Saturday, May 16, 2015
Todays Bible verses of the week
Who Is Michael The Archangel?
http://www.amazingfacts.org/media-library/book/e/85/t/who-is-michael-the-archangel.aspx
AN AMAZING FACT
When King Humbert of Italy inherited the throne, Naples teetered on the verge of insurrection against the monarchy. Politicians urged violent measures to force the people into submission, but the king did not allow this. Then cholera suddenly broke out in the city, and the dreaded disease raged with fury. The young king, ignoring the warnings of his advisers, left the palace and went alone through Naples' crowded hospitals. Moved with devotion and love for even his disloyal subjects, he ministered to them with his own hand. Many suffering people breathed prayers of gratitude to this young medical servant, not knowing he was the very king they spurned. When the plague was finally checked, many learned the true identity of the noble nurse who had cared for them. Naples then became a conquered city—not by force, but by the love and pity of the monarch it once refused. From then on, the people of Naples became Humbert's most loyal subjects.
The Michael Enigma
Questions frequently arise in Christian circles about the true identity of the mysterious biblical character known as Michael, sometimes called "Michael the archangel" and "Michael the Great Prince." Some claim that Michael is the highest of the heavenly angels, one of the covering cherubs, or a special messenger like Gabriel. And therefore, he is a created being. Others, such as Bible commentator Matthew Henry, assert that Michael is simply another of the many names for Jesus Himself. Can we know the real identity of this mysterious being? Obviously, the key to deciphering this puzzling question is found in the Scriptures. "For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little" Isaiah 28:10.
A quick look in a Bible concordance reveals that there are 15 references to the name Michael in Scripture. Ten of these are simply people named Michael. In fact, the entry for "Michael" in the lexicon a Greek and/or Hebrew dictionary states, "The name of an archangel and nine Israelites." It is the identity of Michael, the archangel and prince, mentioned in the last five references that we seek in this important study.
The first three of these references to Michael are in the Old Testament book of the prophet Daniel. The last two are mentioned in the New Testament books of Jude and Revelation. With an honest study and comparison of these and other verses, clues quickly emerge that lead us to an inescapable conclusion of Michael's true identity He is none other than Jesus—He is not a created angel or cherub, but this name is another of the many grand titles for God's eternal Son!
At first glance, the Old Testament appears to portray Michael as a prince, and the New Testament describes Him as an archangel. But by looking at other related Scriptures where similar language and wording are used, we will see an interesting pattern emerge. Warning
Before you proceed any further, please carefully read and digest this next thought. Because the word "angel" means messenger, it is used very freely and broadly in Scripture. Sometimes, men are called angels in the Bible 1 Samuel 29:9 Galatians 4:14. And sometimes angels are called men Genesis 32:24. And in other places, as will be soon shown, God Himself is identified as an angel! Of course, even angels are called angels.
Typically, when a person thinks of an angel, they picture one of the many levels of winged, ministering spirits known as angels, seraphim, or cherubim. Unlike Jesus, these celestial beings are created. There are some cults that teach that Jesus, before His earthly incarnation, was really just a powerful angel that had a feud with His wayward fellow angel Lucifer. In turn, this means that Jesus is a created being who has been promoted by the Father and therefore not the eternal God as Christians accept. This study categorically rejects that view. Jesus is, and always has been, God's eternal Son and indeed God Himself. Any comparison made to Jesus as an angel in this study is simply in the classical sense as a greatest messenger of salvation and is in no way intended to diminish from His eternal divinity.
The Key Is in the Name
First, let's consider the meaning of some words and names. In the Greek New Testament, the word "angel" means "messenger," and "arch" means "chief, principle, greatest, or highest." So "archangel" simply means "highest or greatest messenger." The Hebrew name "Michael," found in the Old Testament, means "who is like God" or sometimes it forms a question: "Who is like God?" So the title Michael the archangel can be translated as "The greatest messenger who is God." Whether this name is a question, statement, or a challenge will be clear by further study. One angel did profess to be like God. That covering cherub fallen from the heavenly courts is Lucifer, who became the devil or Satan, by claiming to "be like the most High" Isaiah 14:14. In Revelation 12:7, Satan is opposed by "Michael and his angels" and is cast out of heaven. : learn more by clicking the link now :
AN AMAZING FACT
When King Humbert of Italy inherited the throne, Naples teetered on the verge of insurrection against the monarchy. Politicians urged violent measures to force the people into submission, but the king did not allow this. Then cholera suddenly broke out in the city, and the dreaded disease raged with fury. The young king, ignoring the warnings of his advisers, left the palace and went alone through Naples' crowded hospitals. Moved with devotion and love for even his disloyal subjects, he ministered to them with his own hand. Many suffering people breathed prayers of gratitude to this young medical servant, not knowing he was the very king they spurned. When the plague was finally checked, many learned the true identity of the noble nurse who had cared for them. Naples then became a conquered city—not by force, but by the love and pity of the monarch it once refused. From then on, the people of Naples became Humbert's most loyal subjects.
