Serve the Lord or Yourself?

Luke 10:38: Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
Luke 10:39: And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
Luke 10:40: But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
Luke 10:41: And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
Luke 10:42: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

The context here shows two ladies who were sisters one being very busy while the other simply kept her focus on the Lord. It is pretty obvious one was doing a lot of work while the other was seemingly idling. The overworked sister complained to the Lord to compel her sister to help her with the work she thought would be important in her view on serving the Lord.

From a human standpoint, this was really unfair. One was shouldering all the load while the other was rather carefree. Based on Martha’s complaint, Marry seemed to be a shirker of duty. Looking through the lens from a human worldly point of view, Martha’s request was justified and Marry should not be allowed to indulge in her own ways.

Unfortunately, the Lord has a penchant of interpreting labour, effort, motives and spiritual quality of a person differently from man’s point of view. Not only the Lord did not accede to Martha’s demands, she was even told her priority was all wrong. Martha’s outburst got her no where.

Martha was actually quite rude laying some blame on the Lord for not taking notice on how she was left on her own to serve Him. Due to her familiarity with the Lord, she took for granted this entitled her the privilege to charge the Lord for being unfair and guilty of favouritism in how the two of them were treated.

How did Martha get to this stage of a burnout? There was no question she had been busy and doing all the work. The trouble was she was doing everything in her own view was the way the Lord should be served. It was purely her own opinion and she expected her sister to adopt the same.

No where did the Lord tell her how she ought to serve or what she had to do in serving Him. Her labour was not commissioned by the Lord and this added no value to her soul in serving the Lord this way according to her own understanding and on her own terms. Worse still, she demanded her sister to follow suit laying such bondage upon others according to her own foolish understanding.

As such, very quickly she lost her joy of serving the Lord because it was all done in the energy of the flesh. Had she succeeded in her endeavour, she might probably glory in her effort instead of giving glory to the Lord. The focus was on her labour and effort and not on the Lord. So how would you expect the Lord to respond?

Mary was right. Her focus was on the Lord giving the Lord all her undivided attention in which the Lord truly deserved. Her attention was on the Lord and not on some work and she was rightfully commended. But for Martha, her own work took centre stage and became her object of glory. It is dangerous to take satisfaction in human effort in serving the Lord, especially work based on human understanding where the Lord was not part of the entire equation.

The episode on these two sisters is instruction here. How often do you see Christians running hither and thither where in their own mind and own view , they were serving the Lord and then they burned out along the way? Some fell into the same category of Martha. They murmur and complain why the Lord is so unfair and allows others to slack while they serve all on their own.

This is the result of not getting their orders from above and they start to run around in circles thinking they were actually serving the Lord. To make matters worse, they start to look around sideways and complain why others were not as zealous and faithful like them in serving the Lord according to their own opinion and understanding.

The Lord clearly came to promise rest to our souls. For the Lord claims:

Matthew 11:29: Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Matthew 11:30: For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

The moment anyone felt his effort and labour became too heavy in serving the Lord like what Martha experienced with lost of joy, then the Lord has no part in such service. The apostle Paul also at times felt weary in the work of the Lord physically yet there was no hint of murmur or complain or lost of joy in the Lord’s work.

If the work we do for the Lord is commissioned from above, then there is no room for murmuring and complaining and looking at others wondering why they are not doing what we are doing. Should the work we endeavour for the Lord is based on looking at what others are doing, then there is great possibility of burnout because we thought we were serving the Lord but we were actually serving to please men and to covet the praise of men. We are simply imitating what others are doing and not doing what the Lord wants us to do. Serving the Lord is not a competition with fellow Christians to see who serves more and who serves best.

The primary work for the Lord is to spend time on the words of the living God and seek the Lord in prayer much like what Marry was doing and was commended by the Lord. Spending time sitting at Jesus’ feet is important otherwise how do we know what the Lord wants us to do for Him? This is really the one thing that is needful so choose the good part to spend time with the Lord like Marry. There is no point following the footsteps of Martha running ahead of the Lord without knowing what the Lord delights in and then fall into self-pity and discouragement and even despair.

