Proverbs 3:11-12 –
11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline
and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in.
My experience is that it is always out of Love.
Archive for July, 2010
Proverbs 3:11-12 – Reflection
31
Jul
Daniel Chapter 2 –One World Government – End Time Prophecy – Part 4
30
Jul
We left off speaking about the fourth kingdom and finished with verses 41-43 from Daniel chapter 2.
This week we talk about the greatest one that will come and it will never end.
Daniel 2:44 – 44 “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.
This will be a kingdom that never ends. Who is going to set it up? The God in Heaven and this one will not be left to another people.
Daniel 2:45 – 45 This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.
“The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and the interpretation is trustworthy.”
Who is the Rock that is cut out of the mountain? None other than the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, which is Jesus Christ.
Revelation 19:11-21 – 11I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12His 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. 13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15Out of his mouth comes 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. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
17And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great.”
19Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
Quite an entry! It is after this that Jesus starts to run His kingdom. Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done, On Earth As It Is In Heaven. Recognize that prayer and didn’t know what it stood for?
Don’t be one of those trying to make war against the Rider on the horse. Their fate is revealed right here.
The armies of Heaven were following Him. This is the army you want to be in. Uncle Sam isn’t calling your name to join in this scenario. If you don’t know Him yet as your Savior and King, it’s the Holy Spirit your hearing. I invite you to go over to the right column of this blog and click on Accept Jesus As Your Savior if you haven’t done so already in your life.
Parable Of The Sower – Part 3
29
Jul
The last two days we have been looking over the Parable of the Sower. Day one we looked at the first two groups, yesterday we looked at group three. Today we will discuss the last group in the parable.
Matthew 13:23 – 23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
A couple of things really jump out at me in this verse.
First it says the good soil is the man who hears the Word and understands it. I am a firm believer that anyone who honestly seeks Jesus, will find and understand Jesus.
Do we all have different gifts? Absolutely.
Do we all have different talents? Absolutely.
Do we all have a different ability on how much we can absorb? Yes.
We were all uniquely made and God has a ministry for you, if you just tap into Him.
So everyone can be in group four and everyone is capable of being that good soil.
The second part that jumps out at me is that some produced a crop of a hundred, some produced sixty, and others thirty times what was sown.
Each one brought in much more just by seeking, understanding, and willing to be a Sower. Thirty times is the lowest example in the parable and it’s true. If you apply yourself, you’re not going to reach one person. You’re not only going to just touch the life of just two people. If you’re faithful and make Jesus and God your first love everyday, you’re going to reach tens, to hundreds, and possibly thousands in a normal lifetime.
I want to cross reference the Parable of the Talents again. The one who had five talents and brought five talents more in, was congratulated and praised as much as the one who had two talents and brought in two more.
Matthew 25: – 19“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’
21“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22“The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’
23“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
God knows your talent. He made you and knows your gifts. He knows what you are capable of and that’s what he wants. Were all not supposed to be Billy Graham, but were all suppose to use OUR talent.
If you’re not using your talent at this time, it’s time to quit sitting around and get off your talent. He wants to reward you. He doesn’t want to chasten you. The time of the harvest is growing near.
Be one of those he says “Well done, good and faithful servant!” – Matthew 13:23
Don’t be one of those he says “throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” – Matthew 13:30
Parable Of The Sower – Part 2
28
Jul
Yesterday we talked about the first two groups in the Parable of the Sower. Group One never really accepts after hearing the Good News.
Group two, hears it with joy, but the roots are shallow and anything that comes along causes their faith to die before it really had a chance to get established.
That brings us to Group Three. Group Three appears to have inserted roots at one time into the soil. Unlike Group Two, they have a different problem.
Matthew 13:22 – 22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.
Is group three in the Parable saved? It doesn’t say the words falls away like in the second group. My guess is group three is saved, but is unfruitful and unproductive.
It says that the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth are making this group unfruitful.
Do we want to be fruitful? Does God and Jesus want us to be fruitful? I will have many other posts on the this subject so I won’t go into a lot of detail, but in the parable of the talents, Jesus uses phrases in it such as:
Matthew 25:21 – 21“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
On the other hand:
Matthew 25:26-30 – 26“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28” ‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
After reading that, my assessment is that we all want to be in Group Four. Those are not the only versus in the Bible that make you want to be in Group Four.
Tomorrow let’s look at Group Four a little closer.
