I continue in Jeremiah 7: 21-26. God has told Jeremiah the judgments he is going to bring on the people of Judea and Jerusalem because of their sinful ways. He also told him to stop pleading for them; to paraphrase it - enough is enough! He has given them many chances to turn back to him, and they just kept getting worse in their actions and attitudes.
Today's passage says this:
"This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ' Go ahead, add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices and eat the meat yourselves! For when I brought your forefathers out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices, but I gave them this command: "Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you". But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their wicked hearts. They went backwards and not forward. From the time your forefathers left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again, I sent you my servants and prophets. But they did not listen to me or pay attention. They were stiff-necked and did more evil than their forefathers".
For God to tell them to eat their burnt offerings, which was supposed to be burnt in its entirety, meant that the sacrifices meant nothing to him. They were continuing to practice the ordinances of offering burnt sacrifices, but continuing in their sin.
How that can apply today is that one can go to church, sing hymns, take part in the Lord's supper, know scripture, teach Sunday School, sing in the choir - participate in all the things in the church; but then to walk out the doors of the church and willfully live in sin, gives no credence to one's religious practices.
We hear a lot of people say, "Oh he/she found religion". God doesn't want us to "find religion"; he wants us to find HIM! There's a HUGE difference in being religious and having a personal relationship with the Lord.
God gave the laws for our own good, contrary to the belief of some that He did so because he's a mean and hostile God. He gave the laws of what foods to eat or not eat, because he knew that some things would interfere with good health. He gave laws of keeping sex only within the bonds of marriage, because he knew other sexual activity would bring diseases and other consequences; he gave the laws of how to sacrifice perfect lambs, as an example of the perfect sacrifice he was to bring to us in Christ Jesus. To offer an animal anything less than perfect, was a useless sacrifice.
Worship is an intimate and holy offering to the Lord; it's a time for us to humble ourselves before Him, and acknowledge who he is. When one truly worships God and gets into his presence, the desire to go out and willfully sin, leaves. It makes us want to follow him and his plan for our lives and be blessed in doing so.
Search your heart - are you a "religious" person, or do you have that personal and intimate relationship with Jesus that brings you into the presence of the Lord Almighty? Jesus said, "I am THE way, THE truth, THE life; no one comes to the Father, but through me".
If you're searching for truth, and have taken many paths other than the ONLY path to God through Christ Jesus, turn around and call out to Him to show you the way. He will meet you where you are; the emptiness and feelings of hopelessness will leave you, and they will be replaced with His peace, and a knowing that you were a precious creation from His heart, and there's a purpose for you in this world.
Showing posts with label truth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label truth. Show all posts
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
The Voice of Truth
Happy Veteran's Day, and a big Thank You to all who have and are serving our great country!
Today I start into the 7th Chapter of Jeremiah. 1 - 4: "This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ' Stand at the gate of the Lord's house and there proclaim this message': Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord. This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel says: ' Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. Do not trust in deceptive words and say, "This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!"".
God calls each of us to go and proclaim his word, and sometimes I wrestle with God in the messages he speaks to me and wants me to share. His words to us can sometimes be hard, and many turn away when you speak of repentance, judgement of sin and its consequences.
I'm sorry, but I'm not here to tippy toe around the Gospel; I can't water down what God wants to say, just so some don't get offended.
He says in Hebrews 4:12-13: "For the word of God is alive and active; sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing is all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account".
We have to take God at his word, and accept God's word into our hearts, so that he can make us into the men and women he's created us to be. There are times when we do feel his word as a sword; cutting into us and exposing sin that he wants to free us from.
This is where the verses from Jeremiah come into play. He warns us to not follow deceptive words. The people in Judah and Jerusalem were doing so, by going to the temple and acting as though they were going to worship, but they were following false teachings and false gods.
We have many in history who have led people by deceptive words and actions: Hitler, Stalin, Castro, and false Messiahs such as Jim Jones, who wooed people with his own version of the Gospel, then leading them to their deaths as those who came to rescue them approached. All these "leaders" told the people what they wanted to hear, when they wanted to hear it. They blindly followed them because they were mesmerized by them. Empty promises of better days, but only if you followed what they were proclaiming.
We hear many today with that same message, and God is pleading with us to open our eyes, our ears, and our hearts to His Truth. We won't recognize false teachings if we don't know the Word of God in order to be able to discern what's right and wrong; Truth or false misleadings.