It is important to know what the Lord expects from us and not what some church leaders expect us to do. If you have been so busy running your life around the church calendar and neglected to spend time on the words of God and with the Lord in prayer, don’t be surprise when you end up like Martha wallowing in frustration living out a meaningless and joyless existence deceiving yourself you are in the Lord’s service.

This will not only cost you lost of joy, it may bring trouble on your loved ones especially when you think you are serving the Lord revolving your life around the church calendar and then your family gets neglected along the way. It is not the Lord’s will to break your family in order to serve Him. It is the Lord’s will for you to keep your family in good spiritual health so that your church life will be fruitful and are able to edify one another in the Lord.

Always ensure we do what the Lord wants us to do for Him and not what others expect or think what we should do for the Lord. How we serve the Lord is none of the business of others be they church leaders or otherwise. The tendency to compare with what others are doing for the Lord is very common, even the apostle Peter was guilty of such weakness.

John 21:20: Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
John 21:21: Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
John 21:22: Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

Don’t ever benchmark your service for the Lord based on what others are doing. What others are doing for the Lord is none of our business. Be yourself and do your best for the Lord. You have your unique role to play to be a blessing to others and to be useful for the Lord’s work. Your rewards will be sure.


Will You Marry Your Self?

The advent of digital cameras, in particular on mobile phones, make it very easy and cheap to take pictures at any moment in time. Gone are the days where taking pictures are expensive having to buy rolls of films where you have to think twice before snapping away on your cameras, not to mention costly fees required to process the rolls of film and hopefully the pictures come out fine.

Who won’t want to capture a beautiful image especially with yourself in the picture too. In the past, you would need someone to take such a picture for you. Today, you could just take your own picture with the secondary camera on your mobile handset. With the aid of a selfie stick, you could take pictures of yourself at a greater distance which is even better.

Unfortunately, taking selfie is contributing to untimely deaths and injuries for some so engrossed in such acts of self importance and grandeur to capture the perfect moment in time for posterity and future self-exultation. Narcissism becomes popular and sometimes not cheap, even deadly.

List of Selfie-Related Injuries and Deaths

With the popularity promoting platforms like facebook and instagram, narcissism is taken on to a whole new level of indulgence. Spending time showing off and bragging about stuff on facebook coveting affirmation and adulation can become an addiction, especially those who set out hoping to get many friends and “likes” on their facebook page a life mission.

If you think that is not enough of self-love, self-praise and self-centeredness, you can even marry your own self if you so wish. You can fall in love with your own self and marry your self just like a normal wedding with a huge party following. This trend is going to pick up just like any foolish fashion in this world that will pass away.

No Need Husband – Women Can Now Marry Themselves

When you think this is narcissism gone mad, this is not something unexpected actually, scripturally speaking.

2 Timothy 3:2: For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Haven’t we been warned about the last days’ conditions? Indeed men shall be lovers of their own selves literally. This is perhaps the grand finale of narcissism in all its glory.

This is good news actually because we are not far from the end of times.

Hopefully some will wake up and share the sentiments of the psalmist who exclaimed:

Psalms 39:5: Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.


Desiring the Mark of the Beast

Revelation 13:16: And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Revelation 13:17: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Revelation 13:18: Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Such strange and cryptic pronouncement seems farfetched, especially hundreds years ago. Christians in the past must have great faith to believe such revelation beyond their wildest imagination.

Fast forward to our day and age, such technology is already here and has been used on animals for quite sometime now for tracking and data analysis. It is progressively being used on humans and inevitably, it is becoming desirable to receive the mark in the body by certain people for reasons best known to them.

Recently, some diehard soccer fans in Argentina are clamoring to have microchips implanted in them so they can literally carry their beloved club inside of them. This microchip, also known as the Passion Ticket, will allow them to enter the gates of the stadium by scanning the chip in their hand. For the moment, this chip doesn’t have a GPS tracker to track the members but just serves as a record of their membership data and subscription. Check out the news here and think about the not too distant future.

