Exhortation

Making Judgments

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

Making Judgments

As we look at this portion we find a phrase which many use to tell us we are not to judge. Jesus does say, “Judge not, that ye be not judged”. However, if you read the several verses following we see that He tells us to make judgments concerning variety of issues.

The very first instance of a judgment we must make is concerning what is holy, and the casting of that unto the “dogs”. Would we not be making a judgment decision concerning what is “Dogs”. The other in this same verse concerning the throwing of pearls to “swine”. Again, there would be the need to make a judgment. There must be a greater meaning for “Judge not, that ye be not judged”, than the normal tendency. One of the things concerning judgment that we will see is that of the heart.

As human beings we do not know the intents of other human hearts. We have hard enough time knowing the intents of our own hearts, if indeed we can know that. It would seem to me that that is one thing the Lord is addressing in these first five verses.

“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” Matthew 7:1-6 (KJV).

We are too often too quick to judge others. One way we judge others and often very wrongly is for their motives. Christians, sad to say, often judge one another’s motives for their actions. We say things like, “The only reason he did that is to work his way to that cushy office job”. O, really, and how would we know this man’s or woman’s heart? We do not.

We are also too quick to judge by the traditions of men. That was the problem Jesus was addressing for sure. The Pharisees and scribes had certainly judged Jesus wrongly. They had accused him of breaking the Sabbath on several occasions for healing on the Sabbath, for working in the grain fields on the Sabbath, etc.. That was according the their traditions of the law, not according to the law. As Jesus says, “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath” Mark 2:27. After they had added their traditional understanding to it and added a few loopholes for themselves it became a switch for the wearing out on the people.

It is probably safe to say too, that this command is for the benefit of not condemning others with our judgment. People, without Jesus Christ, are already condemned. How can we, and why should we add our condemnation? “Therefore thou are inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest another, thou coondemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.” Romans 2:1. Condemnation and vengeance is Gods. Only He has the final say in judgment, and for one I am so thankful for that.

As Christians we are to first examine and make judgments of our own lives; “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.” 1 Corinthians 11:31 (KJV). If we look intently into our own selves we find we have no place to accuse or condemn; “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” James 1:23-25 (KJV). To rightly judge self is to depart from sin and become compassionate to the sinner. We must first, have our eyes cleansed from obstacles before we can help others. Anything less is hypocrisy.

We are to discern the hardness, and lack of reception of filthy hearts. We are to recognize the dogs we come in contact with. The dogs are the scavengers on the streets content with their unscrupulous lives, spreading disease and are vicious. Paul writing to the church of Galatia says, “…‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’. But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another” Galations 5:14b-15, and he is using the animals of the street to illustrate the point of Christians needing to love one another, rather than “devour the other” in judgments. We should not take what is holy – from the altar – and give it to those whose lives despise holiness. This takes some discernment, ie., judgment. The swine are those who love their filthy mudhole better than being clean, better than the bathtub of being clean before the righteous and holy God of all creation. Why should we in foolishness throw the beautiful pearls of righteousness to the swine only to have them trampled in the mudhole. Surely judgment is needed to know when to stop, pack your bags, and leave.

The Spirit of God Moves

/ Tim A. / 4 Comments

The Spirit of God Moved

On the second month; which appears to be of that present year; Noah, his wife, their sons and their sons wives went into the ark, at God’s invitation, after all the animals had already been boarded. You can find this in chapter 7:11. We read in the 24th verse of chapter seven that the “Waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days”. The word “Prevail” according to the MERRIAM/WEBSTER DICTIONARY means, “To win mastery: TRIUMPH”, and “PREDOMINATE”. According to Strong’s it means pretty much the same – “Gaw-bar” is the pronunciation in Hebrew, and meaning “A primitive root; to be strong; by implication to prevail, act insolently: – exceed, confirm, be great, be mighty, prevail, put to more [strength], strengthen, be stronger, be valiant.” (From E-sword).

With the water prevailing upon the earth means that it has the rule. It seems that it is progressing upward in depth after the rain stopped, and continued up to 150 days. There is nothing stopping it. For those who advocate a local flood, I would ask, “Where is the dam? How is it holding when God says the waters prevailed upon the earth?” In the Hebrew reckoning of months there were 30 day, and 29 day months. Their year would have had only 354 days, and about every three years there would be an extra 29 day month. It is uncertain if Moses wrote this with the Hebrew calendar in mind. It would be most likely, but I am not dealing with the months. I only point this out due to the time of departure, and arrival at the destination of the ark. One hundred fifty days would equal to about 5 months that the waters prevailed upon the earth.

Assuming this 150 days included the forty days and forty nights of rainfall that means they have been in the ark a very long time. Noah and the family could have began to get very discouraged, and just plain ole cranky with one another. Who knows, they may have even began to think that they had been forsaken by God. We just do not know what was going on on that ark. Hear what God says.

“And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged; The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained; And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen.” Genesis 8:1-5 (KJV)

It is with much comfort we are told, “God remembered Noah…”. Though it is not that he forgot him, this is a reminder of God’s covenant promise with Noah and all that went into the ark (Gen. 6:18-21). Noah was the intelligent one of God’s creation. He was the one who bears the image of God. He is the one to whom God for the salvation of the human race and the animal kingdom.

Noah is the one for whom the window was built for the beholding the heavens, and speaking with God the Creator. God remembering has more to do with Promise and with God’s faithfulness. He is the faithful God.

God also remembers every living thing on the ark. Those things which many of us would just as soon never had in the earth. There were serpents, creepy crawly things, flying insects, like, mosquitoes, flys, etc. According to something I read sometime ago; it used to be thought that the common housefly was made by spontaneous generation, but that has been proven wrong. In these things we must realize that God knows best. All of these things have their purpose in God’s ecology. He is the All Wise One.

We are also told that God remembered the cattle. Surely this text goes through all of this to assure us that God does not forget his promises. His covenants are part of who He is. His Word will not fail. The cattle; these livestock which we be closer to home; these are the source of their food, and the food of the world, and the means of clothing, using the skins.

God made a wind to pass over the earth, and it was because of that wind that the waters began to recede. They were no longer prevailing upon the face of the earth. The LORD God showed He was still in control. Noah certainly needed this assurance. His family needed this assurance. The wind came as it was made to do. It began to dry away the waters. The mountains began to show. The ark settled, and came to rest upon the peaks of Ararat.

The word “Wind” in verse one is the same word as “Spirit” in chapter one verse two. “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters”. On the third day of creation the land came forth in a day. On this day with Noah and his family it took time. It was not until the seventh month on the seventeenth day of the month that the earth was dry. They would be on the ark until the second month and twenty seventh day when the earth dried, and God would command them off (More on this later).

There must have been such joy and rejoicing as the ark settled into a crevice in the rocks, and rested there. They must have felt that surely we can leave this boat soon. Encouragement, though, comes only in pieces. We should know that this prepares us with patience. When it seems as though the storm is never going to end. When it seems as though the waters of trial and tribulation rush all around you. When it seems the rocking and twisting of your salvation is never going to stop. You can rest assured it will. The storm will end the rush of the trial will cease. Your faith will be made stronger in your salvation. God will come through.

