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


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


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

Blog for Podcast #15 (The Many Faces of the Selfish god [part 3 Conclusion])


Intro

Welcome again to another podcast. This is Dreamwalker1960.
Today we conclude our look into 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

Discussion

Today we will start with looking into the 3 verse of this chapter, which is as follows:
“They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good.”
They will be unloving and unforgiving
a. Unloving – without natural affection – G794 – astorgos – hard-hearted toward kindred [Strong’s]
b. Unforgiving – trucebreakers – G786 – literally without libation (which usually accompanied a treaty), i.e. (by implication) truce less [Strong’s]
b1) libation – Certain ceremonies require dumping a little bit of liquid, usually alcohol, onto the ground. It might seem wasteful, but it’s really a powerful symbolic act called a libation — and it’s worth every drop. (As in a peace treaty)
Those that have no love for their parents or their children is what this boils down too for the “unloving.” Many times this past year I have heard of more cases then I can remember of parents abusing and or killing their children. While on the other hand I hear constantly of young adults who show true distain for their parents. As for trucebreakers which are those that wish to remain in a state of war describes those that have gone into a war of words against the legally elected president of the United States, and refuse to this day to accept this man as the president of this nation. Be they civilian, politician or media, they are all showing themselves to be ‘trucebreakers’ to the detriment of this nation.
They will slander others – false accusers – G1228 – diabolos – a traducer, specifically – Satan [Strong’s]
a. Traducer – one who attacks the reputation of another by slander or libel
Again the media
no self-control – incontinent – G193 – akrates – powerless, i.e. without self-control [Strong’s]
Self-control is a key phrase that I keep running into in these studies. Again it points to the fact that we have an active part in our relationship with God. It is stating that we have a need to control our own desires and wants. Yes pray for guidance and help. But do not blame God or Jesus when we falter and fall. It is due to our own lack of self-control that we stumble not the Creators.
God is a constant. God is loving and forgiving. However, if we continue to live in this lack of self-control. As I pointed out in the first series of my podcasts. That once our braches which are upon the vine of salvation no longer bear fruit. God Himself will remove us from our salvation and cast us out to our human lust and desires which will ultimately lead to the fire of damnation. So we are to strive to maintain control of our human weakness that is and will remain in us until the day when the corruptible dawns the incorruptible.
They will be cruel – fierce – G434 – anemeros – not tame, savage [Strong’s]
This behavior is being played out nightly throughout several cities within the United States. However, this is only the visible example of this. There are concealed element at work that go unseen and try to stay hidden. This savagery struggles to stay secreted. For it knows that once it is drawn into the light, it will cause those that question where they stand in this struggle between good and evil, between God and Satan. They will see the errors of their ways and will turn to the Truth. And ask His forgiveness, which He will give it without a moment’s hesitation for that is why He went to the cross.
And hate what is good – despisers of those that are good – G865 – aphilagathos – hostile to virtue [Strong’s]
a. virtue – a good moral quality in a person, or the general quality of being morally good:
Again this is something that no longer is hidden to the world. We hear this daily from the main stream media. We see this from state governments that say it is alright to riot but you cannot gather to worship the Creator of all. Those that strive to maintain true order are looked down upon and ridiculed for those that wish to remove order and replace it with disorder.
This is all due to God no longer being the focal point of how we are taught. When God was removed from the schools in the 1960s. The United States has been going down this slippery slope, which has resulted in those that are described in these verses within the Bible. A fulfillment of prophecy becoming a reality before our very eyes.
2 Timothy 3 verse 4
“They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.”
They will betray their friends – traitors – G4273 – prodotes – (in the sense of giving forward into another’s [the enemy’s] hands); a surrender[Strong’s]
People whom you trusted will turn upon you and hand you over unto the enemy. An enemy can take many forms. But their goal will be to destroy your life and livelihood.
be reckless – heady – G4312 – propetes – falling forward, i.e. headlong (figuratively precipitate) [Strong’s]
a. precipitate – to make something happen suddenly or sooner than expected:
be puffed up with pride – highminded – G5187 – typhoo – to envelop with smoke, i.e. (figuratively) to inflate with self-conceit [Strong’s]
a. self-conceit – an exaggerated opinion of one’s own qualities or abilities
We see this in social media a lot. Due to people having the ability to hide who they are they go about throughout social media. Degrading and demeaning others who have an insight or fact that shows what is true to the world. They see themselves as knowing what is best for all, even if their ideals have been proven false time and again throughout history. When in reality they are no different than anyone else. Yet they do not see this nor care for they surround themselves with those that are just as high-minded and so are blind to the reality of the world and all that is within it. Thus blinding themselves from the truth of God and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.
Love pleasure rather than God – lovers of pleasures – G5369 – philedonos – fond of pleasure, i.e. voluptuous
a. Voluptuous – A voluptuous experience or object gives you a lot of pleasure because it feels extremely soft and comfortable or it sounds or looks extremely beautiful:
I find the best example of this is those that say they are Christian. Yet they openly live in a state of sin. Not seeing that they have chosen this sin over God and the teachings within the Bible. That says you must turn from these pleasures, which are sin, and place God the head of your life. Not this temporal pleasure that is fleeting.
Verse 5
“They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!”
I see this in many buildings that call themselves “churches.” They have people in places of power that openly flaunt their sin yet they act pious and religious when they are nowhere near to their Creator nor His Son who willingly went to the cross sinless for their sake.
We are given one command by Paul in these verses.
“Stay away from people like that!”
In the KJV it is:
“From such turn away.”
In today’s world there are many ways we interact with people. It is ways that many of us don’t think twice about. It is this not thinking that causes many to not turn away from these people that we are told not to let into our lives or remove them from our fellowship.
Listening to this or reading this is a form of interaction. I am simply a messenger. A teacher of God’s Word. A student of the Bible. I am someone that you can interact with.
However, if you noticed this is the type of contact I am referring to. Having contact in social media with those that show hatred of the truth. Watching on the television those that demean and spread false accusations against anyone. Tolerating those that do anything listed in verses 2 – 5 is what we are told we must not do. We should not even listen to those in the news for they no longer provide facts, which is all they were originally supposed to do. We should seek alternate sources for our news. We should not spend money on types of entertainment that has those within it that live their lives in any manner like those listed in these verses. For we are interacting with them by giving them our money.
We need to examine our lives and look to see how we invite people into it. Through the television, the radio. Who we interact with in person, even to the stores we shop at.
Does this mean we should remove ourselves for all of society?
That depends on where you are with your walk with God through His Son our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ. For our focal point should be God first. Then those we love that are within our lives. Then those in your Christian community. Then when we need to interact with the world, we should do so in a sparing manner and then those we have researched enough to know we are not adding to the evils of the world with our interaction. Yes this is difficult and many of you may be laughing at this. That is between you and God. I am not in this for my glory, but God’s. Through the only way into heaven and then eternal life. Which is my Savior Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

