A Lack of Knowledge

October 6, 2022October 5, 2022by Drink of Jesus1 Comment

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Caution

In the book of Hosea, we are given a harsh but eye opening rebuke; My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge ^{Hosea 4:6 ESV} We are always so “busy” to read the bible, and to spend time praying and getting to know God. I am not trying to throw stones I am guilty of it also. After a long hard day we want to come home sit down and relax. We have put in so many hours or getting up fifteen minutes early will take a few minutes of desperately need sleep. We can admit we can find an extra 10 mins here or there that we could spare. There are many things and issues that distract us and take away the time we have. What is 10 mins. in the scope of eternity: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 ESV

Perspective

Our lives are so short compared to the opportunity that we have been given through a life following Jesus Christ. We have a decision that can be made that will end with two separate but important results. One living with the best Dad you could ask for. The other decision is living with an abusive guardian that will torture you for the rest of eternity. In reality our lives are short and pass by so fast. We need to make that decision as soon as we can. Like Christ’s return we do not know the time or the number of days that we have. We have not been told that we are going to be perfect. There was only one that walked this earth that was perfect, His name was Jesus Christ. Do not beat yourself up when making a mistake ask for forgiveness and do your best not to do it again. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. ^{James 3:2 ESV}

Rebuked

There will be some that accept the lie that there is nothing, it is sad what do they have to live for. They will belittle some, yell and scream at others, and they will try to make you doubt what you are doing. Stand firm and pray for them be the light they need. Like moths to a lamp, they will flock to what is good, after all isn’t that what we all want? And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. ^{2 Corinthians 4:3-6 ESV}

Be the light and let God sow the seeds that have been planted by the light and love that you have shared. Remember, the God of this world has been around longer than we have. He is jealous and wants to destroy every thing that God, the one true God has created. The devil has created so much division in the world. Looking around, the gospel is not the only thing being rebuked. Families, truth, science, even common sense. I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. ^{Romans 16:17-18 ESV}

Smooth Talkers

There are so many things when we look around that are deceiving massive amounts of people. If we know the Bible and what it says we will create a huge road block that is hard to bypass, like a hedge of protection. There are so many versions of people trying to be spiritual. Different ways to make it to God, those claiming theirs is the right way, do not be deceived. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. ^{Matthew 24:5-14ESV}

His Word

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}

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What is the Bible Part 7, Interpretation

December 5, 2021December 22, 2021by Drink of JesusLeave a comment

You can’t quote the Bible indiscriminately. There is a story of two lawyers. One thought he would make a great impression on the jury by quoting from the Bible. So he said concerning his opponent’s client, “We have it on the highest authority that it has been said, ‘All that a man has will he give for his skin.'” But the other lawyer knew the Bible better. He said, “I am very impressed by the fact that my distinguished colleague here regards as the highest authority the one who said, ‘All that a man has will he give for his skin.’ You will find that this saying comes from the Book of Job, and the one who utters it is the devil. And that is whom he regards as the highest authority!”
Rat Stedman

It is so important to know and understand what the Bible says. We are told in Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” that cannot be said more directly. There have been so many sayings that are supposedly from the Bible and have been repeated so many times that people “know” that the sayings are from God Himself. Let’s take a look at a few:

“A fool and his money are soon parted” Thomas Tusser (1573) “Five Hundreth Pointes of Good Husbandrie”
“Beggars Can’t Be Choose” English Proverb from around the 1500’s
“Charity Begins at Home” Sir Thomas Browne (1605-1682)
“Cleanliness is Next to Godliness” Francis Bacon (1561-1626) and then again by John Wesley (1703-1791)
“Everything that Glitters is Gold” Shakespeare
“God Helps those who Help Themselves” Algernon Sidney (1623-1683) and then again Benjiman Franklin (1706-1790)
“Love conquers all” Vigil (70 BC-19 BC)
“The Lord Works in Mysterious Ways” William Cowper (1731-1800)
“To Thineself Be True” Shakespeare
Quoted from “Encouraging Bible Quotes” Kathrine Walden

Over the years and even centuries, these sayings have found their way into sermons and Christian language as being from the bible. They have been so weaved in that they have been quoted as verses from the bible. Like I said before. If it is happening now, it has happened before humans in that instance are very predictable, it’s the always turning Ferris wheel. For you have forgotten the God of your salvation and have not remembered the Rock of your refuge; therefore, though you plant pleasant plants and sow the vine-branch of a stranger, Isaiah 17:10 ESV

