“Woe unto thee, Chorazin! Woe unto thee, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.” ~Jesus (Matthew 11:20-24)
Tuesday
Walk While You Have the Light
“Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.” ~Jesus (John 12:34-36)
Following Jesus
“Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave commandment to depart unto the other side. And a certain scribe came, and said unto Him, ‘Master, I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest.’ And Jesus saith unto him, ‘The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head.’ And another of His disciples said unto Him, ‘Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said unto him, ‘Follow Me; and let the dead bury their dead.’” (Matthew 8:18-22)
Warning of Eternal Damnation
“And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, ‘He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth He out devils.’ And He called them unto Him, and said unto them in parables, ‘How can Satan cast out Satan? And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house. Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: but he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:’ because they said, ‘He hath an unclean spirit.'” Mark 3:22-30
Hear His Voice; Receive Eternal Life
“I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of My sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” ~Jesus (John 10:22-30)
The Disciple of Jesus
“…If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill Me, because My word hath no place in you.” ~Jesus (John 8:31-37)
The World Hates the Holy
“My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. The world cannot hate you; but Me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for My time is not yet full come.” ~Jesus (John 7:6-8)
The Work of GOD
“This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.” ~Jesus (John 6:29)
Heaven’s News – The Way of the Kingdom
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” ~Jesus (Matthew 7:12-14)
Heaven’s News – Praying in the Kingdom
“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.” ~Jesus (Matthew 6:5-8)
Through the Bible in a Year – e100613
Peace… But No Peace
Jeremiah 6:10-19
purpose: To reveal what is happening when there is proposed peace, but evil is good, and good is evil; when the people of God despise the word of God, and there is no shame; and to show what will happen if there is no repentance.
1. THE WORD OF GOD BECOMES OFFENSIVE (v. 10).
2. TROUBLE IN THE HOMELAND, ABROAD, AT HOME AND AMONG SPIRITUAL LEADERS (vv. 11-13).
3. A FALSE MESSAGE IS PROCLAIMED FOR PEACE (v. 14).
4. THERE IS NO SHAME TOWARD WHAT GOD CALLS ABOMINATION (v. 15a).
5. THERE WILL BE A VISITATION FROM THE LORD (v. 15b).
6. WHAT GOD EXPECTS OF HIS PEOPLE DURING THIS TIME (v. 16a).
- A. Get into God’s ways He provides; first repent.
- B. Ask direction in the old time ways of living by faith.
- C. You will find rest and peace for your souls.
7. THE PEOPLE TAKE A CHOICE (vv. 16b-19).
- A. Evil comes on the people.
- B. There will be fruit from their thoughts.
1. Today, if you can think it (without any thought of consequences); do it.
2. Fruits of thoughts can be tragic indeed; not only for the “thinker”, but the victims of the thoughts.
-Tim A. Blankenship
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Fear… Coming Up Short
Hebrews 4:1-3
1. PUT TO FLIGHT THOSE THINGS THAT HINDER YOUR FAITH AND FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT (v. 1).
2. THE PREACHED WORD WILL HAVE A POWERFUL AFFECT ON THOSE WHO WILL HEAR AND HEED IT (v. 2).
3. THERE IS REST, PEACE, FOR THOSE WHO BEAR THE FRUIT OF FAITH (v. 3).
-Tim A. Blankenship
Righteousness in the Kingdom
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, ‘Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.’ Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, ‘That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.'” ~Jesus (Matthew 5:17-20)
