Saturday 6 May 2017

How Much Should Christians Give?


Photo by:  http://www.flickr.com/people/14214150@N02

I used to wonder why the early church people sold their lands and possessions and divided the money. I wondered, because Christians stopped doing that. Was it because they became selfish? Why don't we do that any longer?
Then I read about what happened to Jewish people who believed in Jesus. They were excommunicated from the church.
"...they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. John 9:23

I went online to Bible Hub to see what excommunication entailed.

Put out of the synagogue - 

 Among the Jews there were two grades of excommunication; the one for lighter offences, of which they mentioned 24 causes; the other for greater offences. The first excluded a man for 30 days from the privilege of entering a synagogue, and from coming nearer to his wife or friends than 4 cubits.

The other was a solemn exclusion forever from the worship of the synagogue, attended with awful maledictions and curses, and an exclusion from all contact with the people. This was called the curse, and so thoroughly excluded the person from all communion whatever with his countrymen, that they were not allowed to sell to him anything, even the necessaries of life (Buxtorf). It is probable that this latter punishment was what they intended to inflict if anyone should confess that Jesus was the Messiah: and it was the fear of this terrible punishment that deterred his parents from expressing their opinion.

Barne's Notes on the Bible: http://biblehub.com/commentaries/barnes/john/9.htm

So, the Jews who accepted Christ could not be with their families or friends. They couldn't go to the Synagogue. That probably means they all lost their jobs and businesses. Their relatives would shun them. All they would have left is fellow believers.

Jesus said, "Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys."  Luke 12:33

John the Baptist said, "If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry."   John 3:11

We Christians, the vast majority, don't do these things.

If a man had a job, could he make do with only one shirt? What would he wear when it gets dirty? This is how I get confused when I read the Bible.

I just prayed and asked God for an answer to this. What came to my mind was two true stories.

Story One:  My mother knew a man at church who started a business. He was giving 10% to the Lord. His business grew and he gave 20%. Then it grew and grew; he is now giving 90% of his money to the Lord and charities.

Story Two: A wealthy woman in India was converted to Christianity. She loved buying the most beautiful saris (dresses). She went to Mother Teresa and asked her if she should stop buying saris. Mother Teresa said, " Buy less expensive saris, and then buy saris for poor women at the same time." I thought that was a good answer.

I think if we own extra land, houses, cars, boats etc. we could sell them and give to the poor. I think we should make our wants few and be happy with a simpler life. But I guess we don't have to sell everything unless the Lord asks us to. And that would mean he wants us to do something for him that is special.








Tuesday 2 May 2017

Are You Thirsty?



Mineral water spring in Nuskova.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:ModriDirkac

When Jesus talked with the woman at the well in Samaria, he likened himself to a spring of water: "Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”  John 4:14

Thirsty. What are we thirsty for? For love, fun, romance, money, children, happiness, peace? I think we all are at one time in our lives

Have I been thirsty for the things of this world after giving myself to Jesus? Not at first, and not for 5 years. Then my first marriage broke up. I was lonely, very lonely and raising my two daughters. I was thirsty for love and companionship. I let this rule me for a very long time.

I remarried, but my new marriage was not what I hoped it would be. There was lots of fighting, mostly about how to raise the children. He was too strict in my eyes and I was too lenient in his eyes. This almost broke us up.

So, I was lonely again, even though I was married. I didn't feel loved and I thirsted for love. I didn't look at other men, but I longed for a man to truly love me. Eventually, God showed me that the desire I had for love from humans, men, children and grandchildren, was an idol. In fact, he showed me I loved my children more than I loved him. I didn't know that - but that day I saw it as plain as day.

I knew that I needed to turn from human love to his love. His love needed to be enough for me. I spent much more time praying, reading Christian books and the Bible. I found that Jesus' love is more than enough; it really is, "like a spring of water welling up to eternal life"

Like Joyce Meyer says, I was a Christian through all of this, but I was a sad Christian. Joyce says she was a Mad Christian. Lol  God was with me all through the years, blessing and helping me. We had a good relationship, but not the best we could have. Our relationship is much stronger now and I thirst for nothing but him. (As far as I know!)

