Is Scripture True?

1.      God Breathed – Theo-phneustos

2 Timothy 3:16 - Every Scripture is God- breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action),  17 So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work

God Breathed Out - The deity of God was not breathed into scripture but the scripture was breathed out of God and into man.  This is why we say that all scripture is God breathed.

2 Peter 1:21 - For no prophecy ever originated because some man willed it [to do so—it never came by human impulse], but men spoke from God who were borne along (moved and impelled) by the Holy Spirit.

The word translated “moved” is phero which means carried along as a ship under sail.

Acts 27:17 uses the same New Testament Greek word, pheros, to describe a ship driven in a terrible tempest and uncontrollable.  The men who wrote our scripture did so because God drove - by His breath - the specific words He wanted used.

This concept fits very well with Proverbs 3:6 which says: 

In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

The Hebrew word for direct, yasar, means to make pleasant or prosperous.  It also means to make your paths straight.

1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Scripture does not obey man’s wisdom.  Man must trust that scripture has more wisdom than their own opinions.  Spiritual things alone can discern God’s character and understand why His way is best.

1 Corinthians 2:14 And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who possess the Holy Spirit.

The natural man is incapable of understanding the spiritual words contained in scripture.  This is why most unbelievers feel scripture and its believers are foolish.  Something profound happens when we accept Jesus as our Savior and our spirit becomes alive and connected to Him.

One miracle of God is that neither our culture or training or personal preferences throw God off.  He chose who He would have write.  Those men were able to write as His Spirit led them and God already had made allowances for their personal literary preferences. 

An important point to consider is that in the original Greek, the differences between say, Matthew’s Gospel and Mark’s Gospel are multiples of seven.  The words Matthew used that Mark did not are a multiple of seven.  The words Mark used that Matthew did not are a multiple of seven.  The words they both used are a multiple of seven.  Greek is a language that gives every letter and word a numerical value.  In that way it is exactly like Hebrew.

Psalm 40:7 says, “In the volume of the book it is written of me.”  God has placed His signature throughout the Hebrew and Greek scriptures.  No one who has thoroughly studied scripture will believe it to be false.  There is no religion on Earth who’s scripture can make that claim and be true.

2.      Is all scripture without errors?

If 2 Timothy 3:16 is correct and all scripture is God breathed and Psalm 40:7-8 says:

Then said I, Behold, I come; in the volume of the book it is written of me; I delight to do Your will, O my God; yes, Your law is within my heart.

When we understand that scripture is the embodiment of God’s being we can also understand how important it is to God for scripture to be without flaws. 

Hebrews 6:17-18 KJV says:

17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us

It’s not possible for God to lie and he intends for us to have a strong sense of comfort in the work of Jesus and the scriptures we pin our hopes on.  Scripture does not lie.  If it specifically says God will do something in a certain number of days or years, He will.  If He has given us promises based upon His Word, they are sure.  The Bible will never be proved wrong and many supposed contradictions claimed by early scientists have been disproved recently.

Only the original versions of scripture are without errors.  Translations into other languages need to be proved against the original texts.  The Old Testament Hebrew is unique in that each letter has a numerical value and a specific meaning as well as being pictographs with meaning.  The letters may be joined together to form longer words.  The first two letters of Biblical Hebrew are ALEPH and BET.  The Aleph in ancient Hebrew looked like an ox head with horns and denotes strength.  The Bet looked rather like a box or a house.  The word AB means the strength of the house.  Father is ABBA so a father is the strength in a house. 

The New Testament Greek also has numerical values for each letter and those letters can be joined together to create words the same as our English.  Greek is much more precise than English however.  There are three Greek words for love, eros, phileo and agape; we have only one.  If you ask for another pencil, there are two Greek words you could choose, allos or heteros.  Allos means I want one just like the one I had.  Heteros means I want one that is different.  God chose Greek for His New Testament because it was in widespread current use and fit His needs as a language that was as precise as He is.

If you understand how precise and clear the Hebrew and Greek is, one understands how a careful study of the Bible is imperative.  Far too many Christians have only a limited understanding of the Word of God and many ministers are deficient in their understanding of Hebrew and Hebrew scriptures.  All these Hebrew meanings and numbers have ideas and portray concepts far beyond the mere plain text of the sentence.  Rabbis say that God’s Word has at least 50 levels of meaning.  In 1 Corinthians 2:9-13 it says:

1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Consider this; God said He will do nothing except it is contained in His Word.  When we say His Word is perfect, it means it is truly perfect.  There are no flaws and nothing is left out.  If this verse above says, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him,” then we have not scratched the surface of the depths of God’s love for us.  Those 50 levels of understanding that Rabbis have postulated may only be the tip of the iceberg. 

