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Blog of Podcast #20 (Those who wish to lead must serve)

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Intro

Welcome again to another Bible Study and I am Dreamwalker1960

In last week Podcast I mentioned Matthew 20:25-28. Due to the length of last week’s study I could not look deeper into those verses. So today that is what we will do.

Discussion

Matthew 20:25-28 – “But Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.’”

In these verses two things are established. How those that are of the world rule over people, and how Christ wishes Christians to rule over themselves. When looking at those in places of power today we can see that many live in the former role and not the latter role. This tells us a lot, and is why this study is important to come to an understanding with.

First and foremost. These are the words of Jesus Christ Himself. He knows that this is how it will be from the way it is then to the way it is now. So people can say they are “Christian.” However, if they flaunt their authority and lord it over those that are under their influence then they are of the world and so cannot be called “Christian,” even if they say they are.

James 4:4 – You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.

Now that we have established this line in the sand. We can now continue with this Bible study.

Let us go verse by verse in the KJV:

Verse 25 – But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

Exercise dominion – G2634 – katakyrieuo – to lord against, i.e. control, subjugate [Strong’s]

  1. Subjugate – to defeat people or a country and rule them in a way that allows them no freedom [Cambridge Dictionary]

Exercise authority – G2715 – katexousiazo – to have (wield) full privilege over [Strong’s]

  1.   Privilege – an advantage that only one person or group of people has, usually because of their position or because they are rich

So those of the world because they are in a place of authority and are rich wish to rule over those they see as below them and to rule over them by taking away their freedoms. Because they see themselves as better than them for the mere fact they are rich and are in power. Does any of this sound familiar?

Verse 26 – But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

Great – G3173 – megas – big [Strong’s]

Minister – G1249 – diakonos – an attendant, i.e. a waiter (at table or in other menial duties) [Strong’s]

Verse 27 – And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

Chief – G4413 – protos – foremost (in time, place, order or importance) [Strong’s]

Servant – G1401 – doulos – a slave (literally or figuratively, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency) [Strong’s]

  1. Subserviency – Subordinate in capacity or function.

So those within a Christian based group or government that seek to lead must see themselves not as master or leader. They must see themselves has the servant to those they are place in over. The people’s needs come before their own wants or desires.

As has been previously established in the preceding podcasts we are in the era of the lukewarm church. Also, as shown in previous broadcasts we are in the latter part of this era. Which again brings us to 2 Timothy 3:1-5

1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

Now, when you combine verse 25 of Matthew 20 with these verses we can start to establish a clear image of those in places of power, be it in the government, news media and even entertainment, that conform to what is shown in these verses.

Jesus establishes a way for us to approach those that fit into this description. First and foremost, we are to turn away from these people from the world and to separate ourselves from them. This includes inviting them into your household upon the television screen and social media platforms. This also means that if it is within your power to make it possible to not allow them form attaining a place of power. In the United States of America that is called the election process. If they are in power, you vote them out of office. Or not allow them to get into office when there is evidence that they fit within those described in 2 Timothy 3.

Now since the mainstream media at this time does fit within the parameters for 2 Timothy. How are you to seek out a true image of who falls within these verses in the government and entertainment. You seek out alternate sources of information. I myself turn to YouTube. Where I have found multiple alternative sources. Also never accept anything anyone says without investigating it yourselves.

I have left behind most modern areas of entertainment. I do not partake of sports, or watch TV series or modern movies for the most part. Instead I watch movies that are decades old. I also read a lot. I am not here to influence what or how you watch, or who you vote for. Expect where the Bible itself says you are to do so. And yes the Bible does tell you how to vote or watch TV.

If you are to remove yourself form those that lord their power over you and act in ways listed in 2 Timothy 3. Then you should not vote or support any that fall into this category.

But here is your dilemma.

The main stream media (MSM), have shown themselves as something to turn away form as mentioned before in my series “the many faces of the selfish god.” So if they cannot be trust to give you the truth, that would imply that they lie. If they are liars then what are they lying about?

I leave that for you to figure out.

