America's Three Greatest Enemies

There is no doubt that America has some great enemies in the world today. The current news reports concerning ISIS reveals it is certainly one of our growing threats. Add to that the fact that the Russians are moving towards a more open hostile stance against us. China has recently made the news because a fighter jet of theirs conducted a "dangerous intercept" of our Navy aircraft. Even though these are serious concerns for any American, they are not our greatest threat. Like Rome of old, America is decaying from within first. Jesus said in Matt 12:25 "... Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:". It is not the outside threats that are close to bringing us to our knees but the threats that are domestic. What exactly are these three enemies and how can we defeat them?
First, Lawless Judges! Federal judges take an oath the they "do solemnly swear ( or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same ..." Yet despite this oath many judges are a law unto themselves. God said in Leviticus 19:15 "Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgement: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor," They are not to show favour to the rich or to the poor. They are to faithfully apply the law of the land without fear or favour. If the laws are to be changed it is not their Constitutional role to change them it is the role of the legislators. Yet, despite this clear Constitutional fact many judges have broken their oaths and decided that they would rule as a King and not a judge. For example, many states have voted to ban homosexual marriages by the prescribed law of the majority vote, only to have one federal judge override the will of the people because of his/her own personal desire. That is lawlessness and it is unconstitutional. The only way the American people can retake the courts is to impeach judges that ignore the Constitution. We also need to elect politicians that believe in the legislative process. To the majority of decent hard working Americans who do not vote, you are allowing a small minority to corrupt our great country. VOTE!!
Secondly, our Educational system! It is really, really hard to call it an educational system. I know, from personal experience, of young people attending public school who cannot even read. Instead of a school system that will teach the basics well, we have a system that is more interested in propaganda than education. It is not the role of the school to teach the origin of life. Why not spend that time teaching a child how to read?  For those who are fortunate enough to be able to go on  and get a college education they face more of a propaganda effort than an educational effort. Read the on-line article by Mary Mills entitled "The Nizkor Project -Propaganda and children during Hitler years. It reveals a systematic effort on the part of the Nazi's to brainwash the children into believing the Jews were a national problem. We are seeing a similar effort to brainwash the younger generation against God and country. Let me challenge all of you to watch Ben Stein's movie, "Expelled- no intelligence allowed", so you can see the Nazi like effort to keep one view in front of the young people of America. This is certainly a problem that can be solved. Pull your kids out of public school  and home school them. Another option could be starting our own charter schools. Then we could give our young people the education they deserve. Do not send anymore of our young people to Harvard, Yale, Brown, or any other liberal institution. If you love America and freedom it is the only patriotic thing to do.
Finally, the Manipulating Media! Those who are controlling the information that most of America receives are attempting to convince us that socialism, liberalism, and evolution are all true and good. It is one of the most subtle but effective tools the enemies of America have. If they do not like your influence they will do everything they can to see that you are destroyed. Phil Robertson made a normal, sane, masculine statement in regards to a question about homosexuality and the media tried it's best to get Duck Dynasty taken off the air. They ask questions like that because they know that people of faith are not going to be politically correct. They are going to answer honestly and according to what the Bible teaches.  It has been proven in the past that the media fabricates the news to spin it to tell a story they want told. The freedom of the press should not be the freedom to be dishonest. We can affect a major change in this area also. Turn them OFF. Do not even spend a second on the channel while you are searching for another program. Do not read their newspapers, listen to their radio stations, watch their programs, use their Internet sites. By doing this we can bankrupt the whole lot of them and cripple them, hopefully beyond repair. There is hope that we can turn the tide but Americans must start NOW!
The only real lasting hope we have as a country is to seek the God of all things for a genuine Revival. In 2 Chronicles 7:14 God promises in His word " If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and forgive their sins, and heal their land." This starts in the church. We must get thoroughly right with God ourselves! Revival can happen but it must start somewhere. Why not let it start with you today?

