The Lord’s Day
Follow along each week with Sunday messages from the Lord
Current Message
12/29/2024
The Miraculous Conception
In Matthew chapter 1 verses 18-24, we are looking at the unique situation Joseph was put in when Mary became pregnant with Jesus, the seriousness of their relationship, who Joseph was as a person along with what the Jewish customs were during that time.
In Matthew 1:18, when it says that Mary was "espoused" to Joseph, it refers to the Jewish custom of betrothal, which was a formal, legally binding agreement to marry, similar to engagement but far more serious and binding than modern engagements.
Betrothal (Espousal) was the first stage of a Jewish marriage and lasted about a year. During this time the couple was legally considered husband and wife, though they did not live together or have marital relations.
This period was meant to demonstrate the bride's purity and prepare for the wedding ceremony.
Mary and Joseph were in this betrothal period when Mary was found to be pregnant with Jesus. This would have been a shocking and scandalous situation because, during betrothal, any form of unfaithfulness was considered adultery and could result in severe consequences, including public shame or even stoning under Jewish law.
The mention of Mary being "espoused" highlights the miraculous nature of Jesus' conception. She became pregnant through the Holy Spirit, not through any human involvement, maintaining her purity and fulfilling the prophecy of the virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14).
It also sets up Joseph's role as a righteous and obedient servant of God, who accepts Mary and Jesus after being reassured by the angel.
Joseph is described as a "just man" in verse 19, meaning he planned to divorce Mary quietly to avoid exposing her to public disgrace.
Being described as a just man (righteous) means Joseph was someone who followed God’s law, lived with integrity, and showed compassion.
When Joseph found out Mary was pregnant, he did not want to expose Mary to public disgrace or harsh judgment. This shows his kindness and mercy.
"Put her away" means Joseph intended to divorce Mary quietly. Though they were only betrothed, a formal divorce was required to dissolve the relationship.
By choosing to do this privately (likely with just two or three witnesses, as was permissible in Jewish law), Joseph sought to protect Mary’s dignity and avoid public scandal.
Verse 19 shows Joseph’s struggle between his sense of justice and his love and compassion for Mary. He sought to do what was right according to the law, but he also acted with mercy, reflecting the heart of God.
It also sets the stage for the angel’s intervention in the next verse, where Joseph is reassured that Mary’s pregnancy is from the Holy Spirit, and he is called to take her as his wife.
The next verse describes a pivotal moment when Joseph receives divine guidance through a dream.
Joseph is deeply contemplating how to handle the situation with Mary, likely feeling conflicted and distressed. This shows his thoughtful and righteous nature.
As Joseph is deliberating, an angel of the Lord appears to him in a dream. Angels often serve as messengers of God in the Bible, delivering crucial instructions or revelations.
The angel addresses Joseph as "son of David," emphasizing his lineage and connection to King David, which is important because the Messiah was prophesied to come from David’s line (2 Samuel 7:12-13). This ties Jesus' earthly father (Joseph) to the fulfillment of this prophecy.
The angel reassures Joseph not to fear taking Mary as his wife, alleviating his concerns about the social and legal implications of her pregnancy.
The angel explains that Mary’s pregnancy is a miraculous act of God, through the Holy Spirit, confirming her innocence and the divine nature of the child.
This moment is transformative for Joseph. He now understands that Mary’s pregnancy is part of God’s redemptive plan and that he has a role to play as the earthly father of Jesus.
It also emphasizes the divine nature of Jesus' conception, fulfilling the prophecy of the virgin birth in Isaiah 7:14.
Mary and Joseph were able to avoid public humiliation and stoning despite the unusual and potentially scandalous nature of Mary's pregnancy due to several factors:
Joseph’s decision to handle the matter privately.
The timing of their actions.
God’s sovereign protection.
Joseph publicly accepted Mary as his wife, it may have deflected further accusations or questions.
Jewish law required evidence (usually witnesses) to accuse someone of adultery. Without Joseph accusing Mary or providing evidence, the matter likely never escalated to a formal charge.
The story emphasizes Joseph and Mary’s faith, obedience, and trust in God rather than the social challenges they faced. While public opinion may have been difficult at times, their trust in God allowed them to endure and fulfill their roles in the divine plan.
Previous Messages
12/15/2024
Disposition in The Willingness To Trust and Follow God
In Matthew 19, a rich young man approaches Jesus and asks, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” so Jesus points him to the commandments then the man responds that he has kept all these asks, “What do I still lack?” Jesus tells him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” The man walks away sad because he has great wealth. Jesus remarks, “It is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
"When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, ‘Who then can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’"
Eternal life is not earned by good works and if you want to go deeper then ask yourself what is good? Everyone has their own definition of good so who’s right? The only person’s definition of ‘good’ that matters is God and we can’t meet those standards, so it’s only through the grace of God.
Wealth in itself is not evil, but it can create a barrier to trusting God fully. The rich man’s unwillingness to part with his possessions shows that his wealth had become his god.
A question for you to challenge yourself with: what are you clinging to that is preventing you from fully following Christ.
Human Limitations: Salvation cannot be earned through human effort, wealth, or merit; it is beyond human capability.
God’s Power: What is impossible for humans becomes possible through God’s grace and power. Salvation is a gift that comes from God, not something we can achieve on our own.
In essence, this verse highlights the transformative power of grace that changes our nature and the miraculous power of grace that makes salvation and divine intervention possible when human effort fails.
Disposition: (your character, attitude, mindset)
Your usual mood (temperament)
Attitude of mind (tendency)
The act of getting rid of something (disposal)
In a court case disposition is the final outcome
Disposition: (in the Christian context) A person’s inner attitude, character, or mindset toward God, faith, and moral living. In Christianity, disposition often refers to the readiness of the heart and mind to receive God’s grace, obey His commandments, and align one’s life with His will. It highlights the importance of an individual's internal posture, which reflects their relationship with God and influences their actions and decisions.
A proper Christian disposition involves humility, faith, love, and a willingness to trust and follow God. It is seen as a prerequisite for fully participating in sacraments, such as the Eucharist or baptism, and for spiritual growth.
Key aspects of disposition in Christianity:
Openness to Grace
The state of your heart in spiritual matters
Being in the spiritual and emotional state of readiness to receive, respond to, and act on God’s Word, grace and direction.
Attitude and state of mind and heart with how you approach worship. Worship needs to be heartfelt and centered on God, rather than just a ritual or external act.
If you’re missing any of these things:
Self-examination and making sure you are aligned with God’s will
Repentance: turning away from sin and seeking forgiveness to approach God with a clean heart
Prayer and meditation: spend time talking to God one on one.
Receptiveness to God’s word: actively listening to Scripture and being willing to act on it.
Alignment with God’s will.
Moral disposition: to choose good over evil and act according to God’s commandments. Cultivating virtues such as love, patience, and forgiveness as a reflection of a Christlike disposition.
There’s only one thing blocking you from the disposition and that’s you…the natural man aka outer man.
The lesson here regarding disposition and God’s grace is “the breaking of the outer man and the release of the Spirit”
Soul: the part of each person that contains their identity. It is the eternal part of a human being that is the seat of a person’s individuality, consciousness, and moral nature. This is the part of a person capable of experiencing emotions, thoughts, and desires, and is also responsible for making moral choices.
Spirit: often defined as the breath of life that God gives to all living beings. It is the aspect of a person that connects them to God and allows them to have a relationship with Him. The spirit is also seen as the part of a person that is transformed by the Holy Spirit in the process of salvation and sanctification.
Keep in mind about “the breaking of the outer man and the release of the Spirit” as I tell this story
The story of the Shunammite Woman in 2 Kings 4:8-37
This story is about Elisha, the prophet and successor of Elijah and a Shunammite woman who showed hospitality and faith and then experiencing God’s miraculous intervention.
Elisha was doing God’s work among the Israelites and he would often travel through Shunem, a town in Israel.
A wealthy Shunammite woman and her husband decided to provide Elisha with a special room in their home where he could stay whenever he passed through their town.
Out of love and respect for Elisha, they made a small upper room, complete with a bed, a table, a chair, and a lampstand, to provide him a place of rest and refuge.
Side note: there’s a lesson here about Christian hospitality and to show how believers should care for others selflessly and support those who serve God.
After staying at their home, Elisha sought to bless the woman and her husband.
Elisha asked his servant Gehazi what could be done for the Shunammite woman in return for their kindness.
Gehazi pointed out that the woman had no son, and her husband was elderly.
Elisha then prophesied to the woman that she would have a son within the next year.
The woman initially expressed doubt, saying, “Don’t lie to me, man of God.” But God fulfilled Elisha’s words, and she gave birth to a son, as promised.
A few years later, the son became older, but tragically, he suffered a fatal injury while working in the fields.
In grief, the woman carried her son to Elisha’s room and placed him on the bed.
She then left without telling her husband about the situation, riding a donkey to find Elisha.
The Shunammite woman approached Elisha on Mount Carmel, expressing deep anguish.
She fell at Elisha’s feet, pleading for help and saying, “Did I ask for a son, my lord? Didn’t I say, ‘Do not raise my hopes?’”
Elisha followed her back to her house, along with Gehazi.
Elisha entered the room where the son lay dead and prayed earnestly.
He then lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, and hands to hands, seeking to revive him.
Through Elisha’s heartfelt prayers and God’s miraculous power, the son came back to life.
Elisha raised the boy, brought him back to his mother, and presented him alive, fully restored.
Now going back to the beginning of this story, Elisha hadn’t performed any miracles or given any messages about God as a prophet during these times when he was passing by Shunem.
But there was something about Elisha that caught this woman’s eye. So much so that she felt compelled to making a room for him to stay in every time he visited.
She said to her husband “Now I know that this man who continually passes through unto us is a holy man of God.” It also says that every time he passed through, he turned aside and had a meal there. The woman identified him as a man of God by the way he took his meal.
It doesn’t go into specifics but here are some insights into what this could mean:
A habit of thanking God before eating
Eating in moderation and mindfulness, not being gluttonous but demonstrating humility and simplicity, avoiding excess or indulgence
Elisha’s demeanor and attitude might have exuded peace, patience, and joy, which are characteristics of someone closely connected to God and he was definitely close to God being that he was a prophet and performing more miracles than all the other known prophets.
The key point here is the impression Elisha gave to this woman. His disposition was very much so of a man of God (his character, his attitude, his mindset).
Today we ask the question…what is the impression you are giving to others?
If the outer man is not broken, the impression others receive from us will be nothing but the outer man.
God requires that our spirit be released, and the body of Christ also requires that our spirit be released.
Our outer man must be broken in order for the spirit to be released otherwise the impression we give to others will not be an impression of the Spirit.
In the Gospels, Peter’s most difficult dealing before the Lord was related to his disposition.
Peter was impulsive, overconfident and prideful.
Impulsiveness: you can say that he impulsively asked to walk on water but then doubted and began to sink. He also impulsively used violence to defend Jesus and cut off the servant’s ear.
Overconfidence: he declared he would never deny Jesus but ended up denying Him three times. Or when Jesus was predicting His suffering and death, Peter rebuked him saying “This shall never happen to you!” and then Jesus responded “Get behind me Satan!”
Despite these challenges, Peter’s disposition was transformed through the power of the Holy Spirit. He broke through the outer man and allowed his spirit to be released.
After the Pentecost, Peter became a bold preacher and a key leader in the early church. He acknowledged his past failures and relied on God’s grace. His passion was redirected into steadfast faith, even unto martyrdom. He died being crucified upside down.
In the book of 2 Peter, Peter commended Paul even though Paul rebuked him. If Peter was still living in his disposition, he would not have made a strong commendation of the one who rebuked him. Rebuking offends people and this shows how the troublemaking factor inside of Peter was removed.
Peter couldn’t do it himself for it is impossible with man but with the Lord all things are possible.
The disciples asked Jesus “Who then can be saved?” and Jesus replied “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
It is impossible for us to break through the problem of our disposition, but it is possible for the Lord to do it.
If someone easily gets offended and real angry, he has a disposition of being weak. A wise man will be slow to respond and quick to listen.
Disposition gives us the understanding that we need to break the outer man for the Spirit to be released allowing for the journey of sanctification to begin. Sanctification is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer, transforming them into the likeness of Jesus Christ and helping them live according to God’s will.
