Long time no write! In view of last week's news item on the new book "Proof of Heaven" by neurosurgeon Dr Eben Alexander, I have decided I have something new to share.
Its a first hand account of an atheist neurosurgeon's experience in a 7 day coma of going to heaven and realising our souls are eternal. Thought provoking, given he met and spoke with his half sister he did not know who had passed away years before. When later shown the photo of his half sister, he recognised her immediately.
If you use Youtube.com.au and search for 'Proof of Heaven' you find not only his story but also other people's experience not of heaven but of hell. This is a scary journey into the truth that hell exists and how terrible it really is.
In particular, there is a video post called 'Placebo' warning Christians that many of us are actually deceived into thinking all we need to do is believe in Jesus Christ, go to church once a week and live generally good lives. No, no no! We must make God number 1! Although I have heard such a message before, hearing the descriptions of first hand accounts and seeing pictures drawn of hell is very convincing, especially if you take God's word, the bible as it is, truly as God's word.
There is no name under heaven by which we can be saved except that of His Son: Jesus Christ. But God is a jeolous God, he wants us heart and soul and mind 100%. What a challenge! We can't just 'do the right thing' we must take up our cross and deny ourselves.
Mark 8:34-36
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
I dare you to watch and hear the entire placebo video on youtube - it will shake you up no matter how strong your walk!
Monday, December 3, 2012
Saturday, September 24, 2011
A new paradigm of wealth
We would all like to be wealthy, would we not? That is, wealthy in life, in love, in family, in friendships, in having abundance in every way so we are lacking in nothing. True wealth is much more than money. This is common sense........Is it not?....... Or is it? Look around the people you know and ask yourself, who is living without limits? And I don't mean breaking the law!
We know much more than we apply to our own lives. Imagine how our lives would be if we simply applied what we already know?!
Eg We know health is more than the health of our bodies. What if you are 'healthy' physically, but have mental issues? or spiritual issues from past wounds? Are you really healthy? Of course not.
We know to be truly healthy, we have to have healthy minds, bodies and spirit. Each is inter-related and cannot be divorced from the other. Each aspect is an integral part of who we are. So why then does modern medicine continue to ignore this common sense? And to treat only the body? Or only the mind, and not also the spirit?
Its a matter of training, one assumes. Doctors are trained to heal the body, but not the mind or spirit. Phychiastrists are trained to see the brain as a combination of chemical reactions, so they apply drugs to balance the chemicals produced in their patients' brains. Pastors are trained to deal with spiritual disease, so have a tendency so see everything from a spiritual point of view.
Or to be blunt, if you are only taught how to use a hammer, you tend to see all problems as nails sticking out! Slowly other forms of treatment which were previously dismissed are becoming increasingly accepted as credible treatments. Acupuncture, naturopathy, herbal medicines abound.
Here's an blinding thought...
Physical illness (as opposed to physical trauma caused by accidents, injury or physical assaults) is caused by a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental physical input. In other words, garbage in garbage out! So be careful what you habitually eat! And be careful how you habitually move!
Mental illness is caused by a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental mental input. Again garbage in, garbage out! So be careful what you habitually think!
Spiritual illness is caused by a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental spiritual input. Again garage in, garbage out! So be careful what you believe!
And what are the common sense implications of the above? Why, they are common sense of course and you already know the answers!
To heal the body, eat and move right,...... always.
To heal the mind, think right, ....... always.
To heal the spirit, believe right, ....... always.
We all do some of these things, some of the time. The key to lasting health, is making these behaviors into our habits so they become our chosen lifestyle and not something we do just when we are feeling sick in the body, worried in the mind or stressed in the spirit.
Obvious again, you say? So why don't you apply it? If you did, you wouldn't be reading this! Ha Ha Ha....got you there, didn't I?
So why don't we do what we know? What's stopping us from living life to our full potential? Or settling for something less then we were meant to be? From living life out of a sens of abundance?
Here are some possible clues:
- Conflicting beliefs: take us one step forward and two steps back
- Wrong beliefs: take us down the wrong path
- Inadequate beliefs: take us only part way
- laziness: make us sluggish
- fear of failure: freezes us
- fear of success!: freezes us!
