Life

Christ’s greatest enemies

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Who were His greatest enemies? The Romans? No. In fact they did their best to have nothing to do with Him. The common folk? No. For it was the common people that accepted Him for what He said He was for the most part, even though they had doubt and questions as all do that are not fully informed.
Then who, who could it be that were Christ’s greatest enemies?
The answer is the Pharisees, but why? This is where it gets complicated.
The main layer that caused the Pharisees to be the enemy of Jesus was that they saw themselves as the only avenue into the site of God. Throughout the centuries they added little things that were not written down within the Bible. They made rituals and even how to dress and worship the only “true” way to seeks God’s blessing and reward. Simply they themselves made it so when people looked upon them they would see a god.
Mark 7:1 – One day some Pharisees and teachers of religious law arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus. 2 They noticed that some of his disciples failed to follow the Jewish ritual of hand washing before eating. 3 (The Jews, especially the Pharisees, do not eat until they have poured water over their cupped hands, as required by their ancient traditions. 4 Similarly, they don’t eat anything from the market until they immerse their hands in water. This is but one of many traditions they have clung to—such as their ceremonial washing of cups, pitchers, and kettles.)
5 So the Pharisees and teachers of religious law asked him, “Why don’t your disciples follow our age-old tradition? They eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony.”
6 Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote,
‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
7 Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’
8 For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.”
9 Then he said, “You skillfully sidestep God’s law in order to hold on to your own tradition. 10 For instance, Moses gave you this law from God: ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.’ 11 But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.’ 12 In this way, you let them disregard their needy parents. 13 And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition. And this is only one example among many others.”
The Pharisees were His enemy because He was taking their authority away from them and returning it to the true place where that authority belong in the hands of God.
Matthew 15:12 – Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you realize you offended the Pharisees by what you just said?”
13 Jesus replied, “Every plant not planted by my heavenly Father will be uprooted, 14 so ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch.”
Jesus said this in front of the Pharisees. This challenged their egos which He knew it would and would ultimately lead to the cross. For by this time He had started to teach to those that came to hear Him in parables.
He did this because they had already rejected Him as their true king even though that is exactly what He is.
This same mentality is extremely prevalent in today’s society, but it is not coming from Israel, but from those that arose after His crucifixion. It is coming from Christianity. It is coming from those that have become a reflection of not Christ, but of the Pharisees.
“You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote,
‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’
For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.”
These words spoken by Jesus Christ nearly two thousand years ago are now befitting most that profess to be “Christian.”
It is time for Christendom to awaken from its slumber before they find themselves standing here upon the earth the moment that Christ calls those that are loyal unto Him into heaven. The day that is called the Rapture.

Free-will choices

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Recently in the news a female Senator pointed to the book of Daniel to say that a certain candidate was appointed by God.
It does say that all that come to lead a nation is placed there by God. However, it clearly states that some may be lowly.
A prime example of lowly would be Hitler.
Now I am not comparing any candidate to Hitler, but both candidates do in the truest definition of the word qualify for the lowly department.
In a recent post I explained that Christian of their own accord and free-will with a full understanding of the Bible are to only seek out those that are called “servant leaders.”
Three candidates qualified for this description and two of them clearly used that description. None made it to the candidacy of neither major party, nor any others running for the office with any large support meet it either.
God gave humanity “free-will.”
Does this mean we will make the right choice?
Well since humanity is at its base corrupt the answer to that question in a majority of the time we will fail.
Mark 7:21 – 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.
That is why we have the Bible. This is the tool we are to study, to learn and use when it comes time to make major decisions such as that which has been happening this year and is still before us in November.
What I am about to say is now documented fact.
Since two people clearly stated that they were “servant leaders,” and yet never made it to become the candidate for their respective party. Then due to the free-will of humanity, and the lack of understanding of the teachings found in Matthew and Mark. Those citizens that felt they were following the Bible yet did not vote for either of the servant leaders failed God.
Now this nation must deal with the ramifications of this uneducated selection.
How to correct it is to become a student of the Bible and to hold those in all political office responsible.
What was required that any that have been in office for more than twelve years should have been voted out of office. This again in many cases was not done. So again this nation must deal with the ramifications.
How to correct it going forward from this point.
Look for servant leaders, which know the Bible and follow it as best they can.
If they or their party denies God… do not vote for them.
If they or their party supports the death of the innocent called abortion…. Do not vote for them.
If they or their party supports immorality and sin…. Do not vote for them.
This will get you back on the right track to start with.
What is more important is to learn the Bible, especially if you have asked Christ to be your Savior.
Do not take the words of other, but your own understand of the Bible.
Then pray to God and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ for help for the trying times we are about to enter into as we head into the next level of judgment from God.