Analogy of Breaking a Horse
As we go into this analogy, picture the human being as the horse and God as the rider as you “break out of the outer man for your spirit to be released.”
Every horse needs to undergo some form of “breaking” or training to become useful and safe for riding or working.
When a horse is “broken,” it does not mean its strength, spirit, or vitality is destroyed. Rather, it learns to submit to the rider’s guidance, transforming its raw energy into controlled, purposeful action.
The horse still has all its power, but now it’s directed by the rider’s will rather than its own. The process teaches the horse to trust and obey, responding to the rider’s signals with sensitivity.
Wild or untamed horses require a more intensive breaking process because they have no prior exposure to humans or training.
Domestically raised horses that are raised around humans may still need breaking, but the process is usually gentler. They may already trust humans, so training focuses more on specific commands and skills.
Gentle or naturally submissive horses have calm temperaments and respond well to minimal correction. While they still need guidance, their nature makes the process easier.
A horse’s training is tailored to its role, whether for riding, work, or competition. Even well-mannered horses need focused discipline to meet their full potential.
Breaking a Horse/Breaking the Outer Man
Raw strength becomes controlled power / Human strength is submitted to God’s will
Trust in the rider is established / Trust in God’s sovereignty is developed
A process that requires patience / Sanctification is a gradual process
Resistance is natural at first / Humans naturally resist surrendering to God
Spiritual Parallel: Does Every Christian Need to Be “Broken”
Every Christian, regardless of their disposition, needs some degree of "breaking" of the outer man to fully live out God’s purposes. However, the depth and intensity of this process vary based on individual circumstances:
Those Far from God (Spiritually Wild)
People who are resistant to God’s authority
New Believers (Untrained but Open)
Some people are open and just need spiritual disciplines to align their lives with God’s Word
Naturally Humble or Yielding Dispositions
Some individuals, due to their nature or life experiences, may more readily submit to God.
Believers with Specific Callings
Christians called to greater roles often undergo more intensive breaking, akin to a horse trained for specialized tasks like racing or heavy work. God uses trials and challenges to prepare them for their unique purpose (e.g., Joseph, Moses, or Paul).
Breaking is Universal
Inherited Sin Nature: All humans, regardless of personality, have an innate tendency toward self-will and sin (Romans 3:23). This makes breaking necessary for everyone.
Spiritual Growth: The breaking process is part of sanctification, where the believer is shaped into Christ’s image (Romans 8:29).
Dependence on God: Even the most willing heart needs to learn dependence on God rather than relying on natural strength or wisdom (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Every believer needs the breaking of the outer man to fully align with God’s will. However, the method and intensity vary.
Just as the horse and rider must work in unity to achieve their purpose, the breaking of the outer man brings the believer’s life into alignment with the Spirit. This enables effectiveness in God’s work, deeper fellowship with God and allows the fruit of the Spirit to become evident.
1 Peter 1:3 Praise God who caused us to be born again into a living hope
12/8/2024
Review & Abiding in Jesus
In the last few weeks, we have established an understanding that once you become a believer that the Holy Spirit dwells inside of you but that’s just the beginning of the journey.
We need to start letting go of our natural self and the things of this world to make room for the Holy Spirit’s presence and influence within us and to help us grow.
We understand being crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
This is what the beginning of the transformation looks like and remember the transformative power of God is a lifelong process. There are the things that you can easily let go of and there is a complete transformation the first time around then there are also the more stubborn things where you might relapse and it will take more time and effort for a complete transformation to happen.
There are certain things in life that are just harder to surrender. This is why it’s better to start now when you’re younger because as you get older you become more set in your ways and there’s less room for God to do His thing.
For a deep transformation a believer must continually yield to God’s work allowing the Spirit to renew their mind, reshape their character, and guide their choices.
In martial arts, if you go into the space of Judo and you’re already a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, especially since there are similarities with the focus on grappling, throws, takedowns and submissions, you really must empty your mind when going into the new space to learn otherwise there’s no room for growth. Otherwise, you won’t be able to truly learn both styles to determine which moves and techniques work best for you because you are blinded by what you already know.
In life, you know what you know, you are who you are, life is great, you got it all under control and therefore you don’t need God.
Here’s a little twister: God loves everyone of you so much that sometimes your life is doing so well and you don’t need Him that He will cause an interruption in your life because when there’s an emergency and there’s nothing you can do what is the default that everyone screams? Oh God help me!
Count it as a true blessing that wherever you are in your life you are making the choice to sacrificing your sleep time on Sunday mornings to be here with God.
And if God ever interrupts your life count that as a blessing too that He still loves you and has hope for you to be knocking at your door.
Don’t be one of these people where God has knocked on the door so many times that He has now walked away or don’t be one of those where you don’t even have room in your life for God to walk to your door!
Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’"Jesus stresses that a personal relationship with Him and authentic submission to God are what truly matter, rather than merely claiming His name without living in faithful obedience.
Remember God is sovereign. He doesn’t need to do anything for anyone. We are not entitled to anything nor are we deserving of anything from Him.
Going back to the review, we also learned about how we further solidify our Christian foundation by protecting our mornings and starting each day right with God and by making our bed as an accomplishment and continuing each day with many more accomplishments.
Furthermore, we learned about the importance of time and through faithful stewardship we are to treasure the gifts, resources and opportunities God entrusts us with and how we can use tools such as Ikigai along with God’s guidance to find our purpose in life.
Stewardship: the responsible management and care of resources, talents, time, and all that God has entrusted to individuals, recognizing that everything ultimately belongs to God. Stewardship emphasizes the role of believers as caretakers or stewards, accountable to God for how they use and manage His gifts in ways that honor Him and serve His purposes.
And then last week we learned about the virtues of Christ, the qualities or habits that reflect the moral excellence and holiness of God and how we need to strive to embody the virtues of Christ as we continue through our transformation.
Virtues: humility, love, patience, obedience, forgiveness, righteousness, meekness, faithfulness, compassion, and wisdom.
Hopefully this review gives you an understanding of what it means when we say that Christianity is a way of life. This is not just a Sunday morning routine.
Abiding in Jesus
Definition of abide: to remain in a place
Starting in John chapter 13 is where the Passover Festival is about to begin and Jesus was with his disciples. Jesus washes his disciples’ feet while ministering to them for the last time. Then in chapter 15 Jesus talks about the vine and the branches, giving the disciples an understanding of how all believers is part of the body of Christ.
Vines are plants with long, flexible stems that typically climb, trail, or sprawl over surfaces or other plants.
Vines have branches that can bear leaves, flowers, and fruit.
So in this metaphor, Jesus represents the vine, He refers to Himself as the “true vine” and this vine is the source of life and sustenance for the branches. Without the vine, the branches cannot grow or bear fruit.
The significance is central to Christianity as the vine connects to the roots and provides nourishment, symbolizing Jesus as the giver of spiritual life and the one through whom we receive grace, truth and strength.
The branches represent believers aka Christians.
The branches are the extensions of the vine and are responsible for bearing fruit. However, they can only do so if they remain connected to the vine.
Otherwise the branch will die, dry up, become brittle and ultimately disintegrate back into the earth.
Branches are dependent on the vine for everything. Believers are dependent on Christ. If they are separated, they wither and die spiritually, symbolizing the necessity of abiding in Christ to lead a fruitful Christian life.
The way I see it, if you are not a believer you will most definitely be dead, physically and spiritually. As a believer, if you don’t stay in Christ, you will start to dry up.
Many non-believers feel empty inside. They don’t know what it is, but they just know something is missing. I’ve heard the same from everyday folks to successful entrepreneurs, to professors and philosophers. Count it as a blessing that you understand that the missing element is Jesus Christ!
The reminder for believers is that you must stay in Christ. Don’t allow the distractions of this world stray you away from God.
That is the work of the devil. He will distract you with a career, family, friends, hobbies, or even worse he will put you through dark times and then you don’t want to do anything or interact with anyone, not even Jesus.
Remember that the devil is smarter than you. Way smarter. He can’t force you to do things but he can test you. And he will find your weaknesses.
Verse 2 says “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
Jesus also said “…and my Father is the gardener”
God the Father is the gardener who cares for the vine, ensuring it thrives and bears fruit but He also cuts off every branch that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
Verse 4 says “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”
KJV: Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
In the Christian context, abide refers to the act of remaining faithfully connected to God, living in a close, continuous relationship with Him. It often implies dwelling or staying in God's presence, holding firm in faith, and aligning one's life with God's will. This concept is rooted in Jesus' teaching in John 15:4-5, where He instructs believers to "abide in Me, and I in you," emphasizing the importance of an ongoing, intimate connection with Him that bears spiritual fruit.
This imagery of the vine and branches emphasizes the need for believers to remain closely connected to Christ to lead a spiritually productive and meaningful life.
My stepfather, although he claims to believe in God, and who is now almost 80 years old has expressed that he is a little depressed and scared. Depressed because when you have a lot of time on your hands you start to contemplate what is the meaning of life, what is the purpose of all this and things start to become meaningless.
"If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned."
This warns of the consequences of disconnection from Jesus, symbolizing spiritual death and judgment.
Takeaways from this spiritual lesson from the Vine and Branches:
Dependence: Believers must depend on Christ for spiritual vitality (capacity to live and develop) and productivity.
Fruitfulness: A life connected to Jesus produces good works, character growth, and love.
Pruning: God's discipline and challenges are meant to help believers grow stronger and more fruitful.
Separation: Disconnection from Christ leads to spiritual barrenness (barren means incapable of reproducing) and judgment.
We are encouraged from this message to cultivate a close, abiding relationship with Christ, trusting in His life-giving power to sustain and guide them.
12/1/2024
Virtues and Vices
In Christian theology, virtues are qualities or habits that reflect the moral excellence and holiness of God. They are seen as qualities that believers should strive to embody, as they lead to a life that aligns with God’s will and teachings.
Christian virtues help believers to grow in Christlikeness, build a strong moral character, and cultivate deeper relationships with God and others.
There are many types of virtues but when we dissect Jesus’ earthly ministry, we can reflect on His divine and human natures and these virtues of Christ serve as a model for Christians to emulate in our daily lives.
These virtues include humility, love, patience, obedience, forgiveness, righteousness, meekness, faithfulness, compassion, and wisdom.
Humility is the quality of being humble. It involves recognizing that we are not superior to others, that we have limitations, and that all our abilities and achievements are ultimately gifts from God. Everything we have is through the grace of God.
Humility involves valuing others above us and considering their needs and interests more important than our own (Philippians 2:3-4). It’s about serving others with a heart of love and not seeking to elevate oneself over them.
Jesus exemplified humility in His life. Despite being the Son of God, He humbled Himself by becoming a servant and even washing His disciples' feet (John 13:12-15). His ultimate act of humility was His sacrificial death on the cross for the sins of humanity (Philippians 2:6-8).
The opposite of humility is pride.
Love is the supreme virtue and the foundation of all others. It is the selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional care and concern for others that reflects the nature and character of God. Jesus exemplified this virtue perfectly during His earthly ministry, showing what true love looks like in action.
Jesus’ love is not self-seeking but sacrificial. His ultimate act of love was giving His life on the cross for the sins of humanity (John 15:13; Romans 5:8). This demonstrates that love often requires putting others' needs above our own, even at great personal cost.
Christ’s love is offered without preconditions. He loved sinners, outcasts, and even His enemies (Matthew 5:44-45; Luke 19:10). This virtue challenges believers to love others regardless of their behavior, status, or actions.
The opposite of love is hate.
Patience reflects His enduring love, compassion, and trust in God's timing. It is the ability to bear difficulties, delays, and offenses with a calm and steadfast spirit, rooted in faith and humility. Christ's patience serves as a model for believers to emulate in their relationship with God and others.
Jesus exemplified patience in how He endured suffering, rejection, and betrayal. Despite being wronged and misunderstood, He never retaliated or became angry but instead trusted in God's plan.
His endurance during His trials and crucifixion demonstrates perfect patience.
Jesus repeatedly explained His mission, parables, and lessons, even when His audience struggled to comprehend (Matthew 13:10-13). His patience reflects His commitment to helping others understand the truth.
Patience is listed as one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). This means that true patience is cultivated through a relationship with God and reliance on the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts.
The opposite of the virtue of patience is impatience, which manifests as frustration, irritability, or intolerance in the face of delays, difficulties, or imperfections. While patience reflects calm endurance and trust in God’s timing, impatience reveals a lack of self-control, faith, or compassion.
