BIBLE MEANS BLESSED INFOS BRINGS LIFE ETERNAL

Guinea-Bissau: First Ecowas peacekeeping troops arrive

2012-05-17T15:37:00.003-07:00

The first wave of a West African peacekeeping force has landed in Guinea-Bissau to help bring stability after last month's coup.

Some 70 soldiers from Burkina Faso are part of a planned deployment by regional bloc Ecowas.
A total of about 600 troops is expected over the coming days, according to an Ecowas statement.
Guinea-Bissau was just weeks away from holding a presidential run-off vote when a military junta took over.
Drug trafficking The Ecowas soldiers arrived on the same day as the prime minister of a transitional government, Rui Duarte Barros, was sworn into office.
The coup leaders had earlier agreed to a 12-month transition to civilian rule, as demanded by Ecowas.
The Ecowas peacekeepers are being deployed to "relieve the Angolan military personnel... and support the restoration of constitutional rule," its statement said.
About 200 Angolan officers have been in the country for the last year to help with training and reforms to the bloated army, which has long meddled in politics and is said by Western intelligence agencies to play a key part in trafficking drugs.
The soldiers who staged last month's revolt said the Angolan force was conspiring with Guinea-Bissau's government to "wipe out" the army.
No elected leader in nearly 40 years of independence has finished their time in office in Guinea-Bissau, which has now become a major staging post for gangs smuggling cocaine from Latin America to Europe.
The tiny West African nation is one of the world's poorest countries - with almost 70% of people living in poverty - and it is heavily dependent on foreign assistance.

EPL: City Eyes Domination, United Reflects on Failure

2012-05-15T16:01:00.003-07:00

Sir Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini

It took goal difference to determine the destination of the Premier League trophy, but ending a 44-year championship drought has cemented Manchester City's status as English soccer's emerging force.

After enduring relegations and financial chaos while United won 12 of the last 19 English titles, the ''noisy neighbours'' derided by Alex Ferguson finally have something to shout about, reports The Associated Press.

And the 70-year-old Manchester United manager will have to get used to it as he puts a brave face on being denied the title for the first time by City.

Ferguson insists he can rise to the task of restoring United's long-standing supremacy in English soccer and wrest the trophy from a team owned by Abu Dhabi interests.

Sergio Aguero's title-winning goal in stoppage time Sunday against Queens Park Rangers sent ripples around the world, from the Etihad Stadium to the Gulf oil wells that have funded the unprecedented $1 billion rejuvenation of City the last three years.

''It was absolutely incredible,'' striker Carlos Tevez said. ''This club have got the players that can win lots of trophies, this is a real big step towards that.''

A year after the FA Cup ended a 35-year wait for any sort of major trophy, City can now start focusing on becoming a power beyond British shores.

''I hope City will become a great club in the world,'' midfielder Yaya Toure said.

But they have a long way to go to catch United, which missed out on a 20th English title on Sunday as City collected its third.

''The history of our club stands us aside,'' Ferguson said. ''We don't need to worry about that. I think we have a rich history, better than anyone and it'll take them a century to get to our level of history.''

But the City trophy cabinet could start filling quickly in the coming years. Success is likely to come down to clever accounting.

There is no doubting Sheik Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan's wealth, but European soccer's governing body is determined to put a stop to such lavish spending sprees. City recorded a loss of $308 million in the 2010-11 financial year and the club risks being excluded from the Champions League by UEFA from 2014 if those excesses aren't curbed under UEFA's financial fair-play rules.

Curbing the excesses of his players is another priority for Mancini to ensure another season is not again blighted by rebellious or erratic behaviour in the locker room.

Mario Balotelli and Tevez, a former United player, also paraded the Premier League trophy around Manchester on Monday night despite so nearly costing City the title.

Tevez's unauthorized six-month absence after refusing to resume warming up in a Champions League game at Bayern Munich in September not only undermined Mancini's authority but was a constant distraction. Balotelli continued to get into scrapes on and off the field: from red-card bust ups to a bizarre firework-induced blaze in his bathroom.

Mancini had said both were finished as City players, but both reaffirmed their commitment to the club after the 3-2 victory over QPR on Sunday.

''I am very, very happy,'' said Tevez, the former captain who failed to engineer an exit in the January transfer window.

How United could do with Tevez back in the team again.

City's collection of top talent makes it all the more remarkable United managed to maintain its duel with City until the final seconds of the season's 38th game.

While City owner Sheik Mansour has flooded the transfer market with his petrodollars and lavished his stars with bumper pay packets, a more frugal approach exists at Old Trafford, where United's money-making might is not always reflected in the cash spent strengthening the squad.

''The season we've just finished has been a miracle,'' United defender Patrice Evra said. ''People were saying it was going to be the worst season but we are nine points better off than last year and we've scored more goals.

''We only think we've failed because we haven't won. Winning is the Manchester United spirit, it's the Manchester United way. It doesn't matter if you've only got one leg, you have to win. If I played for another team then maybe we'd say well done for coming second.''

But Wayne Rooney was the team's only truly consistent attacking threat this season, contributing the goal that clinched Sunday's 1-0 victory over Sunderland and so nearly a second straight title, while Javier Hernandez failed to match his scoring exploits of the previous season.

The failure to lure a midfielder such as Wesley Sneijder led to Paul Scholes being persuaded to come out of retirement in January, while there is a continued reliance on another veteran approaching 40, Ryan Giggs.

That United had hauled City back into the title contention to take an eight-point lead in April will make it all the more frustrating for Ferguson that they finished second best.

Ferguson is now 70, but has no plans to surrender to City.

''They know I'm not going away,'' he said.

The battle resumes in three months.

Deuteronomy 6:1-12. Love the LORD, Your God.

2012-01-26T08:04:00.001-08:00

Deuteronomy 6:1-12.

Love the LORD, Your God.

Living faithfully in this predominantly pagan and secular world can be a real challenge when Christians are immersed in its perversity. That which is normal and standard for this lost world is quite at odds with the standard of scripture. Consequently, Christians find themselves walking a line between the expectations of this world and the expectations of their LORD. This defines the struggle that has been faced by those who seek the LORD from the time of the creation of man. It is very easy to get caught up in the events and circumstances that define this secular world without realizing their direct conflict with the nature of a spirit-filled life. A couple of obvious examples include Mardi Gras that celebrates sin and drunkenness in one big “fling” prior to the mandated sanctity of lent, and Halloween that celebrates all things satanic.

These are only two of the pagan and anti-Christian celebrations that tend to draw Christians to participate. The early church was also drawn by yet more secular and pagan lures than we experience today. It was doubly difficult for early Christians to sort out the cacophony of voices that would vie for authority.