Through the Bible in a Year – e092913
The Burdens of Vain Religion
Isaiah 46:1-13
1. IDOLS ARE CARRIED BY THEIR WORSHIPPERS, AND THEIR BEASTS (vv. 1-2).
2. THOSE WHO WORSHIP GOD ARE CARRIED BY HIM(vv. 3-4).
3. THERE IS NO EQUAL WITH JEHOVAH [YHWH] (vv. 5-11).
4. YaHWeH PROVIDES HIS OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS (vv. 12-13).
-Tim A. Blankenship
Through the Bible in a Year – 092913
Justified… Hope of Eternal Life
Titus 3:1-7
1. THE JUSTIFIED ARE SUBJECTS OF THOSE IN LEADERSHIP (vv. 1-2).
2. JUSTIFICATION IS BY MERCY AND GRACE FROM GOD; NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (vv. 3-5).
3. BEING JUSTIFIED, BY GOD’S PRONOUNCEMENT, WE HAVE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE (vv. 6-7)
-Tim A. Blankenship
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“It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” ~ Jesus (Matthew 4:4 KJV)
Like The Animals???
It is so very sad to look around at society and see things going to the dogs. A few years ago an NFL star was sentenced to prison time for killing dogs. Even though, he was unjustly and illegally fighting them is a sign of worse things to come.
We are human beings created in the image of God. We have been given, by God, the rule and dominion of this earth. The man I speak of may have deserved a fine, maybe some loss of time from playing on the team he was on, and maybe even a fine from the NFL for the bad name against them.
It is so unhuman to give greater power and authority; and better treatment to the animal kingdom than to the human being. It is when we begin acting like animals that we begin treating humanity more like animals.
Hear the word of the Lord spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:
“How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? See thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways; a wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? All they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her. Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, ‘There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.'” Jeremiah 2:23-25 (KJV)
Many reading this will probably think, “Well how is this relative or practical for our society today?” I personally think that is an easy answer. When we have parents wanting to do things to protect their daughters from sexually immoral living by having them take a shot to protect them from a form of cancer that can be gotten only by pre-marital sex at too young of an age, then we are telling our children, “Your urges are uncontrollable, just follow your ‘heart'”. In other words your sexual drive is stronger than your mind and will. Just go with how you feel and this vaccine will protect you. People we are more than animals. We have a will. We can make moral choices. Animals do not.
This was the problem with the people in Jeremiah’s day. They were giving themselves to Baal worship and this involved all sorts of immoral conduct. Then, they would say on the Sabbath day as they pretended to worship the Lord GOD, “We have not gone after the Baals”.
I do not mean to sound brash in what I am about to write here, but there are many of our young ladies and young men who go around acting like animals in heat. No control; just doing what may seem like the natural thing to do. This is not pleasing to our Lord. Even sadder to say is that many of these doing this profess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. When you walk in the Spirit of God, you do the will of God.
What is the answer for our society today? We need to quit giving our young people the okay for sexual immorality. When birth control pills are given them, and a vaccine is provided to them to protect them from pregnancy and disease; we are in fact giving our okay to them. Let’s stop doing that. Let’s teach them the law of God’s Word. Let’s teach them by our own personal examples. The youth of America appreciate honesty, straight forward truth, and they will respect you for it. They will not respect “Hemming and Hawing around” about matters to get to the point. As the people of God we who are adult Christians need to practice what we preach and teach. We should always be seeking the Lord to lead in our lives, and to give us the mind of Christ.
There is a lot of loose living in society. We as Christians should live a tight knit life in Christ, love our spouses, and be always faithful, and worship God and God alone through His Son Jesus Christ.
-by Tim A. Blankenship
GOD is All-Knowledge
The prophet is sharing his call from God with us as we look at the rest of chapter one. Our verses today will just be verses four and five. I want to keep these articles relatively short. They are usually the ones which will be read, if most people are like me in that respect.
“Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, ‘Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Jeremiah 1:4-5 (KJV)
While Jeremiah was serving as a priest with his family it surely grieved his heart to see the wickedness in the land. Many times this is the way God moves and works in calling men to serve as pastors, preachers, teachers, and other works. He places a burden upon the heart, and you go and grow in that as you hear the Lord and see Him work you just find yourself enjoying what He has called you to do.