Obedience is the willing and joyful submission to God’s will, reflecting trust, humility, and love. Jesus exemplified perfect obedience, aligning His life completely with the Father’s plan. This virtue serves as a cornerstone for Christian living, demonstrating how a life surrendered to God leads to fulfillment and purpose.
Jesus’ life was marked by His unwavering commitment to doing the will of the Father. He said, “I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38).
Obedience requires aligning one’s desires, actions, and choices with God’s commands, even when it is challenging.
The ultimate example of Christ’s obedience is His willingness to sacrifice Himself on the cross. Despite the immense suffering, He prayed, “Not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
This teaches that true obedience often involves self-denial and a readiness to endure hardship for the sake of God’s greater purpose.
Christ’s obedience was not out of fear or obligation but a deep love for the Father and humanity. He said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
Obedience as a virtue of Christ is rooted in a relationship of love, not legalism.
The opposite of obedience is disobedience, which manifests as willful rebellion, disregard, for God’s commands, or neglect of His will. While obedience reflects humility, trust, and love for God, disobedience reveals pride, self-will, and a lack of submission to His authority.
Disobedience is one of America’s greatest downfalls. Since the 1970s from the hippie era, man has learned, taught and spread self-will. This became what we now know as the New Age movement. The self-help became self-gratification, and eventually became selfishness.
The self-help created a dependency on oneself and led people away from God.
The New Age movement was also viewed as a religious movement with an emphasis on occultism, spiritualism, new thought, all of this with a strong emphasis on the spiritual authority of the self.
Not only was there the creation of this belief system of self but this was also the era where there was a spike in the use of psychedelic drugs, transcendental meditation and these different forms of divination that not only lead people further away from God but they were creating these openings, through the laws of spiritual physics allowing for all forms of demonic possessions and attacks.
This is the complete opposite of what we read in the Bible and what we are teaching and sharing with one another here.
God never said ‘hey I created you and now you’re on your own. You need to depend on yourself. Good luck.’
On the contrary, you are born into this word in the natural self, you are born again the day you become a Christian, and the Spirit of God dwells inside of you, and through patience, obedience, and many other virtues, we are collaborating with God, trusting in God, to work Himself inside of you to create the best version of yourself.
Forgiveness is the act of extending grace, mercy and love to those who have wronged us, reflecting Christ’s own forgiveness of humanity. It is a selfless and transformative virtue rooted in compassion and humility, demonstrating a willingness to release resentment and reconcile with others.
Christ bore humanity’s sins on the cross, offering forgiveness free to all who repent, and this created the foundation for believers to forgive others.
The opposite of forgiveness is unforgiveness, which manifests as harboring resentment, bitterness, or a refusal to release others from their wrongs. Unforgiveness can be viewed as being stemmed from pride, anger, or a lack of trust in God’s justice.
Unforgiveness creates division, fosters hostility and keeps wounds open. When these wounds are open, harboring hatred/bitterness, it defiles the heart and spirit and this bitterness will grow. It creates a barrier to God’s blessings, and it invites spiritual oppression.
Righteousness refers to living in perfect alignment with God’s will, characterized by moral purity, holiness, and obedience.
Jesus lived a sinless life, fulfilling all of God’s laws and embodying holiness. We may not be able to live up to those exact standards, but the key point here is to try. God wants to see us try to be righteous as much as we can.
Reflect on your own life and list the areas or things you can refrain from to live a life free from sin and corruption.
The opposite of righteousness is unrighteousness where someone lives a life apart from God, filled with sin, disobedience, and injustice.
Meekness means being calm, humble, and gentle, even when life is unfair, or people treat you badly. It’s about staying peaceful instead of reacting with anger or pride. Almost like you have this force field around you and no way can take your peace away from you.
Meekness is a certain type of strength wrapped in kindness and not to be mistaken for weakness. It’s a gentle strength.
What comes to mind for me when describing meekness are the Buddhist monks. They have this gentle strength about them, they are humble, and they have a lot of self-control. All they’re missing is the God element.
Imagine someone insults you. Meekness doesn’t mean you let them walk all over you, but it does mean you don’t insult them back or try to “win.” Instead, you might calmly walk away or respond with kindness, knowing that God values your peace and self-control.
The opposite of meekness is pride or arrogance, often accompanied by traits like aggressiveness, stubbornness, and self-assertion. Instead of being humble, gentle, and self-controlled, a person who lacks meekness seeks to dominate, prove superiority, or insist on their way, even at the expense of others.
In the context of the virtues of Christ, faithfulness refers to loyalty, unwavering trust, and complete reliability in fulfilling commitments to God and others.
Jesus fully trusted the Father’s plan, even in difficult circumstances, such as His journey to the cross. He knew it was going to be horrible and full of pain and suffering, but He still did it anyways because of His unwavering trust in the Father.
Faithfulness involves relying on God’s promises and acting in obedience, knowing He is faithful to His Word (Hebrews 10:23).
Living out faithfulness can be trusting in God especially during challenges, be reliable by keeping your word, follow through on commitments, and act with integrity. Start by practicing with something such as being on time or making a commitment to God that you will pray everyday and talk to Him just for one minute. Stay obedient and serve faithfully by dedicating some of your time and talents to God’s work.
The opposite of faithfulness is unfaithfulness or infidelity, which means not being loyal or truthful to someone who trusts you. It’s when you break a promise, lie, or do something that hurts the trust between you and another person.
Characteristics of unfaithfulness can be disloyalty, inconsistency, rebellion against God, self-centeredness, and/or deception.
The key aspects of compassion are seeing and understanding others’ pain, feeling deep care and taking action to help others as well as unconditional love.
Jesus often noticed the needs of others that others overlooked, showing empathy for their struggles. Compassion starts with paying attention to people and trying to understand what they’re going through. Then it goes deeper and it’s not just thinking about someone but that you care deeply about their situation and leads to doing something to relieve suffering or meet a need.
Just simply saying “thoughts and prayers” or putting up a certain hashtag or a certain phrase with your profile pic on social media is not being compassionate.
There is no real action being produced here.
Jesus showed compassion by healing the sick, feeding the hungry, weeping with the brokenhearted and forgiving sinners.
The opposite of compassion is indifference or apathy, which means not caring about the pains, needs or struggles of others. Being cold-hearted. A judge can easily show no compassion by using the law to make someone pay the price for what they did without understanding the circumstances of the situation and showing compassion.
Wisdom is the ability to discern what is true, right, and best and to apply that knowledge in practical ways that honor God and benefit others. It is more than just knowledge but knowing how to apply it in a way that leads to Godly living.
Jesus was the embodiment of divine wisdom, demonstrated perfect wisdom throughout His life, teaching profound truths, making sound decisions, and living out God’s will in every situation.
The opposite of wisdom is foolishness: a lack of good judgement, the inability to understand or apply knowledge properly, making decisions that are unwise or harmful.
These virtues are developed through prayer, Scripture study, worship, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who empowers believers to live according to God’s standards. The pursuit of virtues is part of a lifelong journey in sanctification, the process of becoming more like Christ.
Virtues are both gifts and goals: they are qualities God desires in believers, and through grace, they are nurtured by the Holy Spirit.
On the other hand, a vice is a moral failing or sinful habit that opposes God's will and disrupts one's relationship with Him. Vices are behaviors, attitudes, or tendencies that lead a person away from righteousness and can harm both the individual and others.
Commonly referenced vices include pride, greed, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth, often called the "seven deadly sins."
Vices are seen as obstacles to spiritual growth and as qualities that distort the image of God within a person. Overcoming vices is considered essential to pursuing holiness and aligning oneself with the teachings of Christ.
Sexual immorality, impurity, lust, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfish ambition, dissension, arrogance, envy, murder, idolatry, sorcery, drunkenness, wild parties, cheating, adultery, practicing homosexuality, greed, stealing, lying.
Spend time in prayer with God and talk to Him about which virtues you want to work on and which vices you want to get rid of.
11/24/2024
The Great Equalizer and The Concept of Ikigai
Time is the great equalizer. No matter how rich or poor you are, how young or old…we all have 24 hours in a day. It makes us equal in that sense. So it’s up to you to figure out how you manage these 24 hours.
There are tons of podcasts dedicated to interviewing CEOs and how they manage their time but a great example is that of Kobe Bean Bryant RIP.
Kobe at 18 years old entering into the NBA knew he wanted to be the best basketball player on planet earth. He also knew there were a lot of other better players. He knew he wasn’t extremely gifted in the sport. Compared to his peers, he wasn’t very tall and he wasn’t very athletic, wasn’t that quick, didn’t have large hands.
So he knew he had to set out to practice and train AND he knew about the great equalizer which is time.
He knew for a typical NBA player, he’s waking up at 10am and you train at 12pm for 2 hours then you rest and recover then start training again at 6pm for 2 hours then you go home, eat and rest and go to sleep. That’s two sessions.
But what Kobe did was he started training at 4am…4-6am go home rest…9-11am…2-4pm…6-8pm
So what he’s done is squeezed in 2 more sessions per day.
By constantly going through this routine and as each year went on, the separation between him and his competitors grew more and more and he knew five years into this regiment that no matter how much his peers practiced they were never going to catch up to him.
You can’t get that time back. And btw, 4am seems to be the norm for successful people.
So whats the message here? 1) Time goes by real quick, especially as we age, most of us will all go through these different stages: school, career, family, retirement so how will you manage your time properly? Time waits for no one. And you can’t go back. 2) If you want to get good at something or to get ahead or want to be the best, you have to be like Kobe Bryant and figure out how to micromanage your 24 hours.
Another way to view your time is for the most part you will put aside 8 hours for sleeping, 8 hours towards work or school, and how do you manage the remaining 8 hours?
Regardless of what stage you are in life, treasure your time. Discover what purpose God has for your life. Unlock the gifts the Lord has blessed you with. Find something that makes you want to wake up each day because your purpose fuels you.
The Parable of the Talents is a teaching of Jesus found in Matthew 25. It highlights the importance of faithful stewardship in anticipation of Jesus’ return.
The Story: (the term ‘talent’ refers to a unit of currency during the time of Jesus)
A man (representing God) is going on a journey and entrusts his property to his servants:
To one servant, he gives five talents (a large sum of money).
To another, he gives two talents.
To a third, he gives one talent.
Each servant receives an amount based on their abilities.
The servant with five talents invests and doubles his amount, earning five more.
The servant with two talents also doubles his amount, earning two more.
The servant with one talent, however, buries it in the ground out of fear and does nothing with it.
When the master returns, he calls the servants to account:
The first two servants report their profits, and the master praises them, saying, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
The third servant, however, admits he was afraid and hid the money. The master rebukes him for his laziness and failure to use what he was given. The one talent is taken from him and given to the servant with ten talents.
Deeper Meaning
The deeper meaning of the parable transcends the monetary reference
The parable uses "talents" as a metaphor for the resources, opportunities, and abilities that God entrusts to you. While the immediate context is money, the broader interpretation encourages believers to faithfully steward whatever God has given them—whether material wealth, spiritual gifts, skills, or opportunities—for His glory and the benefit of others.
This parable highlights the importance of faithful stewardship
Stewardship: the act of caring for or improving with time.
The Parable of the Talents emphasizes faithful stewardship over everything God entrusts to us in life.
Faithful stewardship means recognizing that everything we have belongs to God and being intentional about growing, improving, and using these blessings for His glory and the good of others. Whether it’s your faith, skills, time, finances, or relationships, God calls you to manage these gifts with diligence, creativity, and purpose.
Lessons from the Parable:
Faithful Stewardship: The talents symbolize the gifts, resources, and opportunities God entrusts to His people. Believers are called to use them wisely and for His glory.
Accountability: There will be a time of reckoning when everyone must account for how they managed what they were given.
Reward and Responsibility: Faithfulness in small things leads to greater responsibilities and blessings in God's kingdom.
Judgment for Inaction: Failure to use what God has given is seen as wasteful and unfaithful. The third servant's punishment demonstrates the seriousness of neglecting one's responsibilities.
Key Verse:
"For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." (Matthew 25:29)
The Japanese concept of Ikigai
One tool to help find your purpose is the Japanese concept called Ikigai, which means ‘a reason for being’ and it helps give a person a sense of purpose, a reason for living.
