“,,,Ye of little faith…”  (The Gospels)

“When Jesus heard it, [H]e marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.”  (Matthew 8)

One of  the dangers of writing is being misunderstood or being read out of context, or readers reading something into your words that simply are not there. Another danger, is a reader thinking that an article is specifically about them and taking offense and feeling attacked. These dangers are also present in a small ministry.

In a large ministry, the pastor can speak about certain and specific sins and his words are spread over a large group of persons and the great majority of those present have no idea who the preacher may be speaking of.  In a small  ministry, however, when the pastor is forced to deal with  an issue all present or most present knows waht’s going on. The preacher’s intent can and very often be misread.

In this article we will (DV) look at the dangers of writing. Not very long ago I read an article and I commented on that article. The writer of said article replied by saying we should not continue our correspondense (A correspondense that was over twenty (20) years old). Needless to say, I was hit right between the eyes. It seemed to me that my friend was reading something into my response to his very well written article that was not meant or I worded thoughts in a way that I meant not. We went back and forth and eventually was worked out, but there will forever remain a blotch on our relationship. This is how Christ-ian love works, two (2) may disagree heartily, and yet still love one another.

One needs to be very careful when writing to another for the above reasons. We understand the emoji is helpful but one cannot use an emoji in professional of serious correspondense. I have been an advocate for letter writing, in dealing with misunderstandings, for years in the place of face to face confrontation. While face to face is, in theory, the best way to clarify or clear the air, it is not in practice unless the two (2) parties involved are able to keep closed their mouth and listen when the other person is speaking and vice versa, however how often does this happen. Much of the time persons speak over  each other and cannot listen because they are formulation their next statement.

When writing a letter, one can make one’s point without interruption and vearing off on to rabbit trails and things that are not relavant to the discussion. The person who receives the letter can take time and really consider what is being said and then reply in a like manner. However, again there is danger even in this manner of communication, as said above, context, wording, and tone can be misunderstood. Thus the difficulty in communicating with another. When communicating with another, regardless of the manner of communication, is filled with possible pitfalls.

The above is germaine (Having to do with) one’s reading and study of Scripture. [SideNote: A person could read my parenthetical above and be offended…”Does he think I’m stupid and do not know what germaine means!?”  You might know the definition, but others may not.] When one reads Scripture, often times or even the majority of the time, we don’t know the tone of the Words. For example, “Ye of little faith,” when Christ says this, is He upbraiding them and speaking roughly with them or is He teasing them about their short coming. His words can be taken in both senses. He said this often and sometimes He seem angered and frustrated and other times He seems for teasing.

However, in our second (2nd) text above,, we find our Lord encouraged and encouraging and discouraged and reproving. The centurion demonstrates a great faith in the power of Christ’s Words and Christ is encouraged to see this exercise of faith and He rewards the centurion with His exhorting Words and the healing of the centurion’s servant. Then at the same time, He speaks of a lack of faith in the Jews.  The tone of His Words cannot be mistaken.

In John 19:11, we have our Lord saying to Pilate, “Thou couldest have no power at all against [M]e, except it were given thee from above: Therefore he that delivered [M]e unto thee hath the greater sin.” When some read this, they understand Christ speaking boldly and condescending to Pilate. However when I read this, I see Christ looking at a man who is so internally conflicted and tormented regarding Christ’s execution and Christ is bring comfort and consolation to this weak man, thus “he that delivered me….hath the greater sin.” Christ was telling Pilate that everything is out of his hands and he was playing a role God cast him in.

When Christ was castigating His enemies in Matthew 23, no one can misunderstand Christ’s tone, no not one. When, in John 2, Christ is cleansing the temple, His tone cannot be misinterpreted. In John 8, we find Christ, again rebuking His enemies in very truthful and rough Words and there is no need for clarification on what Christ meant.

In Second (2nd) Corinthians, we read Paul making very sarcastic comments regarding the Corinthians and false teachers, but his sarcasm can be missed if his words are not closely read. In Galatians, again, he is strong and very strait-forward regarding the Galatians and false teachers and his tone cann ot be misconstrued.

The above gives us reason to pray before we read and or study Scripture, pray while we are reading/studying, and after reading/studying.  We might pray and ask God to grant us insight and understanding before we walk in His Word. While we are in the Word, we should continue to pray, Lord lead me in understanding, and if we do not understand something we should ask God for clarification. He may not grant it then and there but He will grant it, sometimes, out of nowhere. After our time in the Word, let us thank God for that time and for that which we learned or understood. When reading/studying the Scriptures, it should be done in and with prayer…always.

The above is also a reason to invest in study aids such as, commentaries (Matthew Henry, Calvin, J.C. Ryles on the Gospels, Spurgeon, Pink on John’s Gospel, John Macarthur are just a few), a Bible with study notes, The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, Concordance (Young’s Analytical is my favourite). However, never become dependent upon these helps, never, never, never.

Do not allow these helps to usurp the office of God’s Spirit. It is the office of the Holy Spirit to teach us, to guide us, grant us understanding, etc. (Isaiah 11:1-2) An analogy: When a person uses pain pills too much, the human body will cease to make the natural pain killers, endorphins.  When a Christ-ian leans too much upon helps, the Spirit will cease to lead and will be grieved. It is the same as a persons leaning on good works for salvation, Christ will benefit them not.

One thing is for certain, God will never misunderstand us and we will not misunderstand Him when He wants His will revealed and made known.

Godspeed.

“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”  (1 Corinthians 6)

We will preface this article by saying, very clearly, the Christ-ian;s hope is to live a personally holy life. The Christ-ian should strive, with the Spirit’s strength, to live a less and less sinful life.  It has been said that the Christ-ian will not be sinless in this stage of our eternal life, but the Christ-ian will sin less. One of the purposes of salvation is to bring the child of God into a Christ-likeness through the process of progressive holiness. There is a three (3) fold holiness or sanctification.

The Christ-ian is sanctified or made holy in Position, in Principle, and in Practice. When one is saved one is positionally sanctified as in being set apart and made holy unto God. One adopts principle of holiness as their worldview will be changing, their principles have been sanctified, they look upon life from a point of desiring holiness. The Christ-ian is also seeking to live a life of holiness in their everyday practices. The Christ-ian has been predestinated to become Christ-like and that begins at the point of salvation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In fact, that is the Holy Spirit’s main focus, leading us into a greater holiness.

Having made the above points, let us answer the snide question that many of us have been asked, “So you’re telling me that I can be saved and then go out and kill somebody.” The normal answer is, “Well, if you’re truly saved you won’t want to kill anybody.” While that is a true statement, it does not answer the question.  So If I am saved, can I kill someone and still be saved? The answer is Yes, Yes, Yes. That is one of the promises of Salvation. However, know that God will certainly chasten the Christ-ian person that kills. Know this also, There is a sin unto death, so said John. We know not what that sin is but it stands to reason God is saying if you go to far, He will step in and take you home.