Where Your Treasured Treasure Is

/ Tim A. / 3 Comments

Where Your Treasure Is

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:19-24 (KJV).

“The principle is simple and sobering: the way we look at and use our money is a sure barometer of our spiritual condition” John MacArthur from Vol. 1, p. 414 of Matthew Commentary.

One verse of this seems to be the key to the rest, and that is verse twenty one. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” That begs the question: What is your treasure?

If our hearts are right with the Father through Jesus Christ we will have the right attitude toward wealth, or even the lack of wealth.

Jesus warned us about living for the things of this world as being sin. To live for the gain of wealth is covetousness. Covetousness is idloatry – “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:” Colossians 3:5 (KJV). Anything you use to try to fill the emptiness of your life, which only God is meant to fill, is idolatry.

When we are not guarding our hearts we can become enslaved to covetousness. Slavery to things means certain loss of our heart and mind (vv. 22-23). If our aim in life is wealth there will only be darkness within. We cannot serve two masters, there is only one worthy of our service and that is the Master, Jesus.

The Waters Prevailed

/ Tim A. / 2 Comments

The Waters Prevailed

“And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered. And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.” Genesis 7:18-24 (KJV).

I personally believe that there are judgments of God upon the earth today. Some of those being in the form of destructive storms; such as tornadoes, hurricanes, volcanoes, tsunamis, earthquakes. Does that mean that God hates us, or hates those who are killed, or injured during these things? No!! It actually means that He cares for us, is giving us warning to turn from our sins, and that worse judgment is coming. God does hate sin and its evil. These judgments are especially taking place on our Nation of the United States of America. Someone may be asking “Why?” It is because we have turned our backs on God, and turned to our own abilities, our own good deeds and works. We have forsaken God, and turned to idols. Idols, such as the economy – comfort, convenience, and entertainment are three of the more popular idols of this nation. These are all tied to wealth. Money/Finance, Science/technology, and Global unity and peace are three which are really involving those other three. Then we have the affliction of the AIDS virus. That is judgment upon us for the sexual perversion in our land.

The reason God judged the earth by the flood was because of the corruption on the face of the earth (See chapter 6:5, 11, 12, 13).

These verses show us how God actually used the flood waters to raise the ark above the judgment, and how He cleansed the world of its corruption for that time.

This flood covered the whole earth. it was not just the area of Mesopatamia as some have purposed. Even the scientists who deny a worldwide flood admit and tell us that the world was covered by water at one time, and they say it was a cataclysmic cover. They simply want to deny the Bible’s version of the worldwide flood. The flood was so massive and great that the waters covered the tops of the highest mountains. Verse 20 even gives us the exact depth over the highest mountain to have been 15 cubits or about 22 and one half feet. With a twenty four inch cubit, that depth would have been thirty feet over the highest mountain. This would, of course, allow no place for any living, breathing thing, to hide from God’s judgment and survive. When God judges, His judgment is complete.

We can rest assured that when God judged our sin, by killing His own Son Jesus Christ, that judgment too, was complete (Isaiah 53:4; Romans 5:8, 12-21; 2 Corinthians 5:21). When we hear God’s invitation to enter the ark of safety, who is Christ, and enter we are safe and secured for all eternity; lifted up above this earth and its watery, fiery grave.

In the Ark and Safe

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In the Ark and Safe

“And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth. In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark; They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort. And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in. And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.” Genesis 7:10-17 (KJV).

For seven days Noah and his family were on the ark, and that was before the rains started to fall, and the waters under the earth burst forth.

For seven days there was no more preaching, no more warning of God’s wrath to come. All hope was gone for the fearful and unbelieving element outside the ark.

Remember, according to chapter two, verse six, up until this time the earth had been watered by a mist. It had never rained. Now, suddenly the skies break forth in a deluge of water; drops falling like pebbles to the ground. The shock, to those outside, must have been unbearable. Not only did it rain, but the ground erupted with water shooting into the sky hundreds of feet, maybe even thousands of feet, and falling back to the ground with massive erosive impact. Homes, cities, markets, even centers of worship are completely destroyed. The water having no mercy on anything. The people and animals running to high ground trying to flee the disaster, even clawing, crying, and pleading at the sides of the ark as it began to jostle from side to side, as the waters rose, and picked it up from its resting place. Cries for mercy coming much too late. Once the judgment has begun, it is too late.

The rain fell, it pounded, its sound reverberating over the ark, upon the land and echoed through the canyons and valleys. The lightning, thundering were as deafening as the water which burst forth from the ground (v. 11).

While all of this was going on, Noah and his family were safe inside the ark protected by God’s own hand. They were sealed within the ark of safety. It is awesome and glorious to know that we are sealed in Christ Jesus for all eternity;

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14 (KJV).

We can also see that it was the LORD God who “shut him in”. While the rain was pouring, and the floods were raging Noah and his family, safe in the ark, were “lifted up above the earth”. God’s saving power is awesome

The ark provides us with a two-fold typology. It represents Christ and the believer being called to abide in Christ and His atoning work. It also provides us with a type of the nation of Israel during “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7) also called “the great tribulation”.

Those who during this ‘time of trouble’ are marked by God (Revelation 7:1-8) to proclaim the message of the kingdom, and are protected by God from the raging of the antichrist king (Revelation 12:6). We might make note, that Enoch, being translated, pictures the rapture of the church before the time of trouble.

Fast With Joy

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Matthew 6:1-34 continuing…

“Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:16-18 (KJV).

This third characteristic of the kingdom heart and life should be when you are fasting FAST WITH JOY. It seems that the religious leaders very much wanted to be noticed for their fasting, and would have very somber and sad faces, so everyone would know when they were going without food. Let me say that there are several forms of fasting. One can fast from food to find God’s will in a certain need; one can fast for the purpose of seeking God for personal and national revival and renewing; but these must be done with the right heart and motive.

Fasting is right and good with the right motive. Jesus fasted. We have the most notable account of Jesus fasting in Matthew four where He fasted for forty days and nights (4:3). Members of the early church fasted – “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them” Acts 13:2 (KJV).

Fasting is a means of disciplining the appetites of the body. It helps us keep our spiritual priorities straight. We focus more on God, His Word, and His will for our lives and living for Him, than on when the next meal is due. One of the most useful fast that I have found is when you are so involved in your study of God’s Word and prayer, that you do not even think of eating, the time passes, and you are into the Word so deeply, that it does not matter.

Fasting is more than depriving ourselves of food. It is time for the worshipping of God. A time for devotion to Him and giving all to Him.