The Michael Enigma
Questions frequently arise in Christian circles about the true identity of the mysterious biblical character known as Michael, sometimes called "Michael the archangel" and "Michael the Great Prince." Some claim that Michael is the highest of the heavenly angels, one of the covering cherubs, or a special messenger like Gabriel. And therefore, he is a created being. Others, such as Bible commentator Matthew Henry, assert that Michael is simply another of the many names for Jesus Himself. Can we know the real identity of this mysterious being? Obviously, the key to deciphering this puzzling question is found in the Scriptures. "For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little" Isaiah 28:10.
A quick look in a Bible concordance reveals that there are 15 references to the name Michael in Scripture. Ten of these are simply people named Michael. In fact, the entry for "Michael" in the lexicon a Greek and/or Hebrew dictionary states, "The name of an archangel and nine Israelites." It is the identity of Michael, the archangel and prince, mentioned in the last five references that we seek in this important study.
The first three of these references to Michael are in the Old Testament book of the prophet Daniel. The last two are mentioned in the New Testament books of Jude and Revelation. With an honest study and comparison of these and other verses, clues quickly emerge that lead us to an inescapable conclusion of Michael's true identity He is none other than Jesus—He is not a created angel or cherub, but this name is another of the many grand titles for God's eternal Son!
At first glance, the Old Testament appears to portray Michael as a prince, and the New Testament describes Him as an archangel. But by looking at other related Scriptures where similar language and wording are used, we will see an interesting pattern emerge. Warning
Before you proceed any further, please carefully read and digest this next thought. Because the word "angel" means messenger, it is used very freely and broadly in Scripture. Sometimes, men are called angels in the Bible 1 Samuel 29:9 Galatians 4:14. And sometimes angels are called men Genesis 32:24. And in other places, as will be soon shown, God Himself is identified as an angel! Of course, even angels are called angels.
Typically, when a person thinks of an angel, they picture one of the many levels of winged, ministering spirits known as angels, seraphim, or cherubim. Unlike Jesus, these celestial beings are created. There are some cults that teach that Jesus, before His earthly incarnation, was really just a powerful angel that had a feud with His wayward fellow angel Lucifer. In turn, this means that Jesus is a created being who has been promoted by the Father and therefore not the eternal God as Christians accept. This study categorically rejects that view. Jesus is, and always has been, God's eternal Son and indeed God Himself. Any comparison made to Jesus as an angel in this study is simply in the classical sense as a greatest messenger of salvation and is in no way intended to diminish from His eternal divinity.
The Key Is in the Name
First, let's consider the meaning of some words and names. In the Greek New Testament, the word "angel" means "messenger," and "arch" means "chief, principle, greatest, or highest." So "archangel" simply means "highest or greatest messenger." The Hebrew name "Michael," found in the Old Testament, means "who is like God" or sometimes it forms a question: "Who is like God?" So the title Michael the archangel can be translated as "The greatest messenger who is God." Whether this name is a question, statement, or a challenge will be clear by further study. One angel did profess to be like God. That covering cherub fallen from the heavenly courts is Lucifer, who became the devil or Satan, by claiming to "be like the most High" Isaiah 14:14. In Revelation 12:7, Satan is opposed by "Michael and his angels" and is cast out of heaven. : learn more by clicking the link now :
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
“Seed Time and Harvest” – False doctrine of money
First, some scriptures
Mark 4:14-20
The sower sows the Word of God…and these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, satan comes immediately, and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts….and these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness….and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word that was sown, immediately they are offended….and these
are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word….and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful….and these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirty fold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
**Here it is clear that the seed is the Word of God, not money.
Galatians 6:7-9
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap….for he that sows to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting (absolute life, the anointing, power of the Holy Spirit)….let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not (if we stay constant, and don’t quit).
**This is a spiritual kingdom, so sowing spiritually is not sowing money, because that is of the material world.
Matthew 13:24,25
The Kingdom of Heaven is like when a man which sowed good seed in his field….and his enemy comes later to sow bad seed in with the good.
*** The devil will help you sow the wrong way, so you loose everything. Is that what you want?
2 Corinthians 9:9-12
It is written, He hath dispersed abroad; He hath given to the poor: His righteousness remains for ever….now He that ministers seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness….being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causes through us thanksgiving to God….for the administration of this service not only supplies the want of the Saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God.
** again, ministering seed to the sower does NOT mean funding multi-million dollar mansions, Armani suits, and Mercedes benzes. “Seed,” again, is the word of God, not money. Even ministers have to be fed the word, which is every believers duty, to encourage and assist one another. We are all ministers…..!!!!! Here, if one reads both chapter 8 and 9 in context, we can see that this text is to request help for needy saints in a different location. Hence, the mention of “bread.” The idea is to help the others with basic necessities such as food, so they could continue to sow the word of God. The idea was that all would equally share what they had with one another. It was NOT to support one person with money to pay for all sorts of material comforts, having more than everyone else, at the sacrifice of others who would have to do without, to support a comfortable, easy life.
