Many wonder what life after death would be like. In reality know one knows. Yet many warnings are given in the Scriptures as to what death will be like if Christ is not the one you worship and obey. Here is a story of a man who was pronounced dead, but was not. The following an account as told by George Lennox, who was serving time in prison for the offense of stealing horses.
When you think of the first story of Christmas, it's usually about Mary and Joseph looking down at their new born son in a manger, surrounded by barn animals and maybe a shepherd or two looking on. Angels singing praises of joy to the Lord Most High, and maybe even the star that is guiding the wise men from Babylon to the destination of the Jews Messiah.
We live at a time when children are born in sanitized hospital rooms with the best of care, before and after the mother gives birth. When we hear of stories of women giving birth at home, or alongside the road where the car had to pull over because the child would not wait, we are captivated and amazed of such a thing happening in today's world.
As you read the Proverbs, you must understand that while God meant for them to be learned by all of His children, Solomon shared the Wisdom he got from God in particularly for his sons. So when you read a proverb that is gender specific, there are lessons that women should also learn. Thus in today's Proverb, women should be looking for a Godly man, to help her raise the children to be wise Godly adults. So both men and women should be wise in whom they chose to marry, or they will be finding more joy outside of home, than they will inside it.
I am sharing chosen excerpts from a commentary by; Let God Be true.com. To read it in full, please follow the link above.
Without a doubt, the two horrible things that can happen to a man is to marry an odious woman, or he can have foolish children. Both are disasters and make marriage and children very sober matters. The persons and relationships that should be for help and pleasure become like enemies. It is wisdom to carefully consider these potential threats and avoid them at all costs.
This proverb is priceless. The two matters at stake are very serious – an unhappy marriage or shameful children. Either one tortures and destroys a man over many years. A man enduring both faces daily pain hard to describe in words. But God gave this proverb by King Solomon to save you from both evils, and He reduced it down to one single, simple rule. Glorious wisdom! Incredible mercy and kindness! Keep reading!
A foolish son is also a horrible thing in a man’s life. It can steal the joy and life out of your soul, knowing that you generated and trained an idiot. The Preacher saw foolish sons, for he had foolish brothers, and his son Rehoboam was a fool. Read his pain and learn the sober lesson (Pr 10:1; 15:20; 17:21,25; 23:15-16,24-25; 29:3,15). It is wisdom to learn from the mistakes and pain of others – so pay attention and grasp this lesson.
I love the book of Proverbs, because in so many ways they resemble the teachings of Jesus as he walked with the Disciples. It makes sense though, because Christ is Wisdom personified in the flesh of Jesus.
Now as you read today's proverb, it's beneficial to understand why Solomon was led by God to refer to wisdom and folly as women. This is because the proverb is directed towards his son. In order for the boy to understand the difference between wisdom and folly, the best way was to bring it down to a level he could grasp.
You ever been sitting in the house, and out of the corner of your eye, you spot something moving along the corner of the wall? Or maybe you’re lying in bed and you hear some scraping and scratching, the patter of teeny tiny feet in the attic? When you have a mouse on the loose around the house, then you need to set a trap or two.
Remember how Christianity changed the Roman Empire one slave, one Roman citizen, one soldier, one land owner, and then one political leader at a time until the Emperor himself made Christianity the official religion of the Empire?
Well in China it all began with one illegal underground church. Then another one began, and another, and another. Soon there were so many that even the Chinese government could not hold back the growth. Today there are over 150 million Christians, and by 2030 they predict there will be almost 250 million.
The proverb asks if you know the name of the One who ascended to and descended from heaven, the One who gathered the wind in His fists, the One who bound the waters into a garment, the One who established all the ends of the earth. It asks if you know the name of Him, or His Son's name.
Some 900 years before Jesus was born, this proverb alerted the Israelites that God's Son would appear on earth. A prophecy bound up in a proverb. Long before the Pharisees would accuse Him of equating Himself with God, Agur knew God's Son who would descend from heaven and claim to be the Son of God.
Interesting how today's Proverb is Proverb 18. I say interesting, because I had a dream last night about an old friend I haven't see in years. His name is Larry, and he was a preacher of his own church in Columbus Georgia. The last time I saw him was a time in my life when all I wanted was to be away from people. If anyone got too close I would disappear.
It was after my 2nd marriage fell apart, and I was pretty much wondering around the country. I would stay in a place long enough to work a few Months and then leave town without notifying anyone. Sometimes I would leave without even collecting my last paycheck. I figured if I wasn't going to give a notice why collect the check.