Having said all of that, I want to say, Drug addiction, addiction to pain medicines will not cause one to lose one’s salvation, nor does it speak to or against one’s character or one’s faith or one’s love for God. Paul said it best, all things are lawful to us, all things, all sins, all vices, (lawful, in terms of not being under the penalty of law, Reader, either He paid it all or He didn’t) however, he also says that these things are not expedient unto us and one should not be brought under the control of anything. In other words, being controlled by an outside agent is not expedient to our growth in holiness, sanctification, or Christ-likeness.

I know how easy it is to fall into an addiction to pain killers. I have had life changing health issues and pain medicine was part of dealing with the chronic and acute nature of the health issue. Pain medicine, if needed is a real help, however that help can become a horrible hinderance real quick, this I know and we are not afraid to say so. It is a physiological issue and not a spiritual or character issue. Addiction does not speak to one’s faith, character, or one’s love for God and it certainly does not change His love for the addicted.

For one to judge God’s servant if s/he falls into an addiction while trying to manage pain or after a medical procedure is a great hurt to the person suffering. This judgmental and ignorant point of view speaks to the one judging and it does not speak well. When looking at addiction, one must know that it takes two (2) forms. The two (2) forms of addiction is physiological and the other if mental or emotional.

The physical addiction is involuntary. The body becomes use to the drug and when the drug is taken away the body goes into a temper tantrum and it is called withdrawal. This has nothing to do with character or the goodness of the one that is suffering the withdrawal. The other type of addiction which is a real problem is the mental addiction. The mind says, “I want,”  “I want,”  “I want,”  “I need,”  “I need,”  “I need,”  “NOW! NOW! NOW! NOW! “I’m not going to let you think of anything else except, “I want,”  “I need.”

Every thought of the addict has a parasitic drag embedded with it, as Paul said, it is a stronghold in the imagination, one cannot have a thought without the “I need” and the “I want” being present, this principle can be found in Romans chapter seven (7).  The addict might think about lunch but the thought of I need and I want is present. The Christ-ian addict…Yes!, the Christ-ian addict sits in church and tries to focus on the message and the whole time I want and I need is present and nagging, shouting and screaming.  This is mental addiction and this can be fought. The physiological withdrawals are all involuntary and has a life of it’s own.

To give one an understanding of addiction one could use an analogy.  Addiction to pain medicine is just short of demonic possession.  The name of this demon is, IwantIneed. This demon/addiction effects the mind, the body, the will, the emotions, it is like human depravity, addiction effects a person on all levels of one’s person. One becomes a servant to this demon addiction. Everything and I mean everything is about the demon.

My health issues and my addictive personality type was a perfect storm. My body became addicted to the drugs in the physiological, one cannot help that, save not ingesting the demon. The demon addiction will happen in the physiological senses of the body, it’s involuntary. The real threat is the mental addiction to the demon, IwantIneed. This happened to me. I was in a fog for seven (7) years. I thought it was under control but that’s the fiery dart, one is in a fog but one does not know one is in a fog as the fog seems natural or ordinary. The addiction is a subjective demon.

One knows not how deep one is in a fog until one comes through and out of the fog. When one comes out of the fog, one realizes they have been a different person…a person possessed by the demon addiction IwantIneed. There are varied and different ways to get out of this possession. Rehab is a means, if one can go through with it. The other is to simply stop. To simply stop is not simple, however. Some doctors say that a person cannot help themself out of the addiction. I can see why they would say that. To stop is one of the most difficult things one will ever do.

One could quote our Lord on this subject, “With man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” The context of His Words was to the salvation of man, as no man can save himself, it is impossible, but with God salvation is possible. Appropriating His Words to our topic would be like: to stop using pain medicine all by one’s self is impossible (if it is), but with God, gaining a control (a control that comes from Him) is possible.

I laid in my bed, under the merciful Hand of God for a week, persevering through the withdrawal,  it was horrible, I was shaking, my skin was crawling, my body was fighting my decision to stop being controlled by the mental addiction/demon, IwantIneed. The body reacts with vomitting and screaming through the shaking and skin crawling. I laid in sweat, vomitting and shaking, crying and praying and the demon, IwantIneed, was talking to me, tempting me to give in and stop hurting, But the Lord stood with me and He led me through the withdrawal, through my body attacking me, through my mind wanting to give in, and the “exorcising” of the addiction/demon IwantIneed.

The corrupting manner of cancer is analogous to sin as sin is corrupting and defiling to the whole of the person, addiction is analogous to demon possession, the head spin and vomitting, in a very literal and spiritual sense as one is completely under the control of IwantIneed.

The Only Power and Control we would want to be under is the Merciful Hand of God. God saved me from a great fall into a lost life.

If you, Reader, have an addiction to something, there is hope, there is always hope.

“Thou shalt honour thy father and they mother.”  (Exodus 20)

“Thou shalt not kill.”  (Exodus 20)

“Thou shalt not steal.”  (Exodus 20)

“Thou shalt not covet.”  (Exodus 20)

My Dad had a friend who went to church every Sunday, all services. This friend also supported the Clintons and Democratic party. This goes back some time. My Dad could not understand how his friend could be a Christ-ian and a Clinton/ Democratic party supporter. My Dad could not see these two (2) lining up. Neither can this writer. When the democratic party’s platform includes the murder of the innocent, a very negative view on law enforcement, very communist/socialist leanings, and the hatred and demonization of the wealthy and the attempt to silence their opponents with political correctness. How can a blood bought servant of Christ support any of the above?

What is one to make of these “Christ-ian” democrats? Either:
*They put politics ahead of faith; President above God.
*They are not truly blood bought.
*They are ignorant to what the democratic party stands for and they are just keeping up    with family politics.
*They trust in the government for their provisions more so than God.

We cannot think of any other reasons., except they be demonically possessed.

Why does the Republican party, the Conservative, the Christ-ian lean right?  It is simple, they lean right because they believe in the Constitution as something that gives this country a directive. The Constitution is that objective source that keeps everyone in check, it has no respect of persons. The right leaning understands that this country is a republic that is ruled by a Constitution. The right knows that democracy works only if those in the democracy are righteous, fair, logical, civic-minded persons. If the democracy is filled with unethical, amoral, or emotion-driven persons it is a great evil and only bad will come from it.

Why does the Democratic party, the Liberal, the post-Christ-ian progressive lean to the left?
It is simple, they lean left because they do not want any kind of real authority (Hence Obama and leading from behind). The left does not want an objective source telling them what is right, good, and true. They want the nation to be a true democracy without a Constitution. They want to decide what is right for them, good for them, and true for them. Decisive, cold, Constitutional rule is not for them because it does not respect their personal self-centered wants and feelings. The left has no objective source, it has only subjective feelings that motivates them. The left love polls because it is a type of mob rule. For the left it is Polls vs. the Constitution.

