Comforting those Dealing with the Suicide of a Loved One.

8 Feb

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Psalm 139:1-2, “O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.”

I recently heard the unfortunate news of a friend’s loved one passing due to a suicidal death. The word suicide defines the intentional act of taking one’s own life. While in these times of crises the automatic reaction is to try and console your friend and let them know that their loved one is in a better place. But what about a Christian, one who knows that God does not tolerate sin or disobedience? We all know that intentionally taking a life is a sin and punishable unto death, but what about a redeemed believer who does the same?

The Bible records many suicides in its scriptures as in Judas, Matthew 27:5, Zimri in 1 Kings 16:18, Samson in Judges 16:29-31 to name a few. The case can be argued for Samson who was doing the Lord’s work and sacrificed his life to show his honor. These unfortunate individuals took their lives based on many factors such as guilt and ended their existence. Now while these events (with the exception of Samson) I believe will be judged in accordance to their disobedience. Samson showed favor to God and for that I trust He will be rewarded with entry into Paradise.

Though suicide is a horrible act, I do not believe that born again Christians who commits suicide will be condemned. John 10:28 states, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall NEVER perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” All sin is covered by grace as long as we are in Christ and remain. Romans 8:38-39 also reads, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In being baptized in the Blood of Christ the unlawful becomes lawful. The Apostle Paul spoke of the grace of God through Jesus giving Christians a safety net for and when we do fall into sin. 1 Corinthians 6:12, “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” Under the Blood all things are good but not expedite for our Christian lifestyle, which may lead to sin and death in this natural life but not separation from God. The Lord knows our heart, and I believe that all sinful actions made are not good, it will not cost us total separation from God.

A large portion of suicides today have to do with mental illnesses as well. If one is not capable of truly being saved by grace in Jesus Christ, I trust God will not condemn them. As their reasoning is no longer that of their true self. A case of this is recorded in 1 Samuel 31:3-6, “The battle became fierce against Saul. The archers hit him, and he was severely wounded by the archers. Then Saul said to his armorbearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and abuse me.”But his armorbearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it. And when his armorbearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword, and died with him. So Saul, his three sons, his armorbearer, and all his men died together that same day.”

We can see in the case of the irrational behavior of King Saul ending his life. This can be related to PTSD and other mental disorders that many people deal with in our society. As Christian believers we are not perfect by a long shot. The blood of Jesus will see us through any situation, which in this life may cost us and our loved ones dearly, but will never take away His love from us. Shalom…

Vegetarianism…

7 Feb

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Genesis 1:29, “And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.”

A little known fact of the Holy Bible is of God’s original mandate for man to eat from the fruits and vegetables of the land. This provided man and woman their daily needed nutrients our human bodies need. This information has led many to believe that Adam and Eve were originally vegetarians. This is very possible giving that sin and death had not yet entered into the world, suggesting no animals were killed for food. A healthy dose of daily vegetables in anyone’s diet can be a very powerful blessing! A vegetarian diet can produce very positive effects in a person’s life.

Vegetarians always have a lower body weight than non vegetarians, have better cholesterol levels, and generally live longer than those who take in meat. Vegetarians also have a lower risk of developing cancer and other diseases. This is all due to vegetables and fruits being lower in fat, and high in fiber. A good rule of thumb to remember is the food we put in our bodies have characteristics of its original form. Today’s foods have chemical additives for processing which we take in when consuming. These additives affect our bodies chemically and produce adverse effects within us.

Going from meat eater to being a vegetarian can be a very tough trial. I have tried many times myself and have failed, as many vegetarians have. A gradual increase of fruits and vegetables over time in place of meat can help to offset many urges that one can get from needing meat in their diet. Even though the original creation of man did not involve a meat diet, I do believe that in the Garden this was not the only food consumed. In the Bible a meat diet is clearly ordained in the scriptures, Lev 6:24, Acts 10:9-16. I urge everyone to consult a health practitioner, and try more green in your diet. Your body will reap the benefits of a healthier life style. Shalom…

God’s Righteousness will save the Unknowing World…

27 Jan

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Romans 2:12-16, “For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.”

A familiar question arises about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is how will those who have never heard the Good News be saved? After all if you have never heard the story of redemption and accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior how can you be called redeemed and Holy in God’s eye? The Bible simply states that those who have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ will be judged based simply on their personal sense of right and wrong or conscience. We must remember that God is just in all that he does, (Revelations 19:1-2) especially with those who have never heard about Jesus.