The Holy Scriptures provide us with guidance as we learn to focus our lives on the one and only appropriate and supreme authority in our lives, the LORD. How do we do this? How do we silence the voices that would turn us away from the LORD? Perhaps the most significant and applicable lesson to help us maintain our focus on the One True LORD is found in Deuteronomy, chapter 6. Jesus quoted from this passage when approached by a scribe and asked which was the most important commandment.

Mark 12:28. And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? ²⁹And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: ³⁰And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

This may be one of the most important lessons taught within the pages of scripture. If it is fully learned by us, and we respond in obedience to it, our lives will be vastly changed. What kind of changes might you expect if you live such a life of unconditional and uncompromised love for God? What would happen in your life if, prior to every decision you make, you first consider your love for God and make your decision within that context? Our soul, mind, and strength together define and determine all of our actions. Consequently, we can demonstrate that type of love for God through all of our actions. It is not impossible to love God in this way. It just requires the affirmed decision to do so and a concerted and prayer-led effort to stay focused on the purpose. It is in Deuteronomy, Chapter 6 that God presents this lesson to the Hebrews. It is this lesson we will continue to study.

Deuteronomy 6:1-2. Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that you might do them in the land whither you go to possess it: ²That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.

These words of instruction were given to the nation of Israel by Moses immediately before their entrance into the Promised Land under Joshua’s leadership. The omniscient LORD knew of the secular and pagan temptations that Israel would find once they crossed into the land of the Canaanites, temptations that are quite similar to those found in our secular and pagan world today.

God did not create us a set us loose in this quagmire of sin without clearly giving us the resource to rise above it. There is no need for people of faith to be swept up in the sinful lifestyle of this world. God has given us the power and direction to avoid all manner of sinful lifestyles whether they include alcoholism, drug abuse, sexual perversion, or any other of the destructive behaviors of this world. God has promised the opposite life for those who are obedient to Him. This passage in Deuteronomy starts with that promise that if the faithful would keep His commandments, one’s days might be filled.

The English words used for “days may be prolonged,” give us an impression that obedience to God is a guarantee of a long life as measured by the calendar. Actually, the Hebrew words have a broader context. The word translated “day”, “yohm” simply refers to time itself unless the limits are specifically stated. One could accurately substitute any measurement of time such as years, months, or even minutes or moments. The idea is not that obedience gives us more minutes. The idea is that obedience fulfills our minutes. Consider Jesus’ instruction to the disciples:

John 10:10. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Of course, one can appropriately argue that one’s numbered days on this earth can be cut short by the consequences of sinful living, and we see evidence of this every day by those who suffer and die from destructive life-style choices.

The promise we find in Deuteronomy is to "live long in the land," not simply "live long." The land of the promise is the key here. God promises that He will maintain us in the place that he has appointed for us, whether in the Old Testament it was the promised land, or for all believers it is in the presence of God. In all cases, the land of the promise is that place that is in God's abiding presence. To break these commandments and fail to love God always results in broken fellowship with Him, and results in our separation from Him, whether it be the consequence of broken fellowship that is found when the faithful fall into sin, or the consequence of eternal separation that is found by those who reject Him. The full life that God describes is that life that we live when we are securely and knowingly in His presence.

Deuteronomy 6:3. Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that you may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.

In what ways will life go well for us as we live in obedience to God, loving Him and others as we have been commanded? The blessing here is consistent with the previous verse. It is God's purposed desire that we thrive in His presence. God would want us to have the proper relationship with Him so that we can experience the full and abundant life that He has promised us. Like a loving father who teaches his children, God does not leave us on our own to figure out how to please Him: He gives us simple and complete instructions. If we will listen to God’s Word we will see how to receive the promised blessing. The very practical lesson starts in verse 4.

Deuteronomy 6:4. Hear, O Israel : The LORD our God is one LORD:

The first word, Hear, is the Hebrew word, Shema. Verses 4-9 are, as a unit, referred to as the Shema, and became the Hebrew confession of faith. It was, and still is, often repeated before each celebration of worship, and before prayers. One would think that with these verses repeated this often, the people would learn what is meant by those words. Instead, many people interpreted them so literally that they completely missed the message and the purpose behind it.

When you think of Israel , do you think of people who demonstrate love to their God and to their neighbors? In fact, because of their literal interpretation of the words of the Shema, the Jews thought they were keeping the commandment while at the same time they turned from God and hated their neighbors. This is where the message was grossly missed.

This lesson starts with the statement that The Lord our God, the Lord is one, or literally, Yahweh our God - one Yahweh. Why was this lesson so important for the Hebrews? The concept of a single God being the only God was new in ancient culture. People attributed to man-created gods anything that they could not explain any other way, so the culture of the time included a pantheon of varieties of different man-made, mythical, gods. God's message here is simple: there is only one God, and the God who is speaking these words is Him. There are no other Gods exist, man-made or otherwise.

Some people have misinterpreted this scripture to deny the deity of Jesus or deny the deity of the Holy Spirit. To do so is a rational attempt to separate Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and God the Father into separate Gods. Yahweh, Lord, and Jehovah are all Hebrew, English, and Greek respective forms of the same name, representing the one True God who has revealed Himself to mankind through the Father, the Son, and through the Holy Spirit. This verse is not a denial of the Holy Trinity, but is in fact a defense of it.

Even Christians today misunderstand the concept of One LORD. Some say, “I pray to Jesus,” while others say, “I pray to God,” or “I pray to the Father,” and some pray to the “Holy Spirit,” and in these testimonies think that they are praying to different deities. There is only One God, and He is LORD. Consequently, whether we are focused on God, or on any of the persons through which He reveals Himself, we are still focused on God. Our prayers to Jesus, our prayers to the Father, our Prayers to the Holy Spirit, are all prayers to God.

However, the issue that vexes the faithful today is not the focus of our prayers within the Trinity, but to whom or what we give authority. When the faithful start to give authority to the other gods of this world, they deny the One LORD of this passage. This takes place any time one holds anything in greater importance than God, and by so doing, make it an idol. It is when we give authority that belongs to God to other things of this world we come into conflict as our choices start to turn away from God’s purpose in our lives.

How do we live a life that is focused on the One LORD who deserves all of our worship and obedience? Actually the answer is amazingly simple:

Deuteronomy 6:5. And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

This is the foundation of the Word of God. As the Hebrews used the words “heart,” “soul,” and “strength,” they were referring to a list that includes everything that makes up human nature. When this phrase is quoted in the New Testament, the Greek word agape is used for the Hebrew word, hesed, rendered as the English word love. What is the source of agape? There is only one source of true, unconditional, agape love: God Himself, as empowered through the Holy Spirit. It is impossible to love God apart from the Holy Spirit.