Please understand I am speaking to the democratic party as a whole, I am speaking about their platform and what drives their platform. I am not putting all democrats into this blanket view of the Left.

The thing about the democrat is this, in regards to abortion, The democrat will fight for the right to murder a baby, but if their child or grandchild were pregnant and wanted an abortion, the democrat, more than likely, will try to talk the pregnant woman out of the abortion. Some democrats have said as much, I cannot cite them, but I remember, one saying, something like, personally I would never have an abortion; but they will fight for the right to murder other person’s babies.

The democrat also wants to have a gun ownership limited (In some cases, methinks they are right) while the leftist politician and the liberal Celebrity have armed body guards. I was in agreement with the left when they said that machine guns are not necessary. I thought, “Why does anyone need a machine gun?” It seemed to be overkill and very dangerous to society.

THEN, someone gave me a different perspective. Think about a twenty-something young woman. Put her into an apartment by herself in a city where violence does not take a day off. Should she not have a gun for protection? What kind of gun? A six (6) shooter, a Glock, a thirty-eight (38) special?  These guns require aim and if our young woman is being attacked, would she have time to take aim? Should our young woman take a rifle for protection? Again, Rifles require aim. How about a shot gun? This gun does not need perfect aim as the buck shot spreads and scatters. However, a shotgun holds very limited ammunition. What if she does miss her attacker? Therefore, it seems to me that a machine gun is a young woman’s best friend.

The democratic party has targeted the one percent (1%) and has demonized them. This party has caused their constituents to hate the wealthy, this party has made their victims to covet their neighbor’s everything. Reader, This is how the French Revolution started. The poor were pitted against the rich. The poor were characterized as good and the rich were characterized as bad. When in truth, some of the poor were poor due to their worldview and attitude and some of the wealthy were wealthy because they worked hard and made good decisions. Certainly there were good and bad in both the poor and the rich.

In Summary:  The right leans right because they respect an objective source. This is why the right is logical and composed. The Left leans left because they do not want an objective source, therefore they fall into their own subjective feelings.

Godspeed.

“Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man (Humanity), in whom there is no help.”  (Psalm 146)

It has been foretold that before the tribulation period and the (a)nti (c)hrist rises, many will fall away from the Christ-ian faith. From my perspective, I see this playing out in a variety of ways. False doctrine will overtake sound doctrine in the local church, the great falling away does not necessarily mean that believers will stop going to the local church. The falling away speaks to the Absence of the Holy Spirit or the ignoring of the Holy Spirit. Another means of falling away is the personal/public fall of spiritual leaders. We are seeing men of God falling right and left. This fall does not necessarily speak to their loss or lack of salvation.

Another part of this falling away is the nominal, professing, and pretending Christ-ian being revealed as an unbeliever after all the years they sat with true believers (Matthew 13)

In this article (DV), we will focus on the man of God and his public fall and disgrace before the enemies of God and how the Church should respond to that fall.

One should remember that man is fallible, there are examples, in Scripture, that demonstrate a man of God falling. We see King Saul fall and be exposed as a fraud and an unbeliever in God.  (Belief is defined by one’s love for God, one’s trust in God and one’s obedience to God.) Saul’s actions betrayed his unbelief. David’s fall reveals a comfortableness, a complacency, or contentment that caused a rift between himself and God. This contentment allowed David to commit great and grievous sin, involving many other innocent parties.

Power and authority will reveal a man’s heart, for good or for bad. Power and authority, if not kept in check, will corrupt a good person. We see this time and time again in history and in current events. If power and authority is used properly, it’s fruit will be good. If power and authority is abused, it’s fruit will be bad and obvious.

The transfiguration of Christ in the presence of Peter, James, and John will help us respond properly to a spiritual leader’s fall. At the Mount of Transfiguration Peter, James, and John saw Christ Glorified (A Microcosm view of Christ’s return). The inner circle also saw Moses and Elijah. Peter spoke up and said they should build memorials to all three (3), Christ, Moses, and Elijah. When God the Father heard this, a bright cloud fell upon the men and He said, “This is [M]y beloved Son, in [W]hom I am well pleased; hear ye [H]im.”  “And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.”

How are we to respond to a fallen spiritual leader?
*Repent of our lifting up of men.
*Pray for the fallen leader.
*Remain friends with the fallen leader. Be a source of hope.
*Take heed, lest thou also fall.
*Ask God to send a man of God with a shepherd’s heart.
*Learn from this fall, we must keep our eyes and hearts upon Christ only.
*Understand that the local church built up the leader and set him up for the fall.

How can we avoid this in the future?
*Personally, Learn from the Word of God, complacency is not acceptable. It is unacceptable and dangerous to think you can sit under a fallible man and get what God has for you.
*When vetting a pastor, look for Christ-likeness in him. Take time to observe him. Some might say, “Yeah, that sounds good in theory, but we need a pastor now.” The quickness to get a pastor is the root of all the troubles and the continuation of building up a pastor and setting him up for a fall and it tells you that Christ is not the focus of this ministry. Remember where two (2) or three (3) are gathered together in His Name, He is Present.
*Know that a pastor is a fallible man and Christ is the Christ and He is impeccable.
*Set up the governing body of the church as Scripture would have it.
*Accountability is a good thing and will help keep everyone in check.
*Know that Christ must have preeminence in all things.

Also, know this: when a man of God falls, he inspires the enemy. However, putting that truth into perspective, the inspired enemies of God and His Church and their happiness to see a man of God fall, is a token of their depravity and their coming judgment.

Godspeed.

“And Caleb stills the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.”  (Numbers 13)

Sometime ago, We asked our readers how often they read our articles. Most said they do so here and there but are not daily readers. Due to this information we have, at times, written on topics that we have written on before and said some of the same things we have said in previous article. We also write new and different things as well for those that have read what we have written before.

The subject of perspective is a very important subject and could help very many persons. One of the rules of logical, critical, and clear thinking is to view things from other angles, and other points of views, from other perspectives.  It is the close-minded, and lazy thinker that does not follow this practice and their ignorance betrays this truth. We have used instances from Scripture to teach perspective.

Perspective can give you a new understanding of life and all that is involved in life. Perspective can give liberty and freedom from prejudices that bind the mind and heart. Perspective can help us understand why someone would do what they did. Perspective helps law enforcement bring criminals to justice. Perspective can make a bad day a good day. Perspective can help one with confidence and proper understandings.

Here are some lessons from Scripture:
*From our Scripture text above, All the spies saw the same thing but came away with different conclusions.  Who was right? It is written, They went up with Caleb and not Caleb went up with them. And God had already promised to deliver this people into the hands of the children of Israel. Due to perspective, many negative effects came to pass.
*Was Daniel put into the lions den or were the lions in Daniel’s den?
*Was Goliath the giant or was David the giant?
*When Christ stood in the court of man, was He on trial or was man on trial? Who was truly condemned that day? Christ died and rose agian, Christ’s human judges died and are in Hell and will be raised to stand before Him in Judgment.