Genesis 8:22
“While the earth remains, Seed time and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night Shall not cease.”
** yes, there is a natural seed time and harvest of living things, and the spirit is life also. Only living systems can produce a harvest, not dead things like paper money.
Enter “man” assigning money as the definition of seed
Oral Roberts and his fellow money preachers have been claiming that his seed faith doctrine has “worked” for 60 years…. How does it “work”? They equate themselves as equal to God….so if you give money to them, it is the same as giving money to God…once you have given to them (God), then you should expect a 100 fold return in your investment. They will tell you that good seed are good thoughts and good deeds, which contradicts Matt 13. which says that the good seed are the children of the kingdom, which are sent (sowed) to bring in more children (harvest) through their testimony(their word – seed).
Oral Roberts tells you to “aim your seed” at a certain request or petition for help. If you goof this up, then God will not help you. Sowing seed and aiming it is WORK, and bribing God to do your will.
Most people cannot stand in front of thousands, and assert that giving to them is equal to giving to God, so this technique will not work for most people.
Duh !!
BUT, if it is working so well for preachers, why do they constantly ask for money? The money was sown to God, not the general public, so the money should come from God, not people. They have to keep asking for money when a 100 fold return should take care of them for a long time. They are asking you to sow something that has no life. Money is a dead object.
These preachers are preying on the flesh of man, who wants money and power. People who fall prey to this false claim are setting themselves up for financial distress.
Let’s get real people !!!!
Stop and think for a change…….What is a seed?
In the natural, it is something that has the potential to reproduce itself, with the correct nurturing environment, without human intervention. The ability to reproduce itself indicates that it is a life unto itself…..
Apples, grain, flowers, human life, all have this capacity……Jesus also taught that words have life, and that he was the Living Word from Heaven, and that the Word gave life, as bread gives life to those who eat it….
Money does NOT have this capacity…it has no “life,” ……it requires human intervention, and manipulation for any investment to grow. If you planted this in the ground, it would rot.
Does God expect man to sow money? If yes, then he should have also instructed us to sow other inanimate objects, such as bricks, stones, jewels, coins, etc.
Obviously, God is smart enough to know that only life produces more life…and non-living objects do not constitute life……In the parable of the sower and the reaper…Jesus did not have the man sow coins into the soil, because that would not have produced anything. He used live seed, which he said represented the Word of God.
All through the teachings of Jesus….the “seed” mentioned represents the Word of God, NOT money. To teach that it represents money is pure heresy.
This is what the prosperity pimps do not want you to know.
The devil sows too!!!! The devil sows heresy…..to replace the truth…..
Mat 13:37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; Mat 13:38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked [one]; Mat 13:39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. Mat 13:40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. Mat 13:41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; Mat 13:42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
This is a description of the end of the Age………not the present day. It’s a description of final judgment, not an excuse not to judge the tares when it becomes obvious they are tares because they no longer resemble the wheat.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Think for a moment…….
Jesus was poor
The apostles were poor
They gave everything. ..and they all suffered and died…..
They did not live preaching money, or giving to get back…..they preached the kingdom of God, a spiritual kingdom, not one made of money. They also taught that if one would just seek first the kingdom of God, and its righteousness, then ALL things would be added to you as needed.
Only outsiders of a kingdom have to bring offerings to a king to obtain favor. His own children do not need to do this. They already have favor. So, if we just ask in faith, and forget the money trap, God will provide for us. Jesus reminded us that even the birds of the air and the lilies of the field do not sow nor reap, yet the heavenly Father takes care of them. Aren’t we worth more than them? If so, then bringing money to attach to a petition, or “aim the seed” is unnecessary. Planting and sowing seed to obtain favor with God and answers to prayer is WORK. We are under grace now.
Mark 4:14-20
The sower sows the Word of God…and these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, satan comes immediately, and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts….and these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness….and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word that was sown, immediately they are offended….and these
are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word….and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful….and these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirty fold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
**Here it is clear that the seed is the Word of God, not money.
Galatians 6:7-9
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap….for he that sows to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting (absolute life, the anointing, power of the Holy Spirit)….let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not (if we stay constant, and don’t quit).
**This is a spiritual kingdom, so sowing spiritually is not sowing money, because that is of the material world.
Matthew 13:24,25
The Kingdom of Heaven is like when a man which sowed good seed in his field….and his enemy comes later to sow bad seed in with the good.
*** The devil will help you sow the wrong way, so you loose everything. Is that what you want?
2 Corinthians 9:9-12
It is written, He hath dispersed abroad; He hath given to the poor: His righteousness remains for ever….now He that ministers seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness….being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causes through us thanksgiving to God….for the administration of this service not only supplies the want of the Saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God.