God Bless

Blog for Podcast #12 (A Different Tack)


Intro

Welcome again to another broadcast. I am Dreamwalker1960. I remind you once again that you can read this podcast at dreamwalker1960.com
Discussion
Today I will take a different tacked. As I have established in the first lesson I did in these podcasts. The four part series “Who are the ‘lukewarm?’” Our salvation is not guaranteed. If this bothers you please refer to those podcast and review and study the Bible verses that are shown within that series. Due to the foundation I established in that series I have felt led to do the teaching we will be addressing now.
As I was studying 1 Thessalonians once again. It struck me just how distressed Paul was over those within Thessalonica that had come to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. Why be so upset over them. Why worry?
This is why:
1 Thessalonians 3: 7 – So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith.
“Because you have remained strong in your faith.”
Why such worry over these people who accepted Jesus as their Savior? They’re saved. They are children of God. They are Christians. Their fine now. They are blessed for the rest of eternity.
Why did I make those statements? That is the mentality throughout those that live within what is called the Christian church on mass throughout the world, in most churches.
These people were saved. They were born again to the new spirit through the filling of the Holy Spirit into them. As established in 1 Thessalonians 4:8. Yet early in this chapter Paul says this:
3 – God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 4 Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor—5 not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. 6 Never harm or cheat a fellow believer in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. 7 God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. 8 Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
Why do we need to control our own body? As I have established we are an active member in the relationship we have with God though His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. If we do not do our part in the relationship then we will fall into the realm of the lukewarm and thus in time lose our salvation. Again if you wish to challenge this please listen to the first lesson in these podcasts.
We now come to the main topic of today’s podcast.
Jude 1:3 – Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people. 4 I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Now for the KJV of verse 3
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
That ye should earnestly contend – G1864 – epagonizomai – to struggle for [Strong’s]
a – struggle – to experience difficulty and make a very great effort in order to do something: [Cambridge Dictionary]
We are to make a great effort to keep our salvation. This fortifies that our salvation is not guaranteed and something that we must labor to keep. You just can’t say, “I have accepted Jesus as my Savior” then go about your life the same as you did before asking Jesus to be your Savior. To be honest odds are in favor you actually weren’t saved.
Why do I say this?
I was an expert at lying. I could tell the best most complex lies and you would actually belief that I was telling you the truth.
When I accepted Jesus as my Savior I was in a Pentecostal church during a revival. I actually felt a tickling sensation that started at the tip of my head and slowing proceeded throughout my body all the way to my toes. I was filled with the Holy Spirit. I know this without question or doubt.
One way I knew. After that I couldn’t tell the massive lies I use to tell. It just wasn’t even in me to try. There were other external confirmations. One, the person I knew myself to be before I hit puberty returned. The anger and temper that was in me was not totally gone but diminished to a level that it became extremely hard to provoke me.
I became a new person. If someone asks Jesus Christ to be their Savior and yet they go about acting exactly the same. What evidence is there of their change? There is none. Then are they truly saved? That is not for me to say. Paul did say this about his transformation:
1 Timothy 1: 15 – This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. 16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.
Both Paul and I changed from one being to another. Then if you changed you were saved. At that point you should have been baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ. Not the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Jesus. Does this forfeit your salvation? No, however it does weaken you and open you up into falling into a lukewarm existence.
What are your priorities?
Do you seek after a house? Do you seek after wealth? Do you seek after worldly things, items, and people’s attention?
Do you seek after knowledge from the Bible? Do you seek to have a better relationship with God through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ? Has your empathy increased or even come into being? Do you have the desire to find a way to serve God in some form or manner?
Do you see the differences in these two paragraphs?
My thirst for knowledge from the Bible amplified. My desire to know God better and to understand Him became something that drove me at times. Yes I had my ups and downs. Why this happened was because I was doing all this mainly on my own. I had no elders teaching me. I was all alone. I stumbled and I failed and then I got up again and tried again.
My entire reason I started these podcast was to help those that have become the lukewarm. For I was a lukewarm. I know without any doubt that I came extremely close to losing me salvation. I know that I was being pulled into the black pit of darkness I once dreamed about. In this pit as I fell and fell within it was that there were those that believed they were Christian, yet they were falling in the darkness as I was. Falling. Falling toward an ever moving mass within a dull reddish light below me that became barely visible only after I had been falling for some time. When I landed sometime later I was surrounded by naked people all miserable and aware that they had fallen for the lies given to them by the king of liars.
I never want anyone to experience that as a reality. For once it happens to someone, their best hope is to get passed the Great White Throne Judgement, but don’t get your hopes up as was stated here:
21“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ Mathew 7:21-23

God Bless

Blog for podcast #11 (How should a wealthy Christian live? part 2)


Intro
Welcome to another podcast and I am Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read today’s broadcast and all previous podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com.
Today we will continue on last week’s message about how we are living in a time that is wealthier than any other in history throughout the world, which labels this era we are living in as that of the “lukewarm.” This means that all Christians throughout the industrialized nations are all wealthy.