Here are some ways to apply perspective in life:
*If you ever attend a meet and greet with a celebrity, did you “get to” meet them or did they “get to” meet you?
*Do you look like another person or does that person look like you?
*Did you just miss that right turn or has God just kept you from an accident or put you in the way of an accident so that His purpose and pleasure may come to pass?
*Is that person being mean or is that person doing right?
*Is that person being nice or is that person leading you down a bad path?
*Are you witnessing because you want persons to believe in Christ and to worship Him or are you wanting someone to affirm or confirm your beliefs because you are not fully persuaded in your own beliefs.
*Are you here to serve God’s purposes and pleasures or Is God here to serve yours?
*This illness or affliction or infirmity is a real challenge and has ruined my life. Or this has changed my life for the better, I have learned so much about God, others and myself. It was in faithfulness that God has afflicted me.
*Am I my dog’s master or is he mine?
*Is a life in sin a freedom or a bondage?”
*Is my obedience to God a bondage or freedom and liberty in Christ?
*Do you own your home or does your house own you?

In today’s culture, everyone is all about perception or how others see you. I worked with a guy who was very detailed and very good at his job. However, he came a cross as not caring and not being interested in the job at hand. This caused him difficulties. Most persons believe their perception of a matter is infallible and this demonstrates a lack of perspective.

We had a client that was having a wedding at her home. It was her daughter’s wedding and it was scheduled for the upcoming weekend.  This client and I had a very good relationship. She always remembered me during holidays and she would speak well of me to the boss. In preparing for this wedding I spent much time on the property making certain everything, landscape, was right and good. My client would call me very often looking for confirmation and comfort regarding the progression of the landscape projects.  All was fine.  THEN, after meeting with this client again, I was backing out of the driveway and this driveway was exceedingly long. One would have to look over one’s shoulder to keep on the driveway.

After I returned to the office and listened to my thirty (30) something messages, I received one from my aforementioned client. She said something to the tune of, “I know I have been calling you alot B.K. but to blatantly ignore me when you were leaving is unacceptable.”  This client called my boss and I was summarily replaced as company representative to this client.

I was shocked! I have learned to be schocked by nothing as i have aged and learned more and more about human nature, and come to understand the doctrine of human depravity more and more. I wrote a letter…a personal letter to this client in the name of our kinda friendship.  I told her I did not see her waving me down because my head was turned as I was backing up. I listed several logical reasons why I would never ignore her and that she should have know me better as the past informs the future. Her perception stood against my logic. This is the problem with perception that lacks perspective.

The Spies saw the Cannanites as being bigger than God’s promise. Caleb saw God’s promise as bigger than the Cannanites.

David’s perspective was God is bigger than this giant. Everyone else took the persective, this giant is bigger “than me.”

Daniel took the perspective that God is bigger and more powerful than the lions that were before him.

Christ was judging His enemies in light of Eternity. Christ’s enemies were judging Him in light of temporal life and their little world.

Christ-ian, Let us look at things with a Scriptural perspective and from a perspective that proceeds from the conclusion that God is greater than all. Let us have a perspective that exalts God and abases man before God. Let us have a perspective in light of Eternity.

Godspeed.

“[The god] of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not…”                                                                                                                            (2 Corinthians 4:4)

“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”                                                                                                                                        (John 3)

“[God] hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.                                                                                                                                                  (John 12)

We have had a very similar conversation with many different believers these days.  This conversation centers around the surprise that no one can understand, or how so many others cannot see what is going on in our times, and how so many are ignorant of the signs of the times. If any one watches the news or reads current events they should be able to see what is plain, and what is plain, is prophesy coming to pass like never before in world history.

Some persons do see what is coming to pass so very quicky and they are excited and in awe because the Word of God is being validated and given veracity daily.  Others say, the church has been saying this for thousands of years and we are no closer to the end of times as we know it and Christ is no closer to returning as He was a thousand (1000) years ago.

Some of those we have spoken with, are believers but ignorant to the signs of the times and want to believe and are fascinated by the possibility of Christ’s return. Yet, others are familiar with the signs and see them coming to pass, however they hope Christ will not come too quickly as there remains to many things they want to experience on earth. The last two (2) I cannot understand and I find to be a bad sign concerning the individuals that espouse them.

The above reveals the thoughts of saved persons hoping in Christ’s return, lost persons, and saved (?) people that are not what they should be; their salvation could be doubted.

Why are there so many different reactions to this doctrine of the Christ-ian faith?  The first (1st) reaction is simple. Those who are familiar with the doctrine of Christ’s return and are excited by this doctrine and live in preparation of His return believe.  They have a sound and Scriptural understanding of this return and it effects them in a proper manner. Their excitement speaks to their faith and hope in Christ.

The second group responds out of unbelief and a lack of faith. They respond because they believe not and love not Christ. Their response proves their lack of submission to Christ as Lord and Saviour. It speaks to their faithlessness in Scripture.  The last group speaks to those that have a knowledge concerning Scripture and it’s teachings. But their understanding of Scripture does not effect them in a way that it should and this knowledge will stand as a witness against them. There is a large number of the last two (2) groups in the Church.

Have you ever wondered why some persons believe in Christ and the Scripture and others do not? There are three (3) ways to answer this question. One (1) is a Godward answer and there is a human answer working in unison. The third (3rd) way is a divine and a human answer working in unison. The first (1st) is God chooses those who will be benifitted by the free choice of God and a rejection of those who will believe not.  Second (2) Those who are saved, have repented and believed in the Word of God and Christ.

The third (3rd) is a combination of both one (1) and three (3).  In our first (1st) text above we read that (s)atan hath blinded the minds of those that believe not.  This tells us that there are persons that believe not and this is due to a work of (s)atan.  In our third (3rd) text we read that God has blinded the eyes and minds so that individuals will not believe and be converted.  When these two (2) are put together, we see that God uses (s)atan to blind these individuals!!!  The above Scriptural truths may not be taught by the majority of churches and preachers but it is taught in Scriptural.

In the second (2nd) text we see very plainly that a person cannot believe lest they be born again. This Scripture flies in the face of much of the teaching put forth by most of the church.  The incorrect but accepted teaching of the church states that a person will see the kingdom of God after believing, however the Word of God teaches that one will believe after seeing the Kindom of God. In other words one must first be shown the Kingdom of God and this revelation allows them or rather causes them to believe.  This is the divine side of salvation.

Therefore a person believes after God and only after God reveals the Kingdom of God to them. The person that believes not is because God uses (s)atan to bring about His will that others are blinded and kept from believing and being saved.

The above theology demonstrates why different persons react differently to the revealed doctrine concerning Christ’s return and the blatant signs of the times.

