The False Message of These Islamic Billboards

The first Islamic fable billboard of lies, distortion and deceit:

I have not seen any of these billboards (yet!) where I live.  But according to Jack Van Impe and his message, Who Is Jesus? we learn that these types of billboards appear in 134 places here in the United States!

What is truly ironic is that they also have a deceitful billboard up that says the following Islamic distortion:.

 

Oh yes!  You may find the name of Jesus written in the Quran. However, upon further examination we learn that Muslims do NOT believe that Jesus is the Son of God!  They also say that Muhammad is a “greater prophet” than Jesus.  It says so in their Quran!  What does that tell us?

It tells us that they don’t believe in the true Jesus Christ of the Bible!

Dear readers!  This billboard campaign is just another example of the Muslim Brotherhood’s 1991 declaration of civilization jihad!

Mat 3:17

And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Mat 17:5

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”

Mar 1:11

Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

2Pe 1:17

For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

What are we to do about Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

Mat 17:5b “…Hear Him!”

Muhammad’s bones are still in the grave.  Jesus Christ is risen…just as He said he would be!

 

Mat 28:6

“He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Mat 28:7

“And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”

Mar 16:6

But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.

And He will return to judge the living and the dead!

2Ti 4:1

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at [fn] His appearing and His kingdom:

2Ti 4:2

Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

2Ti 4:3

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;

2Ti 4:4

and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

2Ti 4:5

But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

 

Be sure to watch that video at the link above!  As Christian believers, we need to be armed with the truth in order to combat the lies, distortions and deceit that the Islamists are trying to “sell” to an ignorant public!

Hat tips: Jack Van Impe presents: January 30, 2015 program – Who Is Jesus?

Clarion Project.org

 

For further study see:

Islam and Christianity Present Two Very Different Deities

Why Muslims Don’t Worship the Same God as Christians

The Unsanctified Heart is the Devil’s Palace

Luke 11 is a chapter that informs us of what Jesus taught during His ministry on earth.  But of course there were non-believers who tried to  twist his good work and make the false claims that his miracles were of the devil.  This chapter also demonstrates what the world is like today.  There are several parts that can be discussed, so here is a brief comment about what is contained within the chapter:

In this chapter,

• I. Christ teaches his disciples to pray, and quickens and encourages them to be frequent, instant, and urgent in prayer (v. 1-13).
• II. He fully answers the blasphemous imputation of the Pharisees, who charged him with casting out devils by virtue of a compact and confederacy with Beelzebub, the prince of the devils, and shows the absurdity and wickedness of it (v. 14-26).
• III. He shows the honor of obedient disciples to be greater than that of his own mother (v. 27, 28).
• IV. He upbraids the men of that generation for their infidelity and obstinacy, notwithstanding all the means of conviction offered to them (v. 29-36).
• V. He severely reproves the Pharisees and consciences of those that submitted to them, and their hating and persecuting those that witnessed against their wickedness (v. 37-54).

That last one where Jesus ‘severely reproves the Pharisees and the consciences of those that followed the ways of that group, leads them to hate and persecute those that witnessed against their wickedness’ is a portrait of what had happened then, and what is also happening even today in the current culture wars.

Let’s see how we can apply this towards today’s culture.

1. The wickedness of death to babies in the womb is turned (by the far leftists) into a hatred and persecution against Christians who value life and speak up in protest that murdering an unborn child in the womb is an egregious sin and breaks the commandment, “Thou shalt not murder.” Yet, the proponents of abortion spout twisted lies about “a woman’s right to choose” and “the right for a woman to rule her own body” as excuses to condone such evil practice. My choice in this? Choose life – your mother did!

2. The wickedness of sexual sin, in all of its lustful forms and manifestations, including adultery, porn, pedophilia, pederasty, rape, homosexuality and trans-genderism. God made us male and female. He created marriage as the union of one man and one woman. All of the re-defining that evil people want to embrace does not change God’s mind on this issue! Therefore, the Christians who stand by their convictions on moral matters are attacked with hatred and persecution. Why? Because we witness against their wickedness.

3. The wickedness of lies, greed, political totalitarianism and persecutions (in all its forms and “isms”)  – I could go on and on – all fall under the same category of hatred and persecution being spewed against Christians because of their steadfast faith. Why? Because we witness against their wickedness.

Jesus encourages his listeners when he says:

Luk 11:9

“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Luk 11:10

“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

But in Luke 11:13 he tells us that we are all evil!

Luk 11:13

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

That is true!

Before conversion through Christ’s saving grace at the cross, we then, being evil still know how to give good gifts to our children. But the more important point to realize is “how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

There we have it!

Conversion through Christ is the ONLY WAY to escape the coming judgment that we all would deserve!  If it were not for Jesus’ death on the cross for our sakes in order to gain the forgiveness of our sins and be reconciled back unto God, we would be unable to enter into the kingdom of heaven!

 

I really enjoy reading the commentaries of the masters via the Blue Letter Bible website. Matthew Henry has a long commentary on Luke 11, but the following encapsulation is the pertinent portion that I would like to include and apply within this post.

We are looking at Luke 11:14-28.

Matthew Henry writes:

But, when Christ cast out devils, he needed not do it by any compact with them, for he was stronger than they, and could do it by force, and did it so as to ruin Satan’s power and blast his great design by that doctrine and that grace which break the power of sin, and so rout Satan’s main body, take from him all his armour, and divide his spoils, which no one devil ever did to another or ever will. Now this is applicable to Christ’s victories over Satan both in the world and in the hearts of particular persons, by that power which went along with the preaching of his gospel, and does still. And so we may observe here,

(1.) The miserable condition of an unconverted sinner. In his heart, which was fitted to be a habitation of God, the devil has his palace; and all the powers and the faculties of the soul, being employed by him in the service of sin, are his goods.

Note, [1.] The heart of every unconverted sinner is the devil’s palace, where he resides and where he rules; he works in the children of disobedience. The heart is a palace, a noble dwelling; but the unsanctified heart is the devil’s palace. His will is obeyed, his interests are served, and the militia is in his hands; he usurps the throne in the soul.
[2.] The devil, as a strong man armed, keeps this palace, does all he can to secure it to himself, and to fortify it against Christ. All the prejudices with which he hardens men’s hearts against truth and holiness are the strong-holds which he erects for the keeping of his palace; this palace is his garrison.
[3.] There is a kind of peace in the palace of an unconverted soul, while the devil, as a strong man armed, keeps it. The sinner has a good opinion of himself, is very secure and merry, has no doubt concerning the goodness of his state nor any dread of the judgment to come; he flatters himself in his own eyes, and cries peace to himself. Before Christ appeared, all was quiet, because all went one way; but the preaching of the gospel disturbed the peace of the devil’s palace.

(2.) The wonderful change that is made in conversion, which is Christ’s victory over this usurper. Satan is a strong man armed; but our Lord Jesus is stronger than he, as God, as Mediator. If we speak of strength, he is strong: more are with us than against us. Observe,

[1.] The manner of this victory: He comes upon him by surprise, when his goods are in peace and the devil thinks it is all his own for ever, and overcomes him. Note, The conversion of a soul to God is Christ’s victory over the devil and his power in that soul, restoring the soul to its liberty, and recovering his own interest in it and dominion over it.
[2.] The evidences of this victory. First, He takes from him all his armour wherein he trusted. The devil is a confident adversary; he trusts to his armour, as Pharaoh to his rivers (Eze. 29:3): but Christ disarms him. When the power of sin and corruption in the soul is broken, when the mistakes are rectified, the eyes opened, the heart humbled and changed, and made serious and spiritual, then Satan’s armour is taken away.
Secondly, He divides the spoils; he takes possession of them for himself. All the endowments of mind and body, the estate, power, interest, which before were made use of in the service of sin and Satan, are now converted to Christ’s service and employed for him; yet this is not all; he makes a distribution of them among his followers, and, and having conquered Satan, gives to all believers the benefit of that victory. Hence Christ infers that, since the whole drift of his doctrine and miracles was to break the power of the devil, that great enemy of mankind, it was the duty of all to join with him and to follow his guidance, to receive his gospel and come heartily into the interests of it; for otherwise they would justly be reckoned as siding with the enemy (v. 23): He that is not with me is against me. Those therefore who rejected the doctrine of Christ, and slighted his miracles, were looked upon as adversaries to him, and in the devil’s interest.