1 Corinthians 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

I know for certain that I have not experienced all the deep things of God yet.  Perhaps there is some great Biblical scholar out there who has put a hundred times the effort into discovering God’s truths than I have.  Even he or she has not discovered all the deep things God has for us.  The Spirit knows, but WE have to focus upon the Spirit in order to receive all God has for mankind.  In a hundred lifetimes we will never scratch the surface of that promise.  Every time you press into God, He will reveal more.  We may have grown in maturity and even become mature in a general ‘Christian’ sense, but we will never be truly ‘complete’ even in this life.  On the one hand this is upsetting, but on the other, I will never lack the opportunity to discover the next great truth.  There are millions, perhaps billions or trillions of them out there to be grasped.

1 Corinthians 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

There is a spirit of man and a spirit of God.  If we are born again we have God’s spirit and our spirit is made alive.  An unregenerated human spirit cannot understand the things of God and they are foolishness to it.  The unregenerated human spirit is alive to his father the devil and understands all the ways of that terrible father.  Have you ever seen families that are totally lost and depraved?  They curse and cheat and fight one another and when you speak to them about the things of God they look at you as if you are insane.  These are lost souls and it is important to pray that the Holy Spirit will draw them to God so they can be saved.  Once we are born again we are no longer fallen human spirits.  We are born again living spirits made in the image and likeness of God.  That doesn’t mean we don’t have some work to do in our lives, but it does mean that we have a vital connection with God and have lost our spirit connection to Satan.  He may still assault our flesh but our spirit is out of his control.

1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Romans 8:15-16 says that we have received the spirit of adoption so we can cry, “Abba (daddy), Father.”  Satan is no longer our spiritual father.  God is.  Notice it says we have not received the spirit of the world but the spirit WHICH IS OF GOD, the spirit of ADOPTION.  When we accept Christ as our Savior, God places His Spirit within us, calls us His son, and somehow exchanges our dead human spirit with a living spirit from His own person. 

Since this spirit comes directly from Him, we have supernatural knowledge of our gifts.  This knowledge does not simply become ours to use like the education we have obtained in schools or universities but it takes some exploration on our part through His Word and in prayer to partake of the blessings.  They are ours.  They are available.  They still must be obtained through prayerful exploration of scripture.  Why?  Because they are hidden from the unsaved and I believe hidden from our sin nature that still abides in our flesh.  We only truly obtain those blessings as we crucify the flesh.  

1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

You can attend all the seminaries in the world and learn church management and counseling techniques until you know every aspect of a religious service and church life, but unless you have an understanding of scripture and experience in prayer and fasting, you will not have a deep understanding of God’s wisdom.  He and His Word are one and all His wisdom is contained in His Word.  When we speak His Word through preaching, teaching and prophesying we are speaking out His perfect wisdom.  When you add the work of the Holy Spirit to the living knowledge contained in God’s Word you will understand why scripture says in 1 Corinthians 1:21 that God saves the lost through the foolishness of preaching.  The work of the Holy Spirit gives them faith to believe and the Word saves them.

Is every word in the Bible true or literal?

Psalm 91:4 says, “He will cover thee with His feathers and under His wings shall you trust.”

Does God literally have wings or feathers?  Probably not.  What is given here is most likely an allegory, I say probably because God is a Spirit and while He need not have spiritual feathers, it does not preclude Him from having them.  The Bible uses over 200 figures of speech.  These figures of speech do not make the truth of God’s Word inaccurate however.  What is certain is that under God’s covering we are covered and safe.

Scripture records many lies and untruths but none of them are from God.  He does not lie but will reveal a lie.  God reports many lies told by men.  He is not afraid that we may not believe in Him.  He created us for fellowship but insists that the fellowship be on His terms.  There are scientific ways to prove the existence of God but the prince of this world has fully infiltrated the scientific community.

Inerrancy means that every word, every promise of God is sure.  He has made certain that we have retained enough copies of the original writings that we can study them if we understand the original languages.  This is important because a translation like the King James Version cannot reveal all the deep messages of God.  It can do many things for your life but there are going to be certain Biblical hints that you will miss.  This is why most scholars or ministers will use Bible helps that give the original meanings for particular passages.

One final point to consider.  Inerrancy does not mean that God’s Word is reasonably accurate.  If that were the case our salvation might be in danger.  Inerrancy means that if we have a good translation of scripture, we can be certain of the promises given. 

God’s Word is sure.

The Importance of Feet and Introspection

Habakkuk 3:19 GOD, my Lord, is my strength; He makes my feet swift as those of YOUNG DEER and enables me to go upon the heights.

This is about the feet of the young deer.  It is about the desire of the deer to seek out the heights and that it has the equipment to reach those heights.  An unclean animal like a horse has solid hoofs and is not as good a good climber.  Perhaps you might think, what about a swine, a pig?  They have cloven feet.  They could be good climbers but do not have the heart.  With a pig it’s about attitude and not altitude.  I won’t try to over-examine this analogy except to say that if you study the examples of God you will often find deer. They have ears that turn in every direction so they are swift to hear.  Deer are not mute but they rarely make noise so they are slow to speak.  They are much more likely to avoid confrontation so they are slow to wrath (James 1:19).

