Jeremiah 29:8-14

Jeremiah 29:8-14

Complete Jewish Bible

“For this is what ADONAI-TZVA’OT, the GOD of Isra’el, says: ‘Don’t let your prophets who are living among you and your diviners deceive you, and don’t pay attention to the dreams you urge them to dream. For they are prophesying falsely in My Name; I have not sent them,’ says ADONAI. For here is what ADONAI says: ‘After Bavel’s seventy years are over, I will remember you and fulfill My Good promise to you by bringing you back to this place. For I know what plans I have for you,’ says ADONAI, ‘plans for well-being, not for bad things; so you can have hope and a future. When you call on Me and pray to Me, I will listen to you. When you seek Me, you will find Me, provided you seek for Me wholeheartedly; and I will let you find Me,’ says ADONAI. ‘Then I will reverse your exile. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have driven you,’ says ADONAI,’ and bring you back to the place from which I exiled you..’”

Study Jeremiah 29, this Word is from GOD to the Israelites exiled in Babylon and many modern Christians quote verse 12 like a mantra for immediate deliverance and healing. Which it is not!

This is a reminder to be aware of the false teachers and prophets that led them to their captivity and therefore to seek GOD whole heartedly.

It is because they were not seeking GOD whole heartedly, so that they heard the false prophets and teachers instead, that they wound up in captivity. This is still happening today in the Church, JESUS told us to “Seek first the Kingdom of GOD and His Righteousness and all these things (the necessities of life) will be added to us.” He went on to tell us, “Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will have it’s own problems.” Matthew 6:33-34

Illegal Immigrants and Coronavirus by Paul Bedard

Friday, March 13, 2020

OPINION: WASHINGTON SECRETS

150,000 immigrants from 72 nations with coronavirus stopped at border

by Paul Bedard  | March 11, 2020 02:57 PM

Some 150,000 illegal immigrants from 72 nations with cases of the coronavirus have been apprehended or deemed inadmissible from entering the United States since November, raising the ongoing border crisis to a potential public health threat, according to officials.

New figures provided to Secrets show that over half of the nearly 300,000 illegal immigrants apprehended or deemed “inadmissible” this fiscal year came from nations with cases of the coronavirus, including China, Italy, Iran, and South Korea.

The administration has been bracing for a federal court decision that would junk its “remain in Mexico” policy and open the doors on the southwest border. But the U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday put that on hold as legal arguments on both sides continue in the liberal 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which oversees Arizona and California.

“The border/immigration situation has taken on a whole new dynamic; it’s a public health threat,” said an official.

Secrets recently reported that 328 Chinese immigrants had been seized illegally crossing the border since the virus outbreak began in China.

So far, 150,958 immigrants from 72 nations with the virus have been stopped at the border. DHS has sought to return, repatriate, and remove as many as possible.

What's more, another 43,000 from Latin nations including Venezuela, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti and Nicaragua -- nations that haven't reported the virus -- have been turned away to wait.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said last week none of the immigrants stopped by agents showed signs of the virus.

The administration has been making the case that continuing the so-called Migrant Protection Protocols that keep immigrants in Mexico pending approval to come into the U.S. to seek asylum is both an important national security and health security issue.

“MPP is all the more critical to keep Americans safe and healthy, which can only be accomplished through lawful and orderly migration,” said an official.

Another said, “We have a unique public health threat posed by individuals arriving unlawfully at the border, where migrants, law enforcement officials, frontline personnel, and the American public are put at risk. All it would take is a single infected individual to impact the detained migrant community within DHS facilities. Without proper precautions, which can only happen through orderly, lawful migration, the virus threatens to spread rapidly. Any halting of MPP would exacerbate this threat.”

Should the policy be lifted, holding stations run by the Department of Homeland Security would immediately fill up, and, there is the potential that the spillover would have to be shipped to facilities around the country.

“Overcrowding at DHS facilities can lead to increased cases of easily communicable diseases other than COVID-19, such as measles, mumps, chicken pox, and the flu,” warned an official.

The department also said that there are several factors raising the potential of a virus crisis at the border:

• Sheer volume of migrants.
• Nationalities represented at the border from coronavirus-affected countries.
• Unique health dangers of journey to the border.
• Crowded conditions of DHS border facilities.
• Strain on healthcare system.

Sin and Eternity!

Sin and Eternity!

JESUS said, “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.  He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the Works that no one else did, they would have no sin, but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. But this happened that the Word might be fulfilled which is written in their Law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’” John 15:22-25 NKJV.

JESUS came to the Jewish people who GOD had chosen to be His representatives to the nations, but in their religious pride they had lost their light and saltiness. So they were not able to recognize their Messiah and rejected Him as prophesied by David three times, Psalms 35:19, 69:4, 109:3-5.

The Psalmist says, “O LORD, how great are Your Works! Your thoughts are very deep. A senseless man does not know, nor does a fool understand this. When the wicked spring up like grass, and when all the workers of iniquity flourish, it is that they may be destroyed forever.” Psalm 92:5-7 NKJV, forever is eternity.

