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1 Corinthians 7
The Marriage and Divorce chapter; and also the chapter that supports those that choose not to ever marry...to serve the Lord.
Once our society was able to buy televisions for the home; it was just a matter of time until Divorce Lawyers we're buying commercial spots to advertise and promote for divorce. And so the Age Of Split Up homes ensued. Who became adults in the 70's; and in 1973 abortion was legalized.
This was Satans plan all along to "kill" children emotionally or literally.
Mom and Dad remarry other people; then the children have FOUR people speaking into their lives and futures. See how fast and far things got messed up? By not obeying Gods Word on marriage and divorce ;Enter in the Gay generation: who now adopt or buy surrogates to get children for their family. All this because of God-less television and advertising.
Where is the Bible in our homes? On the coffee table, or in a bookcase collecting dust mites?
The only way for Christians to overcome that in their homes, is to be faithful to the "light" of understanding, that He has blessed us with. Hard as it is, we have to rededicate ourselves to God, through the forgiveness of Jesus Christ; and live a life that is pleasing to the Lord. Deny our passion for worldliness and Follow Jesus.
How do I know all of this? I experienced it myself. I cancelled the cable and put the Bible back in my life. It was hard at first, but gets easier ever day. If we'll take a stand for Jesus, it's less confusing for the kids. But you will log in many hours of prayer for those children who lived through it with you too.
Now we know how it happened. Now we can go forward with Jesus. If we don't, the danger of becoming Apostate is huge...and the kids too.
With meekness I say, Repent. Turn around and walk toward the Lord wholeheartedly.
Mishael
The Sabbath is Saturday, and has been since God created the world and rested on the 7th day Sabbath.
Mark 2:27-28
27. And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: 28Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
Many (way too many) of the modern church's today no longer teach that Christians should adhere to the 4th commandment/sabbath, they even go further and teach that all of the commandments are minimized, or no longer in affect. they say they are old laws given during the Old Testament times, and really don't pertain since Christ died on the cross and has risen we are NOW free from the Law. This thinking is inconcevable ....if you really read and understand the scriptures.
When, ministers or others say that we don't need to follow the 4th commandment or the other commandments; I ask them about explaining away this verse by Jesus below:
John 14:15
"If ye love me, keep my commandments."
Silence......
God Bless
Yes, I agree with your observation of these very popular ministers. Worldly possessions and money drive their false teachings.
Today, I believe Jesus would tell all of these ministers exactly what he told the young man in Matthew 19:21
"Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." How many ministers do you know that would do this?
Trust Jesus here...
Matthew 7:15
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."
Today, it's not only the large Mega church's, it is the majority of most church's that are NOT following accurate bible doctrine.
If the church's focus is more on tithes/money then I would run the other way.
Matthew 7:20-23
20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Follow the bible...and your heart! It will not let you down!
God Bless.
If we're living above our means, so that we are unable to give the tithe? Then it's a simple thing to cut out things that harm us; rather than edify us. I don't have to tell which ones; we know goods and services that we can live without.
Give it to the shepherd that feeds your soul on the Word of God. Skinny sheep means, they're not being fed right. Too weak to run away from wolves.
We don't get to sit on our 800.00 recliners and point fingers at tv preachers and then gossip about it. It's called, 'backbiting' in the Bible. We are to avoid that.
If we can be faithful to the things we know of; the Lord will bless us bountifully.
I'm not pointing my finger at you. I care enough to share some of the things I had to learn myself. There was times I had huge financial Need. I figured down to the penny what I needed and wrote it on a slip of paper. I prayed and asked for help. I received, down to the penny what I needed! I never tire of giving glory and praise for the faithfulness of our Lord.
You will forever remember those times.
Mishael
Romans 3: 31
Romans 6:15
Romans 7:7
Exudos 20: 8-11
James 2:10
Revelations 22:14
For more information about how Sabbath worship was changed to Sunday, visit the Roman Catholic website. God bless you dear reader.
Be saber be vigilant the adversary, the devil as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour...
Woe unto the pastors who lead my sheep astray...
I know our Lord still heals people, still raises the dead when one of his children asks him to. Not like we saw in the early church but here and there as he performs his will and answers prayers in conformity to his will. We can ask our Lord for healing, sometimes he does heal, sometimes he does not. but you don't see it like you did in the early church where Jesus and the apostles would heal all brought to him and them. I will continue on another post.