Verse 20 of James 1 says the wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God.  All too often we miss this truth and allow ourselves to be motivated by our own pain or anger.  Moses failed in an important test out of anger and was forbidden to enter the promised land.  He was no longer useful to lead God’s people and God laid him to rest.  Your anger may not condemn you to hell, but it will surely limit your usefulness to God. 

A pig COULD climb but is unlikely to. His desire is to sniff around in the dirt looking for buried food, not climbing to mountain heights.  His ears are big and floppy, reducing his ability to hear.  They are loud creatures, always grunting, squealing and quarreling amongst themselves.  Pigs are pushy, often knocking others over to get to their food.  Deer are ruminants, meaning they chew the cud.  Chewing the cud is a symbol of thoughtfulness and introspection.  A pig is not a ruminant.  Ruminants look within and judge themselves (1 Corinthians 11:31).  Unclean animals generally do not. Feet give you the ability to climb but without introspection you are unlikely to do so.  For this reason a deer is likely to climb to the heights because his feet give him the ability to and his introspection gives the will and the desire to do so.  He has a better view of his surroundings and where the predators may be.

Proverbs 5:15 Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. 16 Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. 17 Let them be only thine own, and not strangers 'with thee. 18 Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. 19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. 20 And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

There is a deeply personal reason that God wants us to live like a deer, to climb high and consider our ways.  We are the bride of Christ.  He loves us with all His heart and for us to be a faithful and gracious bride we must do the same.  We are the cistern that God wishes to drink from.  We are the well that refreshes Him.  The water of the Spirit, the well of water that flows from the Holy Spirit from us to those around us is to draw others into this union between God and His bride. 

God will not allow the love of a stranger or the embrace of the same to touch His heart. He insists that He will only receive the blood cleansed and purged bride into His heart.  It is our opportunity now to climb higher and then to receive from Him the strength and encouragement we require to reach down and draw those who have not yet begun the great climb upward.  If we through our actions will show His love and passion for others then they will be drawn to Him and increase His blessing and His enjoyment in His bride.

Our lot is not simply to suffer and struggle through life until some glorious day when we leave this place and rise to meet Him.  Our lot is to abide in His love and through it to be comforted and nurtured by His Spirit.  God’s love is greater than any trial or difficulty.  Many of our struggles come because we have taken our eyes off of Him.  His grace and love will overshadow us and if we keep our minds upon Him we will dwell in perfect and uninterrupted peace.  If we do not keep our minds focused upon higher things we will not have His peace and may well damage our own much more fragile earthly relationships.  Wisdom says that we should abide in His love and peace so that He may abide in ours and make us strong.

Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

I love our God and His Word.  I especially love his Spirit that links us together as one body.  God has impressed upon me to write this short lesson about the feet of those who walk before God.  Today when I looked at a Facebook post and someone had used Isaiah 52:7.  It is always exciting to see God take two or three separate men or women of God and bring one message.  Consider this, where two or three are gathered in His name, there He is in the midst of them.  The beauty of this is that we don’t have to be together physically to be gathered in His name.  All we need be is in the Spirit to be in unity.  If there is but one other saint studying the feet of the servant of God we are in unity and God is in our midst.  I believe this is the case.

Our feet were never meant to stand in valleys and upon soft sand.  We were ordained to stand upon the rock and there is no rock quite like a mountain.  Our view was to be from up high so we could look upon those less fortunate and through our prayers God’s arms can reach down and capture more hearts.  The Lord says our feet are even more beautiful when we publish the good news of the Gospel.  He says we are to bring good tidings of good.  That’s rather like excellent excellence or wonderful wonders.  Everything God does is exceedingly excellent and filled with His life.

We are to publish the words of salvation.  What are the words of salvation?  OUR GOD REIGNS are the true words of salvation.  As long as He reigns salvation will reign in our bodies.  Ultimately our words say to Jerusalem, the city of God, “YOUR GOD REIGNS!!!”  One day they will return to God with their whole heart and scripture says that our walk with Him will make them envious of our relationship and draw them to Him.  One thing is certain; foolish, arrogant and angry Christians draw nobody.  It is only those who climb to the heights of the mountains who can draw others with bands of love.

Higher up and further in beloved.  Thy king awaits his bountiful bride.

Bishop J.

So You Think You Know The Matter

We’re often quick to judge someone and decide whether they deserve our support, love or encouragement.  There are several instances in scripture that appeared to be huge sins that would derail the work of God.  A case in point is the story of Tamar who bore Pharez and Zarah to Judah, her father-in-law.  Right there you might say, “Stone her.  That is absolutely disgusting.”  Unfortunately you would have destroyed an important link in the lineage of our Savior Jesus.

Genesis 38:7  - And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.

Things started out normally enough.  By custom Judah went and procured a wife for his son Er.  Er’s name meant awake which might mean he had awakened the womb of his mother, but in his particular case he awakened the wrath of God instead.