Take what you hear and let the light of God shine on it - ask Him to give you a spirit of discernment, and to be able to boldly share with others, His Word.
There's a song on my playlist called, "The Voice of Truth" by Casting Crowns, and I hope you'll listen to that today.
Today I start into the 7th Chapter of Jeremiah. 1 - 4: "This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ' Stand at the gate of the Lord's house and there proclaim this message': Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord. This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel says: ' Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. Do not trust in deceptive words and say, "This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!"".
God calls each of us to go and proclaim his word, and sometimes I wrestle with God in the messages he speaks to me and wants me to share. His words to us can sometimes be hard, and many turn away when you speak of repentance, judgement of sin and its consequences.
I'm sorry, but I'm not here to tippy toe around the Gospel; I can't water down what God wants to say, just so some don't get offended.
He says in Hebrews 4:12-13: "For the word of God is alive and active; sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing is all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account".
We have to take God at his word, and accept God's word into our hearts, so that he can make us into the men and women he's created us to be. There are times when we do feel his word as a sword; cutting into us and exposing sin that he wants to free us from.
This is where the verses from Jeremiah come into play. He warns us to not follow deceptive words. The people in Judah and Jerusalem were doing so, by going to the temple and acting as though they were going to worship, but they were following false teachings and false gods.
We have many in history who have led people by deceptive words and actions: Hitler, Stalin, Castro, and false Messiahs such as Jim Jones, who wooed people with his own version of the Gospel, then leading them to their deaths as those who came to rescue them approached. All these "leaders" told the people what they wanted to hear, when they wanted to hear it. They blindly followed them because they were mesmerized by them. Empty promises of better days, but only if you followed what they were proclaiming.
We hear many today with that same message, and God is pleading with us to open our eyes, our ears, and our hearts to His Truth. We won't recognize false teachings if we don't know the Word of God in order to be able to discern what's right and wrong; Truth or false misleadings.
Take what you hear and let the light of God shine on it - ask Him to give you a spirit of discernment, and to be able to boldly share with others, His Word.
There's a song on my playlist called, "The Voice of Truth" by Casting Crowns, and I hope you'll listen to that today.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's address the UN
I watched Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's address the UN today, and not a SINGLE news network is reporting on what I found to be the most revealing statements from this man.
He hates America and he hates Israel and the Jews, whom he refers to as Zionists. He has been quoted as saying that Israel needs to be wiped off the face of the earth.
This man leads a country(Iran) that Barack Obama has said is not a real threat to our country, and that he would like to sit down and have peaceful "talks" with.
His statements today not only were confirming his hatred of these two groups of people, but it's that last part of his speech where he kept referring to "the return of Imam Mahdi" that should open the eyes of anyone who is a believer and see that he has just told the world that he is working on ushering in what is referred to in the Bible as the anti-Christ. If you will take the time to read this link below, you will see that he even says that when Mahdi comes, he will rule the earth for 7 years before it's destroyed. They believe that this Imam Mahdi is a child who was dead in the year 941 and that he is going to return. The Bible is very clear that there is no such thing as reincarnation.
This was taken from his 2007 address to the UN:"Striving in this way to surrender rule to the righteous and Perfect Human, the Promised One, is indeed the final cure for the wounds of humanity, the solution of all problems, and the establishment of love, beauty, justice and a dignified life all over the world.
This belief and endeavor is the key to unity and the constructive interaction among nations, countries, the people of the world and all the true justice-seekers.
Without any doubt, the Promised One who is the ultimate Savior, together with Jesus Christ and other holy Saviors, will come. In the company of all believers, justice-seekers and benefactors, he will establish a bright future and fill the world with justice and beauty.
This is the promise of God; therefore it will be fulfilled.
Let's play a part in the fulfillment of all this glory and beauty."
Now are you going to tell me that this that I have put in italics above is NOT the message of one who is grooming the anti-Christ? It is evident to me and others who KNOW the real truth - that there is only ONE savior, and that is Jesus Christ.
Please read this link below which will further support what I am stating here in regards to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's belief and efforts to bring forth this tool of satan.
