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Hope & Change Explained

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Bible Hope and change

Hope and Change Explained

Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
bible-riot
Discontent everywhere

We look around us day in and day out, children being murdered, molested, being used as toys for people with illicit intent. There are people so far out of their minds trying to self-medicate themselves so they do not feel the pain they have endured. People around the world are being persecuted for the way they are and the way that they believe.  We have political entities that are telling us that the way we believe and think are wrong, or that we said something that was inappropriate. If we smile at someone it could be taken the wrong way, a sexual advance, maybe you’re just racist, not implying that you are just sharing the love that was given us. The surroundings that we have to put up with on a daily basis seem to be overwhelming. One thing I always remember 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 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 that you can endure it. In this bible verse we can break it down into a few different parts the love of money, being content, and that He is there for you.

Money
The Love of Money

To begin with, money, we ask what did Jesus say?    Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Jesus told us that loving money is like having another master that we devote our lives to. It does not say that are not supposed to work, it says quite the opposite. In Romans 13:7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. We are told that we are to pay our taxes, pay those we owe and respect and honor those that are due respect and honor. If we have to pay taxes and our debts that obviously means that having a job and making money is not evil. It is when we revere money over everything else is when it becomes the problem.  For example; your spouse and children are expecting you home for an amazing night with the family however you stay to make some extra money so you cancel and work a few extra hours. You have now put money before your family, that is not saying that making a few extra dollars is evil, but if you do not have to work be content with what God has given you. It is when we put the search for that extra dollar over everything else in our life including family, ourselves and worst God. This is when we become entangled with a love for money over the love of everything else. In the bible it says to love your neighbor: Luke 10:27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” it does not say love your money. So when we love money so much we are breaking one of His commandments, Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me.” And do not forget what Jesus said above in Luke 10:27 love Him with everything inside and out. We must remember that even 2000 years ago there were those that tried to teach that following Jesus was not for financial gain in 1 Timothy 6: 4-5 They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. In our society today we have a few that still try to teach this financial doctrine/theology we are reminded  in 1 Timothy 6: 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. We need to remember to be happy with what we have, just be content.

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Study

Furthermore, being content with what we have is a virtue we should all work to attain. When we examine contentment we see there is hope: 2 Corinthians 12:10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. So what is being content? The Merriam dictionary defines being content as:  freedom from worry or restlessness :  peaceful satisfaction. Paul formally known as Saul left his life of Jewish servitude and comfort: Acts 22:3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today”. The bible says Gamaliel was a teacher Acts 5:34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people.  At that time in history not just anybody would receive teaching except for a select few. Paul left this life and told people to be happy with what you have: Philippians 4:11-13 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. When we want what others have and are not satisfied it is call coveting. Exodus 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” We are reminded by Paul that we should watch so that we do not get snared into the deception that money makes everything better and all your worries disappear. Truth is; even the rich worry and want more, the want of money can turn into a state of mind that devours your entire being. 2 Timothy 6:6-10 But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Just be content with what you have and look to him for hope know that He is there for you: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

Hand Reaching
He is there for you.

            Third, when we do not forsake Him He will not forsake us. The definition of forsake is: to renounce or turn away from entirely. God through Jesus Christ has given us the ultimate sacrifice, salvation through the blood of His Son. Matthew 1:21 “and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” We are shown that through this sacrifice that He has not and will not turn away from us. With this bible verse Hebrews 13:5 I will not leave you or forsake you; we are told throughout the entire bible and have been reassured that He is there and will take care of us. 2000 years ago the Israelite’s where sacrificing animals to cover the sins that they had committed even those people that were “good people;” there has only been one human on this earth who was perfect and free of sin, his name Jesus. Jesus was sent as a sacrifice to cover those sins that through the law could never be covered no matter how many sacrifices that were given. Hebrews 9: 11-14 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! From the beginning to the end of the bible we have been guaranteed that God is there to take care of us. From Genesis 28:15 15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” And as we near the end of the bible in the final chapter we are reminded once again that He has and always will have or back Revelation 1:17-18 “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

In conclusion; we have a hope that it will get better because we know the gift that was given us through Jesus Christ. John 3:16-18 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned. We have been given this gift to comfort us letting us know that God has told us from the beginning that He is there for us, has not forgotten us and will be here for all eternity wanting His people to be with Him in heaven. Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

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He will take care of you, He loves you, and you are one of His children.