Before making those defining decisions that result in salvation I could not understand how it would be possible to love God totally. There were other priorities in life, and it seemed that to maintain God on top of all of them would be impossible on our own. I never knew how correct I was. However, after learning of and knowing God, I found that it is not only possible, but God gives us the ability to do it through His Holy Spirit. Loving God with all that we are is not a suggestion. It is an inviolable command, yet one that becomes part of our nature when we are completely submitted to Him because of our love for Him. What can we expect if we obey this command?

Deuteronomy 6:6. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

What is the difference between these commandments being on our hearts as opposed to being in our minds, hands, or books? This one command is probably the one most often missed by religion today. People are taught head knowledge and manual works instead of heart knowledge and works motivated by true love for God. God intends upon us to know what it is to love Him and to express that love for Him out of our own heart-felt desire to do so. God wants our love by our own choice, not as puppets who receive their commands from strings. God desires that it is the heart-strings that He pull; heart-strings that are of our own making and choice. Consequently to the lost, God’s Word is a set of rules, and to the saved, God’s Word describes normal Christian behavior that is the fruit of a love-filled heart.

It is a simple matter to harden our own hearts and disregard the Holy Spirit's pull on our lives. When we do this we will draw away from God, and away from the full and fulfilled life that he has promised. To keep our heart open to God requires diligent effort through prayer and Bible study. We meet together in worship and fellowship to encourage one another to maintain that diligence. Loving God involves thinking sincerely about God in all of the things we do with the intent of uncompromised obedience. The next verse is a continuation of the current sentence that gives some instruction on how we can keep that avenue of communication with God open.

Deuteronomy 6:7. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

This verse provides five ways that we can keep our hearts and minds open to God's commands.

(1) Teach them to your children. Why must this be so? What will happen if we do not teach the Word of God to our children? If our children do not learn the issues of faith, they will be lost in one generation. We will also be treating our children in a context that is not in obedience to God, and will not provide for them the necessary training in righteousness that they need to also experience the full and abundant life that God promises. Parents will not deny that it is their responsibility to provide for the basic needs of their children, and our culture has no problem addressing those needs as food, shelter, and clothing. Parents will at least also include in the list of basic needs that of their love. However, many parents deny their children the spiritual training that is commanded in scripture. It is no wonder that we have seen such a moral and spiritual decline in our world culture the last fifty years as faith has gradually come more and more under attack by this secular and pagan world.

There is a phenomenon taking place today that deserves attention. There is a vitalization of Christianity taking place in China . “In Sichuan Province , more than 90,000 people became Christians in a recent four-month period. More than 40,000 became Christians in one month…”^{^[1]} During a recent trip to China I found a general testimony from the young people that the Buddhist tradition of their grandparents had little relevance for them. The traditions are not being handed down from the parents to the children, and the young people are searching for relevance, finding it in the truth of the Gospel. At the same time, the Christian church today is suffering from the same malaise, with young people leaving the church in search for something more relevant. The church has substituted religion and tradition for the genuine love-based gospel and young people are searching for it elsewhere.

This passage gives us clear and simple instruction on how to restore and maintain relevance in the faith. God’s instruction is that parents who love God with all their heart, soul, and strength would teach this love for God, demonstrated by their own obedience to Him, to their children. When the children see true faith and hear from their parents its foundational importance to them, it becomes important to their children. While I see families separated by the doors of the church on a Sunday morning, I also see other families who have propagated that faith to all of their children, families that are a testimony to God’s grace.

The first instruction by the LORD is for parents to teach their children. This responsibility is not to be given to a church Sunday School or to a church leader, or to a pastor. The teaching must start at home. When parents minimize its importance in their own lives, they teach this minimalist approach to faith to children who will also minimize its importance. The responsibility for the spiritual nurture of children starts with parents, and with parents who truly and without compromise, love the LORD.

(2) Talk of them when you sit at home. God’s Word should be an integral part of our home life. How can we make it so? As we do this we will be sharing God’s Word with our families. Talking about spiritual matters should be a common and easy component of the communication that takes place within the home. Prayer can be spoken frequently without pretentiousness. As the family sits around the home discussing the matters of the day, there is no reason why spiritual issues cannot also be addressed in an edifying manner. The home can be a sanctuary of faith where matters of faith are continually on the lips of all family members, starting with the parents. Again, for one who truly loves the LORD, sharing spiritual matters in the home is a simple and unstoppable fruit of that love.

(3) And when you walk along the road. When we are on the road we travel and meet strangers. Faithfulness is demonstrated by sharing God’s Word (and His love) with the strangers we meet along the way, not by command, but simply because of the faith nature that loving God produces. This might be expressed in simply being a loving Christian to those who are met along the way, and love for God opens opportunities for demonstration of that love. Sometimes opportunities for sharing spiritual issues will arise, and after taking advantage of those opportunities a few times, the fear of doing so ebbs, and the blessing that comes from it encourages one to continue to do so.

(4) When you lie down. This can also be translated when we are at leisure. God should be an integral part of our rest and leisure. If we do this we will be sharing God’s Word with our friends. Often it is at times of leisure that it is easiest for us to put God in a hidden place and present ourselves to others as if He is not important to us. In our leisure we might take part in activities that are really not appropriate for a person of faith, hoping that those who know us from within the faith community will not see us. Our language might become more coarse as we try to fit in with that different crowd. We are to take the Word of God with us everywhere, and that includes our times of rest, relaxation, and leisure. We do not get away from God to obtain rest. We find our rest in Him.

This passage is also appropriately relating to that time at night when we set aside the activities of the day and prepare to rest for the night. In ancient culture, this was the only time of “leisure” for many. This is an excellent time to review the events of the day in terms of the blessings of the LORD, give thanks, and retire for the day with prayer and praise for God, sharing that with those around us.

(5) When you get up. Certainly, an affirmed love of God that takes place first thing in the morning is the best way to start off a day. Each day can start with prayer and meditation of God's purposes in the activities of the day to come. This phrase can also be translated when we are at work. If we do this we will be sharing God’s Word with our co-workers.

If we are obedient to this command, when will we be meditating on God’s Word and sharing God's Love? We will be seeking obedience to God in all of our activities throughout the waking day. This is what it means to love God with all of your heart, mind, and strength.

Deuteronomy 6:8-9. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. ⁹And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

First, what does the word "them" refer to? These are the commandments of God: His Word described in many of the scriptures. Many of the Hebrews did not understand the context of these verses, and understood the commands only in terms of a head knowledge, following the literal words rather than their meaning. The result was the creation of Phylacteries. First a small box was strapped to the back of the hand and another strapped to the forehead. In these boxes was placed a copy of the Shema, this passage of scripture. When the arms were placed across the chest, the phylactery on the hand was over their heart. They believed that in doing this they were being obedient to the command. By doing this they have, indeed, bound God’s Word to their hands and foreheads. By doing this, the command is obeyed and can be otherwise ignored. Orthodox Jews still practice the use of Phylacteries. However, it would only be fair to note that many Jews are not ignorant of the meaning of the Phylacteries, and by choosing to wear them, they are continually reminded of their true purpose.

