Archive for the ‘Sin’ Category
He Pulled Her In
He Pulled Her In
It hadn’t rained for weeks. The horrible and devastating storm was now over. All day the dove had flown back and forth looking for food, looking for a place to land, looking for any sign of life.
She hadn’t found a thing that she could humble herself to come down to. And, she really wasn’t prepared to fly all day without landing on something somewhere.
She was weary. It was all she could do to fly the long trip back to the Ark. With labored effort she struggled toward the open window at the top of the giant boat. Her wings labored harder with every flap. She was very conscious of how tired and weary she was. She felt like she couldn’t go much farther.
Noah knew her nature. He knew she would never be happy to live in a world of filth or decay. She would never be comfortable around anything unclean. She was a dove, not a scavenger.
She had left earlier that day with a raven, but they soon went their separate ways. He happily sought out the rotten and decaying carcasses among the flood-strewn debris. She had no interest in such things.
There had been no place on earth she would allow herself to go to. Returning to the Ark was her only option. But it was almost too late. She was completely exhausted.
Then she saw a hand stretched out towards her. She focused on the hand. This was the same hand fed her every day and cared for her. She knew all would be well if she could but make it to his outstretched hand.
The hand reached out of the Ark as far as it could; caught her and pulled her safely inside.
She was home now!
She hadn’t been strong enough to make it all the way back inside on her own, she had done what she could, but that wasn’t quite enough.
But, when she was willing to make the effort to come back to the Ark, there was an outstretched hand ready to pull her back inside!
Gen 8:7 And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.
Gen 8:8 Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;
Gen 8:9 But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.
Do you find yourself weary of a life filled with sin? There’s hope. If you will make the effort to get to the Ark of safety, I promise you, there will be an outstretched hand ready to pull you safely inside.
He’s waiting on you.
You’re Scaring Me To Death! I Just Wished It Scared You Too!
You’re Scaring Me To Death! I Just Wished It Scared You Too!
Kaleen and Linda sat mesmerized on the couch in the darkened living room. The eerie blue light from the big flat screen flickered on their faces. The half-eaten bag of popcorn now sat idle and cold on the coffee table.
The screen showed a vampire holding the young woman in his arms. His fangs seemed to grow longer just moments before they sank into her neck. The blood flowed freely. The sight of blood excited the vampire and he immediately pressed his lips into the blood, not wanting to let any escape.
The girls watched the video with great interest. They actually found the moment rather titillating and sensual.
Linda had confided to Kaleen that her boyfriend Derrick asked her to let him bite her on the neck and drink her blood, and then he wanted her to bite him back and drink his blood. That way, they truly would be a part of each other, he had reasoned. Linda had refused.
They were watching this movie because it was all the rage and talked about so much at school. Quite a few young people from their church had even clicked its ‘Like’ button on Facebook.
The doorbell rang, momentarily scaring them and bringing them back to reality. It was their friend Anna. She was a member of The First Pentecostal Church across town.
Anna froze in her tracks as she saw what they were watching. “Turn that junk off right now. I won’t stay another minute if you leave that on! I’m serious!”
Kaleen complied with her demand.
“What wrong with you guys?” Anna asked in dismay. “Did your Holy Ghost just quit working, or have you overridden your conscience so much this stuff doesn’t bother you anymore? What’s the difference between you and the world now? Where are your Mom and Dad in all of this? Don’t they care what you bring into their house? Even if my Pastor didn’t care, my Parents would have put their foot down!”
Linda went into her defensive mode. “You’re starting to sound just like my Grandma, and she’s really old school.”
Anna ignored the insult and continued with her lecture.
“Two years ago, you said your Pastor said he was going to quit preaching against you guys watching videos. You told me then, that you didn’t see any harm in watching stuff like Laurel and Hardy, and the Three Stooges.
“Well, I’m not your Pastor, so I didn’t say anything. After watching your funny clips, you eventually got bored and started looking for something else to entertain you.
“It didn’t take long for you to start watching all of the current and popular movies on the rack. You told me about watching romantic and love stories. Then the next thing you tell me is that you now love monster movies.
“Then it was not long before I heard you using names and terms like The Walking Dead, Twilight, and The Undead. I may not have those titles right because I don’t watch them. But, if those types of movies and shows are about what I think they are about, then I am very afraid for you. Aren’t those the movies that include stuff like witchcraft, ghosts, black magic and the occult? Evidently, for you it’s not a far journey from those innocent shows to this.