Genesis 38:7 - And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord slew him.

We don’t know what Er’s sin was, only that he was wicked in the sight of God so God killed him.  No doubt Er had some friends and people he was close to, but we will see in the next two verses that not everyone loved him. 

Genesis 38:8 - And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother. 9 And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.

In this natural brotherhood between Er and Onan there was no great love.  Love goes beyond.  Love will endure after this Earth is destroyed and turned to ash.  How?  Because God is love (1 John 4:8, 16).  He will continue to love His children long after all this is dead and gone.  It’s important to know what love is if you intend to live the life God offers.  Scripture says that without faith it is impossible to please God and that faith operates by love.  Why is faith important in this circumstance?  Because Faith is the substance of things HOPED FOR.  Faith is the evidence of things NOT SEEN.  Faith is what motivates us to love and cherish the unlovely BEFORE God can make those important changes in their lives.

Verse 8 is the first visible instance of a levirate marriage.  A levirate marriage was ordained by God to prevent family lines from coming to an end through death of a husband prior to producing children.  In these circumstances the next son in line married the widow and any children she bore would bear his brother’s name.  Onan’s lack of love for his brother meant he did not want to help continue his brother’s line.  He may have had another wife whose children would have been all his but that did not matter to him.  Not only that but his lack of character extended to where he was willing to have sex with Tamar but not allow her to become pregnant. 

In our walk with God we have certain responsibilities.  These responsibilities may come with certain benefits but we are not allowed to reap the benefits without bearing the responsibilities.  If you adopt an orphan child because your country offers financial incentives for that act of kindness but then you turn around and fail to raise the child as your own or even train the child to be a productive member of society, you have done exactly what Onan did in this circumstance.

Genesis 38:10 - And the thing which he did displeased the Lord: wherefore he slew him also.  11 - Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.

Right about now Judah believes that Tamar is a man eating woman.  We are unlikely to honestly view our own children or family members with objectivity.  We want to believe the very best of our kids.  He managed to raise two sons who lived so badly that God killed them both.  Rather than have that happen again he put his daughter-in-law away with her own father and ignored her. 

To truly understand how devastating this was you must know that for a woman of her time not to bear a child was considered a great shame. It’s certain that she heard the whispers of her family.  No man would marry her because she appeared to have killed two husbands.  The law was clear but so was human nature.  Man killer.

Genesis 38:12 - And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

I suggest you read Genesis 38 from verse 12 on.  Judah’s wife died and after he finished grieving he visited his good friend Hirah the Adullamite.  While there he met a veiled woman and had sex with her.  Since he had no money and no sheep with him she asked for a pledge so she could be paid later.  She received his walking staff, bracelet and signet ring.  These items were unique to him and would prove she had been with him.  After receiving these things she returned home and dressed as a widow once again.

Genesis 38:24 - And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.

I can’t imagine she told anyone how she came to be pregnant.  Once again it was assumed that she had to have played the harlot to become pregnant; after all, a woman in that day was not free to just have casual dalliances with men.  Whoever she slept with was not her husband.  Judah’s unrighteous indignation insisted upon her death by fire though he was guilty of the same crime.

I won’t go into the fact that she presented him with his own pledge for his illicit sexual dalliances.  It is enough that Judah when faced by his own hypocrisy was quick to admit his error and restore her honor.  She was allowed to return to her house in peace and in the fullness of time bore two sons, Pharez and Zarah.  These two were mighty men in Israel though born of odd circumstances.  They were also illegitimate children, a serious sin in Israel.  The descendants of harlotry could not become a true part of Israel until the tenth generation.

Genesis 38:28 - And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first. 29 - And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez.  30 - And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.

Pharez was a strong man in Israel but the stigma of his birth would not allow him to be a true leader.  His name was quite prophetic, and while his brother was legally the first born, Pharez bore the real distinction by pulling his brother back and coming out completely first.  For this reason his name was given as “Breach.”  God killed the first two sons of Judah and seemed to ignore the third.  The Breach was His chosen path. 

In 1 Samuel 17:55, when Saul asks Abner whose son David is, he knew he was from Judah.  According to Hebrew tradition that question had a double meaning.  If he came from Zarah then it didn’t matter, but if David came from Pharez, Saul could see the end of his reign in sight.  If David came from Pharez, which he did, then by the pattern set forth in scripture he could be a danger to Saul’s rule. 

Ruth 4:9-13 - And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi.  10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.

Ruth is a wonderful little book written by the prophet Samuel.  It is so short I recommend you read it through.  Boaz was quite taken with Ruth even though she was a Moabitess and one of a people hateful to God.  If it wasn’t for the fact that she was widowed by a Israeli man she would have no possible way of marrying a man of Israel.  Her first husband married her while living in sin in Moab.  The Moabites were considered cursed for their treatment of Israel during the Exodus from Egypt.  Boaz had one major thing in his favor.  A widow in Israel, no matter what nation she originally came from, was entitled to a Levirate marriage. 