Likewise, as you enter most Jewish homes, you will often find a small box placed within the door jamb of the house entrance. In this box is another copy of the Shema. This box, called a Mezuzah, would be saluted, touched, or kiss-touched each time upon entry into the home. Again, the Jews believed that by doing this they were obedient to the command as they put God’s Word on their doorpost. By doing this, again, the command is obeyed, and can otherwise be ignored.

In following these traditions, some of those who ascribe to them have completely missed the message of these verses, and as a result have created for themselves a license to disobey those very commands. The hands of verse 8 refer to those things we do: the works we accomplish. Not only are we to talk about the Word of God everywhere we go, it is to be the basis for everything we do. Something bound to your forehead is before you, and well in view, everywhere we go. We are to look at the world as God does, within the context of His Word. Our "world view" must be seen through spiritual eyes. A life that is lived by one who truly loves the LORD will show that love in the things they do (their hands) and in the way they see the world around them (their foreheads).

Finally, the mezuzah. The Word of God should be clearly evident in our homes. Certainly the placement of religious objects in the home illustrates our support of their meaning, but this verse refers to much more. Simply placing verses on our walls has little more value than the mezuzah. The Word of God should be clearly evident in our home to those who live there and to those who visit. Such evidence can certainly be physical as we put graphic images and verses on our doors and walls. However, the Word of God is not just physical, but also spiritual, and true evidence of faith in the home is also not just physical, but spiritual. When someone enters our home, it should be obvious that this is a home of faith by the way God’s Word is played out in the relationships of those within it. God's love should be evident within the family and towards those who visit the home.

This example is an excellent illustration of the dangers of legalism. By legalistically adhering to a tradition, the intended context of and purpose for the tradition is ignored, and God's purpose is not fulfilled. At the same time, those practicing the legalistic acts are fully convinced that they have fulfilled that purpose. For this reason it is very difficult to open the spiritual eyes of people who are caught up in legalistic practices.

Deuteronomy 6:10-11. And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, ¹¹And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;

What is the purpose for these decrees and commands that were stated by Moses? It is so that the people of Israel will revere and love the Lord. What is meant by the word "fear?" One might consider this type of fear the proper reverence for the One Awesome God. Those who are faithful to God have no reason to fear God as they would fear any approaching danger. However, those who live a lifestyle that rejects God have much to fear. What reward is promised for those who obey? Those who are faithful to God will live long in the land of the promise. Certainly the identity of that land is up to interpretation. To the Jews it referred to the literal and legalistic promised land, recalling that their culture thought of gods as being resident of finite areas of property. However, the promised land of the faithful is anywhere that God is present, whether it be in this life where we are guided and counseled by the Holy Spirit, or in heaven when we will know God face-to-face. God rewards us by providing for us, improving the quality of our life through His guidance, provision, and blessing.

Deuteronomy 6:12. Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt , from the house of bondage.

God has delivered all faithful believers from bondage. Those who are faithful to God's call have accepted Him in faith, and are blessed with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. For the most part, they are without want, and generally at peace with themselves, the world, and with God. Certainly we have difficulties and struggles that God uses to shape and mature us,^{^[2]} but that is the extent of it. In such comfort it is easy to turn from God and be satisfied with our circumstances. What are we to do? These scriptures have just given us the formula to do it.

First, return to God the Love he has given to us by making Him LORD of all of our being. Give to Him your mind, will, emotions, and strength. Give Him your all.

Second, return to God the Love he has given us by sharing it with all people. Give all people the love and respect that God intends. There is no room for pride, prejudice, or selfishness when God’s love is shared.

Third, make God’s Word such a part of our lives that it seasons all of our words and actions as they are shared with our families, friends, co-workers, and the strangers we meet along the road.

Fourth, make God’s Word the motivation behind all that we do.

Fifth, view all of the cosmos through the eyes of God, rather than our own. See people as God sees them. See the environment as God sees it.

Sixth, remember Him. This should be the simplest of all, if we are obedient to the first five. Keeping Him continually in remembrance will, however, keep us on track when we derail on one of those five.

Never forget that God is the LORD of all. That includes all that we are, all that we have, and all that we do in every waking hour. If God is not Lord of All, He is not Lord at All.

When God is truly LORD of all of our lives, we have discovered the key to avoiding the traps of this world’s sin as the attractiveness of this world fades in the light of God’s glory and grace.

The Word Lives Forever

2011-12-15T08:18:00.000-08:00

The Word Lives Forever

Today's Scripture: Revelation 10

¹And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
²And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
³And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
⁴And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
⁵And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
⁶And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
⁷But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
⁸And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
⁹And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
¹⁰And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
¹¹And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

What is the Meaning of this Text?

he Angel of the covenant presents a little open book, which is followed with seven thunders. (1-4) At the end of the following prophecies, time should be no more. (5-7) A voice directs the apostle to eat the book; (8-10) and tells him he must prophesy further. (11)

Verses 1-7: The apostle saw another representation. The person communicating this discovery probably was our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, or it was to show his glory. He veils his glory, which is too great for mortal eyes to behold; and throws a veil upon his dispensations. A rainbow was upon his head; our Lord is always mindful of his covenant. His awful voice was echoed by seven thunders; solemn and terrible ways of discovering the mind of God. We know not the subjects of the seven thunders, nor the reasons for suppressing them. There are great events in history, perhaps relating to the Christian church, which are not noticed in open prophecy. The final salvation of the righteous, and the final success of true religion on earth, are engaged for by the unfailing word of the Lord. Though the time may not be yet, it cannot be far distant. Very soon, as to us, time will be no more; but if we are believers, a happy eternity will follow: we shall from heaven behold and rejoice in the triumphs of Christ, and his cause on earth.

Verses 8-11: Most men feel pleasure in looking into future events, and all good men like to receive a word from God. But when this book of prophecy was thoroughly digested by the apostle, the contents would be bitter; there were things so awful and terrible, such grievous persecutions of the people of God, such desolations in the earth, that the foresight and foreknowledge of them would be painful to his mind. Let us seek to be taught by Christ, and to obey his orders; daily meditating on his word, that it may nourish our souls; and then declaring it according to our several stations. The sweetness of such contemplations will often be mingled with bitterness, while we compare the Scriptures with the state of the world and the church, or even with that of our own hearts.

How can We Apply this Scripture to our Lives?

In Chapter 10 the purpose of this angel is to announce the final judgements of this Earth. The 7th trumpet will usher in the 7 vial judgements which will bring an end to our present world. In verse 9-11 we see God's Word is sweet to the believers because it brings us encouragement but it sours our stomach because of the coming judgement it pronounces to unbelievers. In application we see the Bible we hold is living and still around at the end of time here on Earth. His word truly lives forever. Many have tried to destroy it through the ages but it still thrives throughout eternity. How about you? Do you value your Bible? Do you read it and cherish it as the Lord does? If we treat it as the Lord does we will read, study, meditate, and cherish it forever more.