What are some of the signs of the times that are coming to pass so quickly?
*The sinful condition of the world’s population. It is true the world’s population has been sinful since the beginning. However, the sinfulness of mankind has never been to manifest and undeniable than ever before.  In Genesis, God said the imagination of man is only evil continually. In our world today, the sinfulness of mankind is not hidden in the imagination but is demonstrable like never before in actions.
*The hatred for each other and especially for God cannot be denied.
*The movements of the nations of the world are clearly that of century’s old prophecy. China, Russia, Iran, Israel, and other nations are moving as if they are following a script.
*The state of the Church is also moving according to a Script because it is. We are seeing unsound doctrine being accpted. We see many church leaders falling into sin and being put out of the church.
*The very fact that Scriptural prophecy is coming to pass like never before and so many are blind to this. An example of this:  The Jehovah’s witness is in no way a Christ-ian Church but is a damnable cult with damnable teaching and doctrines. However it’s growth is a proof of Christ-ian and Scriptural prophecy, as is the growth of other cults.  Having said that there is an example in the J.W. cult that makes clear my point.  In Scripture prophecy Christ says, when they say Christ has come and He is in the secret chamber, believe them not. The J.W. cult said years ago that Christ had returned and met with their elders in a secret chamber and this is a main teaching of the J.W. cult!!!
*Another sign is the population worshiping the creation rather than the Creator.  This is global warming or climate change or whatever they choose to call it.

Reader, when it comes to prophecy, it is God that must convince. The most logical of arguments will not persuade lest God chooses to use that argument.  The obvious coming to pass or fulfilment of prophecy will not convince an unbeliever, lest God grants the blind to gain sight. To those that have seen the signs of the times and have understood them, give praise and thanks to God for this ability and sight. This writer, in the past, was not a “prophecy guy.”

I would hear others speaking about prophecy and I simply did not get excited. What this said about me, I know not. However, over the last couple years, I have been given a greater understanding of prophecy as God has opened my eyes as He has opened the eyes, mind, and understanding of many others. It seems God has used these plain to see prophecies to bring some to saving faith in Christ.  I know one that has said, that everything now makes sense to him and this is what God used to bring him unto saving faith in Christ!!! God can use what He wills to bring about what He wills.

I am very careful not to become a sensationalist in the matters of prophecy. We do not seek to put a date to Christ’s return, we do not allow prophecy matters to overtake my focus and preaching of the Gospel of Christ. We understand that the purpose of prophecy is to cause the Christ-ian to live a holy life as one awaits prophetic fulfilment in Christ’s return.

One (1) of the last saying of Christ when He was hanging upon our Cross and just before He gave up the [G]host, He said, “It is finished.” While it is absolutely true that Christ and His work upon the Cross has fulfilled His work upon the Cross, this is not what Christ was saying as His resurrection was still to come.  What then did, “It is finished” refer to?  These blessed words spoke to the completion of all of the prophecies that spoke to Christ has come to pass and has been fulfilled. I say that to say this, while Christ spoke upon propetical matters, they did not hold all of the attention of Christ and was not the only focus of His teachings. I say all of that to say this, while prophecy should be a consideration of the Christ-ian it must not consume the Christ-ian’s focus.

If someone is soley focused upon prophetical matters to the exclusion of Christ’s Person, Works, Ways, and Words.  If Prophecy is not causing a person to live a more holy life and causing one to oppose the old nature, the old man, the carnal nature, and the flesh, their focus on prophecy is doing them great harm and their focus on prophecy will stand as a witness against them when they stand before Christ.  All of prophecy points to one (1) thing and that one (1) thing is Christ is coming. The fact that Christ is coming should cause us all to strive for holiness and the mortification of sin and sins in our lives.

An analogy:  Let us say that the parents have been a vacation and the kids have been left home. The kids know full and well that Mom and Dad are due home tomorrow. The kids have had a party or two (2) over the week.  They have not kept the house staightened up but have allowed it to be messy. However as the arrival of the parents grows nearer and nearer, the kids begin to straighten up and clean the dishes, the bathroom, they being vacuuming, cleaning the windows, cut the grass, etc.  Why do they now begin to straighten up?  Because the parents are coming soon.
This is the purpose of prophecy, Christ is coming soon and it is time to straighten up…not the house or the yard, but the spirit and the life. This is not to say that it is acceptable to live in sin and then confess it and seek forgiveness, etc. as Christ’s return grows ever closer and closer.

One should always seek to live lives of holiness and righteousness. One should always seek to walk with Christ, but it is true that sometimes the “holiest” of believers may let some things slide a bit over time for a short time.  With sliding back being likely, it is time to stop letting somethings slip. It is time to review one’s spiritual condition.  It is high time we begin to examine our faith.  It is high time to make our calling and election sure[footed]. It is time to remedy one’s backslidden state regardless of how slight or great it may be. It is high time we be what we know he wants us to be and what we know we should be.

How to know if one is backslidden?
*Joy is lacking.
*Excitement is lacking.
*Worship is lacking if worship exists at all in your daily life.
*Prayer is a drudgery and is “used” only when something is needed or wanted.
*Your Christ-ian witness has suffered, or is non-existent. You know not the last time you shared Christ and care not.
*You have never shared Christ in certain settings such as a job, school, or with family or friends. When was the last time you even left a track behind or given one to someone?  When was the last time this even mattered? or even bothers you right now, after reading this.
*When was the last time you attended a service with anykind of excitement.
*When was the last time you even thought about listening to Christ-ian music.
*When was the last time you, on your own accord, read the Bible?
*When was the last time you saw someone who is walking with God and is entralled with God and you were envious?

We have made this next statement before and if you have read this before and if you still remain distant and careless of the things of Christ, you are most certainly backslidden or lost. “The backslider is an atheist in practice and the only difference between the backslider and the moral atheist is the love of God for the backslider.”  Did you get that reader? The only difference between you, if you are backslidden and a moral atheist, is God loves you.

Backslider, Enough is enough. Your condition is your fault alone and you alone are responsible.  God has nothing to do with it and you have nothing to do with God.  Get Right, Right now.

Godspeed.

“LORD, who shall abide in [T]hy tabernacle? who shall dwell in [T]hy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned, but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never me moved.  (Psalm 15)

Reader, Is it ever right to lie? Is it every right to deceive someone? Is it ever just to mislead? The patented answer many Christ-ians and Christ-ian leaders would answer, it is never right to lie, it is never right to deceive and it is never justifiable at all.

As I’ve said before, articles like this confirm, it is good that we have not a large ministry or have anyone to speak against us to our hurt. I say that to say this, It is right to lie, it is right to deceive and it is justifiable to mislead others, however I write this with certain qualifications. Is it right to lie in order to save yourself trouble or to get ahead? No. Never.  Is it right to deceive someone to their hurt and your benefit? No.  Is it justified to lie if the ends justify the means and the means profit or benefit you? No. No. No.

