Month: September 2024

Blog for Podcast #225 (An In-depth Study of three parables the Prodigal Son)

bible, Bible study, Christian, Christian Life, General, Guide, Life, Relationship, , , , , Leave a comment

Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need to do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Discussion

In today’s long podcast. We will look at three parables spoken by Jesus Christ, the last of which is the one about the prodigal son.

Very quickly Luke sets the stage for the parables Jesus is about to say to those gathered about Him this day. Amongst them are His earthly rivals, the holy men of the Israelites. They scoff that once again Christ has brought sinners before Him.

Jesus goes right to this point immediately:

Luke 15:4-10 NKJV – “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

In these two parables He says the same thing, for the most part, but in a way that not only both male and females can relate too, but those that live in the country and those that live in the cities. Instantly destroying the religious leaders’ argument and show to those that understand how foolish those that hold onto man-made dogmas really are.

But let’s now look into the parables. Both deal with the property of a person that loses one part of it. It shows how they search and look for it. Jesus then says what the heavenly equivalent is. This statement of joy for just one person that repents is key to these parables.

We need to understand two key words. Sinner and repent.

Sinner – hamartolos – sinning, sinful, depraved, detestable

Repents – repenteth – metanoeo – from metá, “changed after being with” and noiéō, “think”) – properly, “think differently after,” “after a change of mind”; to repent

So, any that sin, that after coming to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior begins to think differently and uses the teachings within the Bible to know what the difference between right acting and wrong acting is. Then once realizing these differences end those things within their lives that are called sin, no matter how painful turning away from these actions could be.

The slight differences between the first and the second parables though is the former is aimed at someone who had already asked Jesus Christ to be their Savior. While the latter was aimed at any who come to decide to follow Jesus and ask Him to be their Savior. In both cases acknowledging that there is sin in their lives and then turning away from the sin is what is required by both. So even though Jesus is addressing two different types of sinners. The first, someone who was once a part of the vine, the other someone newly grafted into vine, which is Jesus Christ.

These two parables are fixed directly at the ridicule made by those religious leaders present at this particular teaching being made by Christ on that day nearly two thousand years ago.

Let us now look at the parable of the prodigal son.

Luke 15:11-32 NKJV – Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ‘ “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ “

Let’s look at this parable in more detail. Our first stop in this deep dive. The demands of the younger son, which is where we will start. For the son went to the father and did not ask, but told his father. In the KJV it is “said,” but still it was not “asked his father.”

There is a couple of ways to approach just this one sentence. From the main standpoint of this particular teaching, we should look at it this way. All of humanity are the children of God. The mere denial of accepting God not only as “God,” but as their creator and Father is a type of demand. That they are their own person. That they are in control and have full say-so in how they wish to live their lives. You see this in most that deny the very existence of God. However, in the other way you can look at it. It is the way those that have asked Christ to be their Savior behave as well. Many still choosing to be the ones in control of their own lives and see the Bible more as a book of suggestions instead of actual laws that demand requirements to be maintained and followed. These two aspects that tie right back into the previous two parables that Jesus had just spoken.

Here is another facet that must be noted. The demand for his rewards now. Again, we come to those that are like the lost coin and the lost sheep. In both examples those that turn away from God and His Son seek after their rewards here in this temporal realm we all now exists within.

Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV – “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.

How does the father, God, respond to His child’s demands? Without question or debate, the father gave the child what he demanded. This too is how God responses to all His children, which is all of humanity, be they Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, or whatever religion they follow. God loves all His children, but He knows that if their heart is hardened unto the truth there is no way to reach them and cause them to accept Him as who He really is.

This is one reason He has made a type of loophole in the Great White Throne Judgment, for those that have led a righteous life. But this loophole is not a guarantee of eternal life. There is only one way, and that is through the acceptance of Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. God wishes all to come into the eternal life we are all promised. However, he knows that due to free-will most will reject the truth, for all of humanity due to the actions of Adam and Eve, is sinful and the source of their own corruption.

Mark 7:20-23 NKJV – And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

This also goes directly into why Jesus was telling this parable. For it was the desires of the child that drove him to want his inheritance, his rewards.

Now we will look to the reward itself.

So, the child is given their inheritance. Again, we need to understand something. What he asks for is what is promised in the future, once his father passes from the world. So, the prodigal child is asking for in essence their rewards promised them in the eternal life that is yet to be, if we look at the father as God. This is what he asks for, and this is what he is given. The same can be said of all that ask God of something. This something, be it wealth, a fancy home, a fancy car. All this is something that was meant for a life they have yet to see. The eternal life. These things you seek after here are not for eternity, but for here, for now, in the contemporary. Yet this is what most demand. This is what the son was asking for.