- fear of rocking the boat so we do nothing and become observers of life
- because no-one expects us too! ....so we don't even try beyond a certain level
- because it seems like too much work! to go against the trend and forces of everything around us
- apathy: not caring one way or the other
The good news is there are tools and ideas that can address each one of these blockages. And because we are body, mind and spirit, the tools must also be tools and ideas for the body, for the mind and for the spirit.
But are you ready to change? ........Are you ready to give up beliefs that are holding you back and replace them with beliefs that will spur you on to achieve what you never thought possible?
Do you know, that even as I write these words, I am asking myself the same questions?
I am daring myself to go where I have not gone before. And if I can take the challenge, why not you as well?
What is a value system, but a strongly held belief, passed down through the generations? Everything can be changed..... by a renewing of the mind.
We know much more than we apply to our own lives. Imagine how our lives would be if we simply applied what we already know?!
Eg We know health is more than the health of our bodies. What if you are 'healthy' physically, but have mental issues? or spiritual issues from past wounds? Are you really healthy? Of course not.
We know to be truly healthy, we have to have healthy minds, bodies and spirit. Each is inter-related and cannot be divorced from the other. Each aspect is an integral part of who we are. So why then does modern medicine continue to ignore this common sense? And to treat only the body? Or only the mind, and not also the spirit?
Its a matter of training, one assumes. Doctors are trained to heal the body, but not the mind or spirit. Phychiastrists are trained to see the brain as a combination of chemical reactions, so they apply drugs to balance the chemicals produced in their patients' brains. Pastors are trained to deal with spiritual disease, so have a tendency so see everything from a spiritual point of view.
Or to be blunt, if you are only taught how to use a hammer, you tend to see all problems as nails sticking out! Slowly other forms of treatment which were previously dismissed are becoming increasingly accepted as credible treatments. Acupuncture, naturopathy, herbal medicines abound.
Here's an blinding thought...
Physical illness (as opposed to physical trauma caused by accidents, injury or physical assaults) is caused by a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental physical input. In other words, garbage in garbage out! So be careful what you habitually eat! And be careful how you habitually move!
Mental illness is caused by a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental mental input. Again garbage in, garbage out! So be careful what you habitually think!
Spiritual illness is caused by a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental spiritual input. Again garage in, garbage out! So be careful what you believe!
And what are the common sense implications of the above? Why, they are common sense of course and you already know the answers!
To heal the body, eat and move right,...... always.
To heal the mind, think right, ....... always.
To heal the spirit, believe right, ....... always.
We all do some of these things, some of the time. The key to lasting health, is making these behaviors into our habits so they become our chosen lifestyle and not something we do just when we are feeling sick in the body, worried in the mind or stressed in the spirit.
Obvious again, you say? So why don't you apply it? If you did, you wouldn't be reading this! Ha Ha Ha....got you there, didn't I?
So why don't we do what we know? What's stopping us from living life to our full potential? Or settling for something less then we were meant to be? From living life out of a sens of abundance?
Here are some possible clues:
- Conflicting beliefs: take us one step forward and two steps back
- Wrong beliefs: take us down the wrong path
- Inadequate beliefs: take us only part way
- laziness: make us sluggish
- fear of failure: freezes us
- fear of success!: freezes us!
- fear of rocking the boat so we do nothing and become observers of life
- because no-one expects us too! ....so we don't even try beyond a certain level
- because it seems like too much work! to go against the trend and forces of everything around us
- apathy: not caring one way or the other
The good news is there are tools and ideas that can address each one of these blockages. And because we are body, mind and spirit, the tools must also be tools and ideas for the body, for the mind and for the spirit.
But are you ready to change? ........Are you ready to give up beliefs that are holding you back and replace them with beliefs that will spur you on to achieve what you never thought possible?
Do you know, that even as I write these words, I am asking myself the same questions?
I am daring myself to go where I have not gone before. And if I can take the challenge, why not you as well?
What is a value system, but a strongly held belief, passed down through the generations? Everything can be changed..... by a renewing of the mind.
Does money equal success?
Ecclesiastes 5:10-12
"Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. As goods increase, so do those who consume them, And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them? The sleep of a labourer is sweet whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep"
It is not money that is evil, only the love of money.