"How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; And You give them to drink of the river of Your delights.
For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light."  Psalm 36:7-9


Saturday 29 April 2017

We are A Temple of God.


When we give our lives to Jesus, we become a temple for the indwelling of the God of the universe. We can come to God alone in prayer and receive his strength, love and Spirit.

"Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?"  
1 Corinthians 3:16

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." 
1 Corinthians 6:20

Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”  John 2:19

Jesus called his body a temple. God, his father, filled him. He said, "Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works."  John 14:10

What was the purpose and use of the ancient temple?

1. It was a dwelling place for God; he himself came down and entered the Most Holy Place at Sinai and when Solomon built the temple at Jerusalem. God came down to earth to live with men.

2. Animal sacrifices were made on the alter. Blood was shed for the sins of the people.

3. People were cleansed by the priests.

4. God forgave the people there.

5. Priests interceded and prayed for the people.

6. God gave directions to the people from the temple. 

All these things are now done by Jesus. He came to live with us, he shed his blood for us, he cleanses us, he forgives us, he intercedes for us, he is our High Priest, he guides and teaches us through the Holy Spirit.

"And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom..."  Matthew 27:50,51

The curtain, in the old temple, separated the Holy from the Most Holy apartment. Only once a year could a priest go into the Most Holy place.

"And now that it is torn open, what does that show but this, that by the death of Jesus Christ any one, every one, is welcome to pass in to the very innermost sanctuary, and to dwell, nestling as close as he will, to the very heart of the enthroned God? "


What was the condition of the ancient temple when Jesus came to earth?


"And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”  Matthew 21:12,13

"And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.”  John 2:15,16

This action by Jesus shows us what God will do with our own temple. He will drive out our passion for the things of this world and replace that with prayer, hope and a love for righteousness.



https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Adik86



https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Philip_De_Vere



Thursday 27 April 2017

Revelation: The New Earth.

I am posting chapters from my sister's book, "The End is near. End Time Bible Prophecy Anyone Can Understand." E.A. James. Available at lulu.com

Continued from previous post..

New Earth

          Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  Rev. 21:1
          After the unpleasant day of carrying out the judgment of the wicked, the desolate and charred earth that has been sitting dormant for a thousand years will be recreated by God.  What a privilege it will be to witness this creation step by step.

 What will the new earth be like?


For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.  (Is. 65:17)  After the new earth is created, we will mercifully forget the imperfect earth from which we came and we will forget any pain, suffering and sadness we may have experienced and we will never have bad experiences again.  …He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.  (Rev. 21:4)
They will build houses and inhabit them; They will also plant vineyards and eat their fruit.  (Is. 65:21)  During the thousand years after we were taken to heaven, we lived in God’s mansion.  But when we move to the earth made new, we will build and live in our own houses.
And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little boy will lead them.  Also the cow and the bear will graze, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like an ox.  The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den.  They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.  (Is. 11:6-9)  All the animals of the new earth will be tame and no one will ever come to harm again.
Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection…  Rev. 20:6
Probation is not yet closed; we all still have time to choose where we will spend eternity.  Jesus is coming, and coming soon.  Will you be ready?



Monday 24 April 2017

Revelation: The Thousand Years Ends.


I am posting chapters from my sister's book, "The End is near. End Time Bible Prophecy Anyone Can Understand." E.A. James. Available at lulu.com

Continued from previous post..

After the Thousand Years

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God…  Rev. 21:2

We have been living in God’s mansion in heaven, but now a new city is prepared for us, and Jesus, to live in for the rest of eternity on this earth. 
But first there is some unfinished business…
When the thousand years are complete, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth…to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore.  And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them.  And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also…  Rev. 20:7-10

We who have been in heaven were either alive when Jesus came for us or we were raised from the dead in the first resurrection.  Satan was left with nothing to do while we were enjoying the bliss of being in heaven with Jesus and our loved ones.  But after the thousand years a second resurrection takes place wherein the unsaved from the history of the world are raised and Satan, who has had a millennium to make plans, gathers these innumerable people in order to make war against the New Jerusalem and those of us inside.  Satan, his angels, the beast and the false prophet receive their punishment immediately.  The rest of humanity is left to learn of their fate.
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.  And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.  Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.  This is the second death, the lake of fire.  And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.  Rev. 20:11-15
All the unsaved from all of history will stand before Jesus to hear why they are not among the saved and to hear the judgment of their deeds.