Argentine Club Launches Microchips For Fans

One thing is sure. Receiving a mark is going to be popular and even desirable. There are many good reasons to justify having a mark literally where your identity cannot be stolen. It is also very convenient to have all your information with you in the chip and you don’t have to carry cash with you and a whole bunch of credit cards and membership cards as well. Better still, have all your medical records in the chip which would be very useful during an emergency.

However, this is inevitably moving in the direction where global control of the human population during the end times becomes possible. Absolute control by the antichrist and his system will ensure these recipients forfeit their chance of salvation and eternal life.

Revelation 14:9: And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Revelation 14:10: The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Revelation 14:11: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

Revelation 16:1: And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
Revelation 16:2: And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

Receiving the mark is not so harmless after all. It is not just a trade off for convenience and security but a deception to worship the antichrist. World trend on the popularity and desirability to receive the mark of the Beast will seal the doom for many.

2 Thessalonians 2:9: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2 Thessalonians 2:10: And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2 Thessalonians 2:11: And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2 Thessalonians 2:12: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

It is definitely getting exciting but nonetheless, terrifying for those left behind when the Lord calls His bride, the Church, home. This is when the nation of Israel will take centre stage again to be purified during the times of Jacob’s trouble just prior to the Millennial Kingdom of peace and rest under the reign of the Lord Jesus Christ on earth.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.


Beware of Religious Extremists

The Lord has promised rest for His people. God also gave the children of Israel the Sabbath for them to rest rather than to work day in and day out the whole year through. The Sabbath is also a sign given to the children of Israel for them to know that they are the chosen people of God.

Exodus 31:13: Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.

The Gentiles are not so privileged that God has promised to protect, prosper and provide for them in such a special way given to the children of Israel. Instead of enjoying the Sabbath God has given them, the children of Israel sought to use this God given rest for self glorification and contention.

The Sabbath was something good for them yet the self-righteous religious elite turned the Sabbath into a kind of bondage for the children of Israel. Consider what they did to the Lord during the Lord’s earthly ministry.

Matthew 12:1: At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.
Matthew 12:2: But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.

So they determined what constitutes violation of the Sabbath. They had their own ideas of what the Sabbath was and how it should be kept. They judged the disciples of Christ who were hungry and had to pluck corn to eat to fill their stomach. As far as these religious extremists were concerned, the disciples should go hungry. The Sabbath God gave them was to make them suffer instead of a day of joy and rest in their all merciful God.

What logic is this you may ask. Is God a sadist? Are they implying that no one should cook a meal to eat on a Sabbath day? Are they implying that no one should fetch water to drink on a Sabbath day? If that be the case, everyone might as well just stay in bed and not move during the Sabbath day! Of course these religious extremists would have proper meals including cooked meals but just getting food from the field to put in your mouth would be a violation of the Sabbath according to their conceited understanding.

Matthew 12:3: But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
Matthew 12:4: How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?

Didn’t these religious extremists read their own scriptures? Didn’t they know David and those with him ate the shrewbred which was not lawful and they were not put to death? God didn’t personally kill them for profaning the temple but all this didn’t occur to them at all! They had lost their mind to even think. You can’t expect these blind zealots to understand the scriptures because they use the scriptures to find fault with others.

Matthew 12:5: Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

Didn’t they know the priests had to work even on the Sabbath day? They had to carry out religious duties and in so doing, they violated the Sabbath every Sabbath day and were blameless. They  even have to perform circumcision on the eighth day of a new born male child even though that day might be a Sabbath. Didn’t they have eyes to see you might wonder.

Matthew 12:6: But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.

Who gave them the Sabbath to begin with? Unfortunately, they couldn’t recognize the Lord who gave them the Sabbath was among them. It is the Lord who determines who has kept the Sabbath and who has not and not these religious extremists. The Lord Jesus Christ is of course greater than the temple whom these religious extremists claimed to be custodians upholding the worship and attendance.