One of the most important paragraphs to remember in the above quoted commentary, is this piece of Godly wisdom:

Note, The conversion of a soul to God is Christ’s victory over the devil and his power in that soul, restoring the soul to its liberty, and recovering his own interest in it and dominion over it.

Christ’s victory over the devil and his power in that soul is the entire purpose of salvation!

It’s about restoring the soul of individuals to its liberty!

It’s about each individual agreeing to have God recover His own interest in it (our souls) and dominion over it (each of our individual souls)!

We have learned how great the battle is between the forces of good and evil in this world. One only needs to listen to the news for just one day to see how those under Satan’s control are raging!

Only Christ provides the means by which we can gain forgiveness of our sins, and thus reconciliation of each sinful man back unto our Holy and Righteous God!

Satan will continue to rage against the plan of salvation. As Matthew Henry chillingly stated in his commentary:

[1.] The heart of every unconverted sinner is the devil’s palace, where he resides and where he rules; he works in the children of disobedience. The heart is a palace, a noble dwelling; but the unsanctified heart is the devil’s palace. His will is obeyed, his interests are served, and the militia is in his hands; he usurps the throne in the soul.

All the endowments of mind and body, the estate, power, interest, which before were made use of in the service of sin and Satan, are now converted to Christ’s service and employed for him; yet this is not all; he makes a distribution of them among his followers, and, and having conquered Satan, gives to all believers the benefit of that victory. Hence Christ infers that, since the whole drift of his doctrine and miracles was to break the power of the devil, that great enemy of mankind, it was the duty of all to join with him and to follow his guidance, to receive his gospel and come heartily into the interests of it; for otherwise they would justly be reckoned as siding with the enemy (v. 23): He that is not with me is against me. Those therefore who rejected the doctrine of Christ, and slighted his miracles, were looked upon as adversaries to him, and in the devil’s interest.

Fellow believers – be encouraged by the words of Jesus:

Luk 11:33

“No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light.

Luk 11:34

“The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness.

Luk 11:35

“Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness.

Luk 11:36

“If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.”

The most thought provoking blog comment ever

That is a terrific comment! Beautifully biblical, uplifting, and Christ centered!

Do You Not Judge What is Right?

There are individuals and groups that believe, “if you love me (us), then you will accept me (us) just as I (we) am (are).”  In the emotional sense of the word “love,” this is possible.  We can love people, although they sin.  We can forgive the wrongs that are done against us, because through His Son, Jesus Christ, God forgives us. God has loved us although, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

How do we gain forgiveness?

John the Baptist paved the way, and Jesus also told us what is needed.

John the Baptist:

Mat 3:1

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,

Mat 3:2

and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

Mat 3:3

For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the LORD;
Make His paths straight.’ ” [fn]

Jesus:

Mat 4:17

From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

What is genuine love?

Jhn 15:13

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

The Bible tells us what it is not.

In the spiritual sense of the word (and I am referring to Christian spiritual sense of the word and the meaning of the agape love of God) accepting someone’s sinful acts in a permanent way and not telling them the truth about their need for repentance of those sins will destine them towards separation from God forever.

This reiterates the points in John 7 where Jesus stated:

Jhn 7:7

“The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.

When we agree with Jesus on this statement, and point out the acts of evil that have been done since the moment that the knowledge of good and evil came to be, the world will hate us.

Jhn 15:18

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.

Jhn 15:19

“If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

1Jo 3:13

Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.

This is why, for example, those who point out sins like abortion or homosexuality are hated. Those who stay silent on such controversial issues or those who embrace such issues (e.g. leftist Christians) are not hated. They are called “loving,” “accepting,” “tolerant,” “unbiased;” whereas the Bible based Christians who take the words of Christ and the Scriptures seriously, are called the exact opposite!

So, we can see why Jesus gave us those warnings about being hated. Those who speak out against such sins and are not of the attitudes of this world (because the world would love its own) are hated.

Why?

Because the worldly people hated Him first.

Why?

Jhn 7:7

“The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.

What’s more:

Act 10:42

“And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.

Thus, why would they not hate us as well?

My question.  Is it truly loving to not warn them about these facts?

There are many verses in the Bible describing the act of judging. Many leftists (even Christian leftists) hold onto the verses that state, “Do not judge.” But when you place those words into a search at Blue Letter Bible, you will find that this is not a blanket statement requiring Christians to never judge anything or anyone; but is in actuality an admonition to judge rightly!

Luk 12:57

“Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right?

Think about it! If we never judged anything, wouldn’t this world be in total and absolute chaos? As it is, those who do not judge rightly do cause much chaos around the world.

There are also those who may think that they judge rightly, when in actuality, they could just be guilty of misconstruing the intent of what is really being shared.

Allow me share a recent example.

Let’s Just Say a Couple’s Memorial Day Wedding Photo Didn’t Sit Well With Some People…

If you read through the comments, there are people judging this photo and having differing opinions about it.  That is certainly their right to do that, but even the title of the post is incorrect!  In the first place, the photo was shared on social media by the photographer – not the couple!  There are those who may think this photo of the couple praying together before their vows (while also desiring to keep from seeing each other before walking down the aisle to share their vows before God, family, and friends – which is a tradition followed by many couples) is somehow “distasteful” because they got married over the Memorial Day weekend.  Please note that they did not get married on Monday, the actual date of Memorial Day!

Of course, people can have their own opinions.  They can make judgments and they have their right to free speech about it.

So…is this an example of “right judging”?

Some readers may view this as a minor thing – and they are correct!  Will the opinions and judgments of the 800+ commenters on this particular subject matter throughout all eternity?

Let’s get back to what will matter throughout all eternity.

Within a commentary from Matthew Henry, we read:

But a wise man’s heart discerns time and judgment; such was the wisdom of the men of Issachar, who had understanding of the times, 1 Chr. 12:32. He adds, “Yea, and why even of yourselves, though ye had not these loud alarms given you, judge ye not what is right? v. 57.

[Christianity] has reason and natural conscience on its side; and, if men would allow themselves the liberty of judging what is right, they would soon find that all Christ’s precepts concerning all things are right, and that there is nothing more equitable in itself, nor better becoming us, than to submit to them and be ruled by them.

II. Let them hasten to make their peace with God in time, before it be too late, v. 58, 59. This we had upon another occasion, Mt. 5:25, 26.

1. We reckon it our wisdom in our temporal affairs to compound with those with whom we cannot contend, to agree with our adversary upon the best terms we can, before the equity be foreclosed, and we be left to the rigour of the law: “When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, to whom the appeal is made, and knowest that he has an advantage against thee, and thou art in danger of being cast, thou knowest it is the most prudent course to make the matter up between yourselves; as thou art in the way, give diligence to be delivered from him, to get a discharge, lest judgment be given, and execution awarded according to law.’ Wise men will not let their quarrels go to an extremity, but accommodate them in time.

2. Let us do thus in the affairs of our souls. We have by sin made God our adversary, have provoked his displeasure against us, and he has both right and might on his side; so that it is to no purpose to think of carrying on the controversy with him either at bar or in battle. Christ, to whom all judgment is committed, is the magistrate before whom we are hastening to appear: if we stand a trial before him, and insist upon our own justification, the cause will certainly go against us, the Judge will deliver us to the officer, the ministers of his justice, and we shall be cast into the prison of hell, and the debt will be exacted to the utmost; though we cannot make a full satisfaction for it, it will be continually demanded, till the last mite be paid, which will not be to all eternity.

