Monthly Archives: January 2018

GOD

GOD EXAMINES

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We learn from the Bible that we are made in God’s image, which means we inherited many of his characteristics. That’s why we are special creatures above others.

Today I’m going to focus on something God put in us, which is also part of him – examining. We are all good at this, especially when we are serious.  We start by examining our lives in detail. We examine our surroundings, we examine our families, our friends and our pets. We don’t stop there, we go even further to examine our cities, our towns, our countries, and other countries.

And let me tell you, because we are highly intelligent we have become experts. The news broadcasting has become a global enterprise, so busy sending out information, the good and the bad to every corner of the world. Everyone of them is got one thing in common, they feel it is an obligation.

Let’s go back to God; we learn from the Bible that he examines every individual in detail, nothing is hidden before him.  He examines city by city, country by country. I was taken by surprise when I read Ezekiel 27 today, which shows how observant God Almighty is. Here, he examines a city called Tyre and its activities.

Ezekiel 27:1-24 (NIV). He says, ‘you say, O Tyre, I’m perfect in beauty. Your domain was on the high seas. Your builders brought your beauty to perfection. When he says this, he is referring to countries that are praising themselves, for every country  has something to praise about itself.

And HE goes on to say in Vs 12, Tarnish did business with you because of your great wither of goods. They exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your merchandise. Vs 13 Greece, tubal, Meshech traded with you. They exchanged slaves and articles of bronze for your wares. Men of berth Torgarmah exchanged work horses, war horses, and mules for your merchandise. The men of Rhodes traded with you and many coastlands were your customers; they paid you with ivory tusks and ebony. Judah and Israel traded with you. They exchanged wheat from Minnith and confections, honey, oil and balm for your wares. He also mentions  wine, gold, precious stones, beautiful garments, embroidery, rugs, wool, lambs, rams, goats and all kinds of spices. We also learn from here that God is looking at how the world trade operates. (the import and export of guns, cars, computers, etc)

How does God see countries now? He examines the positives and the negatives of the country and its cities. He examines the people’s attitudes and actions. We learn as well that he deals with each country accordingly.  Some countries are more at peace than others because of what they do. Every country is got problems, every country is unstable.  Some are more unstable than others because of what they do.

Two cities are mentioned in the Bible more than others. Jerusalem and Babylon. They both represent two sides of the world. Jerusalem is connected to Jesus and God, while Babylon is just the opposite. (the rebels). The world, as we know it, is operating on the Babylonian system. The Babylonian system is not focused on God – it is more focussed on false worship, politics, traditions, superstitions, social activities, witchcraft, cultures, education and money. This system is very stressful, undermining, unfair,  cunning, and temporary. The Kingdom of God on the other hand is the opposite; it is empowering, loving, peaceful, encouraging, and everlasting.

God’s system where Jesus is the leader, is higher than the worldly system; once you get into it, you’re the lucky one.

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TRUST HIM

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Jesus said, trust in God, trust also in me. I’m the way the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you would know my Father as well. (John 14. NIV) John 18:37, he says, ‘everyone on the side of the truth listens to me’.

He says this to help us understand the relationship he has with God the Father, which is 100% unity.  He goes on to say, the words I say to you are not my own.  Rather, it is the Father in me who is doing his work, or at least believe in the evidence of the miracles.

He goes on to say, if you love me, you’ll obey my teachings.  And I’ll ask the Father, and he’ll give you another Counsellor to be with you forever – the spirit of truth (the Holy Spirit)

I know I’ve mentioned some of the scriptures here in the earlier posts, but that doesn’t matter.  The thing about the Bible, it is something you have to read again and again for the rest of your life, if you believe in God.  It is a book of life and salvation.

Now we need to examine what Jesus says, the world cannot accept him, it neither sees him or knows him (the Holy Spirit). Who are the world? The people outside God’s Kingdom.

I spoke to a Muslim once, and he said, they don’t accept the Holy Spirit. I told to him what Paul said about the unforgivable sin, which is rejecting the Holy Spirit.  When someone rejects the Holy Spirit, they are rejecting God, his counselling, the truth, the Bible and Jesus.

Now let’s go back to what Jesus said, whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me, will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.

Now he is teaching us if you really want to be saved, you have to be serious about obedience.  I remember years ago, when I was in my early twenties. I thought I was a Christian. Once I was watching the news on TV, and  it showed a clip about Muslims beating up their chests.  And I thought I’ve never seen that before, people having so much passion for God.  So, I thought, maybe I should become a Muslim.  Why did I think that? Because, I felt I had little faith, and I thought I needed to have passion for God. But it is God who stopped me from becoming a Muslim.  How did he do it? He took the thought out of my mind.

A few years later when I started searching for him, he introduced born again Christians in my life.  And when I got into the bible and got to know Jesus, I realised that passion alone is not enough. Doing good things alone is not enough before God. Paul was an example, he was a Jew, followed the rules, and had passion for God, but he persecuted Christians.  When he became born again in Christ, he realised that salvation in Jesus is vitally important – the forgiveness of sins.  Back to me, If I had become a Muslim, God wouldn’t have used me for this.

Yahweh God Almighty wants us to understand, it is not about sacrifices he is after.  He has done that already, when he sacrificed his own son for our sins.  Before that, in the old covenant with the Israelites, animals were sacrificed for sins. He is after our love, and when you love God with all your heart, mind, strength and soul, you have to love Jesus the same way.  And he wants everyone to know, that he has established one plan only from the bottom of his heart – that plan is through Jesus, his one and only begotten Son as a sacrifice for our sins. That’s why it is important to listen to what Jesus says.  He says, he is the only truth, he came to save mankind, and that God has given him authority in heaven and the earth to judge mankind. (Matt. 28:16-20) In the end, it’s up to you. You either choose the right way or the wrong way.

Jesus goes on to say, the Father (God Almighty, the creator of the universe) will love those who obey my teachings. So, what do we learn here, he is now excluding other religions, because they’re not teaching salvation though him. What else? He is also excluding those who say they’re Christians but are not obedient to the teachings of the Bible.  He goes on to say, he who does not love me will not obey my teaching. And then he says, the counsellor the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you.

This is what Paul said which helps us to understand, ‘I’m astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by grace of Christ, and are turning to a different gospel – which is no gospel at all. Eventually some are throwing you into confusion and trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the gospel of Christ, let him be eternally condemned’. Galatians 6:6-10. You have to remember Paul travelled all over the place to preach the gospel. He went to Asia, Syria, Judea, Jerusalem, Rome, Cyprus, Athens and so many others.

The bible says, Jesus is in heaven and is seated at the right hand of God. (Acts 1:1-10).  So, that shows, everyone else is awaiting judgement, even the prophets, Abraham, Moses and others. (John 5:28).  And he wants us to understand that just because someone claimed to be a Prophet or a preacher, it doesn’t mean they’ll make it.  It all depends on the message you believed, what you did, and what you said.  If the message you believed and acted on is inline with his teachings, then you have a chance.

Someone said, I can see what you’re doing. You’re trying to help people, which is good. I said, ‘it is God who is doing it, using people like me to speak to those on the other side’.