Bible Prophecy and Inspiration

The title is one you look at and say, “Well, duh Pat, tells us something we already don’t know.”

I think we look over those words for that exact reason.

It’s one which is so obvious, we move on because it just goes without saying that we just do.  But, do we?  The Bible is full of how to’s and warnings of what we need to be doing when it comes to loving God.

Deuteronomy 6:5 – ⁵ Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Matthew 22:37 – ⁵ Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Old and New Testaments, nothing has changed.  It’s still the most important commandment. 

No clichés here ladies and gentlemen, we are to do this more than any other thing in our lives.  You see that’s why God makes it clear you can’t put anything else before Him.  Your mother, your father, money, things, spouse, yourself, nothing is supposed to come before Him.

Matthew 10:37-38 – ³⁷ “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸ Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

There’s a lot of them we mentioned right there in those two verses.

Matthew 6:24 – ²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

You can pretty much add material substance to that one too.

If we are not reading God’s Word at all the message is we don’t have time for your Word in our busy lives Lord.  Is that an act of Loving God with every fiber of your being?

If we’re watching sports and not attending worship, are we loving God with all our hearts?

What have you stopped doing or started doing in your life because God and Jesus matter more than you do?  These are the things that speak “I love you Lord”.  Words without action are a lot of failed good intentions.  Grace isn’t meant to be for everyone to accept the get out of jail free card and live however they want to the close of the show.  Grace was for man to repent, reconcile, and get closer to God.

We need to first and foremost love God.  Fill your days and nights with Him in your music, in your television, in your reading and in your conversations.  Make Him your obsession.  He won’t be offended, He’ll be absolutely thrilled.

Love is always the best way to approach those around you who are Christians or sharing with that you want to believe.  Love is not caving in on compromise or okaying ungodly behavior.  It’s a soft touch, because you care. 

Many people can be bold and outspoken.   When the love is absent, it becomes self righteous.  When love is present speaking with boldness helps God’s Word reach others.

Share the word in love and share it nonstop.

John 12:25 – ²⁵ Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Wow. 

Matthew 10:39 – ³⁹ Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Wow again.

Luke 14:26-27 – ²⁶ “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Wait a minute.  If the two most important commandments from Jesus have to do with love where does the hate come in?

Matthew 22:37-39 – ³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

The Lord doesn’t want you to hate anyone and “no” there is not a contradiction here.  The Lord doesn’t want you to put anything or anyone else in front of Him.  That includes you.

We get in the way of the Lord when it comes to Him working through us.  People who love themselves more than God, don’t have room or time to do the things God wants him to do.  He has in mind those things that he wants to do for himself.

Simply put, we need to die to ourselves so He may be able to live and work though us.

Jesus not only is God, but He is man.  He revealed how we are supposed to submit to the Father and live.  If Jesus is our example while on earth, where was his big house?  Where’s the big boat?  Where’s the vacation home and retirement accounts?

What about Paul and the Disciples when they were living right for the Lord and spreading the Good News?  They gave it all up for the Lord and the future Kingdom.

We don’t have to hate anybody or our life in reality, because God is Love.  We do need to make him first and not let anything or anybody hinder that.

John 10:14 – ¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—

Do you know Jesus?

If the answer is, “I sure hope so?”  There needs to be a concern.

My sheep know Me.

What do sheep do?  They follow.  Are you following Jesus?  Is He your Shepherd?  Do you know Jesus?  Do you know His voice?

John 10:16 – ¹⁶ I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

Jesus is the Messiah that was to come and will come again.  He will lead the Jewish people just as God promised in the Old Testament and His promise to Abraham.  Who’s the other sheep He is referring to?  The Church. 

The Jews that didn’t listen to His voice, are they saved?  No.

To the people that have an opportunity to be part of the Church.  If they don’t know His voice or listen to it, will they be saved?  No.

He knows His sheep and His Sheep know Him. 

Get to know the Shepherd.  Get to know the Word.

Have you ever been in a car and someone says, follow me and I’ll get you there?

What happens if they take off and you decide to follow them for a block or so and you decide to get gas and you don’t tell them?  What if you are following them and you get sidetracked with some sightseeing?  Will you make it to your destination following like that?

That’s how most of us follow the Good Shepherd.

Matthew 10:38-39 – ³⁸ Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Is Jesus as your Shepherd just sitting there telling you to do whatever you want and I’ll see you when your time is up?

If it was, the New Testament would consist of Four Gospels and no need for any other books.  Church wouldn’t have grown very big either since everybody is serving their own needs instead of spreading the Good News. 

It’s a good thing some sheep decided to follow His words and His voice.  As His sheep, shouldn’t we all?

Your life is a road map.  It has left a trail of where it’s been.  I believe every second of every day of our lives has been recorded.  That was mind blowing not too long ago.

Today?

I just purchased a device for $15 that I can store 32,000 photos with 1MB each of memory.  That’s actually a lot of memory per photo.  The device is about the size of my pinky finger.

This device is manmade.  God’s going to have a lot better technology than that, you can count on it.

We need glorify and thank Him non-stop for sending His Son to die for our transgressions and allowing us to be able to have that forgiveness.

We also need to start walking on that narrow road of living for Him.

Matthew 7:13-14 – ¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Is the Bible accurate?