1 Timothy 6:10
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil."
"Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. As goods increase, so do those who consume them, And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them? The sleep of a labourer is sweet whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep"
It is not money that is evil, only the love of money.
1 Timothy 6:10
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil."
God's definition of success
Genesis 39:1-2
"Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharoah, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ismaelites who had taken him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian."
Note that Joseph was brought to Egypt after he was sold as a slave by his own brothers first to a group of Midianite merchants who then sold him to Potiphar, an official of Pharoah. Genesis 37:28,36
He then became successful because the Lord was with him and prospered him by giving him wisdom which eventually led to Pharoah putting Joseph in charge of the 'whole land of Egypt' Genesis 41:41. But this was only after Joseph had been wrongly accused of attempting sexual assault on Potiphar's wife an had spent more than 2 years in Pharoah's prison. While in prison, the Lord was still with Joseph and Joseph did not lose faith or wisdom. The Lord showed he was with Joseph by granting him kindness and showed him favour in the eyes of the prison guard. The guard put the whole prison under Joseph's care.
"So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did." Genesis 39:22-23
Note that Joseph was still in prison! So you can have success no matter what your circumstance! No matter how lowly your position in life.
But what of worldly success, you may say. Is it only the poor who speak this way? That the Lord gives success to the lowly?
Look what Solomon says then, the richest and wisest ruler of Jerusalem who ever lived.
"I thought in my heart, 'Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.' But that also proved to be meaningless.
'Laughter,' I said, 'is foolishness. And what does pleasure accomplish?' I tried cheering myself with wine and embracing folly - my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.
I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks then anyone in Jerusalem before me. I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the tresure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well - the delights of the heart of man. I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labour. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun." Ecclesiastes chapter 2.
"Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharoah, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ismaelites who had taken him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian."
Note that Joseph was brought to Egypt after he was sold as a slave by his own brothers first to a group of Midianite merchants who then sold him to Potiphar, an official of Pharoah. Genesis 37:28,36
He then became successful because the Lord was with him and prospered him by giving him wisdom which eventually led to Pharoah putting Joseph in charge of the 'whole land of Egypt' Genesis 41:41. But this was only after Joseph had been wrongly accused of attempting sexual assault on Potiphar's wife an had spent more than 2 years in Pharoah's prison. While in prison, the Lord was still with Joseph and Joseph did not lose faith or wisdom. The Lord showed he was with Joseph by granting him kindness and showed him favour in the eyes of the prison guard. The guard put the whole prison under Joseph's care.
"So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did." Genesis 39:22-23
Note that Joseph was still in prison! So you can have success no matter what your circumstance! No matter how lowly your position in life.
But what of worldly success, you may say. Is it only the poor who speak this way? That the Lord gives success to the lowly?
Look what Solomon says then, the richest and wisest ruler of Jerusalem who ever lived.
"I thought in my heart, 'Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.' But that also proved to be meaningless.
'Laughter,' I said, 'is foolishness. And what does pleasure accomplish?' I tried cheering myself with wine and embracing folly - my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.
I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks then anyone in Jerusalem before me. I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the tresure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well - the delights of the heart of man. I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labour. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun." Ecclesiastes chapter 2.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
The plans of God
How can we know God's plan? For life..., for us..., for our children,.... for the world?
1 Corinthians 2:6-12,14
"We do however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of a secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
However, as it is written:
" No eye has seen,
No ear has heard,
No mind has conceived
What God has prepared for those who love Him"
but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit.
the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. for who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us."
v14
"The man without the spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually discerned."
1 Corinthians 2:6-12,14
"We do however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of a secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
However, as it is written:
" No eye has seen,
No ear has heard,
No mind has conceived
What God has prepared for those who love Him"
but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit.
the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. for who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us."
v14
"The man without the spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually discerned."
Saturday, April 18, 2009
How do I overcome temptation, sin, bad habits, wrong doing?
Act 10:43 BELIEVE in JESUS CHRIST ...
'All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives foregiveness of sins through his name.'
Acts 2:38-39
'Peter replied, "Repent and be baptised, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children for all who are far off - for all whom the Lord our God will call."