Am i contradicting myself or playing with semantics?  No. Not at all.  It has been shown in Scripture, God blesses certain persons who lie. The Israeli midwives lied, Rahab lied and betrayed her people. Jael, in Judges, deceived and mislead Sicera in order to kill him. Ehud used deception and misleadings to kill Eglon. When God sent Samuel to anoint God’s chosen king, David, Samuel said to God, Saul will certainly see what is going on and will stop me, God said, [paraphrasing] You’re right, Samuel. Tell Saul you are going to offer a sacrifice. Reader, was that not misleading and a deception? Absolutely. All of the above were blessed by God for lying, deceiving, and misleading others. Christ mislead his brother when they said He should go and show off His powers.  He said, it wasn’t the right time for that, the brothers left, He put on a cloak and went behind them to the holy day.

However, David was deceptive in his affairs surrounding Bathsheba and her husband. Absolom was an ambicious “me person” and his deception was cloaked in ambition.  Adam and Eve spun a web of misleading deception, making excuses, when God came in the cool of the evening, Annanias and Sapphira mislead the church, Simon the sorceror, wanted the Holy Spirit in order to have power over others. David and Bathsheba lost their child to death or their child was taken and kept safe by God (perspective), Adam and Eve were driven from the garden, Annanias and Sapphira died for their dissimulation. Simon was blinded for his assumption and petulence.

What is the difference? How do we know we are doing right if or when we lie, deceive, and mislead?
*One speaketh the truth in the heart, which God looks upon. What about the mouth? could there be deception in one’s words AND “truth is in his heart. Sometimes if one is to be honest and pure with God, one must mislead and deceive man. When the S.S. came to homes of good Germans, seeking Jews, was not the family right and just when they said, Nope, there are no Jews here when there was? An unjust question does not dignify, deserve or require a just answer. An unjust question deserves an answer that may mislead and deceive, if in the heart of God’s servant, God’s Truth stands.

When is it acceptable to lie? When is it right to deceive? When is it good to mislead? To be true to God, one might perjure one’s self. When the “truth” has a spirit of prejudice, hurt and harm and is twisted to fit this fallen world, it is proper to mislead. One cannot lie, deceive, or mislead in the spirit of self preservation, pride, or ambition. It is never acceptable, excusable, and cannot be, “well, I kinda undertand why…” Never is it acceptable to lie in order to save one’s own flesh. Lying to save the flesh is sowing to the flesh and it shall reap what it has sewn, corruption. However, misleading. deceiving, lying in the name or sake of truth…objective truth, and goodness is sowing to the spirit and God knows and God understands. Again, see Samuel and his sacrifice cover story, the Hebrew mid-wives, and Rahab.

It is a paradox, when one must lie, perjure one’s self, decieve and mislead in order for Truth, Goodness, and Right to stand.

In summary: One cannot lie to preserve one’s self or to get one’s way or to forward an issue, concept, movement, etc. It is right to mislead, deceive, and lie to save truth and other persons. Honesty is not a good policy, honesty would often be self destructive as the Christ-ian must be one who “sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.”

In other words the heart remains pure if one lies and deceives and misleads in the name of objective truth, goodness, and right-ness. It’s all about motivation and intention because that is what God looks at.

Godspeed.

“And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbor…”  (Isaiah 3)

“Surely oppression maketh a wide man wise….”  (Ecclesiastes 7)

“The lips of the wise disperse knowledge…”  (Proverbs 15)

“The lips of the righteous feed many…”  (Proverbs 10)

“The tongue of the just is as choice silver…”  (Proverbs 10)

Political coroection is a great plague upon our culture.  Political correctness is the antithesis of free speech and a free people. It is the oppression of independent thought and expression. Therefore political correctness is a type of bondage, a binding of speech, a binding of the people and their independent thought.

In the past the Bible of choice for Christ-ian persons was the Geneva Bible which was a production of free thinking Christ-ian people fleeing a religious intolerant, oppressive, blood-thirsting anti-Christ queen. The Geneva Bible was a beloved Bible used by Shakespeare and the Pilgrims.

King James, however, hated the Geneva Bible because this Bble was the first (1st) Bible with study notes provided for the “common people.” In these notes, the commentators spoke to the right of the people to resist a king that goes against God.  King James was repelled and angered by this and demanded an authoratative version, minus notes.  Hence the King James Version Bible of 1611. I love the KJV and I use the Kjv, I also know it is the product of oppression, thus the opposition to God still fulfils His purposes.

The Bible is filled with examples of the oppression of free expression. Moses came to Pharoah and demanded, per the LORD and God of the Israelites, to give the freedom to the Israelites go into the wilderness and worship Him. Pharoah’s response was, Who is the LORD to me, that I should obey Him?  Pharoah and his people paid a great price for this denial of free expression. During the times of the prophets, the political leaders, the religious leaders, and many of the people wanted their freedom of expression hindered. In the New Testament, John the Baptist, Christ, the disciples, and the Apostles were all told to keep quiet and punished for their free expression.

During the times of the reformers and the puritan, they two (2) were told to shut up. In our contemporary time women and the black population were told to keep quiet. In our current times, the religious, conservative, and free thinking, and independent thinking persons are threatened with labels of bigotry, racist, stupid, old fashion, phobic, hateful, close-minded, etc.

If I say,I opposed Obama’s politics, I am bigoted, racist, and prejudiced.  If I say I’m tired of hearing  “African-American” instead of American, I’m racist and ignorant of history.  Should i say i’m, Irish-German-“native” American all the time or am I simply an American.  The persons that came to this country came to America and become emerged in the American culture. I know black persons that say, I’m not African- American, I’m American.  That speaks to unity and not division. The black persons wants equality, not equality in terms of, being created equal because that is simply a fact; we are all made equal by God.  yet they want equality, in terms, of sameness, then am I racist, bigoted, and prejudices because I say, okay, drop the Africanism from your Americanism.

Am i racist and bigoted because it makes sense to me that those immigrating to this country from their country should not maintain all the symbols and cultures of the country they LEFT to BECOME American.  Should I think it odd and contradictory to see Mexicans leaving their country, because of it’s less than adequate opportunities for it’s people, and then they come hear and fly their homeland flag? I’m not questioning their “right” to do so, I’m questioning the sense of it.

If a Russian came to America to flee Russian society and politics only to begine protesting American culture and politics? It makes no sense. This is analoguos to me leaving illinois because of it’s taxes, regulations, etc. and moving to another state only to protest and seek to make my new state like Illinois.  It’s the same as a person from a communist country because of it’s failures and brutality coming to America only to push communism.

In our country today there is a plague called political correctness that wants to hinder my freedom to say or write what I have written above. In California, there is a bill being floated that would ban the Bible due to it’s condemnation of the homosexual lifestyle and agenda, as it does a lifestyle of adultery, the practice of murder, stealing, etc. The Bible condemns homosexuality as it does all other sin and sins. Homosexuality isn’t a special or a greater sin than say pride, greed, or a prayerless life, or gossip, backbiting, heterosexual fornication, a lying tongue, or someone that causes division among brothers.

