What does this World mean to you? (Part I)

 Just recently in our news we are seeing an increasing problem with mass shootings, terrorist acts and unpredictable natural disasters that are quickly decreasing our population.  I understand that for the most part we have felt kinda immune to these calamities, but no longer are we feeling safe in America, Why? First John 2:17 reads, “and the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever”, this scripture was written by John, who has been described as "the disciple whom Jesus loved".  This "loved disciple" wrote the most important prophetic book in the bible: Revelations. John was showed the ending of this world that we live in and what tragedies would present themselves preceding that end. Let me ask this question, Was this world already doomed for destruction upon its creation? In the beginning when God created Adam he gave him dominion over all things. In the beginning when creating heaven, earth, oceans, birds, fish, plants and etc, God looked and said these things are good.  The physical world that God created is breathtaking, awesome and splendid, and he made it for us. It is the fall mentioned in Genesis 3 that turned mankind's dream into a nightmare, where we see the devil aka the serpent coax our first parents (Adam and Eve) into indulging into the fruit from the tree of knowledge.  The devil had them believe that it would make them as wise as God, but instead it left them entangle with their sinful nature and drew them away from God's protection. We as the children of Adam and Eve have inherited that same sinful nature and just like with them, God refuses to tolerate it.  Let us not forget when God destroyed this world before as spoken in Genesis 6, 

1 Then the people began to multiply on the earth, and daughters were born to them. ² The sons of God saw the beautiful women and took any they wanted as their wives. ³ Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not put up with humans for such a long time, for they are only mortal flesh. In the future, their normal lifespan will be no more than 120 years.” ⁴ In those days, and for some time after, giant Nephilites lived on the earth, for whenever the sons of God had intercourse with women, they gave birth to children who became the heroes and famous warriors of ancient times. ⁵ The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. ⁶ So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. ⁷ And the Lord said, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing—all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them.” ⁸ But Noah found favor with the Lord. (New Living Translation)

God did not have a problem with the world per se, but with the sinful nature of the inhabitants in it, for their ways were continuously evil.  In the bible when we hear the word “world” it is speaking of the people in it, for the most part those who don’t believe in him or follow his laws.  If you are a believer in God and his Son Jesus Christ and a follower of his laws then you do not belong to this "world" to begin with for the book of Hebrews states in chapter 13 verse 14,

 “For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.” (New Living Translation)

As we see all the awful things around us like natural disasters, the killing of hundreds in mass shootings in schools, churches and workplaces, we must remember that this is not our permanent home and God has a better place for us (with him).  If you are a born again Christian reading this you should not hesitate but be busy getting closer to God during these tumultuous and trying times while separating yourself from this world and it's ways.  We can no longer live for the acceptance of this world, because it is temporary and it's ways always leads to destruction and separation from God. Romans 12:2 reads,

² Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (New Living Translation)

But if you are a unbeliever let us remember you have an intelligent creator who cares for you and your family and chooses for you and me to live with Him for all of eternity. But also all believers must remain proactively praying for all unbelievers in spite of their sins and opposing beliefs (sanctifying ourselves but remaining prayerful for others) , read 1 Timothy 2:1-5,

“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. ² Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. ³ This is good and pleases God our Savior, ⁴ who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. ⁵ For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. ⁶ He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. (New Living Translation)

With that said power the devil is defeated along with the strongholds he has over our flesh.  It is the blood of Jesus that washes away our sinful nature and allows us to turn completely from it.  The kingdom of God will never pass away like this physical world we live in now along with temporary kings, governments and rulers, in the book of Daniel chapter 2 verse 44, we hear about the duration of God’s kingdom,

⁴⁴ In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. And this kingdom will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it alone will stand forever, (New Living Translation) 

Now for this reason we believers must be steadfast in having a holy and sanctify life, for ...

⁹ Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,^[a] nor sodomites, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

For all readers who are unbelievers or believers who have fallen away from God and his laws...LOOK, OBSERVE, WITNESS...the horrific and depressing ways of this world we live in, if not in your own life, look at those around you (community, nation, entire world).  Gods grace and mercy is the very thin, fragile and stretching thread this world hangs by and soon it will...SNAP!! So where will be this worlds destination...

 Matthew 49-50 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Let us ask God for forgiveness of our sins and truly repent (turn from and never go back) from them.  TIME IS TICKING and the thread is stretching thinner and thinner...REPENT TODAY!!!