Christ’s sufferings were short, yet the value of them made them fully satisfactory. In the sufferings of damned sinners what is wanting in value must be made up in an endless duration. Now, in consideration of this, let us give diligence to be delivered out of the hands of God as an adversary, into his hands as a Father, and this as we are in the way, which has the chief stress laid upon it here.

While we are alive, we are in the way; and now is our time, by repentance and faith through Christ (who is the Mediator as well as the magistrate), to get the quarrel made up, while it may be done, before it be too late.

Thus was God in Christ reconciling the world to himself, beseeching us to be reconciled. Let us take hold on the arm of the Lord stretched out in this gracious offer, that we may make peace, and we shall make peace (Isa. 27:4, 5), for we cannot walk together till we be agreed.

 

A blogging friend from Oil For Your Lamp blog wrote a great quote that I have placed in my sidebar:

A quote to remember!

“We are to be obedient to God and that means we are to fight against sin. Talking about not judging and loving each other does not absolve us from our duty to correct and — if necessary — censure those who refuse to obey God’s laws. If this were the case, then God would have had no reason to even give us a law; He would have just said do not judge, just love and left it at that — but He did not do this. Instead, He told us to obey, and then gave us at least ten commands. If we love each other — Biblical love — then we will do everything we can to help each other keep those commands, not make it easier to break them. After all, how can we claim to love someone if we are in the process of making their path to hell easier to travel?”

~ Black3Actual from Oil For Your Lamp blog

Hat tips to all links.

“A Better Weight Than Wisdom a Traveler Cannot Carry.” – Viking Proverb

I saw that “Viking Proverb” statement written out across the Direct TV screen in front of me as I was flying back home on an airplane.  I had been visiting with family in Virginia for 10 days.

It is a great statement to ponder; and I wondered which type of “wisdom” the Vikings were referring to?

 

For me, the ultimate wisdom comes from God through His Written Word – the Bible, and His Living Word – Jesus Christ.

 

Evidence abounds these days that many are ignorant about God’s Word.  The sad part is, many who call themselves Christian fall into this unfortunate category.  I think it is really a terrible state of affairs to realize that even Christian college students (e.g. BIOLA U.) are being found to be biblically illiterate!  There should be no excuse for them, in particular, to be guilty of such a flaw.

Recently, I received an email link to Muddy Streams blog that mentioned an interesting article that compared, contrasted, and explained the differences between religion and spirituality. The entire article can be read at Got Questions.

Excerpt:

Question: “What is Christian spirituality?”

Answer: When we are born again, we receive the Holy Spirit who seals us for the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13; 4:30). Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would lead us “into all truth” (John 16:13). Part of that truth is taking the things of God and applying them to our lives. When that application is made, the believer then makes a choice to allow the Holy Spirit to control him/her. True Christian spirituality is based upon the extent to which a born-again believer allows the Holy Spirit to lead and control his or her life.

Read it all at the link above. The details and Scripture references are all important regarding the type of “spirituality” that a Christian should follow and adhere to.

The new NBC TV series – A.D. The Bible Continues – had its second episode broadcasted this past Sunday evening (4/12/15). The disciples are now only starting to grasp the true meaning and significance of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. They see Him, in the physical sense, as He appears various times to them (i.e. in the Upper Room, in front of Mary who was weeping inside the tomb wondering “where have they taken my Lord). In the case of Mary, she asked such a question of someone whom she perceived as a “stranger” that appeared to her outside the tomb. It was only when He said her name, “Mary” that she recognized Jesus – her Risen Lord and Savior!

Jesus also appeared on the shore of Galilee where the disciples were fishing, but experiencing another bad day because they were not netting any fish. Jesus called out to them and said, “throw the nets on the right side of the boat.” When they listened and obeyed His directive, their catch was abundant!

Jesus also had a discussion with Peter where he asked his wayward and denying disciple if he loved Him. The Lord asked three times, and Peter replied affirmatively three times. This was a way of restoration for Peter’s previous denials as Jesus was being led to the cross.

Love is sacrifice.
Love is mercy and grace.
Love is forgiveness of sins.
Love is listening and obeying.

Love is worship.

But it ultimately matters in whom one worships!  Does the Messiah have worth-ship in order to lead us towards truth?

For our part, we need to believe in Jesus and repent of our sins, allowing the Holy Spirit to enter into our hearts in order to guide us into all truth.

All of this has been gained by Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross!

During my Virginia visit, I made what is likely construed by most as a typical observation regarding all of the violence, hatred, evil, sin and death going on in the world today. Jesus did tell us in Scripture that the “signs of the times” pointing towards His return would be “as in the days of Noah and Lot.”

In the case of Noah, there was so much violence, evil, sin and death that it grieved the Lord God immensely. The only “righteous ones” found were within Noah’s own family! All the others mocked, scorned, laughed at and ignored Noah for his “eccentric behavior” for building an Ark on dry land. The people went on to continue in their sinful lifestyles and evil, deadly ways.

In the case of Lot, the whole place (Sodom and Gomorrah) would have been spared if 50, then 20, then just 10  righteous people could be found in the cities.  We know that only Lot, his wife and children made it out (practically dragged out by the angels!); but even then, Lot’s wife looked back longingly (ignoring the angels warnings not to!) and she turned into a pillar of salt.

I always thought that it was interesting that we never knew her name, but Jesus’ admonition to “remember Lot’s wife” was a New Testament and as well as modern-day warning not to go back to our former lives of sin.

Back to my observation.

I mentioned to my brother that the ways of man without the wisdom of God being followed result in all forms of evil…and eventually lead to death.  Why wouldn’t God, knowing this then allow a brutal beating, scourging, crucifixion and death of His “Holy One” in order to get through to all that need to be re-born and saved?  Doesn’t it make sense to counter what the sinful mindsets of men do throughout the centuries in order to get our attention with the goal of discovering THE WAY out of our predicament?

In the economy of the Godhead – from eternity passed to eternity future – this agreement was made between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit so that mankind could be reconciled back unto a Holy and Righteous God!  While we were yet sinners…Christ died for us!

The Bible tells us that there is no greater love than for a Man to lay His life down for His friends.  But the God-Man Jesus Christ followed through to prove who he is and for this reason he was born to save his people from their sins.

So, what are we to do?  Accept it…and believe!

Thomas wanted proof that Jesus was actually resurrected from the dead.  He stated that he would not believe until he saw Jesus alive again.  What’s more, he needed to put his finger into the nail scars in Jesus’ hands and His side.

Jesus said, “Thomas, you believe because you have seen me.  Blessed are those who have not seen me yet believe.”

That is FAITH!

Faith is the evidence of things not seen.  Faith is the substance of things hoped for.

Heb 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

The next episode of “A.D. The Bible Continues” will show what happens to the disciples when they receive the power of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Can’t wait for that! These men will be transformed forever – and will carry on through the Book of Acts in the Bible spreading The Way of salvation through Jesus Christ and reiterating man’s need to be born again through the Holy Spirit.

Another excerpt from Got Questions:

Therefore, Christian spirituality involves a choice we make to “know and grow” in our daily relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ by submitting to the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This means that, as believers, we make a choice to keep our communication with the Spirit clear through confession (1 John 1:9). When we grieve the Spirit by sin (Ephesians 4:30; 1 John 1:5-8), we erect a barrier between ourselves and God. When we submit to the Spirit’s ministry, our relationship is not interrupted (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Christian spirituality is a consciousness of fellowship with the Spirit of Christ, uninterrupted by carnality and sin. Christian spirituality develops when a born-again believer makes a consistent and ongoing choice to surrender to the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

It matters greatly which kind of “spirit” one follows. You don’t want to be trapped under the influence of deceiving spirits! So, how do you know whether or not you are being deceived?