True fasting is not for the purpose of drawing attention to one’s self, as did the hypocrites. To do so fits us into that category. Hypocrisy robs us of reality in Christian living. It substitutes reputation for character; it substitutes mere words for true prayer; it substitutes money for devotion of heart. Hypocrisy also robs us of spiritual rewards. Instead of God’s eternal approval we receive the temporary approval of men; We pray and receive no answers; We fast, but the inner man does not improve; We miss the blessing of God; and we lose God’s rewards when Jesus comes again. The first steps in overcoming hypocrisy: 1) Be honest with God in your secret life; 2) Fast seeking God with all your heart; 3) Pray from the heart; 4) Please God alone.

We will remain in hypocrisy if we tend to offer God pretty, lace and flower prayers, and fast to be seen and recognized by men. We will remain in hypocrisy if we pray only from a form or liturgical prayer that has been offered by someone else. We will remain in hypocrisy when we fast and pray to please others and do not care whether God is praised, honored and glorified or not. The purpose of fasting and prayer is to glorify the Lord, and then it matters not whether you get what you asked for yourself.

Friends of Israel

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The nation of Israel is often denied their rights.  They have given up land in order to maintain peace in the Middle East.  They are a peaceful nation.  To the  Christian Palestinians let me say this.  Israel will own the land.  That is according to God’s promise.  Accept that and believe the whole counsel of the Word of the Lord.

Dr. Thomas Ice writing in Midnight Call Magazine, the November 2003 edition has an article titled “Christian Zionism”.  In his conclusion he writes this:

“In spite of our critics, who unjustly attempt to cast us in a bad light, dispensational premillennialism has always been the best friend the Jewish people have ever had within Christendom.  For many years, many in Israel have recognized this.  Amazing is that in the last few years, even the Orthodox community has come to realize that it has friends and supporters within the conservative Christian community.  At the same time that we support Zion, dispensational premillennialists have been the leaders of evangelizing the Jewish community during the present Church Age.  I believe that such support  of Zion by Christians will continue to be the case from now throughout all eternity. Maranatha!”

From p. 33, MIDNIGHT CALL, November 2003.

Israel is so often, too often maligned, and accused of being the aggressor, when the truth is she has often shown restraint, and even withheld in attacking when she has been attacked.  May the leaders of our country begin taking a stronger stand for Israel.  Are we truly standing with them, supporting them when we advise them, that, for the sake of peace give back the land?  Not in my estimation.  It is their land.  God gave it to them, and one day it will all be theirs again.  It will be more then, than what they have possessed since 1948.  God’s will will be done

Faith On Display

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Genesis 7:1-24 continuing…

” And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth, There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah.” Genesis 7:7-9 (KJV).

By faith Noah built the ark. It was also by faith he entered the ark. The ark must have seemed a dark and imposing object to the mind of flesh. However, to the mind of faith it was the place of light and the only means of salvation. The only means of natural light would have been in the lone window through which the one created in the image of God could communicate with his Creator.

It was upon God’s invitation alone that Noah had faith to enter. The ark was built by God’s heavenly design, and man entered it only upon God’s invitation.

Imagine if Noah would have spent 100 years building the ark, then, upon God’s call to enter balking, shirked, then pulled away and not entered. He would not do that, because the faith that caused Him to build (his work) also led him to enter into it.

We, people of faith in Christ Jesus, build an ark of safety by living out our faith for all to see. Without saying a word we testify to our faith in Jesus by faithfully attending worship in our local church. Your lost neighbor watches you as you go there every Sunday. They also see you as you faithfully discipline your children to behave rightly. That unredeemed work associate watches as you work and labor faithfully or unfaithfully. What do they see? You are building an ark for their redemption. Be faithful to God, His call, and His word and work.

God is the One who brings all these things to pass in us. We are the one’s who must work them out for others to see.

And They Came

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Genesis 7:1-24 continues…

“Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth. For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth. And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him. And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.” Genesis 7:2-6 (KJV).

After the fall of man the earth was cursed. Not only with weeds in crops and concerning insects, but also in the animal kingdom. Before sin entered the world all the animals were eaters of “straw”, that would include, fruits, vegetables, grass, leaves, etc. (See chapter one, verses 29-30). Some were probably very ferocious animals. Knowing and recognizing this helps us see the faith Noah had in God. The clean beasts – cattle, sheep, goats, etc. – were to come into the ark two by two – male and female, in groups of seven. This was for the purpose of sacrifice, and quite possibly, the provision of meat following the flood. The unclean would come into the ark by twos male and female. It was God’s doing to bring these animals into the ark.

God sent out a call to His selected ones and they came. Can you imagine what the expressions and thoughts of the other people must have been as much of the animal kingdom came to the ark two by two, in an orderly fashion and entered the ark. That alone should have been enough testimony to believe Noah’s preaching. “Maybe that old kook was right, afterall” might have been some of the thoughts going through the minds of many, but nevertheless, it was no good. It would not make any changing impact on them.

The whole line of Seth, except for Enoch, is now dead. Noah, his wife; their sons, and their wives the only living reminders of the holy line of God. Noah’s father died five years before the call for Noah, his family and the animals to enter into the ark. Methuselah dying shortly before the flood comes. Noah is now six hundred years of age.

In verse five we see the works which Noah’s faith produced. “And Noah did according unto all the the LORD commanded him”. How is your faith today? “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” James 2:17 (KJV).

Looking for Power

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There are some things in history which I find fascinating.  One of those fascinating things is to thing that some men who have wielded such power could be so blind to superstition.  Here is a story from a Reader’s Digest book called FACTS AND FALLACIES,  and the article is called “The Spear of Longinus”.  Now, Longinus  is supposed to be the name of the soldier who pierced the side of Jesus, “But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.” (John 19:34).

Here is the article —

“THE SPEAR OF LONGINUS’

‘IN 1909 IN THE Hofburg Museum in Vienna, a thin, pale, shabby young man stood before the treasures of the House of Hapsburg.  Jeweled crowns glittered in their cases.  But what transfixed the observer was one small item: the remains of a spear, dull and black with age.  The unprepossessing visitor was Adolf Hitler.  The object  he worshiped was the Spear of Longinus.

The spear is reputed to be the one that pierced Christ’s side as He hung upon the cross.  Hitler discovered that there were at least three other ‘holy’ spears in Europe at that time.  One was in the Vatican.  A second had been taken to Paris at the time of the Crusades.  Another was to be found in a church in Cracow, Poland.  But the spear of Longinus, named after the Roman centurion who wielded it,  had commanded most attention.  The reason: attached to its handle is a nail reputedly used in the Crucifixion.

The spear is said to have acted as a powerful talisman or charm for Constantine the Great, first Christian emperor of Rome; Charles Martel, who drove the Arabs out of eighth-century France; the emperor Charlemagne; and the Holy Roman emperor Frederick Barbarossa.  According to tradition, all who possessed the spear were victorious.  It was the mystical qualities of the Spear of Longinus that so fascinated Hitler.

An occult obsession

The man who revealed Hitler’s obsession with the Spear of Longinus was an Austrian scholar, Dr. Walter Stein.  He struck up a friendship with Hitler prior to 1914 and came to know the man well.