Richard Dawkins Unguarded Statement

On Richard Dawkins' twitter account he said the most amazingly horrible thing that a human being could utter in an unguarded moment. Dawkins was responding to a person that stated they would face "a real ethical dilemma" if they found out they were expecting a baby with Down's Syndrome. His response was both brash and brutal, "Abort it and try again. It would be immoral to bring it into the world if you have a choice." WOW!!! No one should be surprised at comments like this from the one of the leading voices in the atheist movement. Amazingly when people called him out on those comments he said that they had been  "tactlessly vulnerable to misunderstanding".  In other words, he is saying,  I should not have been so honest with my comments. He went on to explain, "If your morality is based, as mine is, on a desire to increase the sum happiness and to reduce suffering, the decision to deliberately give birth to a Down baby, when you have the choice to abort it early in the pregnancy, might actually be immoral from the point of view of the child's own welfare". Oh, that really was a lot more tactful!
In public opinion the evolutionist have tried very hard to distance themselves from Adolf Hitler. Hitler sought to bring about a super race of people. One of the ways he tried to accomplish this was by killing all the Jews. He also wanted to kill all the mentally and physically handicapped people. I guess he was trying to affect "the sum happiness and reduce the suffering" of the German population or at least something along those twisted lines. I am not exactly sure what kind of "morality" Hitler had but I am convinced it was along the same lines as Richard Dawkins. It is long past the time where we should be honest about what is going on in the educational and scientific communities. Atheism = Evolutionism = Death! Death is something they love. From population reduction to euthanasia to, of course, abortion.  According to them we are only to love beautiful, healthy, and productive people. Ignorantly they don't seem to realize that they were not exactly without cost or trouble to raise when they were children. I'm certain that the sum happiness and suffering of his parents were often challenged when Dawkins was a young child!
The bottom line is that in I John 4:7-9  God has said  " Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love, In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotton Son into the world, that we might live through him." God is Love and to hate God is to never know genuine love. A love that gives, serves, and sacrifices. Someone put it so simple that even an atheist could understand it " No God = No Love, Know God = Know Love."

DO or DONE!

Why are there so many religions in the world? This question is often asked by those who are truly perplexed by so many voices in the world saying " this is the way". Jesus said in John 14:6 " I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me". Jesus discards every other religion in the entire world. How could the Lord Jesus make such a sweeping statement? Because the reality is that there are only TWO choices when it comes to how a man can get right with the God of  Creation. Not that there are two different ways to get right with God but, that it all boils down to either God's way or mans attempt that will only lead to Hell. The bible introduces this truth as early as Genesis 4. Cain and his brother Abel brought offerings to God. Cain brought the labor of his own hands. His sweat. His blood. His tears. What he could do. God did not want his works so it was rejected. Abel on the other hand brought an offering of the flock. A blood sacrifice. As the lamb was offered up for Abel's sins God was well pleased. Abel offered up a substitute in his place.
All the religions of the world can be divided into these two groups. DO or DONE.  Every other religion in the world is centered on what man does. Some teach that what you eat will affect your relationship with God- what you do. Jesus said in Matt. 15:10-20 it is not what enters the mouth which defiles a man but it is what comes from his heart that defiles him. Some say where you worship God is what really matters. Jesus said in John 4:19-23 it is not where you worship but who you worship. And on and on the do's go. The truth is no matter what you or I do we can NEVER erase one single sin. The only ONE who can take away our sin is the Lord Jesus Christ. John records in John1:29 that when John the Baptist saw Jesus he said "...Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world".  2 Cor. 5:21 says " For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." And again in John 3:16 " For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life". God did not give His only begotten Son so you could go your own way and try to save yourself through what you could do! If you could save yourself by what you did  God would have sent his Son in vain (Gal 2:21). When Jesus died on the cross for your sins he said in John 20:30 " It is Finished". It was! It is! Trust in Jesus and in Him alone for your salvation. The work is done.

Miami Dolphins Attack On Don Jones

For all those who believe the Bible is outdated and that it does not speak to our generation we have another glaring example of its living, powerful, active work in our world. The prophet Isaiah in chp. 5:20 said "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" Jesus said in the Gospel of John 3:19 "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Yes, this is the same Jesus that loved us and gave himself for us (Galatians 2:20).  This is the same Jesus "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree,  that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose strips ye were healed"( 1 Peter 2:24).  In our day if a man says something that is true (light) he is treated like he has said something evil (darkness). Don Jones made two little comments and was treated by the Miami Dolphins as though he had committed battery against his wife, or was arrested  for DUI. The Miami Dolphins  fined and suspended Don Jones for tweeting "OMG" and "horrible"(light) because a drafted football player was kissing another man on ESPN. They have also demanded that he complete "educational training". Head Coach John Philbin put out a statement in which he said  "These comments are not consistent with the values and standards of our program"(darkness). I don't know if the Coach has a grip on what values and standards are but by this statement it appears that he does not. It may be a wise move for the Miami Dolphins and their head Coach to receive some educational training on what values and standards are.
In Luke 17:28-30 Jesus said "Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when Son of man is revealed." Homosexuality is not just horrible it is a SIN. Why should anyone be forced to accept a sinful act as a normal part of life? It is abnormal,  unnatural, and indecent behavior that should not be promoted by the NFL. Sadly, the only recourse that the fans have is not to show up for the games. I would certainly encourage fans of the teams that our involved in this promotion of sinful acts to withdraw their support. The only thing this world will respond to is the loss of their almighty dollar. Instead of being concerned about pleasing the Creator they are more concerned about political correctness. Do not forget when this world is over you will not be standing before the court of public opinion but you will be standing before God. Romans 14:12 "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."  Revelations 20:11-15 " And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heavens fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

Old or New

"The New Testament is distinguished from the Old Testament by the word "new" It is not just a revelation but a continuation of the history of God's activity in the new world.[i] "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (John1:29) This verse from the New Testament would make no sense to one without knowledge of Old Testament passages such as Exodus 12. It's important that one realise the Old Testament and New Testament do not represent a plan A and plan B by God. It's always been plan A; it's always been Jesus from before the foundation of the world. What a glorious continuation indeed.