Due to the political correction plague, I am not supposed to say…
*Homosexuality is sin and is offensive to God and nature as are all sins and sin.
*I am bothered by the illogical need to address and acknowledge everyone’s ancestory. In other words, it is to me, a symptom of racism to continue using terms such as African-American, Asian-American, and Mexican-American.
*Not all muslims are terrorists but (almost) all terrorists are muslim, regardless of race.
*Statistical facts might put a race in a negative light but the statistics are the facts.
*Christ-ianity is the only faith/religion/way that makes sense.
*Islam is based off of a (s)atanic allusion warned about in Scripture and Islam’s prophet is a pedophile and depraved individual fooled by a vision and Islam’s god, (a)llah is (s)atan and is a cult that worships tortue, rape, persecution, and murder.
*Buddism has good principles but is ultimately a religion that only offers torments in Hell.
*The Hindu religion is made up and their gods, if they eevry manifested themselves, were demonic in nature just as Islam.
*The first (1st) amendment is meant to protect offensive speech.
*The left’s minsdet and ideas of gun control and pretty much everything else are ridiculous and are proven assinine, and innane by history, current events, reason, statistic, and logic
*The leftist mindset is based upon the shakey grounds of emotion, groupthink, mob-rule (Polls),subjective thinking, and principles that have been proven by history, logic, and Scripture, and even (un)common sense.
*I’m right and you’re wrong based upon supporting facts.
*You’re wrong and I’m right based upon supporting facts.
*I think…
*Sterotypes, though prejudiced and should not be re-lied upon, are stereotypes for a reason.
*I hate, stand against, oppose, rail against, preach against, teach against agendas, movements, ideologies, groupthink, anti-Christ-ian agendas, etc. and still love, respect, and want God’s blessings to fall upon individuals in these forces. This can not be understood and is unconceivable by the emotional and subjectively-feeling liberal mindset.

From our texts above we see that the oppression of free thoughtand expression can drive a wise man mad, this means political correctness is a plague that can cause madness if given into. Also the text from Isaiah foretells men shall be oppressed by their neighbor, that is political correctness. When the wise man, righteous man, and the just man is oppressed by political correctness the dispersement of knowledge, the feeding of wisdom and understanding is squashed. The intellectual health and wealth of the culture is limited, dumbed down, and made mad.

In the above paragraph we see the reason half (1/2) of America is mad (crazy mad not angry) and these mad people want to cause the rest of us to go mad. However, as the disciples told their religious and political oppressors, we can not help but speak of what we have seen and then asked these oppressors if it made sense to disobey God and obey them.

In demonology, it is said that the demonic has a three (3) step plan they always use.
*Infestation
*Oppression
*Possession

Reader, do you see something similar between the tactics of the left or carnal and self-centered and the demonic?  The left has infested politics, religion, entertainment, education, business, legal and medical institutions. They have infested everywhere and are pervasive in every area of life, just as depravity is intrinsic, innate, and is pervastive in every aspect of our humanness. Now they are oppressing, every man his neighbor, and if successful, they will possess all of this culture of liberty and freedom of expression.

Today and in the coming days, the expression of our faith will be heard and thought to be hate speech. When we speak against sin and sins, we will be intolerant and hate-filled. When we speak against sinful lifestyles as being an affront to God’s Holiness, Righteousness, and Order we will be seen as the oppressors. When we say abortion is murder, we are not speaking for life, but against the woman’s freedom of choice, woman and not mother, in the minds of the emotionally possessed.

Reader, We have entered the time wherein good is called evil and evil is called good.  God says, Woe unto them that do so. Let us overcome evil with good and never reward evil with evil. Let us put on the whole armour of God, let us put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and after doing that, let us STAND and dig in, in the liberty wherein Christ has made us free.

However, know this:
The freedom of expression is a sword, whereby we might die. Our Lord, His disciples and apostles were killed for their free expression of faith. During and before the Reformation persons were persecuted and killed for their free expression of Faith In the Lord Jesus. In Rome, and in Greece, early philosophers were killed for their freedom of expression. The Catholic church, during the Inquisition, killed those that expressed the true faith and the wickedness of the Catholic system. Today, speakers are un-invited, shamed, and attacked if they express their political views that are not what the politically correct and oppresive mindset wants to hear.

In summary: I am a Christ-ian man that stands for Christ-ian principles and opposes (but does not oppress) all other positions, agendas, ideologies, movements, forces, politics, religions, platforms, etc. that stand against, rail against, oppose and seek to oppress my liberty and freedom to do so. Please note, I did not say I am a Christ-ian, white, irish-german-indian- and straight American  man.

Godspeed.

“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy converstaion and godliness.”  (2 Peter 3)

Before we begin to get to our focus of this article let me prefeace it with some bullet points.
*There is much in our contemporary times that point to prophetical fulfilment, One would have to go out of one’s way not to see the signs of the times.
*However, The sound and believing mindset will “not make haste” in drawing conclusions and writing them in stone.
*I say the above even though I have thoughts on what is happening, yet we/I must not be dogmatic.
*In the Old Testament, the prophets spoke of coming events and the Coming Christ, yet they did not understand all that God showed them.  The prophets of old spoke to a victorious and supreme Sovereign that would rule over all of God’s Creation. Yet the prophets also saw and spoke of a Suffering Servants that would fall and die.  They knew not what to make of it all.
*Moving forward from the O.T. to the Gospels, which technically is Old Testament until Christ fulfilled all that was said of His Person, Works, and Words, The religious teachers had in there hand all of the O.T. prophecies concerning Christ and yet completely missed the points of identification.
*Today, the mysteries have been revealed, whether one reads Genesis-Deuteronomy, Psalms, and the Prophets, there is a clear and unmistakable picture of Jesus Christ. Yet the religious leaders that lived during Christ’s time on earth, with all the Scripture needed, missed the point and were condemned by Christ Himself (Matthew 23; John 3, 8).
*The same is true today, we have all the Scriptures and all the prophecies, yet they are still covered in mystery, as the prophets of old, who heard from God Himself, still didn’t understand what they saw and what they said.
*With the example from Scriptural history, Scriptural theology, Scripture prophecy we would be wise to look at our times and be careful not to overstep into “perfect knowledge” that “puffeth up.”  If the men that had the O.T., training in the O.T., and had the Very Author of the O.T. looking them in the face and they still missed the point, we must be careful not to do the same.
*Again I write all the above and I do see “all things work[ing] together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to [H]is purposes” and that “our salvation is nearer than when we first believed,” and “our salvation draweth nigh.”  I do see all the proper, prophecied, and promised “potentates” or kingdoms or nations all moving or rather being moved by the Hand of God. We see all of it to, but let us believe in our Lord and “not make haste” Isaiah 28:16).