A farewell that should never have been forgotten, but has been

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Two hundred and twenty years ago this month the first President of this nation published his farewell address from his post as the leader of this nation.
George Washington for eight year had led this fledgling nation upon the beginnings of its many journeys, both good and bad. He witnessed firsthand the behavior and actions of his fellows in the growing political arena. He came to point out the import of two things that must be within politics:
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”
We witness today to those that “subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens.”
Per Mr. Washington they are not true patriots to this nation if they remove religion and morality, not only from the government but the politicians themselves.
If they are not patriots then what are they?
What is the definition of a patriot?
Patriot – showing love for your country and being proud of it.
So if someone does not love something they must hate it.
Hate – to have animosity, malevolence
So if someone hates their nation and wish to cause harm to befall it, they in truth are its enemies, traitors.
Yet today there are those in politics that are this nation’s enemy and they were placed there by the people of this nation. Why? Because these enemies lied to them. The enemy will always lie even to themselves if it allows them to achieve their goal, which is the destruction of this nation.
Mr. Washington in the preceding paragraph to the one above said this:
“It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free country should inspire caution in those entrusted with its administration, to confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the powers of one department to encroach upon another. The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism. A just estimate of that love of power, and proneness to abuse it, which predominates in the human heart, is sufficient to satisfy us of the truth of this position. The necessity of reciprocal checks in the exercise of political power, by dividing and distributing it into different depositaries, and constituting each the guardian of the public weal against invasions by the others, has been evinced by experiments ancient and modern; some of them in our country and under our own eyes. To preserve them must be as necessary as to institute them. If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in the way which the Constitution designates. But let there be no change by usurpation; for though this, in one instance, may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed. The precedent must always greatly overbalance in permanent evil any partial or transient benefit, which the use can at any time yield.”
He saw through the politicians of his day that there was a chance that we would end up with the very government we now have. Where the man in the White House thinks he is greater, smarter and wiser than the rest. This is evil, which led to the first paragraph shown above. Which states only a TRUE patriot will adhere politically to a belief in God and the morals as supported within the Bible.
Any political groups or person that denies the existence of God and embraces immorality are the enemies of the very nation that was founded two hundred and forty here ago.
As long as God and the Bible continue to be trodden upon. Any hope for true liberty is lost.
The Johnson amendment must be revoked and those in the pulpit and upon the dais must be allowed to teach the importance of faith in God and the removal of immorality from this nation once again.
A sin must be called a sin and those in a political office must know and understand so that the dreams of the founders of this once proud nation will know that their efforts and blood were not wasted by the enemies that have been given power by the people to run this nation.
This also means that God and the Bible needs to be fully returned to this nation and taught. It must be allowed back onto all the channels of the TVs and heard upon the radio. For without God per George Washington there is no United States of America.