The Love of God

2011-11-30T14:27:00.000-08:00

Today's Scripture: 1 John 4

¹Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
²Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
³And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
⁴Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
⁵They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
⁶We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
⁷Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
⁸He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
⁹In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
¹⁰Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
¹¹Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
¹²No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
¹³Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
¹⁴And we have seen and do testify that the F{}Lia6uhe Son e\ 5 pq ofk eOd
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¹⁵Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
¹⁶And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
¹⁷Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
¹⁸There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
¹⁹We love him, because he first loved us.
²⁰If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
²¹And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

What is the Meaning of this Text?

elievers cautioned against giving heed to every one that pretends to the Spirit. (1-6) Brotherly love enforced. (7-21)

Verses 1-6: Christians who are well acquainted with the Scriptures, may, in humble dependence on Divine teaching, discern those who set forth doctrines according to the apostles, and those who contradict them. The sum of revealed religion is in the doctrine concerning Christ, his person and office. The false teachers spake of the world according to its maxims and tastes, so as not to offend carnal men. The world approved them, they made rapid progress, and had many followers such as themselves; the world will love its own, and its own will love it. The true doctrine as to the Saviour's person, as leading men from the world to God, is a mark of the spirit of truth in opposition to the spirit of error. The more pure and holy any doctrine is, the more likely to be of God; nor can we by any other rules try the spirits whether they are of God or not. And what wonder is it, that people of a worldly spirit should cleave to those who are like themselves, and suit their schemes and discourses to their corrupt taste?

Verses 7-13: The Spirit of God is the Spirit of love. He that does not love the image of God in his people, has no saving knowledge of God. For it is God's nature to be kind, and to give happiness. The law of God is love; and all would have been perfectly happy, had all obeyed it. The provision of the gospel, for the forgiveness of sin, and the salvation of sinners, consistently with God's glory and justice, shows that God is love. Mystery and darkness rest upon many things yet. God has so shown himself to be love, that we cannot come short of eternal happiness, unless through unbelief and impenitence, although strict justice would condemn us to hopeless misery, because we break our Creator's laws. None of our words or thoughts can do justice to the free, astonishing love of a holy God towards sinners, who could not profit or harm him, whom he might justly crush in a moment, and whose deserving of his vengeance was shown in the method by which they were saved, though he could by his almighty Word have created other worlds, with more perfect beings, if he had seen fit. Search we the whole universe for love in its most glorious displays? It is to be found in the person and the cross of Christ. Does love exist between God and sinners? Here was the origin, not that we loved God, but that he freely loved us. His love could not be designed to be fruitless upon us, and when its proper end and issue are gained and produced, it may be said to be perfected. So faith is perfected by its works. Thus it will appear that God dwells in us by his new-creating Spirit. A loving Christian is a perfect Christian; set him to any good duty, and he is perfect to it, he is expert at it. Love oils the wheels of his affections, and sets him on that which is helpful to his brethren. A man that goes about a business with ill will, always does it badly. That God dwells in us and we in him, were words too high for mortals to use, had not God put them before us. But how may it be known whether the testimony to this does proceed from the Holy Ghost? Those who are truly persuaded that they are the sons of God, cannot but call him Abba, Father. From love to him, they hate sin, and whatever disagrees with his will, and they have a sound and hearty desire to do his will. Such testimony is the testimony of the Holy Ghost.

Verses 14-21: The Father sent the Son, he willed his coming into this world. The apostle attests this. And whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. This confession includes faith in the heart as the foundation; makes acknowledgment with the mouth to the glory of God and Christ, and profession in the life and conduct, against the flatteries and frowns of the world. There must be a day of universal judgment. Happy those who shall have holy boldness before the Judge at that day; knowing he is their Friend and Advocate! Happy those who have holy boldness in the prospect of that day, who look and wait for it, and for the Judge's appearance! True love to God assures believers of God's love to them. Love teaches us to suffer for him and with him; therefore we may trust that we shall also be glorified with him, (2Ti 2:12). We must distinguish between the fear of God and being afraid of him; the fear of God imports high regard and veneration for God. Obedience and good works, done from the principle of love, are not like the servile toil of one who unwillingly labours from dread of a master's anger. They are like that of a dutiful child, who does services to a beloved father, which benefit his brethren, and are done willingly. It is a sign that our love is far from perfect, when our doubts, fears, and apprehensions of God, are many. Let heaven and earth stand amazed at his love. He sent his word to invite sinners to partake of this great salvation. Let them take the comfort of the happy change wrought in them, while they give him the glory. The love of God in Christ, in the hearts of Christians from the Spirit of adoption, is the great proof of conversion. This must be tried by its effects on their temper, and their conduct to their brethren. If a man professes to love God, and yet indulges anger or revenge, or shows a selfish disposition, he gives his profession the lie. But if it is plain that our natural enmity is changed into affection and gratitude, let us bless the name of our God for this seal and earnest of eternal happiness. Then we differ from the false professors, who pretend to love God, whom they have not seen, yet hate their brethren, whom they have seen.

How can We Apply this Scripture to our Lives?

In applying today's text it is hard to overlook the Love of God. He wrapped His love in flesh and blood and Jesus came to atone for our sins if we simply receive, by faith, His free gift of salvation. That being said we ought to love one another. It is a simple overflow of the Spirit of God that indwells the believer. As we enter into the Christmas season it is easy to get caught up in all the hustle and bustle. If we focus on Christ his love will flow in and through us. Then the reason for the season will be manafest in us producing that "Christmas Spirit". How about you? are you saved? If so are you experiencing the love of Christ towards others? This Christmas season let me challenge you to focus on Christ and let His love flow in and through us.

Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing.

2011-10-24T01:53:00.000-07:00

Bible
Today's Scripture: Titus 3

1Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

2To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

3For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

4But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

6Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

7That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

8This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

9But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

10A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

11Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

12When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.

13Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.