(to be continued in Part 2)

 

The Savior is Born : Oh My God

Once again the Christmas season is upon us when we as Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Growing up in church we hear of the amazing story of how the teenage virgin Mary is visited my the angel Gabriel, who informs her that she is "highly blessed amongst women", for she will give birth to a child whose name shall be called Jesus.  Little did Mary realize that she would be carrying in her womb, the King of Kings and the Eternal Creator of herself, her husband Joseph, her parents and this entire world that we live  in; She would be giving birth to the Almighty sovereign God himself in the form a newborn baby that she and Joseph would be responsible for raising; What a task to partake in,especially for first time parents! Isaiah 9:6 states what kind of child they would be having...

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Christianity is the only religion whose God has came into the world that he created in order to redeem it and also show how to effectively maneuver through it with no sin.  Our God chose to abandon a mighty throne in the heavens and to be born in a filthy, disgusting and feces-infested stable. Philippians 2:5-8 shows us the deity of Our Savior Jesus Christ.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

So what is the reason God himself would leave the comfortable confines of his heavenly kingdom to walk amongst a world overtaken my it's lustful desires and sinful ways?  Our all knowing God knew Adam would fall in the garden of Eden and choose his flesh over the spirit which God graciously had given him, so God made preemptive plans to enter this world and redeem his children whom he created and loved..."for God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son."  God's intentions are not for us to die in our sins but to live with him forever, and this is made possible through the crucifixion of his son Jesus Christ who represents the second Godhead in the trinity. Hebrews 1:1-8 gives us more insight on the importance of the Christ Jesus and his role on earth and in heaven.

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

 Notice in the last verse we see God the father referring to the son as God, this is a specific scripture that any devout Jehovah Witness would not won't to believe since they choose to see Jesus as nothing but an exalted angel, even though this scripture specifically states he was made so much better than the angels.

Jesus, Poor Just Like Me?

One of my favorite Christmas songs  is "Drummer Boy" which tells of a humble and poor drummer boy who gets a great opportunity to meet the Everlasting King Jesus Christ and gives him the only gift he can provide: his talent which was given to him my...God himself!!

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.
Baby Jesus, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?
Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.

This season let us remember we celebrate a mighty King who was born a "poor boy too".  Who has left a wonderful and beautiful kingdom to be born to oppressed, poor and hard working parents living in a very dark and terrifying environment equipped with a tyrannical and murderous government, hypocritical and blinded religious leaders and not to mention a demonic oppression among his families neighbors and friends.  But this is why he was born which was foretold by the prophet Isaiah...

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

I leave you with this beautiful song by Mercy Me titled "Joseph's Lullaby".  Merry Christmas and a happy blessed New Year to you all!!

The Great Stumbling Block

Acts 4:11 - For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, 'The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.'

Day after day, you and I walk thru this

congested maze of dead ends
dilapidated dwellings and smog infested
avenues filled with unimpressive sighs

I see the same lady on the corner
waiting on a tardy bus as she
digs for loose change and
lost memories of happier days,
there is a hole in her purse

by the frustrated look on her face, I figure shes found neither,
The bus pulls up, but she never looks in its direction

Affliction, Rejection
Submission, Redemption
are the stages and steps to Salvation,

Day after day we walk tip toe around this great stone
that has been placed in our mist

I see the mighty, rich and powerful constantly stumble
and lose their identities and balance on this block,
I see young men and women walk into obvious dead ends in
hopes of avoiding this stone,

This stone a plain ordinary stone,
out of place in the middle of this
deserted miserable land,
 its strong defined edges
contrast the grainy, slippery gravel beneath my feet

Day after day our rocky ground transforms into dust being pulverized, weaken and soften into
a slushy, thick paste,
as my shoes slowly drown in the oatmeal like ground,
I grab on to this stone that
everyone else has ignored, avoided and rejected
Just before I find myself waist deep in the
death trap of my path
I grab and embrace the stone block,
which is warm from the sun rays of the mid afternoon sun
a sun that peers through
uninterested clouds
this rejected stone SAVES MY LIFE

The Hunger Games : Operation Depopulation

 What if I told you world hunger was strategically implemented to depopulate the world; would you either consider that statement and do some research for yourself or would you call me a conspiracy theory nut.  Well for the first group your in luck, I've done the research for you, and for the second group...oh well you can continue to keep the blinders on, spend all your free time in front of the idiot box and continue to believe everything CNN, FOX and MSNBC tells you about American's foreign policy.