The Lord had this planned for the prophet from the time the world was established. One of the things that the man of God needs to know and realize about God is that He is Omniscient, and that simply means that He is AllKnowing. There is nothing that God, the Creator of all that is, does not know. Someone has asked the question, “Is there anything God can learn?” Well the answer to that, if God is AllKnowing, is NO! Because He already knows everything there is to know.
That means He is never surprised by events, “accidents”, incidents, storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, car wrecks, bombs exploding, or wars. You could put just about anything in there that you could think of.
God knew Jeremiah before he was conceived in the womb, and you could say, it was God who gave the seed that caused Jeremiah to be. There is a good thing we can see from this and that is that none of us are an accident. God made us to be.
These verses are often used by those who are pro-life, which I am, to show that there is human life in the womb of the mother, concerning the baby. It is not just a blob of tissue, a mass which has invaded the body of the woman. It is a special, ordained by God, individual for whom He has plans; whether the woman does or not. I guess her plans; the woman getting an abortion; are extinction.
The prophet is “Sanctified” which is set apart to be clean, appointed, prepared to do a task, and that task as we shall see is to proclaim the word of the LORD to God’s people of Judah, and to the nations.
He is “Ordained” by God to proclaim the message God puts in his mouth, and upon his lips. He is to speak what God tells him to speak, and not withhold one word. That is the work of the prophet of God. Speak the word of God and do it with all one’s strength, and then the strength of God.
God knows you. He knew you before you were conceived. Yield your life to Him. When you are saved through the cross of Jesus Christ you are also sanctified, set apart, for God’s glory and praise. God has called you to do His will.
W4CL – Fruit
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galations 5:22-26 (KJV)
Paul gave us examples of the works of the flesh in the verses preceding the above text. They are the evidence of ungodliness. Many of the works of the flesh have been seen in professing Christians; however they are the works of the flesh; and not of Christ.
The works of the flesh come from the heart and mind of unredeemed men and women. It can be the old left overs of one’s past life, and the Christian must put them to death. The Christian will produce the Fruit of the Spirit – the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
Notice the fruit – “Love, joy, peace” The three go together; you cannot separate peace from love or joy, nor joy from peace and love; nor love from joy and peace. The peace of God which passes all understanding (Romans 5:1-2; Philippians 4:7).
“Longsuffering” that is basically patience, enduring faith in God, forbearance with others.
“Gentleness” equals moral goodness, integrity. You are the same in your behavior when you are alone as you are when you are with people.
“Goodness” Upright in heart.
“Faith” having a conviction of the truth.
“Meekness” not too many people desire to be meek; however that is a fruit of the Spirit. Jesus said of the meek “They shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). Jesus is a good example of meekness. Knowing who He is, did not retaliate against those who hated Him; instead, He said, “Father, forgive them they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34).
“Temperance” means self-control. This begins with have a clear mind, clean heart, and life. One cannot have self-control if they have the works of the flesh. The works of the flesh are in control.
Walking in the Spirit gives the Christian freedom to walk with Jesus; free from condemnation, guilt, and fear. The fruit of the Spirit is what comes from the Christian who is trusting the Lord.
In Christ Jesus you do bear the fruit of the Spirit.
Words for Christian Living – Commendation
“But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.” 2 Corinthians 10:17-18 (KJV)
Most people are searching for commendation. Some are satisfied with self-commendation; others desire the commendation of others. Self-commendation is worthless; but then, so is the commendation of others for the purposes of eternity.
The word “Commendation” means… “Approval; Praise”. It speaks well of a person when others approve her/him. However, if someone with an evil heart speaks well of you… What does that say?
The commendation from God, our Lord, is the better commendation. Do not rest in peace with what others say of you. You can rest, and be in peace with what God says of you, commending you. You will not be commended by God with unrepented sin in your life. He will commend you when sin is dealt with, and you are in fellowship with Him through the cross of His Son Jesus Christ.