The Lord is always prevailing on our behalf to become saved and spread the Gospel. Even in this modern information age at times the Christian message can be missed, by some in third world and communist countries. This news is very comforting, even for me at times who struggled with finding an answer for the rest of the world not fortunate enough to have been born in a free society. This can also be related to those in other religions, who have never heard the Gospel but follow a religion which teaches wholesome living. That goodness will be used to reveal Christ to the unsaved upon the Lord’s return. This is not to say those who have heard but rejected the Gospel will be saved but those who have NEVER heard and still have a still moral sense of being.

So if the question ever arises that there cannot be only one way to God. Let them know there are many roads for those who have never heard the Gospel, but they always lead to Jesus Christ the Messiah. Shalom…

The Sons of Cain, agents of the Anti-Christ…

15 Jan

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Revelation 13:7, “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.”

The Bible speaks of the Anti-Christ commanding an army in a war against the saints of God. There is little information who this army will consist of, or how exactly they will aid the false messiah during the Apocalypse. Though we are given little information, we can conclude that this group of people will be extremely rebellious free thinkers, seeking to do away with anyone who represents Jesus Christ. Though we can make assumptions, the scripture does provide us with a group of people who were rebellious in their day and sought to please themselves instead of YAH (God).

This group of people were the seed of Cain, the offspring of the Serpent and Eve (Genesis 3:13, read The Serpent Seed blog under The Unfamiliar Bible Facts tab). Upon the murder of Abel, Cain relocated to the land of Nod (long presumed to be Eastern Europe). In this land Cain started the first civilization, the City of Enoch, dedicated to his rebellious desires. Cain in his knowledge of who he was (a by-product of the Serpent) felt that he was equal to God, thus creating his own kingdom of Earthly pleasure. In the City of Enoch, the sons of Cain became the most rebellious people in the world. Cain rebelled against every law the Lord intended for his creation to obey. In Genesis 4:17, “And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.” The term “knew” used here has the connotation of cohabitation (1 King 1:4), meaning they did not marry they acted upon their lust and a child was born.

The Sons of Cain, produced the first polygamist in Lamech, Genesis 4:19, “And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.” The first person to create and manufacture weapons in Tubal Cain, Genesis 4:22, “And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.” The term here “Instructor” is Hebrew for “Latash,” meaning to sharpen (1 Samuel 13:20) and artifact is translated “Choresh” for metal arts. Cain’s sons also created music to glorify themselves, Genesis 4:21. The offspring of Cain represent the warmongers of today still promoting their sinful nature in rebellion against God. Through the knowledge of the Serpent they have always deemed themselves in the same high esteem as God, choosing their own will instead of His.

The Sons of Cain are alive and well today in secret organizations, politics, the weapons industrial complex and the music industry. Throughout the ages they have been gathering and promoting the agenda of the Anti-Christ to destroy all things of God and especially Christ. These people will be the men and women who align themselves with Satan in the end times and those who choose to follow them as well. Even though his army will be great he still will lose the war with God, Revelation 20:10, “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” I pray this blog has been a blessing and for all to choose Jesus over self righteousness, and accept His righteousness, Shalom…

Are you ready to meet Him?

18 Dec

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1 Peter 1:16, “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

A personal question that we as Disciples of Christ should continually ask ourselves is, “Am I ready to meet the Father?” Sometimes in our walk with the Lord we have the tendency to put holiness on everything except our own lives. The sacred purification process no matter where you are in your walk with Christ whether amateur or veteran always rest on holiness. Biblical Holiness is defined as being set apart from the world, consecrated to the Word of God. Upon the Lord’s return He is looking for those without spot or wrinkle, stated in Ephesians 5:27, “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

Even though while we are in the flesh no perfection can be found, in accepting Jesus Christ we are offered grace and mercy for when we do fall short. Even though we cannot attain this perfection we must still strive for it unless the Cross of Christ is made to no effect in our lives, 1 Corinthians 1:17. Holiness is not acting as if we are perfect but relying on the perfect sacrifice of the Messiah and thus reflecting it in our own personal lives.

A few standards to live by are recorded in Romans 13:11-14, “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” I pray that by walking in the light and striving for perfection in the presence of our sinful nature, the true glory of God will be revealed. In return making all who believe worthy to meet the divine Savior, Shalom…

Choosing a Winning Team.

21 Oct

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Luke 11:23, “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.”