Let me first introduce you to the NSA ...The National Security Agency (NSA) is a US intelligence agency responsible for global monitoring, collection, decoding, translation and analysis of information and data for foreign intelligence and counterintelligence purposes - a discipline known as Signals intelligence (SIGINT). NSA is also charged with protection of U.S. government communications and information systems against penetration and network warfare. The agency is authorized to accomplish its mission through clandestine means, among which are bugging electronic systems and allegedly engaging in sabotage through subversive software.

clandestine means...an intelligence or military operation carried out in such a way that the operation goes unnoticed by the general population.

 Secondly let me introduce you to the Infamous Henry Kissinger, who served as the  National Security Adviser for both President Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. While in this position Kissinger engineered the NSSM 200 (National Security Study Memorandum) which is a 200 page document stating that overpopulated third world countries would deem to be a security risk to the United States. There are 13 countries on his "hit list"...India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Turkey, Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia.  
Okay so what does Mr. Kissinger suggest we do about this "over population" problem in these other continents that somehow threatens us (which sounds and is ridiculous)? Well you ready for this? The document outlined a covert plan to reduce population growth in those countries through birth control, and also, implicitly, war and famine.  Thats right, Kissinger suggested playing God by using sterilization, poisoning water supplies, starting civil wars within that region (Dafur, Rawanda and yes most everywhere in the Middle East) and famine as a depopulation tool for MURDER...murder of millions of men, women and children all in the name of "National Security".  The report advocates the promotion of education and contraception and other population control measures, stating for instance that "No country has reduced its population growth without resorting to abortion". But I'm sure you feel our federal government wouldn't consider something so demonic and murderous, wrong they did, NSSM 200 was made an official policy in November 1975 by President Gerald Ford... and no NBC, ABC or CBS didn't report on it and still won't. Check the document for yourself and scan over it.
http://schillerinstitute.org/strategic/NSSM200.htm

It comes a time as a people we must choose to seek out truth for ourselves, don't be spoon fed lies, deceit and deceptions. World hunger is not a problem God just happen to overlook when he created us, we have over and abundant, but no world hunger is a designed weapon used by Satan and some of these wicked elitist that follow him.  So not to discourage you from giving but... late at night when you see these children starving to death with flies buzzing around them,  KNOW this is what big government is choosing to partake in. Check this statistic out...

The cost to end world hunger…

— $30 billion per year is needed to end world hunger
— $737 billion per year is the amount Congress spends on Defense

 http://borgenproject.org/the-cost-to-end-world-hunger/

Zechariah 8:13...These are the things you shall do:
Speak each man the truth to his neighbor;
Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace;

http://www.schillerinstitute.org/food_for_peace/kiss_nssm_jb_1995.html

 So you may ask what does this man have to do with our government and its policies now, well lets check out this Washington Post article by Henry Kissinger himself. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/04/AR2008120402863.html
Yes Henry Kissinger is still alive and well within the white house walls, still shaping and molding our foreign policies and also advising the head honcho himself, President Barack Obama.

So my homework for you is to THINK, THINK, STAY AWOKE AND THINK SOME MORE. Is the presidents decision to bomb Syria and other countries a way of combating ISIS and other Islamic extremists OR a way of depopulating (killing) innocent people.

It is time we sit down the remote, jim jones kool-aid and pick up the word of God... These things are already written and are happening NOW!!

Matthew 24:3-14 ...And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom...

The Mission Statement of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

  Gods Mission Statement:Redeem,Release,Reveal

Entrepreneur.com defines a mission statement as...A sentence describing a company's function, markets and competitive advantages; a short written statement of your business goals and philosophies.  God is all about mission, just ask Jonah, Isaiah, Jeremiah and the many other prophets of the Old Testament. We all were created by God and were designed to fulfill a certain purpose that ties into the mission of Gods Kingdom. 

Jeremiah 29:7 reads For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for   good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (New Living Translation).

Everything God does is intentional, deliberate and with a purpose, even within our failures and the enemies traps God will still use those things for his greater purpose, listen to what Joseph told his brothers who sold him into slavery in Genesis 50:20, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people."  I just spoke of failures, so what was mans biggest failure...ummmm let me see....lets go back to Genesis chapter 3 when a certain young man ate the one piece of fruit God forbade him to and then chose to deny his ownership of this sin and point his finger to his wife, who it turn passed the blame to the diabolical serpent, Satan himself.  But as our Eternal Father walked the garden in the cool of the day looking for a naked and ashamed Adam, God had already chose a redeemer for all mankind, Jesus Christ.
 Most times in Christianity we portray Jesus as a flower-child/ hippie passing out daisies, petting sheep and holding up the peace sign.  But know we are in the presence of a powerful sovereign ruler/king who stepped off a majestic throne in heaven to become a babe and be born to a poor unwed Jewish mother who lived in the "hood".  Many religions just as Judaism,  Islam and Jehovah Witnesses deny his deity and position as the son of God, but Isaiah foretold of his coming in ...

