Category Archives: Old Testament

2021, BLogger, Christianity, Discipleship, Faith, Old Testament

A Biblical View of God’s Love

Sadly in today’s world and even in the modern church, there is a distorted view of God’s love. There are many people who pose the claim of if God is love, how can He send sinners to hell? Part of this issue is there is a rise of false teachers who preach a false gospel that leads people to believe there is no hell, hades, the lake of fire, or eternal judgment. These false teachers easily gain popularity because this world’s mainstream entertainment system is run by Satan himself. Don’t believe me? Just listen to the lyrics of today’s top ten hits on secular radio. 

Spiritual warfare isn’t just about a battle of people yelling “get out in Jesus name”, spiritual warfare is also a battle for truth in accordance with God’s Word. Trust me, I believe part of spiritual warfare is about casting out the kingdom of darkness, however, there are many believers who are misinformed and think that is the only aspect of spiritual warfare. John 8:31-32 (ESV) tells us, “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”. 

So how do we Biblically explain God’s love? Let’s look at Exodus 34:6-7 (ESV), “The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,  keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.””. Most people like this verse until it says “but who will by no means clear the guilty”. 

The Cross of Jesus Christ consists of both the wrath and the love of God. You can’t have one without the other. Make no mistake all sin must be paid for, either by the lake of fire or by the Blood of Jesus Christ. While we live in a world that is full of injustice and a corrupt system, God’s justice is perfect and consistent every single time. Psalm 7:11 (ESV) says, “ God is a righteous judge and a God who feels indignation every day”. 

On the Day of Judgement, everyone will have to give an account before God. Hebrews 10:31 (ESV) says, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”. Too often today, many people both in and out of the modern church lack a proper reverence towards God. We need to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ seriously. It is time believers stand up for the truth in God’s Word in a world where most people only want to hear about how they can live a happy, healthy, and successful life. If you think Christianity is about “living your best life now” then I am deeply concerned about your Salvation. 

Jesus told us in Mark 9:43 (ESV), “And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.”. Even before the Day of Judgment, after the Second Coming of Jesus, there is a Heaven to gain and a hell to be shunned. Revelation 21:8 (ESV) warns us all, “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”. People like to make the claim “I don’t need God I am a good person”. Well just ask them, have you ever told a lie, even a white lie? Everyone has told a lie at least once if not more, and if you lied that just doesn’t make you a sinner, it also makes you a liar, which the Bible makes very clear the final destination for liars. 

However, the God of the Bible is a loving God, who sent His only Son to pay the price for all sin. This is God’s free gift, all you need to do is repent and believe (Mark 1:15). Jesus said in John 3:16 (ESV), “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”. God’s love is Holy, it is not like the love we are used to on this world, and in fact, I don’t think we can ever come to the full realization of His love until we leave this earth. 

Accepting the Gospel is not about being religious, Jesus was against the religious people during His earthly ministry. The Gospel is about being set free from the bondage of sin, being set free from the weight that was placed on each person as a result of the fall. When you are born again, the moment your genuinely repent and believe fully in Jesus Christ, you have a new nature inside of you. You will receive the Holy Spirit, who will empower you to walk in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit will teach and guide you on your Christian walk. You might think to yourself it is impossible for me to overcome this area of sin in my life, but let me tell you it is the finished work of Christ that overcomes it. You may not see instant changes right away, but the Holy Spirit will do the work in you. If God started a good work in you, He will complete it (Philippians 1:6). 

2021, Christianity, Faith, Inspiration, Old Testament

He is Risen

A few days ago, many of us remembered the day in which Christ was crucified, today we are reminded of the fact that He is Risen, and He is alive! Luke 24:6-7 (ESV) tells us, “He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”.

Today the people of the world will continue on with their pagan rooted traditions but let us mediate on the fact that our Savior is alive! Many people will argue the validity of the Bible and even the death and resurrection of Jesus. Anyone who studies the New Testament and Old Testament will see the many prophecies that Jesus fulfilled.