Discussion

Today I wish for those listening to take a step back from the world they now live within and take a moment to think. Think about the question that is the title to today’s and last week’s podcast.
“How should a wealthy Christian live?”
Now with that question in mind I wish to read to you from the second chapter of Acts:
42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. 43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity – 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
What I read to you is how we are to live in Christendom. Do we live this way? The answer for the most part is “no.”
Many gather in a church, but churches can be too big or lacking the truth or both. However, this is not what was envisioned for the Body of Christ as is shown in this verses above. The closest we see any living this way today are the Amish.
This however is how we should be living. In a community that works lives and shares together. Should we go to the extent that the Amish do? Having no cars, no phone. That is for each community to discuss with themselves. Will communities actually listen to me and try to live this way? Honestly today. I doubt it. Why?
It is because we are to spoiled and think more of our own wants and desires over those of a community. However, that is the ideal we should strive to seek for. Again, Why?
Because we see that it works per the Bible. This living in a close knit community was made easy in the first three centuries. Once again why? Because they were being persecuted and they could seek comfort in the comradery from the communities they made throughout the Roman Empire.
Today, Christian communities throughout the world are coming more and more under attack. From outright violence to being ordered not to congregate. One reason this is because these communities are fractured and spread apart. Not only because they live apart, but because many truly do not connect in a spiritual manner.
Sure they meet up once maybe twice a week. They say a few words to each other. Then go their separate ways. Going back to the world, which without realizing is their real master. Thus many who feel and believe they are steadfast true believers of Jesus Christ are in reality the lukewarm. Walking a line between God and the luxuries and temptations of the world. But by the mere fact that they are walking this line they don’t realize they are lost.
The verses that I read at the beginning of today’s podcast are the solution. Close knit communities. Not separated, but together in one area. Sharing amongst themselves and those in need. Living their lives together within the same area. Still going to their jobs, but when they come home they come to one community. Be it an apartment complex to a housing development. All share the expenses so they can gather the surplus to be used for the will of God.
Now here is a good point to make something clear. Last week I said it is wrong to give a tithe to a brick and mortar building called a church. Hebrews 7 makes it clear that we are to tithe ten percent to God. It is by giving it to a brick and mortar building that has allowed false teachers to come into being. Allowing them to live high off the hog while creating a flock of people who are without any doubt 100% lukewarm.
These false teachers have convinced their followers that seeking after worldly wealth is biblical. If you remember the very last verse I read last week (Mathew 6:24), it make it clear that to seek after money is to make money their god. Then by loving money they show that they hate God. So they are not seeking to live their lives the way that our Savior Jesus Christ seeks for us to have.
My suggestion, as was made clear last week, is to live totally opposite the way of the money seekers, the prosperity teachers. My recommendation was to live off the least amount of money that comes into your life as is physically possible. The more money this world gives you in your job or inheritance the less of it you need to live upon. Causing the majority to be set aside to be used as funds to help those people within the body of Christ, your fellow Christians that are in need of help. As established in 1 Timothy 6. We should also help those that are in true need outside the body of Christ. For we are instructed to help all the needy.
Following this suggestion not only allows us to have the ten percent, which is asks of us in Hebrews 7 it gains access to even more than that. All to be used for the Glory of God through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. As we live in a community of our fellows the need for a fancy building to meet in become unnecessary. Sure it does say in the verses above that they went to the Temple. However, it also states that they met in home to perform the sacrament of the Communion. Why they did this was due to the persecution they were experiencing at that time. Nevertheless, having the need for a fancy and large building to accomplish this gathering together is shown not to be needed. Since the most important part of their worship of the Son of God was done at their homes.
We were instructed to baptize and Christ during the Last Supper gave us Communion. These are all the ceremonies we are required to do to show we are followers of Jesus Christ. There is no need for statues or large building to gather within. There is no call for this. These are all the actions of humanity, which is a form of self-glorification. We could even meet in the middle of nowhere and that would be enough to worship our Creator through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.
We need a community to lean upon to seek comfort as well as seek strength from when we are weak within our own lives. This is shown without question in Acts 2. A community that is closer together then they are today. We are told to fellowship but not just once or twice a week, but daily. That is why we need to be closer together.
Can we do this in social media?
That is an excellent question. And one I honestly don’t know how to answer. As I said I have been called to be a teacher. That is a question that an overseer needs to answer.
“What is an overseer?” someone just asked. That is something that is in my job description to answer.
1 Timothy 3:1 – This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
The office of bishop – G1984 – episcope – inspection (for relief); by implication superintendence [Strong’s]
An overseeing, visitation, a judgement [Bible Hub]
This is the true meaning of the word that was made into “bishop” by those who translated the KJV of the Bible since at that time the Catholic Church mentality still held sway over them. So the actual word should have been made “overseer.” As an example of this look to the NLT of the verse. Now it just says “church leader.”
Here though we get back to a mentality that is again ingrained into today’s society the need for a building called a “church.” So the use of the word “church leader” is inaccurate as well. Their true title should be “overseer” or even “shepherd.” Since we are dealing with a “flock” of Christians that would seem to be appropriate.
Conclusion
So to end this teaching today. We will revisit the four points of how a wealthy Christian should strive to live their lives.
1) They do work that is good toward the will of God.
2) That they seek to be virtuous and thus valuable to God
3) They be ready to give willingly and generously of their money that has been given to them by God at a moment’s notice
4) That the make it known verbally that they are ready to be generous to those within the Christian community and showing no restraint in how much they are willing to give.
We should possible now add a fifth.
That they seek to live together in one close knit community. So that they can seek comfort and strength from one another.
If we truly seek to do this we will all become closer to God through our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ. In doing so we will give Glory to our Creator and thus be a light unto the world as we are instructed to be.
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Mathew 5:14-16

God Bless

Bolg for Podcast #10


Intro

Welcome to the tenth podcast as I reach my first milestone in podcasting. Thanks once again for joining me. You can read today’s broadcast and all my previous ones as well at dreamwalker1960.com.
Today we will look into today’s world and how most have a misunderstanding of wealth. I apologies if this broadcast runs a bit long but the topic needs the time given to it.