According to Stein, Hitler’s belief in the supernatural powers of the spear led him into the darker realms of magic and the occult.  he saw himself as a reincarnation of Landulf II of Capua, a terrifying ninth-century Sicilian tyrant who was also supposed to have obtained possession of the spear.  Stein believed that Hitler’s rise to power was aided by black magic and the Spear of Longinus.

When Hitler annexed Austria into the Third Reich in 1938, one of the first things he did was to revisit the Hofburg Museum, to claim his ‘Spear of Destiny.’  He arranged for it to be taken by special train, under armed guard, to Nuremberg.  There it was placed in a church that, on his instruction, was turned into a Nazi shrine.

When the Allies bombed the city, Hitler ordered the spear hidden in a special-purpose vault deep within the foundations of Nuremberg Castle.

Finally, on April 30, 1945, U.S. troops, who had fought their way into Nuremberg in the face of fierce resistance, entered the vault and came upon the spear.  Hitler, by then isolated in his bunker in Berlin, did not know this had happened.  But only hours later, he shot himself.

Today, the spear is back in the Hofburg Museum, and ancient relic with a notorious past.” 

From FACTS AND FALLACIES by Reader’s Digest, pp.304 & 305; published in 1988.

If there is a message we can learn from this and that is the worship of things will lead to death.  The worship of Jesus Christ alone, the One and only One who gave His life to save us, is the only true worship.

It is like the lust of the flesh and the lures of power to lead to destruction.  If you want true, pure power and authority it is only in Jesus Christ.

Pray Wisely

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

Matthew 6:1-33 continues…

“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:5-15

The second character we should have is concerning prayer. We ought always to PRAY WISELY. Jesus knew the heart of every one. He therefore, probably knew that the only time the hypocrites, He spoke of, prayed was when they were in public, and to call attention to their “Great wisdom and lofty words of speech”. I would imagine most of the people saw it too. We need to spend most praying in private. Each and every Christian should have a time of day when they meet with God, in His Word, in prayer seeking His counsel, His wisdom, and guidance for the day ahead.

Before praying in public you should have much time praying in private. Our Lord prayed privately (Mark 1:35). Elisha the prophet prayed privately (2 Kings 4:32-33). Daniel the prophet was also a man of prayer who spent time in prayer privately. There are some who will not pray in public and will say that the Bible tells them we are not to pray publicly. If that is how they really believe, and not just an act of self-righteousness, then, they better stick to it. There is nothing wrong with public prayer. It is public prayer that has had no private prayers backing it up from this individual’s heart and life.

We ought to pray genuinely and sincerely (vv. 7-8). God will not answer prayers which are not sincere, and yet He might not give you your answer, but if it is from a sincere and devoted heart He will answer. The “Vain repititions” are those using formed, liturgical, always repeating the same things over and over, as though the repeating of them has some magical formula to them. Jesus assures us that the Father knows our needs even before we asks them.

We ought to pray according to God’s will (vv. 9-13). Warren Wiersbe has stated, “Prayer prepares us for the proper use of the answer”. BE COMMENTARY p. 26. Jesus teaches His followers how we ought to pray. Here is something most marvelous and wonderful in all of scripture. The Lord teaching us how we ought to pray. These words are often referred to as THE LORD’S PRAYER, however, it seems to be more proper to entitle it THE MODEL PRAYER, because it is quite clear that He is teaching, and not praying. To see the Lord’s Prayer read John 17. There Jesus is praying. It is most marvelous too.

Here is how Jesus taught us to pray: 1)Praise and glorify the Father; 2) Ask for the things of His heart (you must know His heart in order to ask these things); 3) Ask for your daily needs, and I take this to mean shelter, food, clothing, health, peace, wisdom, grace, mercy; 4) Ask for forgiveness of sin debts that you owe, that would be against your fellow man and God; 5) Ask for the power of the Word of God to work in your life to keep you from falling, and keep you from the evil one; and finally, but not least, once again ascribe praise, honor and glory to God your Father and your Savior.

When we pray we ought to pray with forgiveness toward those who have wronged and even those we feel have wronged us. They should not be a hindrance to our prayer, but forgiven (vv. 14-15). Having experienced God’s forgiveness equips us, and gives us the ready mind to forgive. The lack of forgiveness shows a definite lacking of fellowship with God. That cannot be restored until all is forgiven. If God forgives you all your wickedness, depravity, and hatred, then, surely you can forgive any wrong done you.

Only because of Grace.

Invitation To Life

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Genesis 7:1-24 continues…

When we search through all of Scripture there are many invitations which God extends. Most of them use the word “Come” including verse one here in our text. The LORD says to Isaiah, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters…” Isaiah 55:1. Jesus says to Peter, Andrew, and James and John, “Come ye after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men” Mark 1;17 (KJV).

There is an ivitation in the Beginning book of God, and there is a final one in the final book of God, “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come’. And let him that heareth say, ‘Come’. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” Revelation 22:17 (KJV).

“And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.” Genesis 7:1 (KJV).

Methuselah, God’s last chance before judgment is come, is now dead. He could have died the day this invitation is given to Noah. For 969 years God has been merciful. The darkness of evil has increased upon the earth. For the last 120 years it has progressed at “breakneck” speed. For 100 of those years Noah has been preaching, warning people of God’s coming judgment and preparing the ark for himself and his family.

The ark which Noah built by God’s command is where God’s presence dwelt. The invitation itself gives us clear evidence that God is in the ark. “Come” is the word God uses. It is a call to move in the direction of the One who is speaking; even to move to the exact location of the speaker; who in this case is GOD. Where is God when He speaks the word, “Come”? He is in the ark. The invitation is “Come…into the ark”. He did not say, “Go into the ark”, but “Come” implying very strongly that He Himself was already inside.

We are told that, “Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” Noah had done nothing to deserve this grace. God did not look down on Noah and say, “This man has a good heart”, or “This man has great potential for My glory”; God simply saw him the same way He did all the others and chose to show him grace. He showed him grace, and called him “Righteous”. Before He called Noah “Righteous” the LORD would have Himself paid his sin debt. That is God’s privilege. That is God’s mercy. That is God’s grace. He will have compassion on whom He will have compassion.

Design: By GOD

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Genesis 6:1-22 conclusion.

“Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee. And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive. And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them. Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.” Genesis 6:14-22 (KJV).

Having chosen Noah by His grace, God gives him command to build an ark. This ‘ark’ is a tool of safety, deliverance, and salvation. It is also a type of our Lord Jesus Christ. The ark is a place of refuge from God’s judgment, because He has already received and paid the price for judgment for us.

The ark is to have rooms within which are probably designated for certain animals and items which will be on the ark. This could refer in type to John 14:1-3 indicating Jesus preparing “A place” for all who will believe and receive Him. There is room being prepared for all.