Ikigai encourages reflection on four key areas:
Pink - What you love
Green - What the world needs (demand)
Yellow - What you can be paid for
Purple – What you are good at (profession)
Christians: we add in the fifth key area à God’s guidance/faith in God
What the different color combinations represent
Vocation: just a job (yellow/green) it’s what the world needs and we fulfill that void by providing a product or service
The world needs shoes so you work at the shoe store and sell shoes and get paid for it
The world needs to eat so you work at McDonalds and feed people burgers and get paid for it
Profession: (purple/yellow) Requires higher level of skills.
You are good at communication, strategy and data analysis and you get paid to help promote products, services or brands
You are good at storytelling and you become a journalist
Passion: (purple/pink) It’s what you are good at and it’s what you love to do
You’re a good painter and you love art
You’re a good musician and you love music
Mission: (pink/green) It’s what you love and what the world needs (supply and demand)
You love teaching and the world needs education
You love helping people feel better and the world needs access to health care
What You’re Missing
Vocation (green/yellow): what the world needs/what we can be paid for (green/yellow)
The world needs burgers/I need to make some money
This doesn’t fill in the blue area which is what you are good at and ultimately you may end up feeling uncertain all the time. You may feel like you’re suppose to do something else in life.
This is not what you love. There is no passion.
Profession: (purple/yellow) what we are good at; usually requires higher level of skills combined with getting paid.
So this is probably where most people fall under. You go and get a degree in accounting because you’re good with numbers and you work for a big company sitting in front of the computer every day crunching numbers.
This is missing the pink part, the love, so there is no passion.
You may end up making a lot of money but you will be miserable because it’s not what you love.
There is a demand for accountants so the mission is there but even if you have three out of the four you can still end up being miserable.
You may feel comfortable (financially stable) but you may feel empty inside
Passion: (purple/pink) what we are good at/what we love
You’re the best in the world at painting monkey mermaids. Your mom told you so. You love drawing and you’re really good at drawing these majestic creatures.
But there’s no demand for it. No one wants to hang an art piece of a monkey mermaid.
Because there’s no demand for it you can’t get paid for it.
You won’t even have energy to be miserable. You will be struggling through life and starving.
You are satisfied with your artwork but feeling of no positive impact on the world. What are you gonna do with all those drawings of the monkey mermaids?
Mission: (pink/green) what we love and what the world needs
You love animals and there’s a demand for people to work at the animal shelter to take care of the animals.
But they barely get any funding from the city so the pay is really low.
What you are good at, your skill sets are also not being applied into this job. You are just feeding and washing the animals and cleaning after their poo.
There’s delight for the love of animals but without pay it’s gonna be rough
Once you can find something that lands in the middle of this diagram, that becomes your purpose.
At the same time, what is right in the middle of this diagram is God’s guidance and our faith in Him.
So once we have our purpose we present it to God and ask Him for direction and that our faith is in Him that He will lead us onto the right path.
But wait…it almost seems counterintuitive that on one hand we are to use human understanding while having faith in God and staying centered on God’s guidance. So how do we connect these two ideas and make sense of it?
God gives us the gift of human understanding, creativity, and wisdom to navigate life.
We use human understanding as a tool to help us make sense of the world, to help us make sense of ourselves of who we are…what we like, dislike, what are our strengths, weaknesses, our personality traits, our skill sets and we pray to God to guide us toward the right path to use all the self-discoveries to further His kingdom.
It means we don’t just simply ignore our intellect; it means not relying on it alone and to include God.
If you’re considering a career path, you can reason through your skills, passions, and opportunities but still submit those conclusions to God in prayer to ensure they align with His purpose for you.
By trusting in the Lord, we align our human understanding with His divine will.
Remember that God has His plan (His divine will) and we are part of it but for it to work smoothly we need to work with Him.
There are many tools out there to help us discover ourselves but all of this must be rooted in prayer and reliance on God.
Our purpose can align with biblical principles when approached through the lens of faith.
So what we want to do here is to find our purpose and then through prayer to ask God for guidance so we align our purpose with His divine will.
This is about finding purpose through faith in God and human understanding.
The Bible teaches us the importance of trusting in God for direction, as seen in Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." This reminds us that our ultimate guide is God, who knows our purpose better than we ever could.
Through a faithful approach, you can use your intellectual abilities and wisdom to discern your purpose while ensuring your life remains centered on God’s guidance.
This integration reflects how faith and wisdom work together in discovering and living out the purpose for which you were created.
11/17/2024
Protect Your Mornings and Making Your Bed
Father Dan Reehil has a saying he practices everyday called ‘protect your mornings.’
Each new day can get away from us pretty quickly with our busy lives. From the moment you wake up to the time you go to sleep, it can easily be non stop through out the whole day.
Often times there are days where unexpected things pop up and next thing you know you’re going two steps back before you can complete the task you started off with.
A typical day can be you wake up, check your phone, take a shower, eat breakfast, head out to work, go to the gym, go home to make dinner, relax a little bit, go to sleep.
Where is God in all of this?
We need to start the day off in prayer with God. Invite Him into our space, into our spirit and ask Him to lead the way.
It is not us that goes out into the day to help others but it’s God that works through us. It’s His grace and His power and if we are not filled up on God than you’re kind of worthless for the rest of the day.
We understand the concept of having a solid foundation and each new day also needs to have its solid foundation, which starts off with God.
Not only does this create a path for God to lead but it also creates a good foundation for your emotions.
Talk to God, pray, read the Bible, listen to a sermon, tons of Christian podcasts, listen to Christian music.
Admiral William H. McRaven, a retired United States Navy SEAL, held the rank of Admiral when he retired in 2014. This is a four-star rank, the second-highest possible rank in the U.S. Navy, just below Fleet Admiral, which is only used in wartime.
There is a video of Admiral McRaven giving a commencement speech and in it he talks about the importance of starting off the day with making your bed.
By making your bed you will have accomplished the first task of the day.
It will give you a small sense of pride and encourage you to do another task and another and another.
By the end of the day that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed.
Making your bed also reinforces that the little things matter. If you can’t do the little things right you will never be able to do the big things right.
And if by chance you have a miserable day, you will at least go home to a bed that’s made. Back to the spot of the first accomplishment for that day and it will be an encouragement that tomorrow will be better.
Start each day by making your bed and enriching your relationship with God.
11/10/2024
Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
In Galatians chapter two, Paul is speaking to the churches of Galatia and writing to correct false teachings and defend his apostleship, emphasizing the gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, rather that relying on works of the law.
In Galatians 2:20 Paul specifically says “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Because God wants us to love him by choice, He has given us the freedom of the will. Free will is intrinsically woven into the ethic of love.
When we choose to believe in God, to love Him and to want to be with Him, that is the foundational step in the Christian faith where we begin our relationship with God. But we must genuinely put our faith in Christ and surrender to Him for the transformation to begin.
This initial transformation is seen as an act of grace, where God enters a person's life through His Spirit. However, the ongoing work of the Spirit often involves a continual, conscious process of surrender and growth and can be broken down into stages.
Initial Indwelling of the Holy Spirit: When someone believes in Jesus as Savior, the Holy Spirit enters their life. Scriptures like Ephesians 1:13-14 say that believers are “sealed with the Holy Spirit” as a mark of their salvation and belonging to God. Similarly, Romans 8:9 states, “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ,” affirming that all who believe in Christ have His Spirit within them.
Transformation and Sanctification: While the Spirit begins working in believers immediately, the transformative power of God is a lifelong process. Philippians 1:6 tells us that “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.” This means that while God’s Spirit starts working right away, it’s a journey where believers grow and change, becoming more like Christ over time.
Surrender and Growth: Even though God’s Spirit lives within, believers are called to actively “walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16) and to “put to death” their old sinful ways (Colossians 3:5). This requires a willingness to let go of old habits and self-centeredness, choosing instead to follow God’s guidance. This process is not automatic but involves a daily, intentional surrender to the Spirit’s influence.
God’s Spirit begins to dwell in us the moment we believe. But for deep transformation, a believer must continually yield to God’s work, allowing the Spirit to renew their mind, reshape their character, and guide their choices. This combination of God’s work within and our willingness to let go of our old ways leads to a life that reflects Christ more fully over time.
One of the main points of this verse regards being “crucified with Christ”. Through faith, Christians believe they "die" to their old selves—their sins, desires, and self-centeredness—just as Jesus physically died on the cross. This means a decisive break from the past life of sin.
This is a good example of why Christianity is a way of life more than it is a religion. Just as it took many years for us to form our ways of being the ‘natural’ man, it now will take many years for us to peel away the layers of our old self and replace it with the ways of Jesus as we form our ‘spirit’ man.
The peeling away of our old self can mean battling our vices. We may have accumulated a life of vices and bad habits that will take time to conquer including and not limited to alcoholism, smoking, illicit and prescription drugs, pornography, being unfaithful to your partner and the list goes on.
Another point is that “it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me,” which highlights that while we are physically alive, our old self has been replaced by a new life in Christ. This transformation is so profound that it’s as if Jesus lives through us, guiding His actions, thoughts, and motivations.
The old self, the life without Jesus, was a life focused on self-centered desires and ambitions and it has been replaced by a new identity that aligns with Jesus. This new life is intertwined with the life of Jesus as the new self is now a part of the body of Christ, adopting His purpose and values as their own.
This doesn’t mean the believer stops pursuing a career or creating a family but that this new identity redefines the ambitions and goals. A believer will see their work, family, and other activities as ways to serve God, contribute to the world, and show Christ’s love and character rather than pursuing these things solely for personal gain.
The phrase “Christ lives in me” indicates that Jesus is the source of strength, wisdom, and guidance for the believer. Rather than relying on personal strength, abilities, or willpower, believers depend on Jesus to guide and empower them. This shift means that believers are not left to navigate life alone but are continually renewed and supported by Christ’s presence within them.
It also points to living a life directed by Jesus’ teachings and example. The believer’s goals, behaviors, and attitudes increasingly reflect Jesus' love, humility, and compassion. This doesn’t mean that they lose their personality or uniqueness, but rather that their character and actions become aligned with Christ’s nature.
Just as Jesus lived a life of self-sacrifice and obedience to God, believers who have Christ “living in them” are called to let go of self-centered ambitions and live for a higher purpose. This is the process of sanctification, where the Holy Spirit helps believers grow in Christ-like qualities, gradually transforming their hearts and actions to align with God’s will.
It’s also important to remember the part “The life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God” as it is a reminder that we are still human, facing earthly challenges. However, our life is now guided by faith and trust in Jesus rather than personal desires or the law. Our daily life is lived in trust and dependence on Jesus, rather than on our own human understanding or effort alone.
And the last part of the verse “Who loved me and gave Himself for me” reflects on Christ’s love, which was demonstrated through His sacrificial death. This love serves as the foundation for our faith, inspiring gratitude, and a devotion to live for Jesus.
There is an emphasis on Christ’s love being personal and unconditional. Jesus didn’t just love humanity as a whole but loves each person individually, with an intimate and sacrificial love. This is a love that values each person deeply, regardless of their flaws, past sins, or mistakes.
Jesus willingly gave His life on the cross, He wasn’t forced into His sacrifice. He chose to lay down His life out of love and obedience to the Father. This act represents the highest form of love – sacrificing one’s life for others.
In short, Galatians 2:20 encapsulates the gospel’s core: God’s personal and sacrificial love demonstrated through Jesus’ life and death. It reassures believers that they are valued, loved and redeemed, motivating them to live a life transformed by Christ’s love.
Relevant Verses
Romans 6:6-7 – “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
Colossians 3:3-4 – “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
Philippians 1:21 – “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
John 15:4-5 – “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Ephesians 3:17 – “So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love...”
10/27/2024
Our Mysterious, Artistic, Patient God
Here are some interesting facts about the boundless universe that God has created.
The observable universe contains about 2 trillion galaxies. Each galaxy with roughly 100 billion stars.
There are about 7.5 sextillion grains of sand on earth.
The universe holds about a billion planets for every grain of sand on earth.
Scientists estimate that the unobservable universe has a volume that is 15 million times greater than the observable universe.
It is very hard to comprehend just how vast the universe is but these numbers help paint the picture.
It is simply amazing to get a glimpse into the vast and never ending universe.
The Supreme Ethic of Love
1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love”
This verse suggests that while faith, hope, and love are all important, love is the greatest because it is the foundation and fulfillment of Christian conduct.