Understand this. All I am doing here is teaching the truth that is found within the Bible. There are those that are showing themselves to be of the world, and as Christians we are to not become involved with those that follow after the lusts for worldly wealth and power. For they are placing and seeking their treasures here upon the earth. Where we as Christians are told to establish our riches in heaven. (Matthew 6:19-21)

We as Christian do not live in and for the world but for God through His Son our Lord Jesus Christ. So we must follow what the Bible say about such things as to who is to lead.

As shown in Matthew 20 if they are truly Christian they will act as a servant to the people. However, we cannot count upon that alone. We have to come to an understanding of important factors that can cause things to go per the plan of God. Plans that in turn allow certain leaders to come to power. (Daniel 4:17; Romans 13:1)

A prime example of this is Adolf Hitler. He truly qualified  as the “lowliest of men.” However, God placed him in power over Germany. As a result World War II and the great Holocaust occurred. Nevertheless, a fulfillment of prophecy took place because he came to power. That was the return of the nation of Israel to the world of men. (Ezekiel 39:27)

Does this mean, if it is in our power to peacefully remove those that lead with the mentality of the world within them. We should do so? Most definitely. The one nation that undeniably has this ability is the United States of America. However since those of the world will do anything in their power to maintain control due to their lusts and desires we must be weary that they will lie and cheat to accomplish their wants. Then if they cannot get their way they will go to extremes to ensure that they will return to power if they are not removed in such a way that will prevent this from occurring.

Nevertheless, we must be willing as the children of God to accept what is, when it comes to situations like this. For God’s plan is beyond our understanding and the return of Jesus Christ is near.

God Bless

Blog for Podcast # 19 (Forced Righteousness)

