Christian Life

Where I am By Billy Graham – My commentary 3

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So far as I progress through this book I have found a few areas that I concur with. However none stirred me more than the forth chapter of this book.
It is entitled “Eternal Judgment.” Within this chapter Mr. Graham makes it clear that everything is black and white, saved and unsaved and there is no in-between. Here is the first paragraph that really hit a cord with me and how I see people acting:
“Now many people quickly say, ‘Well, I do love God and follow Him.’ This is wonderful, but be sure by putting it to the test. Do you prove your love to God when you slander someone? Do you show your love to Him when you cheat or lie or go against His commandments? The Bible says. ‘Now by this we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says. ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him’ (1 John 2:3-4)
“Can you imagine living in disobedience while claiming the Holy Spirit is guiding you? If you so without conviction and repentance, you do not love Jesus—Because Jesus said His Spirit would convict of sin.”
As I read this I was reminded of Matthew 12:31:
“Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.”
Yet many do this daily. Mainly due to the fact that they are unfamiliar with the Bible and the teachings that are within in it. However ignorance is not an excuse either. Ignorance is considered a sin in itself. See Leviticus chapters four and five; Numbers fifteen and even Ephesians 4:17-18:
“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:”

Now recently I had a debated about when the Rapture would occur and I had missed this important verse from the Bible since I am merely a human and don’t know the Bible as completely as I should, but It bears bring into to the light for it was from this chapter of Billy Graham’s book that brought it to light.
Just so you understand I wrote about this in a three part article entitled “The unexpected debate.” I really wish I had this verse included in that debate. This is Abraham talking to God:
Genesis 18:25 – That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
This question by Abraham just confirmed without question the entire debate.
Back on topic.
I will end with this last quote of this chapter I found interesting:
“Unless we allow Christ to destroy the evil within us, the evil within us still wants to destroy Him. This is the conflict of the ages.”
Let that sink in.

Where I am By Billy Graham – My commentary 2

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As I have progressed through this book by this great servant of God I am humbled, honored, and reassured. But why?
The answer is because how he see the Word of God and how he see the consequence of adhering to the Christ’s teaches are the true key to salvation. Because seeing that he sees the Bible as I see the Bible nearly word for word, and as a result I feel confident in my ministry to help people awaken to the real truth.
He states many things as I have stated them and even gives an insight to issues of faith, salvation and what will result if you choose the world of God that have helped me know that Holy Spirit is with me.
He is doing the one thing God tells us to do with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Give reassurance, which in turn strengthens us. He is showing the love that is within all Christians. He is not afraid to tell the truth like so many are.
In true love for all the truth is the most important thing that must be heard. Too many do not talk of the results of not listening to God. Mr. Graham makes it clear that this is a lie by omission which is still a sin and even a worse sin than many realize or wish to acknowledge.
If you truly love God and wish to serve Him through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. You will not be afraid to tell someone that if they do not change their ways their fate is something that you would not wish any to suffer. Mr. Graham makes it clear it is black or white, good or bad, right or wrong. There is no middle ground there is no grey area in your choice to follow God or not to follow Him.
Billy Graham makes it clear. People cannot go to church on Sunday and then spend the rest of the week in and of the world. In simply terms they love that which they have chosen. If they live in the world 8610 hours of the year and only 156 hours with God then it is the world they love. Serving God is a love that uses all 8766 hours of the year every year.

