific exploration. For this discussion we must set aside all of that type of thinking and just look at our body as a singular being made up of innumerable parts all with their own unique purpose and function.

Our body is fearfully and wonderfully made! We are the purposeful result of GOD’s creative desire to have a lover. Here is one of the biggest problems we have with thinking about the Body of Christ and being the Bride of the Lamb; we think after our human desires and under-standings rather than GOD’s. GOD does not want nor need a lover like we as humans do. 1 Corinthians 13 is the chapter on love and if a married couple live according to that lifestyle they will have a great marriage and love life, but sex is a purely mortal function. There is no sex or need for sex in the eternal spiritual Kingdom of GOD, and being in the continual glorious presence of the True and Living GOD we will not miss it. Study Luke 20:27-38.

Stop thinking about the Body of Christ and the Bride of the Lamb (which are one and the same) in fleshly terms.

Our body is fearfully and wonderfully made! We are the purposeful result of GOD’s creative desire to have a lover. That is the first relationship that we have with GOD, while we are in our mother’s womb, we are not aware of our body just our existence and the feeling of love and protection that we should experience. Then we are born and as we grow and gain under-standing we begin to discover our body and its many functions and how to function as a whole being in the larger world in which we exist. This is an ongoing process in life. So our relationship with GOD must grow beyond just our self to include His whole Body.

Think about your body, what a marvelously mysterious thing it is! It functions under many adverse conditions and it functions after traumatic events. It recovers and renews itself and sustains life longer than we expect most of the time. This is of course not always true, many die early deaths for a variety of reasons, accidents, sickness or disease, war, or acts of evil. This is the result of sin in our world, therefore in our lives. Not all people die because of their sin but sin is the underlying cause of death in all creation. All of us know people who have lost organs or limbs and survived and still function normally or mostly normally. Some are born with major defects or conditions and still live and have a reasonable life. Some experience horrific physical events that result in major lose of limbs and or organs and most recover and regain life.

So what am I trying to say? GOD made our body, formed from the dust of the earth and He breathed His breath of life into it in Adam. Then He took Eve out of Adam, remember what the scriptures say, GOD man male and female; then He separated them because He knew man was not a singular being and needed a companion. After that GOD forms all of us in our mother’s womb, writing out the days of our lives before any of them exist. We are marvelously and wondrously made in the image of GOD.

Now that the preamble is done here is what the LORD was showing me this morning in my prayer and reading time. (March 3, 2017)

The Body of Christ is like our body, it was made perfect by GOD who expects us to maintain it’s perfection. But He knows that we cannot without His Spirit so He has given us His Spirit.

Now we, the Church, have done many things to hurt the Body plus our enemy the devil attacks us to keep us sickly, weak, and divided. Being divided is like having an autoimmune disease, we are fighting and hurting our self, therefore we are fighting GOD!

Like many individuals who have lost organs and limbs we are wounded and have festering sores. Festering sores are the deceptions and hatred we have for other members of the Body. They do not let the wound heal and therefore the body cannot recover.

We have lost limbs and organs and wonder why our Heavenly Father does not pour out His anointing for revival and miracles. Our thinking is wrong He has; but because we are not healthy and whole the way He made us we cannot function normally as He designed us.

Like our human body we can live and function after lose and damage but not the same. We can overcome and develop reasonable behaviors and adaptations, but we are not what we should be.

Around the world right now there are calls for unity though out the Church, but if we stay as we are it will not happen and we will continue to be incomplete and inefficient in the gifts and callings for GOD’s Kingdom in the earth. If we really believe the scriptures and want to obey Christ’s commandment to love one another as He loves the Church then we must be willing to lay down our life for the Church (Ephesians 4:32; 1 John 3:16). It has to stop being about us, our ministry, our church, and our denomination. It’s all His and we are only a part of it, He determines what and where He wants us and the function that is our required part to keep His Body healthy and accomplishing His will in the earth.

In the natural our body only has a few organs that it cannot live without; brain, heart, and liver. In the Body of Christ there is only one that we cannot exist without our head, Christ. In our natural body every part and function is controlled by our brain. In the Body of Christ it should be the same, but many parts of the Body have cut themselves off from our Head or believed a lie of the devil that cuts us off from our Head.