Parable Of The Sower – Part 1
27
Jul
Matthew 13:1-9 – 1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9He who has ears, let him hear.”
Jesus explains parable
Matthew 13:18-23 – 18“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
First group never grasps, second group falls away quickly, because of no roots.
Third Group is choked out by the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth in this world.
First two groups seem to be unsaved. First group has the seed snatched away before they can understand it. Who snatches it away, the devil also known as the evil one. It’s says the second group is happy at first, but then falls away. He didn’t use a word like gets stagnant or dormant. He uses “falls away.”
They work their way in order from not really knowing, to knowing and being excited and dying out quickly, to once appearing to have a relationship and left it behind for the world.
We are not saved by works.
Ephesians 2:8-9 – 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.
So if we are not saved by works, how does group two miss the boat?
The second group is one we’ve seen when we go to faith rallies or retreats. Some go on to become strong (leaving the second group) or at least continue to make Jesus Lord. Then there are those that move onto the next thing in their lives after few short days and no more God.
The Lord doesn’t want any to perish, so it’s not Him wanting to dump these people because they don’t live up to the standard. In John 10:27-28 we know that his sheep hear his voice and shall never perish.
John 10:27-28 – 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
A one time quick conversion and then not seeking Jesus again, is not a good idea according to the Parable of the Sower. It would appear that group two never knew His voice.
Group Three? Tomorrow let’s address group three.
Romans 5:9 – Saved From God’s Wrath – Pre-Trib Rapture Support Scripture
26
Jul
Romans 5:9 – 9Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!
Here is another verse to look at that suggests that we are to be saved from God’s wrath. Previously we looked at 1 Thessalonians 1:10 and 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11. Both of those verses were along the same lines so were up to three that specifically speak on being saved from God’s wrath.
Just a reminder; to see past rapture posts or other past posts of any kind, just go over to the category, archives, or previous recent posts and click on it.
In Romans 5:9 it states that we are justified by his sacrifice. In essence we are saved by His blood before the throne of God. So it’s taking it one step further here. It’s not stating a second time that we are saved for the same thing. It’s going on to say “How much more” shall we be saved from God’s wrath also through Him! Explanation point not question mark as we see in the scripture.
Some Post Tribbers believe the Church goes through the Tribulation to cleanse itself. A certain worthiness endured. However, the scripture above states we are not purified by our obedience or bravery in Christ. We are purified by the Blood of Jesus.
Once again another scripture stating they we are not appointed but saved from God’s wrath. For a recap, how soon into the Tribulation does it mention wrath?
Revelation 6:16-17 – 16They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”
Once again Revelation Chapter 6 is when the Seal Judgments are getting under way. It’s the first chapter in Revelation that even begins any kind of chaos or judgments. So if were appointed not to suffer God’s wrath, I would say this scripture helps out the Pre-Trib rapture position.
Proverbs 2:1-6 – Reflection
24
Jul
Proverbs 2:1-6
1 My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding,
3 and if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
This runs right alongside my life verse of Matthew 7:7-8. You want truth and understanding? Seriously? Approach God with a true sincerity and He’ll reveal it to you. It takes time, but the process starts right away. Just crack open His Word and start reading.
Daniel Chapter 2 –One World Government – End Time Prophecy – Part 3
23
Jul
In Part 2 we got through the first three world governments. If you haven’t read parts 1 & 2, I invite you to go over to the End Time Prophecy category and click on it. The next two below this one will be parts one and two.
Daniel 2:40 – 40 Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others.
In 63 BC, Rome became the fourth world government. It truly has been the strongest and the largest government of them all. No one else defeated the Roman Empire. It just started dying and decaying from within and was so big that it just dissolved. Bits and pieces began to be conquered. Probably a better way to put it is the decline of the Roman Empire. By 500 AD it was a remnant of what it was.
Daniel 2:41-43 – 41 Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. 42 As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.
Even though the scripture doesn’t really break from verse 40 to 41, you can see that we are now adding clay with the iron and we are going from the two legs into toes. It’s these toes that are Iron mixed with clay. Ten toes to be exact. Ten is a significant number because both in Daniel and Revelation we see 10 horns as a description. But let’s talk about the toes.
The ten toes are a divided kingdom, though they do have some strength like iron in them they still are partly brittle, as clay is brittle. This revived kingdom is definitely linked to the one before it or something other than iron would be mentioned with the clay.