Iran leader's U.N. finale<br> reveals apocalyptic view
The Bible tells us that there will be a tribulation period of 7 years, when the anti-Christ will rule the world. This person I believe is already alive and being groomed to take this position. He is not a resurrected dead child from 941. He will be liked by the entire world, he will be well educated, carry a presence about him that will draw many. By his promises of peace on earth and persuasive speech, he will have many fall right into his trap, but as the time draws closer to the Lord Jesus and the armies of heaven coming back to defeat not only the anti-Christ, but his false witness as well, those who have chosen to follow this deceitful man of hate will have already taken his mark and will have lost their only chance for redemption from the true Lord - Jesus Christ.
I pray that you will read what he says and that you will ask the Lord to open your eyes to the REAL TRUTH, that can only be found in Jesus, not "Imam Mahdi", who was referred to as "The Perfect One", who will be coming to the world to bring peace to everyone.
Janelle
He hates America and he hates Israel and the Jews, whom he refers to as Zionists. He has been quoted as saying that Israel needs to be wiped off the face of the earth.
This man leads a country(Iran) that Barack Obama has said is not a real threat to our country, and that he would like to sit down and have peaceful "talks" with.
His statements today not only were confirming his hatred of these two groups of people, but it's that last part of his speech where he kept referring to "the return of Imam Mahdi" that should open the eyes of anyone who is a believer and see that he has just told the world that he is working on ushering in what is referred to in the Bible as the anti-Christ. If you will take the time to read this link below, you will see that he even says that when Mahdi comes, he will rule the earth for 7 years before it's destroyed. They believe that this Imam Mahdi is a child who was dead in the year 941 and that he is going to return. The Bible is very clear that there is no such thing as reincarnation.
This was taken from his 2007 address to the UN:"Striving in this way to surrender rule to the righteous and Perfect Human, the Promised One, is indeed the final cure for the wounds of humanity, the solution of all problems, and the establishment of love, beauty, justice and a dignified life all over the world.
This belief and endeavor is the key to unity and the constructive interaction among nations, countries, the people of the world and all the true justice-seekers.
Without any doubt, the Promised One who is the ultimate Savior, together with Jesus Christ and other holy Saviors, will come. In the company of all believers, justice-seekers and benefactors, he will establish a bright future and fill the world with justice and beauty.
This is the promise of God; therefore it will be fulfilled.
Let's play a part in the fulfillment of all this glory and beauty."
Now are you going to tell me that this that I have put in italics above is NOT the message of one who is grooming the anti-Christ? It is evident to me and others who KNOW the real truth - that there is only ONE savior, and that is Jesus Christ.
Please read this link below which will further support what I am stating here in regards to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's belief and efforts to bring forth this tool of satan.
Iran leader's U.N. finale<br> reveals apocalyptic view
The Bible tells us that there will be a tribulation period of 7 years, when the anti-Christ will rule the world. This person I believe is already alive and being groomed to take this position. He is not a resurrected dead child from 941. He will be liked by the entire world, he will be well educated, carry a presence about him that will draw many. By his promises of peace on earth and persuasive speech, he will have many fall right into his trap, but as the time draws closer to the Lord Jesus and the armies of heaven coming back to defeat not only the anti-Christ, but his false witness as well, those who have chosen to follow this deceitful man of hate will have already taken his mark and will have lost their only chance for redemption from the true Lord - Jesus Christ.
I pray that you will read what he says and that you will ask the Lord to open your eyes to the REAL TRUTH, that can only be found in Jesus, not "Imam Mahdi", who was referred to as "The Perfect One", who will be coming to the world to bring peace to everyone.
Janelle
Saturday, May 3, 2008
TRUST
Good Saturday Morning Everyone!
Today's passage out of Proverbs is one of my favorites. Verses 5 - 6 tell us about the blessings and benefits of allowing ourselves to have total TRUST in the Lord.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and don't lean on your own understanding; in ALL your ways, acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight".
Vs. 5: In the Hebrew text, the word trust in this verse refers to the "idea of lying helplessly face down. "
Don't lean means, "relying on something or someone else rather than supporting yourself".
That sure puts us in a vulnerable situation, but that is the place where the Lord meets us and shows us that He is right here with us, holding us in his hands.
Vs 6: I capitalized the little word ALL because I, like most everyone, has the tendency at times to trust God in some things, but then worry about other things. There is no detail of our lives that God doesn't care about, and there's no detail of our lives that he doesn't want us to bring to him and trust him with it. Whether it's our marriage, our health, our children, our finances, our jobs, our relationship to him - we need to turn it ALL over to him with the confidence that he will do what he says at the end of this verse - "make our paths straight".