There is a wonderful picture of atonement deliberately given us by God in the word “Pitch”. “Pitch it within and without with pitch”. Pitch is used, which is a tar like substance to seal the wood to protect the ark from seepage and leaking. It is amazing that this word , in Hebrew, is the same word “Atonement” in Leviticus 17:11. The atonement is only beneficial for those who would enter and remain in the ark. Once inside, at God’s invitation there was/is no way out. The inhabitants were protected from the cataclysmic destruction which came upon man. Sealed within by the Atoning work of God, and His Spirit.

The dimensions of the ark are quite impressive. To believe a work of this magnitude took place should do away with any thoughts of the preflood ignorance of architectural designing; of course, God gave Noah the designs, but Noah built it.

If we measured this ark using the smallest measurment for the cubit which is around 18 inches, and usually measured from the elbow of a man to the tip of his fingers; the ark would be equal in length to one an one half football fields [450 feet], and its greatest measurement 600 feet long; Its breadth would be 75 feet or 100 feet wide; and its height would be 45 feet to 60 feet.

There are some unique features God patterns in the ark. There is a window apparently one cubit square and evidently placed in the ceiling/roof area. A window toward heaven for times of distress and fear that the man and his family might look to God for help and strength. There is a door placed in the side, that the provisions for the well being of the man, and that the man himself might go in and be safe from judgment. There were three stories inside the ark. Probably one story, and most likely the top floor, was for the man and his family; one story would be for the storage of food provisions; and the other for the animals. We could learn from this that the things of the world are less important than a relationship and fellowship with God. It is for man whom God provided a window to Heaven.

In verses 17 and 18 it is again declared what God is about to bring upon the earth. God makes covenant with Noah. Before the ark is ever completed Noah is assured of deliveance from the great flood. Before our salvation is completed by the reappearing of Jesus Christ we are assured of deliverance.

God always gives every evidence of providing for the needs of His people. Even the things which are for beauty. Animals of every kind provide not only a balance in the created order of things, but also a beauty, pleasure and even the sense of man’s dominion upon the earth. God could have just saved the man, but He knew the benefit of the animals to us. After all, He created it to be so.

Food was to be brought into the ark. This was for the provision of man and beast. There was no provision made for any on board to eat flesh. All would eat grains, fruits, vegetables, and provender. Only God could change the nature of all these animals, back to their prefall state, from which many had become flesh eaters since, but now they will eat “Straw”. There is only a supernatural explanation for this.

Only God in His grae could provide a man to continue the human race. Look at the man. He was brought out of the world of wickedness. he too was a sinner. He also was condemned, but God in His mercy and grace chooses one man to continue humanity. What did Noah have to offer God? Nothing! What did God do for Noah? Everything. Grace, mercy, faith, and because of faith is it said in verse 22, “According to all that God commanded him, so did he.” Would to God that could be said of me. Not for salvation, but because of salvation.

Give With Caution

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Matthew 6:1-34 continuing…

Chapter six of the Sermon On The Mount deals with our true worship toward God. It involves our character. All practices of worship are to be focused upon the Heavenly Father and God of all creation.

Anything, short of God, which we seek for fulfillment, peace, joy, and/or justification, is idolatry and covetousness.

“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:1-4 (KJV).

This may come across as sounding somewhat out of the norm, but we ought to GIVE WITH CAUTION. On one occasion as Jesus teaching in the temple and his disciples with him we are told,

“And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” Mark 12:42-44 (KJV).

Now, the reason Jesus tells us to “Take heed” to our giving and charitable deeds is because the Pharisees, and the wealthy made special note of your “Much giving”, thus being awarded the praise of man. God finds no pleasure in our boastful acts.

It is far better to give and no one know the amount of giving or even that you give, and glorify God, because He will know and He will be the one to bless you; than it is to give with pride, openly that all may see how much you give, and receive all the accolades of men, and miss the blessing of God. For the religious hypocrite giving is a means of gaining favor with God and their fellow man. In fact God frowns on the motive of self-exaltation (Acts 5:1-11). The praise and rewards of man hinders the blessing of God.

Give without calling attention to your act –

“If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” James 1:26-27

When we give with the sole purpose of giving back to God, recognizing His blessings to us, without calling attention to ourselves we grow spiritually; God is glorified, and others are helped by the generosity which came from our hearts. I would much rather have a blessing from the Lord, as to have a temporal recognition from God. Usually those who lavish recognition because of their giving, or works are doing what they are doing with the wrong heart and motive

The Spirit of Jesus Christ in Noah

/ Tim A. / 3 Comments

Genesis 6:1-22 continuing…

“These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.” Genesis 6:9-13 (KJV).

Noah is only the second man which the Bible tells us “Walked with God”. Of course, it is implied that Jesus “Walked with God”, because it tells us of Him that He did all things to please His Father.

It is most likely that Noah only began his walk with God after he realized he was a recipient of His grace. That is how most of us have done it. Noah was probably in the like state of all of mankind until our gracious Father spoke to his heart, and he believed God, and God counted it to him for righteousness. I do not believe I am stretching anything by saying this. It is a doctrine taught throughout all of Scripture. “He believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness”, and that is even in the New Testament.

Noah’s justness was only due to the grace of God. Justification is done by a decree from God Himself, and is not based on any merit of the recipient. The price has been paid to atone for the sins of the individual receiving the gift of justification. In this case, as in all cases of the giving and receiving of justification God paid the price. God called Noah out of wickedness, and bondage of this world to be a preacher of righteousness and to build the ark for the salvation of mankind.

The three sons of Noah; Shem, Ham and Japheth are thus destined to be the progenitors of all the human race, and races of people and nations.

Verses eleven and twelve tell us of the corruption of the earth, “For all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth”. There was no righteousness on the earth except for that of Noah, and that had been given him by the Lord. Noah, then, had a message to proclaim those 100 years he was building on the ark. The building of the ark was a message of itself – a message of warning, of judgment on the way.

“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith” Heb.11:7.

” For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.” 1 Peter 3:18-20 (KJV).

The Spirit of Christ in Noah was present at the preaching of Noah. The message of the ark was a message of condemnation if mankind did not repent, and they did not thus the world of men was destroyed by water. We are warned that the next judgment of the world will be a judgment of fire,

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:9-10

The ark of safety is only in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross, His burial and His resurrection. Believe Him trust Him and you will miss the fire.

Becoming Like the Father

/ T. A. Blankenship / Leave a comment

Matthew 5:21-48 conclusion…

“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48 (KJV).

Perfection. That is quite the challenge. It is a challenge which I cannot meet. It is a challenge which only God in His grace can give. Let me give you the MIRRIAM/WEBSTER Dictionary definition of the word “Perfect” – “Being without fault or defect 2 :exact, precise 3 :complete…” and there is more. Like I said, “I fall far short of that. Now, if the word means “Complete” in this context, then, that might be a possibility considering that God is the One who completes us.

Here is Strong’s on the word “Perfect” –

“G5046

τέλειος

teleios

tel’-i-os

From G5056; complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with G3588) completeness: – of full age, man, perfect.” From E-sword.