Thank you very much for sharing your story and I am very happy that you found your way to serve God. In the past my life was very fortunate on many fields but I was ignorant and never acknowledged what God had done for me. Someone else has commented on my post, and only within few minutes after reading couple of posts, James 1 and Jeremiah this morning I have realised how ignorant I was. God was there, giving me opportunity to accept Him, giving me everything I needed but I did not, I was blind to see. Now I am asking God to do it again in my life, to accept my apology and to send someone else in my life who can guide me on His path. I fell that I had big chance but I closed the doors, I never had to ask God twice, he was there for me always, every moment, but I did not know that at the time.
It was really encouraging when I read that you said that God might speak to us through others. I did not know that, but immediately after reading what you said I recollected past times when God did do exactly that but I was not aware until now. This recognition also revealed to me many sins I committed during those times. What you have said brought understanding of something that I kept missing for many years. I feel very sad about it now as I would have acted differently towards God, towards other people and myself. It was somewhere in me but I did not understand what it was - missed messages from God. I cant turn the time back but can only hope that God will not turn His back to me.
Giving. To finish what I was saying. First of all the Lord does not need our money. He can raise whatever he needs to get a job done as evident when he instructs one of his disciples to catch a fish and finding the coin in his mouth. But he wants us to give and be generous such is one of the fruits of the spirit. To be generous. A true Christian will want to give, will want to support the cause and get the gospel out there. A spiritually mature Christian is a giving Christian. Now the less spiritually mature Christian may not. This individual may still be trying to sort this out, it may take time to where they realize the importance of letting go and becoming a part of the team to finance the evangelistic efforts being conducted to fill the great commission. Realizing the word must get out, on radio, television, boots on the ground in various communities. We all know the our Lord looks at the intent of the heart and if a poor man gives a dollar because he wants to contribute and it is what he has and he knows the Lord can take that buck and make something happen because he believes! that is more respectable than the man who reluctantly walks up to the offering plate and throws in his 10 percent because he believes he HAS TO and does so because "that is what he is supposed to do" without the joyful attitude that comes with one who gives because he wants to support and contribute to the cause. I know if I was going on a mission, and I was addressing a group of people, and a dude walked up with a smile on his face and says Spike, here is twenty dollars!!!! go get them!!!! may the Lord be with you and another person walked up with a frown on his face and very reluctantly pulled some bills out of his wallet and could not look me in the eye and slowly moved his hand towards me and said, I guess I am supposed to give you this.....you know what? I would not accept it. I don't want money from someone who is reluctantly giving it.
Thank you very much for you comment and pointing me to James 1which I have read this morning after reading your post. I understand what you are saying, I do get impatient on occasions as sometimes I want to receive something more concrete than having fate alone, but I also understand that it is my problem when doubts arise. I am not hiding that I have occasional doubts but all I can do is continue praying and reading I believe. Thank you again.
Now, one thing the gospel brought us was freedom, such as Paul said, if you want to honor a Sabbath day, do it but don't force someone else to. Likewise if you don't, don't compel or force someone to honor it. I struggled with that one for a long time until I read what Paul said. I read a lot of literature on if you go to church on Sunday you are falling in line with apostacy because Constantine is the one who changed Christian worship from Saturday or (Sabbath) day to Sunday worship for Christians. That is another subject in and of itself. I know Paul was writing a lot of letters trying to put out fires as Jews crept into the church, pagans, and other false religions trying to pervert and change the gospel. Back to tithing since I became off track. The freedom brought by the gospel seems to be simple. Sure, lets say as a believer, I make a vow to God such as Jacob did in the older Testament. To give a tithe back to God; a tenth. That seemed to be his personal vow to him. Lets say a Christian man, (such as Jacob did), prays to the Lord and promises from now on he will give 7,8,10 or 20 percent of his income, whatever he chooses to give to the Lord! I think that is the correct interpretation of giving as told in the New Testament. You give what you have decided to give, not out of compulsion, but be generous and cheerful about it. Now the hook is out of your mouth dragging you to the offering plate, instead you give on your terms! Frankly the Lord does not need your money, he has ways. I know the Lord wants us to give but he lets it be on our terms.