1. Read and study God’s Word – the Bible.
2. Follow God’s Living Word – Jesus Christ

That’s it!

We are told both in the beginning and the end of the book of Revelation that those of us who read and study it – will be blessed!

Yet, many churches and pastors these days ignore that book. Why? Why would they want their congregations to miss out on such blessings?

It must have something to do with knowing (or ignoring) the truth.

In Zechariah’s prophecy where he describes the King “riding on a donkey,” he also states:

Zec 9:11

“As for you also,
Because of the blood of your covenant,
I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.

 

No one likes the term “slave.” But the meaning here is a positive one.

Rom 6:18

And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

Rom 6:22

But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.

Being set free from sin is the greatest achievement of all time! Jesus Christ accomplished this for us on the cross because without the shedding of blood, there is no remission from sin.

Jhn 8:32

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Three things that matter within our trust in Jesus and in our desire to be with God:

Jhn 14:6

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

P.S. The Vikings Proverb was included in a very long Land Rover commercial via Direct TV.   In addition to that saying, the following quote appeared:

“Fifty percent of people in Iceland believe in elves.”

Wow. What does believing in elves get you in this lifetime or in eternity?

Nothing.

I think that staking my life on the historical, spiritual, and biblical proof of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is light-years more sensible!

~ Christine

Hat tips to all links.

Islam and Christianity Present Two Very Different Deities

H/T for graphic:  michaelosborn.files.wordpress

My Sunday has been blessed by reading a heartfelt and truthful post that also contains documented, historical evidence over at Kingjester’s Blog. The writer is described as a Christian American Conservative and the essay he has written is entitled, A KJ Sunday Morning Rebuttal: The Crusades, Radical Islam, and American Christianity.

The post is excellent and the points made are so desperately needed to be shared in these days where confusion often abounds.  People (especially Christians!)  need to become educated on the truth of such  matters so that they can teach others. There is so much disinformation being spread these days!  Therefore,  it’s vitally important to “do your homework” and seek out the truth to dispel the errors being propagandized into the minds and hearts of our fellow Americans.  In addition, millions all around the world also desire to know the truth!

Excerpt:

PROLOGUE: With President Barack Hussein Obama, his Administration and his sycophantic, misinformed followers on the verge of allowing our National Security to be sold out to the Mad Mullahs of Iran, I thought that it would be appropriate to revisit a study I had recently done, concerning the Liberal argument involving their attempts to draw a false equivalency between “Radical” Christianity and Radical Islam.

I hope this helps.

In early February, after President Barack Hussein Obama’s incendiary and decidedly anti-Christian remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast, Reverend Franklin Graham spoke truth to power:

Today at the National Prayer Breakfast, the President implied that what ISIS is doing is equivalent to what happened over 1000 years ago during the Crusades and the Inquisition. Mr. President–Many people in history have used the name of Jesus Christ to accomplish evil things for their own desires. But Jesus taught peace, love and forgiveness. He came to give His life for the sins of mankind, not to take life. Mohammad on the contrary was a warrior and killed many innocent people. True followers of Christ emulate Christ—true followers of Mohammed emulate Mohammed.

It’s as simple as that.

It has been both maddening and amusing to watch Liberals attempt to rewrite history over the last couple of months, in defense of their fallen messiah.

Actual history shows that

The Crusades were started by the Muslims in the year 630 A.D. when Muhammad invaded and conquered Mecca. Later on, Muslims invaded Syria, Iraq, Jerusalem, Iran, Egypt, Africa, Spain, Italy, France, etc. The Western Crusades started around 1095 to try to stop the Islamic aggressive invasions. Islamic Crusades continued even after the Western Crusades.

You can go to Kingjester’s blog to read the entire post plus the historical listings of dates of Islamic crusades (I would call them jihads).

I recall the Reverend Franklin Graham appearing on Greta Van Susteren’s show where he actually made a call out to Muslim terrorists to confess and repent of all their sins – including murder; then, he urged them to turn to Christ because he died on the cross and rose again to forgive their sins and to be their Savior. Franklin emphasized that God loves them and doesn’t want anyone to perish, but for all to come to eternal life and be redeemed through the shed blood of His Son.

That isn’t an exact quote, but it describes the gist of what Rev. Graham had said during the show.  It took a lot of guts for him to “put himself out there” and ask radical Islamic terrorists to turn from their prophet and their god, “Allah.” Wouldn’t it be wonderful to learn that a brief gospel message like that actually reached some terrorists, and realized their need to repent of their sins, thus they ended up dropping the jihad for the sake of following Christ?

More from the essay:

Islam and Christianity present two very different Deities, who may share some similarities, but who have different identities and ultimately different standards. To pretend they are the same is not only to be clueless of the faith of 76% of the citizens of this nation, but, to be ignorant of an integral part of our American Heritage, the legacy of Christian Faith, which our Founding Fathers bequeathed us.

The author is absolutely correct! Please read the post below which explains why Muslims and Christians do not worship the same God.

Hat tip:  Kingjester’s blog: A KJ Sunday Morning Rebuttal: The Crusades, Radical Islam, and American Christianity.

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Thursday, July 22, 2010

Why Muslims Don’t Worship the Same God as Christians

While sharing comments at Sarah Palin’s Face Book page, I pointed out to a young man who had written that “Muslims, Jews, and Christians all worship the same God” that he is incorrect. I referred him to an essay I had written back in 2006 at my Talk Wisdom Discussion Forum. I thought that it might be a good idea to share it on this blog so that when you encounter people (even some Christians!) who state that “we all worship the same God,” you can be armed with the truth.

Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God?

The short answer is no! The bottom line is this – Hal Lindsey does not believe that Muslims worship the same God as Christians and Jews and I agree with him and his reasoning on the subject.

However, I also realize that some Christians do differ on this issue. In fact, President Bush once stated (incorrectly, IMO) that Islam worships the same god as Christians and Jews. I disagree and I will share many reasons that will explain to you why this is not possible.

First, a summary:

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heavens glory and will return again, to earth, to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; John 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14, 15; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13.)

The Koran denies that Jesus is the Son of God although it describes the virgin birth in a passage similar to Luke 1:26-38 (Surah 3:45-47) (Note: Surah is in the Koran).

The Koran calls Jesus a prophet, equal to Abraham, Jonah and others, but places Him in rank far below Muhammad. Surah 4:171 says that “Jesus…was only a messenger of Allah…Far is it removed from His transcendent majesty that He should have a son.”

Muhammad totally ignored the claims that Jesus made about Himself. Jesus said, for example:

“I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).
“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).
“Before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:58).

The Bible also states that God Himself called Jesus His Son (see Matthew 17:5).

Demons trembled as they recognized the Son of God (see Matthew 8:29).

Doubting Thomas acknowledge Him as “my Lord and my God” (John 20:28).

John identified Christ as the author of creation (John 1:1-5); so did Paul (Col. 1:15-17) who also said, “In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (Col. 2:9).

The only way to deal with this kind of evidence is to do what Muhammad did – simply ignore or deny it. Islam denies Jesus Christ’s Deity so they do not worship the same ‘god’ in their god of Allah.

Next, a response to someone who thinks Allah and Yahweh are one in the same.

In response to an individual who was attempting to equate Allah with Yahweh, I wrote the following response and included some comments from others who agree with my stance:

What Muslims believe:

“Christ, the son of Mary [note: not as the “son of God”], Was no more than A Messenger; many were Messengers that passed away Before him [here, equating Jesus with mere Messengers, or perhaps prophets, but certainly not the Son of God]. Sura 5:75, Abdullah Yusef Ali, 10th ed. reprint, 2001.