Words for Christian Living – Being Confident
“Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.” 2 Corinthians 5:6-11 (KJV)
There is much talk of “Self-confidence”, and a little of that goes a long way. It is not always good. Too much of it ends in prideful rebellion.
Self-confidence is when you feel good about yourself, your life, your abilities, talents, and “Life style”. The confidence of which Paul the apostle writes is a confidence which comes from knowing God; knowing that He holds you in His hands. Knowing that you are protected from harm; safe under the shelter of His “Wings” as having to do when a hen gathers her chicks for protection from a storm or a fox; or any predator.
The confidence of men; yours and mine; can fail. Our confidence in God can become weak; however when we have been with God, and know His heart we can trust Him through every trial and tribulation we enter and we can endure to the end.
As Christians we are confident that if we die we will be at home with Jesus for all eternity. If we live we live unto the Lord. We know also that there will come a day when; as Christians; we will stand before the “Judgment seat of Christ” and we will give account of all the things we have done here on earth in our bodies. What has been done for the glory of the Lord will stand the judgment; what has been done for ourselves will burn in fire.
Because we know the “Terror of the Lord, we persuade men…” The terror of the Lord is that He hates sin. The sin debt was paid in full by the blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son, on the cross. In His burial He carried away the guilt, condemnation, and power of sin. In His resurrection He proved to all to be whom He said He is – the eternal Son of God. Our Savior. Our Redeemer. Our Lord.
If your refuse Him you will pay for your own sins; whether you believe you have sinned or not. Trust Christ and be saved.
Words for Christian Living – Use Words Wisely
“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 7:6 (KJV)
When I was a teenage boy, and first got my driver’s license I was probably like a lot of other boys. I liked to spin my wheels, smoke my tires, stir the dust when I was in the pasture; and such wasteful things as that.
It seems these days many Christians are good at “Spinning their wheels”, “Smoking their tires”, and “Stirring the dust” when it comes to “Debate” or discussing the issues. Some of those issues; such as the Evolution/Creation debate is one I see as a waste of our time.
The atheist; the non-theists argues for evolution; and I for one can see their argument. They do not believe in God, and evolution relieves them of any responsibility to the Higher Power. Many atheist have their minds made up. Prayerfully many Christians have our minds made up concerning Creation; I know I do. There is nothing the evolutionist or atheist can say to change it. I believe the Word of God, and without God or His Word there would be no Science or atheists. If there was no God, there would be no argument.
The point I want to make is from the verse above. As Christians we have a calling to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, contend for the faith; but once we have done that, and seeing an individual set on ignoring the Spirit of God, and His Word; we need to move on. To continue in that “Debate” is fruitless. Deliver the gospel of Jesus Christ, then leave it in God’s hands, pray for the individual and watch God work.
After all; do you think you are more persuasive than God’s Spirit?
-Tim A. Blankenship
Words for Christian Living – Living the Gospel
“But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.” 1 Corinthians 15:15-18 (KJV)
The apostle Paul did not seek to improve his stature in the Church. His mission was to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. He had the right to be paid for his labors, yet he asked for nothing. Far too many times ministers of Christ exalt themselves in ministry. That is an assault, and an insult against the work of God, the Spirit of God, Christianity, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is free of charge; yet it is not free, because it cost Jesus His life.
-Tim A. Blankenship
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“Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 (KJV)
It is the stewardship, and accountability of the leadership of the Church to deliver the message of God’s Word without fear or favor; and it is the stewardship and accountability of the people to listen, hear, and do the Word of God along with the leadership.
-Tim A. Blankenship
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“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Romans 2:19-26 (KJV)
Because God is holy, just and righteous He could not and cannot look upon sin or the sinner. Because He is love He gave His Son Jesus to die in our place paying the price that was ours alone to pay. By the grace of God we are declared “Just” by Him.
-Tim A. Blankenship
The Fire and Hammer 