Isaiah 9:6  "For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

 As a king, leader and teacher Jesus had set up his agenda and mission from the very start of his ministry, yes he came to save a dying world drowning in our own sins but before doing so he would spearhead a miraculous movement that still vibrates throughout this world today... The Church and The Gospel.

 Just as today, politics was big in Jesus' days; So, then we had Israel's religious leaders, who sucked up to Herod's sons ruling Judea and this was overseen by the murderous bloodthirsty powerhouse of the Roman Empire; this was a major problem for the society Jesus' parents were a part of.  So after a long tiring day of exhausting carpentry labor with his father Joseph, Jesus would see their hard earned money,  go to a bunch of lying, over-pious religious leaders, fat disrespectful overtaxing rulers and a bloodthirsty, too big for its own britches federal government (I know...sounds so familiar, right?).  

 



 This Jesus, who died for yours and mines sin was a powerful and no less than incredible man who lived during a very chaotic and very oppressing time, so tell me would the Son of God, just remain nice, quiet and accommodating during these perilous times. Let Matthew aka Levi (Jesus' Disciple) gives you a story about Jesus...Matthew 8:23-27

²³ Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. ²⁴ Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. ²⁵ The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

²⁶ Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.
²⁷ The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”
Does this sound like a man who would nonchalantly sit around avoiding confrontations with hypocritical and very judgmental pharisees or tyrannical roman governors while he watches a oppressed people struggle emotionally, economically and spiritually?  OF COURSE NOT!!  Now lets take a look at Jesus' Mission Statement coming from Luke 4, after Jesus is baptized from his cousin John The Baptist and also after defeating Satan and his temptations in the wilderness; Jesus starts his ministry like this...Luke 4:16-29

Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region.  He taught regularly in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”

Everyone spoke well of him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips. “How can this be?” they asked. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
Then he said, “You will undoubtedly quote me this proverb: ‘Physician, heal yourself’—meaning, ‘Do miracles here in your hometown like those you did in Capernaum.’ But I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown.
When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious. Jumping up, they mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff, but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way.

So what is the mission you ask, Jesus stated it in verses 18 & 19...

• Bring good news to the Poor  
  
• Proclaim that captives will be released 
• Oppressed will be set free  
• Bringing sight to the blind
• Bringing in the Year of the Lord 

Let start with the last item the Year of the Lord is another way of saying the year of Jubilee.  Jubilee or the year of "release", is a Law from God given to Moses to give to the nation of Israel, it is revealed in Leviticus 25-8...
And you shall count seven Sabbaths of years for yourself, seven times seven years; and the time of the seven Sabbaths of years shall be to you forty-nine years. ⁹ Then you shall cause the trumpet of the Jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement you shall make the trumpet to sound throughout all your land. ¹⁰ And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you; and each of you shall return to his possession, and each of you shall return to his family. ¹¹ That fiftieth year shall be a Jubilee to you; in it you shall neither sow nor reap what grows of its own accord, nor gather the grapes of your untended vine. ¹² For it is the Jubilee; it shall be holy to you; you shall eat its produce from the field.
¹³ ‘In this Year of Jubilee, each of you shall return to his possession. ¹⁴ And if you sell anything to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor’s hand, you shall not oppress one another. 

God made this decree to prevent his people from oppressing one another, economically and emotionally by confiscating ones land/home from them.  There is not much evidence within the bible of God's people following this Law; So when Jesus gets in front of his people (The Jews) saying "today this scripture has been fulfilled", it is not very popular, so not popular that these people are possessed to kill this young man at the beginning of his ministry.  But besides economic liberation, Jesus also saw spiritual oppression (demonic possession) among his people, and he saw the "blind (pharisees) leading the blind."  In a way, that day when Jesus declared this proclamation in that tiny synagogue in Nazareth, he was no different than a politician stating his agenda and platform. Only difference was Jesus actually was telling the truth and died doing it, but through his death, we as believers are forever freed and released from oppression, FOREVER!!  HAPPY JUBILEE!!

JESUS FOR PRESIDENT!!