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Intro
Welcome again to another study of the Bible. I am Dreamwalker1960.
Today’s podcast will be longer than usual, but the message that is within it is very important to hear. So let’s get into it.
Discussion
Today I wish to talk about something people have not heard described in this fashion. It is “forced righteousness.”
What is “forced righteousness?”
It is what most people have experienced in going to the buildings called “churches.” Especially those raised in a religious household. Please note I am using wording like “religious.”
This is one of the biggest problems with the relationship between God and humanity that is causing the creation of what is called the “lukewarm church,” or more appropriately the “apostate church.” Which explains why we are in the era of the lukewarm as defined in the letters to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3.
Let us define the word “apostate” so we can have a clear understanding of where I am going within today’s Bible study.
Apostate or apostasy is an act of refusing to continue to follow obey or recognize a religious faith per Merriam-Webster.
But what can cause this to take place?
The answer: Forced righteousness.
Forced righteousness occurs most commonly from the children of a religious household as I mentioned before.
Now again I say “religious.”
Why is this?
Being religious is an act of going through the motions and behavior associated with a religion. This religion can be of any type. From Buddhist, to Muslim, to Shinto, to Jewish, to Christian. A prime example can be seen in one of the oldest Christian based sects, the Catholic Church. Here we see ceremonies, rituals and actions that are repeated time and again. Now don’t get me wrong. There have been some great people that are truly Christian that have come from within the Catholic Church. It is the religiousness that is the issue, not the faith.
It is the religiosity of a religion that is causing forced righteousness.
People fall into a routine. Just going through the motions. Then they have children in most cases. These children are taken to church and indoctrinated to the rituals. Yet no one in most cases truly explains to them the reason why this is being done. They assume they will just come to know why they are going to church. Which is the act that Jesus Christ did for all that Passover day just under two thousand years ago. So, they slowly, due to being forced into a righteous existence, rebel against it, because they really don’t truly understand.
This is why it is so important when choosing a religious leader. If their children rebel and misbehave the Bible states this religious leader must be replaced if their rebellion can be traced back to this leader. Yet I hear of stories where this rarely if ever happens in today’s age. Why must they be replaced? Because if they are not teaching their children the true relationship between God and humanity, which in turn causes them to rebel against the religion. Then how can they be a good shepherd to a flock of church goers needing true guidance to God.
But back on the main topic.
Those that live in a religious household see how their parents live and act. They see the weakness of humanity. They see the sin that may enter into their homes, which creates doubt within the minds of these children. As they grow into adulthood, they question religion due to what they have witnessed firsthand from their role models.
The main issue is that a relationship with God through Jesus Christ is not something that can be addressed with religious behavior. It is a personal relationship with the Creator of all. However, how can they establish a relationship if all they have known, in their lives, is the rituals and motions of religiousness? Thus, when they are told that they must live a righteous life without sin. They have no true concept of how to truly live an active vibrant, yet righteous existence.
Why? Because no one truly explained to them about who God is. About who Jesus Christ is, and how He can affect their life and all of humanities lives by His willing sacrifice upon the cross.
All they know is forced righteousness.
They are told they must know this. They must do that. Never having anyone just sit down with them and explain why it is necessary why they are required to do these things.
They are not given the option or even the opportunity to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Yes, they are told of Him. Yes, they are given opportunities to accept Him. But has someone set them down and truly explained to them the torment and anguish Jesus experienced the moment He was arrested till the moment He died upon the cross? Did they describe to them the destruction to His back the whip caused, which was a major reason He was unable to carry His cross out of Jerusalem?
Many don’t even understand that it is not rituals that form the relationship for as the Bible states rituals without faith is death as witnessed in Matthew 6:5-15. However, it also states that faith without works is death, as explained in James 2:14-26. It is a combination of works and faith, not one or the other.
Works done with the true Holy Spirit do not include rituals. They are actions of faith. Like helping those in need. Trying to explain how messed up and unnecessary religious rituals are that causes a forced righteousness is an example of a work in faith.