Through the years, many have misunderstood today's verse. They have come to believe that since the people perish due to a lack of vision what they need to survive is to have a pastor who casts visions or a prophet who shares visions. Thus we end up with many of the false teachers on television who take advantage of young Christians by playing upon their ignorance of the Scriptures. This particular proverb is taken out of context so often, because they fail to understand how this Proverb is constructed.
Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;
But happy is he who keeps the law.Proverb 29:18
We have a name for third world countries, where the leaders steal from, maim, and kill it's citizens indiscriminately, or even worse the people in those nations allow others to do so. We call them Tin-Horn Dictatorships, where the leaders are no better than terrorists, tyrants, and warlords. Throughout the 1900's we have seen plenty, from Hitler, Stalin and Lenin, and now we see them in North Korea, Argentina, and in the Middle east.
They rule over their empires, nations, or blocs with the iron fist, suppressing freedoms and dissent from the status quo. They are lawbreakers of the highest order. We even see them in America, like the Mafia, gang leaders, drug Lords. It also happens in households where a parent, husband or a wife, will rule the home like a despot over a nation. Then, lest I forget, it even happens where politicians will use their power and influence to commit crimes and then their political friends will let them off easy, while the common man and woman will face financial ruin or even life in jail for lesser crimes.
Solomon could have asked for anything his heart desired; wealth, women, slaves, victory in battle over all of God's enemies, or even a very long healthy life. Yet, he asked for none of those things. Instead, Solomon humbled himself and said to the LORD;
".....give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" 1 Kings 3:9
This response pleased the LORD so much that God not only made Solomon the wisest person who ever lived, other than Jesus, but He also made him the richest man ever, and gave him victory over all God's people so there would be peace throughout his lifetime. It is this wisdom that allowed Solomon to give us the great Proverbs we use to this day to properly run our lives in accordance with God's precepts. One of them being, our finances.
If you ever want to study a book of the Bible that will give you great insight from a prophetic point of view, may I suggest you study the Book of Isaiah. Isaiah wrote what many have called the miniature Bible in the Bible. Like all Scripture, Isaiah is inspired by God. However, Isaiah is unique in it's arrangement. Something I believe it was divinely inspired to be so.
Consider the following, how many books does the Bible have? Sixty-six. How many chapters does Isaiah have? Sixty-six. How many books are there in the Old Testament? Thirty-nine, and therefore twenty-seven in the New Testament. And the book of Isaiah divides exactly in that way. The first half of the book comprises thirty-nine chapters. There is a distinct division at chapter 40, so that the remaining twenty-seven chapters constitute the second half of this book like the New Testament.
May I suggest a good movie to rent or purchase would be, "Polycarp".
This is a very strong Christian, biblical movie with a clear moral message. Powerful presentations of the Gospel, compelling conversations, inspiring examples of self-sacrifice, heart-rending situations and boldness in the face of peer pressure, family pressure and state persecution; no foul language; some restrained violence including violence in the arena and burning of Polycarp at the stake; and, nothing else objectionable.
Men and women have been chasing the dream of wealth and fame from the beginning of time. The American dream was once based upon the understanding that fame and fortune comes through thrift and hard work. During the Colonial Period, Benjamin Franklin counseled people on the "The Way to Wealth." Poor Richard's Almanac", advised that "Early to Bed, and Early to Rise, Makes a Man Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise." Poor Richard insisted that the key to wealth was to be industrious, because that is what pay's the bills and thus makes one's life easier.
Sadly, in today's modern world the understanding is that one can get rich and famous instantly by winning the lottery, hitting the jackpot at the local casino, writing and singing the song that makes the young girls cry, getting a reality TV show, going to Hollywood to get recognized, or just winning a lawsuit over a spilled cup of hot coffee. The idea isn't new, getting rich that is, just the understanding of how to reach that goal is.
The faith to believe the scriptures is within each and every human being. However, God’s wisdom must be believed by faith. Once it is believed and received by faith, a whole new world of our God is open to us. Jesus comes into our spirit and changes us, and that is when we begin our journey in the development of a relationship with our heavenly Father. It is then that the scriptures become a "treasure of good sense".
When you become a born again Christian, the treasure of God is opened unto you. All the treasures of His mind ore now available for you to use. Like a treasure hunter who is searching for treasures, once you find it, you cease to be a hunter, and you begin your journey as a collector of that which you found. When you find Christ, you begin your journey of collecting His treasure of knowledge, which is, "The mind of God." 1 Corinthians 1:30
We all learn from our parents, as do our children learn from us, as to how we should live our lives. It's just a matter of what example we as parents want our children to learn from. If parents live lives as we should, then we and our children will learn to live the same. If a parent cusses, cheats, do drugs, complains all the time, or never works. Well the chances are the children will do the same.