Considering that the Greek means “Complete” what would this mean? Strongs has in the above “…Mental and moral character”. If we are to be perfect/complete in God that surely must have to do with the character of the individual which causes her/him to fall on their face before their Lord and Savior when sin has been committed, and seek forgiveness immediately following the realization of the sin. It has absolutely nothing to do with “Sinless perfection”. In truth; the closer we get to the One who is holy, the more clearly we see ourselves as being unholy. The man or woman who believes they have reached a state of sinlessness or “Sinless perfection” is farther away from God than they have ever been.

The Word tells us, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you”. When we sin we should seek God’s forgiveness as quickly as possible. “Keep your accounts short”, and that would be especially so with our Lord. That would be the life of “Perfection” or being complete. Of course, it should be the goal of the child to become like the Father; and He is perfect in every way.

We are only complete when we are in the Father through Jesus Christ His Son and walking in the Spirit, walking by faith, walking with God. I just wanted to stress the point. Walk with the Lord.

The Grief of God

/ Tim A. / 2 Comments

Genesis 6:1-22 continued…

“And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD” Genesis 6:6-8 (KJV).

There are some professing Christians who have began holding to a false doctrine called “Open Theism”. It is the belief that God does not know the future any better than you or I do, or maybe just a little better, but that He certainly has no control of it. The world would really be in shambles if that were true.

God was grieved by the sin of mankind. It was sorrow, not surprise that caused Him grief. He had a plan in place, and according to Scripture [all of Scripture combined] He was going to save mankind, and bring their [our] salvation to completeness.

From the time of Adam’s fall to our own day God is holy and cannot allow sin to continue. Sin must be put away. The only way to put away sin is judgment and/or death of the wicked. The LORD has no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 18:23, 32), rather He seeks that they turn from their wickedness. However, when He gives atonement for sin and it is rejected there is no more sacrifice for sin, except the death of the wicked, and their eternal torment.

Having mercifully spared; God now prepares to judge. In that God repented only means that He sorrowed because of sin, and His hatred for evil. We know that God is Omniscient, ie., All-Knowing.

Wickedness covers the earth. Even with the restraining of God’s Spirit mankind gets progressively more wicked. When the restraint of the Spirit is removed wickedness progresses at great speed. When we see wickedness progressing very quickly we must acknowledge the fact, that God’s judgment is not far away. It is time to repent, turn to God and be saved.

If you will notice the judgment in Genesis six includes the destruction of all who are living – with the exception of eight people and animals in a certain lot.

God gives one family who is spared from His wrath. It is said that this man “Found grace in the eyes of the LORD”. This one He chose out of chaos, out of a cesspool of sin and iniquity, out of all the wickedness of man. There was obviously nothing great about Noah. He was only chosen by God’s grace. God, the LORD, did not have to choose anyone, but for His promise of a Redeemer.

“Grace” means “Unmerited’ or ‘undeserved favor”. When God chose Noah by grace, Noah “believed God” (Hebrews 11:7) and built the ark and “walked with God” (v. 9). It is important for us to remember that the only ones who are saved are the ones whom God chooses. We have no idea whom He will choose so we must be faithful (those of us who are chosen) to proclaim the Word of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ to all with whom we are brought in contact.

Noah, by the grace of God, was chosen to preserve the human race and, God through Noah would bring a Savior into the world that we might be saved. God’s righteousness, holiness, and grace is really something amazing. That He could hate sin, and be the atonement for sin at the same time boggles our minds. PRAISE THE LORD!!!

Days of Evil Imagination

/ Tim A. / 1 Comment

Genesis 6:1-22 continued…

” There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:4-5 (KJV).

Around the time the sons of Seth began to marry the daughters of Cain – the godly joining with the godless – there were “Giants in the earth”. It is clear that the “Giants” were here previous to the “Sons of God came unto the daughters of men”. These certainly may have been of great physical stature, but the gist of this seems to be their opposition to that which is holy. The MacArthur Study Bible note for verse four states

“giants. The word nephilim is from a root meaning ‘to fall,’ indicating that they were strong men who ‘fell’ on others in the sense of overpowering them (the only other use of this term is in Num. 13:53). They were already in the earth when the ‘mighty men’ and ‘men of renown’ were born. The fallen ones are not the offspring from the union of 6:1,2.”

These “Giants” are not the children of the mixed marriages. Note, “and also after that…” After the giants are “in the earth”. Who are the giants? There is no certain way to know. Greek mythology might give us an answer. The stories of Zeus, Hara, etc., must have began around this time. Stories which would have been started by the ungodly and inspired by the devil to lead people astray. There was such evil in the earth that according to verse three God was withholding the restraint of His Spirit. It is interesting to note, that, God does not reveal to us what kinds of wickedness was in the earth. He will not oblige the enemy by such things. He only says, “The wickedness of man was great..”, and “great” not meaning a wonderful thing, but rather a putrid stinch, and “Every imagination of the thoughts of his heart only evil continually.” Jesus said, “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” Matthew 24:37-38 (KJV). In the days before He comes Jesus says it will be like the days just before the flood.

Here are at least a couple of reasons I do not see the “Sons of God” as being fallen angels marrying the daughters of men: 1) Previous to this chapter we are given two genealogies, the first of which is that of Cains, and the second that of Seth; one is ungodly the other godly – the Holy Spirit’s way of inspiration to show us that their are two different people groups, not by race, but morally. 2) Angels, the good ones or the fallen ones cannot marry according to Jesus, “in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven” Matthew 22:30 and Mark 12:25 (KJV); with the implication being Angels do not marry. When we look at verse five it begs me to ask, “Do we really need the help of wicked angels to be made more wicked?” Mankind left to himself would eventually destroy himself and the universe with it.

We can look around us today. If we believe these to be the “Last days”, then, we can see many similarities between the time before the flood and now. How sad it is to know that wicked men reject God, His Word, and want only to live their lives their own way; without God and, because of their rejection be eternally condemned to the fires of Hell. Contrary to what the wicked may think God is not the villian; He is our only salvation.

The Ignored Spirit of God

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Genesis 6:1-22 continued…

“And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.” Genesis 6:3 (KJV).

The LORD looking down upon the human race of that day was not pleased with what He saw. It did not surprise Him. He was not shocked by it. He has “foreknowledge”, and so this all really was fitting well with His plan.

The word “Strive” means to contend; to minister judgment; to judge; to rule, etc.. The ministry and work of God’s Spirit is to not only draw people to God, but also to restrain evil.

If the Holy Spirit ceases to work with man the end is judgment. When the Spirit withdraws from an individual or a group they are left to themselves to work havoc and ruin. There are many who think that man is basically good; that is a grave and evil error; a tragic mistake that has eternal consequences. If it were not for God’s Spirit the “Total depravity” of man would be so clearly seen, by any who are holy, our society today would look like utopia. Mankind is ‘totally depraved’. Without God we would be completely without hope. The only reason man is not as evil as he could be is because of the Holy Spirit’s restraining power –

“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way” 2 Thessalonians 2:7 (KJV).