** again, ministering seed to the sower does NOT mean funding multi-million dollar mansions, Armani suits, and Mercedes benzes. “Seed,” again, is the word of God, not money. Even ministers have to be fed the word, which is every believers duty, to encourage and assist one another. We are all ministers…..!!!!! Here, if one reads both chapter 8 and 9 in context, we can see that this text is to request help for needy saints in a different location. Hence, the mention of “bread.” The idea is to help the others with basic necessities such as food, so they could continue to sow the word of God. The idea was that all would equally share what they had with one another. It was NOT to support one person with money to pay for all sorts of material comforts, having more than everyone else, at the sacrifice of others who would have to do without, to support a comfortable, easy life.
Genesis 8:22
“While the earth remains, Seed time and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night Shall not cease.”
** yes, there is a natural seed time and harvest of living things, and the spirit is life also. Only living systems can produce a harvest, not dead things like paper money.
Enter “man” assigning money as the definition of seed
Oral Roberts and his fellow money preachers have been claiming that his seed faith doctrine has “worked” for 60 years…. How does it “work”? They equate themselves as equal to God….so if you give money to them, it is the same as giving money to God…once you have given to them (God), then you should expect a 100 fold return in your investment. They will tell you that good seed are good thoughts and good deeds, which contradicts Matt 13. which says that the good seed are the children of the kingdom, which are sent (sowed) to bring in more children (harvest) through their testimony(their word – seed).
Oral Roberts tells you to “aim your seed” at a certain request or petition for help. If you goof this up, then God will not help you. Sowing seed and aiming it is WORK, and bribing God to do your will.
Most people cannot stand in front of thousands, and assert that giving to them is equal to giving to God, so this technique will not work for most people.
Duh !!
BUT, if it is working so well for preachers, why do they constantly ask for money? The money was sown to God, not the general public, so the money should come from God, not people. They have to keep asking for money when a 100 fold return should take care of them for a long time. They are asking you to sow something that has no life. Money is a dead object.
These preachers are preying on the flesh of man, who wants money and power. People who fall prey to this false claim are setting themselves up for financial distress.
Let’s get real people !!!!
Stop and think for a change…….What is a seed?
In the natural, it is something that has the potential to reproduce itself, with the correct nurturing environment, without human intervention. The ability to reproduce itself indicates that it is a life unto itself…..
Apples, grain, flowers, human life, all have this capacity……Jesus also taught that words have life, and that he was the Living Word from Heaven, and that the Word gave life, as bread gives life to those who eat it….
Money does NOT have this capacity…it has no “life,” ……it requires human intervention, and manipulation for any investment to grow. If you planted this in the ground, it would rot.
Does God expect man to sow money? If yes, then he should have also instructed us to sow other inanimate objects, such as bricks, stones, jewels, coins, etc.
Obviously, God is smart enough to know that only life produces more life…and non-living objects do not constitute life……In the parable of the sower and the reaper…Jesus did not have the man sow coins into the soil, because that would not have produced anything. He used live seed, which he said represented the Word of God.
All through the teachings of Jesus….the “seed” mentioned represents the Word of God, NOT money. To teach that it represents money is pure heresy.
This is what the prosperity pimps do not want you to know.
The devil sows too!!!! The devil sows heresy…..to replace the truth…..
Mat 13:37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; Mat 13:38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked [one]; Mat 13:39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. Mat 13:40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. Mat 13:41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; Mat 13:42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
This is a description of the end of the Age………not the present day. It’s a description of final judgment, not an excuse not to judge the tares when it becomes obvious they are tares because they no longer resemble the wheat.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Think for a moment…….
Jesus was poor
The apostles were poor
They gave everything. ..and they all suffered and died…..
They did not live preaching money, or giving to get back…..they preached the kingdom of God, a spiritual kingdom, not one made of money. They also taught that if one would just seek first the kingdom of God, and its righteousness, then ALL things would be added to you as needed.
Only outsiders of a kingdom have to bring offerings to a king to obtain favor. His own children do not need to do this. They already have favor. So, if we just ask in faith, and forget the money trap, God will provide for us. Jesus reminded us that even the birds of the air and the lilies of the field do not sow nor reap, yet the heavenly Father takes care of them. Aren’t we worth more than them? If so, then bringing money to attach to a petition, or “aim the seed” is unnecessary. Planting and sowing seed to obtain favor with God and answers to prayer is WORK. We are under grace now.
Getting All The Facts Homosexuality: Questions and Answers
Q. Some people say homosexuality is natural and moral; others say it is unnatural and immoral. How do we know?
A. Our standard can only be what God says. In Romans 1 we read,
God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion (Rom 1:26-27).