Hosea 6:1-2 (ESV) tells us, “Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.”. In the context of these verses Hosea is talking about Israel, but at the same time this is also alluding to what Jesus Christ will accomplish because He is the only hope for an unrepentant Israel and every other person.

Hosea 6:1-2 is related to what Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (ESV), “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,  that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”. 

Christ died for our sins so that we may get a free ticket to Heaven, right? Sadly, this is the mentality that many people who are in the church seem to have. The finished work of Jesus Christ has such a greater significance than just getting a hell insurance card.

Exodus 34:7 (ESV) tells us, “keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”. This verse shows us the two attributes of God that often get out of balance in the modern church. We see the love of God in this verse, at the same time we see the wrath of God in this verse.

Exodus 34:7 tells us that God will by no means clear the guilty, God cannot ignore sin. Every sin must be punished. Isaiah 53:4-6 (ESV) tells us, “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”.

We must realize that Christ took our place to save us from the wrath of God. Jesus did not just suffer from the Romans beating Him up, He more importantly suffered the wrath of God the Father. This was the only way for our sins to be atoned for. There is nothing you can do yourself to save yourself from the wrath of God, there is nothing in our own strength we can do to overcome the sin in our lives.

If you ever told a lie, even a white one you are destined to the lake of fire according to Revelation 21:8. But there is Good News! No matter what sin you committed whether you are a liar, an adulterer, homosexual, thief, or drug addict, God provided a Way for us to be saved from His wrath against sin and iniquity.

Today if the Holy Spirit has revealed to you the sin in your life you can simply cry out to God and repent and put your faith and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Not only this but the work of the Holy Spirit is so powerful that you will rise forth as a New Creation in Christ Jesus. As the 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us when we are born again, we have a new nature inside of us. We have a power source inside of us that if we fully rely upon the finished work of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives we can walk in righteousness. Sure, we will slip up from time to time, but the Holy Spirit will convict you and you will run to the Father in repentance.

You might think that it is impossible for God to forgive you because of all the wrong decisions you have made in your life. Simply look at the work God did with the finished work of Christ. Jesus not only died in the flesh, but He rose again. Look at how God delivered the Israelites in the Old Testament. I can assure you that if you truly repent and truly trust in Christ that God will  forgive you, deliver you, and give you the strength to walk the walk of faith. I cannot promise you ‘Your Best Life Now’, there will still be trials and tribulations in this life, but I can tell you that walking this walk of faith is worth it and that there is nothing else in this world that can compare to being put in right standing with God.

2020 Posts, Christianity, Fruit of Spirit, Inspiration, love, Old Testament, Prophetic Flow Teaching, Salvation, Sin, Wisdom, Word's of Wisdom

White as Snow

Two Phrases

As I was spending time with the Lord today the Holy Spirit put two phrases on my heart which were, ‘white as snow’ and ‘whiter than snow’. Both phrases are found in Scripture in Isaiah 1:18 and Psalm 51:7. I encourage you to read those passages when you get the opportunity. However, the Holy Spirit drew my attention to Psalm 51:7, and the context of this passage is talking about being cleansed of sin and being renewed with a steadfast spirit.

Jesus Cleanses Us

When one gets truly born again, they are cleansed of all sin and iniquity. 1 John 1:9 (NKJV) tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”. There is so much power in the Blood of Jesus that it is often underappreciated in the church today.

Purification

Going back to Psalm 51:7 it tells us, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”. Hyssop was a plant used by the ancient Hebrews for purification. In terms of the New Covenant, the Blood of Jesus is used for our purification. Even after we are truly born again, we will fall short from time to time. We may even have some habitual sins that might take some time to fully flee from. But may I raise a question to you, are you ‘as white as snow’ or ‘whiter than snow’?

White as Snow?

Today as I was writing this, we got about six inches of snow. When snow falls there is either a very small dusting or enough accumulation to cover the ground completely. Often many believers are not as ‘white as snow’ as they should be. Far too often we might have a small dusting of snow. Having a dusting of snow reveals the grass, and I would like to think of the grass as our sinful habits we are struggling to get rid of or even one’s secret sin. To be mighty men and women of God we must flee from the lust of the flesh and walk in our new nature. When we truly do this, we will begin to have more of an accumulation of snow, rather than just a dusting. We should strive each day to be purer. Remember He is coming back very soon for a pure bride, the hour is very late!