“Now, today I walk in here and I see blood sucking vampires on your screen. What’s happened to you two? You’re OK with the message this sends to young people? My Lord have mercy, and you’re acting like you are really into it!
“Don’t you know that all this mess you’re watching opens your spirit and mind up to the work of the devil? I sincerely fear that you are making yourself available for demon possession! Is that what you want? Aren’t you afraid?
“I wouldn’t even read a book that had any thing about black magic, ghosts, witchcraft or occult subject matter in it! None of this is Holy Ghost compatible and you should already know that!”
Anna looked at her friends. They had gone to school together all their lives. They regularly went to Youth Rallies together in the same van. She couldn’t believe the mess her friends were involved in. Vampires! Blood sucking! Oh, Lord help!
Her Pastor’s warnings were right on target. She was glad that he tried to be protective of her and guard her from the evils and wickedness of life.
Kaleen went into her defense mode. “Don’t come in here getting all super holy. How do you get off telling us what we can watch and what we can’t watch? What are you now, holier than everyone else? You are starting to sound like them holier-than-thou ultra conservatives, and you know how I feel about them.
Anna was silent, she’d didn’t want to argue with her friends. She had made her point. She could feel the resentment in the room. Their friendship had already been fragile enough over the last year, ever since she’d disproved of Linda liking Derrick.
Standing there silently before her friends, she was quickly brought back to reality of the moment by their loud words. She realized that they were both talking loudly and feeding off of each other.
“We don’t want friends that preach to us. I thought you were our friend!” Kaleen said. “If our Pastor said it’s OK to watch films, then who are you to tell us no? Maybe it’s best if you go.”
Anna looked at them both with unbelief in her eyes. “This is a sad day for me. I love you guys, and I’ll never stop praying for you. But, what you are doing is scaring me to death! I just wished it scared you too!”
With tear-filled eyes, Anna walked slowly toward the door.
Some Apostolics Are Happy Their Pastor Ignores A Few New Testament Scriptures.
Are Apostolics Happy Their Pastors Ignore Some New Testament Scriptures?
Apostolics by nature should be firm believers in “coming out from among them” and being separated from the world, and unto Christ. Yet, Christian approved sins may number more than we might first think. There is also a crowd that would ignore Biblical cautions and warnings because in their mind, that was only a guideline, not an actual sin.
It is our understanding that Holiness in both inward and outward. I find it safe to also say that what is on the inside will soon show on the outside.
We sometimes hear the subject of modesty talked about behind the pulpit. We also have many new choruses about God being a holy God. Yet, if we made a list of things we are comfortable not hearing about, it just might include a few of these New Testament Scriptures. There just too many to post here.
Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
- Bitterness (Holding a Grudge)
Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
- Wrath, Anger
- Clamour (A Big Outcry)
- Throwing Fits
- Evil Speaking (Criticism)
- Malice
Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
- Be Tenderhearted
- Forgiving one another
1 Tim 5:13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
- Gossipers
- Busybodies
1 Tim 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
- Love of Money (Includes putting job before church?)
- Coveting To Be Rich
1 Tim 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
- Envy (Jealousy)
- Strife
- Railings (Words of Criticism)
- Evil Surmisings (Imagining the Worst about someone)
1 Tim 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
- Getting Caught Up In Twisted Doctrines And Beliefs
1 Tim 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
- Costly Array
- Modest Clothing
- Gold,
- Pearls
Heb 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
- Obey (The Pastor)
- Submit Yourselves (One may obey without submitting, but it is impossible to submit without obeying.)
1 Tim 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
- High mindedness
2 Pet 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
2 Pet 2:11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
2 Pet 2:12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
- Lust of Uncleanness
- Despise Governments (Don’t want to be told what to do.)
- Presumptous
- Self-willed
- Not Afraid to speak evil of dignitaries (Especially means your pastor)
- Railing Accusations
- Speaking evil of things they don’t understand.
Jude 1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
- Murmurers
- Complainers
- Walking after their own lust (Doing whatever they want)
1 Pet 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
- Fleshly lusts
Matt 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
- Emotional Adultery
2 Tim 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
- Flee Youthful lusts (If it includes more than the sensual, could it also include sports?)
2 Tim 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
- Avoid Foolish and Stupid Questions (They just start fights)
1 Cor 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
1 Cor 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
- Men – Get A Haircut.