Matthew 12:7: But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
Matthew 12:8: For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

These blind extremists were so full of themselves with their own self righteousness and they thought God would delight more on their sacrifice instead of mercy. They thought God would be very pleased when they offer sacrifice the more the merrier and keeping the Sabbath to the letter going hungry was God’s will. Perhaps they didn’t take note on this Psalm of David.

Psalms 50:8: I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.
Psalms 50:9: I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.
Psalms 50:10: For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
Psalms 50:11: I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
Psalms 50:12: If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
Psalms 50:13: Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
Psalms 50:14: Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:

Had these religious fools not read Samuel’s rebuke for king Saul?

1 Samuel 15:22: And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Had they not read the experience of king David who broke God’s laws and deserved to die and yet God spared him?

Psalms 51:16: For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

No amount of animal sacrifices could save king David for committing murder and adultery and yet God forgave him but didn’t hold back the consequence of his sins.

Did the religious extremists read the prophet Hosea?

Hosea 6:6: For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Keeping the letter of the law on the Sabbath became justifiable grounds for contention. They had become ridiculously hopeless to the point they couldn’t see the tree for the forest. They had lost their perspective for the Sabbath thinking that keeping the Sabbath religiously became a convenient platform to score political and religious points. Their brutal lack of spiritual knowledge was pathetic and tragic.

Here is another case in point how vicious these religious extremists could become if you dare cross them on their standards and regulations on God’s given law.

Matthew 12:9: And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:
Matthew 12:10: And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.

The religious extremists were getting frustrated and desperate. They asked whether it was lawful to perform healing on the Sabbath day. They were not trying to learn the law. These religious hypocrites were out to entrap Christ to find occasion against Him.

Matthew 12:11: And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
Matthew 12:12: How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

This simple truth is just common sense but were uncommon to these hate filled religious extremists. Anyone would rescue a poor animal even on a Sabbath day but of course they would not acknowledge this and pretend not to know. None of them would think the poor animal had to suffer until the Sabbath was over before they would deliver the animal. It would be natural to set the poor animal free regardless whether it was a Sabbath day or otherwise.

But for man, it would be a different story because man has a duty to keep the Sabbath if you follow these self-righteous fools’ line of thinking. The Sabbath became a form of bondage instead of joy and worship.

Of course it is lawful to perform healing including priests performing their lawful duties during the Sabbath and were blameless. This is so natural and commonsense thing to do but it became too profound for these blind self-righteous religious elite.

Matthew 12:13: Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
Matthew 12:14: Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

Will self-righteous religious extremists ever learn? If you don’t do and keep God’s commandments based on their own foolish understanding, they would even plot to have you killed. This is the mark of religious extremists. They can very quickly turn into religious criminals bend on killing those who disagree with them using God’s name.

They know not when to take the scripture literally and when not to especially when providentially hindered to do so. They would prefer this poor man continues to suffer instead of getting healed on the Sabbath day. So much compassion had these religious leaders on the poor man and you would be forgiven if you are disgusted with them. No wonder they know not God delights in mercy rather than sacrifice.

So when they take the scripture literally, they became literally insane. They are so full of themselves and are not subject to reason and of course, they know not the scriptures, let alone the Lord.

Proverb 26:12: Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

Now you know why some church going folks are unhappy people? Christ came to set us free but there are modern day insane religious extremists out there robbing us of our liberty and they try to bring us under bondage and reduce us to their level of stupidity.

Christianity is not about rules and regulation and standards. Whatever standards and works for the Lord must be from the heart and not for show to please men and win their praise.

Watch out for religious extremists who could quickly turn into religious criminals and persecute you for disobeying them. They will bring you into bondage if they have their way with you.

Matthew 11:28: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:29: Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Matthew 11:30: For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Observing extra-biblical mandates and unscriptural practice won’t win points in the courts of heaven. Walking the Christian faith is indeed easy and the burden is light.