Communion and the baptism in the name of Jesus Christ are the only ceremonies given to us by Jesus Christ. So they are all that is required in the realm of rituals.
Due to a forced righteousness many go through life saying they are Christian. Living a life, they believe is righteous, and in some cases this may be so. Yet when you look into their lives you see it rampant with sin, or lacking a crucial element, a relationship with Jesus Christ. They believe they are saved when they have not even genuinely sought out their Savior. They are living in an apostate life without even knowing they are.
Living in religion doesn’t make you holy. None can make this boast even those that know their Savior and do strive to have a righteous life. For all mess up and sin at some point in their life. It is this element that makes it hard to establish if you are living a life formed from forced righteousness or a true relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Being indoctrinated into a religion, thus making someone go through the motions of a religious lifestyle does not a Christian make. It makes them religious but not truly righteous. For true righteousness comes from faith and faith comes from knowing the existence of God and the belief there in. For living a religious life is like living in the Law of Moses, which we no longer need to do.
Romans 3:21-26 – But now God has shown us a way to be made right with Him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in His grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding His blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when He held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for He was looking ahead and including them in what He would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate His righteousness, for He, Himself is fair and just, and He makes sinners right in His sight when they believe in and accept Jesus as their Savior.
It is this faith that is key to our ability to identify ourselves as “Christian.” Without this faith and in turn relationship with Jesus Christ and His Father our Creator a person cannot truly call themselves this title. Yet millions do call themselves this, yet they do not truly qualify for this designation. Because they lived their lives in a forced righteousness, thinking they are “Christian” when they are not truly so.
Is this fully their fault?
That is the dilemma. Each person has a different experience with their relationship or lack thereof with Jesus and His Father, God. For many that don’t have a relationship it goes back to having grown up in a household that professed to be religious. They grew to hate what they were seeing and being forced to do. So, they rebelled against this. Why? Because they perceived it to be authoritarian to some degree. In a religious environment that is very possible. However, that is not what is offered by Jesus Christ through believe in Him and His Father.
We are offered freedom. A freedom that was so crucial to people that a few hundred years ago hundreds then thousands fled the countries of their origin. To seek out a new world free of the doctrines and demands laid upon them by the churches and governments they left behind that were filled with forced righteousness. A freedom that was so important to them that when the parent nation they fled tried to impose restrictions upon them they revolted and started a new nation. A new nation with God’s ideals at the forefront. Ideals for this freedom, though not fully attainable for all at first, was their ultimate goal. For through their belief in God, again for the most part, is what inspired these people. Why?
Because they knew that for freedom to be achieved. There must be individual freedom to seek out God or not to seek out God, and not to be locked into a ridged system of rules and rituals. Which in time would become mandates and then laws.
However, due to forced righteousness this nation lost its way. Once causing a Civil War to occur to help return it to a course of freedom for all. Nevertheless, they never removed the forced righteousness, blinded by their own views and in some cases lusts and desire as well as greed. As a result, this mentality of not teaching their youth to seek a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and through Him His Father. This nation faulted and pulled further and further away from whom they sought to honor and worship in the first place. Now due to not setting down with their children and causing them to come to understand the truth and reality of what took place upon the cross, they are in turmoil.
Due to forced righteousness they allowed people to come to a place of power that did not seek it out of duty but out of lust. For the Bible states that those that wish to lead must have a servant’s heart. (Matthew 20:25-28) Instead many in places of responsibility are there to control and dominate. Their hearts and souls never truly seeking to have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ His Son and our Savior for they are of the world and not of God.
Because of forced righteousness “they will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly…….. (2 Timothy 3:5)