Discussion
First off we need to look again to Laodicea and what we established about this city. It was a city of commerce placed at the crossroads of major trade routes. They were so wealth that a few decades before they were mentioned in the book of Revelation, which was written in the last decade of the first century. This city was devastated by an earthquake. Yet due to their wealth they needed no outside money to rebuild the city.
Now we look at the world today. The majority of it’s wealth is due to worldwide commerce. A wealth on a global scale that is unequal to any other time in history. As an example in 1900 the average annual income for a carpenter was around just over $1000 per year. In 2018 the average was $47000 per year. Now I know there has been inflation and other factors to make this $47000 appear to not be much. But let’s just look at the pure numbers themselves. Going from $1000 per year to $47000 per year in just over one hundred years. Just look at this from the perspective of the carpenter of 1900. Earning 47 years of his annual salary in one year. This simple comparison shows how wealth has increased over forty times in just over one hundred years. The discussion is not about the other factors that apply to this income. It is the pure cash itself to show how much wealth is in the world today.
My point?
Is that the city of Laodicea and the world today are and were both cash rich aka wealthy. Which helps to identify the time we now live within as the era of the lukewarm.
Now the other day I had a discussion about my earlier podcast entitled: “You are a ‘lukewarm’ if……..” Again you can read that at dreamwalker1960.com or listen to it in your history where ever you are accessing this podcast. In this discussion the point came up about my mention of the need for a couple or a single person to have need for a large home or mansion to live in.
In those podcasts I address the young rich man and Christ reply to the disciples about how difficult it is for a rich person to get into heaven. Due to this discussion I see the need to expand on the information given to us in the Bible itself.
1 John 3:17 – If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?
Let’s look at it in the King James.
“But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?”
This world’s – G2889 – kosmos – orderly arrangement, i.e. decoration, by implication the world (in a wide or narrow sense including it inhabitance literarily or figuratively) [Strong’s]
Good – G979 – bios – life, i.e. (literarily) the present state of existence, by implication the means of livelihood. [Strong’s]
To paraphrase the TDNT. The use of the word “kosmos” was something that was just coming into existence in the first century. Its use in the Bible was mainly done by John who wrote the books of John, 1 John, 2 John and Revelation. It’s reference here was pointed toward Strong’s word of “decoration.” Simply adornments of the body and of the home. What we call luxuries. However, his point was that these decorations were not the treasures of heaven but of the world.
To state this verse in its basic terms if someone who calls themselves “Christian” yet have the riches of the world however sees his or her fellow Christian in need financially and does nothing for them then how can God truly be in them.
Is this not a description of a “lukewarm.”
1 Timothy 6:17-19 – Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. 19 By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.
This verse describes how those given worldly wealth should use that wealth if they call themselves “Christian.” So let’s look at this in the KJV.
Verse 17 – Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
Them that are rich – G4145 – plousios – wealthy; figuratively abounding with [Strong’s}
World – G165 – aion – an age by extension perpetuity by implication the world [Strong’s]
Highminded – G5309 – hypselophroneo – to be lofty in mind, arrogant [Strong’s]
a – arrogant – unpleasantly proud and behaving as if you are more important than, or know more than, other people:
There is so much to unwrap just in this one verse. First off if you are rich. It is not you who made you so. God has given you everything.
Now let’s look at this from the point that I started this discussion with. That we now live within a rich era. Most people in general live a life that is full of earthly riches. Which in turn has led many to a mentality that their way is the right way. That they know better how others should live. So they make it their business to get into that other people’s business. This is high-mindedness.
We are also not to trust in worldly wealth. We are to look to God and enjoy what he has given us. However, we now need to go on to the next verse where we are given exact points on how those that are rich are to live their wealthy lives.
Verse 18 – That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
That they do good – G14 – agathoergeo- to work good, do good [Strong’s]
That they be rich – G4147 – plouteo – to be (or become) wealthy [Strong’s]
Good – G2570 – kalos – beautiful, but chiefly good, i.e. valuable or virtuous [Strong’s]
a – virtuous – having good moral qualities and behavior:
Works – G2041 – ergon – (to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication an act [Strong’s]
In the TDNT they spend seventeen and a half pages discussing the word “works.” Its usage in the old and new Testaments. It’s meaning in Jewish society in Old Testament times and Greco-Roman times. It’s meaning to Plato and Aristotle. How Philo applied it and how Paul meant it to be used in the letters he wrote. What I boiled it down to is this. There are acts. Like paying taxes and there are works like helping your fellow human being in coming to the Lord God through Jesus Christ.
We all perform “acts.” And many today consider them to be “works.” The word “works” should always be considered doing something for the glory of God. Is God glorified when you pay your taxes? No He is not. Here is my point going back to 1 John 3:17. A Christian with money sees a fellow Christian in tough times. The one with money says: “Well this is why I pay taxes they should just go on welfare.” That is an act, it is also high-mindedness. Another Christian with money sees their fellow disciple in Christ in dire straits and gives them money enough to pay their bills feed their family and get them by until they can get on their feet once again. That is works. As is witnessed by the next part of verse 18.
Ready to distribute – G1511, G2130 – einai, eumetadotos
Einai – present in; to exist
Eumetadotos – good at imparting, i.e. liberal
a – imparting – to grant a share of, bestow
a1 – bestow – to give something as an honor or present
b – liberal – Given, used, or occurring in generous amounts.
Willing to communicate – G2843 – koinonikos – communicative, (pecuniarily) liberal
a – pecuniarly – in terms of money, financially
b – liberal – giving generously
So what are the points that have been established in this verse:
1) They do work that is good toward the will of God.
2) That they seek to be virtuous and thus valuable to God
3) They be ready to give willingly and generously of their money that has been given to them by God at a moment’s notice
4) That they make it known verbally that they are ready to be generous to those within the Christian community and showing no restraint in how much they are willing to give.
How is it possible to achieve these four points if most people’s money is tied up in a huge house, a fancy car or cars, maybe two homes or other things of the world?
It isn’t.
This is how Jesus saw this issue.
Luke 12:13-21 – Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.” 14 Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” 15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” 16 Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ 21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
This is why James says this in James 5
Verses 1-6 – Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. 2 Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This corroded treasure you have hoarded will testify against you on the day of judgment. 4 For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 5 You have spent your years on earth in luxury, satisfying your every desire. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and killed innocent people, who do not resist you.
This echoes what Christ said in Matthew 6:19-21, but in a sterner manner.
The world we now live within is filled with worldly riches which has distracted many away from God. Seeking after one’s own personal desires and wants is counter to what is taught in 1 Timothy 6. The majority of wealth per these verses should be managed in such fashion that the majority of it is set to be used for those within the body of Christ. This is witnessed in Mark 12
Verses 41-44 – Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. 42 Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. 43 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. 44 For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
This gives you the true image of how those that profess to be “Christian” should be handling their money for God. The majority should be set aside for God and for use by body of Christ.
Simply those that say a person should tithe ten percent of their wealth to the church is wrong. It should be a majority of whatever their income is to be set aside for those within the Body of Christ and it is to be managed by the person that earned it. All the while they live off the least amount possible of their income. Then when someone within the Body of Christ has dire need this majority share it is able to be gotten into quickly and able to be given freely without any concern if its return for it is a gift. Not by the giver but from God.
However this is not how those that live in today’s world can accept this philosophy. Why? Because they have never been taught the correct way to be a true child of God. All are guilty of this. All are sinners in this aspect of their lives. That includes me. All we can do is strife to correct this error.
For due to these riches our true focal point is not God, but ourselves. We have all broken the first commandment.
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3
Which is why Jesus Christ said:
“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.” Mathew 6:24