14And let our's also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

15All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

learn
What is the Meaning of this Text?

bedience to magistrates, and becoming behaviour towards all, are enforced from what believers were before conversion, and what they are made, through Christ. (1-7) Good works to be done, and useless disputes avoided. (8-11) Directions and exhortations. (12-15)

Verses 1-7: Spiritual privileges do not make void or weaken, but confirm civil duties. Mere good words and good meanings are not enough without good works. They were not to be quarrelsome, but to show meekness on all occasions, not toward friends only, but to all men, though with wisdom, (Jam 3:13). And let this text teach us how wrong it is for a Christian to be churlish to the worst, weakest, and most abject. The servants of sin have many masters, their lusts hurry them different ways; pride commands one thing, covetousness another. Thus they are hateful, deserving to be hated. It is the misery of sinners, that they hate one another; and it is the duty and happiness of saints to love one another. And we are delivered out of our miserable condition, only by the mercy and free grace of God, the merit and sufferings of Christ, and the working of his Spirit. God the Father is God our Saviour. He is the fountain from which the Holy Spirit flows, to teach, regenerate, and save his fallen creatures; and this blessing comes to mankind through Christ. The spring and rise of it, is the kindness and love of God to man. Love and grace have, through the Spirit, great power to change and turn the heart to God. Works must be in the saved, but are not among the causes of their salvation. A new principle of grace and holiness is wrought, which sways, and governs, and makes the man a new creature. Most pretend they would have heaven at last, yet they care not for holiness now; they would have the end without the beginning. Here is the outward sign and seal thereof in baptism, called therefore the washing of regeneration. The work is inward and spiritual; this is outwardly signified and sealed in this ordinance. Slight not this outward sign and seal; yet rest not in the outward washing, but look to the answer of a good conscience, without which the outward washing will avail nothing. The worker therein is the Spirit of God; it is the renewing of the Holy Ghost. Through him we mortify sin, perform duty, walk in God's ways; all the working of the Divine life in us, and the fruits of righteousness without, are through this blessed and holy Spirit. The Spirit and his saving gifts and graces, come through Christ, as a Saviour, whose undertaking and work are to bring to grace and glory. Justification, in the gospel sense, is the free forgiveness of a sinner; accepting him as righteous through the righteousness of Christ received by faith. God, in justifying a sinner in the way of the gospel, is gracious to him, yet just to himself and his law. As forgiveness is through a perfect righteousness, and satisfaction is made to justice by Christ, it cannot be merited by the sinner himself. Eternal life is set before us in the promise; the Spirit works faith in us, and hope of that life; faith and hope bring it near, and fill with joy in expectation of it.

Verses 8-11: When the grace of God towards mankind has been declared, the necessity of good works is pressed. Those who believe in God, must make it their care to maintain good works, to seek opportunities for doing them, being influenced by love and gratitude. Trifling, foolish questions must be avoided, and subtle distinctions and vain inquiries; nor should people be eager after novelties, but love sound doctrine which tends most to edifying. Though we may now think some sins light and little, if the Lord awaken the conscience, we shall feel even the smallest sin heavy upon our souls.

Verses 12-15: Christianity is not a fruitless profession; and its professors must be filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. They must be doing good, as well as keeping away from evil. Let "ours" follow some honest labour and employment, to provide for themselves and their families. Christianity obliges all to seek some honest work and calling, and therein to abide with God. The apostle concludes with expressions of kind regard and fervent prayer. Grace be with you all; the love and favour of God, with the fruits and effects thereof, according to need; and the increase and feeling of them more and more in your souls. This is the apostle's wish and prayer, showing his affection to them, and desire for their good, and would be a means of obtaining for them, and bringing down on them, the thing requested. Grace is the chief thing to be wished and prayed for, with respect to ourselves or others; it is "all good."

.

How can We Apply this Scripture familyto our Life?

In our Bible Study here in the book of Titus we have made application in Titus chapter 1 for the Right Leadership in the Church, in Chapter 2 our responsibility to live right in the Church, and here in Chapter 3 to Obey Government, Avoid useless arguments. We all have a responsibility to live what we study in the scriptures. To not just hear the Word but Obey and live it out in every decision we make. Keeping the main thing, the main thing, Sharing what God did for us through His Son. Once we learn it, we live it, then teach it to the next generation. I have heard of Churches splitting because of the color of the carpet in a building plan. I have heard of Christians not paying their taxes. Fighting within the Church for anything and everything. Be tolerant of believers for their standards and level of their Christian growth. It is really simple, get saved, share Christ, and love others as Christ has loved us. Keep the main thing the main thing.

Is Someone Watching You? Bible

2011-10-23T03:14:00.001-07:00

Is Someone Watching You?
Bible
Today's Scripture: Titus 2

1But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
2That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
3The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
4That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
5To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
6Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
7In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
8Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
9Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
10Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
15These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

What is the Meaning of this Text?

he duties which become sound doctrine. (1-8) Believing servants must be obedient. (9,10) All is enforced from the holy design of the gospel, which concerns all believers. (11-15)
Verses 1-8: Old disciples of Christ must behave in every thing agreeably to the Christian doctrine. That the aged men be sober; not thinking that the decays of nature will justify any excess; but seeking comfort from nearer communion with God, not from any undue indulgence. Faith works by, and must be seen in love, of God for himself, and of men for God's sake. Aged persons are apt to be peevish and fretful; therefore need to be on their guard. Though there is not express Scripture for every word, or look, yet there are general rules, according to which all must be ordered. Young women must be sober and discreet; for many expose themselves to fatal temptations by what at first might be only want of discretion. The reason is added, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. Failures in duties greatly reproach Christianity. Young men are apt to be eager and thoughtless, therefore must be earnestly called upon to be sober-minded: there are more young people ruined by pride than by any other sin. Every godly man's endeavour must be to stop the mouths of adversaries. Let thine own conscience answer for thine uprightness. What a glory is it for a Christian, when that mouth which would fain open itself against him, cannot find any evil in him to speak of!
Verse 9,10: Servants must know and do their duty to their earthly masters, with a reference to their heavenly one. In serving an earthly master according to Christ's will, He is served; such shall be rewarded by him. Not giving disrespectful or provoking language; but to take a check or reproof with silence, not making confident or bold replies. When conscious of a fault, to excuse or justify it, doubles it. Never putting to their own use that which is their master's, nor wasting the goods they are trusted with. Showing all good fidelity to improve a master's goods, and promote his thriving. If ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? (Lu 16:12). True religion is an honour to the professors of it; and they should adorn it in all things.
Verses 11-15: The doctrine of grace and salvation by the gospel, is for all ranks and conditions of men. It teaches to forsake sin; to have no more to do with it. An earthly, sensual conversation suits not a heavenly calling. It teaches to make conscience of that which is good. We must look to God in Christ, as the object of our hope and worship. A gospel conversation must be a godly conversation. See our duty in a very few words; denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, living soberly, righteously, and godly, notwithstanding all snares, temptations, corrupt examples, ill usage, and what remains of sin in the believer's heart, with all their hinderances. It teaches to look for the glories of another world. At, and in, the glorious appearing of Christ, the blessed hope of Christians will be complete: To bring us to holiness and happiness was the end of Christ's death. Jesus Christ, that great God and our Saviour, who saves not only as God, much less as Man alone; but as God-man, two natures in one person. He loved us, and gave himself for us; and what can we do less than love and give up ourselves to him! Redemption from sin and sanctification of the nature go together, and make a peculiar people unto God, free from guilt and condemnation, and purified by the Holy Spirit. All Scripture is profitable. Here is what will furnish for all parts of duty, and the right discharge of them. Let us inquire whether our whole dependence is placed upon that grace which saves the lost, pardons the guilty, and sanctifies the unclean. And the further we are removed from boasting of fancied good works, or trusting in them, so that we glory in Christ alone, the more zealous shall we be to abound in real good works.