2019, Book of Acts Series 2019, Old Testament

What About Circumcision?

What the Old Testament Says

In this post, I am going to talk about a key topic concerning the Law that is addressed in the Book of Acts. We see the Law of Circumcision brought into effect in Genesis 17:10-14 (NKJV), “This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised, and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”. As we get into the fifteenth chapter of Acts, we will see that the Jews and Gentiles are going to debate whether this is still necessary or not. Keep in mind the Gentiles do not participate in the Law of Circumcision.

Conflict Arises in the Book of Acts

In Acts 15:1 we see that men from Judea came with a desire to modify Paul’s approach of the Gentiles (non-Jews) salvation. In the following verse, we see after they have a discussion with Paul and Barnabas no agreement is made, and they decide to go to the church in Jerusalem to see what the leaders say. On their way to the church in Jerusalem, we see that Paul and Barnabas tell them about the conversion of the Gentiles and they are joyful to hear it. This is a reminder of how important our own personal testimonies are.

Free Indeed

In Acts 15:4-5 they are received by the church in Jerusalem; however, we see the Pharisees rise and argue that circumcision is necessary and should be mandated to the Gentiles. Even though some of these people are believers in Jesus Christ, they still believe in circumcision. This is because they do not fully grasp what freedom we have attained from Jesus Christ dying on the Cross and conquering the grave. Jesus told us in John 8:36 (NKJV), “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”. If we are made free through Jesus Christ, then we are free indeed!

Don’t Question God’s True Work

While there is much debating going on between the leaders of the church, we see in Acts 15:6-12 that Peter rises and reminds them that God told them to preach the Gospel to Gentiles. He also reminds them that when the Gospel was preached to the Gentiles that it was accepted. We also know that they received the Holy Spirit also, and the Holy Spirit is the person who does the work in our lives the moment we believe as a new creation. Since the Jews and Gentiles receive the same Holy Spirit, the conversion pattern is the same! Paul tells us in Galatians 3:26-29 (KNJV), “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”. If God is truly working behind something or through someone, then we should not challenge it. Peter also reminds them that salvation is through the grace of Christ by faith in Him. We need this because whether one is a Jew or Gentile, we cannot satisfy the requirements of the law.

What do the OT Prophets Say?

In Acts 15:13-21 we see James begins to speak and reminds them Amos 9:11-12 (NKJV), “On that day I will raise up The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, And repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, And rebuild it as in the days of old; That they may possess the remnant of Edom, And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,” Says the Lord who does this thing.””. After James reminds them of this, we see that this becomes accepted by the church that there is no more need for circumcision. However, if we are born again our circumcision is of the heart.

News for Antioch

In Acts 15:22-29, we see two leading men of Jerusalem get sent back to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. These two men are Judas and Silas. They go with Paul and Barnabas to back up the results of what the church in Jerusalem decided. A letter also gets sent with them stating there is no need for circumcision as some had previously debated. However, they do write a few moral conduct rules, which include abstaining from sexual immorality, idol worship, and the blood of animals. The people of Antioch are encouraged by this letter that was read to them.

Dealing with Conflict

Lastly in Acts 15:36-41, we see after Paul and Barnabas stay and teach in Antioch. Then they decide to revisit the areas they preached in before to see how they are doing. Paul and Barnabas do have a disagreement about who they want to bring with them, they do not settle on an agreement but go their own ways. They could have let their disagreement hinder them from continuing, but they did not. We as a church should neither let small disagreements stop us from being the church! Paul and Barnabas do split up on good terms and go separately to Syria and Cilicia.