There has been no other world government since the Roman Empire. We have had those who have tried to make one.
A couple of the most recent rulers that have tried were Adolf Hitler and Napoleon Bonaparte. Both fell short of their goals. They both have tried to do it by the means of conquering.
The world government we see forming before our very eyes is definitely brittle. However, it’s not hard to understand why. Powerful influences have been pushing us towards this world government, but you still have so many different thought processes amongst the people themselves.
They have done a good job of tearing down a great country like America, but do they really think Russia is on board? According to Ezekiel they’re not. They have their own goals and plans. How about the Muslim nations? Sure Christians are taught vengeance is Mine sayeth the Lord and to turn the other cheek. When Christian’s aren’t they bring up the crusades. Do you think the Muslims are going to roll over? No. They have a goal on conquest and their rulers aren’t trying to sell them out like the Christian nation rulers are.
Iron mixed with clay. This world government will definitely be just that. But it’s coming. All one has to do is look at what they have been attempting to accomplish, read bible prophecy, and realize…it’s coming together quickly.
Next week let’s talk about that last Kingdom mentioned in Daniel 2.
Without Faith It Is Impossible To Please God- Part 2
22
Jul
Hebrews 6:11 – 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Yesterday we spoke about how it is impossible to please God without faith. What kind of faith does God love? He loves a humble loving faith and we looked at scriptures that talked about having faith like a child.
Today let’s look at last portion of this scripture.
“And that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” That on the surface it looks to say God rewards those who really love Him and seek Him. I believe He does. God takes pleasure in rewarding His children that love Him and seek Him. However, this scripture adds a little bit more the way it is written.
This scripture again says because anyone who comes to Him must believe He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek him. What does that mean? It means He likes the double dose of faith.
Don’t just believe I exist, but believe that you also will be rewarded by Me if you earnestly seek Me.
This world is full of self seeking people. God wants to reward those who are chasing after Him and not the world.
What are those rewards? The same things the world is chasing after? Five vacation homes, an airplane, a fleet of automobiles, diamonds to cover yourselves in from head to toe? With a lot of people living in poverty and many without food and clean water, I seriously don’t think so.
No, I believe it comes in the fact he knows you need a home to live in, a car to get around in this country, relationships that are in peace and not in turmoil, health, income to pay the bills, and a spouse that helps you grow towards the most important thing of all and that’s the Lord. These are just the earthly blessings. Much more is waiting in the perfect life to come.
Without faith….without faith….it is IMPOSSIBLE….. to please God. How sad, not to please God and all you had to do is believe that He is and that He cares about you and loves you. He cared enough to have His Son die for you. This is the One you need to have faith in and accept His sacrifice of redemption.
If you haven’t accepted Jesus and still don’t know why you should, I have condensed an outline page to the right of why you need to. If you are ready to do so, there is a page to guide you through that also.
Without Faith It Is Impossible To Please God – Part 1
21
Jul
Hebrews 6:11 – 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
There is a lot to this scripture. First is the most obvious which is without faith it is impossible to please God. So the great prize winners out there in this world that don’t have any faith in God, don’t please Him at all. The athlete that has the whole stadium cheering and on their feet, if he don’t have faith in God, he doesn’t please Him at all.
God’s not impressed with the scientist who sits back and states that he needs more proof if he is to believe in God. God takes joy in the little child who has faith and comes asking for help or to tell Him that they love him.
Matthew 11:25-26 – 25At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
Now is it terrible that in that verse it sounds like God wants the wise and learned to perish. No. The wise and learned should easily know the God exists and have faith in Him. Why don’t they? Pride, anger, special agendas, self seeking, etc, all keep the wise and learned from God. They should see the obvious things around them and recognize God more than a small child would.
Jesus talking about the children again in Matthew 19 says this:
Matthew 19:14 –14Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Does He mean only children belong in Heaven? No, what he is implying is we need to humble ourselves like little children when seeking our Father who is in Heaven.
Faith is very important and much power comes from it. Not selfish power, but power that helps the Kingdom of God.
Matthew 17:20 – He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Now there are those who have tried to be abusive when speaking about this kind of faith. Usually it’s in the form of asking for worldly possessions. God will not answer prayer or reward faith that contradicts His Kingdom in any way. However, if you have faith and it is for the goodness in the Kingdom of God, He wants to move mountains. Faith pleases God.
Tomorrow we’ll go over another part of this scripture.