She could be married if a man from Israel would have her and was part of her late husband’s lineage.  Boaz was.  He may have been more willing to marry outside of the people of Israel since his Grandmother was Rahab the Harlot from Jericho.  Undoubtedly her influence made a big difference.  The other nearer kinsman was not willing to do the kinsman-redeemer  part and raise up seed for his late brother’s family.  He handed his shoe to Boaz for whom it was a marriage license.  To hand a shoe to someone because you were unwilling to do the kinsman redeemer part was considered to be shameful but God had Boaz waiting for this honor.

Ruth 4:11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:

This verse and the one below were obligatory toasts given to the new groom.  The first verse seems to be quite gracious.  “The Lord make this woman like Rachel and Leah who built the house of Israel.  They prophesied that they would do well and prosper in all they did.

Ruth 4:12 And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the Lord shall give thee of this young woman.

This verse however is something different.  At first it seems like a serious insult.  Let your house be like the house of Pharez, that illegitimate child of whoredoms?  How dare you offer that kind of blessing…but that wasn’t it at all.  They, the elders of this tiny town called Bethlehem, the town that the Messiah would one day come from, would benefit from the many strange twists and turns that God ordained in the path of His only begotten Son Jesus.  Like many blessings over the centuries, this one had a strong prophetic tone.  Let the house of Boaz one day upset the other houses and put a great leader on a throne.

Ruth 4:13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son.  18 Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron, 19 And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab, 20 And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon, 21 And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, 22 And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.

David was a breach who was not loved in his own family or respected by his father or brothers.  He was the Ketan, the least esteemed one.  He was a loner and the tenth in line after Tamar.  Pharez was one. Hezron was two. Ram was three. Amminadab was four. Nahshon was five.  Salmon was six.  Boaz was seven.  Obed was eight.  Jessie was nine and David was ten.  Deuteronomy 23:2 had been satisfied.  David could be king!

It’s important to remember that while Boaz was extremely wealthy and a man of influence in his city he was not considered to be in the congregation of  the Lord.  All his predecessors back to Pharez were considered to be unworthy to lead Israel.  When they blessed Boaz and said his seed would be like Pharez, they meant that against all odds, Pharez was born. 

When His first father and second father were unworthy and struck dead by God he beat the odds.  While still just an egg in Tamar’s belly, God intervened to make a woman desperate enough to break the rules so he beat the odds.  When his brother tried to force his way out first, Pharez wrestled with his brother and came forth first so he beat the odds. 

What they couldn’t know at the time was that Israel would get so fed up with judges in a few years that they would demand a king.  The first thing God gave them was a pretty boy king that was tall, smart and good looking.  Surely this was the man of the hour.  He turned out to be afraid and unable to obey God’s simplest rules.  Like Er and Onan, he had to go.  He looked like the real deal but was just a pretty copy.

Albert Einstein once said that if God played dice He would win.  This is a paraphrase of Proverbs 16:33 which basically says, “The dice are in the lap of God.”  In other words, God controls all the dice.  Sadly, in this day and age we forget that God planned all this before time even began.  We try to dilute the scripture more and more but God will ensure that every jot and tittle comes to pass. 

1 Corinthians 13:7 (AMP) - Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening

What am I trying to say here?  Don’t assume that because someone WAS a criminal or prostitute or liar that they still are.  Don’t insist that the child who drives you crazy right now won’t amount to a thing.  Whatever negative thing you believe about someone, put God in that equation and see if the answer doesn’t begin to add up.  Love bears up – You can handle the foolishness and trials until Christ is formed in them.  Believeth all things – See everyone as a ten until they prove they are not worthy of that score.  Even if they do prove it, remind yourself that the lot is in God’s lap.  He can change things.  Love never fails – It keeps working in the middle of your worst nightmare.  Love endures – it has the power to keep going year after year until God’s will is proved.

There was a reason that scripture says, “The foolishness of God is greater than the wisdom of man (1 Corinthians 1:25).”  God likes to do things differently.  He likes to us the dregs of society, the whoremongers and idolaters who are willing to change.  God came to heal so we should not be surprised to see our churches filled with sick bodies, sick minds, sick souls and sick spirits.  He sent them to you to make a difference.  He sent them to be accepted and loved.

Does that clarify the matter?

Bishop J

Lucifer - The Covering Cherub - Lord of the Grammys

Ezekiel 28:13-19 - Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets (tambourines) and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

Satan has always been the god of unsanctified and unsaved musicians.  He was filled with pride over his own beauty and musical skills even though he received them from God.  The life of a musician or singer is fraught with danger because of these Satanic temptations.  They must guard their hearts more than any other lest his influence poison them and destroy their souls.

He is called, “Lucifer (light bearer), son of the dawn.”  Satan does not seduce us with ugliness or filth, but with beauty and great talent.  He can recognize talent because it is his signature ability.  He was so extremely talented that pride finally destroyed his soul. 