Confessions of a screwed up middle aged man: confusion

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I have reached the point this last weekend. I don’t know where to go from here.
I am disappointed in myself due to my sinfulness, but I still pray and believe in God and His Son.
I know I am saved, yet I ever fear of losing this salvation. I came very close once and I never ever wish to encounter that point ever again.
Christ Himself taught about human’s ability to reject Him ever after becoming a part of the vine in John 15.
Many do not wish to see it this way or even reject that losing one’s salvation is possible, but I know from almost losing my salvation that it is a truth that all most come to accept.
Everyone comes to a point in their lives of doubt and confusion. Especially when it comes to faith in God and His Son. I understand this.
When Christ appeared to Thomas, the latter would not believe the statement from the others that had already seen the risen Jesus first hand. He had to see the holes is the wrists of Christ. He has to see the hole of the spear that had been shoved into His heart to show that Jesus had actually passed into the realm of the dead. It is doubt like this that always haunts humanity even those that know God and His Son are real.
I know They are real because I still to this day remember the filling of the Holy Spirit into my body as I came into full acceptance of Jesus as my Savior. That was more than thirty years ago now. Yet I know it was real.
All I want to do is to get those that asked God into their hearts and have turned their backs upon God to awaken to the truth. Yet I know I may only reach a few, but I wish it could be more.
I have no desire to seek the spotlight, for to me only Jesus Christ deserves to be shown. However He would never need any artificial light to show His glory and radiance.
All I know for sure at this moment is that I must continue my blog, for God has blessed me with these words I now type. For as in all things that give Him glory they are inspired by the Holy Ghost, and they would not be coming from me if they were not so inspired.
This is one of those things people just don’t get. They think that these words I type come from me. That I am giving my point of view. Do I react to things I see and hear? Yes. Do these things cause me to desire to write? Yes, but I do not plan what comes from me. I do not rewrite and reform the way things come from me onto the screen of a computer. Many that have seen my blog post will see grammar error and misused words and later after I re-read it once it is post they will change. Why this is, is because I am being led by the Holy Spirit. The words just leave onto the screen going where they wish to lead. I have always written this way and I did most of this after being saved.
Yet as like now I get depressed, discouraged, confused. Because I don’t think people understand. They see a human posting words and assume they are just that. A human posting words.
That is one reason I know I was not meant to reach those that have rejected God, but those that have turned from Him, but have forgotten who it is they have turned too.
He wants them to come before Him unashamed. Yet many stand naked instead of clothed with the white linens of salvation. God loves all humanity, yet is saddened that so many say they are His when in reality they are the worlds. That they have made Him, the Creator of all to appear to be a liar, for they would rather live in the world than to spend billions upon billions of years looking at His creation in His service.
I guess this is one reason I am so confused and depressed.

Learn the Bible, know the Bible

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The other day I read a post by someone that had become dumbfounded and surprised when a pastor out right lied.
She knew this on two fronts. First it was an actual personal attack against her since she is a published author, the second was that what he said was not Biblical. However he presented what he said as if it were Biblical fact.
This is not the first time someone of “authority” with a religious organization lied, nor will it be the last.
Please note the use of “authority” in quotation marks. Why this is, is due to one major factor. There is only one being in authority within the church and that is the Trinity. The Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.
You will also note that the first time I mentioned “authority” it was followed by a reference to “religious organization.”
Religions are human made groups that strive to reach God through their group’s interpretation of the Bible or some other text people ascribe to a religious figure, be they Islamic, Buddhist or some other religious group.
In the case of Christianity it is extremely important to know and understand the Bible. The main reason is of all the “religions” out there only Christianity had the founder of it crucified and then resurrected three days later. Also the fact that over forty prophesies were written in the Old Testament known as the Torah predicting Jesus Christ and what He would do. All were fulfilled. The odds of this happening is 1 in 10 to the 15th power.
So knowing the Bible and understanding the true meaning within the Bible will not allow you to be led down the easy path instead of the narrow and arduous path.
Too many assume that the person within the pulpit, or on the dais of a church is fully prepared and knows full well all that is required to be placed in the spot. This is not necessarily true, as this sister in Christ came to understand.
Then why go to church?
That is an excellent question.
The answer is complicated. We are instructed to gather together within the Bible. Why? To help encourage, strengthen and support our fellow Christians.
I honestly have no idea when it became required to have someone given authority to stand at the front of a congregation of people.
The Bible does state that there will be people given a ministry by God in Ephesians 4. These are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Who to quote:
“Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do His work and build up the body of Christ.”
However it does not say they are to gather in one place and stand before them. Additionally the word pastor means to be like a counselor, again not to stand before them and lead.
Does this mean we are not to go a church at all? If this is the only way you can fellowship with your fellow Christians, then go, but be prepared with the Word of God yourself.
Whenever people do not know the Bible, this is when they are easy to lead astray, down the wide road to destruction.
Too many today do not have a working understanding of the Bible. As a result too many are walking down the wide and easy road, yet they are not even aware that they are.
This is why it is important to read the New Testament and come to understand the words within it. Then once that is done, then explore the Old Testament and come to see how the Torah time and again laid the ground work on what to look for when Jesus Christ would walk amongst us.
But what is more important, is so that you will see when someone attempts to lead you to death and destruction instead of toward the glory and wonders that lay ahead for all that accept Christ in the eternal life that is to come. Allow us to see all the wonders of the creation of God for billions upon billions of years.

