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; Hebrews 12:15
When a person is wronged in life, there is a decision to make. A.) Let the resentment build up inside and eventually it will turn to bitterness. The bible as stated above describes it as a "root" of bitterness. Being bitter against someone is much like taking poison into one's body and expecting the person to whom you are bitter against to die of poisoning! The only person who suffers is he who is bitter Or, B.) Be better. Refuse to give in to it and go to prayer and trust God to work it out and he will.
Belshazzar gathered 1.000 of his lords to a great feast. They began to drink wine and no doubt got pretty drunk. But that wasn't good enough. He then called for the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had brought from Jerusalem. The party took a turn for the worst when not only did they drink from the sacred vessels, they began to praise the gods of gold silver iron wood and of stone. Then, at the height of the party, a hand suddenly appeared near the wall and began to write a strange message. The king's face changed and was so frightened that his knees began to shake. The writing was such that the king called his wise men and they could not interpret the message The king guaranteed that whosoever would give the right interpretation would be rewarded hansomely. Then, when all hope was lost, The queen remembered that Daniel had interpreted 2 dreams that the kings father had and just maybe he could help in this situation. So, Daniel was brought before the king. After he turned down the rewards, he then prepared to give the interpretation to the king. Daniel then began to chide the king for all the blasphemy that the king and all those that accompanied him had committed against the Lord. He then recalls the king's father Nebuchadnezzar and how the Lord gave him his kingdom, and how the Lord controls the course of history. He then describes how when lifted up with pride, the Lord humbled him and then he told Belshazzar how he hadn't humbled himself is spite his knowledge of his father's past. then he gives the interpretation of the writing on the wall
Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.
Dan 5:25 ¶ And this [is] the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
Dan 5:26 This [is] the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.
Dan 5:27 TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
Dan 5:28 PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
Dan 5:29 Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and [put] a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
Dan 5:30 ¶ In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
Dan 5:31 And Darius the Median took the kingdom, [being] about threescore and two years old.
The above references describes how the king was so absorbed in the party, that unbeknownst to him, the Medes and Persians diverted the water of the Euphrates River and as it lowered the Medes and Persians went under it and the invasion was on. As a result, the king was killed the same night and they took over the kingdom as indicated by the writing.
The lesson is not to get so involved with the world, that the things of God are forgotten and when judgement comes, it is too late for repentance.
There are plenty of them because I constantly hear this as an excuse for not accepting Jesus as their savior. Seems like these people let what others do stop them from getting the blessings that they would otherwise recieve. In Matthew 25, Jesus addresses the pharisees concerning their hypocritical attitude again and again. These people were the organized religious leaders of the day. So, you should just leave it to God to deal with them and just decide to commit yourself to the Lord.
A father had two sons and one of them asked for his inheritance. After he had his money, he departed into a far contry and there wasted his money partying and living for himself. He even bought his friends things. Then hard times hit. He soon spent all he had and was broke. He became so desparate, he took a job feeding hogs in a pig sty. He must not have had enough money to buy food to eat either because even the corn husks themselves looked appitizing to him. He then came to his senses and realized his father had more than emough provisions and said to himself " what am I doing here starving to death when I could be back home where I won't be lacking anything?" So, he picked up and after telling his boss that he quit his job and collected his last pay, he started off for home. Meanwhile, back at home, his father was standing in the road waiting and looking off into the distance straining his eyes hoping perhaps the very tiny figure he could see was his long lost son. At the same time, the son as he was nearing home, was thinking that perhaps his dad was very angry for what he had done, spending all that money like he did on foolishness. How embarrassed would his father be knowing all the disgrace he brought on him? As he drew even nearer to the house he noticed that someone was running toward him. Yes, indeed it was his father with arms outstretched. Well believe it or not, he wasn't angry at all seeing that the son was willing to work as a hired servant concidering himself not worthy to be called his son. He planned to confess his sin before his father in the hopes he will have mercy on him and forgive him for his rebelliousness. His father also had the best robe that he put on him and a ring was placed on his finger and a brand new pair of shoes for his feet. As they neared the house, he could smell the aroma of delicious roast beef being cooked and the sound of a party going on. As he entered the house, he realized that the party was a celebration of his return home.
Out in the field, his older brother was working the crops and he soon thought he heard the sound of a party going on. He moved closer to the house and he saw one of the hired servants working outside and asked what is all the commotion about? The servant answered and said, your brother has come back home again and your father has killed the fatted calf and the party was all for him. He now was very mad and refused to go into the house. He then drew his father aside and said why are you lavishing my brother with all these things when he deliberately went out and spent all his money so foolishly and I have been here with you for many years and never gave me even a kid so that I can throw a party and be happy with my friends. The father then answered and said you are always with me and all that I own is thine. After all, you should be happy for your brother because this your brother was dead and is now alive again, was lost and now is found. What does this parable mean to us today? Well ,the lost son represents the wayward believer that after a time of backsliding comes back to the throne of grace and recieves forgiveness for his/her transgressions. Also notice that when he went astray, he was a son and when he returned he was still a son even though he was feeling unworthy to still have a relationship with God. So, if you are backsliden today, just return to God and sincerely ask for forgiveness and God will restore the fellowship that you had with him in the beginning. May this bring hope to you. Don't let the enemy lie to you by telling you that God won't recieve you back in the fold.