Final Thoughts

You have just seen a transition take place in the Book of Acts, which is when the law of circumcision is no longer in effect as agreed upon by the church in Jerusalem. Romans 2:28-29 (ESV) tells us, “For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.”. Circumcision takes place in the heart when we are born again, it is now a spiritual thing and no longer a thing made by hands. The circumcision in the Old Testament had a purpose to point to Jesus. When you go through the New Testament you will often see footnotes to Old Testament Scriptures. I would highly encourage you to study those as often as you can. When you do you will begin to see how everything in the Old Testament points us to Jesus Christ!

2019, Book of Acts Series 2019, Christianity, Old Testament, Salvation

Acts 6:8-7:60: A Teaching on the Old Covenant to the Council

bible by the lake on a table

It should be safe for you to assume from the title of this teaching that this will be one of my longer teachings. I am not going to quote every verse from Acts 6:8-7:60 but, I am going to point out several key items. In my last teaching, I discussed the first Christian Deacons, and one of their names was Stephen. Acts 6:8 (NKJV) tells us, “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.”.  We know that Stephen did many great signs and wonders through the power of the Holy Spirit. A true minister will authenticity by having the Holy Spirit in them and results through flowing with the Spirit.

Stephen is Charged

Acts 6:9-12 (NKJV) goes on to tell us, “Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen.  And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.  Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”  And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council.”. The people of the synagogues accused Stephen of blasphemy of God, just like they did with Jesus. We will see why the people got upset with his teachings as we get into chapter seven. The people in the synagogues could not tolerate him so they took him to the Sanhedrin Council.  Acts 6:13-14 (NKJV) continues, “They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us. ”. When he was brought to the council, they made up false witnesses against him. We also see that they are still more concerned about holding onto their religious customs from the Law of Moses. However, we know that Jesus was the perfect sacrifice and there is no need for any more sacrifices, Hebrews 10:14-18 (NKJV) reminds us, “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,”  then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”  Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.”.

About Abraham

As we go into chapter seven, I would like to remind you that I am not going to elaborate on each verse, so I encourage you to take some time to read this chapter in its entirety. I would like to first look at Acts 7:1-3 (NKJV), “Then the high priest said, “Are these things so?” And he said, “Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him, ‘Get out of your country and from your relatives and come to a land that I will show you.’”. When you look back in the Old Testament you will see that God called Abraham out of the City of Ur. The people in this city worshiped the moon, and handmade idols of the moon gods. God picked Abraham out and told him to leave this pagan land. This call on Abrahams life was the beginning of Israel.  Acts 7:6-7 (NKJV) goes on to tell us, “But God spoke in this way: that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into bondage and oppress them four hundred years.  ‘And the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will judge,’ said God, ‘and after that, they shall come out and serve Me in this place.’”.  God not only promised a blessing, but He did warn of a time of some suffering. As we continue to look at Stephen’s teaching, we will see how he shows us that God has been working since the beginning of creation. He shows us how the Old Testament Scriptures, Offerings, Tabernacles, High Priests all point to Jesus Christ. If your Bible has reference notes you will see many reference notes in Acts chapter 7 pointing to the Old Testament scriptures, I encourage you to take some time and look back on these as well!

About Moses

Skipping several verses to Acts 7:21-23 (WEB) tells us, “When he was thrown out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and reared him as her own son. Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. He was mighty in his words and works.  But when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel.”. Moses was born of Jewish parents, but Pharaohs daughter took him, and raised him in Egypt. He got educated from the Egyptians, yet God called on Moses to use him, God called on a non-Hebrew to become a follower of God. In Acts 10 we will see this take place as pagan people came to the early church and left their pagan ways. Acts 7:30 (WEB) also tells us, “When forty years were fulfilled, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush.”. Moses had three periods in his life, each lasting about 40 years and those were:

1.    Time in Egypt

2.    Time in Midian

3.    Time in the wilderness

When God called on Moses, He knew that he would need a sense of belonging, and a reason to continue. So, what did God do? Acts 7:32 (WEB) tells us, “‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ Moses trembled, and dared not look.”. God revealed Himself to Moses as the God of his forefathers, this gave Moses a sense of belonging.