Then, the youngest son packs up everything he owns and moves to a distant land. The intent is made clear, he turns his back upon his father. Never to see him ever again. Most that deny God live this very way. Many that say they accept Christ as their Savior live this was as well. It is something to be expected as is made clear in 2 Peter chapter 2:

2 Peter 2:20-22 NKJV – For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A DOG RETURNS TO HIS OWN VOMIT,” and “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

Most do not wish to live a Christian lifestyle. They find it confining, restricted. They see the Bible as simply a reference tool. A book of suggestions, instead of what it truly is. It is a book of laws that we are required to follow.

John 14:15 “If you love me, obey my commandments….”

This is why most runaway from God. This is why they pack all their belongings so they can do as the youngest son did. To live a “riotous living,” away from the site of God their Father and Creator.

Riotous – asotos – extravagantly wasteful because of “loose living,” i.e. a debauched, profligate lifestyle

Profligate – utterly and shamelessly immoral or dissipated; thoroughly dissolute.

As he lived this lifestyle, he wasted all he owned. Then when a famine hit the land, he found himself without the ability to even feed himself. So, he bonded himself to someone in the land he now lived.

What he made of himself voluntarily was a bondservant. A bondservant is something that was established within the Israelite tribes as a way to settle debts. Simply the person becomes the property of someone else for a period of time. A slave. In most cases for six years. So being a slave, his master did not even feed him, and he hungered even after the scraps that he was feeding unto the pigs he was ordered to feed.

Here is something else that needs to be understood. The pig is seen as an animal that is detestable, filthy and unclean to the Israelites. To be forced to feed one, let alone desire to eat what a pig eats means that the youngest hit rock-bottom.

The epiphany.

As he feeds the pigs desiring to eat the food of what the Jewish people see as an unclear animal. Realization hits him.

Luke 15:17 – And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

Now we have to note how things are different between his life now and those that are servants to his father. He had made himself a bondservant. In essence a slave for six years. His master was not feeding him. His father on the other hand had free people working for him. In fact his father paid them. This is shown in the word “hired” and by the fact that they have enough money to be able to give bread to those in need. As shown by the wording: “have bread enough and to spare.”

Hired servant – misthios – a paid worker, hired servant, hireling (contrasted with a slave).

The implication in the next few verses implies that he came to realize that if he stayed a bondservant he would die of starvation. So, he leaves his situation.

Now here we must come to another realization within the younger son. At the beginning of this parable, he is prideful and arrogant. For he went to his father and demanded his inheritance. Now in the pit of despair and starvation a new man arises. A man that is humbled. He says this:

“Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”

Not only does he see his actions as wrong, but an actual sin. He also realizes that his actions were so shameful that he can no longer consider himself as a child of his father. His humility only begs of him to seek after being a servant of this man who is his father.

Therefore, he heads home. As he comes into sight of home. His father sees him coming towards him. Even though he is a way off his father knows it is him. He recognizes him. On seeing him. The bible says this:

Luke 15:20 NKJV – “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

Compassion – splagchnizomai – I feel compassion, have pity on, am moved.

Pity – sympathy and understanding for someone else’s suffering or troubles.

The father understood what had transpired. He did not hate him, nor despise him. In fact, he ran to him and fell upon him hugging him tightly and kissing him. This is how God sees all that come humbly toward Him seeking His forgiveness. God loves all of humanity. All that is required by us, that are his children, is to acknowledge Him. To say we have sinned, and then to go to Him. He will then run to us as well. Embracing us, holding us to Him. For we acknowledge that He is not only our God, our Creator, but our Father as well.

The sins are already forgiven, just because we turn to God and go to Him. This is seen in the very next two verses. The son begins to make His speech he had planned, but before he can even ask to be only accepted as one of his father’s servants. His father shouts out to his servants, to place the best robes upon him, and a ring upon his finger, and shoes upon his feet. Then the father also says to kill the fatted calf and to eat and celebrate.

Luke 15:24 NKJV – for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

This same joy is promised to all of humanity that comes to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, for only through Him can God see them approaching His throne, and all of heaven will celebrate as they come to accept that God is their eternal Father.

The eldest son

There are many facets to the eldest son that can be addressed here as he is a reflection of those that have been loyal to God all the time. The religious leaders that were here listening to Jesus tell this parable is one facet. Those within churches that see people come into their churches that look and act different than they do. These are just two facets.