Go Ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and, lo, I am with you even to the end of the world. Matt. 28:19,20
According to the above reference, Jesus has called all believers beginning with his disciples to go out into the world and spread the message of hope that all may come to Jesus in faith believing. But there are some of the opinion that believers should "mind their own business" and keep their religion inside the four walls of the church! Some of these people are in high places and this has resulted in the almost total elimination of the expression in the public arena. Also, I along with other believers would be disobedient to Christ's command. For believers, this is not an option but a command. So, if a person doesn't want to hear it, then that's one thing but to try to restrict through legislation the disemination of the gospel message would be the loss of religious liberty which is one of the fundamental rights our forefathers fought and died for in this nation of ours. In today's high tech society the internet is another way the message can be brodcasted throughout the world.
This verse when studied in depth, has serious implications for the believer today. It states that(Jesus speaking here) But I say unto you that EVERY IDLE WORD that men shall speak,they shalt give account thereof in the day of judgement. This means that words are more meaningful than one may at first assume. A slander here a cuss word there all building a case against you. Or, a kind word given here and there will contribute to your reward at the believer's judgement By thy words you will be justified and by thy words you will be condemned. Another example of words having power is when Ananias and Sapphira in the book of Acts lied to the Holy Ghost and when they were confronted dropped dead on the spot (And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.) And a while later, his wife met with the same fate. So words are powerful and a revision to the old saying is this "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will destroy me."
It seems to be the past time among higher critics of the bible to always be questioning God. Why is this so? Don't get me wrong, it is ok to ask questions with the motive of seeking to understand the things of God. But, when the motivation is to attempt to win an argument against God or his people, it then is a whole different story. Is questioning God a new thing? The answer is NO! This has been the cause of the whole problem of the human race since the beginning. Who was the first to question God? The answer to that is Satan himself as described in Genesis 3:1. After God had completed the creation, he placed the man in the garden of Eden to take care of it(that's right work was the way things were even then. It was not a curse) The curse was that work became very hard and very challenging after the fall. Yes the Devil asked "YEA, HATH GOD SAID, YE SHALL NOT EAT OF EVERY TREE OF THE GARDEN?" This was the first instance that doubt entered eve's heart. And he also twisted the message that God gave Adam as well. Genesis 2:16,17 states God's command to Adam "And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt NOT eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt SURELY DIE. The Devil was only half right. He left out the part about not eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. As a matter of fact, it was the first LIE ever told because something only half true is in reality a lie. (see John 8:44) How did Eve answer this question? She acknowledged the fact that they could eat of the trees of the garden but, she added to the original command by saying that they were not to touch it (see Revelation 22:18,19) She added to the word of God as well which is also a very serious sin. By this time, the Devil had her where he wanted her! As a result, in the next verse, he told her another LIE "Ye shall NOT SURELY DIE" Then the Devil went a step further and insinuated that God was being unfair by withholding something desirable from them and promising them that they would be equal to God himself. (this is the very thing that got him banished from heaven) He was jealous of man because man was blessed and walking with God and the Devil was on the outside looking in. So, we see that questioning God or his word will, if done with the wrong motives, lead to more ungodlieness as stated in 2 Timothy 2:16 and specifically in verse 23. So the right question to ask is the one that the jailer in Acts 16:30 after Paul and Silas were brought out "Sirs WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?" The answer was and still is "BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED AND THY HOUSE" Perhaps you are asking many questions as well. Hopefully, your motive is to seek the knowledge of God and not just to prove that your petty little theory is right. Just ask Jesus into your heart and he will forgive your sins and will not turn you away(Romans 10:9-11) Do it today don't allow the Devil to steal away your opportunity for eternal life! (Revelation 3:20)
This post is about the good news. The fact is nobody has to end up in Hell. Jesus provided a way by which you can go to Heaven. His whole purpose for coming to this Earth was to be a sacrifice for sin. And once it was finished it opened the door to the very presence of God. (read the book of Hebrews for more details on this) The old covenant was based on the law which can never justify anyone. The new covenant is based on grace and is a gift that is available to anyone who believes. So, now is the day of salvation. Make it right with God now and don't wait until tomorrow. Tomorrow may never come for you. No body has to sin to have fun and enjoy life. So now access to God is available through the blood of Jesus to all who would come to him.(Heb. 10:19-25)
What is the worst thing about Hell? Is it the fire? The torment? No it is the separation that will exist there. You will no longer be able to access God's presence. In essence,you will be in everlasting solitary confinement! So the old idea of going there to party with your friends is out the window. According to the account in Luke of the rich man and Lazarus, when the rich man died and woke up in Hell, he asked for just a single drop of water on his tongue. and a short time later (Luke 16:28)he asked that Father Abraham to send Lazarus to his father's house to testify to his five brethren so that they would not end up there. So the people that are already there, do not want their friends or family there. Also note that while he was conversing with Father Abraham, there was no mention of anyone else around him(vs. 23-31) So in conclusion there you will suffer alone.
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