What is the Bible?

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Did you know that through the Holy Spirit God guided the people that he chose to write the bible! These words that we have been given are one of the best owners manuals you can own. When we have a question, a problem, need encouragement or anything else God wrote it down so we have His help in everything!  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,  so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.2 Timothy 3: 16-17

Denominataionalizm

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     Today God has put something on my heart. Why as Christians do we fight between each other when there are children around the world being persecuted because they follow Christ. I personally dislike all of the theatrical confusion that the denominations cause, apparently God does not like it either. It says in   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 and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6 (sometimes that verse is taken out of context Jesus said in “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” John 14:6) God dislikes it when we squabble and argue Paul said it best:  For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. 2 Corinthians 12: 20 Furthermore he told us: If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. Galatians 5:15 Why would we want to destroy each other? And why would we do it and say that it is for Christ our savior who commanded us to love each other?  Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12

There is something that so many forget, He sent us a guide: The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”Romans 8:15 All of these different rules that human beings have made through each of the different denominations are causing us to loose what is important, Paul dealt with exact issue: I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:6-9 This comes from our human need to control everything. We are reminded of this in Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. God knows us well enough that this why many times in the bible He tells us to depend on Him.

     When we allow our opinions and promote this discontent we start to forget what Jesus said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” John 14:6  as we continue to  make our rules more important than Gods rules it is making us fail to recall what we have been told:  Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12 and remember that Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar. Proverbs 30:5-6 When this happens it makes it easy for us to be deceived and why we have been warned: For false Christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Matthew 24:24 I am not pointing my finger at any one denomination or picking on one person, we all have to remember what we have been told:  Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: “As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.” So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. Romans 14: 1-13

We need to remember that God loves us and we need to quit fighting between ourselves and remember His children. Stop fighting; I do not think I can repeat that to much it is our human nature; this very nature is addressed in James 4:1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? With that tendency within us if we focus on the salvation we have been given through Jesus Christ and his forgiveness and realize that we are not of this world If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. John 15:19 So we need to STOP acting like we are of the world. Psalm 133:1 says it best: How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

Finally always remember that I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:10 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:3-6  I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:1-2 As a christian we have been called to be one community through the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost.

 

Our Friend

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As I sat down yesterday and prayed about what I should share. God gave me a lot to share. This was information that I had heard but had never been pointed to so directly!

  1. Jesus loves us he said it in his own words John 15:9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.” I have talked with so many people that said nobody loves me; they feel depressed, unwanted and unloved! However if you think about what Jesus said, he loves us, he said this, it was him, the words came out of his mouth! I have found if I have a feeling of despair or feel unloved I just have to sit down pray and read the bible he will show me what I need to hear.
  2. Jesus Commanded John 15:12 “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” If Jesus loves everybody why can’t we? You know that is a big pill to swallow when I look around I see and feel the hatred that so many have. Do you realize though that for some people we may be the only love (light) that they experience? Just a smile, holding a door open for someone, tell them to have a nice day god said; Luke 6:31 “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” I have found that when I treat others the way that I want to be treated they will usually follow my lead, we might be the only breath of fresh air that they get the whole day.
  1. Jesus chose you John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you” John 15:19 “I have chosen you out of the world”. Jesus chose you to be his personal friend John 15: 14-16 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. Jesus tells us that we are not a servant of God but his friend. He laid down his life for his friends so that we would be saved from the world. Have you ever had a friend that you became so close and had such a great relationship that they became your brother or sister (brother from another mother). This is what Christ considers us! He asks one thing in return to follow his commands (John 15:12 “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”) Smile at someone, let someone know you care, just show them love!