The religious leaders saw Jesus Christ as a threat to their command of the Israeli people. Thus, their anger and hatred toward Him. The fact that Christ was causing people to come to God as they never did with those in religious power. That sinners would go to Him and then leave Him no longer sinning thus becoming the younger son. Being dead and now alive once again. The religious leaders in their own minds saw themselves as being loyal to God, even though there was mounting evidence that this was the furthest thing from the truth.

In many churches today people form a group and see those that come into their churches as invaders. So, they make it hard for these intruders to fit in or grow in their belief in Jesus Christ and His Father.

These are all aspects of the eldest son.

What the father says is clear and to the point.

Luke 15:31-32 NKJV – “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ “

Simply there is no need to be jealous or envious. For you are a part of the body of Christ, and when someone comes to realize that truth. That God is the Creator of ALL. That they have come home through accepting Jesus as their Savior is a time of joy and celebration. For they were dead and now they are alive and will for all eternity.

This is something that is open to all that are willing to see the truth. Be they now Atheist, Muslim, Buddhist, or even think they are Christian. All they need to do is not live their lives in the here and the now, but to look to the eternal life that is yet to come. To stop living in the temporal and plan to exist for billions upon billions of years in the embrace of God, through His Son Jesus Christ our Savior.

God Bless

Blog for Podcast #224 (Glorifying the Self)

bible, Bible study, Christian, Christian Life, General, Guide, Life, Relationship, , , , , , , , One comment

Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need to do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Discussion

In many of the buildings called “churches” you will encounter those that teach, those that preach and those that listen to teachings which instruct those that listen to seek to improve the self. Glorify the self, worship the self.

This is what the Bible says about seeking the self.

James 3:14-15 NKJV – But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.

Those teaching to glorify the self are teaching falsely. They listen not to God. Through the Holy Spirit, but to demons pretending to be the Holy Spirit.

They teach children that they can be the best that they can be. But, where is God in this statement?

Per what the Holy Spirit Who inspired James to write those words spoken earlier shows clearing that this teaching does come from God at all. Therefore, God is not present.

Yet these teachings are taught in buildings called “churches.” So. It’s just a building, and since they teach man-made teachings inspired by demons it just shows that these buildings are just that: buildings. Full of people once or twice a week seeking to make themselves glorified in their own minds. Showing they are earthly, sensual, demonic.

Many are upset at hearing these things. The mere fact that they are upset is validation they do not listen to God but their flesh.

Galatians 5:17-21 NKJV – For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Hearing the truth is painful at times. But required if you truly seek sanctification.

What does the Bible truly teach? To answer that we need to understand true gifts given by the Holy Spirit.

Romans 12:1-8 NKJV – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one 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.

“Not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think.”

This shows that we are not to glorify ourselves. In fact, if anything we are to glorify all others. By thinking of them before we even consider ourselves. This can never be accomplished by glorifying ourselves. By glorifying the self those that do this become haughty. In fact, this is the complete opposite teaching, which truly identifies it as evil. For anything opposing God is just that, evil.

Seeking to glorify the self creates a haughty spirit. What does the Bible say about being haughty?

Proverbs 16:18 NKJV – Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 18:12 NKJV – Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility.

Proverbs 21:4 NKJV – A haughty look, a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked are sin.

When glorifying the self, you gain a haughty look and also a proud heart.

Many that say they follow Christ do their best not to do anything in the OT. This is actually counter to what Jesus Christ Himself taught.

Matthew 5:17-19 NKJV – “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

The laws removed by the cross were those governing sacrifices. No other laws were removed. How we are to live and interact with others has not changed. Right here some will say: what about slavery?

Then they aren’t paying attention to the greatest commandments:

Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV – Jesus said to him, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

“You shall love you neighbor are yourself.”

Would you enslave yourself? That question should silence everyone. But it won’t, because their opinion is greater than anyone else…. especially God Himself. For they glorify themselves. They are greater than anyone and anything….. again… especially God Himself.

That is what is being taught by those in the buildings called “churches” that tell those that listen to glorifying themselves. That God is within them and they can achieve anything because of it.

Achieve what? Gain earthly wealth and status? Seek esteem in the sight of other humans?

Luke 16:13-17 NKJV – “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.

Mammon – G3126 – mamónas – riches, money, possessions, property.