I don’t know why anyone would waste their time living by it if they didn’t believe that.  The more you study it, the more you realize it is Divinely inspired and the Author is the Holy Spirit.

What does it say?  All roads lead to Rome and many will find it?  No.

The Bible is accurate and it says only a few find it.  Why?  Because only the elite can be good enough?  No.  Because you have to be a genius?  No. 

The reason only a few find it is because people choose their own way instead of God’s way.  Those who will be held accountable will have chosen their own way.

If you’re unsaved, I would imagine, the evidence will be played back for you and you will see the recordings of your life played in front of you.  Likewise when the believer stands at the Bema Seat (rewards) we will probably also get these glimpses.  I’m sure when you did something worthy in His name we may see it also.  This is just my guess, but I’m would be surprised if the facts weren’t played and put right in front of us.

We need to try and live our lives for the Lord and not dread or winch at what we did or didn’t do.  The recorded trail being left behind is the decisions you make today.

I love Roller coasters!  They are fun when you first get on them!

However, do you know what happens to you if you stay on them too long or run around to the front of the line and get on it again right away, again, again, and again?

It makes you SICK!

You see that’s how life is without God.  The ups and downs are steep.  Then you get thrown for a loop or two. 

Wow, can I tell you that in the roller coaster of life, the pleasant small whoop de doo and little turns once in awhile is glorious compared to the ride without God.

The ride without God?  That’s the life of sin.  Fun at first, exciting, then when you’re feeling a little uneasy and want to get off, it doesn’t stop smoothly and let you out.  For some it’s a runaway train.

James 1:15 – ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

You want a great ride in your life?  Follow Jesus and serve God.  With the Lord guiding the ride you’ll never be to the point it will make you sick.  If you really turn it over to Him, it will be exciting.

Isaiah 9:6-7 – ⁶ For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ Of the greatness of his government and peace
   there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness
   from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
   will accomplish this.

You see I think in America a Christians we struggle.  The government is never going to be anything but corrupt at this point because only a few are turning to God and Jesus and praying for a healing in our land.

It’s not the economy stupid, which was Clinton’s big campaign drive.  It’s a lack of not allowing the God of the Bible to run our nation stupid.  How far do you think that campaign would get in today’s world?

I personally would sit around and just be frazzled.  I would think to myself why can’t people in power just do this or do that?  These are no brainer things like punish criminals.  Not encourage people to get on welfare.  Balance a budget like everyone else should be doing at home.  Not allow a perversion of the law over greed.  Basic stuff.

The bible had explained it all along.  Man is evil and tries to do his best to live without God.  It doesn’t help that while he thinks he’s accomplishing this on his own, the Devil and his hordes are really whispering into ears and pulling the strings.  Talk about easy pickens.  A man without God is spiritually ripe for deception.

I don’t think there are many who believe in Jesus as Lord, believe things are doing alright at this time.  If you are one, better think again.  All over this country people are murdering each other and not one will pay the true price he should.  A woman will abort her baby all in the name of selfish convenience.  There are many people who are starving all around the world and can’t get a clean glass of water.  The list of atrocities could fill a book.

Nothing…and I mean Nothing is going to run right on this earth until the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords comes back at the end of the Tribulation and takes His seat at the Throne.

Revelation 19:11-16 –   ¹¹ I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. ¹² His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. ¹³ He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. ¹⁴ The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. ¹⁵ Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. ¹⁶ On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

   KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

I don’t think our King and Savior is going to have much tolerance when it comes to separation of church and state.  As a matter of fact by the end of the tribulation I don’t think the ones arguing for it now will have found it to be such a good idea either.

To continue with the power of the Holy Spirit I want to remind everyone that there is a spiritual battle going on all around us.

Can’t see it?  Not being able to actually visually see it probably keeps us from going into the fetal position in a corner.   However, the results around you make it perfectly clear that a battle rages on.

God being kicked out of school!  Important?

Let’s see if you’re Satan and all the demons who follow him, what do you fear?

The Power of God and Jesus, which has victory on the cross.  Who else do you now fear?

The Holy Spirit which came along and infiltrated the believers in the baptism of Jesus.

Acts 2:38 – ³⁸ Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus departed He sent the Comforter which is the Holy Spirit.

John 16:7 – ⁷Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. KJV

Jesus is in us through the Holy Spirit.  All of our power comes from Him and God through the Holy Spirit.

John 17:26 –  ²⁶ I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

John 15:4 –⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

So if you’re Satan what are you trying to do?  Stomp out the believer before they can even learn of the power that defeated him.

You see all around the world Satan is trying to use this tactic.  In America it is to get God separated from the government.  Why?  It’s the ONLY thing that made America great.  Separation of Church and State.  Get God out of the schools, get God out of anything you can so people don’t learn about the Lord.  In Muslim countries they outlaw the Word of God to the point that even if they are caught with it they are put to death or thrown into prison.  Satan knows how powerful it is.

One thing that needs to be made perfectly clear, you don’t have power on your own.  Jesus is the one with the power.  That is why we must submit and let Him work through us, which is through the Holy Spirit.

The only wants you’ll have when you submit are the wants of Jesus, our Lord and King.  That’s when evil literally quakes.  That’s when the battle is being won through you in this war were all participating in.

Have a great Veterens Day, Christian soldiers.