So even though homosexual desires feel natural, they are actually unnatural,
because God says they are. He also calls all sexual involvement outside
of marriage immoral. (There are 44 references to fornication—sexual
immorality—in the Bible.) Therefore, any form of homosexual activity,
whether a one-night stand or a long-term monogamous relationship, is by
definition immoral—just as any abuse of heterosexuality outside of
marriage is immoral.
Q. Is homosexuality an orientation God intended for some people, or is it a perversion of normal sexuality?
A. If God had intended homosexual behavior to be a
viable sexual alternative for some people, He would not have condemned
it as an abomination. It is never mentioned in Scripture in anything but
negative terms, and nowhere does the Bible even hint at approving or
giving instruction for homosexual relationships. Some theologians have
argued that David and Jonathan's relationship was a homosexual one, but
this claim has no basis in Scripture. David and Jonathan's deep
friendship was not sexual; it was one of godly emotional intimacy that
truly glorified the Lord.
Homosexuality is a manifestation of the sin nature that all people share. At the fall of man (Gen 3),
God's perfect creation was spoiled, and the taint of sin affected us
physically, emotionally, intellectually, spiritually—and sexually.
Homosexuality is a perversion of heterosexuality, which is God's plan
for His creation. The Lord Jesus said,
In the beginning the Creator made them male and female. For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh (Matt 19:4, 5).
Homosexual activity and pre-marital or extra-marital
heterosexual activity are all sinful attempts to find sexual and
emotional expression in ways God never intended. God's desire for the
person caught in the trap of homosexuality is the same as for every
other person caught in the trap of the sin nature; that we submit every
area of our lives to Him and be transformed from the inside out by the
renewing of our minds and the purifying of our hearts.
Q. What causes a homosexual orientation?
A. This is a complex issue, and it is unfair to
give simplistic answers or explanations. (However, for insight on this
issue please consider the articles Answers to Questions Most Asked by Gay-Identifying Youth and "Why Doesn't God Answer Prayers to Take Away Gay Feelings"
at Probe.org.) Some people start out as heterosexuals, but they rebel
against God with such passionate self-indulgence that they end up
embracing the gay lifestyle as another form of sexual expression. As one
entertainer put it, "I'm not going to go through life with one arm tied
behind my back!"
But the majority of those who experience same-sex
attraction sense they are "different" from very early in life, and at
some point they are encouraged to identify this difference as being gay.
These people may experience "pre-conditions" that dispose them toward
homosexuality, such as a sensitive and gentle temperament in boys,
which is not recognized as acceptably masculine in our culture. Another
may be poor eye-hand coordination that prevents a boy from doing well
at sports, which is a sure way to invite shame and taunting from other
boys (and, most unfortunately, from some of their own fathers and family
members). Family relationships are usually very important in the
development of homosexuality; the vast majority of those who struggle
with same-sex attraction experienced a hurtful relationship with the
same-sex parent in childhood. The presence of abuse is a recurring theme
in the early lives of many homosexual strugglers. In one study, 91% of
lesbian women reported childhood and adolescent abuse, 2/3 of them
victims of sexual abuse.{1}
There is a huge difference, however, between predispositions that
affects gender identity, and the choices we make in how we handle a
predisposition. Because we are made in the image of God, we can choose
how we respond to the various factors that may contribute to a
homosexual orientation.
Q. Wouldn't the presence of pre-conditions let homosexuals "off the hook," so to speak?
A. Preconditions make it easier to sin in a
particular area. They do not excuse the sin. We can draw a parallel with
alcoholism. Alcoholics often experience a genetic or environmental
pre-condition, which makes it easier for them to fall into the sin of
drunkenness. Is it a sin to want a drink? No. It's a sin to drink to
excess.
All of us experience various predispositions that
make it easier for us to fall into certain sins. For example, highly
intelligent people find it easier to fall into the sin of intellectual
pride. People who were physically or emotionally abused as children may
fall into the sins of rage and violence more easily than others.
Current popular thinking says that our behavior is
determined by our environment or our genes, or both. But the Bible gives
us the dignity and responsibility missing from that mechanistic view of
life. God has invested us with free will—the ability to make real,
significant choices. We can choose our responses to the influences on
our lives, or we can choose to let them control us.
Someone with a predisposition for homosexuality may
fall into the sin of the homosexual behavior much more easily than a
person without it. But each of us alone is responsible for giving
ourselves permission to cross over from temptation into sin.
Q. What's the difference between homosexual temptation and sin?
A. Unasked-for, uncultivated sexual desires for a
person of the same sex constitute temptation, not sin. Since the Lord
Jesus was "tempted in every way, just as we are" (Heb. 4:15), He fully knows the intensity and nature of the temptations we face. But He never gave in to them.
The line between sexual temptation and sexual sin is
the same for both heterosexuals and homosexuals. It is the point at
which our conscious will gets involved. Sin begins with the internal
acts of lusting and creating sexual fantasies. Lust is indulging one's
sexual desires by deliberately choosing to feed sexual attraction—you
might say it is the sinful opposite of meditation. Sexual fantasies are
conscious acts of the imagination. It is creating mental pornographic
home movies. Just as the Lord said in the Sermon on the Mount, all
sexual sin starts in the mind long before it gets to the point of
physical expression.