Like our human body that we can repair and bypass some functions or replace with artificial or borrowed parts; many members of the Body of Christ have fixed or adapted themselves to make them seem whole; but we are not! My hands have 4 fingers and a thumb each, my fingers have multiple digits and if I lose a couple of them I can still function but not as well. If I lose all of them my hands can still function but not fully. If I lose one or both hands my arms can still function but even less effectively; etc.

We can only be whole and complete and fulfilling the purpose of GOD in the earth when we are truly united and The One Body of Christ. I am not saying that we need to or must do away with denominations, or individual church ministries, or anything like that. What I am saying is that if we maintain our divisions and separations at the expense of unity we will not accomplish the purpose of GOD that He expects us to and we then pass off to the next generation the responsibility to do what GOD gave us to do on top of what He has called them to do. GOD does overcome our deficiencies but He wants to use us as His one united Body in the earth to accomplish His purposes not overcome our deficiencies.

Study Genesis 1 and 2; Psalm 139; John 14 thru 17; Acts 1 and 2; 1 Corinthians 12 and 15; Hebrews; 1 John 4

Notes:

¹ All scripture quotes are from the New King James Version of the Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1994, unless otherwise noted.

² The New Compact Bible Dictionary, Zondervan Publishing House, 1967

³ New Concise Webster’s Dictionary, Modern Promotions/Publishers, 1984

⁴ As heard on a Television Interview on The DayStar Television Network, 2017

⁵ My Utmost For His Highest, Oswald Chambers, Garbor’s Heart ‘N Home, Inc., 1988

This was written 90 years ago and it still speaks to the Western Church, there are many who call themselves a Christian but do not walk in The Way, The Truth, and The Life of Jesus Christ.

A Maharajah

From ‘With And Without Christ’ chapter 3 by Sadhu Sundar Singh, 1928

“A short time go, an Indian Prince invited me to visit him, and I stayed in his place for two or three day.  He had travelled in Western countries and had, to some extent, been influenced by Western materialism and ways of life, but to such an extent that he was indifferent to spiritual things. One night he privately told me his story. ‘I thank GOD daily for the blessings I have received through Jesus Christ, and I also acknowledge my weakness that I cannot confess Christ openly. I know that if I do so, not only my own subjects, but the British Government, which is called Christian, would at once remove me from my throne I cn therefore call it only a British, not a Christian, Government, that cares less about religious duties than it does about political affairs. Of course I knew that I should think more about my religious duties than about having to give up my rights. As a ruling prince I ought to be prepared to leave my throne for Him who left His heavenly throne for me.’

‘I regret to say that before I visited the so-called Christian countries I was better, spiritually, than I am now. I was shocked when I went there, and saw “the darkness that lies beneath the lamp.” Had I know about it I would never have gone. My real motive in going there was that I might go to the old Mother Church and drink its pure milk, and eat its strengthening food, so that I might return prepared to fulfill my spiritual and state duties; but, instead of finding milk, they gave me liquor, and instead of bread gave me a stone, and I returned worse than I was before. There are other things as well, but I don’t want to mention them. I do not mean by this that Christianity is a failure, but people have failed to follow it truly. And this refers not only to ordinary people, but to religious and political leaders as well. Well, let us leave it at that. Now pray for me that GOD may help and guide me that I may do what I ought to do.’

This is another incident that gives a challenge and a warning to that Christianity which is without Christ, that it may awake and see how far from the real thing is has fallen. As the LORD said in Revelation 2:5, ‘Remember…and repent…or else I will remove thy candlestick out of his place.’ So far, as the Maharajah pointed out, ‘the darkness is beneath the lamp, but if through disobedience and indifference the lamp itself is removed from its place, then how great will the darkness be!’”

What Did Jesus Say About Entering The Kingdom Of Heaven?

What Did Jesus Say About – Entering The Kingdom of Heaven?

In Luke it is recorded where a man asked Jesus, “LORD, are there few who are saved?” Following is a compilation of scriptures where Jesus talked of entering the Kingdom of Heaven or being saved.