God Bless

Blog for podcast #18 (When a myth is not a myth)

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Intro
Welcome to another podcast as we try to come to an understanding of what is within the Bible. Once again this is Dreamwalker1960
Discussion
A myth occurs 150 years after an event was fact. That is what scholars say. A prime example has been seen in this realm very recently. There are those that say Abraham Lincoln was a racist. There are those that say he was a member of the Democrat Party. Both of these things are a myth. He was a member of the Republican Party and it was due to his efforts that slavery was ended. You cannot be a racist if you wish to have all people treated the same thus his desire to end slavery. As a result a Democrat named John Wilkes Booth shot him in the back of the head at close range.
Now why bring up this point about myths?
What causes them?
First and foremost. Those that were alive when the events occurred or when the person lived to counter the “myth,” are no longer around to dispute the fantasy made within it.
Again, why bring this up?
The first solid evidence of the letters that would become the New Testament date to around eighteen years after the crucifixion of Jesus upon the cross. Many people were still alive to verify or deny what is written within the first five gospels of the New Testament due to this fact.
None came forward to deny what is within them.
Archeologist have found and verified several of the locations mentioned in these books.
Historian have found written documentation of the existence of Jesus called Christ outside of the Bible. An example of this is the historian Josephus.
This adds up to saying that Jesus is not a myth, nor is what He did a myth. He did rise from the dead and was seen by many for up to forty days after His resurrection. The day of His resurrection He walked with two of His followers who didn’t even realize it was Him due to God’s design. (Mark 16:12; Luke 24:13-31)
Here is the challenge to us that live in this time of turmoil. A time that shows the fulfillment of prophecy given by Jesus as well as His disciples. We see about us that the behavior of people as described in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 are all about us. We see many about us saying that come in the name of Christ, but instead of teaching the Bible they tell you to seek after riches here in this life we now live. Which is opposite the teachings of Christ Himself who said to place our treasures in the realm that is beyond this life we now live. (Matthew 6:19-21)
It is in these times that Christ said he would spew from Him those that lived in both the world and in the church, known as the lukewarm.
So since Jesus Christ is not a myth, even though unseen at this time. Does this mean we can live our lives separate from what the Bible teaches? The answer is no.
We must turn away from the world and all that it offers and to seek after God through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Bible teaches us how to live our lives. It tells us what is a sin and to leave all sin behind us.
If you cannot turn from what is called a sin yet parade about as if you are of the Bride. Than you are counted amongst the “lukewarm.”
Since we have an active role in where we stand or don’t with God. It is our duty if we truly profess to be Christian to end all sin in our lives. Sins that will in many cases cause us personal anguish. We will have to endure emotional pain, and we will cry. However we must endure this pain if we are to see the promised reward of enteral life.
A few years ago someone whom I call a friend, tried to tell me that the world is not black and white, but it is grey. Now you have to understand why I mention this. This person was the pastor of the church I was attending. To have the spiritual leader of a church say the world is grey is truly sad. It is also another reason I have a distrust of the buildings called “churches.”
Earlier I mentioned Matthew chapter 6. Let me continue from that chapter just a few verses later then I a mentioned a bit ago.
Verse 24 – “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”
Our life as Christians is a black and white existence. We cannot cling onto a sin and at the same time attempt to cling to God. The one thing Jesus disliked the most when He walked amongst us was the hypocrisy he encountered. Especially form those that professed to be the spiritual leaders of Israel. When you live in hypocrisy you are within the realm of the lukewarm.
As I have established in my earlier lesson on the chronological order of the letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation chapters 2 and 3. We now live in the time of the lukewarm church. We are in the last letter and so are at the end of the church era. This signals that we are in the end times as I showed with my lessons on 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (The Many Faces of the Selfish god).
It is now that we must become more steadfast and more rigid in our beliefs. But not to the point that we would cause those seeking salvation to turn away from God.
Many, especially those under 40 have no true understanding of God or His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. They have been told that God and Jesus are fairytales. That They are a myth. As I have established above. Jesus was no myth. So what is told within the first five books of the New Testament are not a fiction, but historical fact.
Jesus is the Son of God who did walk the earth two thousand years ago. At this time if we look back upon those two thousand years, He would be 20. In ten more years He would begin His ministry which would ultimately lead to His crucifixion and then resurrection three days later.
Jesus never committed any sin. Ever. And was a virgin and pure. Spotless.
Many will scoff at this. They will say none can do that. If He were only human you would be right. No human can go sin free. However, Jesus was not nor even was human. He was God made flesh. To bear witness to the sinful nature of humanity. His flesh was made homely on purpose so those that looked upon Him would scoff and deny His words.(Isaiah 53:2) Just as those that are listening or reading this are scoffing. For they do not understand these concepts I am trying to get them to understand.
The only way we can enter into an eternal life. A life that will last billions upon billions of years is by accepting the reality of what you have been told is not a myth. No one waited 150 years to tell these stories about Jesus. Which would mean they would have been written in approximately 180 A.D. to 210 A.D. We have examples of written parchments dating from 50 A.D. and onward. The book of Revelation the last book of the Bible is said to have been written in the 90s A.D. well before the time when a myth would be written. What is even more important is that it was written by someone who actually walked and talked with Jesus before and after His death and resurrection.
Do you start to understand the import of that last sentence?
Someone who could deny the Bible finished the Bible 60 years after Jesus left. Always professing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and went to the cross for all of our sins and for everyone’s sins. (1 John 1:1-3) That is why it is important to turn away from sin and to seek after a righteous life in the name of Jesus Christ.

