Читать книгу Bloodline for the Messiah - A. M. Deigloriam - Страница 5

We live in a society that has rejected the idea of any type of moral standards and is focused entirely on protecting and recognizing the rights of all groups and religions regardless of their beliefs. In essence, governments are generally committed to enforcing their laws and do not care about the moral character of their citizens. This has resulted in a society that is keenly aware of laws and regulations and spends a great deal of money in trying to work around or avoid these laws. The idea of moral or ethical standards is never a consideration and in some cases may be viewed with some hostility. Unfortunately, the citizens that live under these conditions will need to comply with the practices of these societies in order to survive. We need to remember all the Christians that were martyred because they refused to worship the gods of Rome, Egypt and other countries.

Furthermore, many of the highly educated and accomplished in today’s society do not believe in any type of religion and will take every opportunity to ridicule those that are believers. In addition, many of these highly successful individuals hold positions of responsibility where they can have an impact on young and impressionable minds. Again, moral values are not a consideration for many of these individuals and society will continue to deteriorate to a point where laws and regulations will be void of any religious foundation.

This situation has deteriorated to the point to where some pastors are now saying the Bible is not the inerrant word of God. These pastors are now editing and eliminating certain books of the Bible. Again, we have gone from scribes spending hundreds of years copying verses letter by letter to ensure there are no errors to pastors from major denominations now editing the Bible. Our Creator is a sovereign God who provided us with the Bible that we may have a path to follow. Matthew 5:18 reads, “For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” God requires us to follow all of His laws in a spirit of righteousness. God is a personal loving God that deals with individuals on a one-on-one basis and only He can make a judgment. Pastors or other religious representatives cannot change God’s laws to meet the wishes of individuals or organizations.

God’s and man’s view of success are contrary to each other. Jesus and His disciple were viewed as failures by the world. Wealth and status is not a measure of success in God’s view. Success is recognizing your God-given talents and using them to the fullest to glorify God and show His love to others. Man has been given talents and the free will that allows man to use these talents as he wishes. A Christian that is successful will be using his talents to mature in Christ and be using their God-given talents to their fullest. Luke 12:48 reads, “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” Joshua 1:8 reads, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

The Bible consistently reminds us that the earth will pass away (Matt: 24:35) and only God’s word will last forever. God created the earth from nothing and it will end in nothing. Man was created from nothing and will die with nothing. The only thing that will last from man will be his words and actions. Matthew 12:36 reads, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” Man’s words and actions will determine his fate on judgment day. All sins are remembered and will be made known at judgment day for all of mankind. However, those who believed that God’s only Son, Jesus Christ was born on this earth and died on the cross to forgive all sins will be given eternal life. John 3:16 reads, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Our understanding of God and His blessings is limited and in some cases simply wrong. He loves us and cares for us as we struggle between pride and its’ desires and God’s will and His desires for our lives. God’s blessings are always connected to His purpose and for bringing us closer to Him. We have all gone through childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and in some cases parenthood and have gained some understanding how to use rewards and discipline in changing behavior. We generally stumble along and try desperately to match the right amount of reward and discipline to the right child in the right circumstance. In most cases with a lot of prayer and with God’s grace our children manage to survive our many misguided and ineffective parenting skills. However, God knows us before we were born and knows our thoughts and words before they are spoken and is able to provide for us the right blessing and discipline for each situation.

Proverbs 6:16-19 reads, “These six things doth the Lord hate; yea, seven are an abomination unto Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”

We are vessels that are able to discern both good and evil. However, an increase in evil will result in a decrease in good in this vessel to the point where wickedness will eliminate all good. Evil will contaminate this vessel and destroy its witness unless forgiveness is prayed for with a contrite heart. Matthew 24:12 reads, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” As we travel though this life we begin to realize and grow in appreciation of God’s many blessings as we look back and see what God has done in our lives. It is important that we identify these many blessings and thank God for each blessing to allow His Spirit to strengthen and complete these blessings in our lives. We would not have survived many situations if it were not for God’s loving hand that guided us or protected us from harm or evil. God will allow certain people into our lives that will warn us of pending danger. Again, it is important that we stop and recognize these words of concern and change direction. Thanking God for each of these blessings and praising His name is a life-long process for the obedient Christian. Psalm 100:4 reads, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” God is our Creator and we are His people. We are His sheep in His pasture. We have done nothing that deserves this gift of life and our primary purpose in this life is to praise His name and share His love with others. There is no room for self or pride. The pride of man has infected many academics to believe there is no God, man has no soul, and life that we live is simply a biological process. In this vessel we live in we can consider both good and evil throughout our entire lives. As we grow closer to our Savior we encounter greater and more frequent attacks from Satan and his demons. We are in a war that requires us to put on the armor of God and His word.

We have a fallen nature and live in a fallen world. The pagan gods of the past have been replaced today by the pagan god of money. The entire social structure of the world is based on money and the status and value society places on money. Violence continues to increase as more and more people are isolated and aliened by greed and inequitable systems. People will kill, steal, and lie to gain more money. Both the church and government need to reevaluate their priorities and take action to resolve the violence.

Faith is the element in our lives that confirms our soul to salvation. It was God’s breath in the beginning that created man as a spiritual being with a soul. Since we were created by God we realize this separation and long for the reunion with our Creator. There is nothing on this earth that can fill that void. We were created for a life here on earth and in heaven. The soul will live for eternity and needs to be fed and nourished as a living being. Matthew 10:28 reads, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him which is able to destroy both the soul and body in hell.” Jesus spoke and healed many during His time on earth, but many still did not believe. Even though many witnessed these great miracles they refused to believe in Jesus as their Savior. In this case, seeing did not result in believing. John 5:37-38 reads, “And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.” Peter was acting on faith as he stepped out of the boat and into the water. He was confident and knew without any doubt that Jesus was who He said He was. Peter’s faith allowed him to act on his belief. Faith comes from hearing God’s word and allowing God to control our lives and to continue in the process of dying to self. Faith in God will result in the love of His word and for the love of your neighbor. 1 Peter 1:7 reads, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” The tested and refined faith is beyond value and will bring praise and honor to our Lord and Savior.

God’s blessings are found throughout the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation. The goal and ultimate blessing is to develop a close relationship with our Lord and Savior. The path to this goal may require trials and hardships that can be physically and emotionally painful.

1 Peter 5:10 reads, “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

The Messiah’s royal lineage was blessed from the beginning and is detailed in both the book of Mathew and Luke. The book of Mathew details Jesus’ genealogy beginning with Abraham and ends with Joseph the husband of Mary. The book of Luke traces Jesus’ genealogy back to Adam using Mary’s ancestors. In both genealogies Jesus is a direct descendant of King David.

Isaiah 9: 6-7 reads, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”