The Covenant of Circumcision

Skipping a few more verses, Acts 7:48-50 (WEB) tells us, “However, the Most High doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says, ‘heaven is my throne, and the earth a footstool for my feet. What kind of house will you build me?’ says the Lord; ‘or what is the place of my rest? Didn’t my hand make all these things?’”. God does not dwell in temples made with hands. In the Old Testament God allowed the Tabernacle to be built by Solomon to accommodate the people to be able to approach God and fellowship with Him. The Tabernacle was the only way for the Hebrews to approach God in the Old Testament. However, because of Jesus, we do not need to go to a place anymore to seek God, because the Holy Spirit dwells in us! This now brings me onto my last point from chapter seven and that is the Covenant of Circumcision. Many people overlook the Covenant of Circumcision from the Old Testament, however, there is so much behind it that we do not realize unless we really study. Continuing Stephen tells us in Acts 7:51 (WEB), “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do.”. They are uncircumcised because they do not have the Holy Spirit in them like Stephen does, simply because they are not accepting Jesus Christ. Looking back Acts 7:8 (WEB) tells us, “He gave him the covenant of circumcision. So, Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.”. You can read about the Covenant of Circumcision in Genesis 17:9-14 and 21:1-5. To sum up circumcision, it was simply the seal of the covenant, and a covenant is a binding agreement between two people. In our covenant with God through Jesus Christ, our circumcision is the Holy Spirit that comes into us when we are born again. When the Holy Spirit comes into us when we are first born again, He does a work in us, and we are a new creation.  2 Corinthians 5:17 (WEB) tells us, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.”.  The unbelieving Jews were more worried about outward signs rather than transformed hearts, and this was exactly what Stephen’s point was in Acts 7:51. Romans 2:28-29 (NKJV) tells us, “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh;  but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.”. So, I would like to ask you, do you have the circumcision of the Holy Spirit? Or are you more concerned about your works? This is something that many people need to be reminded of.

Stephen’s Death

Acts chapter seven ends with the unbelieving Jews stoning Stephen to death. Because Stephen was a follower of Jesus Christ, he went up to Heaven. Acts 7:55-56 tells us, “But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!””.  Lastly, one of his last requests is ‘Lord receive my Spirit’. Acts 7:59-60 (NKJV) continues, “And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” The Bible often describes one dying as falling asleep.

Looking Ahead

In my next teaching I will continue onto chapter eight, which will look at Saul who will persecute the church, he was also present during the stoning of Stephen. I encourage you to take some time and read Acts chapter seven in its entirety and really study for yourself Stephen’s teaching as he shows us that God was working from the beginning to make the Old Testament point us to Jesus Christ.

2019, Christianity, Discernment, Old Testament, Wisdom

Why Seek Wisdom and Knowledge?

guy looking at sunrise near lake

I felt led to teach about seeking God for wisdom and knowledge. As followers of Christ, we need to constantly be seeking God for wisdom and knowledge in every part of our lives. We also need to seek God for wisdom and knowledge as we read His Word. When you ask God for wisdom and knowledge when reading His Word, the Holy Spirit will teach you all things, Jesus said in John 14:26 (ESV) “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”.

Defining Wisdom and Knowledge

So, what do wisdom and knowledge mean? Let’s look at knowledge first, The Webster’s Dictionary defines knowledge as facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education. Some synonyms for the word knowledge are understanding, comprehension, grasp, and mastery. Now let’s look at what the word wisdom means, The Webster’s Dictionary defines wisdom as the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment. Some synonyms for the word wisdom are intelligence, understanding, insight, perception, and discernment. Now let’s look at both wisdom and knowledge together. Knowledge is when one has a bunch of facts and data that has been learned or experienced. On the other hand, wisdom is the ability to discern from the knowledge you have gained to make good decisions.