“The similitude of Jesus Before Allah is as that of Adam; He created him from dust . . . “. Sura 3:59. A subsequent “created” man, like Adam. Not God.

What Christians believe:

However, “And the angel [being Gabriel, the same angel that allegedly dictated the “Holy Koran” to Muhammad] answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35, KJV).

The Scriptures refer to Christ as “the seed of the WOMAN,” knowing that no woman has any seed. The seed has to come from the male; Christ, as the Word incarnate (John 1:14), in an INCORRUPTIBLE SEED (1 Pet. 1:23) not like unto “corruptible MAN” (Rom. 1:23). Not like Adam, a created man who was not the son of God.

Thus, it comes down to a choice between these two disparate positions.

Either God showed up in the flesh, or he did not.

At this point in history, that makes you either believe God’s inspired Scriptures testifying of himself in the flesh, or Allah’s declaration that he did not visit in the flesh nor will he return once again.

The Koran indicates there WAS AND IS NO SON OF GOD in the flesh at any time. Muhammad thus cuts off the Isaac line through David to Jesus by God acting through Mary, and substitutes the illegitimate Ishmael to substitute himself for Jesus Christ as the New Testament “Comforter”.

Jesus would then have been the son of Joseph (a corruptible man, dead and buried without resurrection), and therefore could not be the Son of God.

What does that make Muhammad?

I realize that some readers will regard this as harsh. I am just sharing the truth of the matter.

We are warned about such non-scripture by Paul when God cursed Muhammad (and any angel with whom he was consorting) for preaching “another gospel” (Gal. 1:8-9).

Below, are more differences that I have gathered through other’s postings. (I will include first names or screen names only)

1. Muhammad sought earthly power and riches, including women from conquest. Jesus taught us that the Kingdom of Heaven is not of this world, and he gave up His life, via a gruesome Roman execution, so that we all might live again in the Kingdom of heaven, with all the angels and saints. And a final human act of murder and self-destruction will not gain one access to that Kingdom of Heaven, much less 72 dark-haired perpetual virgins. No, Allah and God are quite different beings, with different requirements for believing in them. (contributed by John)

2. No Muslim believes that Jesus Christ in the trinity is one with God and God. Therefore they do not worship the same God. Allah does not reflect John 1:1 at all. Hence the reason one can not preach the teachings of Christ around Mecca. (contributed by Merle)

3. It is TOTALLY ILLOGICAL to say the god of Islam and God of the Jews and Christians are one and the same. Islamic scripture KORAN and Hadith is rife with Allah’s disdain and hate of the  Jews and Christians. It is IMPOSSIBLE for God to hate the people (Jews and Christians) He created. Therefore Allah of Islam and God are not the same. (contributed by Paul)

4. To base arguments on the superficial use of the word ‘God’ misses the mark entirely. Even cults use the word ‘God’. It is true that Judeo-Christian and Islamic beliefs have Abraham in common. From there though, Islam takes every Judeo-Christian belief and turns it upside down. (contributed by Terry)

5. Perhaps I can fill you in on some key points as to why I have trouble (with anyone who holds the opinion) that Allah is the same God of the Bible – God of Christians and Jews. First we need to be careful to resist our natural urge to claim common ground for the sake of unity and peace. Instead we need to look at historical facts and religious aims to see whether such commonality is possible. And we need to proceed LOGICALLY. The question we are asking is : Who is Allah? Here we are asking who Allah, the God of Islam is. We are asking who is the Allah god Muslims worship to?

The Koran points out that Allah is the same as the God of Jews and Christians ( “the People of the Book”) And Muslims claim their faith as “the faith of Abraham” in one Creator God. So the question is settled? Well, not so fast!

As well meaning religious people, we like to see unity and peace. And we like to establish commonality with our neighbors. However to answer this key question, we need to be more objective. So let’s clear up our mind and approach this question from the standpoint of a new Muslim convert who is being introduced to Islam. What is the most important statement of Islam? It is the Shahada: That there is no deity but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet. This all important pledge states that Allah is the only God there is and Muhammad is his prophet. If you say this before two witnesses, you become a Muslim. This all important claim of Islam DEFINES Allah.

Note that there are two parts to Shahada – “Allah is [the] only God that exist[s]” and “Muhammad is Allah’s prophet”. In other words, Shahada states “There is only Allah” but who is this god, Allah? “Allah is Muhammed’s God” because Muhammad is his spokesman (prophet).

So the fundamental axiom of Islam DEFINES who Allah is. Allah is the God Muhammad worshipped! And this is a point that ALL MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS, AND JEWS CAN AGREE ON.

Allah is the god Muhammad worshipped. This is how we should clarify who Allah is. This statement: “Allah is the God Muhammad worshipped daily” is a statement we all agree on.

Now we examine cold and hard historical facts.  Was Muhammad ever a Jew? Nope. Was Muhammad ever a Christian? Nope. In fact, historians would agree that Muhammad was an Arab pagan who worshipped at Kaaba temple of Mecca. And he worshipped the supreme deity of Arab paganism – Allah of Mecca. We know that there is connection between the God of Christians and the God of Jews BECAUSE JESUS HAS BEEN A JEW AND SO WERE ALL EARLY CHRISTIANS. We can safely say that Christianity is a branch, if you will, out of Judaism because all early Christians were Jews and Christians accept Jewish Old Testaments VERBATUM.

By the same key criteria, we cannot say that Islam is a growth out of Judaism nor Christianity. Muhammad had never been a Jew nor a Christian and Muslims do not accept the Bible verbatim. Instead Islam AIMS TO REPLACE THE BIBLE WITH THE KORAN. Because they believe that the Bible is full of errors while the Koran is the perfect book from the Heaven.

So let us summarize the above point why Allah is not the same as the God of Christians and Jews.

a. “Allah is the God Muhammad worshipped.” If you want to talk Islam, you have to start from the Shahada. If you are unwilling to see the meaning of Shahada, we are talking at cross purpose. Shahada says that Allah is the God Muhammad worshipped and he is the only God there is. All other deities are idols to be denied and oppressed. (This is a point that all Muslims, Christians, and Jews can agree on. )

b. Muhammad was an Arab pagan who worshipped at Kaaba temple of Mecca. (This also is a point that all can agree on. ) He was and never had been a Christian nor a Jew.

c. Therefore, Allah is NOT the God of Christians and Jews. (contributed by Jay)

I am very politically aware of what is going on in the world today. In fact, here in America, as long as your god is just a word, the world has no problem with you. However, mention the name of Jesus Christ and they do have a problem. Why is that? Why is Jesus so offensive to those who do not believe in him?

Perhaps you already agree that we Muslims and Christians do not worship or serve the same God.

Christians believe in the Trinity (I John 5:7). God the father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).

“If you have seen me you have seen the Father” (John 14:9).

In non-theological words, Jesus is God revealed to us in the flesh. Muslims do not believe in the same god, that is the God of the New Testament Bible. Let’s just call it like it is. People must not try to trivialize our differences for the sake of peace.

When I was debating an individual about this topic, at the very beginning I had stated, “Since you are using a book – Koran – that I view as an improper addition to the Bible, anything I might say to rebut your allegations will probably not be accepted by you.

I do not say that the Koran is an improper addition to the Bible with a mean-spirited goal, it is just the truth as I see it being a born-again Christian. The Bible gives us a double warning in Revelation 22:18,19 not to add nor subtract from what is written, therefore, any book written after Revelation would be adding (and, in some cases subtracting, according to what is written in them) to God’s Word which we are told not to do according to these verses.”

With that said, I will share a few points regarding his dismay when I called Ishmael illegitimate.

I am currently in the middle of a Bible study on the book of Genesis. Here is a partial recap of chapter 16:

Here we find Sarai and Abram frustrated by the passing years without a son. So they devise their own strategy for “fulfilling” God’s promise–and reap the consequences. Read Genesis 16.1.