Where I am By Billy Graham – My commentary 1

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Today I started reading the book “Where I am” by Billy Graham. As I first read the forward by Franklin Graham, Billy’s son and then started into the Introduction of the book, the gears in my mind started to turn and there was a desire to expound. So here we go.
One paragraph in the introduction just rang out to my soul so I am going to quote here:
“Many people teach today that the blood of Jesus covers all sin, regardless of whether the sinner repents or not. This is Satan’s great lie. Some believe they will automatically walk into Heaven when this earthly life is over because God is love. That would negate the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. Don’t be deceived, for God is not mocked. God is also a God of justice and righteousness. He is not preparing a place in Heaven for unrepentant sinners. While we have contributed nothing to God’s free gift of salvation, there is a condition to possessing it—we must confess our sin, turn from it and receive Christ on His terms.”
It is this paragraph I wish to go into sentence by sentence if required.
The first sentence paraphrased, there are those that say Christ blood cover all no matter if they have stopped sinning or not. I agree with this sentence completely. There are many that live this belief, but as the next sentence makes perfectly clear it “is Satan’s great lie.”
Those that live in this fantasy wish to have their cake and eat it too as the saying goes. You cannot get into heaven if you live in sin period. If you live in sin on Monday, accept Jesus as you Savior on Tuesday and go back to living your live on Wednesday EXACTLY like it was Monday and have no desire to change in anyway, then you are not saved, period.
“Some believe they will automatically walk into Heaven when this earthly life is over because God is love.” I agree with the next sentence as well this makes Jesus going to the cross a waste of time, thus making the entire Bible irrelevant. People need to come to a realization, that not only are many events in the Bible able to be documented in other historical records but all archaeologically. Since there is more to say that the Bible is real than any other “religious” manuscripts on earth. Also the mere fact that many key figures of political power mentioned in the Bible supported by the above mentioned material makes trying to make them “irrelevant” an act of willful ignorance so as to condone the desire to live life as these people choose. Thus in their own minds free them from God’s justice. As Mr. Graham notes, they are mocking God, something I would highly suggest they not do.
What is “righteousness” in the Bible?
Righteousness in the Hebrew is “tsdaqah” – rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity):–justice, moderately, right(-eous) (act, -ly, -ness).
Righteousness in the Greek is “dikaiosune” – (usually if not always in a Jewish atmosphere), justice, justness, righteousness, righteousness of which God is the source or author, but practically: a divine righteousness.
This is how it is defined in the Bible. Yet as noted above many do not wish to hear this, but if you accept any part of the Bible you must accept all of it. Yet many just pick out what allows them to comfort their conscience, to place a band aid upon their sins not realizing that it is quickly pull off to allow the sin to ooze its corruption throughout their soul.
If you are unrepentant if you openly live in something that is called a sin within the Bible and have no true desire to turn from it. You are not welcome in Heaven, period.
1 Corinthians 6:9 – Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, 10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.
“While we have contributed nothing to God’s free gift of salvation, there is a condition to possessing it—we must confess our sin, turn from it and receive Christ on His terms.”
I think the last part of this sentence is the key to everything when it comes to salvation. “Receive Christ on HIS terms.” Not our own terms which allows us to live life as we see fit, but God’s Son’s terms. Living life to His expectations and desires. It is this that many do not wish to acknowledge or accept for to do so would place them in an uncomfortable position.
How I feel about that is good, I hope it does. Would you rather feel some discomfort here in this life or be subjected to an even more uncomfortable situation for all eternity with no hope of parole.

Confessions of a screwed up middle aged man: I wash my hand

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Yes I am using the words of Pontius Pilate, but I am not turning my back upon God or His Son my Savior.
In fact I am turning toward my Creator in even more desire to honor and please Him.
Does this mean I am going to stop writing my blog? No it does not. I will still write the burdens upon my spirit as impressed upon it by the Holy Ghost. For I am His humble servant.
Will I still hope that someone awakens to His truth? Yes, for I do not wish any to spend even a day in the pit of fire. For the horrors of that damnation is something any that call themselves Christian would desire to save their worst enemy from, and that is my desire that those that have rejected God would awaken to the truth and see that God is real and that His Son is the only way to Him.
Then why am I washing my hands?
I am washing my hands to those that live in the lie they have created for themselves. They have shown their cards. They have exposed to the world what is of true import to them and it is not God nor the salvation of His Son. They are the ones described in John 15.
1 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.
I wash the dirt from my hands of those that God has cut from the grapevine that is Jesus Christ. They have sealed their fate. They are no longer those we are to care for nor love. For we are to love our brothers and sisters in Christ. However these apostates are of the world and no longer our concern. They have embraced the world and are friends and lovers of the world. They are adulterers.
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. 5 Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him. 6 And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say,
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
I wash my hands of those I counted as my friends for I had so hoped to see and talk to them time to time thought the billions upon billions of years that are within the eternal life that we are all promised, but I now know that many I would have liked to talked to will be where they cannot enjoy words for they have made their choice. A choice that was prophesied. A choice that will in time affect me and those that I love to our temporal pain and anguish. But it is something that I will endure for once it is done I will be standing before God Himself and to Him I will give all glory.
Let them with an ear hear and with an eye see. The seal is set to be broken.