King Solomon’s Request

So now that we understand the meaning of the words wisdom and knowledge let’s look at someone in the Bible who sought God for wisdom and knowledge. King Solomon became king after his father David passed away. God revealed Himself to Solomon one night and gave him the opportunity to ask for whatever he would like God to give him. 2 Chronicles 1:7 (NKJV) tells us, “On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask! What shall I give you?”. Right here Solomon can ask God for anything he desires. As we read on, we find out that Solomon asked for one of the best things, in my opinion, you could possibly ask from God. 2 Chronicles 1:8-10 (NKJV) continues and says, “And Solomon said to God: “You have shown great mercy to David my father and have made me king in his place.  Now, O Lord God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.  Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?”.  Solomon could have asked God for riches and fame, but he simply asked God for wisdom and knowledge to perform his duties as King.

God’s Response to King Solomon

We will find out God’s response to Solomon’s request in 2 Chronicles 1:11-12 (NKJV), “Then God said to Solomon: “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king—  wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.””.  God sees Solomon’s true heart in his request for wisdom and knowledge. We know that God will search our hearts and He will truly know our desires. Jeremiah 17:10 (ESV) tells us, “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”. So as God sees the heart of Solomon from his request, He grants him wisdom and knowledge, but He also gives him riches and wealth that no king before him ever had received. This also serves as a reminder to us that God can go above and beyond what we expect when we go to Him with a need.

A Biblical Approach to Knowledge

So now that we have a Biblical example of someone who asked God for wisdom and knowledge, let’s see what the Bible tells us about knowledge. Proverbs 18:15 (AMP) tells us, “The mind of the prudent [always] acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise [always] seeks knowledge.”. A wise person always seeks knowledge, if you want to be a wise person of God then you need to seek knowledge and spend time in the Word. Additionally Proverbs 1:7 (AMP) tells us, “The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; But arrogant fools despise [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction and self-discipline.”. As believers we need to truly worship God, tell others of His greatness, seek the Holy Spirit for teaching, and spend time in the Word each day, this will give us knowledge and that will result into wisdom.

A Biblical Approach to Wisdom

So, what does the Bible say about the word wisdom? Proverbs 4:6 (AMP) tells us, “Do not turn away from her (Wisdom) and she will guard and protect you; Love her, and she will watch over you.”. We not only need wisdom as we go through our daily tasks, but we need spiritual wisdom.  People might have a hard time understanding what spiritual wisdom is because it is not natural, it is from God. Discernment and spiritual wisdom go hand in hand.  One of the synonyms for the word wisdom is discernment, The Webster’s Dictionary defines discernment as to the ability to judge well. Some synonyms for discernment are judgment, taste, enlightenment, and sensitivity. We are living in a period where there are many false minsters out in the world proclaiming the Word of God. There are many people who are demon possessed that we encounter daily. There are many people who might be oppressed by the enemy. The enemy is out there to kill, steal, and destroy, his objective is to get as many people to hell as he possibly can. Therefore, every Christian needs to seek God for discernment, because you may never know when the enemy is trying to get you to fall for one of his many traps without having discernment. Psalm 119:66 (AMP) tells us, “Teach me good judgment (discernment) and knowledge, For I have believed and trusted and relied on Your commandments.”. Also 1 John 4:1 instructs us, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit [speaking through a self-proclaimed prophet]; instead test the spirits to see whether they are from God because many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the world.”.

Final Thoughts and Reflection

I encourage you to take some time and ask God to open your spiritual eyes and give you a discerning spirit. Seek God for wisdom and knowledge in everything you do and ask Him for revelation knowledge as you read and study His word. Philippians 1:9-10 (NKJV) tells us, “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,  that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,”. I also encourage you to spend more time than what you currently are spending in God’s Word. I feel God is wanting more people to invest more time in His Word, than in the things of this world. Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”. Lastly, I would like to challenge you to a couple of questions:

1.    Do you make decisions off instinct or do you step back and seek God?

2.    Do you trust every piece of Christian literature and music just because it is labeled Christian, or do you discern what is really of God and what is of the devil?

3.    Are you letting any of the works of the enemy into your life? (secular music, secular talk shows, secular literature, witchcraft, Harry Potter, horoscopes, pornography, or any type of addiction)

As you seek God for a discerning spirit and stay in His Word, let Him reveal to you any open demonic doors in your life that the enemy could enter into or may have already entered into and deal with it accordingly in the name of Jesus. 