God Bless

Blog for Podcast #9


Into

Welcome to another broadcast and I am Dreamwalker1960. Once again you can read today’s podcast at dreamwalker1960.com. You can also listen to it on YouTube. Please like and subscribe.
Discussion

Today will be the toughest Bible study I am most likely to ever record. In addition and also tough to talk about. Will be one of the dreams I believe I was given from God in accordance to Acts 2:17. Which also serves as verification that we are living in the end times.
If you have been following my teachings. You will remember the offer the Glorified Jesus Christ made to the church of Laodicea. To surrender the gold of the earth for heavenly gold. As well as covering their nakedness with garments of white.
Why do I mention this?
Well there is other places where there is a mention of white garments or robes in Revelation. Here is one of them:
Revelation 7:9 – 10 – After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!”
Many do not understand what is going one here.
I have been studying the end time prophecies most of my life. I realize there are multiple views on this. However, of all the commentaries I have read. Then through analyzing these studies by looking into the Greek. I have found the John Walvoord Prophecy Commentaries to be the one that follows a true logical formula to not only the book of Revelation but as well as the books of Mathew, Daniel as well as First and Second Thessalonians.
As a result of my own studies and taking into account the Walvoord commentaries. I have come to the following belief. And Yes I say “belief,” because I do realize many will not accept what I am going to say.
There are multiple raptures throughout the Tribulation period. As a result there are going to be a lot of people that are going to find themselves not in heaven standing before the Throne of God after the first rapture, but still here upon this earth.
This is actually fortified by the verses I just read, which I feel is a depiction of the second rapture, which occurs in the middle of the Tribulation.
Why I say this is due to the preceding verses in which the elect of the Tribulation receive the seal of God. These are named as members of the tribes of Israel. There is no way around this description. It clearly names 12,000 from each tribe of Israel and shows that these are the true 144,000 and that they are Israelites otherwise known as Jews. This is done just before or while the altar to the last Temple is defiled by the antichrist. Why they are sealed is something to be handled at other time.
Right now we are concerned about the number uncountable standing before the Throne of God in verse nine wearing white robes.
Six times there is a reference to white robes, linen or garments in the book of Revelation. The first is when Christ ask the seventh church to wear them (Rev. 3:18). The second refers to the twenty-four elders (Rev. 4:4). The third time they are given to the martyrs below the altar (Rev. 6:11). The fourth and fifth deal with the multitude before the throne (Rev. 7:9 and 13). And the sixth deals with what the armies that follow Christ upon His return to earth wear (Rev.19:14).
Now the majority of times white clothing is mentioned a theme is established.
Revelation 6:9-11 – When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony. 10 They shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?” 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters—their fellow servants of Jesus who were to be martyred—had joined them.
Revelation 7:13-14 – Then one of the twenty-four elders asked me, “Who are these who are clothed in white? Where did they come from?” 14 And I said to him, “Sir, you are the one who knows.” Then he said to me, “These are the ones who died in the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white.
The theme is that of martyrdom. In chapter six those under the altar ask why they must wait and their answer is that not all the martyrs are accounted for. While in verse 7:14 we are told they are all the martyred. This too adds a chronological order to the book of Revelation. So those that stand before the Throne of God are all that is left of those upon the earth that turn to Jesus Christ after the first rapture, which takes place between the last verse of Chapter 3 and the first verse of Chapter 4. During the ensuing time of tribulation when the events of Mark 13:9-13 occur is what leads to the last of the martyrs enduring to the end.
This tells us that those left upon the earth after the first rapture are those that live in sin and Israel.
This must be said. There is a clear understanding of those that are counted amongst them are the “lukewarm.” They will not be in the first rapture, for they have been spit out of the body of Jesus Christ per His own words.
Now the question that needs to be asked is this:
Will all those that are the lukewarm then become martyrs?
That is not in my job description as teacher. I am not a prophet.
Can I speculate? Yes I can.
Doing so I will say that there will be those that will feel betrayed by God. Mainly due to a lack of true understanding of the Bible or its teachings within it. However it is not God who has done the betraying. It is they who have done so. Many will decide to receive the mark of Satan and accept the chip into the hand. So they can continue to live their lives in the worldly lusts they desire more than the eternal salvation offered to all. They will do this as those others that are lukewarm awaken to the errors of their ways and turn again to salvation and offer themselves up to the teaching of the gospel so those willing to hear will hear and turn to God through the blood of Jesus Christ. And they will willingly surrender to their fates as martyrs, for they know that in a short time they will at the very least be under the altar and at the most be counted among the uncountable as they stand before the Throne of God in a truly very short time. For they will know without any question or doubt that they are at the beginning of the Tribulation. And it best to die a martyr than to receive the mark or accept the chip.