Proverbs 15:6 LOVE ...
'Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil.'
Mark 11:25 FORGIVE ...
'And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.'
I Corinthians 10:13 TRUST ...
'No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so you can stand up under it.'
Hebrews 4:15 Know that you are not alone ...
'For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin.
Hebrews 2:14-18 Jesus can relate to you...
'Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death - that is the devil - and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendents.
For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.
Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
'All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives foregiveness of sins through his name.'
Acts 2:38-39
'Peter replied, "Repent and be baptised, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children for all who are far off - for all whom the Lord our God will call."
Proverbs 15:6 LOVE ...
'Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil.'
Mark 11:25 FORGIVE ...
'And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.'
I Corinthians 10:13 TRUST ...
'No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so you can stand up under it.'
Hebrews 4:15 Know that you are not alone ...
'For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin.
Hebrews 2:14-18 Jesus can relate to you...
'Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death - that is the devil - and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendents.
For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.
Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
"How do I love life more?"
1 Peter 3:10
'For,
'For,
"Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from deceitful speech.
He must turn from evil and do good;
he must seek peace and pursue it.
for the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
"How should I treat people?"
1 Timothy 5:1-2
'Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but extort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.'
'Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but extort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.'
"What about cultural superstitions and practices?"
1 Timothy 4:7-8
'Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.'
'Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.'
"As a Christian, do I have to abstain from any foods?"
1 Timothy 4:1-5
'The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbide people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. for everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.'
'The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbide people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. for everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.'
Monday, March 23, 2009
"Who is Satan? Where did he come from?"
Ezekiel 28:12-18
"You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
You were in Eden, the garden of God;
every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, saphire, turquoise and beryl.
Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared.
You were amointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you.
You were on the holy mount of God;
you walked among the fiery stones.
You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.
Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned.
So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God,
and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from the fiery stones.
Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendour.
So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before Kings.
By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and it consumed you, and I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching."
Isaiah 14:12-15
"How you have fallen from heaven,
O morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!
You said in your heart,
"I will ascend to heaven;
I will raise my throne above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of the assembly,
on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.
I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High."
But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit."
So in summary:
- Satan was originally created as an archangel of God, one of 4 (Michael means 'who is equal to God?', guardian of the faith and commander of armies - Jude 1:9, Revelations 12:7, Raphael means 'God the healer', Gabriel means 'Man or might of God', heralds the mysteries of God - Luke 1:19 and Lucifer - means 'morning star or bringer of light' and guardian of Eden) of the named most powerful angels. There are 7 archangels who have the priveledge of standing before God; Revelations 8:2.
- Satan sinned, created war in heaven among the angels and lost his place in heaven and was thrown to earth.
- Satan's angels became demons or evil spirits (Jude 1:6 "And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home - these he kept in darkness bound with everlasting chains for judgement on the great day.")
The word translated as serpent or snake in Hebrew is nachash (pronounced, nakash). More specifically, the word is ha-nachash. From another blog on discussions.godandscience.org :
["The word nachash is a very elastic term in Hebrew. It can function as a noun, a verb, oreven as an adjective. When nachash functions as a noun it means “snake,” and so thetraditional translation is possible—but it yields the contradiction with Ezekiel 28 andIsaiah 14 noted above.4 When nachash serves as a verb it means “to practice divination.”5 That meaning could also be possible in Genesis 3 due to the deception orgoing on—Lucifer claiming to have the “real” word from God. When a verb receives anarticle attached to it, the action of the verb is then transformed into a person doing the action. Hence the word ha-nachash would then best be translated “the diviner.”The third option—the adjectival meaning of nachash—is the solution to the contradiction problem. When nachash serves as an adjective, it’s meaning is “shining bronze” or“polished” (as in “shiny”). By adding the definite article to the word, ha-nachash wouldthen quite easily mean “the shining one.” Angelic or divine beings are elsewheredescribed in the Bible as “shining” or luminous, at times with this very word, nachash.6We often don’t think about how common this vocabulary of “shining brilliance” is forangels and other divine beings. The Bible abounds with descriptions of such beings as“flashing” or “as lightning,” or uses the brilliance of jewels to describe the blazingappearance of such beings. This has important ramifications for solving the “snake”problem.What’s so significant about translating ha-nachash as “shining one” and not “snake” in Genesis 3? Very simply, “shining one” is the literal meaning of “Lucifer.” The name “Lucifer” is actually Latin and comes from the Latin Vulgate translation of the Hebrew Old Testament. In Isaiah 14:12, the Hebrew name of primeval conspirator against God is “Helel ben-Shachar”—“Shining One, son of the Dawn.” Translating ha-nachash as“Shining One” removes the contradiction of seeing a snake vs. a supernatural being inEden since it provides an explicit parallel between the two passages.