The Holy Bible continually encourages us to choose a winning team. This encouragement comes to us by way of the Lord’s grace and mercy. In knowing that even though we are imperfect human beings God is still in control, and guiding us by his spirit. We as believers are given this grace on a daily basis, to do what is right and not to submit ourselves unto the god of this world. In grace we are given a choice, which comes to us by living our lives continuously in the Spirit. By living in the spirit we encourage others in the faith, and also in being a light unto those not saved. This voice of positive discernment will open the gates of heaven and allow the Holy Spirit to do the will of God in the Earth. By doing this you choose a side, a side seeking to redeem all of mankind from the clutches of sin and death.

When we choose to work against this frame of thinking we open ourselves up to the other choice. This choice revolves around Satan and choosing our own way with dealing with daily situations. This choice births sin in the form of gossip, pre-marital sex, murder, blasphemy and a host of other acts not in line with God. As human beings, when we decide on making our own choices on how to deal with daily life without our focus on the Lord. We lend ourselves over to the enemy as stated in the Bible, Romans 6:13, And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. The joy of living in the flesh, presents pleasure that satisfies for the moment but does not last eternal.

Satan constantly seeks to lure us away from seeking the Most High for the pleasures of this Earth Age, where he reigns as god. As Believer’s we need to stick to the winning team which focuses on the future and not the present, when sin and death will be done away with. I pray all will choose to focus all their energy of the Holy Spirit and do his will for the Father. Shalom…

Diligently Seeking God…

20 Sep

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“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. Deuteronomy 28:1.

 
In a time when it is more socially acceptable to be the commander of your own destiny, we forget the God of the Bible. Today’s society is consistently placing the power and ability all in your hands to create when in actuality everything moves by way of the Holy Spirit of God. This is why we need to diligently strive to know the Lord’s will. God’s will is more than just a conscience feeling that we get but divine instruction. The way to receive that instruction is to be constantly in contact with Him. This works the same way as a light bulb. A bulb cannot produce light on its own but must be connected to a lamp for power. The most powerful way to remain in contact with God is through prayer.

Prayer is our own personal time to talk with the Father. This moment we use to ask for guidance, strength and the ability to overcome the enemy. It is through prayer that we gain confidence in our faith and find peace in our trials. Matthew 7:7-11 reads, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Another example of staying connected to the divine power of God is through reading His word, the Holy Bible. 2 Timothy 3:16 states, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” It is through reading the Bible we know how to pray the will of our Father. A true fact is that we can always tell what the Lord is going to do, based on what He has already done. So simply by reading we know exactly what to ask for in prayer. I urge everyone to take a few minutes a day to read a couple of chapters of the Bible, or if reading cannot be fitted into your daily schedule listen to an audio Bible. It is important to diligently seek the will of God to not only bless ourselves but others, Shalom…

Conducting ourselves as Disciples of Christ…

12 Aug

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Mark 1:17 (KJV) “ And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.”

A Biblical Disciple is any man or woman who follows the teachings and beliefs of Jesus Christ. In today’s modern world Disciples are referred to as Christian’s. While I see no difference between the two, the term Disciple is the one originally used by Christ himself to define His follower’s, and gave power unto. As Disciple’s we are representatives of God’s heavenly government, giving guidance to the unsaved and being a representative of the divine power found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Bible gives 3 distinct characteristics of discipleship in the Bible, which is abiding in God’s Word (John 8:31-32), Bearing Fruit John 15:4-8, 16) loving one another John 13:34-35.

In doing the Word of God not only shines a light on the Gospel, but also keeps the believer free from the sin nature. If you continually do over and over the will of God it will in return become part of your nature and make up. The more that the Father can see in you of Him will create opportunities to pour out blessings in your life and the life of others. This faithful practice gives your will over to the Father to do as He needs in your life and that of others. Jesus called the Disciples from their different walks of life to become his” fisher men,” of souls (Mark 1: 16-17). Repetition in doing right, in return will produce the fruit of holy living.

Bearing fruit is another high calling of every Disciple. Bearing fruit can be found in teaching ministries or helping those in needs. The “fruit,” that you will bear is directly related to the reason why God called you in the first place. Every person has a caring heart towards an immoral or criminal act in society. This can be found in ministering to homeless children, civil rights or abused women. We all personally feel the need to change something wrong in this world and there is no greater force than the Holy Ghost to receive the power to do so.

Loving each brother and sister is a direct mandate from God. John 13: 34-35 (KJV), “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” This is directly related to saved brothers and sisters who fall back into sin and repent. We cannot fail in love because God never failed to love us, even in our worst sinful moments the love of Christ interceded on our behalf. God the Father had every right to destroy the Earth and begin again as in the Pre-Adamic age (Genesis 1:1-2), and in the days of Noah but did not. Hold onto that same love for our fellow Disciples and fast and pray for their same divine re-birth, Shalom…

Letting your light shine…

12 Jun

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“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven,” Matthew 5:14-16.