Isn’t this what they are teaching those that listen to seek after by glorifying themselves? To seek after riches, after money, after possessions, property. Yes, it is. Then who is it that will reward them.

Luke 4:6 NKJV – And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.”

Therefore, since only Satan can give earthly rewards, then it is Satan that gives them these things. This is verified in these verses from 1 John

1 John 2:15-16 NLT – Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

“These are not from the Father, but are from this world.”

And as we just established Satan was given authority over this temporal plain.

2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT – Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

Any who teach and think that glorifying the self is blind to the Truth, which shows that they are not followers of Christ. Even though they go to a building called a “church.”

The church is not a building. It is those that truly follow Christ and His teachings found within the Bible which as has been shown here are opposite those that teach to glorify the self.

What is needed is to is to stop trying to glorify the self and start to Glorify God through Jesus Christ. It is He is that only being that deserves to be glorified. It even says so in the Lord’s Prayer.

Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV – In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses , As we forgive those who trespass against us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

“For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.”

I have updated this myself to this: For Yours is the kingdom and You have all the power and You Lord God Creator of the Universe deserve all and only the glory forever and ever. Amen.

No other being should be glorified in any way shape or form other than our Creator. Therefore, those that say to glorify the self are saying that they wish to glorify themselves over their God. Thus saying they are greater than God Himself.

They must repent and turn from their ways. And not glorify the self but God through Jesus Christ. They must leave those buildings that teach that they glorify the self for they worship Satan not God. Don’t deny this Truth for it is part of the repentance required. For as long as you listen to false teachings you will fall further and further away from your salvation.

Time is running out. For the first rapture is near and they will learn the hard way that if they don’t repent now they will see that they have been left behind. All because they abandoned God to glorify themselves.

God Bless

Blog for Podcast #223 (The Little Things)

bible, Bible study, Christian, Christian Life, General, Guide, Life, Relationship, , , , , , , Leave a comment

Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need to do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Discussion

It’s the little things that show where you stand with God. How you interact with others. How you drive your vehicle. How you live and where you live your lives. All this shows if you are of the world or if you are a child of God.

In most this never changes. In fact, in many cases, they become even worse. Haughtier, thinking themselves as important, special, exempt from punishment. The bible calls them liars and so they avoid the True Word of God for platitudes given to them by a person standing upon a dais behind a pedestal. For to face to Truth would mean that they have lived their entire lives in a lie, which is the real Truth.

Here is the truth from the Bible. Frist I will show a list of sins that mark those that deny God:

Romans 1:28-32 NKJV – And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

The very next thing written in the Bible is the behavior of those that call themselves “Christian.”

Romans 2:1-11 NKJV – Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “WILL RENDER TO EACH ONE ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.

Let me say that last verses once again in a different translation:

Romans 2:11 NLT – For God does not show favoritism.

Any who believe they will not suffer judgement just made this verse a lie in their own minds. They just called God Himself a liar.

Notice in this verse from the second chapter of Romans these words:

Romans 2:1 NKJV – Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.

“For you who judge practice the same things.” So those sins listed in the first chapter are being practiced by those that profess they are “Christian.” And what are these sins again?

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;  being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,  backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”

Most that now profess to being a follower of Christ live these sins every single day of their lives. Even the day they spend a few hours at the building called “church.” They shall face judgement. They shall stand before the Great White Throne instead of in the sky before the Son of God upon the glorious day of the first rapture.

Let us return to what I mean by the little things. I will do this by looking back to one of my past blog post:

People for the most part that say they are “Christian” don’t even see the little sins that they commit every single day.

When you ask Jesus to be your Savior. You are making an agreement with God that you will listen to the words of Christ and His apostles that have made what forms the New Testament. Which, in turn are amplified by how the Israelites were instructed to live and follow in Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy within the Old Testament.

Jesus Himself states that if you are of the vine, which is Him, in other words “saved,” and you do not bear fruit, which is following the teachings of Christ, through faith and works. (James 2:14-26) Those that are barren will be removed from the vine, their salvation. Broken off of the vine and cast into the fire. (John 15:1-6)

When someone truly asks Jesus to be their Savior, just out of pure love for God and His Son, they will seek to do and follow the teachings of the Bible.

That being said. Here are some examples of the little sins that make someone barren. First off, listening to music or the radio so loud that all you hear are the lyrics and the music. There is nothing else you have room for. Yet we are told to pray constantly. I encounter this issue at work nearly daily. I have to wear ear plugs and sound dampening earmuffs just so I can even think to be able to pray. Even if you are listening to Christian music if it is too loud for you to contemplate God, the Bible and prayer, then you are not keeping your life God centered but self-centered.