Misunderstanding how to view leaders

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There are many leaders in this world. There are small group leaders. There is leaders on a city council. There are mayors, governors, and leaders of a nation. There is also leaders within religion.
Over the years I have been alive I have seen something that per the Bible should not be taking place. People are worshipping these leaders. Within religion for example, to be precise, within Catholicism, people actually worship the pope.
This is placing another “god” before the Creator of this universe, the one and true God. Simply, they have broken one of the commandments. Since it is a commandment it is also seen as a very grievous sin. Yet still may do this. They do it without even realizing they are replacing God if they even acknowledge there is a God (just for the record I do believe in God, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.)
Yet I will almost bet if you confront someone with these facts they will either deny it, or cast the “judgment card.” That is a very sad commentary on how these people treat their faith and belief in He that allowed that they should enter into this temporal existence.
If any leader encourages you to worship them. They should be cast out as soon as possible and no longer listened too. That is until sometime they prove that they have changed and are repentant and sorry for they lust of power and control.
But that is only part of the issue. The other part of the issue is those that turn to the creation of God and decide to worship that which was created and not the Creator. These are the people that say things like what was reported by a woman in Louisiana. Saying to a presidential candidate:
“I knew you would come. I knew you would be here for us!”
This is incorrect for someone that acknowledges the existence of God. Did this woman know of or acknowledge there is a God? I have no idea. However for one human to say something like this to another human, a creation of God is against biblical teachings and commandments. Does this woman if she does acknowledge there is a God have an awareness of these instructions within the Bible? Again I have no idea.
I understand the issues in Louisiana with the flooding that has taken place. Their prayer should not be turned to those they can see, but to the One that is ever present.
Now this brings up a point. As we know one of the candidates did go to this terrible situation. The other candidate and the person that holds the office the candidates seek to hold show the other aspect of the coin. Those that demand that they be worshipped and followed without question. These per the Bible display all the signs of worldly leaders. They are haughty and they lord over those that they see as beneath them.
They are a perfect example of why humans should never worship humans for they fall deeper into sin by thinking they are a savior or someone that is better than any other human upon the surface of this planet.
As I have stated before. We are all equals in the sight of the Lord our God. So no other human is any better than another. But when others worship them they begin to think otherwise, to not only their detriment, but to the ones that worship them.
Those that are being worshipped should insist strongly to never have any treat them as such for they should know that by worshipping and being worshipped they are insulting God.

Confessions of a screwed up middle aged man: the right one

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I must admit for those that have been following me for some time that I have been married three times. Now those that are not familiar with the teachings of the Bible and about marriage and sin. We are given the instruction that if we divorce God would prefer we never remarry. However if we are tempted to enter into sin through the lack of physical relations due to the removal of the spouse, then we are instructed to remarry. So this argument that someone has been married a lot and so they are not a true “Christian,” is a red herring and a diversion from the truth. Enough soapboxing. Why this post?
Well as I said I have been married three times. In this last situation both my wife and I had given up on ever finding happiness within a married relationship. Yet we both were on Christian Mingle for years, and never encountered each others profiles. We were both miserable and had decided that was how it was to remain. We both said to God if it is Your will for us to be with someone You Lord will have to guide us to them. That is what precisely what happened. In a few days we will have been with each other for two years.
Two years that have given me a new insight into life. A look at how marriage was supposed to be for everyone. Coupled and joined by God.
My wife is my best friend and fun to be with. Time away from her is time we both feel is wasted, but it is necessary for how the world is now designed to function. Do we argue? Yes. Do we hurt each other’s feelings? Time to time, yes again.
Still I cannot picture my life without her a part of it. A life we both know and acknowledge will last not just in this temporal existence, but into the eternal life that is to come that is promised us by Jesus Christ.
This I can say without reservation. If I had met her a day sooner or even before that we would not have made it. For us both acknowledge that it took the trials and tribulations that God has had us journey through to know who it is we are to be with. We know that we are the right one for each other.
I love you my wife. Now and forever.