The Jewish nation was to show and teach the nations of the world about GOD, but they continually rebelled against Him and His Law or became proud and religious. Since JESUS came to bring salvation to the world the Church is supposed to show and disciple the nations of the world to GOD. But, the Church has done the same, man have rebelled against GOD’s Will and taken up the ways of the world or have become proud and religious driving away the world.

Before JESUS came into the world as the Son of Man–the Son of GOD people did not know they were sinners, that they had missed GOD’s mark for how humanity was to live. Israel before CHRIST was supposed to show the world who GOD was and how they were to live before Him. The Church since CHRIST is supposed to show the world who GOD is and disciple it to His Will.

We have failed just as Israel did and the world for the most part is going to eternal damnation!

JESUS said, “Broad is the way that leads to destruction and there are many who take it, but narrow is the way to life and there are few who find it.” Does that mean we are not responsible to reveal GOD and His Salvation to the lost? No! It means we must all yield our life to do His Will and to tell everyone we can of His Love and Salvation for them.

Discipleship!

Discipleship

What does discipleship mean? According to The American Heritage College Dictionary it is, “dis•ci•ple n. 1a. One who assists in spreading the teachings of another. b. An active adherent, as of a movement. 2. often Disciple One of the original followers of JESUS. 3. Disciple A member of the Disciples of CHRIST. [ME < OE discipul and < OFr. disciple, both < Lat. discipulus, pupil < discere, to learn.] - dis•ci’ple•ship’ n.”

So what did JESUS mean when He said, “…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 8:31b-32 NKJV? In the CJB it says, “If you obey what I say, then you are really My talmidim (disciples), you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.” It’s important to note that in the Jewish version, 31 and 32 are one thought and statement.

This is a key teaching throughout the Bible: Adonai to the Israelites in the wilderness, Adonai to Joshua, David in the Psalms, Solomon in the Proverbs, the Prophets, JESUS Himself and the Apostles all taught the necessity of knowing GOD’s Word and living according to it. Such famously quoted verses as, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth…” “Your Word is a lamb unto my feet.” “All Scripture is given by inspiration of GOD…”

JESUS said He came only to do the Will of His Father and taught us to pray for the Father’s will to be done in the earth as it is in Heaven and that it is us who are to do the Father’s Will!

So what is my struggle, why do so many Christians struggle with simply obeying the Bible? GOD has made it clear that from the giving of the Law (Torah) until today He has given us His Word on how to live and serve Him. JESUS made it clear in His teaching, “Seek first the Kingdom of GOD and His Righteousness…” “Lay down your life and take up your cross and follow Me.” Obedience is key and the only clear structure for obedience is the Bible. We are taught to love everybody but recognize sin and not to participate in it. To proclaim the good news of Salvation without beating people up with it. To offer the hope that we have to those who have no hope. To bring light into dark places. To overcome by the Blood of The Lamb, the word of our testimony and by not loving our life, even if we face death.

In exchange we get eternal life in GOD’s Kingdom!

So why is it so hard to give up this life that we are born into that only leads to eternal damnation for being born again in to a life that leads to eternal salvation?

GOD Is Not On Our Side!

GOD is not a Republican or a Democrat, He is not on their side or our side! He is GOD and if we are not on His side then we are against Him and that is not a good side to be on.

“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.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV

To be a people who are called by GOD’s Name we must be yielded to Him to do His Will as CHRIST was as the Son of Man.

 “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” Matthew 12:30 NKJV

 “For I have come down from Heaven, not to do My own Will, but the Will of Him who sent Me.” John 6:38 NKJV

“Our Father, who is in Heaven, Holy is Your Name, Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done in the earth as it is in Heaven. Matthew 6:9-10 my version.

To Know!

To Know!

Have you ever been somewhere where you met someone really important; a corporate owner or CEO, a Bank owner, or very wealthy person, a political leader, a social advocate, a star athlete or actor? Whether you are introduced by someone or you introduce yourself, you exchange names and maybe a few pleasantries, you might even have an in depth conversation. But, you still do not know each other. Maybe you’ve read or even studied about their life and career, but you still do not really know them. To really know someone you have to spend lots of time with and around them in all kinds of environments and situations. And, even then you can be surprised by a hidden behavior or action.

So when JESUS says, “For I have come down from Heaven to do not My Own Will but the Will of The One who sent Me. And this is the Will of The One who sent Me: that I should not lose any of all those He has given Me but should raise them up on the Last Day. Yes, this is the Will of My Father: that all who see the Son and trust in Him should have eternal life, and that I should raise them up on the Last Day.” or, “After YESHUA had said these things, He looked up toward Heaven and said, ‘Father, the time has come, Glorify Your Son, so that the Son may glorify You – just as You gave Him authority over all mankind, so that He might give eternal life to all those whom You have given Him. And eternal life is this, to know the One True GOD, and Him whom You sent, YESHUA the Messiah.’” John 6:38-40; 17:1-3 CJB

In Matthew 7:15-29 JESUS makes it clear that many can know about Him but not be known by Him. Some will say and act like they know Him but not do His Will or not hear and act upon His Words. It is not enough to just read or even study the Bible, it is not enough to just pray or even meditate, it is not enough to do the works of GOD’s Kingdom, we must die to ourself, lay down our life and take up our cross daily so that we can work out our salvation with fear and trembling. We must know GOD as our Father who loves us and redeemed us before the earth was created and fear GOD the One who can destroy both our soul and body in eternal damnation.