This brings me to one of my dreams I was given in the late 1980s. In this dream I found myself in chains, which not only held my hands and feet but led to those in front and behind me. All in these chains were glad in grey. Which I now take to identify that we are lukewarm. Neither hot or white for God through Jesus Christ. Nor cold or black for those living in sin.
We were herded into a Walmart. Its shelves rifled and cleaned out. Those herding us were barley glad yet covered in tattoos. They laughed and mocked us as they pushed us to the back of the store, which had become our jail. A monument to our desires to have the riches of the world instead of the riches of salvation, as they moved us toward the back, to be held in this store as if mocking us for our stupidity.
It must be said that in the late 1980s tattoos were around, but they had not become as prevalent as they are today.
One of these people driving us stood upon the now empty racks. Jeering us as his lashed us with the wipe in his hands. As he yelled his insults at us a cheer came up from the back of the line. As I looked back I saw a boy no more than twelve come into view at the end of the isle. He was filthy and the beginning of tattoos was evident upon his skin. A huge grin spread across his face and his eyes were filled with a type of insanity. Just looking upon him sent chills into me. Then I noticed what he was carrying in one of his hands as he thrust it over his head.
Within his hand was a severed head of a woman, as he held it up by her blonde hair. Those herding us began to yell and cheer with delight at the sight of this. I went into shock as once again they began to move us to the back of the store.
Once we were at the back of the store we were given cots to lay upon. Showing us they we were not worth of the luxuries of this world. Then one by one those with me were taken to door at the back of the store. Then my time came and I went through these doors. What happened next I have no idea for at that moment all went black and it was that way from some time until I awoke from my dream. Something that has never occurred before or since in any of my dreams.
Now with that imagery upon your mind. I come to what we can do to change this from becoming a reality to those willing to listen. That being we must all diligently begin to study the Bible. As a foundation I give you these verses.
Acts 17:11 – 12 – And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. 12 As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men.
In the KJV of verse 11
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
And searched – G350 – anakrino – to scrutinize, i.e. investigate, interrogate, determine [Strong’s]
The paraphrased interpretation of this word in the TDNT gives this impression:
That these people came at what was said by Paul and Silas with doubt. However they were so determined to find the truth that they found what these two men had said to be THAT TRUTH. So as a result they became saved and accept Jesus Christ as the true Messiah and their Savior.
My point?
That the people did not accept the words given to them without question as many do these days. They went to the scriptures.
The scriptures – G1124 – graphe – a document, i.e. holy writ (or its contents or a statement in it) [Strong’s]
The only complete scriptures at this time was the Tanakh. It is this they searched through and found within, what we call the Old Testament, the Truth. It is not merely the fact that they found the truth. It is that they thoroughly searched.
We are not to take the words given to us a fact, just because it comes from someone who has been given a type of authority over us. Which goes back to the time I mentioned when the Methodist Minister said the book of Revelation was a fairy tale.
We are to not just read the Bible but we are to research the Bible. I use the Strong’s Concordance and the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. This is something we ALL should be using.
We should not just accept what a Minister, Pastor, politician, professor or new broadcaster tells us. We should never take anything on face value. Not even me. A few episode back I had said the message about Jesus being the vine was after His Resurrection. That was wrong, and I corrected it as soon as possible.
This goes to my point. I made a mistake. Why? Because I am human.
We should always verify for ourselves what is given to us. This is our duty as Christians. To seek out and find the truth and to show what is true to the world. Then if they doubt us they can research for themselves and they may come to the truth themselves.
This is how you end the lukewarm, which is my ultimate goal. For they will know the truth of the Gospel and realize they are living in sin and end it by not just seeking for the truth but who is the TRUTH. That being the true image of Jesus Christ our Savior and Messiah.
God Bless

Blog for Podcast #8


Intro

Welcome to another Podcast. I am Dreamwalker1960.
Now remember you can read what is in my podcast at dreamwalker1960.com. You can also listen on Apple, Spotify and YouTube as well as look for my page on Facebook. I am also accepting donations on fundly at:

Discussion

To reach a full understanding of who are those that are considered the “Lukewarm.” We must come to an understanding of the city of Laodicea itself.
It was a city of wealth. Made so by trade and a type of manufacturing. It was situated at the crossroads of major trade routes and so the populous became extremely wealthy. As a result of this luxury they became complacent in their faith and believe in God and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.
Does any of this sound familiar?
Well it should. It describes the current state of most of the world we now live within. Not all of it is like this. There are areas of the world that still live in squalor and those within it struggle. However, for the most part most of the world lives in a type of luxury and have need of little.
This was how it was for Laodicea when they were included in the book of Revelation. The city had even been rebuilt from destruction only a few decades before hand from an earthquake. All done without the help of any outside moneys.
When taking this imagery into account and following the chronological order of the seven letters I established in an early podcast. We come to a realization that we are in the era of the lukewarm. But to be in that era there must be those that are lukewarm within it that outnumber those of the other six churches.
This is the recognition of why I am here. This is my calling from God. To make those out there that are willing to open their ears and minds to these truths I have set before them in all the podcasts I have done to date.
Let us take a look at James 2. From verses 1 -12 it describes the behavior many live by today who profess to call themselves “Christian.” They embrace those that reflect worldly wealth and they turn away from those that are poor or live in rough areas. Within these verses James makes this reference:
James 2:5 – Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him?
This leads us back to the story of the young rich man I once mentioned in another broadcast. This is described in Matthew 19 and Mark 10. Why did I made mention of this? Because it describes those that lived in Laodicea. It labels those that place the wealth of this world before their own faith in Jesus Christ. It tells us all who are the “lukewarm.”
The young man was told by Jesus Christ to follow the commandments. The man replied that he followed them all, and Christ looked upon him with love. SO this clearly shows that God loves us all.
So then Jesus told the young man to sell all he had and to give it to the poor. The young man stood and left Jesus in sorrow. Key in on that he turned his back on Jesus Christ and walked away from salvation.
This shows that WE have an active part in the relationship we have with God through Jesus Christ. What did the young man choose? He chose the world and all it had given him over his own salvation. This is made clear in these verses.
Matthew 19:23 – Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 24 I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
In the KJV:
Matthew 19:23 – Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Shall hardly – G1423 – dyskolios – impracticably
a: impracticably – impracticable – impossible in practice to do or carry out (Oxford Dictionary)
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
The eye of the needle was a gate into Jerusalem. it was too narrow and too low for a camel to use, especially when laden with cargo. Once all the merchandise was removed from the camel it was doable but still difficult. So no one bothered to use this gate into the city with a camel.
So the analogy Jesus was making to His disciples gave them a clear meaning of what He was trying to teach them. That being, those that embrace the world with all its riches would rather reject God than to surrender all they had here in this temporary life we now live within.
Again we return to James:
James 4:1 – What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
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.
Befriending worldly possessions shows that those that do it are the lukewarm. So this was why the Glorified Jesus Christ said what He did to those in the church of Laodicea. And thus since we are now in the age of the lukewarm it is what the Glorified Jesus Christ is saying to the majority of those that say they are “Christian” yet live within mansions here within this temporal earthly realm.

Conclusion

When the young rich man said he followed all the commandments Jesus looked upon him with love. I know I keep coming back to this point, but it is this point that needs to be understood without question. God Loves ALL of humanity be they rich or poor, sinner or saint. That is why we have the Bible. This Bible is the owner’s manual of salvation. It is something that those that received these letters when they were first written didn’t have. They just had letters. Letters they read and re-read. Copied and recopied. The Bible is the only book that has so many copies that it has hardly changed and those copies that were found to be false cast aside and called evil.
The Bible is nearly 100% pure and accurate. This is the only book in existence that is thousands of years old that can truly boast this.
How is this possible if God is not real? How is this possible when those like Josephus mention James the half-brother of Jesus wrote this about him:
Festus was now dead, and Albinus was but upon the road; so he assembled the sanhedrim of judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others, [or, some of his companions]; and when he had formed an accusation against them as breakers of the law, he delivered them to be stoned:
So even outside the Bible Jesus is called Christ. And from a book thousands of years old that has barely changed Jesus is called Christ. And He has sent a letter to the lukewarm saying he will cast them out if they do not turn away from the world and return to Him.
So turn to Jesus Christ and ask His forgiveness, but do not turn away in sorrow like the young rich man. If you must get rid of your riches and give them to those in need within the body of Christ then do it. Seek out God through our Savior for you can only get into heaven though Him.