Clothe ourselves

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Colossians 3:12 – Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
In the letter to the Colossians, Paul made an interesting analogy. That we as servants to God through Jesus Christ are to clothe ourselves with certain attributes. That being mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. It is not stated that we will be clothed this way once you come to Christ, but as being a part of the Body, we are to dress ourselves. To do the task ourselves.
This is an implication of works, as is fortified by these verses in James:
James 2:14 – What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? 17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. 18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” 19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? 21 Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. 23 And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God. 24 So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. 25 Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. 26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.
We cannot just say we are “Christian.”
We must live that we are “Christian.”
It is an easy task if you have truly asked Christ into your heart. It is not something that is arduous and painful, for the most part, even though there can be some emotional discomfort time to time.
Why is this?
For we have been reborn in the image of Christ Himself, yet we are just babes as he once was Himself.
Christ did not come out of the womb talking and walking. He had to learn to do these things when He took on human form. Just as we did.
No one comes into the Body of Christ fully clothed and prepare to serve the Lord, just as a baby is not born already wearing diapers. It is a growing and ever changing process that aims toward the ultimate goal of reflecting Christ. However, time to time we will fall and hurt ourselves causing pain and suffering. Yet still be must make the effort to dress ourselves in the teachings of Jesus Christ. Thus to become clothed.
This is re-emphasized Revelations 3:
Revelation 3:17 – You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. 18 So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.”
Note that the glorified Christ tells those of Laodicea to buy from Him white garments to cover their nakedness.
The letters to the seven churches is said not only to be contemporary, not only to churches in the 90 A.D., but also to any churches at any other time in history. These letters are chronological as well. The first being the state of the overall church at the time the book of Revelation was written. To the last letter being to the church of Laodicea, which represents the state of the overall church just before the return of Christ to this temporal plain of existence.
Taking that in context and looking about us throughout what is called the “church” we see many that thing themselves rich. Not only monetarily, but spiritually. However in reality they due to living upon faith alone they are truly naked and need to seek out clothes to wear.
So are you clothed or standing naked before the Lord?
For if the state of the overall “church,” at this time, is the same as the church in Laodicea, then is it not nearly time for the return of Christ? If that is so then clothing is not optional, but required to stand before God Himself and time is running out.