It has been ten years since Abram and Sarai entered Canaan. What action does Sarai how suggest (16:1-2)?

Suggested Abram sleep with her maidservant to build a family through her.

2. What do you think this indicates about their trust in God?

They doubted that His promise would be fulfilled without them stepping in and “helping it along” the way. Sarai influenced Abram to commit adultery. (Another point to recognize is the name changes of both Sarai and Abram to Sarah and Abraham before Isaac was born; but even more significantly this occurred after Ishmael was born. A name change in Scripture is quite significant in that it indicates a great change in the path of the person. We see this in the New Testament when Saul was renamed Paul after his encounter with Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus and thus his conversion from not only just Judaism, but from being a persecutor of Christians to becoming one of the greatest apostles for Christ!)

3. How can our impatience with God’s timetable lead us into unbelief and even disobedience?

It led to the sin of adultery in order to get the child they so desperately wanted. In fact, God did come through later with the conception and birth of Isaac.

7. Ishmael means “the God who hears.” What does that reveal about the outcome in 16:15-16?

The Lord heard the child and Hagar’s misery. Even though He told her the good news that He would increase her descendants so that they would be too numerous to count, He also told her the bad news; that Ishmael would be Gen 16:12- “And he will be a wild man; his hand [will be] against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”

This is indicative of the hostility we have seen between Arabs and Jews throughout the centuries. We also see it in the radical fringe of Arab/Muslim terrorism going on around the world. (This is not to say that ALL Arabs/Muslims are terrorists because of course they all are not, but to point out that the hostility predicted in this Biblical account has come to fruition down through the generations and can be seen today as a result of this prophetic description of Ishmael in Genesis 16:12.)

I WILL REPEAT FOR ABSOLUTE CLARITY. I AM NOT SAYING THAT ALL MUSLIMS/ARABS ARE TERRORISTS!

In Chapter 17 we see that God’s one and only covenant is revealed through Isaac. I have already included the Bible verses in previous posts.

Lastly, at my Bible study this past Tuesday, we ran across the following verse that reveals an astonishing truth about which son God Himself recognized as Abraham’s “only son.”

In Genesis Chapter 22 verse 2 we read:

“Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”

Of course, we know that God provided a substitute for Isaac at the last moment by providing a ram caught in in a thicket by its horns (verse 13). This was a foreshadowing of the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of mankind at the cross.

But notice also that God said that Isaac was Abraham’s only son. Thus, we recognize Isaac’s line in succession to Jesus Christ, not Ishmael’s line of descendants.
__________________
Christine

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8

The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth to show Himself strong to those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9

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How To Know God Personally [Click on link to discover the principles!]

What does it take to begin a relationship with God? Devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? Become a better person so that God will accept you?

You may be surprised that none of those things will work. But God has made it very clear in the Bible how we can know Him.

The following principles will explain how you can personally begin a relationship with God, right now, through Jesus Christ…

 

Speak the Things Which We Have Seen and Heard

 

The title of this post comes from a verse in Acts 4.  With the upcoming TV series about the Book of Acts and Dr. David Jeremiah’s 12 week Turning Point Ministry sharing the Scripture behind the story, I began thinking about how the Apostles in the Book of Acts were received during their missionary journeys.  They encountered both joy from those who believed, and threats to shut them up from the establishment authorities who wanted to shut down the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Before I post the verses leading up to that particular Bible verse in Acts 4, I wanted to first share some quotes regarding religious liberty from the late Dr. D. James Kennedy. Dr. Kennedy truly knew what our Founders meant regarding the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.  He knew how vitally important the free exercise of religion was to our Founders, and how such rights would be threatened and attacked in our day.

Does the First Amendment declare the “separation of church and state”?  Probably 99 percent of the people in America today have been brainwashed into saying “yes.”  But it does not!  We must understand what the First Amendment says, because the relationship between these two “kingdoms” – church and state – has been long and difficult.  The founding fathers resolved that question in a marvelous way, but their solution is being completely disregarded in our time–and most people are not aware of it.

The First Amendment states:  “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”  What does this say about what the church can or cannot do?  What does it say about what a Christian citizen should or should not do?  Absolutely nothing!  It says, “Congress shall make no law respecting and establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

The First Amendment forbids the federal government from restricting religion in any manner.  The Establishment Clause was only intended to stop the formation of a national church; and so it must be seen as merely a further limitation on government from restricting people from freely exercising their faith.

– Dr. D. James Kennedy

The founders of our nation wanted to avoid what was happening in Britain – the imposition of a national church upon the people. But the First Amendment and Establishment Clause were NOT meant to squelch the speech, worship, and associations of people and various denominations of churches from having the ability to freely exercise their faith.

Today, government is setting down a strong hand in order to restrict people from freely exercising their faith.  Most often these restrictions are being pushed upon those who hold to the Christian faith. Please read some of the previous posts here at Talk Wisdom for evidence of this fact!

As Christians, we know that God has called us to preach the Gospel of Christ – “in season as well as out of season.”  In today’s vernacular, we might say “when it’s popular as well as when it isn’t popular” to do so.

2Ti 4:2

Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

However, being an honest book, the Bible has already told us that there would be those who would fight hard against the spread of Christianity!  Such goals were evident when the Apostles started preaching about Christ in the book of Acts.

Note these verses:

Act 4:15

But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

Act 4:16

saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

Act 4:17

“But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.”

Act 4:18

So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

Act 4:19

But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.

Act 4:20

“For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

Why did the council not want the miracle that was done through the Apostles and the teachings of Jesus Christ to spread? Because it interfered with their authority. They could not have this Jesus spoken of as the crucified, risen Savior of the world! It would threaten their religious authority.

Today, the name of Jesus Christ is often blocked from graduation speeches, but it’s OK to use His name as a curse word in any movie or TV show.

Read the previous verses to understand what they were objecting to:

Act 4:1

Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them,

Act 4:2

being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

Act 4:3

And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.

Act 4:4

However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

Act 4:5

And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes,

Act 4:6

as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

Act 4:7

And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”

Act 4:8

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:

Act 4:9

“If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,

Act 4:10

“let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.

Act 4:11

“This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ [fn]

Act 4:12

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Act 4:13

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

Act 4:14

And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

Note that the people who realized that Peter and John had “been with Jesus” and saw the man who was healed standing right in front of them – they could not say anything against it! But those Sadducee leaders saw it as a threat against their power, so they wanted this preaching to “spread no further among the people.” Thus they can up with a plan to “let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.”

Today, those who disagree with or blatantly hate the name of Jesus Christ continue to try to “command them [us] not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.”

But the Apostles were not hindered by their threats:

Act 4:21

So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done.

Act 4:22

For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

Act 4:23

And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

Act 4:24

So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,

Act 4:25

“who by the mouth of Your servant David [fn] have said:

‘Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things?

Act 4:26

The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the LORD and against His Christ.’ [fn]

Act 4:27

“For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together

Act 4:28

“to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.

Act 4:29

“Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,

Act 4:30

“by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

Act 4:31

And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Neither should we, my dear fellow Christian brothers and sisters, be shaken or hindered from speaking with all boldness the Word of God and His Christ – Jesus!

Paul reiterates that we should put on the armor of God, despite those who would want our speech and even our lives “to be in chains” in Ephesians 6; and thus “speak boldly, as I [we] ought to speak.”

Eph 6:20

for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Love Is Sacrifice

 

HT for graphic:  New Life Community.net

With all of the vitriol, commentary, disagreements, support, sadness, gladness, insults being hurled, and thankfulness being given by people on TV regarding the blockbuster hit movie, “American Sniper,” I decided to  weigh in on the topic.

First, you might like to view a brief video of The O’Reilly Factor which covered some of the vitriol going on.