Throughout my life I have seen many who learned early that God is real, and Christ is the way to Him. Many like myself, fell away and lived a part of my life self indulging my own selfish desires. Eventually those who do as I did, will pay the price. It's just a matter of how far one goes down the wrong path before we cry for the One we know will save us. We know Who that one is, because of our early years when our parents taught us about Him. Then when we come home we are accepted as if we never left.
The Apostle John tells us in his Gospel that is Who God God is. A forgiving Father who gave His only Son so that we can be free from sin and condemnation.
Are you living a safe and comfortable life? Then maybe you are not doing enough, because carrying your cross should be a difficult thing to do. It was for Him, and he did anyway.
Tertullian said that The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. Yet today I see the church in America dieing a slow death due to the fact that the Saints in America like their blood too much to offer it as a sacrifice for Christ and His church today.
01 My son, if you receive my words,
00 And treasure my commands within you,
02 So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
00 And apply your heart to understanding;
03 Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
00 And lift up your voice for understanding,
04 If you seek her as silver,
00 And search for her as for hidden treasures;
05 Then you will understand the fear of the LORD,
00 And find the knowledge of God.
06 For the LORD gives wisdom;
00 From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
07 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
00 He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
08 He guards the paths of justice,
00 And preserves the way of His saints.
09 Then you will understand righteousness and justice,
00 Equity and every good path.
While the citizens of Western civilizations have been preoccupied with their own selfish interests, those of the Islamic world have been busy populating a world their children and grandchildren will control. In America, Canada, and Europe, the citizens have been limiting the number of children in their families. Personally, I believe the reasons they chose to limit the number of their offspring are purely selfish.
Women want to have a career, and that is difficult to do if they are having children every 2 or 3 years. As for the men, they have bought into the idea that they will never be able to make enough money to support more than 1 or 2 children. Then there is the desire to put off having a family until they have made it, but in a world where everyone is trying to keep up with each other, no one really ever makes it. Regardless the excuses given, this behavior has led to the citizens of the West reproducing at a rate of about 1.8 per family, which is not even close to the reproduction rate of immigrants.
I could also go on and on as to the methods women in the West use to limit the number of their children, but this post is not about the methods of birth control used to achieve their goal. No, as you will learn from the video below, this column is about the devastating consequences we must now face because of their decisions.
The result of such selfish decisions by Western civilizations as a whole, is the capitulation of their children's freedom to control their own lives in the future. While the citizens of the West are preoccupied with living a life that is free of anyone's control, even God's, they are condemning their descendants to a life of bondage at the hands of a religion that was born in the depths of hell. How else can I properly describe what life will be like for the citizens of Europe and America 50 years from now?
As a result of their desire to give their children the things they did not have, plus a desire to be free from the condemnation of God, they are limiting the number of children they have. I can easily understand that kind of mindset when talking about non believers. However, I am truly saddened by the number of Christians I know who use the exact same excuses for why they have limited the number of children they have, or will have.
For Christians, we understand that the Lord opens and closes a woman's womb, and it has been that way from the beginning of time. So while the secular world has become fairly efficient at controlling whether or not a child will be born, Christians are supposed to only trust in the Lord. After all, God's first commandment ever given was to Adam and Eve when He said, Be fruitful and multiply Gen 1:22. He reiterated that command after the Flood when He told Noah, Be fruitful and multiply Gen 9:7. Now try as I may, I have yet to find any proof that God ever rescinded those commands. What He does tell us, is that if we put our faith in Him, He will supply our needs.
Well for those of you who have made excuse after excuse as to why you have limited yourself to 1 or 2 children, I would like you to admit to them that you had very little faith in God's ability to provide for more children than you had. I would also like you to tell them they could be living in an Islamic society someday because of your lack of faith.
In 1973 when the United States Supreme court ruled in favor of abortion, Christians warned Americans about the consequences. 38 years later the consequences of murdering 50 million innocent children is a reality. What saddens me almost as much as the way Americans have callously tossed our progeny aside like rubbish, is that Christians missed their chance at gaining control of the government, and thus stopping the perverse liberal agenda dead in its tracks.
Think about it, had Christians taken the initiative back in the 1970's to increase the number of children they were having while the non believers were limiting the number they had, America could have offset the number of children murdered in the womb. There could very well be 30 to 50 million more Christians who would have stopped the left from getting an anti-American Muslim as president. Also, we would not be facing a future where Islam and Sharia Law could rule America.