Not afraid

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Why this title?
People experience fear everywhere and every day. Even those that have accepted Christ as their Savior. Here is the thing though. The Bible states as we come closer to God through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ we gain a type of love that overcomes fear.
When it comes to seeking to preserve your own life you have a slight fear that occurs when in an unfamiliar, or even unsafe area or situation. This is natural, this is how the human mind works.
In 1 John 4, there is another view in which “fear” is mentioned.
“17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. 18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 19 We love each other because he loved us first.”
I find these verses interesting. For there are three meanings to the word “fear” and I can honestly feel that these verses actually addresses all three views of this emotion.
Now as mentioned above these verses also address a type of “love.”
It is the kind of love that comes from coming to know God through His Son our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ. As we grow into this understanding that is bestowed upon us through this love of God that we come to fear less of what we encounter within this temporal world we live within.
We see that this existence, which has its importance in allowing all that come into the age of accountability to either accept or deny Christ. So it is necessary to weed out those that choose not to accept that there is a God and His Son died for their sins as well as everyone else upon this world we live upon.
Many for this reason have a fear of God that causes them to run and hide from Him, as was witnessed by Adam and Eve after eating of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. When God came to the garden to commune with His creation, they hid themselves in shame of their nakedness. They feared to be seen unclothed before God, who had created them in His image.
This is one common source of fear for all that are born and come into their age of accountability. For they become aware of their sinful actions. Most do not seek forgiveness, but out of fear wish to destroy their Crestor. So they rebel, deny and then attack those that do see the truth of their Creator and turn to Him. Their fear of God being real causes them to blind themselves with a hatred that is born from this very fear.
Those that have turned to Christ, and as they strive to learn the Word of God become enlightened with an understanding of their universe about them, no matter the imperfection they are greeted with. They learn that this plain of existence we live within is something temporary, fleeting, and ever changing. Do they shed all their fear? No, but more and more of their fears start to diminish, becoming nothing to worry over or about and so love fills the void. A love from their Creator, God. A love that fills them and allows them to strive to become a more pure reflection of Jesus Christ.
They learn not to fear death, but to welcome its embrace when the time finally does arrive at the timing of God Himself. Without this fear within them they learn not to fear those that could, would and actually do hurt them. As was seen in the early years of Christianity and on mass they were brought into the Coliseum to face various types of death. However they met this death even though they were in a state of fear. Why? Because they had and have faith and belief in their intercessor to God Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ. Who in His love gave up His own life for our sins. Who had Himself experienced fear mere hours before His arrest. However He turned it over to His Father and accepted His fate. Did His fear leave Him totally? I can’t answer that, but from my own personal experience I would say no for He was human even though He was and is God, a part of the Trinity.
When we turn fear over to God and bear through whatever fear remains, strengthened by our love and faith in God, we become courageous or as the verse above says confident.
What I think is that people fear death because they fear the unknown or as the verse states punishment for not following Christ.
God has given us something true and solid to hold onto. Jesus did walk upon this planet. Jesus did take on human form and walked amongst humanity. This is documented not only in the Bible but outside the Bible as well. So if we take the Bible at face value and accept the truths within it and strive to be Christ-like more and more every single day then we truly have nothing to fear, especially the unknown that lies beyond this temporal existence. Why? Because Christ will be there and we will be with someone that has accepted us into His family and loves us as a family member, because we asked Him to be our Savior. Also by knowing the Bible we do have a glimpse into parts of the future that is to come, up to the point that God creates a new heaven and earth.
By learning from the Bible and coming to fully understand the teaching of Jesus, we will feel His love within us as we grow ever more like His reflection on this earth. By doing so we shine the light of the Lord onto the world and act as a witness to those that sin against God. We in our love for God, His Son and our fellows, Christian first, all others second. However we treat all equally due to this love. Yet we are promised due to our salvation because He replaced us upon the cross, not to partake of the punishment that will be dealt out upon the Day of Judgment that will transpire at the end of Christ’s thousand year reign upon this earth. Where those that rejected Jesus’s love will stand before Him for their accounting. For those that follow Christ will reign at His side during the thousand year Reign of Christ.
Those that do not accept Him do have something to fear, which is why so many fear death, for they are uncertain where they stand with Jesus Christ, due to lack of knowledge and awareness of the truth. But who can remedy this dilemma? Only they themselves by asking Christ to be their Savior and then learning the Word of God and coming to fully comprehend the teachings within. So in time they will become the reflection of Christ, which all true followers seek to be. When this is done their fears will diminish and be not afraid.

Servant leaders

Christian, Christian Life, General, government, Life, Relationship, Thoughts, , , , , , , One comment