“And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then one said to Him, ‘LORD, are there few who are saved?’ And He said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘LORD, LORD, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from.  Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of GOD, and yourselves thrust out. They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the Kingdom of GOD. And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.’” (Luke 13:22-30)

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it…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 will 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!’”(Matthew 7:13-14, 21-23)

“Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, ‘LORD, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘I will come and heal him.’ The centurion answered and said, ‘LORD, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.’ When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven. But the sons of the Kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Then Jesus said to the centurion, ‘Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.’ And his servant was healed that same hour.” (Matthew 8:5-13)

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

“Now behold, one came and said to Him, ‘Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?’ So He said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, GOD. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ He said to Him, ‘Which ones?’ Jesus said, ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ The young man said to Him, ‘All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of GOD.’ When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, ‘Who then can be saved?’ But Jesus looked at them and said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with GOD all things are possible.’ Then Peter answered and said to Him, ‘See we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory,  you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first. (Matthew 6:19-21; 19:16-30)

“Then the Kingdom of Heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the Bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the Bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at mid-night a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the Bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.  Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘LORD, LORD, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” (Matthew 25:1-13)

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘LORD, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘LORD, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46)

Here is the reason Jesus could say these truths, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with GOD, and the Word was GOD. He was in the beginning with GOD.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from GOD, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of GOD, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of GOD. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen GOD at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him…The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold!  The Lamb of GOD who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.” And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of GOD. Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, ‘Behold the Lamb of GOD!’”

“There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from GOD; for no one can do these signs that You do unless GOD is with him. Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of GOD.’ Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of GOD. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ Nicodemus answered and said to Him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to Heaven but He who came down from Heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in Heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For GOD so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For GOD did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of GOD. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in GOD.’” ( John 1:1-18, 29-36; 3:1-21)

All scripture quotes are from the NKJV.

Know The WORD

Know and Obey the Word!

I hear people say and I see people write disparaging things about the Bible often, they say such things as, “It was only written by men.” “It’s been rewritten so much how can you know it’s true?” “It’s not relevant for today’s society.” “It’s used by manipulators.” The truth is that it is the only reliable book (authorized by GOD not King James of England) on GOD and how He deals with humanity. While there are many books about GOD the only factual and relevant ones are based on the Bible. Why? Without this being a study on Church and Bible history, let me just repeat what Jesus said, “And it happened, as He (Jesus) spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!’ But He said, ‘More than that, blessed are those who hear the Word of GOD and keep it!’” Luke 11:27-28 NKJV

When Jesus walked the earth as the Son of GOD – Son of Man the only Word of GOD was what we call the Old Testament. Today the world has both the Old and New Testaments and whatever controversy exists, whatever false teaching there is and whatever false Christian religions have been created by men; the Bible is still the primary means of communication between the True and Living GOD and humanity. If you want to know about GOD, if you want to have a relationship with GOD then you must read, study and understand the Bible.

No matter what men have done to the Bible it is still the only reliable collection of books (histories, stories, songs, poems, prophecies, instructions, letters and revelations) that tells humanity who GOD is, what He has done for them and what He expects from them. There is no other book like the Bible in format and substance; 66 books written by 40 men over a couple of thousand years and no matter how you arrange them their message is the same.

Yes it was written by men, but those men had a relationship with GOD and allowed His Spirit to guide them as they wrote. Those who claim to believe in GOD even to be Christians but doubt the authenticity of the Bible and the power of the Word of GOD do not truly know GOD!

The key point that many miss is that the Bible is the physical representation of the Living Word – Jesus Christ. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with GOD, and the Word was GOD. He was in the beginning with GOD...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His Glory, the Glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-2, 14 NKJV Many use the name of Jesus or the Bible for their own greedy, wicked, or immoral purposes. Many have made war in the name of Jesus and committed horrendous crimes against humanity, but that does not change who Jesus is, what He did or what He will do!

Yes the Bible and the name of Jesus have been miss used and abused! That does not change what the Bible is or who Jesus is. We will be held accountable for what we believe that is why it is imperative that we read and study the Bible daily. “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 shall make you free.’” John 8:31-32 NKJV To known the truth you have to abide in the Word of GOD, the Bible. To do that you have to study it, not just listen to what others say it means, not just read it, but study it. Use the cross reference, a Bible dictionary, a concordance and other versions. Most importantly ask the Spirit of GOD (the Holy Spirit) that guided its writers.

“Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our GOD and Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of GOD and of Jesus our LORD,…Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease. For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our LORD Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from GOD the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain (Matthew 17:1-9). And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of GOD spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known; the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of GOD, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of GOD may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Peter 1:1-2, 15-21; 2 Timothy 3:13-17)

To learn more on what GOD says about His Word study, Joshua 1:8-9; Psalm 19; Psalm 119; Revelation 1:1-3, 22:16-19; this is not 1% of the scriptures about the Word of GOD, do some research and study the Bible, let the Word of GOD be life and light to you and you will be free and live eternally with Him.