Now here is one I keep coming back to because people just don’t truly understand this one. Driving a vehicle on the road.

“Why this?” many ask.

In Titus 3:1 we are instructed to follow the laws made by humans. Why we are to do this is because no human power comes to be without God’s consent. (Daniel 4:17)

Therefore, if God placed certain humans into a place of human power to make laws that say to go 55 miles per hour, then we as Christians must go 55 miles per hour. By the way this goes on both sides of the extreme. Form speeding to going excessively slow. There is no room for debate. There is no saying man’s laws have no control of you. The only exception is when those laws go against God, the Bible and nature. Even then you must work within human law to get it back into right with the Bible. For it is not man’s law, but God’s, by extension of His consent, you are honoring and respecting. Consequently, if you speed, cut people off, tailgate and any other of the laws you break for any other reason. You are in essence insulted God and telling Him that He is nothing to you. For by the mere fact that you are doing these things without thinking of Him you do consider God to be nothing.
So it is time to start getting these little sins reigned in. Not just the big ones, for both leave your branch barren and subject to being removed and thrown into the fires of damnation.

Now many will challenge what has been said here. It is sad that they do. Therefore, I will expand on this a bit to give enlightenment. To this I will turn to another blog post entitled “One of the steps toward being a reflection of Christ.”

For one thing there are several, but this is just about one. Now first, I wish to remind folks that in being a reflection of Jesus Christ we are to not only have faith in Him and His promises, but also in our actions and behavior known as works when taken in context to the Bible. Some will say that “works” is legalism. However, “legalism” is when people go through the motions of actions and rituals, especially when they have no faith. It is both FAITH and WORKS, but on with the topic at hand, which is this step of faith through works:

Romans 13:1-7 NKJV – Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

Titus 3:1 NKJV – Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work.

Now what does it mean to submit to the government? It is shown very clearly in Romans. All governments are in existence by the grace of God. Accordingly, we are to follow the laws that are set forth by said governments, as long as they are not counter to the teachings of the Bible. Like for instance, abortion.

So, once again I go back to my fallback example of this. The speed limit on roads. This is a state law. If you break this law, you can be punished by getting a speeding ticket. Yet millions break this law every single day because this law is inconvenient to them.

Now I want those reading this to look at that last sentence and ponder upon it a second.

Now read this:

Matthew 22:37 NKJV – Jesus said to him, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’

Luke 10:26-28 NKJV – He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” So he answered and said, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND,’ and ‘YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'” And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”

Mark 12:29-30 NKJV – Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL, THE LORD OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE.

Mark 12:30 NKJV – AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ This is the first commandment.

It is made clear that per Romans and Titus we are to honor God by following the laws set forth by those in government. However, many speed “because this law is inconvenient to them.”

TO THEM.

To the self.

Consequently, God and His laws are “inconvenient to them!”

If we are to place God at the center of our lives. How can HE be an inconvenience? How is this possible?

Because GOD is not at the center of their lives.

THEY are at the center of THEIR LIVES.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 NKJV – But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

Matthew 16:24-28 NKJV – Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

I cannot out do the very words of Jesus Christ. I end this here.

God Bless

Blog for Podcast #222 (The Challenge)

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Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need to do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Discussion

As we move through this life we now live within. We are torn this way and that. Throughout our lives once we cross the threshold of the age of consent, these factors that tear at our souls increase. Multiple factors attack our conscience. All designed to distract us from Who we are to truly seek after. God through Jesus Christ.

We are pulled by our emotions. We are pulled by our family, our friends, our education. By religion. By our jobs. All distract us from God through Jesus Christ.

Most never find the True balance. Most think they find it. But what they find is acceptance within the world. This is the opposite of what they should have found. For the world is opposite of God. They are enemies. The Bible makes it clear.

James 4:4 NKJV – Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

1 John 2:15-16 NLT – Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

The challenge is to abandon all that we have learned that is not found in the Bible. This for the most part never occurs for anyone. I know this because for decade I followed the wide path without truly realizing. As I finally listened to God in 2013. I finally starter to learn to seek sanctification.

For those that don’t understand this last word. I will try and help you understand. Sanctification is an ongoing and continual process to seek to remove all sin from within us through prayer and study. Also know that none can remove all sin from within us. However, we can peel them away like the skin of an onion. This is sanctification.

Sanctification can only be accomplished when the one seeking it strives to please God and not themselves. This is also known as “works.” Any who seek to please the self lives in sin.