Faith connects believers to God, hope provides the strength to endure, and love binds everything together in harmony.
Love is not just an attribute (characteristic) but the core essence of God’s nature. God is love and therefore, central to the life of a believer.
Paul’s emphasis on love reflects the belief that love is eternal, extending beyond this life, while faith and hope are more directly tied to our earthly journey.
In this chapter apostle Paul wrote about the qualities of love and its central importance in the life of a believer, especially in the context of spiritual gifts.
In verses 1-3, Paul explains that possessing spiritual gifts like prophecy, knowledge, and even self-sacrifice is meaningless without love. He argues that love is the heart of every true Christian act, surpassing any ability or accomplishment.
In verses 4-7, Paul describes the nature of saying “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves.” This description serves as a reminder that love is an active choice and a way of living that reflects Christ’s nature.
Love is patient: as our parents age and are not as agile, we as children must learn to be more patient with them. Patience is a virtue.
Love is kind: Kindness involves an active willingness to help, even when it means to take from your time to help someone. Kindness also means an active willingness to listen. You will come to learn that listening is more powerful than speaking. When you actively listen to someone you are getting that person, you are understanding that person, you are empathizing with their situation. It makes that other person feel like they are being understood and you’re not just listening so you can respond.
Love is forgiving: genuine love involves willingness to overlook, let go of, or excuse mistakes, wrongs or offenses committed by others. A forgiving love does not hold onto grudges or seek revenge; instead it seeks to restore relationships and promote healing. Forgiving applies to forgiving others and forgiving yourself and therefore it’s loving others and loving yourself.
Love is enduring: means love is resilient, long lasting, and able to withstand challenges, difficulties, and the passage of time. Enduring love remains strong despite obstacles, misunderstandings, or changes in circumstances. This type of love often involves a deep emotional connection that grows stronger over time, fostering trust and intimacy. True love is not just about the initial spark or romantic feelings; it is about a lasting commitment to care for and cherish each other, no matter what challenges arise.
There are many more attributes of love but this provides an opening to God’s nature.
Ethic refers to a set of moral principles or values that guides a person’s behavior. It influences your decision making and actions including concepts like honesty, fairness, responsibility and respect.
Ethics help shape how people treat each other.
The supreme ethic that God has given us is the ethic of love.
But you cannot have love without intrinsically weaving into the freedom of the will.
This means that love cannot exist without the nature of free will.
One common question asked by non believers to a Christian is “If God is real, why did He allow that three year old kid to get shot” This question can come in many forms including “Why did God allow my dad to get cancer” or “Why didn’t God stop that accident from happening” but ultimately they all mean the same thing.
Answer: freedom of the will
God has to allow humans the freedom of the will in order for the opportunity to choose to love Him and along with the freedom of the will is the dark side of it, which is to choose to do evil.
Free will is intrinsically woven into love. There cannot be be love without the freedom of the will.
You can ask the question because you’re free to ask it and you’re free to ask it because you’re free to love and when you love Him in spite of all the contraries that you see around you, you’re trusting in Him for having the supreme wisdom and knowledge.
Love is the supreme ethic and freedom is indispensable to love and God’s supreme goal is for you to love Him with all of your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself, for Him to violate our free will would be to violate that which is a necessary component so that love can flourish and that love can be expressed.
10/20/2024
The Ten Commandments aka The Ten Basic Rules of Life Part 3
The fifth commandment reads ‘Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.’ This commandment is so important that it’s the only commandment that gives you a reason for observing it.
Many people read that part of the fifth commandment as a reward but while it may be regarded as a reward, the fact is that it’s a reason. If you build a society where the children honor their parents, your society will long survive. The opposite also holds true for a society where if the children do not honor their parents is doomed to self-destruction.
In the context of ‘honoring your parents,’ the word honor means showing deep respect, love and gratitude for them. It involves recognizing their authority, valuing their guidance, and treating them with kindness and consideration. It can also include taking care of them in their old age, listening to their advice, speaking well of them, and making choices that reflect respect for the sacrifices they’ve made.
Parents are unique so they are to be treated in an unique way. You don’t talk to them in quite the same way you do anyone else, you don’t call them by their first name, and when you move out one day you maintain contact with them. Not remaining in contact with them is the opposite of honoring your parents.
In today’s society, honoring parents and maintaining civilization is not widely recognized. There are parents who believe their children don’t need to honor them because ‘honoring’ implies an authority figure.
It’s also interesting to point out that in the Bible there are commandments to love our neighbor, love God and even love the stranger but none regarding to love our parents. The Bible understands that there will always be individuals who for whatever reason do not love a parent therefore it does not demand what may be psychologically or emotionally impossible. But it does demand to show honor to our parents and only parents as there is no one else who the Bible commands to honor.
It’s important to understand the importance for children to honor their parents for a thriving society. Children need this because if not then the parents are essentially just grown-up peers.
Honoring parents is nearly how everyone comes to recognize that there is a moral authority above us to whom we are morally accountable and without this we cannot create or maintain a moral society.
It is also very difficult to come to honor God without having had a parent, especially a father to honor. Sigmund Freud, the father of psychiatry and an atheist theorized that one’s attitude towards one’s father largely shaped one’s attitude toward God.
Remember this: if your children see you honor your parents, no matter how difficult it may sometimes be, the chances are far greater, that they will honor you.
The sixth commandment is ‘You shall not murder’ and although it seems very clear on what it’s commanding, it is the least well-understood of the Ten Commandments.
In the original Hebrew text it says ‘Do not murder’ and in the King James version it says ‘Thou shall not kill.’
In Hebrew, the word kill means:
Taking any life, whether human being or animal
Taking a human life deliberately or by accident
Taking a human life legally or illegally, morally or immorally
In Hebrew, the word murder means the illegal or immoral taking of a human life
Example: we say ‘I killed a mosquito’ and not ‘I murdered a mosquito’ since it’s not illegal or immoral to kill a mosquito.
Example: the worker was accidentally killed and not accidentally murdered.
400 years ago when the translation was made for the King James version, the word ‘kill’ was synonymous with ‘murder’ but English has changed since the 1600’s.
If it isn’t different compared to the 1600’s then we would all have to be vegetarians since we couldn’t kill animals and we would all have to be pacifists since we could not kill even in self-defense.
The very same part of the Bible that contains the Ten Commandments commands the death penalty for murder, allows killing in war, prescribes animal sacrifice and allows eating meat.
A correct understanding of the commandment against murder is crucial because while virtually every translation correctly translates the commandment as do not murder, many people cite the King James translation to justify two positions that have no biblical bases: opposition to capital punishment (also known as the death penalty) and Pacifism (which is the belief that all forms of violence, including war and killing are unjustifiable).
The seventh commandment is ‘you shall not commit adultery’ and it may be the hardest commandment to observe.
The power of the sex drive can be very hard to control especially when someone of the opposite sex makes him or herself sexually or romantically available
Another reason is the human desire to love and be loved and sometimes a marriage can become stale or stagnant or becomes a loveless marriage and when someone else gives you attention, that’s a sign of trouble.
Adultery is prohibited because it is indispensable to forming and maintaining higher civilization. It threatens the very building block of the civilization that the Ten Commandments seeks to create, which is the family that consists of a married father and mother and children. Anything that threatens the family unit is prohibited in the Bible.
These threats include adultery, not honoring one’s father and mother, and incest.
Without a family unit social instability is impossible and the passing on of society’s values from generation to generation is impossible.
The eighth commandment is ‘you shall not steal’ and some will say this commandment encompasses all the other commandments. Murdering can be viewed as the stealing of another person’s life, adultery is the stealing of another person’s spouse, coveting is the desire to steal another person’s belongings, and giving false testimony is the stealing of justice.
This commandment is also unique in another way. It is the only commandment that is completely open-ended. All the other commandments are specific but the commandment of stealing forbids taking anything that belongs to another person.
Specifically, it is forbidden to steal another person, another person’s belongings, freedom and non-material things such as reputation, dignity, trust and intellectual property.
Reputation: stealing a person’s good name whether through libel, slander or gossip is a particularly destructive form of theft. Unlike money or property, once a person’s good name has been stolen it can almost never be fully restored.
Dignity: the act of stealing someone’s dignity is known as humiliation and humiliating a person, especially in public, can do permanent damage.
Trust: stealing a person’s trust is known as deceiving someone
Intellectual property: this form of theft includes anything from copying software or downloading music and movies without paying for them to stealing a person’s words what we know as plagiarism.
The ninth commandment is ‘you shall not give false witness against your neighbor’. This means you do not lie when testifying in court and do not lie period.
There is no hope for justice and a society cannot survive if there is a contempt for truth
The Hebrew bible was so adamant on this subject that the punishment imposed on a witness who gave false testimony was the same as the punishment for the guilty.
Truth is more powerful than a nuclear bomb. While a nuclear bomb has immense physical destructive power, truth – especially moral, spiritual, or divine truth – has a much greater, lasting impact on human lives and society. Truth has the ability to shape hearts, minds, and cultures. The truth about God’s existence, morality, and the purpose of life has the power to change lives more profoundly than any weapon could every destroy them.
In the Ten Commandments, commandments one through four pertain to the relationship between man and God and commandments five through ten pertain to how we as humans shall treat one another. Particularly commandments six, seven, eight and nine are the ones that prohibit the acts of evil: murder, adultery, stealing, perjury.
Then there’s one commandment that prohibits the thing that leads to these same acts of evil and that is the last commandment: do not covet anything that belongs to others; not their spouse, their house, their servants, their animals, or any of their property.
This is the only one of the ten commandments that legislates thought and all the other commandments legislate behavior.
Why does the ten commandments include a law that prohibits a thought? Because it’s coveting that so often leads to evil. Coveting is what leads to violating commandments 6-9.
People often times commit murder, adultery and steal because they covet something that belongs to another person.
Perjury can also be included because there’s a chance the person is bearing false witness to get away from the murder, adultery or stealing.
To covet is much more than “to want.”
The Hebrew word for covet means to want to the point of seeking to take away and own something that belongs to another person.
The two operative elements here: seeking to own and belongs to another person
Seeking to own doesn’t mean you’re just envying or just lusting after.
Envy is the feeling you get when you want something that someone else has – whether it’s their success, possessions, or qualities.
Lusting means having a strong desire, usually for someone in a physical or sexual way. It’s more about craving someone for their looks or attraction rather than having deep feelings for them.
Both envy and lust are prohibited in the ten commandments and if uncontrolled they can surely lead to bad things.
But neither is the same as coveting. Coveting is now going past the wanting or having feelings of and almost inevitably leads to stealing, adultery, and sometimes even to murder.
Here’s another way of painting this picture: the tenth commandment does not prohibit you from saying “Wow, what a great house or car or spouse my neighbor has. I wish I had such a house or car or spouse.”
It may end up destructive or it may end up constructive. It may spur you to work harder or improve your life so you can obtain these things you want.
It is when you want and seek to gain possession of this specific house, car or spouse that belongs to another that evil ensues and that is what the tenth commandment prohibits.
So again, we simply cannot allow ourselves to covet what belongs to our neighbor. Whatever belongs to another person must be regarded as sacrosanct.
Sacrosanct basically means sacred but more so, it means most sacred or holy.
We cannot seek to own anything that belongs to another because only evil can come of it.
10/13/2024
The Ten Commandments aka The Ten Basic Rules of Life Part 2
The third commandment comes from Deuteronomy 5:11 that says ‘Do not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. For the Lord will not hold guiltless whoever takes His name in vain’ means to not disrespect His name and to not misuse it.
Often when people are in shock or surprised, they may yell out ‘Oh my God’ or ‘Jesus Christ’ or when upset they may yell out ‘God damn it.’ These are examples of misusing the Lord’s name.
Misuse can also be as casual as saying ‘God, I wish Becky would shut her mouth’ or on a more serious note, swearing to God.
In Matthew 12:36-37, Jesus says “I tell you, on the day of judgement people will give account for every careless word they speak. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
To go deeper into this commandment, in Hebrew it does not start off with ‘Do not take the name of the Lord’ but instead ‘Do not carry the name of the Lord thy God in vain’ or even in the NIV it says ‘You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.’
