A fine man, whom I respect, said to me one day, “Our church allows every faith to speak from our pulpit.”
I wished I had been able to discuss that interesting topic with him, but the moment escaped and we were busy with other activities of the day.
If I had a chance to return to that discussion with him I would say, “I don’t think you’d let me speak from your pulpit because I don’t believe it’s possible to allow every faith to speak the truth from every pulpit.”
The Christian faith follows both the Old Testament Hebrew scriptures and New Testament Christian scriptures. We believe every word written in the Bible is the Word of God. It is a Love letter from God.I won’t argue about the authenticity of the old transcripts because there’s more documentation on the historical veracity (unwillingness to tell lies, and Scriptural consistency) of the 66 books of the Bible than any other ancient manuscript. Plus its historical facts are verified by secular historians like Josephus and contemporary Babylonian, Greek and Roman historians.
The Bible says in John 1:1 -
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Furthermore, we believe Jesus is the Word.
John 1:14 -
“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Since the Word is so important it is necessary to study it and know what it says. There is an interesting discussion in Isaiah 29:16, Isaiah 64:8, Jeremiah 18:4, and Romans 9:21. about God being “The Potter” and that He reserve the right to destroy a marred pot and make one that’s not marred.
Who can argue with God being the potter since He is creator of heaven and earth. He makes us as it seems good to Him to make us.
He is God.
Also the Bible shows us that He loves and hates.
Consider Malachi Chapters 1,2, and 3.
God has the prerogative to hate. He knows the end from the beginning and he reserves the right to hate for His own reasons.
His reasons are explained concerning Esau/Edom in Obadiah chapter 1.
One might say, “I have a god of love; I don’t worship a god who hates.” Well let me ask you a question. “How can you have a god who doesn’t hate evil?”
If you have a god who loves everything it includes all evil.
The Bible clearly tells us God will not tolerate evil.
I Thank God for the fact that He hates evil!
God asks us to obey, trust and love Him with all our heart, mind and soul.
It says this in the Old Testament Deuteronomy 6:5 -
“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
And in the New Testament Matthew 22:36-38 -
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”
In order to do that we have to acknowledge He is the only God; there is no other. We cannot accept other faiths who bow their knee to idols. We adhere to the Ten Commandments.
There is a reason Jesus said, in John 14:6 -
“I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.”
In this life, we either do “what is right in our own eyes” or we do what is right in God’s eyes. The Bible explains that that is the issue.
It is the basis for the ancient enmity that God told us would be in the earth since the fall in Genesis.
God said to Satan, in Genesis 3:15 -
“And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.”
That verse, incidentally, is the first reference to Jesus Christ in the Bible. He, Jesus, is the seed of the woman that will crush Satan’s head. This verse also
shows there is a huge battle going on, and it is a spiritual battle.
Ephesians 6:12 -
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
But God is in control.
Colossians 1:16 -
“For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”
So it boils down to what Joshua said in Joshua 25:15 -
“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
God loves mankind and He has made it clear that whoever loves Him shall be with Him in heaven.
I Corinthians 2:9 -
“No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him”
But remember He loved us first, that's why He established this earth and sent Jesus.
John 3:16 -
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
It seemed like an heavenly offer to me; that’s why I’ve been a Christian since my early twenties, when I first understood and believed.
So that’s what I would say if I had a chance to talk to that man about why I don’t believe it’s possible to allow every faith to speak the truth from every pulpit.
Blessing to you,
Marcie Mathews
April 9, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Promises to Zion in Perpetuity
Isaiah 49:15 (New International Version)
14 But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me,
the Lord has forgotten me."
15 "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
I will not forget you!
16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are ever before me.
Ezekiel 36
A Prophecy to the Mountains of Israel
1 "Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say, 'O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD. 2 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: The enemy said of you, "Aha! The ancient heights have become our possession." ' 3 Therefore prophesy and say, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because they ravaged and hounded you from every side so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations and the object of people's malicious talk and slander, 4 therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign LORD : This is what the Sovereign LORD says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, to the desolate ruins and the deserted towns that have been plundered and ridiculed by the rest of the nations around you- 5 this is what the Sovereign LORD says: In my burning zeal I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom), for with glee and with malice in their hearts they made My land their own possession so that they might plunder its pastureland.' 6 Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I speak in my jealous wrath because you have suffered the scorn of the nations. 7 Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I swear with uplifted hand that the nations around you will also suffer scorn.
8 " 'But you, O mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home. 9 I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown, 10 and I will multiply the number of people upon you, even the whole house of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. 11 I will increase the number of men and animals upon you, and they will be fruitful and become numerous. I will settle people on you as in the past and will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am the LORD. 12 I will cause people, my people Israel, to walk upon you. They will possess you, and you will be their inheritance; you will never again deprive them of their children.
