Tag Archives: Gentile

Family Matters

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Ahnenblatt Family Tree Example

Ahnenblatt Family Tree Example (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In speaking with the Lord about who I have become, by His Grace, He showed me something of great value.  I was frustrated by the limits of righteous behavior I found in myself.  While I thought of Enoch, the seventh from Adam, and how he pleased the Lord so that God took him.  He lived for 365 years on this earth.  And he did not taste death because he lived in such  a way as to please the Holy and living God.

I looked at my life and wondered at my own wickedness.  As the sadness of my utter failure came seeping in, the Lord spoke an idea to me that has helped greatly.  I will try to convey the understanding with as little words as possible.

There are 12 tribes of Israel.  And each tribe has its own clans.  A clan represents a collection of families who trace their history to a common origin.  While they belong to a certain tribe they are identified under certain sub segments of that tribe.

Then the Lord showed me something I had not considered.  The Gentiles, that is those who are not Jews by birth but who belong to the line of  people who do not have the direct blessing under Moses, are divided into clans also.  Let me explain.

There are men who were raised in families who have passed on a love for the things of the Lord.  There are families who have passed on the love for traditions of men.  There are families who promote certain levels of sin in their lives as if it is their right to chase after a limited amount of wickedness.  And then, there is my clan.  Those who have passed on a boundless wickedness to their children.

The Lord in His mercy will judge us from the stock we were raised in.  What were we taught as children that has remained undetected within our memories?  A man who was raised by holy parents (gentiles, none the less) will remember things holy.  A man who was abused sexually and driven from holy behavior since he was old enough to speak will not know how to perform for the Lord like the former family.

But here is the rub.  Have you excelled beyond your clan?  Are you striving to rid yourself of the horrible wickedness that was passed down to you?  This is where He helped me understand.  There is a certain peace involved in understanding these things.  His expectation for those of the lesser clans is not as intense as those who were raised to know better.

There is a whole lot more to say about this.  But I think, for the sake of readability, this is enough to convey the message.

Fruit Trees of God

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I look at my life and see the fruit appear.  It’s not something I can reach out and hold.  The fruit is more like a receding tide.  Chaos begins to recede or move out of my life, while stability, love, righteous acts, and a determination to continue appear.

Many do not see this kind of fruit in their Christian life.  They pray for help to become godly.  Then they find themselves looking for something rather tangible.  But the fruit of God’s intervention in our lives is not something we can perceive.  Now, I’ll admit that there are times when He moves in and does something that is clearly different and not from this world.  But stopping a bullet in flight toward our heart is not His normal way of doing things.

Look at your life.  You have prayed.  You have developed a mind to know the difference between sin and righteousness.   People have begun to notice that you love God more than the world.  There are certain people you have been praying for that now

English: folio 150 recto of the codex, with th...

Image via Wikipedia

exhibit a difference in their life.  There is a measurable lack of chaos caused by sin.  And there is a marked increase in stability caused by your devotion to the Lord.

20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. (1 Corinthians: 1)

So then, let us not be of those who look for signs and what is called wisdom.  But let us take His promises as if they belong to us.  Let us gather confidence because God cannot lie.  And, above all, let us look to what is, not sitting waiting for a sign from God or a certain thought pattern that will cause men to stand in awe.  We are a people just like those released from bondage in Egypt.  They did not trust God or remember that they had once lived as slaves.  It was for this reason that God said, “They have not known my ways.”  And it was because they did not combine their understanding with faith that God swore on oath that they would never enter His rest.

I am prompted to open my eyes and see what He is doing, as opposed to looking for something I can hold in my hand.  I hope this post has helped to remind my friends of the same thing.  We are urged to remember that life is what is happening while we’re looking for it to happen.

Glenn Beck and the “Two Witnesses” of Revelation.

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Flag of the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem

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(Since this entry was written nothing has come about to warrant its writing.  I will leave this post on my blog.  I see that a lot of people are searching for such things.  But I will remind the reader that prophecy has its place.  All the while, leading a life filled with the Holy Spirit of God is of vastly more importance.  While we search for what is to come, let us remember to live a life worthy of God’s blessing.  Prophecy will do nothing to help us as we stand before the Throne of Christ Jesus.  Obedience, however, will help us immensely.)

I just posted a difference in beliefs between Glenn Beck and the children of the Most High God through Jesus’ sacrifice.  So I feel a bit redundant bringing him back to my blog.  But something is transpiring which demands attention.

Glenn is planning to take his media power to Jerusalem.  It is his belief that he must stand with Israel in the coming days.  I pondered this move in light of the Lord’s plans and wondered how this might fit in.  Though I don’t have direct word from the Lord on this, I’ve come to a realization that might hold some water.

The current media ignores Israel, being quite liberal and ungodly in their approach to the world’s plight.  And we have heard of the two witnesses which will appear to testify to the world’s ungodly behavior.  It’s not likely that the current media would even notice them, given their present bend to sin.  But we are told that these two witnesses will be seen by the entire world.  Is it possible that Glenn’s move to Jerusalem (along with his powerful outreach) is a direct hand of God?  Perhaps the Lord is setting up the stage on which these two men will carry out their appointed tasks.

The following is the account of these two men from the book of Revelation chapter 11.  I present this, not as the direct word of God, as something for all men to ponder and respect.  God will move against the sins of this world.  How He will do it is only in our hands to watch.

1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.”  5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

 7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

 11 But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.

 13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

 

May all who seek life from the Lord through Jesus be made to wake.  The time is nearer now than ever before.  Do not get caught sleeping.

As a supplement to this post, I invite you to read Man’s Understanding of Holy Lacks a Bit.   (which is another post on my blog)

By His Grace.

The Modern Wisdom?

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Observing a thread of posts by those who label themselves atheists, I am caused to wonder: 

You are asking questions of those who testify of God’s Grace.  You are asking questions as to the origins of the Bible.  You are seeking, or so it would seem, to understand what Christianity is.  This has gone on now for some time.  Much of the testimony you have received is solid and sure footed.  But you continue to ask for more testimony.

I perceive what you are doing as if you are holding court over the truth we claim.  Testimony after testimony is brought before you and you ask another question.  When is the verdict due?  Or do you think that by this line of questioning  you validate yourself?  Render a decision.  What are you waiting for?  You will never gain the proof you’re seeking.  In the end it will still be a matter of faith.  And you are not new to this cross examination.  Look what Paul wrote:

“Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,  but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”  (1 Cor. 22-25)

You will search out our testimony.  But in the end of this foolishness you will be left with nothing.  Consider your own testimony regarding Jesus.  What do you say?  Render your verdict.  The central point of what we testify is that you will give account of yourself to this God you’re trying to prove.  Don’t think that you will be admired by Him because you dissected His people’s faith.

By His Grace.