Thursday 20 April 2017

Revelation: The Works of Christians.

I am posting chapters from my sister's book, "The End is near. End Time Bible Prophecy Anyone Can Understand." E.A. James. Available at lulu.com

Continued from previous post..

Faith & Deeds of the Christian.

          So where do deeds come into the picture?  When you fall in love with someone you desire to please that person, and our love for Jesus will be no different.  The longer Jesus is in your life, the more you will know him and the more you will love him and the more you will want to please him.  So what is it that pleases Jesus?  When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus replied, …”You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind”.  This is the great and foremost commandment.  The second is like it, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”   (Matt. 22:37-39)  Loving God and treating people as we would want to be treated are the deeds for which we are judged.  (See Matt. 25:31-46)
By ourselves we cannot please Jesus, but he promises to help us personally, to give us the Holy Spirit to help, and to cover us when we fall short.  I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever…  (John 14:16)  …he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.  (John 15:5)   …for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.  (Phil. 2:13)  …if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.  (1 John 2:1)  For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.  Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  (Heb. 4:15, 16)

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 25:34-40

Those who do not do these works are those whose hearts are hard. They are people who perhaps say they are Christians, but if Christ was in their hearts, they would do these kinds of works, for he puts this in our hearts. God will bring people into your life who need help. The Holy Spirit will whisper to us, "Help them." Not all of us do large or far-reaching good works, but the small kindnesses of life add up to a mighty river of righteousness.

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Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.  Rev.20:6



Wednesday 19 April 2017

Revelation: Faith and Works.

I am posting chapters from my sister's book, "The End is near. End Time Bible Prophecy Anyone Can Understand." E.A. James. Available at lulu.com

Continued from previous post..

          Satan, his angels, and those whose names are not written in the Book of Life will have their deeds judged by the saints in heaven.  Jesus has already judged who is and who is not to be saved, so why are we going to judge the works of those who are not saved?  We can speculate and come up with a twofold answer.  First, the punishment for their deeds must fit the crime.  Adolph Hitler was responsible for the murder of millions of people, but Joe Schmuckatelly down the street simply did not believe in God and he never killed one other human being.  Do they deserve the same judgment?  Of course not.  Judgment occurs…so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.  (2 Cor. 5:10)


          The second speculative answer as to why the saints are allowed to judge the world is to satisfy questions we may have.  For instance:  Why isn’t that TV preacher here in heaven?  When we look at his deeds we see he was not a servant of God, but instead he was a greedy and power hungry megalomaniac.  He did not have a personal relationship with Jesus; he used Jesus’ name to advance his own agenda.
Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  Many will say to Me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?”  And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” (Matt. 7:21-23)  (Emphasis supplied)                                         

Salvation vs. Deeds

          The question now arises:  Why are salvation and deeds two separate things?  This is a topic that has been debated for thousands of years, and we will not settle the matter here in this book.  But we will try to put it as simply as possible so we have a basic understanding.  Salvation is a gift that we receive freely:  we can do NOTHING to earn it.  …the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Rom. 6:23)  So how do we receive this free gift?  It says in John 1:12, But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.  Jesus said …This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.  (John 6:29)  

When Jesus was crucified, one of the criminals being crucified next to him asked Jesus to remember him when he came in his kingdom.  Jesus replied that the criminal would be with him in paradise.  (See Luke 23:42, 43)  This man was a criminal, and he was such a bad man that the death sentence had been passed against him.  So how could Jesus simply say yes, you will be in heaven with me?  Because this criminal believed that Jesus was the Son of God and said he wanted to be with him. 
That is all that is required to be saved:  believe that Jesus is sent of God to save you and ask him to be in your life.  Suddenly your name is written in the Book of Life and heaven is yours.  …he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent me, has eternal life, and…has passed out of death into life.  (John 5:24)