Therefore, doing evil in God’s name is another example of misusing His name. Examples of that could be the Christian Crusades where wars were fought in the name of God, slaveholders justified the practice of slavery by citing biblical passages or when Jesus condemned the Pharisees for using their authority and religious status to oppress and burden others, all while claiming to uphold God’s law. In modern day there are priests out there that use God for their own selfish gain. These are all examples of misusing God’s name.
People who murder in the name of God not only kill their victims, they kill God too.
Some will argue that the greatest sin is religious evil and according to Dennis Prager, the breaking of the third commandment is considered an unforgiveable sin.
The fourth commandment is regarding the Sabbath, which is a day set aside for rest and worship. The commandment reads ‘Remember the Sabbath day to keep it Holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work. Neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.’
The importance of this commandment is that it elevated the human being. For most of human history, man worked seven days a week and this commandment changed all that by insisting that people cease working one day out of seven.
This commandment also reminds people that they are meant to be free. Slaves during the Egyptian times didn’t get a day off and they worked seven days a week.
Even in modern day, unless it’s necessary for survival, people who choose to work seven days a week or essentially slaves. Slaves to work or slaves to money but slaves none the less.
While the Bible can’t universally abolish slavery, the Sabbath commandment greatly humanized slavery and even helped make slavery impossible. By definition a slave owner was under no obligation to allow a slave to ever rest let alone to rest one day every week, yet that is exactly what the fourth commandment commanded and that even a slave has fundamental human rights therefore a slave too is a human being.
The Sabbath also creates and strengthens family ties and friendships. When a person takes off from work one day out of the week, that day almost inevitably becomes a day spent with friends and family and also has the same effect on marriages.
Just as faith in God brings people to the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath brings people to faith in God.
Every time you keep the Sabbath, you are affirming that there is a Creator. That the world didn’t just happen, that life isn’t some meaningless coincidence, but that life is infinitely meaningful and therefore each of us has an unique significance and purpose.
10/6/2024
The Ten Commandments aka The Ten Basic Rules of Life
No other document in world history so changed the world for the better as did the ten commandments or the ten basic rules of life or in Hebrew the ten statements.
Western civilization is the civilization that developed universal human rights, created women’s equality, ended slavery, created parliamentary democracy among many more achievements that would not have developed without the ten commandments.
The ten commandments are as relevant today as when they were given thousands of years ago.
In fact, they are so relevant that the ten commandments are all that is necessary to make a good world, a world free of tyranny and cruelty.
Imagine for a moment a world in which there was no murder or theft. In such a world there would be no need for armies or police or weapons, which would mean no wars. Men, women and children could walk anywhere, anytime of the day without any fear of being killed or robbed.
Imagine in this same world in which no one coveted what belonged to you and a world in which children honored their mother and father and the family unit thrived.
The recipe for a good world is all there in these ten sublime commandments.
The ten commandments are predicated on the belief that they were given by an authority higher than any man, any king, or any government.
This is why the sentence preceding the ten commandments asserts the following: “God spoke all these words.”
If the ten commandments were given by any human authority, it could be easily challenged as we are flawed.
On the contrary, God is indispensable to the ten commandments because we need God to declare what is right or wrong, otherwise for human beings it can be subjective. Without God, right and wrong are just personal beliefs.
Unless there is a God, all morality is just opinion and belief and virtually every atheist philosopher has acknowledged this.
People that know the difference between right and wrong do the wrong thing all the time because they can. And they can because they believe no one is watching. But if you recognize that God is the source or moral law then you believe that He is always watching.
So even for atheists, it’s beneficial to want people to live by the moral laws of the Ten Commandments
In three thousand years, no one has ever come up with a better system than the God-based Ten Commandments for making a better world and no one ever will.
It is clear that the Ten Commandments were given by God, and this was a communication to all believers that there is an obligation to God to live by these commandments.
This is the beginning of what is known as ethical monotheism, which means ‘the one God is the source of ethics.’
Ethics means a set of principles of right conduct or a system of moral values.
Ethics is morality.
Some may argue ethics and morality are not the same. Ethics are the rules you abide by in a community or profession while morals are personal values that run to the core of one’s being.
Morality is the objective code of right and wrong and does not derive from human opinion but originates from God and therefore is greater or goes beyond human opinion.
The other meaning of ethical monotheism is that what God most wants from us is that we treat other human beings morally or treat human beings right.
None of the Ten Commandments concern what humans must do “for” God. Before the Ten Commandments, religions believed that people had to do a lot “for” their gods including feeding them and sacrificing children to them.
Now with the Ten Commandments, mankind learned that what God wants is for people to be good to their fellow human beings.
In Christianity, the Ten Commandments are as follows:
You shall have no other gods before me
You shall not make for yourself a carved image (no idolatry)
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it Holy (set apart a day for rest and worship)
Honor your father and mother
You shall not murder
You shall not commit adultery
You shall not steal
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
You shall not covet
Some may say that the first two commandments are somewhat redundant and that if God is commanding there be no other gods before Him then that obviously means to have no idols.
The key is understanding the difference between the Judaic and Christian versions of the ten commandments.
In the original Hebrew it’s known as the Ten Statements and the first statement says I am the Lord your God who took you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
One important understanding about this declaration from God is the meaning of freedom. God could’ve easily started off the Ten Commandments with “I am the Lord your God who created the world. You better listen to me” but instead he starts off and declares that he took the children of Israel out of Egypt and out of slavery and into freedom. That’s how much God hates slavery and how much he values freedom.
The founders of America base their entire view of America on this belief, which is that God wants us to be free.
The quote on the Liberty Bell is from Leviticus 25:10 and it says, “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof.”
The other lesson from this first statement from God is what freedom means. God is saying I took you out slavery and into freedom, and these ten commandments are the way to make a free society. You cannot be a free people if you do whatever you want. Freedom comes from moral self-control. There is no other way to achieve it.
Freedom in its purest form isn’t about being able to act without any constraints but rather about having the ability to act responsibly within a framework of laws, ethics and respect for others.
Absolute freedom, where everyone does whatever they wish, would quickly lead to chaos, conflict, and ultimately, the collapse of social order.
Philosopher John Locke argued that people have natural rights to life, liberty, and property, but these rights are secured only when individuals respect the rights of others. Without moral self-control, people’s actions could infringe on others’ freedoms, undermining the very idea of a free society.
When the Christians called it the Ten Commandments, they had to change something around since the original statement is obviously not a commandment.
In Judaism, the second statement is ‘You shall have no other gods before me’ and there is no mentioning of idols since its implied.
In Deuteronomy 5:8, God is very clear not to make an image in the form of anything in heaven above, or on the earth beneath or in the waters below and that no one shall bow down to idols or worship them for God is a jealous God.
There are people that argue that the second commandment is no longer relevant to modern life because people today don’t worship these gods or worship idols made of stone.
On the contrary, not only is the second commandment relevant to modern life but in many ways it lays foundation to all the other commandments.
The second commandment is relevant because we have just as many false gods today as the ancients did. Whether it be false religions with the false gods or whether it’s money, power, career, sex, drugs, or celebrities, the list can go on and on.
The point of biblical monotheism is that there is only one God and that only this God, the creator of the universe, who demands that believers keep the Ten Commandments, is to be worshipped.
This is because one God means one human race. Only if we all have the same father are we then brothers and sisters. Having the same parent also means that no person or group is intrinsically more valuable than any other and one God also means one moral standard for all people. If God says murder is wrong then it is wrong for everyone and you can’t go to another god for another moral standard.
If anything else is worshipped bad things result as the foundation to humanity is not on common ground.
Even something as beautiful as love can lead to evil. There are those that put love of country above love of God that often committed terrible acts of evil.
Here’s something to think about: imagine the pet you love and a complete stranger are drowning. Do you save your pet or the stranger? If love is an end in itself you save your pet but if you hold human life as a higher value than love you won’t follow love.
This commandment made the ethical revolution of the Bible and the Ten Commandments what is known as ethical monotheism possible.
As simply put, worship the God of the Ten commandments and you will make a good world. Worship a false god and you will end up with a world of cruelty.
9/8/2024
Baptism Explained: How This Sacred Rite Transforms Your Spiritual Journey
Baptism is a ceremony in which a Christian is immersed in water before the church to publicly symbolize their belief in Christ.
The water is a symbol of sin being washed from death into new life by faith in Jesus Christ.
Example: our belief in marriage is shown in the way we live in marriage and by the symbol of the wedding ring.
In the case of the Christian, our beliefs are shown in the way we live obeying God and specifically in the symbol of baptism.
The word baptism comes from the Greek word (baptize), which means, “to immerse.”
You can immerse in two ways, both which are relevant to the New Testament. You can immerse completely into the water or you can immerse by pouring water over the body, typically the forehead.
Baptism is a transition. You are moving out of one thing into another. In this case we are referring to the old Adamic person transitioning into the new person with the Spirit of God within them.
The three particular baptisms: John’s baptism, Christian baptism, baptism in the Holy Spirit
These are three distinct baptisms that all play an important part in the New Testament
John’s baptism starts off in Mark 1:2-5 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way, a voice of one calling in the wilderness, prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”
This was the ministry specifically of John the Baptist. He was to go before the Messiah and prepare His way. And John’s message basically was very simple: repent.
Mark 1:4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
The people baptized by John were baptized in water into the forgiveness of sins and the purpose of this was to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus of Nazareth.
It is significant that Jesus could not come, God would not release Him to come until the hearts of God’s people had been prepared by repentance.
In some ways, repentance is the most crucial single message that God’s people need today. There are many bible verses talking about man repenting and being ready before the second coming of Christ.
That’s an interesting mirroring of repentance before both times of Christ’s coming.
Dispensation refers to a specific period or way in which God interacts with humanity, often defined by distinct divine principles, instructions, or covenants. Biblical history was divided into different eras or dispensations.
Dispensationalism generally identifies seven key dispensations:
Innocence (from Creation to the Fall of Adam and Even)
Conscience (from the fall to Noah’s Flood)
Human Government (from Noah to the call of Abraham)
Promise (from Abraham to the giving of the Law through Moses)
Law (from Moses to the death of Christ)
Grace (from the resurrection of Christ to the rapture of the Church)
Millennial Kingdom (the 1,000-year reign of Christ after His second coming)
John’s ministry was a very important dispensational link between two different periods of God’s dealings. There was the dispensation of the law and the prophets and the dispensation of grace and the Gospel, which came with Jesus.
John was the end of that dispensation with the law and prophets; he was a transitional link to a new dispensation of the grace of the Gospel. He ended one period and initiated another.
John was a crucial figure in the whole unfolding of God’s purpose. His ministry was brief but crucial. It prepared the way for Jesus.
John the Baptist required three things of the people who came to be baptized.
1st condition: Repentance of sins. Repentance is a decision then an action. If you refused to repent John would not baptize you.
2nd condition: John demanded the public confession of sins.
3rd condition: Evidence of a changed life. He demanded evidence that people had repented.
Something to be aware of is that John baptized them into repentance. But he wouldn’t baptize them unless they had already repented so that means the baptism did not produce the repentance, it was the seal and evidence that the person had repented.
John’s baptism did have limitations though. John’s baptism was primarily a “baptism of repentance.” It was meant to prepare people to recognize and receive Jesus and John said it himself in Mark 1:8 “I baptize you with water, be he (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
John’s baptism was a preparatory, symbolic ritual of repentance, pointing to the coming of the Messiah but did not confer the Holy Spirit or bring about the full experience of salvation that Christ’s followers would later receive.
9/1/2024
Why Did Jesus Have to Die on the Cross For Our Sins? Part 3
The seven deadly sins:
Lust: excessive or inappropriate sexual desire.
Gluttony: overindulgence, especially in food or drink.
Greed: excessive desire for wealth or material possessions.
Sloth: laziness or neglect of duty.
Wrath: intense anger or hatred.
Envy: resentment of others’ blessings or success.
Pride: excessive self-esteem or arrogance, often considered the root of all other vices.
Generational sin are sinful behaviors or tendencies that are passed down through family lines. Examples can be a pattern of abuse, addiction, or dishonesty seen across multiple generations.
Mortal sin is a serious, grave sin that leads to the loss of God’s grace in the soul and spiritual death unless it is repented through confession. A mortal sin is considered to sever the relationship between the person and God. Three conditions must be met in order it to be a mortal sin. It must be a grave matter, the person committing the sin must be fully aware that the action is wrong and the person must freely choose to commit the act. Examples of mortal sin might include first degree murder, adultery, and abortion.