This year at the Grammys, the American music awards there was no restraint at all.  One artist performed a number with a witches broom and demons and finished by being burned at the stake.  There was a wedding as well that included homosexual couples.  The entire night was designed to spit in the eye of God and any of His people.  One Christian performer was so grieved in her spirit that she left early to spare her soul the poison that was being poured out. 

Beyonce’ and her husband sang a song that honored spousal abuse and the list just went on and on.  There was blatant sexuality, homosexuality and any other sin you might want to mention.  It is apparent that as we draw closer to the time of tribulation the Holy Spirit is allowing these brute beasts to wallow in their sins to their hearts content.  The world blames God for allowing all this to happen but in reality it is the world’s fault for bypassing the God of heaven for the god of pride and arrogance. 

Each of these people will answer for their sins and unless they choose to change it is likely that all these ‘well respected’ performers will one day languish in Hell.  God does not desire this end for them.  He hopes they will repent and ask His forgiveness.  One thing is certain however, they will either repent and withdraw from this terrible lifestyle or they will rush to meet Hell at full speed and they and their petty satanic god will both burn in unquenchable fire together.  This is not God’s will but He will respect their decisions.  I pray those decisions will change.

Parents, raise your children to know God.  Do not trust that they will one day miraculously make the right decision.  God’s word can be proved if someone is honest and truthful.  Pray for them beloved or their fall will be great.

Bishop J.

That's Abominable!

Hebrew – TONEBAH

Something disgusting.  Abhorrent to God.  IDOLATRY.  A failure to TRUST God.  A failure to OBEY God.  Wickedness.  (Leviticus 18:22 specifically mentions – Homosexuality).  Interestingly, the reasons given in the New Testament for rampant homosexuality is a refusal to surrender to God’s will in favor of your own feelings.  It continues to say that God gave them over to be swallowed up by those improper and destructive lusts to perform what is shameful (Romans 1:21-32).

That is not the end of the matter.  This conscious removal of God from ones thought life leads to unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, God haters, full of spite, prideful, braggarts, evil, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, covenant breakers, lacking even natural affection, unreasonable and without mercy.  This central truth is clearly seen in society today.  As long as we who believe His Word fail to spread that word so it can grow we will continue to see men and women grow worse and worse. 

If someone should speak against these lifestyles they are called INTOLERANT or HOMOPHOBIC.  If they approve they are called ENLIGHTENED or said to understand TRUE LOVE.  These purveyors of unnatural affections and passions will allow no words to be spoken against their lifestyles that might negatively affect the strides they have made in today’s society.  You MUST agree with them.  You are not allowed to have a personal opinion that is different from theirs.  They may say they just want equal protection under the laws but what they actually demand is full acceptance and public approval of their lives. 

Oddly enough I have never seen a homosexual couple that does not have a male and female member.  There is almost always a masculine and feminine woman, one who wears suits and has masculine mannerisms and one who wears dresses and is more feminine.  In couples made up of two men, one is usually more calm and take charge and the other more submissive and feminine acting.  These people may or may not go as far as wearing gender marking clothing which some call cross dressing but the mannerisms are usually quite obvious.  Even those who cross dress are an abomination to God because He has specifically addressed this in Deuteronomy 22:5.  It is TONEBAH. 

It is impossible to completely remove ourselves from our true natures of man and woman, male and female, husband and wife.  When He removed a rib from Adam to create Eve, it was His intention that mankind follow this intimate union of man and woman in a loving and nurturing relationship for all time.  Once we have left this place and have been accepted in the Beloved “JESUS” we will no longer require the physical bonding of male and female for procreation and passion.  Our passion at that time will be a much higher plane of existence and we will be free from the bondage of flesh.

There are several words translated ABOMINATION in scripture.  Just a few others are…

Hebrew – TAME, pronounced Tom May.

Utterly unclean.  Defiled.  A violation of nature AND God’s nature.

(Leviticus 18:23 – Bestiality.)

I have heard men brag about having sex with farm animals and women with large pets.  All of these things are an abomination “TAME” toward God.  Most people consider this action to be ‘wrong’ but not all.  For some who have completely surrendered themselves to the ‘flesh’ there is no experiment too obscene nor act too terrible to be considered.  These are they who prey upon others and have gone beyond criminals who might rape a woman or man to one who would molest children and even murder and eat another human being. 

These brute beasts are no longer in God’s image.  They have become the ‘Earthborn.’  They are those for whom this existence in this temporary place is everything.  There is no punishment in their eyes for these acts since life is over once the body ceases.  They do not understand that one day every man, every woman will answer to God for their life choices.  Sadly, we have allowed these perversions of God’s gift to become rule makers and society shakers.  They have taken prayer and patriotism from our schools and now children prey upon other children in games that have no limit because no limits are placed upon them by a righteous God who we have abandoned.  There is no absolute right and wrong in their eyes.  Whoever they hurt, whoever they kill matters little against their own lusts.