2019, Book of Acts Series 2019, Christianity, Inspiration, Old Testament, Sin

Acts 5:1-11: Lying to God

Person standing with large pointed out nose from lying too much

I would like to discuss a story in the Book of Acts that sheds light about two people who lied to God. Let me first be clear that we all will fall short from time to time in our walk with the Lord, and that is why we need to continually seek God. Romans 3:23 (KJV) reminds us, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”. The two people who end up lying to God are Ananias and Sapphira, it is believed that Ananias made a promise to God that he would give all proceeds of a future sale of his land to God. However, we will find out that Ananias will not follow through with how he is supposed to handle the proceeds of the sale, and his wife Sapphira will conspire this act with him.

The Act of Lying Committed and then Confronted

Let’s begin by looking at Acts 5:1-2 (NKJV), “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.  And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”.  So, they were supposed to bring the full proceeds to the church, but they didn’t. In this act, Ananias and his wife are both guilty of lying to God. Acts 5:3-4 (NKJV) continues, “But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?  While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.””. Peter knew immediately that Ananias was lying not only to the church but to God. Peter was able to pick up on this lie only because he was filled with the Holy Spirit and had a discerning spirit.  Peter rebukes what Ananias has done and questions him as to why he let Satan filled his heart to lie to God. We know that Satan is the father of all lies, in John 8:44 (NKJV) Jesus told us, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”.

The Reaction of Ananias and His Wife

Many people, when confronted with a lie, will try to defend themselves, but because Ananias lied to God something different took place. Acts 5:5-10 (NKJV) continues, “Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.  And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.  And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.” Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”  Then immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband.”. Ananias and his wife both fell and died when they are confronted, they knew that they did wrong to the Lord. Now there were other people around when this happened, and I don’t know about you but if I saw someone who fell and died after being convicted of a lie, I would be scared. Everyone has lied at some point in their life, and even probably after becoming a born-again Christian. We may all tell white lies from time to time or even bigger lies. No matter the size of the lie the Lord does not approve of it in any way. I am saying this because we can all be guilty of lying, along with other sins, even myself can be guilty. Therefore, we need to always be in an attitude of repentance to the Lord, because it is our inherited nature from Adam to sin.

What is a Vow to God?

Let me clarify, the example of lying we see in Acts chapter 5 is not comparable to the white lies we might tell people in our everyday life from time to time (even though those are still a sin). Their lie was to God, and it broke a vow they had obviously made to God on giving all the proceeds to the church of the sale of their land. God will not tolerate a broken vow that was made in His name.

Old Testament Scriptures on Vows to God

I would like to give you a few scriptures from the Old Testament regarding vows to God:

•    Deuteronomy 23:21 (NKJV): “When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the Lord, your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you.”

•    Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 (NKJV): “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed— Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.”

•    Numbers 30:2 (NKJV): “If a man makes a vow to the Lord or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.”

A Vow Must Be Kept!

It is made very clear that vows made to God must be kept, a broken vow to God would be considered lying to God. Oral vows made in the name of the Lord are the equivalent to a modern-day written contract. Here is an example we might be able to relate to if you have a contractor do a renovation to your house and if they don’t follow through on delivering something, they agreed to in their contract with you, they could get in legal trouble. So just like in our modern day written contracts, oral vows made to God are not taken lightly. If someone breaks a modern-day written contract there are consequences, just like there are consequences for breaking a vow made with God. Vows were usually made to the Lord in the form of service to be dedicated to the Lord or also could be a sacrifice in the act of worship towards the Lord.

Sin in the Church

Another take away from the story Ananias and his wife is that sin in the church is not tolerated by the Lord. Far too often today we see many well-known ‘ministers’ taking advantage of their funds coming into their ministry. We also see many people in church leadership misusing their authority. We could make a long list of the sins that take place in today’s churches. Instead of making a list, I would like to point us to Revelation 2:23 (NKJV) which says, “…and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.”.