The Lord has promised rest for our souls. Let us not listen to some self-righteous religious extremists and be burdened with outward religious trappings set by these self conceited fools. So go to the Lord for rest and not some high minded religious elite if you truly want rest for your souls.


On Wings of Eagles

Matthew 27:22: Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

Matthew 27:23: And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

Matthew 27:24: When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

Matthew 27:25: Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

Those chilling words of retribution uttered nearly two thousand years ago still reverberate through history till this day. The Jews have been paying the price since. These chosen people of God have been scattered, persecuted and millions perished under the hands of Hitler during World War 2.

Many Christians think God has replaced the nation of Israel with the Church.

Replacement Theology

This is fallacious logic if you read the Bible and take God seriously and literally. However, for Christians who do not take the Bible literally and reject all the promises God made to the children of Israel, they will proudly maintain their stance that they are now the chosen people of God in place of the nation of Israel. They fail to see the nation of Israel is not the Church and the Church is not the earthly nation of Israel.

The Church is not given laws to govern any land in any geographical location on earth and to mete out punishments to transgressors while the nation of Israel has been given laws to observe and to mete out punishment, including capital punishment on transgressors of God’s law for the land in which they were given to reside.

While the Jews were being scattered and persecuted down through the ages for their rejection of their Messiah, the Lord did not forget them. Nearly seventy years ago, Israel had finally become a nation again. The Jews eventually returned home to the land the God of yesteryears promised their forefathers.

The journey for these Jews returning to their own homeland had been difficult and perilous at times. One remarkable group of Jews returning from Yemen had been nothing short of being miraculous. Without divine intervention, this would not have been made possible.

On Wings of Eagles

This operation to airlift the Jews trapped in Yemen years ago echoes what Jehovah God did for the children of Israel when they left Egypt to the promised land. They were brought out of Egypt on eagles’ wings.

Exodus 19:4: Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.

This time however, they were brought out of Yemen on metal wings of eagles. Such a feat would be repeated in the future when the Jews have to flee for their lives in Israel from the Satan during the times of Jacob’s trouble.

Revelation 12:14: And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

This future operation is once again called wings of eagle.

The Lord will never break His promises with the children of Israel. Such promises have been littered in the sacred pages of the Old Covenant and only a fool will fail to see and imagine God has forsaken His chosen ancient people.

Deuteronomy 30:3: That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.

Deuteronomy 30:4: If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:

Isaiah 11:12: And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

Isaiah 43:5: Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;

Isaiah 54:7: For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.

Isaiah 54:15: Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.

Isaiah 56:8: The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.

Isaiah 60:4: Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.

Isaiah 60:9: Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.

Isaiah 60:10: And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee.

Jeremiah 29:14: And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

Jeremiah 31:8: Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.

Jeremiah 31:10: Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.

Jeremiah 32:37: Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:

Ezekiel 34:13: And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.

Ezekiel 36:24: For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

Ezekiel 37:21: And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:

Zephaniah 3:20: At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.

Zechariah 10:10: I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Labanon; and place shall not be found for them.

How may will still want to mock God and stand with Satan to accuse God for failing to keep His promises? If God can not keep His promises, He will cease to be God.

Bible believing Christians will take heed to the apostle Paul’s admonition and explanation concerning the nation of Israel during the Church Age.

Romans 11:25: For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Romans 11:26: And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

Romans 11:27: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

Don’t for a moment think the Church has replaced the nation of Israel unless you are a Bible critic and a Bible manipulator happily remaining in your own conceits!


Can Man Speed up The Second Coming of Christ?

The second coming of Christ is a topic that has been on the mind of Christians since our Lord’s ascension back to heaven. The apostles and disciples lived in expectancy of the Lord’s return during those days. They never saw that day arrive and it has been about two thousand years since.

The apostles did write much about the second coming of Christ and warned about the callous and indifferent attitudes during the days prior to our Lord’s return.