Hebrew – PIGGUI, PIGGUL

Stink, fetid, smell of death and decay.  Foul thing, unclean.

Spoken of unworthy, unclean sacrifices and failure to follow God’s directions. (Leviticus 7).  Leviticus 7 is all about what God will accept from us.  It has changed in Christ only in that His sacrifice has taken the place of the blood sacrifices of lambs and bullocks.  He still expects us to serve and obey Him.  He has not abdicated His position in our lives; we have abdicated ours. 

Isaiah 64:6-8 says:  But we are all as an unclean thing,

and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;

and we all do fade as a leaf;

and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

 And there is none that calleth upon thy name,

that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee:

for thou hast hid thy face from us,

and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.

 But now, O Lord, thou art our father;

we are the clay, and thou our potter;

and we all are the work of thy hand.

This is God’s question for us.  When will we realize we are consumed because of our failure to obey God?  When will we realize we are burning our souls in the fires of iniquity?  When will we call out to our God and repent for our terrible sins? 

He is calling out to us each day.  Some of us hear but others have become completely deaf by the multitude of transgressions.  If you no longer hear His voice or desire His touch; I pray you will repent and ask God to open your eyes and unstop your ears.  Our God is a consuming fire (Hebrew 12:28-29).  Fortunately He is also a God who suffers long with us in love (1 Corinthians 13).  For this brief moment we may call out and He will hear.  I pray you do not waste this moment beloved.

Bishop J.

Jesus Is GOD!

This scripture ended the prayer I posted yesterday.  I read it today and it really blessed my soul.  I hope it will bless yours.

Isaiah 12:2-end.

v-2.  Behold, God is my salvation;

*Notice it says GOD (EL) is my salvation.  God is specific and salvation is specific.  Jesus is our savior, the bringer of our salvation.  This verse shows that our salvation (Jesus) is not just Lord but GOD!

I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song;

*What I love about the verse above is that it says that "Yah Yahweh" is my STRENGTH and my SONG.  Whose song are you singing?  I showed through scripture yesterday that Satan was God's cherub of music and worship before he fell.  He was the COVERING cherub who covered the throne of God.  It is vital that we limit our music to those songs that glorify God and the Spirit of God.  When we sing and glorify sexual passions and the works of the flesh we glorify the fallen cherub Lucifer.

he also is become my salvation.

*That one phrase should excite and fascinate you.  He has BECOME my salvation.  Jesus has always been "I AM."  He has always been the pre-existent one.  He BECAME our salvation when he became flesh, dwelt among us, then gave His life and rose from the dead to become our savior.

v-3.  Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

v-4.  And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.

*Isn't it wonderful that the Holy Spirit has come to give us wells of water?  Jesus asked the woman at the well of Samaria for a drink.  That prompted an entire discourse where He eventually told her that if she would but ask Him, He could give her wells of water that NEVER run dry.  Like Israel, she thought He was speaking about liquid water and not spiritual refreshment (John 4:10-14).

v-5.  Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.

v-6.  Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion:

for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

Notice it says in verse 6 that we should cry out out and shout for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.  Doesn’t this sound a lot like this:

Matthew 28:18-20 - And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  GO YE THEREFORE, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Have a blessed day beloved.

Bishop J.

Grace XVI - Grace to Share

Grace To Partake

1 Corinthians 10:27-- If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

I haven’t been writing this week because I’ve been studying.  I recently purchased Rick Warren’s book, “The Purpose Driven Church.”  I’m amazed how many churches in America follow formulas or doctrines without knowing the underlying purpose of their ministry.  Have you asked yourself, “Why am I here?  Why am I pastoring?  Why am I on the earth?”  I ask those questions frequently and even though I do not have a ‘church’ yet, I realize those questions need to be answered for myself before I can expect others to follow my vision.  A church is more than some people who meet once or twice a week so they can get their dose of faith and then break for life.  A church must be the place where they come FOR life and get their marching orders to reach out to others the rest of the week.

It is vital that every church has clear cut direction and purpose that can be clearly spoken to and understood by a congregation.  When you know where you are going and why it makes it much easier to combat Satan’s attempts to push you off course.  Little things don’t sway you when you know your purpose and life’s direction.  I know a pastor who was called to teach men and women of God to make a strong impact upon their community.  I know a pastor who is called to be a father figure to his congregation in a community that has few strong father figures.  Both callings are scriptural yet both callings are different.  Both churches are soul winners but they meet different needs in the lives of their congregants.  Each is doing exactly what God has required of them.

Back to this scripture.