Many homosexuals claim, "I never asked for these
feelings. I did not choose them," and this may be true. That is why it
is significant to note that the Bible specifically condemns homosexual practices,
but not undeveloped homosexual feelings (temptation). There is a
difference between having sexual feelings and letting them grow into
lust. When Martin Luther was talking about impure thoughts, he said,
"You can't stop the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep
them from building a nest in your hair."
Q. Isn't it true that "Once gay, always gay?"
A. It is certainly true that most homosexuals never
become heterosexual—some because they don't want to, but most others
because their efforts to change were unsuccessful. It takes spiritual
submission and much emotional work to repent of sexual sin and achieve a
healthy self-concept that glorifies God by cooperating with Him in
being transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:2).
But for the person caught in the trap of homosexual
desires who wants sexual and emotional wholeness, there is hope in
Christ. In addressing the church at Corinth, the Apostle Paul lists an
assortment of deep sins, including homosexual offenses. He says,
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 6:11).
This means there were former homosexuals in the church at Corinth! The Lord's loving redemption includes eventual freedom for all sin that is yielded to Him. Some (rare) people experience no homosexual temptations ever again. But for most others who are able to achieve change, homosexual desires are gradually reduced from a major problem to a minor nuisance
that no longer dominates their lives. The probability of heterosexual
desires returning or emerging depends on a person's sexual history.
But the potential for heterosexuality is present in everyone because God put it there.
See the article "Can Homosexuals Change?" at bible.org/article/can-homosexuals-change.
Q. If homosexuality is such an abomination to God, why doesn't it disappear when someone becomes a Christian?
A. When we are born again, we bring with us all of
our emotional needs and all of our old ways of relating. Homosexuality
is a relational problem of meeting emotional needs the wrong way; it is
not an isolated problem of mere sexual preference. With the power of the
indwelling Spirit, a Christian can cooperate with God to change this
unacceptable part of life. Some people—a very few—are miraculously
delivered from homosexual struggles. But for the majority, real change
is slow. As in dealing with any besetting sin, it is a process, not an
event. Sin's power over us is broken at the moment we are born again,
but learning to depend on the Holy Spirit to say no to sin and yes to
godliness takes time. 2 Cor. 3:18 says, "We...are being transformed into His likeness from glory to glory." Transformation (this
side of eternity!) is a process that takes a while. Life in a fallen
world is a painful struggle. It is not a pleasant thing to have two
oppositional natures at war within us!
Homosexuality is not one problem; it is symptomatic
of other, deeper problems involving emotional needs and an unhealthy
self-concept. Salvation is only the beginning of emotional health. It
allows us to experience human intimacy as God intended us to, finding
healing for our damaged emotions. It isn't that faith in Christ isn't
enough; faith in Christ is the beginning.
Q. Does the fact that I had an early homosexual experience mean I'm gay?
A. Sex is strictly meant for adults. The Song of
Solomon says three times, "Do not arouse or awaken love until it so
desires." This is a warning not to raise sexual feelings until the time
is right. Early sexual experience can be painful or pleasurable, but
either way, it constitutes child abuse. It traumatizes a child or teen.
This loss of innocence does need to be addressed and perhaps even
grieved through, but doesn't mean you're gay.
Sexual experimentation is something many children
and teens do as a part of growing up. You may have enjoyed the feelings
you experienced, but that is because God created our bodies to respond
to pleasure. It probably made you feel confused and ashamed, which is an
appropriate response to an inappropriate behavior. Don't let anyone
tell you it means you're gay: it means you're human.
Even apart from the sexual aspect, though, our
culture has come to view close friendships with a certain amount of
suspicion. If you enjoy emotional intimacy with a friend of the same
sex, especially if it is accompanied by the presence of sexual feelings
that emerge in adolescence, you can find yourself very confused. But it
doesn't mean you're gay.
It is a tragic myth that once a person has a homosexual experience, or even thinks about one, that he or she is gay for life.
Q. Are homosexuals condemned to hell?
A. Homosexuality is not a "heaven or hell" issue. The only determining factor is whether a person has been reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.
In 1 Cor. 6,
Paul says that homosexual offenders and a whole list of other sinners
will not inherit the kingdom of God. But then he reminds the Corinthians
that they have been washed, sanctified, and justified in Jesus' name.
Paul makes a distinction between unchristian behavior and Christian
behavior. He's saying, "You're not pagans anymore, you are a holy people
belonging to King Jesus. Now act like it!"
If homosexuality doesn't send anyone to hell, then
can the believer indulge in homosexual behavior, safe in his or her
eternal security? As Paul said, "May it never be!" If someone is truly a
child of God, he or she cannot continue sinful behavior that offends
and grieves the Father without suffering the consequences. God
disciplines those He loves. This means that ultimately, no believer gets
away with continued, unrepented sin. The discipline may not come
immediately, but it will come.