I thought about the views regarding Chris Kyle, (the brave American Navy SEAL in whom the book and movie was created to tell his story) that have been spewed by some who despised him for what he did.  I thought about how others had the completely opposite feelings of gratefulness and honor towards him.

Why are such polar opposite views of him being debated by pundits on TV?

Why all the vitriol against him?

Why all the support and honor by others who viewed Kyle as an honorable defender of our nation against those who would not hesitate to come to America in order to kill you and I, as well as any person who does not accept radical Islamic terrorists and their horrid ideology?

Chris Kyle killed enemy combatants during the war in order to protect his fellow troop members fighting the battle over there so that we wouldn’t have to fight it here. Watch out folks, because as we now know and have seen, the battles have begun here as well.

Such an attitude against our military members fighting for our freedom against Nazism, Japanese Totalitarianism, and Communism World War II were practically non-existent…except for maybe a few crazies who agreed with the “isms” of that era. Today, we are fighting another world-wide battle against another “ism” – radical Islamic terrorism. Yet, this current BADministration refuses to label the enemy as such.

Well, my purpose here is not to get into a huge political discussion. I want to focus on the TRUTH and one of the reasons why there is such a divide in our nation regarding the battle against radical Islamic terrorism.

Let me back up a bit.

It was recently revealed that the film, “The Passion of the Christ” topped all R-rated films at the box office. Why is that? Was it only because Christians decided to go and see the movie in the theaters? Maybe.

Today, we have “American Sniper” on target to surpass “The Passion of the Christ” film’s record at the box office.

Why?

I’m convinced that it has a lot to do with the “love is sacrifice” Christian ideology that is eternally inherent in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary.

HT for graphic:  testimoniesofheavenandhell.com

For what purpose you may ask?  Answer:  for the remission of sins; and the fact that our Savior’s Love was so great that mankind, through simple belief in Him, can confess their sins, ask Jesus into their hearts to be their Lord and Savior, and be reconciled back unto the Father to spend eternity with Him.

In Chris Kyle’s case, the sacrifices that he made for our people and nation (as well as the sacrifices made by him for his family and by his family for him to accomplish what he did) cannot be missed – and deserve to be honored for what he did while completing his individual calling and mission in this life while on this earth.

The following music video by King and Country is called, “The Proof of Your Love.” The video may be seen as quite unconventional for a Christian-based band, but I think that the combination of what you are seeing and hearing in the lyrics reveals the fact that LOVE IS SACRIFICE. As members of the human race here on earth, we can demonstrate this in various ways. Just ask any parent who would do anything within God’s Will for their children.

HT:  dwellinginthewordfiles.wordpress.com

 

However, there is no greater love than what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross for our benefit.

~ Christine

*******

Watch on Youtube: “The Proof Of Your Love” by King and Country

From azlyrics:

“The Proof Of Your Love”

 

If I sing but don’t have love
I waste my breath with every song
I bring an empty voice, a hollow noise
If I speak with a silver tongue
Convince a crowd but don’t have love
I leave a bitter taste with every word I say

So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love
Let my love look like You and what You’re made of
How You lived, how You died
Love is sacrifice
So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love

If I give
To a needy soul but don’t have love then who is poor?
It seems all the poverty is found in me

So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love
Let my love look like You and what You’re made of
How You lived, how You died
Love is sacrifice
Oh, let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love

When it’s all said and done
When we sing our final song
Only love remains
Only love remains

Let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love
Let my love look like You and what You’re made of
How You lived, how You died
Love is sacrifice
So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love

Thanks to Tommy Valentine for adding these lyrics.

*******

Here is a live acoustic version:

Great comments at the You tube site:

Michael Lawhon 2 weeks ago

“To sacrifice oneself for another is the greatest honor” If you love someone enough would you not be willing to die for them? Why is it so hard to believe that Jesus loves you so much that he sacrificed himself for you? Do you not want to believe that there is a god who cares about his people enough to sacrifice himself for them?

Parson Hooper
2 weeks ago

It is still heavily important to remember our initial standing before God prior to Christ’s sacrifice. Especially if you’re a gentiles (as I am and most of American Christians are). A true appreciation for Christ’s sacrifice comes from remembering that without his love our only deserving place is Hell. And that he continues to love us and his grace continues to abound though we continue to disobey him AFTER he has died for us. I know I completely do not deserve Christ’s sacrifice whatsoever…which makes the fact that he saved me all the more amazing and awesome 🙂

The Importance of the Parable of the Wheat and Tares

HT for graphic:  wwyeshuafiles.wordpress.com

Being a blog author and administrator can oftentimes be quite a blessing, but at other times, it can be difficult.

Over the past few days, I have had quite a huge disagreement with an individual who started posting comments here about a week ago.  I checked out his blog before releasing the first comment, and just the fact that he had a “boycott Israel” graphic on his sidebar alerted me to find out more about his ideas and motives.  As I read some of the posts there, some of his beliefs were quite bizarre.  I copied and posted a few of his comments at this link, however, he became even more enraged at me for not posting all of his writings. I can understand that, so I asked him about what he believes and posted what I believe about God, the Bible, humankind, eternity, Jesus Christ, salvation, the Holy Spirit, Spiritual gifts, and what it means to be born-again in Jesus Christ. He chose NOT to respond to my questions regarding whether or not he agreed and believed in the same doctrine presented. He also chose NOT to tell me whether or not he is a born-again Christian. Therefore, I left a final comment to him in that thread (link above).

This encounter has taught me a lesson. When a newcomer quotes lots of Scripture, yet makes claims against the Jewish people and Israel, I find it difficult to hold a good conversation with such a person. It is very questionable as to whether or not such an individual has proper motives.

In the past, (at my former blog) I have had trouble with bloggers who “didn’t get their way” in the comment section, so they proceeded to spam my comment pending box in revenge for ending their negative commentary. Because of this, I needed to switch back to approving all comments.

Here at Word Press, once a comment is approved the commenter’s future posts are automatically approved and released to the blog (unless there are 2 or more live links in the comment). Also, once a comment is approved, then the link back to the author’s blog appears on this site.

Here at Talk Wisdom, I wanted to avoid linking with leftist bloggers (even those who claim to be “Christian”) precisely because their skewed ideas and tortured “doctrine” could be damaging to those who come to this blog seeking the truth found in God’s Word.

I’m not a perfect person. Never claimed to be. But God’s Word is perfect and His Son, Jesus Christ is perfect. That is why I lean on doctrinal truth provided by the Bible and the words of the Person of Jesus Christ that are recorded in the Bible.

Doctrine is extremely important!

2Ti 3:16

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

2Ti 3:17

that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Jhn 7:16

Jesus [fn] answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me.

Even more importantly, what is taught needs to be SOUND doctrine!

2Ti 3:16

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

2Ti 4:3

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;

Tit 1:9

holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

Tit 2:6

Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded,

Tit 2:7

in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, [fn]

Tit 2:8

sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. [fn]

We have the warning in Scripture that people will have “itching ears” and thus not adhere to sound doctrine.

2Ti 4:2

Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

2Ti 4:3

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;

2Ti 4:4

and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

2Ti 4:5

But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Like it or not – all born-again believers in Christ are evangelists!

Like it or not – we are to be ready “in season and out of season.”

2 Timothy 4:b instructs us to , “Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”

Yet, there is a time to “shake the dust off of your sandals” when a person rejects the Gospel of Jesus Christ, so that you can move on to someone else who is searching for the truth.

Mat 10:14

“And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.

Mar 6:11

“And whoever [fn] will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. [fn] Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”

Luk 9:5

“And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”

Jesus told us that there will be those who will reject the Gospel in the Parable of the Sower

Mat 13:18

“Therefore hear the parable of the sower:

Mat 13:19

“When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.