We have words like this in English if you think about it. The very same noun / verb /adjective interplay is evident here:(Noun):
“The cleanup is going to take a long time.”
(Verb): “We must clean up this oil spill.”
(Adjective): “The cleanup procedures need to be followed.”
Personally, I think it quite possible that the choice of the word nachash in Genesis 3 was designed as a double entendre. The enemy of God was a shining divine being that also had a serpentine appearance. No, I’m not contradicting what I said above. Saying that Eve was speaking to a divine being of serpentine appearance is different than saying she was dealing with a snake from the animal kingdom. Ezekiel 28 supports this notion.]
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Why did Jesus (the son of God) come to earth?
Mathew 9:10-12
'While Jesus was having dinner at Mathew's house, many tax collectors and 'sinners' came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"
'On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Does this mean Jesus did not want to save or help the 'righteous'?
No, just that unless the 'righteous' realise they are also 'sinners' they cannot be helped. Because the cross is God's sacrifice for our sin and it will mean nothing to us unless we acknowledge we are all sinners, but through faith in Jesus, our sin was transferred to Jesus who bore the penalty of all sin by dying on the cross. And because Jesus is the Son of God, and led a sinless life despite temptation, He is able to bear the sin of the world, take our punishment for us, forgive us, and allow us to share eternal life with Him in heaven and on earth. Because you enter the Kingdom of God once you believe, not once you physically die. God's Kingdom is of the spirit, and it is the spirit of love. (NB you cannot be tempted to do something if you are incapable of doing it, therefore Jesus had the freedom of choice and ability to sin but chose not to.)
So what will you do, now you know this? Will you invite Jesus into your life? Will you dare to go against the ways of living which are contrary to God? You know what they are, you don't need me to tell you. Will you dare to bear witness to your new faith despite persecution that may come? Despite ridicule? Despite condescension? Despite the lack of faith and understanding of those close to you?
The journey will not be easy. You will be tested in your faith time and time again. And sometimes you will want to give up. Know that the effort is worthwhile and no temptation has come to us other than what is common to us, to all mankind. Run your race is such a way as to win. Your race is your life on earth and the power to run it comes not through any physical or mental strength or will but through your faith in God.
'While Jesus was having dinner at Mathew's house, many tax collectors and 'sinners' came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"
'On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Does this mean Jesus did not want to save or help the 'righteous'?
No, just that unless the 'righteous' realise they are also 'sinners' they cannot be helped. Because the cross is God's sacrifice for our sin and it will mean nothing to us unless we acknowledge we are all sinners, but through faith in Jesus, our sin was transferred to Jesus who bore the penalty of all sin by dying on the cross. And because Jesus is the Son of God, and led a sinless life despite temptation, He is able to bear the sin of the world, take our punishment for us, forgive us, and allow us to share eternal life with Him in heaven and on earth. Because you enter the Kingdom of God once you believe, not once you physically die. God's Kingdom is of the spirit, and it is the spirit of love. (NB you cannot be tempted to do something if you are incapable of doing it, therefore Jesus had the freedom of choice and ability to sin but chose not to.)
So what will you do, now you know this? Will you invite Jesus into your life? Will you dare to go against the ways of living which are contrary to God? You know what they are, you don't need me to tell you. Will you dare to bear witness to your new faith despite persecution that may come? Despite ridicule? Despite condescension? Despite the lack of faith and understanding of those close to you?