Being a Christian is not about self anything, it is about being like minded with CHRIST by knowing the fellowship of His suffering, by being conformed to His death so that we can live in the power of His resurrection.

This is not easy, I had a friend who was the worship leader of our Church at the time and he said, “Dying to myself is hard because I like myself.” Christianity is not a feel good religion, it is not a do good religion, it is a personal relationship with the One True GOD through the death of JESUS CHRIST and the in filling of our life (spirit, soul and body) by His SPIRIT which makes us living temples of the Living GOD in the earth.

John 4:45-54 and Luke 7:1-10

John 4:45-54 and Luke 7:1-10

Complete Jewish Bible

“He went again to Kanah in Galil, where He had turned the water into wine. An officer in the royal service was there, his son was ill in K’far-Nachum. This man, on hearing that YESHUA had come from Y’hudah to the Galil, went and asked Him to come down and heal his son, for his son was at the point of death. YESHUA answered, ‘Unless you people see signs and miracles, you simply will not trust.’ The officer said to Him, ‘Sir, come down before my child dies.’ YESHUA replied, ‘You may go, your son is alive.’ The man believed what YESHUA said and left. As he was going down, his servants met him with the news that his son was alive. So he asked them at what time he had gotten better; and they said, ‘The fever left him yesterday at one o’clock in the afternoon.’ The father knew that that was the very hour when YESHUA had told him, ‘Your son is alive’; and he and all his household trusted. This was a second sign that YESHUA did; He did it after He came down from Y’hudah into the Galil.” John 4:45-54

I have heard this passage taught many times on faith and obedience; but not on obedience and trust.

In the movie Risen in which a Roman military officer is struggling with the reality of having seen CHRIST dead on the cross and now being in His presence as a living man with the marks of the crucifixion. As he expresses to YESHUA that he does not even know what to ask, YESHUA says to him, “Imagine the difficulty they (waving His hand over the Eleven Disciples) will have telling those who have never seen.”

This is the true call of obedience and trust, those who never see YESHUA in person (vision or dream) or never get a healing or see a miracle yet believe and obey His call to disciple the nations into His eternal Kingdom.

This is faith and obedience! This is what most Christians face! And, those who teach the good, healthy, prosperous Christian life are lying because the majority of Christians do not and will not live the good, healthy, prosperous Christian life as taught since the twenty century.

The officer trusted because he had heard about YESHUA and he had asked Him face to face, then after his son’s recovery his whole household believed.

“When YESHUA had finished speaking to the people, He went back to K’far-Nachum. A Roman army officer there had a servant he regarded highly, who was sick to the point of death. Hearing about YESHUA, the officer sent some Jewish elders to Him with the request that He come and heal his servant. They came to YESHUA and pleaded earnestly with Him, ‘He really deserves to have You do this, for he loves our people – in fact, he built the Synagogue for us!’ So YESHUA went with them. He had not gone far from the house, when the officer sent friends who said to Him, ‘Sir, don’t trouble Yourself. I’m not worthy to have you come under my roof – this is why I didn’t presume to approach you myself. Instead, just give a command and let my servant recover. For I too am a man under authority, I have solders under me; and I say to this one, “GO!” and he goes, and to another, “Come!” and he comes; and to my slave, “Do this!” and he does it.’ YESHUA was astonished at him when He heard this; and He turned to the crowd that was following Him, ‘I tell you, not even in Isra’el have I found such trust!’ When the messengers got back to the officer’s house, they found the servant in good health.” Luke 7:1-10

Here we have a man who has heard about YESHUA but never seems Him personally, but he does understand the power of authority and command. So just on what he has heard he chooses to believe and therefore he receives. Now in fairness to today, this Roman had heard about YESHUA from people who have seen His authoritive power in person.

All that we have today is the Bible, The HOLY SPIRIT of GOD and the testimonies of other’s experiences. What!?

YESHUA is the Living Word and He has given us through His SPIRIT the written Word (the Bible) so that we can learn of Him! YESHUA gives every person who believes in Him and confesses Him His own SPIRIT (The HOLY SPIRIT) as a seal of our salvation; by filling our spirit, soul and body with His SPIRIT, making us living temples of the Living GOD in the earth! YESHUA gives us testimonies of those who have known Him in the past and the present to encourage and strengthen us in our obedience and trust in Him!

Believe me, I know there are no excuses for not trusting and obeying GOD; that is, doing His Will in the earth as it is in Heaven!