- Women – Don’t Ever Cut It
Matt 5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
- Don’t Do The Minimum
Matt 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
- Love The Neighbor (Neighboring Countries Too?)
Matt 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
- Love Your Enemies
- Bless Them That Curse You
- Do Good Things To Them That Hate You
- Pray For Them That Are Unkind To You
1 Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
- Love Not The World
- Love Not The Things In The World
- Lust of the Flesh
- Lust of the Eyes
- Pride Of Life
Jas 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
- Humility
Jas 4:11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
- Speaking Evil And Unkind Things Of One Another
1 Tim 5:19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
- At Least Two (or Three) Witnesses Needed Before Accusing An Elder.
1 Tim 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
- Saints That Sin Should Be Rebuked In Church?
Jas 4:15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
- Not Saying, “If The Lord Wills)
Jas 4:16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
- Boasting
Jas 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
- Ignoring The Word
Jas 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
- Not Watching What You Say
Jas 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
- Visit The Sick Orphans And Widows
- Keep Yourself Unspotted (Unaffected by) The World
Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Rom 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Rom 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.
Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Rom 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Rom 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Rom 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
- Surely This Doesn’t Need To Be Explained Further
2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2 Tim 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
- There’s A Reason For Every Scripture In The Bible.
- Don’t Ignore
- Don’t Pick And Choose.
Acts 20:26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
Acts 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
- Peter Wasn’t Afraid To Say What Needed To Be Said
- May God Help Us All
If I Were The Devil
“If I Were the Devil…”
by
Paul Harvey, 1965
I would want to engulf the whole world in darkness. And I would have one-third of the real estate and four-fifths of the population , but I wouldn’t be happy until I had the ripest apple on the tree. So I’d set about, however necessary, to take over the United States get important realtors like burnaby real estate and others to help me win USA and Canada.
I’d subvert the churches first; I’d begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: “Do as you please.”
To the youth I would whisper, “The Bible is a myth.” [our note: I heard this from a humanities instructor when I was in college–a breeding ground for the sowing of wickedness into the minds of those that have to memorize blasphemy in order to pass the course and get out and go past conscience to continue doing what they are told.]
I would convince them that man-made God [our note: in college in a philosophy “class” I was told the lie, “There is no God.” That was a lesson in lies.] instead of the other way around.
I would confide that what’s bad is good and what’s good is “square.”
In the ears of the young married I would whisper that work is debasing [our note: Americans are pleasure-loving people. Some are obese from lack of work meanwhile others pay somebody to mow the grass while they go to the “Fitness Center.” The children sit in school all day and then in front of the tv for hours on end in the midst of broken-down toys and eating processed foods full of refined sugar. The children do not work. They have no skills. The body and mind need to be involved in work. We were not made to be idle. A day of productivity is satisfying to both young and old.], that cocktail parties are good for you.
And to the old I would teach to pray after me: “Our Father, who art in Washington…” [our note: America seems to become more communist by the second.]
And then I’d get organized; I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting, so that everything else would appear dull and uninteresting.
I’d threaten television with dirtier movies and vice versa.
I’d peddle narcotics to whom I could; I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction; I’d tranquillize the rest with pills.
If I were the Devil I’d soon have families at war with themselves, churches at war with themselves, and nations at war with themselves; until each in its turn was consumed. And with promises of higher ratings I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flames.
If I were the Devil I’d encourage schools to refine young intellects [our note: the schools disrupt and destroy young intellects and parents look on in horror as their children disintegrate before their very eyes. Parents need to REPENT of the sins and BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ and OBEY his word and then they can be saved and rear their children correctly.] but neglect to discipline emotions: let those run wild. Before you know it, you’d have to have drug-sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every school-house door. Within a decade I’d have prisons overflowing.
With flattery and promises of power I would get the courts to do what I construe as against God and in favor of pornography.
I’d designate an atheist to front for me before the highest courts and I’d get the preachers to say, “She’s right.” Thus, I could evict God from the courthouse, then from the schoolhouse, and then from the Houses of Congress.
And in His own churches I would substitute psychology for religion and deify science. I would lure priests and pastors into misusing boys, girls, and church money.
If I were the Devil I would make the symbol of Easter [our note: Easter is a pagan festival] an egg and the symbol of Christmas [our note: “Christmas” is a blasphemy] a bottle.