 "The New Testament is linked to the Old Testament in the sense that it was viewed by the early church as having the same authority as the Old Testament. It was seen as revelatory of God's will and as scripture."[ii] "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:16) Paul's is referring to the Old Testament in this passage. As such, the Old Testament is to be used today as it was then, for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. However, Peter refers to Paul's writings as scripture in 2 Peter 3:16, which would indicate that Paul's writings are also inspired of God. Thus, Old and New Testaments are God breathed and should be read and understood as such.

It is important that I remind myself of these truths often so that I do not forget how the New and Old Testaments are inextricably linked.

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[i] Hester, Kevin, Dr. "What Is the New Testament." Student-My Welch College. Web. 19 Apr. 2014.

[ii] Hester, Kevin, Dr. 

First and Second Adam

            "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12) just about sums up the whole problem. Paul goes on to say that "death reigned from Adam to Moses", at which time the Law was introduced. Through Adam's disobedience sin and death passed to me and with it judgment and condemnation. The actions of one person thousands of years ago still impact our lives today.

            Jesus, on the other hand, has a different impact on us. Jesus, as the second Adam, offers the free gift of grace, abundant grace, justification, and righteousness, which will reign in us all. This all occurs because of the obedience of one man, the man Christ Jesus. Again, the actions of one person thousands of years ago has a serious impact on our lives.

            In Romans 7 Paul refers to the law as spiritual. It is the law that illuminates our sinfulness. Without the law there is no knowledge of sin. It is this knowledge that helps one realise that they are dead in their trespasses and sins. Paul also speaks of another law. This is the law of sin. There is an almighty struggle between good and evil, which occurs in one. Our fallen nature will always war against the spirit. We have only one hope of escaping the law of death and that is through our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul quotes Habakkuk 2:4 when he said the "just shall live by faith." Justification comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Specifically, by grace through faith we are saved. This has always been God's plan.

Paul said, "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." (Romans 3:20) and "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ." (Romans 3:24) I love the word grace. It speaks to God's divine unmerited favour and His divine influence in our lives that brings about both salvation and sanctification. We are also justified by the precious blood of Jesus Christ as mentioned in Romans 5:9. "And without shedding of blood is no remission", says the writer of Hebrews.

We are all born under the penalty of the law of sin. The law that is spiritual makes us aware of our sin and shows us our complete inability to overcome sin and death without Jesus. Jesus comes along side us and removes our sin debt by His grace, faith, and blood. All of which gives us freedom from and power over sin.

Random Romans

(Romans 6:13) - “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness.”

Interpretation -The Greek word “paristemi” is translated “yield ye”, “yield”, “ye yield”, and “ye have yielded” in Romans 6. However, I find its translation, “present”, in Romans 12:1 most helpful in discerning the meaning of this passage. In Romans 12 one is instructed to “present your bodies a living sacrifice…unto God.” Thus I could read Romans 6:13, “Neither present your members as instruments [weapons] of unrighteousness unto sin: but present yourselves unto God...as instruments [weapons] of righteousness unto God.” When we present our members we are placing our members at one’s disposal wilfully. We are placing a weapon, ourselves, in the hands of God or Satan. There is no other option.

Application - yielding or presenting my members as instruments or weapons of unrighteousness is acting or speaking in unrighteous, sinful ways. I make myself an instrument or weapon of unrighteousness by wilfully disobeying the clear teachings of the Bible, thus living for society, self, and Satan. If I want to present myself as an instrument or weapon in the hands of God I must live for the Saviour. This means reading and meditating on the Word of God, an active prayer life, and participation in the House of God.

(Romans 10:13-17)  13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed ? and howshall they believe in him of whom they have not heard ? and how shall they hearwithout a preacher ?

15 And how shall they preach , except they be sent ? as it is written , Howbeautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring gladtidings of good things!

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith , Lord, who hathbelieved our report? {our report: Gr. the hearing of us?} {report: or, preaching?}

17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

Interpretation – Salvation is open to all who call on the name of the Lord. Romans 10:8-10 gives further explanation as to what this call is to be, a call on God from a heart of faith in the risen Saviour.

Application – The application the Apostle Paul lays out in this passage is where my conviction comes in. The lost must cry out in faith to Jesus Christ if they are to be saved from their sins. In order to do this they must hear the Word of God preached. However, this cannot occur unless a God sent man preaches the Word of God. This truth is graciously illustrated for us in Acts 8: 26-40. God sent Phillip to the Ethiopian Eunuch to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Phillip opened up the Word of God and preached it to a willing listener who was gloriously saved by grace through faith. We must become more like Jesus and less like ourselves. 

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