It's expected that non believers will ignore God's commandments, but when Christians do, the whole world pays the price. However, we can not live in the “what if's" of life, we can only live in the here and now. So what we can do is increase the number of children we are having now, and pray that the citizens turn from their evil ways and seek the Lord as the Scriptures advise;
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
So as it stands today, we must educate both the Christians and non Christians about the grim future our society is facing. So check out the video below, share it with your friends, and pray that we can begin a new awakening that will see millions of Muslims in the West become born again Christians. Otherwise our descendants will be living in an Islamic society that follows laws set up Satan himself.
I believe in the full and complete verbal inspiration of the Scriptures, both of the Old and New Testaments. By this I understand that the Holy Spirit not only inspired the thoughts of the writers, but also formulated the very word structure into which the thoughts were cast with the result that the original documents were inerrant as to fact and infallible as to truth (I Corinthians 2:13, II Timothy 3:16-17, II Peter 1:20-21).
B. The Godhead.
I believe in the Holy Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I believe that the Godhead is eternal in being, identical in nature, equal in power and glory.(Deuteronomy 6:4, II Corinthians 13:14).
C. Man's Creation and Fall.
I believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God but through Adam's sin became alienated from God, acquired a sin nature, and came under the judicial sentence of death (Genesis 1:25-27, Romans 3:22-23, Ephesians 2-12).
D. The Person and Work of Jesus Christ.
I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. I also believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the Cross as a propitiatory and substitutionary sacrifice, and that our redemption is made sure to us by His resurrection from the dead in the identical, though glorified body in which He was crucified (John 1:1-2, Luke 1:35, Romans 3:24-25, I Peter 1:3-5).
I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is now in Heaven exalted at the right hand of God, where as High Priest for His people, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor and Advocate (Hebrews 9:24, 7:25; Romans 8:34; I John 2:1-2).
I strongly lean towards a belief in the pre-tribulation, pre-millenial return of our Lord Jesus Christ for all true believers and in His Kingdom reign upon the earth. I say strongly lean because as I continue my studies I will admit that I am open to looking at all the evidence for all sides of eschatology, and I could still be convinced otherwise if the evidence is irrefutable. (Revelations 3:10; 1Thessalonians 4:13-18; Zechariah 14:4-11)
However, I also believe that my salvation does not depend upon what my belief of how the end times will come about, and Christ said only His Father (God) knows the time. ( Matthew 24:26)
E. The Holy Spirit.
I believe that the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, in the present age indwells all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, baptizes them into the Body of Christ and seals them into the day of redemption, and I believe that every believer is commanded of God to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:12-14; Ephesians 1:13-14, 5:14-20).
I believe that the true outward manifestation of the Spirit in the believer's life is through his walk and witness (Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:22-26; Acts 1:8).
I believe that the Gifts of the Spirit are irrevocable. God has not changed His mind concerning spiritual gifts. I do think that there are many who claim to have certain gifts that they do not have and thus they are tempting God with their charade. That being said I think it is a matter that we can debate but not divide over. (Romans 11:29; 1Timothy 4:14)
I also d0 not believe that speaking in tongues is a sign of being filled with the Holy spirit and that more Christians should be asking and praying for the gift of prophecy and discernment instead of tongues (1Corinthians ch 12).
F. Salvation.
I believe that salvation is the gift of God offered to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that this faith is manifested in works pleasing to God (Ephesians 2:18-20; Titus 2:11-14).
I believe that all true believers once saved shall be kept saved forever (Romans 8:1, 38-39; John 10:27-30; I Corinthians 1:4-8).
G. Baptism.
I believe that baptism is an outward sign of ones conversion and faith, and while I am not saved because I was baptized, Christ did command his followers to baptize believers in the name of the Father, the Son, and the holy Spirit. (luke 23:39-43; Matthew 28:18-20)
So if you claim to be a follower of Christ, then you will want the world to know it, and like Christ was, you too will want to be baptized. (Matthew 13:13-17; John 14:15; John 13:15)
H. The Church (Body of Christ)
I believe that the church (Body of Christ) is a spiritual organism made of all born-again persons in this age, irrespective of their affiliation with Christian organizations (Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:25-27; I Corinthians 12:12-14).
Two ordinances have been committed to the local church - baptism and the Lord's Supper (Communion). Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water into the name of the triune God. The Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His atoning death. These two ordinances are to be observed until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:16-20; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:41, 10:47-48; I Corinthians 11:23-29).
I. Satan.
I believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the enemy of God and man (Isaiah 14:12-15; John 8:44; II Corinthians 4:4; I Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:10).
I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ triumphed over Satan at the Cross. Satan is destined to eternal punishment in the lake of fire and brimstone (Colossians 2:15: I John 3:8; Revelation 12:11, 20:10).
J. The Final State.
I believe that the condition and retribution of the lost and the salvation and blessedness of the saved are conscious and everlasting (Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 20:14, 22:3-5 & 11).