There are many who do not even realize the Spirit of God is working today. I am sure that many of them did not realize during this day we are viewing in Scripture. The time we perceive the withdrawing of the Spirit it could be too late for renewal – not on God’s part but man’s.  At the time of Noah we see God allowing/giving 120 years for people to repent, and return to the worship and fellowship of God. One hundred twenty years to repent.

When God’s Spirit withdraws mankind becomes more and more wicked, and gets further and further away from God. Man begins to deny God, deny His existence, and begins to believe man can solve his own problems without God. Those who reach this point will say something along the line, “We don’t need God. What has he ever done for us?” They will find a day when they will be crying against Him, and crying for the rocks, the mountains to fall on them, to hide them from the Son of God. That is what happens after the Spirit has striven with man and they pay Him no mind or heart.

Problem With Mixed Marriages

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Genesis 6:1-22 continuing…

In chapter four we had the story of the genealogy of Cain, and that was following his murdering his brother Abel. Cain’s record is a record of the ungodly. “Cain went out from the presence of the LORD…” (4:16). The New Testament speaks of Cain as being one who hated God; Jude 11 mentions “the way of Cain” that would be not to seek the Lord, and attempt his own way of worship. First John chapter three and verse twelve tells us, “Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.”

In chapter five we have the story of the genealogy of Seth, “The Appointed”, and within it the story of redemption and the glory of God. Its story runs from Seth through Noah, and includes his three sons; Shem, Ham and Japheth.

It is my conclusion that since we have the genealogies of Cain and Seth here – back to back so to speak – that chapter six is referring to the Cainites as producing the “Daughters of men”, and the “Sons of God” are reference to the lineage of Seth. That does not give us a real bright picture of Seth’s sons, but that is how I will be presenting this.

“And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.” Genesis 6:1-2 (KJV).

In looking at this we have to take it back to even before the lineage of Cain is given. It was then that people were beginning to populate the earth. We must remember that Adam and Eve had other children other than what is written in the pages in the early chapters of Genesis. With Cain and Seth we are given the truth of God that there are generally two types of people on the earth. Those who love God, because they have themselves received God’s love for them; and then, there are those like Cain who had no heart for God. This is the story that must be seen if we are to believe that men/women are accounted for their actions.

The women or “daughters of men” must have been very alluring, attractive, and seductive. Sometimes even the best of men will fall for something of beauty. These daughters of men, being from the lineage of Cain would, most likely, had no problem deceiving, luring, and lying to the sons of God, in order to achieve what they desired, thus luring many of them away from God. Those men who are named in the godly line of Seth were probably the ones who maintained somewhat of a fellowship with God, the LORD. It this is all there were, then, wickedness would surely have had a strangle hold on their society.

There are some who believe that the “sons of God” are fallen angels, as those mentioned in Jude 6, “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day”, and also they refer to Job 1:6 and 2:1 where it says, “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.”, and 2:1 stating, “Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.” My question concerning this idea is, What would an angel, even a fallen angel, see in the “daughters of men”? There is no problem with seeing these “sons of God” as being from the lineage of Seth. As a matter of fact it solves a whole passel of problems. I am not going to deal with the matter of the angels here, because I do not see them as being involved in this text.

You could call the joining of the godly line with the ungodly line a case of “Mixed Marriages”. That is forbidden by God in the Scriptures today, though, there would have been no law concerning the matter in the early parts of the Beginning. Surely some sense of decency and thoughts of right and wrong would have been there, but maybe not. God now definitely forbids the Christian from marrying a non Christian. There are far too many “Mixed Marriages” in our society and it could be a death knell to the family. We are told in the New Testament,

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 (KJV).

Now there are many people who have heard this taught and preached again and again. Young ladies who know better, professing to be Christian; marry a man who is the dream of her life, but he is not a Christian, and she finds out later that life with this man is a nightmare, they cannot agree on much, if anything, and he gets more and more rebellious toward the things of God as life goes along. In some rare cases the man comes to faith in Christ, and things can get better. God does not approve of Mixed Marriages concerning faith.

Speak the Truth

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Matthew 5:21-48 continued…

“Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil” Matthew 5:33-37 (KJV).

As we look at these words of Jesus it seems like everything concerning morality and righteousness is essential, yet Jesus had great grace and mercy toward all. Jesus intended that when we spoke a word; in private, before a group of people, or in a courtroom that we speak with the highest degree of integrity, honesty and valor which is possible. It starts with keeping our word; our oaths; with the LORD. It grieves His heart when we do not do so. It is better not to give your word at all than to give it, and then you swallow and devour everything which you said.

Is it wrong to “Swear on a Bible in a court room”? I personally do not believe it is. You are giving your word that you are going to tell the truth. If you won’t tell the truth without using the Bible you probably won’t using it. The whole issue of this matter has to do with a man’s or woman’s honesty, integrity, and character. If you are in the habit of lying then, you will probably lie no matter what.

Even if it hurts be honest. Tell the truth concerning things you testify of. Jesus says, “Let your communication be, ‘Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

A Writing of Divorce

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Matthew 5:21-48 continuing…

“It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.” Matthew 5:31-32 (KJV).

We live in a day when divorce is running rampant. The Christian family is as infected as is the people outside the Christian faith. The percentage runs about 50 percent. Half of all marriages end in divorce according to statistics. For me to say that Christians are getting divorces as much as those who are not Christians really grieves my heart.

I cannot believe that anyone who has been divorced entered the marriage thinking, “I am going to get married for a few years, and then, get a divorce”. I may be wrong, but I cannot imagine that. I do believe there are some who give their vows to one another thinking, “If this does not work out we can always get a divorce”. I think that is why many get a divorce. There is no bonding. No commitment to the relationship.

It seems that Jesus is referring to a passage of scripture in Deuteronomy 24:1-4 having to do with the process of divorce. The religious leaders of the day had been teaching that a man could divorce his wife for burning the toast. The divorce laws today just as well not exist. They are so lenient that there is no reason needed to get one. NO FAULT divorce.

It might help us to understand this law better to realize that women in the time of Moses had no rights in marriage. The woman was at the mercy of her husband, and in almost every situation if not every situation, she had to marry whom her parents – her father – decided. The only legitimate divorce was if there was proof that she was not a virgin when she and her husband were married. When a husband brought such charges, and if they were false, the parents had the wedding night bedding, and could produce evidence of her virginity. If they had no proof of her virginity, then he could give her a writing of divorce, and she could go and be another man’s wife (See Deuteronomy 22:13-21). Women had no legitimate means of support, except a husband. In many situations their only other alternative was harlotry/prostitution. For a man to give a writing of divorce for another reason other than that mentioned caused her to commit adultery by marrying another man, and the man committed adultery as well. If a man became jealous suspecting his wife of unfaithfulness they had a means of caring for this also (See Numbers 5:11-31).