How can We Apply this Scripture to our Life?

In our Bible Study yesterday we looked at Titus chapter 1 and made the application of the Right Leadership in the Church. Here in Titus chapter 2 we can make the Application of Right Living in the Church. The tables are turned as we are given a few guidelines for Godly behavior in the Church. Just as we expect our Leaders to lead by example we too must lead by example. Making the right Choice to live what we believe. People are watching. I had to make this choice the other night as my family went to a fast food restaurant. The clerk gave us one to many soda cups. As we ate I noticed the extra cup and it was an inconvenience to go back and pay the extra dollar. The clerk said that she had noticed that she made the mistake after the fact and felt embarrassed to come and collect the extra dollar from us. It opened the door to invite her to our Church. She guessed we were coming from Church and if I would have ignored the mistake it would have put a negative thought in her mind about Christians. It is important to lead by example because people are watching you.

ONLINE VISA APPLICATION MADE EASY FOR ALL COUNTRIES

2010-10-16T09:11:00.001-07:00

Bibles on dvd

2010-08-14T07:19:00.000-07:00

The Truth Project Dvd Set! Focus On the FamilyCedarmont Kids Sing Along: Bible SongsThe Watch Word BibleDorf on Golf/Dorf's Golf BibleBible Blitz Dvd! Group's Hands On

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2010-08-14T06:56:00.000-07:00

Genesis 13

2010-08-13T10:48:00.000-07:00

120 Bible Songs For Kids Faith Bible Institute DVD Laymans Bible Course : Presentation - Introduction/Message to Pastors/Presentation/Short Presentation/Testimony/Project One The Safe Shopper's Bible: A Consumer's Guide to Nontoxic Household Products, Cosmetics, and Food Seasons of Reflection: The NIV Bible in 365 Daily Readings with Special Helps on Prayer The B-I-B-L-E I'm In The Lords Army

Genesis 13
1And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.

2And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

3And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;

4Unto the place of the altar, which he had make there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.

5And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

6And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.

7And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.

8And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.

9Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

10And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

11Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

12Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

13But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

14And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:

15For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

16And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

17Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

18Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.

Genesis 12

2010-08-13T08:31:00.001-07:00

Genesis 12
1Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

4So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

5And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

6And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.

7And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.

8And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.

9And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.

10And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.

11And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:

12Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.

13Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

14And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.

15The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.

16And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.

17And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife.

18And Pharaoh called Abram and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?

19Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.

20And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.

Genesis 11

2010-08-13T08:28:00.000-07:00

Genesis 11
1And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

2And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

3And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.

4And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

5And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

6And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

7Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

8So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

9Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

10These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:

11And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.

12And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah:

13And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.

14And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber:

15And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.

16And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg:

17And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.

18And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu:

19And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.

20And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug:

21And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters.

22And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor:

23And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.

24And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah:

25And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.

26And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

27Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.

28And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.

29And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.

30But Sarai was barren; she had no child.

31And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.

32And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.

Genesis 10

2010-08-13T08:26:00.001-07:00

Genesis 10
1Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.

2The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.

3And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.

4And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.

5By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.

6And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.

7And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtechah: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.

8And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.

9He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.

10And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

11Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,

12And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city.

13And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,

14And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (out of whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim.

15And Canaan begat Sidon his first born, and Heth,

16And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite,

17And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,

18And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.

19And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.

20These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations.

21Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born.

22The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.

23And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash.

24And Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber.

25And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother's name was Joktan.

26And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,

27And Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah,

28And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba,

29And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of Joktan.

30And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest unto Sephar a mount of the east.

31These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.

32These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.

Genesis 9

2010-08-13T08:24:00.000-07:00

Genesis 9
1And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.

2And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.

3Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

4But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

5And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.

6Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

7And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.

8And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,

9And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;

10And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.

11And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.

12And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

13I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

14And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:

15And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

16And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

17And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.

18And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.

19These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread.

20And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:

21And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.

22And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.

23And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.

24And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.

25And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.

26And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.

27God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.

28And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.

29And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died.

Genesis 8

2010-08-13T08:22:00.000-07:00

Genesis 8
1And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged;

2The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;

3And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated.

4And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.

5And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen.

6And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made:

7And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.

8Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;

9But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.

10And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;

11And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.

12And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.

13And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.

14And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried.

15And God spake unto Noah, saying,

16Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee.

17Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.

18And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him:

19Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark.

20And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

21And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

22While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Genesis 7

2010-08-13T08:19:00.001-07:00

Genesis 7
1And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

2Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.

3Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.

4For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.

5And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.

6And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.

7And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.

8Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth,

9There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah.

10And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.

11In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.

12And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.

13In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;

14They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort.

15And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.

16And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.

17And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.

18And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.

19And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.

20Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.

21And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:

22All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.

23And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.

24And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.

Genesis 6

2010-08-07T08:42:00.001-07:00

Genesis 6

1And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

2That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

3And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

4There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

5And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

6And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

7And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

8But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

9These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

10And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

11The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

12And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

13And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

14Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.

15And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.

16A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.

17And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.

18But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.

19And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.

20Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.

21And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.

22Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

Genesis 5

2010-08-07T08:40:00.001-07:00

Genesis 5

1This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

2Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

3And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth:

4And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:

5And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.

6And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos:

7And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters:

8And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.

9And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan:

10And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters:

11And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died.

12And Cainan lived seventy years and begat Mahalaleel:

13And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters:

14And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died.

15And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared:

16And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters:

17And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died.

18And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch:

19And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:

20And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.

21And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:

22And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:

23And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:

24And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

25And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech.

26And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters:

27And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.

28And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:

29And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.

30And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters:

31And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.

32And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

.[Yahushua's] Attitude Toward the Law

2010-08-07T07:41:00.001-07:00

..[Yahushua's] Attitude Toward the Law

The great plan of redemption was laid before the foundation of the world. . . . [Yahushua] did not stand alone in this wondrous undertaking for the ransom of man. In the councils of heaven, before the world was created, the Father and the Son covenanted together that if man proved disloyal to . . . [Yahuwah], . . . [Yahushua], one with the Father, would take the place of the transgressor, and suffer the penalty of justice that must fall upon him. ". . . [Yahuah] so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16). What a price was this for heaven to pay to ransom the transgressor of the law of . . . [Yahuwah]!