The journey will not be easy. You will be tested in your faith time and time again. And sometimes you will want to give up. Know that the effort is worthwhile and no temptation has come to us other than what is common to us, to all mankind. Run your race is such a way as to win. Your race is your life on earth and the power to run it comes not through any physical or mental strength or will but through your faith in God.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
"What kind of body will we have in heaven (assuming we get there!)?"
1 Corinthians 15:35-44
'But someone may ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?" How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals another, birds another and fish another. (ie they did not evolve from each other but were created by God according to their own kind. Refer Genesis 1:21) There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendour of the heavenly bodies is one kind and the splendour of the earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of splendour, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendour.
So it will be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
'But someone may ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?" How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals another, birds another and fish another. (ie they did not evolve from each other but were created by God according to their own kind. Refer Genesis 1:21) There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendour of the heavenly bodies is one kind and the splendour of the earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of splendour, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendour.
So it will be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
"How do I find God?"
Mathew 7:7-8
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."
Mathew 8:21-27
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."
Mathew 8:21-27
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
"What is the job description of a Christian?"
Mark 1:16-18
'As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me,"Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.'
'As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me,"Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.'
"How do I get rid of bad habits?"
Galatians 5:16-17
"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desures what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
v19"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatory and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Find the motivation to change....
Galations 6:7-8
"Do not be deceived, God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please the sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."
"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desures what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
v19"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatory and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Find the motivation to change....
Galations 6:7-8
"Do not be deceived, God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please the sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."
"How can we know the thoughts of God?"
1 Corinthians 2: 10-12
'...The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
v16..."For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we (ie Christians) have the mind of Christ.
Galatians 5:22
'But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.'
'...The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
v16..."For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we (ie Christians) have the mind of Christ.
Galatians 5:22
'But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.'
"How does the wisdom of God compare to the wisdom of the world?"
1 Corinthians 1:20-25
"Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not knnow him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks (ie all non Jews) look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles (ie all non-Jews), but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength."
"Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not knnow him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks (ie all non Jews) look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles (ie all non-Jews), but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength."
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
What about baptism?
Acts 2:36-38
... ‘Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.’ When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’
Peter said, “Repent and be baptised, everyone of you for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children, for all who are far off, for all whom the Lord our God will call.
V 41...Those who accepted the message were baptised and about 3,000 were added to their number that day.
The fact that they were cut to the heart shows that they believed what Peter was saying, that is, that the man they crucified, Jesus, was both Lord and Christ. If they had believed he was a mere man who, like others, had sought to be King of the Jews and had failed, there would have been no reason to feel any remorse over his death. Having thus believed who Jesus really was, their question is ‘what shall we do?’ Peter’s response is noteworthy. He does not reply, ‘just believe’ or ‘say this prayer’, or ‘receive the Holy Spirit’, or ‘speak in tongues’. No, what he says is ‘repent and be baptised’ these words speak of something which must be done. The word ‘repent’ does not mean merely to confess sin, it means making a decision to change, to wipe it out of your life altogether. And what can ‘be baptised’ mean other than to ‘be baptised’? Can it be said with greater clarity?
1 Peter 3:20
...who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolises baptism that now saves you also - not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ...
We see from this verse, that it is not the act of baptism that saves you from sin, but the pledge of a good conscience towards God. Baptism is important because it symbolises this pledge you make before God and man, in much the same way as the marriage ceremony symbolises two people's pledge to love and be faithful to each other for life. It also symbolises dying to your old ways and rising to live a new life the way God wants you to live. Through the act of baptism, you are by faith sharing in Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection.
Colossians 2:12
...having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead.
It is also a command of God...
Acts 2:38
...Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptised, everyone of you for the forgiveness of yours sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children for all who are far off, for all whom the Lord our God will call."
The water in baptism also symbolises God's forgiveness of your sin...
Acts 22:16
"...And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptised, and wash your sins away calling on His name."
Mathew 28:18-20
...Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Ephesians 4:5
"...There is one body and one spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all in all."
1 Corinthians 12:13
"...For we were all baptised by one Spirit into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink."
Hebrews 6:1-3 (Elementary teachings about Christ)
"...Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundations of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instructions about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment."
Even Jesus got baptised to fulfill all righteousness.
Mathew 3:13-15
...The Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John.... Jesus replied, ‘Let it be so now, it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.’
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