God Bless

Blog for Podcast # 17 (Who Causes the turmoil in our lives? [Part 2 Conclusion])

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Intro
This is Dreamwalker1960 and welcome to another podcast about the Bible.
Today we continue our look into who causes the turmoil in our lives.
Discussion
James 1:12-15 – God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
Temptation comes from our own desire.
In the KJV it says “lusts.” – G1939 – epithymia – a longing (especially for what is forbidden) desire, lust (after) [Strong’s]
We are tempted by our own weakness. Our corrupt body we are stuck with until we die or are taken into the sky and given an incorruptible body in its stead.
This is what we must learn to have self-control over. This is our part in this relationship with God through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Why did James write these words if we don’t have to do anything but just become saved?
This is one of the things many don’t understand.
These letters that form the New Testament were sent to people who had become saved. They were part of the body of Christ. They were counted amongst those that are called the bride.
Many today do not understand this simple concept with the Bible. They believe they can live their lives as they see fit just because one day they said “Jesus is my Savior.” Then went about their lives as if nothing changed except going to church on Sunday and singing a few songs.
We have an active part to play in our relationship with God and His Son.
Because if we do not seek to be righteous then we will falter and fail and as the verse itself states die once again in the sight of the Lord.
“These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.”
We are told that we will be put through tough times. We are told that if there is no discipline then we are not worthy of the effort. If you go through life and experience no trials or tribulations are you truly saved?
If we go through trials it is for our ultimate good that we go through these times. We are told to rejoice for in being placed through these trials we know that we are counted amongst those that in time will inherit the eternal life that is yet to come. If someone does not suffer these tribulations then we are told these people are not counted amongst those that will inherit eternity with God and His Son Jesus Christ.
We are told that after the Great White Throne Judgment as shown in Rev. 20:11-15. There will be a new universe as seen in Rev. 21. What does this mean to us? Only God knows the answer to that question. I do know without any doubt that we will not be limited to an existence just found upon this new earth. The fate of being placed in one location is known for a group of people. For it is the fate of those that are to live their eternal life in the Pit of Fire. Yes I said “their eternal life.” For all humanity will have an eternal life. It will just be in one of two distinct ways. Those that are the children of God will not have the fate of those that reject God and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. So those that experienced the death mentioned in verse 15 will be experiencing only a spiritual death that will lead them ultimately to the Pit of Fire. Their holding place at this time, for those that have left this life, is known as hell.
We are all given free will. We are all given the opportunity to accept God and His Son. No one is rejected from the chance to choose to accept or deny God. However, there are those that never known of this choice. Those that are of that group will be judged upon their earthly behavior, because they never knew or heard of God or His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Unlike most that live in the world today who have heard of God. For all have within them a sense of what is good or bad. This sense is magnified once we accept Christ. For we are given insight by God through His Son and the filling of the Holy Ghost, as well as what is taught within the Bible. Those that never knew of God or His Son will have their actions be their defense. If they lived a good life they will be welcomed into the family of God. If they lived an evil life, they will join those that reject the Creator of all. And as I said a few moments ago that does not include most that live in today’s world. For only a small amount of people that live in isolated areas of the world qualify as never having heard of God or His Son our Savior.
But I have gotten off track.
It is our lusts that causes us to take our eyes off of Christ. It is our lack of self-control that causes the turmoil in our lives. It is our unwillingness to accept these facts that if left alone we will fall from our salvation and lead us away from God and His Son toward the darkness of the world and then spiritual death.
What we need to understand and address is that we must accept that if the Bible says something is a sin it is a sin. It is something that we must turn away from to become righteous and holy. We must have a repentant heart, mind and soul. We must be willing to accept pain and sorrow in many cases if we are to reject sin.
Sin is temporal. It may give us a momentary time of exhilaration. That euphoria it causes doesn’t stay with us constantly. However, the fact that we sought after it and desire it more than we desire God does stay with us. Will we be able to rid ourselves of all sin? No. Nevertheless, we must strive and even struggle to purge sin from our lives. If this means we must leave a type of lifestyle that we enjoy in this earthly realm then that is what we must do.
Depending upon the type of sin we have within us that turns us away from God and our Savior, His Son, Jesus Christ. It may require extreme measures on our part. As an example alcoholism. Many if not all that suffer from this sin enter into Alcoholics Anonymous and go through this 12 step program to help them to gain self-control of this sin.
There are other sins where people have formed a relationship with another human. The pain required to end this sin in that moment can feel extremely painful and will bring you to tears. However, it is a line that must be crossed if we are to seek after true salvation. If we are to pursue righteousness.
Remember this one important fact. That Jesus Christ will be there for you. All you need do is ask, and to seek for Him in your heart, mind and soul as well as the pages of the Bible.
The very fact that Jesus allowed Himself to be arrest. The fact that Jesus spoke little when He was on trial. The fact that Jesus took the lashes to his back that tore His skin. Causing Him to bleed out so much that He could not carry His own cross out of Jerusalem. The fact that He went up onto the cross and died upon it. All of this was due to His love for all of humanity. If Jesus was so willing to endure so much pain and torture. How you can doubt Him or His Father?

God Bless

Blog for Podcast # 16 (Who causes the the turmoil in our lives?)

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Intro

Welcome to another podcast. I am Dreamwalker1960
Today we will look at the event that occurred one stormy night on the Sea of Galilee.