. . . [Yahushua] did not come to change the Sabbath of the fourth commandment; he did not come to weaken or set aside the law of . . . [Yahuwah] in one particular: he came to express in his own person the love of . . . [Yahuwah], and to vindicate every precept of the holy law. Instead of abrogating the law to meet man in his fallen condition, . . . [Yahushua] maintained its sacred dignity.

. . . [Yahuwah] does not save sinners by abrogating his law, the foundation of his government in heaven and earth. . . . [Yahuwah] is a judge, the guardian of justice. The transgression of his law in a single instance, in the smallest particular, is sin. . . . [Yahuwah] can not dispense with his law, he can not do away with its smallest item, in order to pardon sin. The justice, the moral excellence, of the law must be maintained and vindicated before the heavenly universe. And that holy law could not be maintained at any smaller price than the death of the Son of . . . [Yahuwah].

. . . [Yahushua] bore sin in man's behalf, that the sinner might have another trial, with all its opportunities and advantages. "Whosoever committeth sin," says John, "transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him." (1 John 3:4-5).

When . . . [Yahushua] gave the sermon on the mount, the Pharisees were present, watching every word. The Saviour read their hearts; he knew that they were bracing themselves to resist light. Their prejudice against him was strengthening. They were saying in their hearts, "He is doing away the law. We will have no such teaching." But while they were bottling up their wrath, there fell on their startled ears the answer to their unspoken thought: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:17-20).

This is the judgment pronounced in the kingdom of heaven. Some have thought that the commandment-breaker will be there, but will occupy the lowest place. This is a mistake. Sinners will never enter the abode of bliss. The commandment-breaker, and all who unite with him in teaching that it makes no difference whether men break or observe the divine law, will by the universe of heaven be called least among the human agencies. For not only have they been disloyal themselves, but they have taught others to break the law of . . . [Yahuwah]. . . . [Yahushua] pronounces judgment upon those who claim to have a knowledge of the law, but who, by precept and example, lead souls into confusion and darkness. They are teaching for doctrines the commandments of men, and making void the law of . . . [Yahuwah] through their traditions. "For I say unto you [my disciples], That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:20).

"Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." (Matthew 5:18). As long as heaven and earth remain, not one jot nor tittle shall pass from the law. As long as the canopy of heaven is above our heads, and the earth beneath our feet, there should be no argument nor controversy over this question. Until the heavens and the earth remove, you may be sure that the law of . . . [Yahuwah] will hold its exalted place.

"Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And . . . [Yahushua] answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness." (Matthew 3:13-15). In "fulfilling" all righteousness, . . . [Yahushua] did not bring all righteousness to an end. He fulfilled all the requirements of . . . [Yahuwah] in repentance, faith, and baptism, the steps of grace in genuine conversion. He did this as an example, that we should follow in his steps. In his humanity, . . . [Yahushua] filled up the measure of the law's requirements. And this he did as an example to us. He was the head of humanity, its substitute and surety. Human beings, by uniting their weakness to the strength of his divine nature, may become partakers of his character.

Satan will use every subtle argument to deceive men and women as he did in Eden to deceive Adam and Eve. "Yea, hath . . . [Elohiym] said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" Satan said to Eve. "And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, . . . [Elohiym] hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: for . . . [Elohiym] doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:1-5).

Adam and Eve both ate of the fruit, and obtained a knowledge which, had they obeyed . . . [Yahuwah], they would never have had,--an experience in disobedience and disloyalty to . . . [Yahuwah],--the knowledge that they were naked. The garment of innocence, a covering from . . . [Yahuwah], which surrounded them, departed; and they supplied the place of this heavenly garment by sewing together fig-leaves for aprons.

This is the covering that the transgressors of the law of . . . [Yahuwah] have used since the days of Adam and Eve's disobedience. They have sewed together fig-leaves to cover their nakedness, caused by transgression. The fig-leaves represent the arguments used to cover disobedience. When the . . . [Yahuwah] calls the attention of men and women to the truth, the making of fig-leaves into aprons will be begun, to hide the nakedness of the soul. But the nakedness of the sinner is not covered. All the arguments pieced together by all who have interested themselves in this flimsy work will come to naught.

. . . [Yahushua] has prepared a covering, the robe of his own righteousness, that he will put on every repenting, believing soul who by faith will receive it. Said John, "Behold the Lamb of . . . [Yahuwah], which taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1:29). Sin is the transgression of the law; but . . . [Yahushua] died to make it possible for every man to have his sins taken away. A fig-leaf apron will never cover our nakedness. Sin must be taken away, the garment of . . . [Yahushua's] righteousness must cover the transgressor of . . . [Yahuwah's] law. Then when . . . [Yahushua] looks upon the believing sinner, he sees, not the fig-leaves covering him, but his own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of . . . [Yahuwah].

. . . [Yahushua] came to give an example of the perfect conformity to the law of . . . [Yahuwah] required of all, from Adam, the first man, down to the last man who shall live on the earth. He declared that his mission was not to destroy the law, but to fulfil it in perfect and entire obedience. In this way he magnified the law, and made it honorable. In his life he revealed its spiritual nature. In the sight of heavenly beings, of worlds unfallen, and of a disobedient, unthankful, unholy world, he fulfilled the far-reaching principles of the law. He came to demonstrate the fact that humanity, allied by living faith to divinity, can keep all the commandments of . . . [Yahuwah]. He came to make plain the immutable character of the law, to declare that disobedience and transgression can never be rewarded with eternal life. He came as a man to humanity, that humanity might touch humanity, while divinity laid hold upon the throne of God. But in no case did he come to lessen the obligation of men to be perfectly obedient. He did not destroy the validity of the Old Testament Scriptures. He fulfilled that which was predicted by . . . [Yahuwah] himself. He came, not to set men free from that law, but to open a way whereby they might obey that law, and teach others to do the same.

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2010-08-07T07:03:00.001-07:00

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2010-08-07T06:47:00.001-07:00

Genesis 4

2010-08-06T06:59:00.000-07:00

Genesis 4

1And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.

2And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

3And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

4And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

5But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

6And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

7If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

8And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

9And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

10And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

11And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;

12When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.

13And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.

14Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.

15And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

16And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

17And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

18And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.

19And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.

20And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.

21And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.

22And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.

23And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.

24If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.

25And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.

26And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

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Genesis 3

2010-08-06T06:56:00.000-07:00

Genesis 3

1Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

2And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

3But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

4And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

5For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

6And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

7And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

8And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

9And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

10And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

11And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

12And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

13And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

14And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

15And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

16Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

17And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

18Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

19In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

20And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

21Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

22And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

23Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

24So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Genesis 2

2010-08-06T06:51:00.000-07:00

Genesis 2

1Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

2And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

3And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

4These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,

5And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.

6But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.

7And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

8And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

9And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

10And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.

11The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;

12And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.

13And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia.

14And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.

15And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

16And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

18And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

19And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

20And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

21And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

22And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

23And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

24Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

25And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

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