Q. How do I respond when someone in my life tells me he or she is gay?
A. Take your cue from the Lord Jesus. He didn't
avoid sinners; He ministered grace and compassion to them—without ever
compromising His commitment to holiness. Start by cultivating a humble
heart, especially concerning the temptation to react with judgmental
condescension. As Billy Graham said, "Never take credit for not falling
into a temptation that never tempted you in the first place."
Seek to understand your gay friends' feelings. Are
they comfortable with their gayness, or bewildered and resentful of it?
Understanding people doesn't mean that you have to agree with them—but
it is the best way to minister grace and love in a difficult
time. Accept the fact that, to this person, these feelings are normal.
You can't change their minds or their feelings. Too often, parents will
send their gay child to a counselor and say, "Fix him." It just doesn't
work that way.
As a Christian, you are a light shining in a dark
place. Be a friend with a tender heart and a winsome spirit; the
biggest problem of homosexuals is not their sexuality, but their need
for Jesus Christ. At the same time, pre-decide what your boundaries will
be about what behavior you just cannot condone in your presence. One
college student I know excuses herself from a group when the affection
becomes physical; she just gets up and leaves. It is all right to be
uncomfortable around blatant sin; you do not have to subject
yourself—and the Holy Spirit within you—to what grieves Him. Consider
how you would be a friend to people who are living promiscuous
heterosexual lives. Like the Lord, we need to value and esteem the
person without condoning the sin.
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Tithing is Unscriptural Under the New Covenant
Will a man ROB God?" How many untold tens of thousands of men will give account one day for teaching this verse in Malachi 3:8 totally out of context for their own sordid gain. I couldn’t count the times I have heard self-appointed ministers of the gospel berate their congregations and listeners for "robbing God" in tithes and offerings. This verse in Malachi certainly means what it says. Someone was defrauding God of tithes and offerings, but wait until you find out who it is that God blames for this act.
On any given Sunday morning there will be numerous men-of-the-cloth who will be bellowing out over the air waves that people are being "cursed with a curse" because they have failed to pay God ten percent of their paychecks. And should such a gullible listener decide to repent and give God ten percent of his salary, just how would he do that? Just keep reading. These men of the cloth who often have unquenchable worldly desires of the flesh, will be sure to give you an address where you can send them (or, ah, rather God) your tithe. And do they have a right to quote these Scriptures in this manner? No they do not, and furthermore they themselves know better.
SOME SHOCKING TRUTHS ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN TITHING DOCTRINE
Abraham never tithed on his own personal property or livestock.
Jacob wouldn’t tithe until God blessed him first.
Only Levite priests could collect tithes, and there are no Levite priests today.
Only food products from the land were tithable.
Money was never a tithable commodity.
Christian converts were never asked to tithe anything to the Church.
Tithing in the Church first appears centuries after completion of the Bible.
ALL SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES TO TITHING
We will now go through all the Scriptural references in the Bible on tithe, tithes, and tithing:
[1] Gen. 14:20, "And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he [Abram] gave him [Melchizedek king of Salem, the priest of the most high God, Ver. 18] TITHES of all [all the goods of war, Ver. 16]."
We read again of this same event in the book of Hebrews:
[2] Heb. 7:1-10, "For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who meets with Abraham returning from the combat with the kings and blesses him, to whom Abraham parts a TITHE also, from all... Now, behold how eminent this one is to whom the patriarch Abraham gives a TITHE also of the best of the booty. And, indeed, those of the sons of Levi who obtain the priestly office have a direction to take TITHES from the people according to the law... And here, indeed, dying men are obtaining TITHES... And so, to say, through Abraham, Levi also, who is obtaining the TITHES, has been TITHED, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek meets with him."
There are a number of things we can learn concerning tithing from this section of Scriptures. In this, the first mention of tithing in the Bible, Abram gives to Melchizedek (a priest of God who was also the king of the city of Salem) a tithe of the best of the booty taken in war. Notice that this was not wheat, corn, wine, oil, or cattle from Abram’s personal possessions, but rather booty taken from conquered nations.
There is nothing stated here that would cause us to conclude that Abram (later changed to Abraham) ever tithed on a regular basis on his own person possessions. Although Abraham gave Melchizedek a tithe of the booty of war, he told the king of Sodom that he would take none of it for himself.
In this same account recorded in the seventh chapter of Hebrews, we learn that the priests of Levi, from the family of Aaron (although far inferior to the priestly order of Melchizedek) also receive tithes from the people according to the law. This tells us little more about the actual tithes other than they received tithes.
Christian scholars claim that Abraham’s tithing of the spoils of war predated the Law of Moses, and therefore even if the Law of Moses is done away with, tithing is still binding on Christians because Abraham predated the Law of Moses. Is this true?