Looking at 2 Cor 9, Paul spoke about 'ministering to the saints' for which the Corinthians were well spoken of (v2). That which was collected was for those who laboured in the Gospel & those who were needy in the Church. It's not clearly stated but I believe the elders & helpers in the Church had their own professions & were not supported workers: similar to the Brethren Assembly setup now, so that they were not a financial burden to any. Yet, Paul does speak about both liberal giving & also giving from the heart cheerfully (vv 6,7). So there seems to be a balance of giving for someone's needs but with a mind convinced of the importance of doing so.
Tithing may be a good guide, but sometimes the Lord may lay (& enable) one to give over & above that amount & not be restrained by tithing. So I wouldn't teach tithing except to use it as God's guidance for Israel & a lead in for believers now to be sensitive to the needs of the Church & others, giving according as the Lord has prospered them. This challenge should be the motivation for giving, according to one's faith, ability & burden. I think we might find that more than 10% would be given for the support of the Church & spread of the Gospel in this way rather than by compulsion, which as you say, may be a grievous burden for some. Not everyone has that faith to overextend themselves in giving; but as they mature & prove the Lord faithful in other areas of their lives & being convinced in their hearts that others have a greater need than them, there may just be a special work of Grace in their hearts & lives.
You bring up some great questions Spike that have not only been discussed extensively on this Site but have also been the cause for much heated debate. Tithing, as with keeping the Sabbath & a meticulous adherence to the Ten Commandments are some of these subjects. But tithing is a worthy subject as, I agree, it is readily taught right from Sunday School to the pulpit. And I believe you're correct in quoting 2 Corinthians chapter 9 to rather support one's liberal & happy disposition in giving rather than the legal constraints of tithing.
Now I don't say that Tithing is wrong in itself as I find that to an enquirer or a new believer, it provides some clarity & guidance as to this mysterious function within Christ's Body. The LORD instituted it ( Deut 12:11) as an appropriate percentage of one's profit from the field, livestock, etc. which involved both for support for the Levites (& in the NT the needy of the Church), but also exercised one's heart in sacrificial giving & identifying with those that were less fortunate. I do keep it in the back of my mind when giving; realizing that giving of one's substance is not just for Church needs, but also for Missions, special projects, & to those that the Spirit lays upon one's heart.
Many church's today treat the church/congregation as a business, and this is in total opposition to Christ's teaching. The tithing, including the 10% rule is a way for the preachers to get gullible christians to feed their greed. I would not give anything to a church like this. Many church's and pastor's are getting bigger and richer everyday. I'm not going to feed a Beast like that.
I agree with you, we should give from the heart to those who are in need. We should give to People that you see IN REAL LIFE that are really in need. Those are the one's that Jesus wants us to help. Not rich church's and rich pastors to live opulent lives.
Too many Christians feed the Beast/Church and the pastors that are wolves.
Proverbs 22:9
"He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor."
What Paul tells us sounds like something Jesus would say to the people of the New Covenant. You give what is in your heart, you don't do it because of compulsion, for example, I made a thousand dollars therefore I must give 100 dollars. I must give exactly that amount and when some try to follow this alleged rule, they have a hard time giving cheerfully and generously. It becomes a mathematical equation and for most families that live paycheck to paycheck it places a burden on them. I think Jesus would rather you give with a cheerful heart what you can generously afford to give happily and also be able to pay your bills and honor the promises you made to your creditors. I know, and I am sure you do as well of people who reluctantly give because they feel they are sinning and robbing God if they don't give their (10) percent and will neglect to pay a bill with the idea that God will provide the means to pay it. God loves a cheerful giver, but many who follow the ten percent rule do not give cheerfully but the contrary, reluctantly and out of compulsion. What are your thoughts on this matter?
The Bible reveals we have a purpose to instruct angels. We think of them as all powerful and indeed they do seem to possess supernatural powers, however, we are not told they were created in the image of God. The nature of evil is in that Lucifer transitioned from being God centered, to self centered. Whatever else that change involved may not be known to us now. As a created being, the sum of knowledge we do know, is a fraction of all there is to know. Rational
thought alone places the Creator over his creation, faith is the key to God's perfect wisdom, which one day will be revealed more perfectly, and thus answer all questions we might speculate on now, in our immature state. The holiness of God is a unique attribute we will never fully comprehend, despite our being in his image. God is, and always will be, the best occupation of our minds, hearts and hands.