Spiritual Warfare is real

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It is one of those things that few understand or even grasp. Especially those that do not study the Bible as they should. But it is there.
Ephesians 6:10 – A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
It is a war that is not going well at this time. Things are happening. Things we have been warned would happen. Yet many do not listen, nor care, for they care more for the temporal than the eternal.
They have no true concept or understanding of what is required when calling themselves a servant of Christ. They just think they are wearing a shield that protects them from damnation. Not realizing that in reality due for their love of the world is the opposite they are shielding themselves form, salvation.
Prayer is required and needed. True knowledge and understanding of the Bible is essential. The armor they need to wear is unkempt and falling apart.
While those that do know the truth and do understand God glory struggle in the spiritual. Losing ground because their numbers are dwindling. They are reducing from those that leave the temporal and move on into heaven to await for the soon return of Christ to welcome in the eternal life that is to come.
Many will say here: “But we are adding to the Body of Christ.”
I will say: “Are we?”
Are we teaching those we bring to Christ the true meaning of salvation? Are we teaching them the need to repent? For to remain in sin is not salvation. Are we teaching them the Bible or are we leaving them on their own to do it; as I was left alone to do it and took nearly 20 years to learn thing I should have learned in one. The armor of God is something that we are not just given, but must earn. It is not something to just place in the corner, for it is something that must be cared for and strengthened.
For if it is not cared for it can break off and leave us vulnerable to attack and leave us open to a blow that can kill us.
2 Peter 2:17 – These people are as useless as dried-up springs or as mist blown away by the wind. They are doomed to blackest darkness. 18 They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception. 19 They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. 20 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.”

Confessions of a screwed up middle aged man: corporal punishment

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This last week in the area I live in I was exposed to two events that reemphasize this Bible verse:
Proverbs 13:24 – Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.
Now a context. I grew up in the sixties and seventies and graduated from High School in the late 1970s. Schools were allowed to administer corporal punishment. People knew of and feared the paddle. In the High School I attended the paddle was a cricket bat, and I personally experienced its sting twice. Other more so, yet others never met the bat, but it was on display for all to see in the school office. This threat of punishment maintained order. Were there still fights? Yes, but they were few and far between.
This last week though, a day apart two events happened. A young white man was in the lunch line at his school when a group of young black boys approached him and his girlfriend with cellphones out to film the situation. One of the boys then started harassing the young couple. The young white man then knocked a cellphone from the hands of one of the boys. The person who had his phone was knocked away from him then attacked the young man they were bullying. The young white man, a born again Christian, did not retaliate. The boy who did the attacking has been suspended and removed from this school.
The next day at Howard High School of Technology a young black woman was attacked by a group of black girls in the restroom just before school was to start for the day. During the beating the young woman was severely injured and was then pronounced dead once she was transported to the hospital.
Corporal punishment is not allowed in these school or in any other schools that I am aware of. It is obvious that since there is no fear of punishment that people do not mature into mental adulthood even though their bodies do grow into adults.
True adulthood is the understanding that there is consequences for your actions. It is a simple theory that is even shown in science. For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. If nature, through the input of science, and the Bible know that there is a need for discipline. Why is it humanity desires to remove discipline? Again the answer is simple:
Mark 7:20 – And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. 21 For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”
This is why there is not only a need for corporal punishment but the teaching of the Bible. This is why people need to acknowledge there is a God and accept His Son as their Savior who is the Lord Jesus Christ.

The wisdom dilemma

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One of the most interesting statements in the Bible, and I paraphrase, is the most foolish thought of God surpasses the greatest wisdom from humanity.
This is particularly true for those that live on the belief that humanity can accomplish anything on its own. That their knowledge can and will solve any problems, and since knowledge and wisdom are related man’s destiny to them is all they require not realizing something is missing.
Here is a for instance about how mans’ knowledge and wisdom works. Indoor plumbing. Something that is a part of all homes for the most part in western society. Yet this is a recent accommodation. It wasn’t something that was considered a necessity until the early part of the 1900s.
However for nearly fifteen hundred years it was something forgotten and thought to have never existed. In reality indoor plumbing was a staple of the Roman Empire. Yet due to the fall of the empire it was forgotten. This shows just how fragile human knowledge and wisdom is.
Now here most likely someone will say what does a toilet have to do with wisdom. All I can say to that is thank you for proving my point, and most likely my response will go right over their heads.
When Paul first wrote to Corinth in the first letter we have within the Bible he mentioned that his speech was not as eloquent and tried to show the wisdom of God. He went there with one purpose to show them the true image of Jesus Christ and the fact that He went to the cross and died in their place.
This was all that was important to Paul as it should be to any seeking true salvation.
Yet most in the world today seek for various types of so called wisdom. All coming from different aspect of humanity. Most of this so-called wisdom rejects that there is a God and the center their focus upon that which has been created by God.
Romans 1:18 – But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. 21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.
This shows that when it comes to true wisdom they do not desire that, but would rather accept foolishness as wisdom. Every aspect of creation shows just how wise God truly is, yet humans say there is no such being that can cause and create all that is within the universe. However this is the very point. They see the truth, the wisdom, the glory and reject it. This is the dilemma with human based wisdom.