Discussion
Matthew 14:25-33 – About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said.
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.
When we look at these verses in Matthew. This is what I see.
They all see Christ but think He is a spirit. This is twofold. One, Jesus is walking on the water. Two, Peter has to ask for clarification if He truly is Jesus. So not only is it due to Him walking on the surface of the sea, but His appearance is different to have made them question literally their sanity, and who He was.
Now let’s look specifically at Peter’s interaction with Jesus.
When Peter asks for this verification he asks as evidence that Christ ask Peter to come out to Him walking upon the water as well. Now as this is happening, Peter is looking at the Jesus Christ before him. He has his whole attention upon the Son of God. Peter only falters once he allows his attention to drift off of his Lord.
When this distraction occurs he starts to sink into the water. He cries out to Jesus who does come to his aid. Then they both enter the boat and the storm ends.
At this point all the disciples proclaim Him the Messiah.
So Peter sees Christ. Not Jesus the man, but Jesus the Son of God.
Then Peter requests a verification of Christ’s reality.
Then Peter responds in faith and walks toward Christ.
Peter then turns away from Christ and sees the waves and feels the wind then begins to sink or fall.
Peter cries out for help from Jesus when he sees his peril.
Christ helps him, but they leave where they are and return to something “normal.”
Christ also says to Peter that he has little faith.
Here I have provided seven elements of this encounter. Now let’s go even deeper into these components where God leads us.
The first place I feel we should go is to Peter’s faith.
Hebrews Chapter 11 said this about faith
1-3 – Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. 2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.
3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.
Whomever wrote Hebrews goes on to give example after example of those that were highly regarded throughout the Old Testament and the Tanakh.
It is this basic reaction that comes from these three verses that we are going to go with here. Peter’s response to Christ’s simple answer of “Yes, come.”
While Peter’s full attention is still upon Jesus. He simply walks out of the boat, onto the tossing seas that stand between himself and Christ and walks over to Him.
It is only when Peter no longer has his focus upon Jesus Christ is when he falters and begins to sink. To us when we turn away from our focus upon our Savior, we start to fall away from Him.
Peter became aware of the world. We too in turn become aware of the world and its many turmoil’s, which are like unto a raging sea.
Peter began to sink into the dark waters. We fall away from the light of Jesus Christ and descend toward the distractions of the world about us, which is filled with darkness.
And so we come to the difference between Peter and many of us that have by faith accepted Jesus as our Savior. We have walked upon the waters of our worlds and walked up to Jesus our Savior. Then we let something distract us off of Christ and so we begin to sink, to fall.
Many do as Peter did. Realize their jeopardy and call out to Jesus Christ for His help. Many others do not.
Many get their feet wet. Others get their legs wet. Yet others get wet up to their waist. While others their chest. Then many to their neck. Then other. These others, never call out to Jesus. As a result they no longer bear fruit upon the vine of salvation. So in turn they drown.
Yes. They are lost.
It is here that some reading or listening will scoff, get angry. They will turn away from what is being said here.
They will say “God would never do that.” “God would not allow someone to turn their backs upon Him.”
I have shown time again throughout all of my teachings upon this topic that yes. God will allow us to do as we please. If we so decide to return to the world of sin, then we are free to do so.
God has given us freewill to do as we so desire. It is this desire that results in sin, in wars, in turmoil. Humanity creates its own pain. Its own horrors, not God.
That is shown time and again throughout the Bible. Does every person that is taught of righteousness in the Bible become the focal point of the Old Testament? Like those listed in Hebrews 11.
Abel heard and had faith. His brother Cain did not. Cain had the same choice to accept God but instead he chose himself and in turn killed his brother Abel.
Enoch heard and kept his eye upon God so strongly that God took him into heaven still alive, and is alive to this very day.
Noah showed such faith that he lived through the ridicule for building a boat nowhere near water. Yet those that were about him loved themselves so much more that they totally reject the very existence of God. Even though it is said that giants walked amongst them.
Abraham’s faith was so great that he was promised a nation so vast that those within it would be like counting the grains of sand on the beaches.
Abel, Enoch, Noah and Abraham kept their faith and their eye upon God.
Yet Cain turn his eyes away. Those that were not upon the arc of the flood had turned their eyes away from God. Are they saved? Are they counted amongst those in heaven?
If all kept their eyes upon God, then Eve would never have eaten the forbidden fruit and her and Adam would never have been ejected from the Garden of Eden.
People will accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. Then they will love their sins more than God. They will fall away and sink into the Sea of Galilee. To die once again.
2 Peter 2:20-22 – And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. 21 It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. 22 They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.”
Now as I said there are those that are saying God would not allow this. My response is this.
What did Jesus do when Peter called out?
Christ IMMEDIATELY grabbed Peter’s hand and helped him and returned him to something familiar.
God will never abandons us. It is not God that is allowing the fall. It is the person themselves allowing it. For Peter turned his attention to the storm, to the world.
God would not and will not allow it. We allow it. For we due to our freewill make our own choices, and our own fates.
It is we that decide if we are going to heaven or going to hell.
God wants us to be with Him. It is up to us to decide if we want to be there too.

God bless