Being a Christian does NOT mean that we won't ever have trials or face hardships. When I read the Bible and see what we call the "heroes" of the Bible, all of them faced many trials and suffering, which brought them closer to the Lord. Look at David - he was a little runt, the least likely to be chosen as King, and was mocked as he approached Goliath - the others had run away from Goliath in great fear. David said to Goliath, "Who is this uncircumsized Philistine that he should defy the armies of the Living God"? He told Saul, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine, your servant will go and fight him." David had previously while out shepherding, killed both a lion and a bear, and said to Saul again, "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear, will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine". David then approached Goliath, who was mocking and taunting him because of his size and age, and cursing him by his gods. David said to him, "You come against me with sword and spear, but I come against you in the name of the Lord God Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, who you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head".
We all know the rest of the story - David took out the giant with one stone to the head. He had TOTAL trust that God would deliver him out of that situation, and his unwavering trust is what brought the presence of the Living God to him.
We all have our "giants" that we face daily - the Lord wants us to rely on His strength and power to fight our battles WITH us, and he will surely deliver us.
There is a song out by the group Casting Crowns, caslled "The Voice of Truth" - it's a powerful song that always gives me strength and encouragement when I'm facing my own "giants". If you google the group Casting Crowns, you can probably find an audio clip of this song. I'm going to post the words here, and I hope you will be strengthened and encouraged today by them, and this powerful passage from Proverbs.
Today's passage out of Proverbs is one of my favorites. Verses 5 - 6 tell us about the blessings and benefits of allowing ourselves to have total TRUST in the Lord.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and don't lean on your own understanding; in ALL your ways, acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight".
Vs. 5: In the Hebrew text, the word trust in this verse refers to the "idea of lying helplessly face down. "
Don't lean means, "relying on something or someone else rather than supporting yourself".
That sure puts us in a vulnerable situation, but that is the place where the Lord meets us and shows us that He is right here with us, holding us in his hands.
Vs 6: I capitalized the little word ALL because I, like most everyone, has the tendency at times to trust God in some things, but then worry about other things. There is no detail of our lives that God doesn't care about, and there's no detail of our lives that he doesn't want us to bring to him and trust him with it. Whether it's our marriage, our health, our children, our finances, our jobs, our relationship to him - we need to turn it ALL over to him with the confidence that he will do what he says at the end of this verse - "make our paths straight".
Being a Christian does NOT mean that we won't ever have trials or face hardships. When I read the Bible and see what we call the "heroes" of the Bible, all of them faced many trials and suffering, which brought them closer to the Lord. Look at David - he was a little runt, the least likely to be chosen as King, and was mocked as he approached Goliath - the others had run away from Goliath in great fear. David said to Goliath, "Who is this uncircumsized Philistine that he should defy the armies of the Living God"? He told Saul, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine, your servant will go and fight him." David had previously while out shepherding, killed both a lion and a bear, and said to Saul again, "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear, will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine". David then approached Goliath, who was mocking and taunting him because of his size and age, and cursing him by his gods. David said to him, "You come against me with sword and spear, but I come against you in the name of the Lord God Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, who you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head".
We all know the rest of the story - David took out the giant with one stone to the head. He had TOTAL trust that God would deliver him out of that situation, and his unwavering trust is what brought the presence of the Living God to him.
We all have our "giants" that we face daily - the Lord wants us to rely on His strength and power to fight our battles WITH us, and he will surely deliver us.
There is a song out by the group Casting Crowns, caslled "The Voice of Truth" - it's a powerful song that always gives me strength and encouragement when I'm facing my own "giants". If you google the group Casting Crowns, you can probably find an audio clip of this song. I'm going to post the words here, and I hope you will be strengthened and encouraged today by them, and this powerful passage from Proverbs.
"Voice Of Truth"
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
To the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out his hand
But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling meTime and time again.
'Boy, you'll never win!'"You'll never win"
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
And the voice of truth says "Do not be afraid!"
And the voice of truth says "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a Sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand
But the giant's calling out my name and he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again "boy, you'll never win!"You'll never win"
But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them looking down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
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