And Christendom teaches that this Scripture is the first proof from the Word of God that Christians are to tithe ten percent of their salaries to the church. But what have we really learned from these Scriptures?:
Abraham went to war on behalf of Sodom (SODOM, mind you), to rescue his nephew, Lot. He then gave 10% of these spoils of war to Melchizedek, and allowed Sodom to keep 90%, while he himself kept NOTHING!
Now then, is there a Scholar alive anywhere on earth that can explain to us how this one single unparalleled and never-again-to-be-duplicated event is Scriptural proof that Christians should give 10% of their annual salaries (not the spoils of war, but their money, their salaries), not once, but year after year after year, not to Melchizedek, but to Clergymen who claim to be ministers of Jesus Christ? If anyone can see a similarity here, I will show him the similarity between an elephant and a fruit fly.
Next we will observe a Scripture that you will probably never hear a sermon on. No tithe-preaching clergyman would use the example of how Jacob tithed. Remember, Jacob is the grandson of Abraham, the father of the faithful, whom God also blessed tremendously. Not only did God approve of Jacob’s tithing proposal, but, He made it the foundational principle upon which all future tithing would be based. Here it is.
[3] Gen. 28:20-22, "And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, IF God will be with me, and [if God] will keep me in this way that I go, and [if God] will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; THEN shall the Lord be my God: And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shall GIVE ME I will surely give the TENTH unto thee." Learn More About Tithing By Clicking Here ;http://www.bible-truths.com/tithing.html
Monday, May 11, 2015
1 John 1:3
Viewing the King James Version. Click to switch to 1611 King James Version of 1 John 1:3.
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
“Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.” Psalms 119:90 Read more at:
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. Get More Verses Here At: Get More Verses Here At :
Should You Or You Not Pay titles to the church ?
Paying Tithes
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 ESV / 127 helpful votes
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Malachi 3:10 ESV / 107 helpful votes
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
Malachi 3:8 ESV / 85 helpful votes
Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions.
2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV / 83 helpful votes
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Luke 11:42 ESV / 66 helpful votes
“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
Proverbs 3:9 ESV / 62 helpful votes
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
Malachi 3:8-10 ESV / 56 helpful votes
Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
Genesis 14:20 ESV / 49 helpful votes
And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Matthew 6:1-4 ESV / 45 helpful votes
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Luke 18:12 ESV / 37 helpful votes
I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’
Hebrews 7:1-9 ESV / 36 helpful votes
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever. See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. ...
There are 34 verses about pay Tithes inn the Church Learn More here :http://www.openbible.info/topics/paying_tithes
When did “tithing” come to mean “giving 10% of your gross income to the Church”?
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I know the word "tithe" has "tenth" built into it, and so some Christians assume that every usage of the word "tithe" in Scripture is referring to "giving 10% of your gross income to the church." But I also know that "tithes" in the Old Testament did not refer to this at all;
They only "tithed" on food (livestock and crops); they had money (i.e. "income"), but the "tithes" did not apply to that
The food went to the Levites, Priests, and needy people - none of whom had land of their own by which they could feed themselves
"Tithes" were not required of everyone - only those who raised livestock or grew crops. For example, carpenters weren't required to tithe, nor were the Priests and needy people
Clearly these things have application today; I am not challenging the idea of providing for ministers and needy people with cheerfulness and generosity.
My question is: When did the Church begin to understand "tithing" as "giving 10% of your gross income to the Church"? Clearly this is not what it meant in the Old Testament, and I don't see anything in the New Testament to indicate that the term was redefined by Jesus or the Apostles.
To clarify, I am not asking whether this is a good interpretation (or application, for that matter.) I am also not looking for unsupported claims about how "it has always been understood this way, even by Jesus and the Apostles." My question is about Church History; please support your claim with references to historical records.
history definition tithe
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asked Oct 8 '12 at 19:11
Jas 3.1
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+1 Tithing is something that should have gone away. The reason why we don't keep the OT laws anymore is because we received a "New Deal" from Jesus. The only reason why pastors talk about tithing is because they need money to live - and do things with the church. However, if you give your time to the church and bring food to the church (pot luck, etc) then I don't see any reason to tith. With that said, your pastor will probably remind you that it's not your good works alone which get you into heaven... I guess money too? :) – user1054 Oct 9 '12 at 0:07
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Strongly related: Was tithing 10% required or encouraged by the early church?. – Wikis Oct 9 '12 at 11:24
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As humorous as it sounds I recall that those who argue gross versus net refer to 'render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and God what is God's' - implying you pay gross to the government therefore you should pay gross to God. – Mike Oct 10 '12 at 11:03
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Jesus said "Freely you have received; freely give." We aren't supposed to give out of an obligation. To display we are cheerfully givers, we give freely of our material things to God. Learn Here At: learn Here at http://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/10150/when-did-tithing-come-to-mean-giving-10-of-your-gross-income-to-the-church
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