Final Thoughts…

We all know that we will sin from time to time, and when we do, we need to repent. With how busy we can be every day we can often forget of sins that we have done throughout that day. We might label these sins as small, just like white lies. Regardless of what it is, we need to repent of it to God. When you repent of your sins to the Lord you will feel a weight come off your shoulders. I encourage you to ask the Lord to search your heart and reveal anything to you that you need to repent to Him about. This prayer is given to us in Psalm 139:23-24 (NKJV), “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.”. As you repent of your sins, it can be expected for the enemy to try to rehash those sins that you already repented of back into to your memory. When this happens, just start praying in the name of Jesus and start reading the Word. Also, when Satan tries to put a lie into your heart, remember that he is the father of all lies.

2019, Christianity, Holy Week 2019- Jesus is King, Inspiration, love, Old Testament, Salvation, Sin, Wisdom

Jesus is King: Water Baptism and Salvation

under water with sun reflection

As I continue my teaching series this week before Resurrection Sunday, I would like to teach on Jesus’ baptism and how it impacts us.   Before looking into the baptism of Jesus, I would like to discuss one important person and that is John the Baptist. There was a false teaching back in those days where people believed that John the Baptist would be greater than or equal to Jesus Christ. This false teaching or heresy was addressed in The Gospel of John. John 1:6-8 (NKJV) tells us, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.”. Jesus is the true Light, and John the Baptist is a forerunner for Jesus. John the Baptist baptized people with water for the remission of sins, however, we know that Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit. Matthew 3:13-14 (NKJV) says, “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?””. John the Baptist wanted Jesus to baptize him because he knew who Jesus was. However, we will find out that Jesus wanted to be baptized by John the Baptist. We will also find out why Jesus got baptized by him.

So why did Jesus wanted to be baptized by John the Baptist? Jesus was clearly without sin so why was it necessary? Matthew 3:15 tells us, “But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.”. Jesus got baptized so He could be identified with sinners. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) says, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”.  Reading further into the passage in Matthew, verse 16 goes on to say, “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.”. John the Baptist witnessed the Holy Spirit descend on Jesus, it appeared to be like a dove. John 1:32 (NKJV) says, “And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.” The Holy Spirit remained on Jesus during His earthly ministry, and we know that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to the disciples after His ascension as you would read in the Book of Acts. John the Baptist also got confirmation from heaven that Jesus is the Son of God, Matthews 3:17 (NKJV) tells us, “And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.””.

So now that we know about what took place during the baptism of Jesus, let’s look at two key Old Testament scriptures. There are many Messianic scriptures found in the Old Testament that often get overlooked. First Isaiah 42:1 (NKJV) says, “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.”. Jesus is God’s Elect One, who He sent His Spirit upon. Matthew 3:17 is also confirmed in the Old Testament, look at Psalm 2:7 (NKJV) which says, ““I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.”.

Now that we have a background on the story of Jesus’ baptism and why He got baptized let’s look at the difference between water baptism and salvation. First, salvation needs to come before water baptism. Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV) instructs us, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.”.  Salvation is what is required of us to make it to Heaven when we die.  If water baptism was the way to heaven then we would be saying we are saved by works, which we know is false teaching. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV) tells us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,  not of works, lest anyone should boast.”. This would also cancel out the largely popular tradition of newly born babies being baptized in water. Pouring water over a newborn baby in a church is no greater than giving your baby a bath at home, except you don’t invite the whole family to watch your baby get a bath at home. Also, we cannot be forgiven by anyone except Jesus, and we can go directly to Jesus in prayer. We don’t need any priest, bishop, or pope to go to Jesus, simply come as you are to Him. 2 Timothy 2:5 (NKJV) says, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,”. Once we are truly saved at salvation, water baptism is an outward expression of the old man dying and the new man coming forth. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”. I encourage you this week to reflect on the following questions:

  1. Think about how this scripture impacts your specifically: 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) says, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”. 
  2. Read 2 Corinthians 5:17. Describe the transformation that took place in your life after your salvation?

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