If I were the Devil I’d take from those who have and give it to those who want it, until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious.
What’ll you bet that I couldn’t get whole States to promote gambling as the way to get rich?
I would caution against extremes: in hard work, in patriotism, and in moral conduct.
I would convince the youth that marriage is old-fashioned, but swinging is more fun; that what you see on television is the way to be; and thus I could undress you in public and I could lure you into bed where there are diseases for which there is no cure.
Then I would separate families, putting children in uniform, women in coal mines and objectors in slave-labor camps.
In other words, if I were the Devil, I’d just keep doing what he’s doing.
He Came To A Stable!
He Came To A Stable!
Luke 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Of all the places in the world for the King of kings to make His inaugural appearance to mankind! He chose the lowliest place of all! He chose a Stable. It was a place where filth and stink were all too common.
Imagine a God so holy, that He had to humble Himself to look upon heaven. I can understand Him having to humble Himself to look upon earth, but heaven too? He came to a stable. Man’s mind cannot completely fathom a Divine introduction into such a lowly estate.
It wasn’t like the sanitized nativity setting in a Macy’s Department Store window. The stable where He was born wasn’t used to elegance. It was only familiar with life on the lowest level. Straw, dirt, old boards, rusty nails, spider webs, bird nests, a rough-hewn manger, and smelly animal droppings created the ambience for the birthplace of our Lord.
Animals made this stable their home. They had spent all day eating the finery of the plush fields heaven had provided. At night, these same creatures turned heaven’s best into earth’s worst.
One step inside the stable was convincing enough. The animals had created an atmosphere of nothing but filth and stink. There was an overwhelming odor. There was excrement that had to be removed. That’s the place He chose.
He Came To A Stable!
Garden of Eden
Sin takes heaven’s best and turns it into earth’s worst. That is what happened in the Garden of Eden. It’s still doing that today. God closed down man’s Paradise because of the filth of sin, and evicted Adam and Eve. Yet, in the New Testament, symbolically, he came to the same kind of place. A place of filth.
Mary Magdalene
He was called a friend of sinners. He was a friend of those that lived in filth. Remember the story of Mary and her alabaster box? She had lived her life in filth. But in Jesus, she found cleansing and forgiveness.
Woman At the Well
“I must needs go by Samaria,” Jesus said. What was in Samaria? Samaria was an off-limits place for Jews to even visit. The Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans. It was as dirty to them as a stable.
“I must needs go by the stable,” was what His statement may have sounded like to the disciples. A stable creature was what He found when He went there. A woman who had been married five times, and was now living with someone else, was the reason He came. She ran back to her village and brought everyone out to meet Jesus.
Peter’s Vision
The Apostle Peter had a difficult time at first. He couldn’t comprehend God’s willingness to deal with the unclean. A vision from God of a sheet being let down with all kinds of unclean animals, was shown to him. A voice said, “Rise Peter, slay and eat.”
Peter vehemently protested, because to him they were common, and unclean. The voice finally instructed Peter.
Acts 10:15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
Because of this, Peter went to the household of Cornelius and opened the door of Salvation unto the Gentiles. The very people Jesus had called dogs. Peter was sent to unlock the door of the stable and let every one out.
He Came To A Stable! He Is Not Afraid Of The Filth In Your Life! He Loves You!
It will be the biggest mistake of your life, if you buy into the thinking that Jesus will not forgive you because you’ve been too bad. That is not true. There is no sin common unto man who He won’t forgive.
1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1 Corinthians 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
1. Washed – God specializes in cleaning up lives. Let Him clean yours.
2. Sanctified – He makes you into a pure and holy vessel He can use.
3. Justified – NOW, it’s just as if you’ve never sinned.
- In the name of the Lord Jesus – (The Biblical mode of Baptism)
- By the Spirit of our God – (The in-filling of the Holy Ghost)
He Came To A Stable, He Knows About Filth! He Wants To Make You Clean!
We couldn’t go to where He was, so He came to where we were. He came to a stable. He came to save the drunkard, the drug user, the immoral, the profane, the unbeliever and other sinners. He came to seek and to save that which was lost. God is not afraid of the dirt and filth in your life. He will cleanse you and wash you if you’ll just repent.
Get baptized in Jesus Name, and let Him fill you with His wonderful Spirit, just like the disciples did:
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Only Love, Could Have Made Him Come To A Stable!