A recent revelation revealed unto me on behalf of the Holy Spirit of God, was that of letting the light of Christ shine in my life. In sharing the Gospel of Christ, the teaching of the word is most of all important but also in setting the example of just how the Gospel can change a person and affect the atmosphere of a society. In many circumstances and opportunity to discuss the Faith many not present itself at times, so displaying the Gospel can be reflected in our actions in daily living. There are five key characteristics that a child of the Most High can exhibit, in order to minister on His behalf. These elements are Praying, Loving, serving people, giving, and remaining faithful unto His word.

Praying is the most powerful resource we have as Brother’s and Sister’s in the Faith. Not only is this tool used to directly communicate with God, but also aligns our will unto His. A powerful prayer life brings revelation, discernment, a sound spirit and divine inspiration to those able to here the will of God. In prayer we are able to thank God for His love and grace and mercy during the trials of this world.

The second is to love everybody. To love everybody is a mandate of the Holy Scriptures, to love the saved and unsaved (1 Corinthians 13: 4-7, 1 Corinthians 13:13, 1 Peter 2:17). By loving everyone this creates a mutual respect and does not deter future Christian believers. Always love the person but hate the sin and allow God to convict their Spirit into belief. Take note in the fact that we as human beings were at some point lost, but the love of Christ believer’s intervening in prayer convicted us to believe.

The third is to serve people. There is no greater joy than that of helping people. Serving people can come in the form of any activity, from mentoring young children and teens or helping out at a local soup kitchen. By helping out someone in need not only greatly affects their life but the community as well. In society we have different classes, those of the privileged and those who struggle throughout this life. By displaying good deeds alone will not guarantee your salvation, but it will display the salvation of Christ in you to others to share.

The fourth and fifth are giving and believing in the Word of God. In giving, we are able to return the blessing’s in which God has given us unto others. Giving can be displayed in money, time and goods to those who need it. This return of the fruits of your labor can be to the Church or people in general, as long as the blessing is given back to others. The last and most important, is believing the Word of God. The Holy Scriptures tells us that trials and tribulations will come but always trust in the Most High Yah, to be your deliverer and redeemer. Trials come to perfect the Saints and empower us to overcome this fallen world. Shalom…

The 7 Bowls of Revelations…

10 Mar

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“Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls (Vials) of the wrath of God on the earth.” Revelation 16:1 (NKJV)

Once the 7 Seals and 7 Trumpets of God have sounded the 7 bowl judgment will begin. This judgment will be on the population of the world who has rejected the Gospel of Jesus Christ and received the Mark of the Beast (See blogs under End Times Prophecy for explanation of both). The 1st judgment of the ungodly will be a similar affliction given to the Egyptians in Exodus 9:9-11, in the form of painful sores Revelation 16:2. The 2nd Bowl, Revelation 16:3 (NKJV) states,” Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died.” This will affect a third of the Earth seas, killing much of the sea life therein. The 3rd bowl will be of the entire water source on Earth, Revelation 16:4-7(NKJV), “Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters saying: “You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.” And I heard another from the altar saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”

The 4th bowl will scorch men and women who have blasphemed God. This judgment is particularly brutal in the fact that God has given the world thousands of years to except His plan for salvation in Jesus Christ but they have refused and curse Him for it. The 5th Bowl will be against the Satan’s Kingdom of the New World Order. The powers of darkness, who have ruled the earth throughout time such, will suffer this plague. The 6th Bowl will dry up the Euphrates River and present a straightaway for the Kings of the East to be gathered by way of the Unholy Trinity of Satan, The False Prophet, and the Beast. Revelation 16: 12-16 (NKJV) states, “Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame. “And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.

The final 7th judgment will be the last before the return of Christ. This bowl consists of great Earthquakes and Hail from heaven which shake the foundation of the world. Revelation 16:17-21, “Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.”

The Satanic Empires of these times will be reduced to rubble, and bring about an end to the New World Order of the end time. These judgments on the behalf of God are righteous in their use. Regardless of how one reads and interprets the actions of the Most High, God is still a God of love. These judgments are for the unsaved and satanic children of this world who have rejected love and grace for the pleasures of this world. I pray that we all are productive Ministers of the Cross of Christ, and hopefully save many from this fate. Shalom…

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