God Bless

Blog for podcast #7


Intro

Welcome to another broadcast, and I am Dreamwalker1960.
Today we will begin to explore the mindset of the lukewarm. So they can begin to understand why it is that the Glorified Jesus Christ spit them from His body.
Again this will be a painful message. However it must be said. The world has had enough of pampering and as it says in Proverbs 13:24:
Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.
Discussion
In Revelation 3:17 we are given a description of the lukewarm:
“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.”
Now it continues to say which rewards you are to seek after in verse 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.
Christ says to seek after purified gold which ties into verse 17’s “I am rich.”
Then he states to buy a white garment from Him. This goes partly to “I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing.”
In this world we live within today. The lukewarm can boast to all about them that they are rich. They live in a huge house, they drive a fancy car. Their house has many room. Many of which are not even used unless they have guests. Yet every room is filled with items they have collected unto themselves for their own satisfaction and grandeur. Sacrificial offerings all unto themselves.
They dress in their finest when they go to the buildings called “church.” Showing off their foofaraws.
I remember one day in the early years of my faith as I sat in the balcony at church I was attending with my family. A lady stood up from her seat in the pews down below me. She caught my eye because she was waving her hand to someone a few pews away and was trying to get her attention. When she caught the other woman’s eye. I could see this lady mouthing the words:
“I love you hat!” to the other lady.
All I could do was shake my head. This was my enlightening that this church I was in was not a God focused church. It was focused upon the people within it, not God.
This is one of the main issues that those that are lukewarm suffer. They are self-absorbed. Their god is not THE God. But themselves.
The very first commandment given to us in Exodus.
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
For decades I away thought of this as if God were referring to the ancient gods of Egypt, Greece or Rome. These gods are another topic altogether. Then for decades I thought He was referring to Hollywood actors or sports personalities. Well He was, but that wasn’t all He was referring to. He was also referring to the greatest god all humans worship. It is themselves. Each and every human worships themselves over God and His Son our Savior. It is something that we can never truly purge from our souls as long as we live within these corrupt earthly bodies. It is why we must have a daily, if not hourly, relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Jesus actually added two new commandments in a fashion.
Mark 12:29 – Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
They also appear in Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Leviticus 19:18.
A quick Note here. This statement by Christ tells us two things. First there are 12 commandments and second there are actually more than just twelve. We are to follow all the teachings within Deuteronomy and Leviticus and apply where required in a post resurrection world. But that is a topic for another day perhaps.
But enough of the side note, let’s get back on topic.
Each person is their own greatest god.
Due to this they seek after what is pleasing to them. Be it possessions; to complements; to entering into sexual encounters, which at times result in a child they don’t want. So they go down to the nearest temple to the ultimate god of selfishness. Offering up this child as gift upon the altar of self-indulgence. Many times professing they are “Christian” and doing what is best for all concerned. All save the child whose life just ended.
Was this child loved as those that chose to abort it love themselves, as we are told to do by Jesus Himself? The answer is no.
What is truly sad is that due to people thinking themselves “Christian” or not. They have truly no concept of this basic knowledge due to the removal of God from where God once could be easily found. That is one way we know we are in the last part of the church age, and why I am teaching upon these difficult and even heartbreaking topic. For I want all to stand before God in joy and happiness, and not sorrow and horror.
The mere fact that there is so much unrest going on in our streets is a testament to the truth I am speaking right now. Other signs we are in the end times is:
Matthew 24:7 – Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.
Additionally in Mark 13:12 Jesus says this:
“Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.”
Nations translates to races, while kingdoms translates to countries. Have we not experienced a race against race upheaval? Are we not in a war as I speak? Isn’t there reports of earthquakes nearly monthly? I just saw a video the other day of a young black man who on his birthday told his family that he was conservative. They disowned him on the spot. Plus you add on top of this we are in the church age of the lukewarm.
Jesus is coming and soon.
Stop worshipping yourself. Stop hording your riches unto yourself. You don’t need to live in a huge home if there is only two people or even one person living in it. The money you spent upon yourself could be uses to help those in true need.
“But that is why I pay taxes!” someone just said.
It is not the government’s job it is your job as a Christian. If you have the money to live in a huge house. You have the money to live in a two bedroom condo and use the rest to love your fellow humans as you would love yourself. We are to give our money to needed charities that help those in need. We are to do it not the government. This comes from 1 John 3:17.
The greatest leader is someone who desire to serve his fellow humans not lead them. Any who seek to lead and control are to be shunned and turned away from. Any who wish to dominate are worshipping themselves and see themselves as gods that deserve to be worshipped. They wish for you to look upon them as a god. Does this not sound like the Pharaohs and the Roman emperors of old? All humanity is equal be they ruler or pulpier; sinner or saint. Look to Mark 10:42-44.
Conclusion
Humanity are not the gods. Only the Creator of the Universe is. Stop seeking after self-glorification. Turn toward the true God. Who sent His Son to walk amongst us, to be the ultimate sacrifice so that we can speak to God freely and without shame. Cast off the worldly gold and seek after the gold that is purchased from Jesus Christ upon the pyres of trials and tribulations. That we as Christians are told we must endure. Seek out the white robes of salvation that can only be purchased by being bathed in the Blood of Jesus Christ.
Bow your knee to God and beg for His forgiveness in the name of His Glorified Son, the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. Seek out those that do not seek to rule or control. Seek out those willing to stand their ground for God. Seek out those willing to teach the true Word of God. Accept the trials and embrace the pain that comes with being a true disciple of Jesus. For our path is not easy, and we are told it will become even worse the closer we come to the return of our Savior Jesus Christ. As we are seeing by being denied the rights to even gather to worship our true God.
God Bless.

The Seven Churches (Part 8) – The letter to Laodicea


re-post
The City is Laodicea was found on the road to Colossae some forty miles southeast of Philadelphia. The city had become wealthy under Roman rule and were known for their production of wool garments. They were so wealthy in fact that after an earthquake in 60 A.D. the city had rebuilt itself off its own resources. There had been references to the existence of the church up into the fourteenth century, but now the city is nothing but ruins. Paul mentioned Laodicea in his letter to Colossae.

Revelation 3:14 – And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: “The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.”

CHRIST THE ETERNAL AND FAITHFUL WITNESS: Christ called Himself the “Amen” which mean “so be it,” something He used frequently during His time when He walked amongst us. As Dr. Walvoord states it: “As a title for Christ it indicates His sovereignty and the certainty of the fulfillment of His promises.”
He also called Himself the faithful and true Witness, which tells us that he see all and knows all. Within our minds and in our actions and when the time comes and those that do not understand why they are standing before the Great White Throne instead of in the audience looking upon the judgment that is soon to follow will then simply look upon the Glorified Jesus and they will instantly know the answer without even having to ask the question.

Revelation 3:15-16 – “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

Christ does not mince words with those that lived in Laodicea. It made it clear and plain. Without works and faith together you are dead and a bitter taste unto God and must be cast out of the Body.
James 2 (KJV) – 14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Christ makes it very clear he would rather you be cold or against God then to be lukewarm. But what are works? The key to works is found within the two new commandments given to us by Christ:
Matthew 22(KJV) – 34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Revelation 3:17-18 – “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.”

This is also today’s church which has been seduced by the luxuries of this soft and pampering world we now live within. Even now the children revolt against their elders. Thinking they know better than those that have been in this world longer. They have been so spoiled that they wish to have everything just handed over to them. This is selfishness to the extreme. This is the total opposite of placing God first and treating all those about you as you would wish to be treated yourself. The golden rule is dead and it was killed by those that wished to kick God totally out of the world. Well now as violence is on the increase. Different social groups begin to self-segregate, refusing in interact with none but their “own.”

Revelation 3:19 – “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent”

Christ here makes it clear that those HE LOVES he will “reprove and discipline.” So the next time you feel like accusing someone, especially someone who appears to be a Christian, of “judging,” remember it may not be.
2 Timothy 4(KJV) – 4 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
We are as Christians are instructed by the Bible to reprove, rebuke and to exhort and any that calls this “judging” are wishing to stay lukewarm and desire to be spit out of the Body of Christ.

Revelation 3:20-22 – “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”