1 Thessalonians 3:13: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

1 Thessalonians 4:15: For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

1 Thessalonians 5:23: And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2:1: Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

James 5:7: Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

James 5:8: Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

2 Peter 1:16: For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

2 Peter 3:12: Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

No matter how much we wish to see the day of our Lord’s return during our lifetime, it is not in the hands of anyone who could decree this from occurring according to our desire and will. The useless modern English perverse bibles promote false teachings on this doctrine of the second coming of Christ. They teach human effort is possible to bring about and bring forward this event without regard to what the Lord Himself already told His disciples in time past.

Mark 13:32: But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

Acts 1:6: When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

Acts 1:7: And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

Here is another article by Brother Will Kinney exposing these false bibles promoting false doctrines.

http://kjv-asia.comauthorized-version-defence-speed-up-the-coming-of-christ/

Those who claim that the modern English versions do not change Bible doctrines are just plain ignorant and too lazy to do a comparative study with the King James Bible or they are just blatantly dishonest biblically and intellectually.

Nevertheless, Christians have been exhorted to look forward to the second coming of Christ whether we see that day during our lifetime this side of heaven because there is a promise of rewards for those who love the Lord’s appearing.

2 Timothy 4:8: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

If this event doesn’t occur during our days, we still go to our Saviour.

Either way, we are victorious.

All glory to God!


Is Hell an Invention of the Church?

Hell is an invention of the Church, if you believe what this so called Christian in high places tell you. Here is what this retired Episcopal bishop John Shelby Spong said during an interview.

I think the church fired its furnaces hotter than anybody else. But I think there’s a sense in most religious life of reward and punishment in some form. The church doesn’t like for people to grow up, because you can’t control grown-ups. That’s why we talk about being born again. When you’re born again, you’re still a child. People don’t need to be born again. They need to grow up. They need to accept their responsibility for themselves and the world.

Watch the video and check your Bible to see if what he said is true.

Matthew 5:22: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Matthew 5:29: And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Matthew 5:30: And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Matthew 10:28: And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 11:23: And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

Matthew 16:18: And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Matthew 18:9: And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

Matthew 23:15: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

Matthew 23:33: Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

Mark 9:43: And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Mark 9:45: And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Mark 9:47: And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

Luke 10:15: And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.

Luke 12:5: But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Luke 16:23: And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Well, those verses in the gospels are warning from the Lord Jesus Christ. So is Jesus a fearmonger? Is Jesus lying? Is Jesus trying to scare people from growing up?

It is not surprising as many so called Christians, especially those brained washed Bible college and seminary graduates and ministers deny the doctrine of hell or try to water down the fiery torment of hell. Those modern perversions of the hell-less English bibles no doubt have done its job they are designed to do.

So should we believe the words of some high churchman using highfalutin terms to cast doubts on this important doctrine on hell where Christ came to warn men against going to this place of torment?

You can take your chance but I will take the words of the Lord Jesus Christ at face value.

2 Corinthians 11:13&14: For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

2 Peter 2:1: But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

1 John 4:1: Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Colossians 2:8: Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

2 Peter 3:17: Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

The Lord has His minsters and Satan has his too. You better be discerning to know who you should be listening to.


Why God was Angry with Balaam?

Numbers 22:20-31

And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.
And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.
Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

This is one very intriguing passage from the Bible where God was angry with Balaam and was ready to kill him but got the ass Balaam was riding to rebuke him with man’s voice.

Diligent Bible students have no trouble understanding why Balaam was stopped and rebuked.

2 Peter 2:15-16
Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

According to the Apostle Peter, iniquity was found in Balaam and if we read the passage in Numbers 22 carefully, we would have no trouble coming to the right conclusion of the whole matter.

Anyway, brother Will Kinney has a good article on this passage and he shows why the modern perversions are adding to the confusion on the issue.

So if you are using the wrong bible, you might not get the truth from the Holy Bible. Read this article for more details.

Why God was angry with Balaam?