Sowing the vine of a stranger is exactly what is happening when we blindly follow what others say, trusting that what is being cited is accurate. If you spend the time learning what the Bible says, it will make so that there will be less of a chance that you’ll be deceived. I know some of this seems redundant but the reason I have focused on this so much is because I fell for some of the deception. God showed me the way I was going was a dead end straight off of a cliff. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God Ephesions 2.8 ESV Remember and never forget: the devil disguises himself as an angel of light 2 Corinthians 11:14 ESV wrapping things into little gems of knowledge that we want to hear. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 AMP For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the direction and gift that You have given us in the pages of the Bible. Help us navigate the correct path that You want us to travel and rebuke the deceitfulness of the devil. Help me understand every word in this book. In Jesus Name Amen

Getting to Know Him

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What is the Bible Part 6, Only the New Testament

December 4, 2021December 9, 2021by Drink of JesusLeave a comment

Why do some say only the New Testament matters? — ?

Once, when a stubborn disputer seemed unconvinced, Lincoln said, “Well, let’s see how many legs has a cow?” “Four, of course,” came the reply disgustedly. “That’s right,” agreed Lincoln. “Now suppose you call the cow’s tail a leg; how many legs would the cow have?” “Why, five, of course,” was the confident reply. “Now, that’s where you’re wrong,” said Lincoln. “Calling a cow’s tail a leg doesn’t make it a leg.”
Bits & Pieces, July 1991

There seems to be a few different people that say the only thing that we have to pay attention to in the Bible is the New Testament because after Jesus came the New Testament is all that matters. That creates the question that we should always ask ourselves. What Did Jesus Say (WDJS): But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”^{Matthew 4:4 ESV}Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.^{Hebrews 13:8 ESV}So with these two statements, one from Jesus Himself, we are told that we need His direction and He does not change. So when the statement’s been made that proclaims that we do not have to pay attention to the Old Testament. Understand it is going against the words that came out of the mouth of Jesus.

Another thing to consider; when Jesus was quoting the “Word” it was not the New Testament. The Old Testament was all that had been written up to that point. So to say that the Old Testament has no validity today is to say that what Jesus quoted was worthless. I know that is a very bold statement, but it is what we are being told and what has been said in the past by some church leaders. I am not knocking any church, but I want you to understand that some well-intentioned people have made statements that do not match the narrative we have been told. Jesus told us: Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.^{Matthew 24:35 ESV} Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” ^{John 7:38 ESV}

John told us: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.^{John 1:1 ESV} And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. _{^{John 1:14 ESV}} Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. ^{John 17:17 ESV}

Paul wrote a letter to Timothy to advise and encourage him. Paul told him: And how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. ^{2 Timothy 3:15-17 ESV} Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. ^{2 Timothy 2:15 ESV} Paul also told the Thesilonians: And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. ^{1Thesilonians 2:13}^ESV

Finally, James tells us: Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls .But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ^{James 1:21-22 ESV}

The people listed above knew Jesus while He was on earth. Over and over again; they told us that we need to be familiar with the entire Bible. It’s not just the parts that you like or the verse or chapter that fits what someone wants you to know. Read and know the entire Bible so that you are never deceived. Like I mentioned; these are just a few instances from the New Testament, there are more. When you read the Old Testament, you will see the importance that was put on knowing all scripture as well.

When I was younger and did not read or for that matter understand what the Bible was or what it said, I will also say I am not an old man either. I would be deceived by only hearing what I wanted to hear. I used to entertain statements like Jesus never claimed to be the Messiah. The Bible is just a bunch of stories that give examples for morality. God was an unloving, cruel God that does not care about anyone or anything. There are some that say Jesus was not God in flesh, that the devil and Jesus are brothers, and when Jesus came to earth He gave up His Diety. I’ve even heard one theory that God screwed up making us the first time, destroyed it all, and Adam and Eve is the second try for creating humanity. The list can go on and on.

This all has been created by the devil to make us doubt the word of God. In Ephisions 6:12 we are told: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. It is important to know who, what, and why we are fighting.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for all that You have created. Thank you for the entire Bible and the direction that you give us. It all helps us see life through the eyes You want us to have. Lord; help us understand the message You have for so that we will never be deceived. In Jesus Name Amen

Getting to Know Him

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What is the Bible Part 5, To Control

December 3, 2021December 2, 2021by Drink of JesusLeave a comment

Em Griffin in his book The Mindchangers describes an experiment done by Solomon Asch with groups of 12 people. They were brought into a room where four lines of unequal length were displayed. They had to decide which two were the same length and publicly vote for their choice. Person after person after person (11 in all) voted for the wrong line–because they had all been told to ahead of time. The one individual who was in the dark couldn’t imagine how in the world all these seemingly normal people could all choose the wrong line. When it was his turn to vote, he had to decide, “Do I go with what I know my senses are telling me, or do I go with the crowd?” 1/3 of those tested caved in to group pressure and changed their vote to agree with their peers.
Em Griffin, The Mindchangers, Tyndale House, 1976