Venial sin is a less serious offense that weakens but does not destroy a person’s relationship with God. It does not result in the loss of sanctifying grace. Examples may be lying about something trivial, losing patience, stealing a piece of bubble gum.
Are all sins forgivable by God? If the sinner genuinely repents and seeks forgiveness, all sins are forgivable by God except for one sin and that is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
So now we know what sin is, the sins God really hates, and the fact that we can’t enter into the kingdom of God because of sin, then what do we do?
We have to atone for our sins.
Atone means to make amends or reparation. In other words, how can we make amends for our sins?
The answer is really a two-part answer. There are what humans had to do before Jesus Christ came (Old Testament) and what humans had to do since the arrival of Jesus Christ (New Testament).
The standard of perfection is required to enter into heaven and because of man’s sinful nature, each man must atone for their sins. In the Old Testament, before Christ came, blood sacrifices were required to atone for sins. The sacrifice would transfer sin from the sinner to the animal.
Side note: this is why Christians are not to eat blood.
Leviticus 17:10 And I will turn my face against anyone, whether an Israelite or a foreigner living among you, who eats blood in any form. I will excommunicate him from his people.
Why is a blood sacrifice necessary? The answer lies within the word propitiate, which is defined as win or regain the favor of (a god, spirit, or person) by doing something that pleases them.
1 John 2:2 He is propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
Propitiate: to win or regain the favor from God by doing something that pleases Him. It refers to the act of appeasing or satisfying the wrath of God, thereby restoring a favorable relationship between God and humanity.
Propitiation not only removes the wrath of God but also restores the broken relationship between God and humanity. Through Jesus’ propitiatory sacrifice, believers are reconciled to God and can now enjoy peace with Him.
Romans 3:23-25 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.
In Christian belief, God’s holiness and justice demand that sin be punished, and propitiation is the act by which this divine wrath is satisfied.
By offering Himself as a perfect and sinless sacrifice, Jesus absorbed the punishment that humanity deserved, thereby satisfying the demands of God’s justice and turning away His wrath.
1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Hebrews 2:17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
Before the coming of Jesus Christ, the people of Israel atoned for their sins through a system of sacrifices, rituals, and observances prescribed by the Law of Moses. This system was central to the covenant between God and the Israelites and served as a way for them to maintain a right relationship with God.
Animal sacrifices were the primary means by which sins were atoned for under the Old Covenant. The shedding of the animal’s blood symbolized the payment for sin, as it was believed that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22).
Leviticus 17:11 For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the alter; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.
Jeremiah 17:1 Blood smeared on the horns of an altar transfers sin away from the sinner to the sanctuary.
Burnt offerings were offered to atone for general sins and were wholly consumed by fire as an offering to God. Sin offerings were a specific type of animal sacrifice made for particular sins committed by individuals or the community. Guilt offerings were another type of animal sacrifice made to atone for unintentional sins that required restitution, such as defrauding another person.
Yom Kippur aka The Day of Atonement was the most significant annual event for the atonement of the sins of the entire nation of Israel. It was a solemn day of fasting, repentance, and sacrifice. This would include high priests entering the Holy of Holies, the innermost part of the Tabernacle to offer sacrifices on behalf of himself and the people. Two goats were used, one as a sin offering, and the other known as the scapegoat, had the sins of the people symbolically placed on it and was then sent into the wilderness, symbolizing the removal of sin. The word scapegoat we use today originates from this ritual.
Leviticus 16:21-22 And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness. The goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness.
The Law of Moses contained various commandments and instructions for daily living, covering moral, ceremonial, and civil aspects of life. Obedience to these laws was a way to maintain holiness and avoid sin.
While sacrifices were central, repentance and confession were also important in the process of atonement. Individuals were expected to recognize their sins, confess them, and make restitution where necessary. When someone wronged another person, they were required to make amends, often by returning what was taken or paying compensation. Today we are still encouraged to pray and confess our sins to God, seeking His forgiveness.
We are reminded that the Old Testament emphasizes that God desires a contrite heart and sincere repentance more than ritual sacrifices alone.
Do modern day Jews sacrifice animals? No, modern day Jews do not sacrifice animals. The practice of animal sacrifice ended with the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD.
The Jewish sacrificial system was closely tied to the Temple in Jerusalem, where sacrifices were offered according to the laws given in the Torah. When the Romans destroyed the Second Temple in 70 A.D., the sacrificial system effectively ended because the Temple was the only place where these offerings were permitted according to Jewish law.
How do modern day Jews atone for their sins? Since then, Judaism underwent significant changes and shifted the focus from sacrifices to prayer, study of the Torah, and good deeds (mitzvot).
In the absence of the Temple, Jewish thought evolved to interpret the sacrificial laws in a more symbolic or spiritual sense.
Acts of charity, repentance, and prayer are often viewed as equivalent to sacrifices. The focus is on ethical behavior, spiritual devotion, and adherence to the commandments (mitzvot).
Part of growing in Christ means that we are working on ourselves and not repeating the same sins over and over again. Spend time alone with God, ask Him to reveal your secret sins to you and pray for God to give you the wisdom and knowledge to overcome these sins. We are constantly growing and becoming the best versions of ourselves with the Spirit of God dwelling in ours.
It’s the same thing when we come to church. Don’t just listen to the message then after church you go back being the same person you were yesterday. Take what you learned and apply it in your life.
Imagine you know how to play basketball but the only weapon you have is to shoot a layup. So, you join a basketball class and you go every Sunday morning. One week you learn the proper way to shoot a basketball. The following week you learn to shoot jump shots, then bank shots, then three pointers and from all the different spots on the court and you even learn to dunk the basketball and the sky hook. But every week after class all you continue to do is shoot layups.
Now we finally arrive at the main question of this topic…why did Jesus Christ have to die on the cross for our sins?
Reminder: the New Testament starts with the Gospels, which pertains to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In the New Testament, atonement for sins is fundamentally different from the Old Testament sacrificial system. Believers atone for their sins through faith in Jesus Christ, whose sacrificial death on the cross is considered the ultimate and final atonement for sin.
Jesus died on the cross and shed his blood for all of us. Remember in Hebrews 9:22 “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” Every single drop of His blood covers for all the sins of mankind. Not only did this ultimate sacrifice happen, but three days later he rose from the dead, conquering death once and for all.
Humans atone for their sins by placing their faith in Jesus Christ, who atoned for sin through His death and resurrection. This involves repentance, confession of sins, receiving God’s grace, and living a life of obedience and holiness. Atonement is ultimately a gift of God’s grace, not something that can be earned by human effort.
We all need to praise God that we live in the New Testament and through our faith in Jesus Christ, receiving God’s grace, that we can atone for our sins. No more animal sacrifices or human sacrifices. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross provides the ultimate payment for sin. Now we just come to God in prayer and repent, confess and receive His grace.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
8/25/2024
Why Did Jesus Have to Die on the Cross For Our Sins? Part 2
What is the original sin: in the middle of the garden of Eden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God commanded Adam that he may eat from any tree in the garden except from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and that if he ate from it, he would certainly die. The serpent tricked Eve into eating the fruit and not only did she eat it, but she gave it to Adam and he ate it too. Not only is this the original sin but it was a sin of disobedience.
What is the first sin: when Satan rebelled against God. He wanted to be God. He did not want to serve, he wanted to be served, wanted to be worshipped. His sin was pride.
Since man fell into sin, he has been corrupt. Corruption is something that progresses. In the natural world, you take a nice-looking fruit like a sweet fuzzy peach and you just leave it there. You don’t have to do anything to it and beneath the surface corruption is already at work. And gradually with time, the corruption will take over the whole fruit until it’s completely rotten.
Same goes with human behavior. The corruption is already at work and it will keep working itself until it’s completely rotten. Corruption is irreversible. There is no way to turn back the process of corruption.
So God does not try to reverse the process of corruption. God answer is not to improve or clean up or reform. Instead, His answer is a new creation.
The three corrupting forces at work: love of self, love of money, love of pleasure
Money is not the root of all evil. The love of money is the root of all evil.
Side note: Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
Haughty eyes: someone who is haughty is arrogant and full of pride. Someone with a big attitude and acts like they’re better than everyone else, looks down on others. Pride is often seen as the root of many other sins because it puts self above God and others. It leads to a lack of humility and often results in unjust behavior toward others.
A lying tongue: speaking falsehoods, intentionally deceiving others through lies. Any form of dishonesty or manipulation through words. Lying undermines trust, damages relationships and can lead to further wrongdoing. Lies can cause significant harm to individuals and communities.
Hands that shed innocent blood: causing harm to those who do not deserve it. This can encompass murder, violence and unjust harm inflicted on others. The literal sense would be acts of murder or violence against those who are innocent. The moral sense can symbolize any action or behavior that leads to the unjust harm or suffering of others.
A heart that devises wicked schemes: this refers to someone who intentionally plots or schemes to do evil. It’s a premeditated sin. God doesn’t just judge our actions but our intentions and thoughts of the heart. A heart that devises wicked plans is deeply corrupted and far from the righteousness God desires.
Feet that are quick to rush evil: this describes someone who is eager or quick to engage in sinful behavior. It reflects a readiness and enthusiasm to do what is wrong. This shows a lack of self-control and a deliberate choice to embrace sin.
A false witness who pours out lies: this refers to lying in a legal or formal setting, such as giving false testimony in court or it could be a situation where someone falsely accuses or bears false witness against another. This corrupts justice, ruins reputations, and can lead to wrongful punishment or harm to the innocent.
A person who stirs up conflict in the community: someone who causes division, strife, or conflict among people, especially within a community or family. It involves stirring up trouble, spreading rumors, or creating disunity.
Summary: these seven things God hates reflect attitudes and behaviors that are deeply destructive to individuals and communities. They all stem from a heart that is far from God and are the opposite of the qualities that God desires in His people, such as humility, truthfulness, justice, righteousness, and peace.
There is no denial that we have sin. We are born into it from the original sin.
1 John 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
If we have sin, we can’t enter into the kingdom of God
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
2 Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Ephesians 5:5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous, has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Revelation 21:8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.
Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.’
These verses remind us that sin creates a barrier between humans and the kingdom of God. But it also points to the hope of redemption through repentance, transformation, and faith in Jesus Christ, which allows sinners to be forgiven and enter into God’s kingdom.
So now we know what sin is, the sins God really hates, and the fact that we can’t enter into the kingdom of God because of sin, then what do we do? How can we atone for our sins?
Atone means to make amends or reparation. So in other words, how can we make amends for our sins?
The answer is really a two-part answer. There are what humans had to do before Jesus Christ came (Old Testament) and what humans had to do since the arrival of Jesus Christ (New Testament).
The standard of perfection is required to enter into heaven and because of man’s sinful nature, each man must atone for their sins. In the Old Testament, before Christ came, blood sacrifices were required to atone for sins. The sacrifice would transfer sin from the sinner to the animal.
Revelation 21:8 The sinful will not be in heaven but in the lake of fire.
Revelation 22:15 Outside of heaven are those who sin.
Revelation 21:27 But nothing unclean shall enter it.
1 Corinthians 6:9-20 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
8/18/2024
Why Did Jesus Have to Die on the Cross For Our Sins? Part 1
What is sin?
The Hebrew word for sin is khata, which means “to fail” or “miss the goal.”
A failure to fulfill a goal.
When we fail to love God the most and to love our neighbors that’s sinning. We have failed and missed that goal.
Often times when we are failing, we don’t even know it or worse, we think we’re succeeding. Like when Pharaoh wanted to build Egypt’s economy and protect national security, in his mind it justified enslaving the Israelites. He thought it was good. Or when King Saul was chasing David around the wilderness trying to kill him, he thought he was bringing a criminal to justice until later when he realizes he is the corrupt one and he says “I have sinned, I am the failure.”
This failed human behavior: the tendency toward self-deception is rooted in our desires and selfish urges that compel us to act for our own benefit at the expense of others.
Sin isn’t just about morality (right or wrong, good or bad behavior).
When we are deceiving ourselves and spin illusions to redefine our bad decisions as good ones. When we are on our own terms and against God’s.
Genesis 4:7 You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master. Having discipline is definitely one way to become the master.
This is depicted as a wild, hungry animal that wants to consume humans.