Jesus’s words on divorce are quite strong. It causes many of us to question what He meant. It is clear. The only reason for a man to divorce his wife was for “the cause of fornication”, ie., sexual sin, sexual impurity. If a man divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and she marries another she commits adultery, and the man who marries her commits adultery. This can also be reversed for the woman and the man concerning our day. In Jesus’s day the woman was not allowed to seek a divorce. Women today can seek a divorce, so that is why I say the thing can be reversed with the woman seeking a divorce.

Divorce, as it is practiced in our society of 2007, does not make sense. It is almost always a losing proposition. The man loses, the woman loses, and if there are children they are the biggest losers, but not of their own doing.

Just a Thought

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Matthew 5:21-48 continued…

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” Matthew 5:27-30 (KJV).

Wouldn’t it be really great to have “Thought Police”. Of course, it would have to be someone who could read your mind and thoughts. They would also need to know the intent of your heart in order to make a righteous judgment. Now, Jesus is saying what the law has told us, “Thou shalt not commit adultery”. Is that not clear enough, then, He says, “But I say unto you…” Who is this? It is Jesus. You could be right in even saying, “He knows your every thought and the intent of your heart”. This One says, “…That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” On the outward appearance there are a lot of men who would be okay with just the law, since many have not committed physical adultery against their wives. Looking on the thoughts and hearts in the matter guilt would cover the world like a flood. Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!

This indictment against us is strong. I am guilty of having looked at some women with lust. May God give me a purer thought life, and a better heart for Him, and forgiveness for my sin.

Is it sinful for a man to look at a woman, and see her beauty, and form? Only if that leads to lust. Lust is the desire; lingering, longing desire, that is felt as a thirsty tongue for water in a dry and barren land. There is nothing wrong with admiring the beauty God has created. It becomes lust if you feel you must have it for yourself.

Is Jesus serious about plucking out the eye that offends, cutting off the hand that offends? He is showing how seriously He takes sin. How seriously did Jesus take sin? So serious He voluntarily went to the cross, laid down His life, and died. The plucking out of the eye and the cutting off of the hand, and casting it from us; shows us how seriously we should take sin. If our eye looks upon a woman with lust, it will not really do us any good to pluck out the eye; there will still be lust in the heart. It is a heart issue, not an eye issue. Change of heart will lead to a change of view. Some women may be reading this and think that this does not apply to them. Oh yes it does. Women can have a problem with lust as well.

Enoch, “The Experienced One”

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Genesis 5:1-32 continuing…

“And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” Genesis 5:21-24 (KJV).

The name ‘Enoch’ is a wonderful name. It is not only an easy name to pronounce, but it also has a great meaning. He is one of two men the Bible mentions as having “Walked with God”. That would be quite the experience. You know what? That is the meaning of the name, ‘Enoch’ – “The Experienced one”.

Adam is now 622 years of age at Enoch’s birth; Seth is 492; Enos 387; Cainan 297; Mahalaleel 227. My these men are old.

There is much more said of Enoch; in this genealogy; than any other until we get to Noah. Enoch was one who had a very personal experience with God. Other than Noah, he is the only one of whom it is said, “…Walked with God”. “And Enoch walked with God…”, and it says of Noah, “and Noah walked with God (6:9). If God were to place that on my tombstone that would be a great honor.

Let’s look at the time when “Enoch walked with God”. Enoch was 65 years of age when Methuselah was born. It is written that, “Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years…” The name of his son was a prophecy which inspired Enoch to “Walk with God”.

Something very special happened to Enoch. Of the others in this Adamic lineage, Enoch is the only one of whom it is not said, “and he died”, but it is said of Enoch, which cannot be said of any other except those who will go in the rapture, “…he was not; for God took Him”. The writer of Hebrews states it this way, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” Hebrews 11:5 (KJV). Clearly and simply the Word of God tells us that Enoch did not die. He “Experienced” Rapture, a snatching away, a parousia. Where did he go? With God. This is the destiny of all who will walk with God. Amos the prophet asked the question, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Amos 3:3. There is no walking with God if you are not in agreement with Him.

If we are to walk with God we must agree with Him that His Son Jesus is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life”, and He is the one who said, “no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6). Enoch means “Experienced”, and what a wonderful life he experienced. We can too.

Indifference Toward Anger

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Matthew 5:21-48 continuing…

The word “Apathy” is defined as, “Lack of emotion 2. lack of interest: indifference.” MIRRIAM/WEBSTER DICTIONARY. We become indifferent when we start accepting only outward appearance as what is acceptable to the holiness of God. Men, the male gender, if we are Christian men others will be watching the way we treat our wives, and the way we LOOK at other women. Whether we like it or not sometimes what is truly in the heart and mind comes out for all to see.

The actual deed is no less, or no more condemning than a harbored thought. The act of the deed begins with the thought. “Sow a thought, you reap a deed. Sow a deed, you reap a habit. Sow a habit, you reap a character. Sow a character, you reap a destiny.” UNKNOWN. When we become spiritually apathetic we will fall to our uncontrolled thoughts.

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.” Matthew 5:21-26 (KJV).

The Law says, “Thou shalt not kill”, and there is no question about that. That is talking of premeditated murder – planning the killing sometimes far in advance of the time of the actual killing. Who ever murdered another was to be put to death. The family members of the murdered victim were the one’s responsible for putting them to death. It seems to be a needed item today, yes even in our “Civilized culture”. Maybe it would become a little more civilized.

Jesus deals with “Anger” in verse 22. The “Anger” which Jesus refers to is an emotional anger which continues adding fuel, and it continues growing hotter and hotter until it finally explodes in vengeance, that is basically revenge. Getting even. Settling the score. Jesus does not address the issue here, but let me say that there is a place for anger. I remember hearing someone say, “You can pretty well judge a person’s character by what makes them angry”. Paul wrote, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath” Ephesians 4:26 (KJV). So there is a place for the right anger. Be angry when children are molested. Be angry when a man beats his wife. Be angry when a drunken driver kills a car load of teenagers. Be angry when you get loaded down with sin. Be angry when you see a brother or sister in Christ loaded down with sin. Be angry and act on it rightly. Put it to rest by the end of the day.

The anger for which Jesus addresses is the anger which leads to the act of murder. Murder is already in the individual’s heart. He is guilty of murder, even though the deed has not been done. In his/her heart it is as good as done. Someone might say, “Well! If I am guilty of murder due to the thought, then, I just as well go ahead and kill the dude.” Not so. With the thought you are destroying yourself, and condemning yourself. With the deed you destroy yourself, and the other individual, thus guilty of the thought and the deed.

If you are in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ there is no place to harbor this sort of anger. This anger leads to hatred which leads to murder. Hear what John the apostle says, “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” 1 John 3:15 (KJV). If there is anger or hatred toward any individual in your life put that matter to rest today. Take it to the Lord, and receive peace. He forgave you for your treacherous act of sin. Surely you can forgive the one who has offended you. If not you have not been forgiven.