Romans 2:8 NKJV – but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,

James 3:13-18 NKJV – Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

“But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.”

Understand this sentence is more complex than one would think. Especially the last part of it. Most in today’s world use religion as an excuse to not only fucus upon themselves, but to keep their earthly wealth for their owe glory and satisfaction. They boast that God rewarded them this is a lie against the Truth.

Note: I said religion.

A religion is a man-made group that seeks to parade about as if they are better than those about them. This causes them to be haughty and not just self-serving but self-glorifying. All of this is a sin in the sight of God. Therefore, most religions serve Satan not God. This is verified practically every Sunday when all you hear are speeches that cause those listening to feel reassured about their own self-worth. This why Jesus said this in the book of Luke:

Luke 16:13-15 NKJV – “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money as well as possesions.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

Our true challenge is to stop thinking of the self, which includes seeking after those things that many esteem. The closest we are to think of the self is that we are to treat others as we would treat ourselves.

Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV  Jesus said to him, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” That means if you buy an expensive vehicle you must buy everyone an expensive vehicle. Now we all know this is an impossibility. Then how do you offset this?

The answer? We live a needs-only lifestyle. By living with the cheapest and the least. We follow the teachings of the Bible and are able to help those in need and to spread the Word of God.

When people think they can live as they want and think they are going to heaven. They become the lukewarm the moment they do this. Rejecting any chance of salvation. In truth they are seen as worse than those that openly deny God. This is why they are vomited out of the Body of Christ.

Revelation 3:15-19 NKJV – “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

I have been giving multiple teachings about what is found within the Bible. The fact that most live their lives as they always have. Shows most have not studied the Word of God for themselves and they take the words of man over the Word of God.

Why they listen to the words of man over the Word of God is simple. The words of man say the name “Jesus” mention God. However, they teach that the self is all. That God is in them and they are all powerful and they can accomplish anything. This in turn causes them to chase after worldly rewards. This in turn causes them to get these rewards from the being that has the power to reward in this world.

Luke 4:6 NKJV – And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.

Must hate to hear this. Because they don’t wish to answer the challenge God offers all through Jesus Christ. They refuse the challenge because to answer it they would have to stop living as they have lived to date, plus it would also bring into doubt how those before them have lived their lives. This is a sad reality, but it is the Truth.

Most will stand before the Great White Throne Judgement other than to appear before the Glorified Christ in the heavens above at the first rapture. However, this is the real Truth. Upsetting as it may be.

Too many have decided upon a people pleasing message than to accept the Truth of the Word of God. Cursing themselves.

Galatians 1:6-10 AMP – I am surprised and astonished that you are so quickly turning renegade and deserting Him Who invited and called you by the grace (unmerited favor) of Christ (the Messiah) [and that you are transferring your allegiance] to a different [even an opposition] gospel. Not that there is [or could be] any other [genuine Gospel], but there are [obviously] some who are troubling and disturbing and bewildering you [with a different kind of teaching which they offer as a gospel] and want to pervert and distort the Gospel of Christ (the Messiah) [into something which it absolutely is not]. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to and different from that which we preached to you, let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)! As we said before, so I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel different from or contrary to that which you received [from us], let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)! Now am I trying to win the favor of men, or of God? Do I seek to please men? If I were still seeking popularity with men, I should not be a bond servant of Christ (the Messiah).

Notice how the first part of these verses is stated.

“I am surprised and astonished that you are so quickly turning renegade and deserting Him.”

They get saved and then quickly turn away from their salvation. Turning “renegade.”

Renegade – a person who deserts a party or cause for another.

Desert – to withdraw from or leave usually without intent to return.

Now note the last verse.

“Now am I trying to win the favor of men, or of God? Do I seek to please men? If I were still seeking popularity with men, I should not be a bond servant of Christ (the Messiah).”

“If I were still seeking popularity with men, I should not be a bond servant of Christ.”

Those that make people happy and thus themselves popular per these verses are cursed to eternal damnation. This is how most that call themselves ministers, pastor, priest now qualify. The large the church the more guilty.

They abandoned the challenge to follow God. For their own esteem to other humans. They willfully chose to be an abomination in the sight of God.

It is time to repent and learn to follow and accept what is written within the Word of God. It is time to stop thinking of self-glorification and reward. It is time to downsize and use our excess earthly wealth to help others and to spread the True Gospel. This is the challenge that MUST be accomplished. NOW!!

God Bless