13 " 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because people say to you, "You devour men and deprive your nation of its children," 14 therefore you will no longer devour men or make your nation childless, declares the Sovereign LORD. 15 No longer will I make you hear the taunts of the nations, and no longer will you suffer the scorn of the peoples or cause your nation to fall, declares the Sovereign LORD.' "
16 Again the word of the LORD came to me: 17 "Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by their conduct and their actions. Their conduct was like a woman's monthly uncleanness in my sight. 18 So I poured out my wrath on them because they had shed blood in the land and because they had defiled it with their idols. 19 I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered through the countries; I judged them according to their conduct and their actions. 20 And wherever they went among the nations they profaned my holy name, for it was said of them, 'These are the LORD's people, and yet they had to leave his land.' 21 I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone.
22 "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. 23 I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.
24 " 'For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 28 You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God. 29 I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you. 30 I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine. 31 Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices. 32 I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign LORD. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, O house of Israel!
33 " 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. 34 The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. 35 They will say, "This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited." 36 Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the LORD have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.'
37 "This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Once again I will yield to the plea of the house of Israel and do this for them: I will make their people as numerous as sheep, 38 as numerous as the flocks for offerings at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts. So will the ruined cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the LORD."
14 But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me,
the Lord has forgotten me."
15 "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
I will not forget you!
16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are ever before me.
Ezekiel 36
A Prophecy to the Mountains of Israel
1 "Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say, 'O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD. 2 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: The enemy said of you, "Aha! The ancient heights have become our possession." ' 3 Therefore prophesy and say, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because they ravaged and hounded you from every side so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations and the object of people's malicious talk and slander, 4 therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign LORD : This is what the Sovereign LORD says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, to the desolate ruins and the deserted towns that have been plundered and ridiculed by the rest of the nations around you- 5 this is what the Sovereign LORD says: In my burning zeal I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom), for with glee and with malice in their hearts they made My land their own possession so that they might plunder its pastureland.' 6 Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I speak in my jealous wrath because you have suffered the scorn of the nations. 7 Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I swear with uplifted hand that the nations around you will also suffer scorn.
8 " 'But you, O mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home. 9 I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown, 10 and I will multiply the number of people upon you, even the whole house of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. 11 I will increase the number of men and animals upon you, and they will be fruitful and become numerous. I will settle people on you as in the past and will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am the LORD. 12 I will cause people, my people Israel, to walk upon you. They will possess you, and you will be their inheritance; you will never again deprive them of their children.
13 " 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because people say to you, "You devour men and deprive your nation of its children," 14 therefore you will no longer devour men or make your nation childless, declares the Sovereign LORD. 15 No longer will I make you hear the taunts of the nations, and no longer will you suffer the scorn of the peoples or cause your nation to fall, declares the Sovereign LORD.' "
16 Again the word of the LORD came to me: 17 "Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by their conduct and their actions. Their conduct was like a woman's monthly uncleanness in my sight. 18 So I poured out my wrath on them because they had shed blood in the land and because they had defiled it with their idols. 19 I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered through the countries; I judged them according to their conduct and their actions. 20 And wherever they went among the nations they profaned my holy name, for it was said of them, 'These are the LORD's people, and yet they had to leave his land.' 21 I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone.
22 "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. 23 I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.
24 " 'For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 28 You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God. 29 I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you. 30 I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine. 31 Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices. 32 I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign LORD. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, O house of Israel!
33 " 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. 34 The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. 35 They will say, "This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited." 36 Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the LORD have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.'
37 "This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Once again I will yield to the plea of the house of Israel and do this for them: I will make their people as numerous as sheep, 38 as numerous as the flocks for offerings at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts. So will the ruined cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the LORD."
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The Millennium Kingdom
Just because it's been a couple of thousand years does not mean the Lord is slow to keep His promises. After all, if He didn't delay this long just look at how many people would not have been born yet, including you and me! He delayed so that more could come to read His Word and believe what it says.That too was part of His plan. The Bible, simply put, is a marriage contract and a love letter to all who care to know what God has said to us. If you read it honestly and let your heart see His Love, you will see His Glory and praise Him for His mercy towards mankind.
Revelation 22:20 "He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming soon.' Amen Come, Lord Jesus!"
Revelation 20:1-3
The Thousand Years Also known as: The Millennium
"And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time."
The Millennium is the prelude to heaven. It's the overture to the New Heavens and the New Earth.
It's a time of great joy, prosperity, purity, peace, and prolonged life, with King Jesus reigning on the Throne of David.
Isaiah 9:6-7
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.
Mathews 28:18bThen Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."
Revelation 22:20 "He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming soon.' Amen Come, Lord Jesus!"
Revelation 20:1-3
The Thousand Years Also known as: The Millennium
"And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time."
The Millennium is the prelude to heaven. It's the overture to the New Heavens and the New Earth.
It's a time of great joy, prosperity, purity, peace, and prolonged life, with King Jesus reigning on the Throne of David.
Isaiah 9:6-7
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.
Mathews 28:18bThen Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."
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