Now that we have prefaced our article let us get to the point and purpose of Scriptural prophecy. In the Scripture text above, Peter asks his reader [paraphrasing], In light of all that you are seeing and knowing that it has been promised and prophecied for centuries, What now?  What kind of person should you be?

Unpacking Peter’s question, we are asked just as the original readers were asked, Now that you see all the nations moving as Scripture foretold us, you see the lost, the wicked, the unknown (unloved) by God acting out as we were foretold (Isaiah 3,  Romans 1,  2 Peter 2), what kind of person should YOU be? Should WE be, Should I be?

Methinks, it is dangerous to keep our eyes and minds upon all of the foretold events and forget to “Take heed unto thyself.”  In Revelation nineteen (19) we read of John’s vision. John sees Heaven opened, or unrolled before him, yet all with all of splendor before him, his attention is drawn to a Man riding a white horse, His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on [H]is [H]ead were many crowns…[H]e was clothed  with a vesture dipped in blood: and [H]is [N]ame is called The Word of God.” [See also Hebrews 12:1-3]

You see, the focus of Christ’s people must remain upon Him. Whenever a prophet was allowed to receive a glimpse or vision of God, in His Glory, they all fell and were without strength and they saw themselves as undone and God as All and Everything. After they saw or sensed their undone-ness and felt their strength leave them, they were picked up or made to stand up and to go forth and do as God instructed/instructs them.

That vision or sense of God’s Other-ness, God’s Greatness, and God’s Omni-Everything-Else gave the prophets their fervour, their unction, their confidence and strength. Yet with all of that given to them, they remained humble and this power under constraint or meekness allowed them and prompted them to a holiness and boldness (2 Peter 1:19-21).

We are told from Scripture, with all of the above being given to the prophets, they still understood only in parts (Hebrews 1). We are taught, even with all the prophets saw, they could not see the whole picture (1 Corinthians 13:9-13,  2 Peter 1).

“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.”  (Jeremiah 17)

All Christ-ians will at some point learn that the arm of flesh, a Christ-ian arm or the arm of the unsaved will fail them.  It is the husband and wife, that do not expect perfection from their spouse, that has a happy marriage.  It is the child that will learn an important life lesson that a parent is not perfect and it is the parent that understands this that will not berate themselves when they inevitably fail a child. It is the wise parent that promises not anything to a child.  It is the wise parent that will explain to the child, at an appropriate time, that they both are growing up and that neither will be perfect. It is God and God Alone that “fails not.”  It is God and God Alone that is the perfect Parent.

Certainly, a spouse or a parent that stives to be godly and Christ-like in their own person and in their relationships with others will come closer to being faithful and being the person they want to be and those around them hope them to be. However, in Scripture we have many examples of persons, good and bad failing others.

What must Abel have thought as Cain, his brother, was beating him to death? Moses must have felt “all things loss” when he realized his jewish roots and he lost the family of his youth. King Saul must have been a great disappointment and a shock to David for his betrayals. Eli must have been a disappointment to a young Samuel as well as King Saul’s manifestation of his true colors before an older Samuel. John the Baptizer said, I must decrease, [H]e must increase.

It had to be a sobering time when the young Christ lost His earthly father, His provider, and His protector. This must have been one of life’s events that propelled Christ to grow in wisdom and stature. Though the betrayal of Judas was prophesied, expected, and known to Christ, how He must have felt when it came to pass and Judas kissed the Cheek of Christ. How must it have felt when the very crowd that welcomed Christ into Jerusalem with Hosannas; a few days later cried for His Crucifixion.

How must Barnabas have felt when he and Paul separated ways and how Paul must have felt when John Mark departed.  Later in Paul’s life or at the end of his life, or spiritually speaking, the continuation of his eternal life, he wrote that all have forsaken him, but the Lord stood with him. What went through Paul’s mind when Peter and Barnabas were caught up in dissimulation and hypocrisy?

The purpose of this article is to put forward the Scriptural principle that states how the arm of flesh, or how man will, without exception, disappoint. It is a set up for discouragement for a person to put all hope in a spouse, it is folly for parents to expect too much from their children, it is folly for politically minded persons to put all one’s hope in their guy.  It is folly for a Christ-ian to put trust in and focus on another Christ-ian for a source of soundness or stability.

After the transfiguration cloud faded from the site of Peter, James, and John, they saw Christ only. Moses and Elijah were gone.  When the blind received sight, they saw Christ. When John received the Revelation of Jesus Christ, he saw all of Heaven open, yet his focus was upon Christ (Revelation 19). In the Old Testament, the cure for the bite of the fiery serpent was to focus upon the brazen serpent upon the poll. Also in the Old Testament, Jacob had to learn that the place where he met God was not to be his focus but the God Who revealed Himself to Jacob, at that place, must be the focus.

An analogy and a paradox:  When one looks at the Cross, one should focus upon the Absence of the Lord Jesus. The Absence of the Lord Jesus from the Cross and His Absence from the tomb is the focus, whereas with crucifixes, their Christ is present on the cross and is dead. The crucifix offers nothing but limbo, the Christ-free Cross and the Christ-free Tomb offers life, abundant life, eternal life, everlasting life, “he that hath the Son hath life, he that hath not the Son hath not life.”

In Christ-ianity there is the doctrine of Christ-ian liberty.  Reader, if you would enjoy the abundant life, you must accept that man, a spouse, family members, friends, government, the local church, your pastor, etc. can fail you; man is fallible.

If you are to find liberty, you must accept that you will fail others because you are fallible. When others fail us and when we fail others, we should not dwell upon that arm of flesh, instead we should look to the everlasting Arm of God, that faileth not and that Arm of God will all the more become the focus of one’s faith.

Reader, “I would not have you ignorant,”  you will fail others and in order not to be discouraged we should understand we will be failed by others. However, don’t use this inevitability as an excuse or way out. This truth should not give us license to break our word or not be what we should be for others. When we fail others we should not simply brush it off and think it was inevitable and others should not expect so much from us.

When others fail us, we should not be shocked or hold that failure against them. In the last sentence, we are not speaking about persons who always disappoints, always discourages, always hurts, everytime; that is a different story and requires a different response. We are speaking to the fact that our faith and hope in God is well placed and will be rewarded by His faithfulness. On the other hand, it is a curse, as our text above states, to put all of one’s faith and all of one’s hope in a person, no matter how good they might be.

Having written all the above, it is not folly to “believes all things”, it is Christ-ian love to believe in others and give others the benefit of doubt, and to expect the very best out of others, this will propel them to be dependable but be not shaken when those we love are proven all too human. Instead of focusing on the fallibility of others and being discouraged, Look to God, Who fails not, Who is infallible, Who changeth not, Who will never leave thee or forsake thee, Who promised to uphold thee and to be with thee, Who loved and loves His own until the end.

It is written of the Psalmist, “David encouraged himself in the LORD.”