Today’s lesson is, “Grace to partake.”  Do you have it?  I know of people who can’t eat if they have not seen the utensils boiled and sanitized and the food cooked to exacting specifications.  In today’s lesson, Paul is teaching a departure from the usual Jewish attitudes.  His lesson is all about, “Eat what is set before you without giving it excessive thought.”  I know saints today that would hesitate to eat if you said you blessed the food in the name of Baal or Buddha.  I might not eat because of their weak spiritual walk if someone said that, but it would not be because I am concerned that Baal is anything or Buddha or Allah.  My only concern would be if the person serving believed it made a difference.

Paul said, “Sit down to eat and … eat.  Don’t give it a lot of thought.  Accept it with thanksgiving to God and leave it alone.”  On the one hand, it’s the polite thing to do.  Eating a meal with someone offers you the opportunity to speak and minister to them on a particularly close level.  On the other hand, you don’t have to be so concerned with spiritual baggage that the other might hold allowing them the opportunity to be open about their doubts and fears with you.

1 Corinthians 10:28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof: 29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?

An idol is nothing.  Astrology is nothing.  Other gods, false prophets and faiths are nothing.  As John chapter one says, Jesus is the living Son of God who came to deliver you from your sins.  No other so-called gods or idols in all of history have come to make you acceptable to the eternal God.  That chicken leg you were offered is protein, nothing more.  How can a cooked leg of lamb be anything more?  The coming of Christ has changed everything. 

Having said that, our response to someone who claims the food on our plate was offered to Ra or some other made up god is to politely decline the proffered meal.  Why?  Because the other person may believe and stumble or your own conscience may not be secure enough in the knowledge of God to partake with a clear conscience.  If a man believes in a holy turnip or in the god of blue skies and tells you he has offered this food to those gods prior to feeding you it’s time to lay down your fork and again…politely…decline.

Paul frequently reminds us that we have liberty in Christ.  This is not liberty to sin as some declare, but liberty to live and appreciate the life God has given us.  If something is a sin before Christ (and I am not speaking of the many food restrictions or keeping of special holidays), it is still a sin.  Those things that Christ released us from no longer hold us in bondage.  Jews were not allowed to eat with gentiles but in Christ, that is no longer true.  Some are not able to enjoy this freedom.  In their presence we should abstain so they do not stumble.  When we are alone we may do what we please because we are free.

The works of the flesh which Paul lists in Galatians 5:19-21 are still very much in the SIN category and are to be avoided at all costs.  Christ did not free us so we could sin.  We should understand them well in our chosen language, today’s slang and whatever other words it requires so we avoid them in everything we do. 

1 Corinthians 10:30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks. 31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

This verse is quite valuable for us today.  We have a great deal of freedom through grace.  There are some who believe it is a sin for women to wear pants.  Others say birth control is a sin while on the flip side some say that having too many children is a sin.  In all these things we have the grace of God and yet we try to make doctrine based upon what we feel comfortable with.  I know churches in some countries that do not allow their wives to speak a word even though God has given tremendous prophetic gifts to them.  In most of these cases it is a cultural restriction rather than a scriptural one.

Paul says in verse thirty that we should give God thanks for whatever blessings He has granted us.  I am not allowed to judge your grace and you are not allowed to judge mine.  If His Word is not clear on a matter then it is open to grace.

Forgiving Grace

1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Paul never forgot the damage he did to the Body of Christ while acting on behalf of the chief priests.  I’m sure there were feelings of anger at being tricked by both Satan AND the leadership of Israel and embarrassment for allowing himself to be so tricked.  Ultimately the only answer was to forgive himself and the others.  Even those he put in prison were required to forgive him.  This is the life we lead.  Forgiveness is key if we are to receive that same grace from God.

Many during his time must have agreed with his statement.  Certainly the other disciples agreed with him (Galatians 1:20-24) but then acknowledged the change in his life.  From the beginning his ‘flock’ came from outside Israel because the Christian Jews in Israel fled from him and didn’t trust him.

1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Can you give yourself God’s grace?  Can you say that by the grace of God you are what you are?  How often have I seen those who have lived terrible lives simply give up when Christ comes into their life?  They believe He has forgiven them but can’t believe He will now use them in ministry.  Scripture says that he who has been forgiven much loves much.  That may be true, but it is also true that he who has been forgiven much has a hard time forgiving themselves.  I have heard them say, “You don’t know what I have done.  Jesus can’t forgive me.”  My answer is always the same, “Do you want to be forgiven?”  If the answer is yes then Christ is willing.  How do I know this?  Because if God is not willing to forgive the Holy Spirit will not call you.  If He does not call you then you will not seek God’s forgiveness.  You are cut off.

God can use the meek and quiet men and women but the truly effective and driven preachers are those who God has forgiven of terrible lives and sins.  They know they don’t deserve the forgiveness they have received and desperately want to share that grace with others.  Those preachers are unable to keep the good news to themselves.  It is just too wonderful to hide.  They shout it from the rooftops and rafters to all who will hear.

Rejoice for all your forgiven sins beloved.  They are often the engine that drives you to share God’s grace.  If He can forgive me…He can forgive ANYONE!

Bishop J