Jesus spoke directly on the topic of leadership. From His words those that call themselves “Christian” are taught what to seek what is important within someone that wishes to be a leader. Not just of fellow Christians, but of all.
Mark 10:42 – So 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. 43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. 45 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.”
Matthew 20:25 – 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.”
“Whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.”
“Whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.”
This is a statement of an overall leadership role. Whoever wants to be first.
In the KJV of the Bible the verses come out this way:
“42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
“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. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
The reason I mention the KJV is that it is the closest English version to the original Greek text available. This allows the reader to research the true meaning of the words more easily. That is what I desire to examine here today.
“Whosoever will be great among you”
Whosoever – hos & ean
Hos – who, which, what, that.
Ean – if
Will – thelo – I will, wish, desire, am willing, intend, design.
Be – ginomai – I come into being, am born, become, come about, happen.
Great – megas – large, great, in the widest sense
Among – en – in, on, among
You – humin – you
Who if wishes happens to be great among you
Chiefest – protos – first, before, principal, most important
Chief – protos
“Shall be servant of all”
Servant – doulos – (a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave
Of all – pas – all, the whole, every kind of.
“Let him be your servant”
Servant – doulos
Let him be – esto – be
Most important be slave to all.
Slave – A person who works very hard without proper remuneration or appreciation.
Enslaved – Cause (someone) to lose their freedom of choice or action
Now there are several elements that need to be noted in these definitions.
The first I wish to look at is this phrase: “without proper remuneration.”
These means they are not in this job to get wealth or even live wealthy. For their goal is not for their enrichment finically but the enrichment, not necessarily finically, of those they seek to serve. Yet for as long as man has formed governments, except for a short time in the early years of the nation when men seeking to be leaders did not gain wealth or even leave the office wealthy.
From 1789 till 1854 the salary for congresspersons was $6 to $7 annually.
This began to change in 1885 till the present. Going from $3000 starting that year to the present salary of $174000 per year as of 2014 in congress.
How can someone seek to truly be a servant, a slave if they make more than those they are pledge to represent?
They cannot.
They are not enslaved to those that they are to care for. They are enslaved to money.
Matthew 6:24 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.”
Up until the early 1800s which is not very long, people knew the real understanding of the term “servant leader.”
Not just those that wished to serve but those that were being served as well.
Now most are ignorant of these crucial facts that Jesus Christ tried to impress upon us.
He even went so far as to show how He, the Son of God, was a servant to us humans.
The Son of God a slave, which is truly demonstrated by the fact that He died upon the cross a slave to our sins.
What is glorious about this, is that three day later He exited the tomb alive.
So changed that He walked with men that had seen Him before and were fleeing Jerusalem. However they didn’t even recognize Him till late into their conversation with Him.
Now for the next point. When someone, of their free will, chooses to be our slave as our leader. They as the definition states “lose their freedom of choice or action.”
They can no longer do anything for their own good, reward or glory, but are enslaved to their commit and obligation to seek after what is best for the people above all else even to the point of death, as Christ Himself willingly did.
Yet if you look around do you even see any truly fulfill this commitment?
However this is what is required by the person that is seeking to be the chief.
Now a point that many don’t even try to see.
“All.”
Now note how Christ starts this teaching unto the disciples. He starts by directly mentioning how the rulers of the world behave. Then just before He goes on to mention Himself being a slave to humanity He states that the person seeking to lead is to lead all.
“All” as shown above is the word “pas,” which means “all, the whole, every kind of.”
The whole.
Every kind of.
It does not say those within the Body of Christ. For that ultimate leader is Jesus Christ Himself. His point is for those that seek to be leaders of people, of groups, of nations.
Christ was showing His foreknowledge of a time when people could rise up out of the masses to be a leader of a nation, for at the time He walked amongst us that was not the case. Yet still He laid the foundation for servant leaders to follow that truly placed themselves as a child of God through Christ. This is pointed out because He showed how those in power of the nations behaved at that time. They were haughty, arrogant and most used their powers to belittle and demean their subjects. To think they knew better than those they controlled. So when taken in the correct perspective we see that true leaders that call themselves “Christian,” are to adhere to the instructions given in these verses by Christ Himself.
What also needs to be indicated though is that this is also the instruction of those that call themselves “Christian,” in what they are to look for in a leader so that this can be accomplished.
If they choose not to do so they are showing their rejection of the teachings of Christ and in so doing rejecting God Himself.
This is the behavior that the tribes of Israel did many times to their sorrow and regret. However, those that call themselves “Christian” now do the exact same rejection and they wonder why everything is going wrong, not only in the United States, but throughout the world as well.
So a servant leader must make of themselves a slave to the people they wish to lead, be it a church or a nation. If they do not seek this, but seek after their own glory, their own rewards, and their own goals. Then they should be rejected, either before they come to power, or once they do come to power; removed within the laws of the nation or church in question. For no leader comes to power without the blessing of God, even if the results of them coming to power results in the deaths of millions.
However, since we are commanded to follow the laws set forth by humans as long as these laws do not act against the Bible and thus of Christ and His Father. Than we are to follow them to the best of our abilities.
On the other hand, if they do act against the Bible and thus God, they must be removed, but in a way that does not violate the teaching of Christ as best can be done.