In the New Testament, Paul describes sin as a power or a force that rules humans. In his words, “We are slaves to sin.” And he goes on to say “Sin lives in us so that the things I don’t want to do, that’s what I do.”
So far we have:
Failure to be humans who fully love God and others.
It’s our inability to judge whether we are succeeding or failing.
It’s that deep, selfish impulse that drives much of our behavior.
Someone in a rush while traveling and misses their destination is a sin.
Hitting the snooze button and waking up late is a sin.
1 John 3:4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness
This means that sin is a violation of God’s will as revealed in the Bible, such as stealing, adultery, or other forms of sexual immorality.
The Bible also describes sin as a rebellion against God
Deuteronomy 9:7 Remember this and never forget how you aroused the anger of the Lord your God in the wilderness. From the day you left Egypt until you arrived here, you have been rebellious against the Lord.
Joshua 1:18 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.
Sinful humanity
Romans 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Ephesians 4:18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
Refusal to do what one knows is the right thing to do constitutes as sin
James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
8/11/2024
What is Christianity?
From the Merriam-Webster dictionary: the religion derived from Jesus Christ, based on the Bible as sacred scripture, and professed by Eastern, Roman Catholic and Protestant bodies.
Encyclopedia Britannica defines Christianity as a major religion stemming from the birth, life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Christ.
Christianity is the religion that believes in the Trinity or the Triune God, which consists of God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost, all three being one being but three persons (different from us. We are one being, one person. I am a human being and I am Chris Lee). Christians believe that man is fallen due to the original sin and because of this is damned to hell. God in turn gave his own son Jesus Christ to come in human form and to die on the cross for our sins. If we believe that Jesus Christ is God, that he died for our sins, and rose from the dead, conquering death once and for all, ascended to heaven, then we will have eternal life with God in heaven.
Christianity in a sense is not a religion but a way of life. Christianity is about having a personal relationship with God, allowing the spirit of God to live within our spirit and to grow and to help us mature into the best versions of ourselves.
Christianity is the only religion where the creator makes His home in his creation. In other words, it’s the only religion where the spirit of God lives in the human spirit.
Quote: religion is man’s attempt to reach God; Christianity is God’s attempt to reach man.
Regarding religions, the world’s major religions can be categorized as either Abrahamic or Indian. The Abrahamic religions consist of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The Indian religions consist of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism.
In short, the difference between the Abrahamic religions is that in Christianity, Jesus Christ came as a human to die for our sins, died on the cross, and on the third day rose from the dead, conquering death. In Judaism, they don’t believe that Jesus is the Son of God and is still waiting for the Messiah. In Islam, they don’t believe in the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, they don’t believe Jesus is the Son of God and they have their version of the Bible called the Qur’an. The similarity between all three religions is God the Father and even that is debatable. In apologetics they say that the Father God in Islam is not the same as the Father God in Christianity.
From the Indian category, it gets way more complex but to simplify it, Hinduism has its roots in the belief in karma, dharma, moksha, and reincarnation. Hindus also believe in the Trimurti, the three main deities who represent creation, destruction and preservation. In Buddhism they agree with Hinduism on karma, dharma, moksha and reincarnation but there are certain rituals and systems they reject and they believe people can reach enlightenment through meditation. In Jainism, it is similar to Buddhism where they believe in reincarnation but they also believe the path to enlightenment is through nonviolence and reducing harm to living things and they follow the principle of ahimsa, which is described as extreme pacifism. In Sikhism, they believe in one God and they have a non-anthropomorphic concept of God, where one can interpret God as the entire creation itself.
The core beliefs of Christianity consist of God the Father, Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Holy Spirit, the Triune God (Trinity), the sacrificial death of Jesus (virgin birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension), salvation, the second coming of Christ, the Bible
Christians are monotheistic, meaning they believe in one God. This one God is also three persons: God the Father, the son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. The essence of Christianity revolves around the fact that humans are born into the world as sinners and in order to enter into the kingdom of heaven, you have to be free of sin. Otherwise, if you don’t believe there is a God, reject Him or remain in sin, then you will not be able to enter into heaven and the only other place is eternity in hell.
God the Father sent his only son Jesus Christ to come into this world as a human, and not only lived a perfect life, free of sin, but died on the cross and resurrected three days later, conquering death once and for all. Because He conquered death, the blood of Christ is the remission of the believer’s sins.
In short, the key doctrine is believing Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, died on the cross for the remission of your sins, and rose from the dead. Salvation, the forgiveness of your sins and eternal life is all given from Jesus Chris. Side note: some believe faith through grace alone will get you saved, others believe you must have faith and also do the works. Not to complicate things but to put it all together, works comes from genuine faith. One without works has no faith, one with faith, will naturally do the works.
In Christianity, the Holy Bible contains the historical records from the beginning of time, historical prophets and Christian figures, the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, and including how the world ends. The Holy Bible consists of 66 books and is divided into the Old and New Testament. The Old Testament focuses on the history of Israel and God’s law, while the New Testament focuses on Jesus Christ.
The Christian body can be broken down into three main bodies: Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant. Amongst the Protestant there are many denominations.
What makes Christianity unique is that the focus on having a personal relationship with God and growing with Him throughout your entire life. Salvation and eternal life are only given by Jesus Christ.
To sum up Christianity in one verse: For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. -John 3:16
8/4/2024
Discernment Part 2
This world is full of deceiving spirits, false prophets, and false teachers so it’s more important than ever to exercise discernment.
In the natural realm, we can know when something is right or wrong by observation and asking questions. However, the spiritual things are not detectable by our senses. To navigate through the spiritual world requires the spirit of God…the discerning spirit.
The gift of discernment is like a sixth sense. And like our natural senses, some senses are naturally stronger than others. Some people have a really good palate. Others may have really good vision or a strong sense of smell. Some have a keen sense to discernment and may use it for good or evil.
This gift enables us to know when something is right or wrong without knowing how.
In 1 Kings chapter 3, David had just died and Solomon is now king of Israel but he knew he was too young and inexperienced to rule properly. The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and said “Ask for whatever you want Me to give you” and in verse nine he asks God to give him a discerning heart to govern the people to administer justice.
Side point: when you ask God for something that is aligned with His word and His will, He will answer your prayer and truly bless you to no end. Solomon didn’t ask for a long life or wealth or for God to wipe out all his enemies but he asked for a discerning spirit to lead his people justly. In return, not only did God bless him as so, God said to him He would give him a wise and discerning heart, give him wealth and honor and that he will have no equal among kings. And as long as he walks in obedience and keeps His decrees and commandments, he would have a long life.
God gave Solomon the ability to discern because his motives were aligned with God’s. Solomon didn’t ask for a discerning spirit for his own benefit or to even gain an advantage over his enemies. He knew he was too young and wanted discernment to administer justice and to know good from evil.
1 Kings 3:16-28 Two women stood before king Solomon and they both gave birth around the same time and during the night one of the woman’s son died because she accidentally laid on him so she got up in the middle of the night and switched the two babies. When the woman woke up to a dead child she looked closely and realized that was not her child. The blaming went back and forth and each woman insisted the child was hers. Solomon requested for a sword and gave the order to cut the living child in half and to give each woman half the child. The real mother begged the king to give the child to the other woman so the child may live while the other woman said “neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!” This helped the king with his ruling as we was able to determine the real mother.
This shows how Solomon had wisdom from God to administer justice. 1 Kings 3:29-34 God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone else. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.
We are in a spiritual warfare. There is a war going on for your soul. We live in this natural realm trying to navigate through life, going to school, making a career, starting a family, creating wealth, and all the other things in life while the evil ones are trying to disrupt us in any way they can. Tempting us with entertainment, alcohol, drugs, the wrong women, the wrong jobs. To not only ruin our lives but most importantly to distract us away from God so we have no relationship with Him, we have no belief in Him so that one day we will be in Hell with these evil ones.
Meanwhile, God on the other hand is trying to lead us in the other direction. He loves all of us and wants us to be with Him forever, He wants the best for us, success, wealth, family, and wants to arm us with a discerning spirit. But first and foremost, He gave us the will…free will. He is waiting on us to make the move. He didn’t create a family of robots. He created a family of human beings with the gift of choice. He is waiting for you to choose Him.
7/28/2024
Discernment
Psalms 119:66 You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lord, according to Your word. Teach me good discernment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments.
There are times where its difficult to determine the difference between good and evil, finding ourselves being deceived by what we hear and what we see, and other times having difficulty discerning whether God is speaking to us or not.
Most of the time we just take things at face value but it’s important to make decisions with a discerning spirit so we can see what is underneath the surface.
We live in a world of counterfeit, trickery, deception to our eyes. The devil is the biggest deceiver of them all.
It is the will of God that we have a discerning spirit.
Discernment is all about making right judgements. Discernment is the ability to perceive, understand, and judge things clearly, especially those that are not obvious or straightforward. Discernment is the ability to judge rightly.
Discernment is the greatest protection we have in a world full of information that’s so full of mixed up truth and error.
If you want to live in the will of God you need to have a discerning spirit to understand what God is saying. He has a will and purpose for every single one of us. We need to be able to discern when it’s His voice and not our voice or the devil’s.
Just like a muscle, the discerning spirit within us needs to be constantly exercised and nourished and more importantly, we need to desire it.
7/21/2024
Wisdom and Knowledge
Knowledge is the information we learn and wisdom is the application of the knowledge.
You lack discipline and wisdom if you have the knowledge to do something but you don’t do it.
Do not just be hearers of the Word but doers. Don’t just listen to the Word at church then continue to be the same person. Learn, grow, and apply the teachings into your daily life.
King Solomon was wise in that he asked God for wisdom and God blessed him with everything.
The promises in Proverbs of what God will do for us if we operate in wisdom is astounding.
Time goes by fast. It stops for no one. We can easily waste time by doing things our way instead of doing it God’s way, who is full of knowledge and wisdom.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. -Proverbs 9:10-11
Discernment, in Biblical terms, is to understand or know something through the power of the Spirit. It is a gift of the Spirit.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. -Proverbs 3:5-6 (do not be wise in your own eyes for they will trick you)
From the beginning of time with Adam and Eve, they were given a choice to either live by God’s wisdom, which would lead to life or they could be wise in their own eyes, which is ultimately what they chose (to take the knowledge of good and evil into their own hands) and that lead to death.
Knowledge, wisdom and discernment all ties in with one another.
Warning: even when we do live by God’s wisdom, life can be full of disappointments.
For in much wisdom is much grief and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. -Ecclesiastes 1:18
7/14/2024
Perseverance, Patience, and Wisdom in Faith and Parenting
The Bible study continues from the previous week on the Book of James, focusing on perseverance through tough times and maintaining a personal relationship with God.
Emphasizing on the importance of asking God for wisdom and having faith, contrasting wisdom with knowledge and explaining how wisdom is the application of knowledge.
Reflections on the challenges of patience during testing and trials, using personal anecdotes from high school football to illustrate the concept.
The importance of patience and perseverance in real life situations, especially in parenting and dealing with daily challenges.
The need to allow others, especially children, to go through their own trials and learn from them, rather than trying to shield them from every difficulty. It is through adversities, hard times, and challenges where there is most human growth.
There are similarities between God’s testing of His children and a parent’s testing of their own children to find their limitations, to prepare them for the future and to teach them important life lessons.
Experiencing hardships is emphasized, as they help lessons stick and prevent taking things for granted.
As we mature, we are able to instill wisdom to navigate life’s challenges. This is the balance parents must find when it comes to protecting their children and allowing them to learn from their own mistakes.
This all ties in with the Biblical perspective on enduring testing and temptation and the rewards promised by God for those who do.
A reminder that God does not tempt people; rather, temptation comes from one’s own desires, which can lead to sin and ultimately death if not controlled.
We all struggle with repeated sins. Don’t give up but continue to strive to overcome them. Having community and support helps in overcoming temptations.
A reminder to always stay holy and being mindful of one’s actions every day, not just when you’re at church. The continual practice of this will also help keep the temptations at bay.
7/7/2024
James Chapter One
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. -James 1:2-3
No one wants to go through trials and tribulations and hard tests and difficult times but it’s through these challenges where there is much growth and strength.
God warns us that there will be disappointments in life so better off to have perseverance so you are mature and complete.
If you lack wisdom, ask God and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and have no doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, being blown back and forth, getting no where.