Mat 13:20

“But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;

Mat 13:21

“yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

Mat 13:22

“Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

Mat 13:23

“But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

As Christian evangelists, we are to “plant the seed” through spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God does the rest! The verses in Matthew reveal the many ways that a person who hears the Gospel either “goes by the wayside,” or, “receives it with joy but only endures for while and then stumbles because of persecution,” or,  “allows the word to be choked out because of the cares of this world and deceitfulness of riches.” All of these can cause a person to become unfruitful.

We may inquire further to discover what Jesus meant when he stated (in Matthew 13:23) “But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it.”

David Guzik has a good commentary about that verse:

d. Good ground: As seed falling on good ground brings a good crop of grain (Matthew 13:8), so some respond rightly to the word and bear much fruit.

i. This soil represents those who receive the word, and it bears fruit in their soil – in differing proportions (some hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty), though each has a generous harvest.

e. Therefore, hear the parable of the sower: We benefit from seeing bits of ourselves in all four soils.
– Like the wayside, sometimes we allow the word no room at all in our lives. – Like the stony places, we sometimes have flashes of enthusiasm in receiving the word that quickly burn out. – Like the soil among thorns, the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches are constantly threatening to choke out God’s word and our fruitfulness. – Like the good ground, the word bears fruit in our lives.

i. We notice that the difference in each category was with the soil itself. The same seed was cast by the same sower. You could not blame the differences in results on the sower or on the seed, but only on the soil. “O my dear hearers, you undergo a test today! Peradventure you will be judging the preacher, but a greater than the preacher will be judging you, for the Word itself shall judge you.” (Spurgeon)

HT for graphic:  media cache

Guzik goes on to reveal another aspect of this parable, and it has to do with “good soil” and ultimately asking ourselves, “what kind of soil am I?”

ii. The parable was also an encouragement to the disciples. Even though it might seem that few respond, God is in control and the harvest will certainly come. This was especially meaningful in light of the rising opposition to Jesus. “Not all will respond, but there will be some who do, and the harvest will be rich.” (France)

iii. “Who knoweth, O teacher, when thou labourest even among the infants, what the result of thy teaching may be? Good corn may grow in very small fields.” (Spurgeon)

iv. Even more than describing the mixed progress of the gospel message, the parable of the sower compels the listener to ask, “What kind of soil am I?”

Directly following the Parable of the Sower, Jesus tells his listeners the Parable of the Tares and Wheat. This is why I needed to reject “Edom’s Thorn” when he commented here, and why I didn’t want to link to his blog.

B. Parables of corruption among the kingdom community.

1. (24-30) The parable of the wheat and the tares.

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”‘”

a. His enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat: This parable describes the work of an enemy who tried to destroy the work of the man who sowed good seed in his field. The enemy’s purpose in sowing tares among the wheat was to destroy the wheat. But the wise farmer would not allow the enemy to succeed. Instead, the farmer decided to sort it out at harvest time.

i. We note that this parable clearly describes corruption among the people of God. Just as in the previous parable, the wheat represents the people of God. Some corrupting influence is brought, and an influence that may look genuine even as tares may resemble real wheat.

ii. “The weeds are probably darnel, a poisonous plant related to wheat and virtually indistinguishable from it until the ears form.” (France)

b. Lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them: In the interest in preserving and protecting the wheat, the wise farmer did not separate the tares from the wheat until the time of harvest.

i. The wise farmer recognized that the ultimate answer to tares among the wheat would only come at the final harvest.

ii. Knowing the explanation of this parable as explained in Matthew 13:36-43, we understand why Jesus said it right after explaining the parable of the sower, especially with the seed that grew up among the thorns. “But one might ask whether the Messiah’s people should immediately separate the crop from the weeds; and this next parable answers the question negatively: there will be a delay in separation until the harvest.” (Carson)

HT for graphic:  i1.ytimg.com

 

Hat tip: Blue Letter Bible

Wycliffe Bible “Translators” Turn Insane!

HT for graphic:  kzlam36.files.wordpress.com

Not enough can be said and written about this aberrant, evil, diabolical (yes…as in satan’s snare!), anti-Christ “version” of the Bible that these brain-dead, reprobate, unrepentant, and (as my friend Steve likes to say, “bat-shit crazy”) so-called “translators” of the  Wycliffe group created in order to appease Muslims!! What was so egregious, you may ask?  They conspired to write a Bible version that eliminates the words “Son of God” from Scripture!

In my former post entitled False Prophets and Their Doctrines of Demons, I mentioned the fact that Wycliffe Bible translators must have lost their minds to create a Bible “version” that eliminates the words   Son of God from Scripture!  Can they be THAT delusional and reprobate to even dream up such an awful heresy?

If you haven’t seen the TV broadcast of Jack Van Impe discussing why this is an intolerable and evil development, I would suggest that you view it now.

Jack Van Impe: Program #1503 – 1/17/2015

 

I watched the program again yesterday, and Mr. Van Impe mentions Rick Warren and Bill Hybels, by name, as two heretical “pastors” who are promoting a reprobate theology called “Chrislam.”  Put that title of apostacy into a search engine and you will find over 35,000 links!

One that I recommend is Exposing Chrislam.

 

Excerpt:

This site is dedicated to exposing the deadly heresy of Chrislam which denies the deity of Jesus Christ and seeks to merge the church with Islam.
Chrislam is one of the many end times deceptions warned about in the Holy Bible.

 

There is a report over at The Christian Post where it is denied that Wycliffe is involved with this. However, when I went to that site, they are promoting a link to Bill Hybels. It’s probably a liberal leftist article that is meant to downplay the seriousness of this issue!

Many comments there are really good and in support of genuine Bible translation terminology. In fact, one commenter had this to say:

pierrerashad

12:22 AM on February 08, 2012

How can they even claim this? Do they have no integrity at all? As other comments have shown, it’s still on their website: http://alanbiya.net/downloads/sirat%20almasih/sirat%20almasih%2021.mp3

In this recording, Luke 22:70 is changed from “Are you then the Son of God?” to: “Are you the king, the Calph (successor) of God?”.

I happen to be from Lebanon and I speak Arabic, but it’s sad that Wycliffe thinks it can deceive the public just because most of their supporters don’t speak these languages…

 

Well…there you have it! The author at the Christian Post LIED!

 

We might need to ask, why is Wycliffe doing this? Could there be more reasons than the goal of appeasing Muslims? Could it be for the money as well? They may have made some extra cash with this inaccurate translation being sent to Muslim countries. But will they survive the wrath of Christian denominations that object to them changing not only the text of the Bible, but also the theology of God’s Word?   Such a heretical action is highly egregious – to say the least!

 

Let’s see what the Bible has to say about adding or subtracting from God’s Word:

Pro 30:5

Every word of God is pure;
He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.

Pro 30:6

Do not add to His words,
Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

Rev 22:18

For [fn] I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add [fn] to him the plagues that are written in this book;

Rev 22:19

and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away [fn] his part from the Book [fn] of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

 

HT for graphic:  larrydelacruz.files.wordpress.com

Hat tips to all links.

More articles on this topic:

Before It’s News: PROFANE Politically Correct Bible Translations Aborting Jesus as God the Son and Using “in the name of allah”! An Abomination! Are We HEARING This?

HT for graphic:  epm.org

 

Christians Together: Wycliffe Woes [Be sure to view the 6 minute video at this link or below.]

 

Update at 10:00 a.m. PT on Thursday, January 22, 2015:

For more information regarding where, how, and why and when “chrislam” started, see:

Now The End Begins: Rick Warren’s Chrislam Starts To Spread In America

In an (admitted) photoshopped church marquee at Now The End Begins, there is the word, “Chrislamic.”

Without the “t” chrislam is NOT about Jesus Christ! It’s more about submission to the false god of Islam and thus creating a lukewarm, watered down faith.

“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:14-16