There are some that have said that the Bible is used to control people. Honestly, I do not disagree throughout history the bible has actually been used to control people. People are always trying to find ways to manipulate things so they can gain an advantage over others. In the past kingdoms used it to control their people and did some horrendous things that were never acceptable, and it was said to be in the name of Jesus. There are some, even today, that will misinterpret what it says to control whole congregations, some have even rewrote and placed their own tweaks so it kind of looks the same but it is not. When applied through the eyes of man that is exactly what happens. This is a sad reality that so many people have died in the name of God because a human need to control everything. Application is everything.

As you learn the bible more and more you will even see that the devil uses the bible to try and control people. It says he disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). Satan is so arrogant that he even tried to use the bible against Jesus when Jesus was being tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:6). So those who say the bible is used to control people, you are correct it can be used that way if you do not know what the bible says. We have been saved by faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9) not by what someone says or does for you. Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). Remember we have freewill (Revelation 3:20) to choose if you want to follow Him but it is important to know the bible so that you are not deceived.

In the Bible we are told My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge ^{Hosea 4:6 ESV} For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. ^{Titus 3:3 ESV} Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”^{Matthew 11:28-30 ESV}

If you have this lack of knowledge you will be able to be controled by those with bad intentions. There are some that seem to mean well but are deceived themselves. That is why in Hosea 4:6 we are given this bleak warning that there will be some that will be destroyed because of lack of knowledge. I would never want to b the people Jesus refers to in Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘LORD, LORD,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one 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 in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ I will leave you with a few more quotes from people in our past have lived through some major stuff.

“The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.”
William Shakespeare

“When one with honeyed words but evil mind
Persuades the mob, great woes befall the state.”
Euripides, Orestes

“It’s discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit.”
Noël Coward

Getting to Know Him

Do you want eternal life? Do you want to enter heaven through the only guide that can help you navigate your way there? To enter His home, get to know Him better, and make Him your Lord and Savior CLICK HERE…..

What is the Bible Part 4, Fairy Tales

December 2, 2021December 2, 2021by Drink of JesusLeave a comment

I have been around Christianity since I was born and can say that I have heard many different perspectives on exactly what the bible is. Because of all of these different opinions I walked away from Christianity for about 16 years, there had to be a better way. I wasn’t wrong, I had to stop listening to people’s opinions and listen to the words that we are given from God Himself, the Bible. There’s an interesting perspective that the Bible is a nice little compilation of fairy tales, which can all be clarified with science and logic. Ultimately; the bible is a history lesson that keeps on being attacked:

Altering history by teaching manipulated stories, facts, and data is a means of promoting specific ideologies and agendas. This can be achieved by creating events that did not happen, altering events that did happen, or omitting events altogether. Over time, knowledge of the truth will die with those who lived or witnessed it, and the alternate version will be universally accepted as true. Distorting history is an effective method of erasing events from the minds of the population, of glorifying events and people in support of state ideals, and vilifying events and people in conflict with state ideals. Presenting history in a way that supports the agenda of the state, and reinforcing it through the public education system and the media can be used to control the perceptions of the populace in ways that prevent dissent and promote nationalism.
Evergreen.edu

Semantic Manipulation: Semantic Manipulation is a kind of distortion of words and this is a kind of distortion of history as well. Also when we change the past meaning of words we lose touch with historical meanings of those same words.
Denialism: One of the ways to distort history is to deny that certain events happened the way that history tells us they didn’t, or to deny that they happened at all.
Cultural imperialism: The famous quote, “History is written by the victors,” may be widely disputed by historians, but history is certainly skewed toward dominant cultures that successfully practice Cultural Imperialism.
Ultra-nationalism: At the core of ultra-nationalism is the need to rewrite any history that does not agree with our view of our nation being a just and deserving nation that is a force for good in the world… or something to this effect.
Dumbing Down: Sometimes history is complicated and not black and white but mixed with varying shades of gray, blue, and… fuchsia? Whatever the exact mix of colors, this can sometimes make the past a complicated and morally ambiguous mess. This mess can be “fixed” (Dumbed Down) by taking out the questionable bits and repackaging them to fit some agenda; even if that agenda is just to feel like the world is an understandable place where villains are always beaten by unicorns riding rainbows of justice. You get the idea.
Xenophobia: History distortion can have a lot to do with distorting different cultures to make them seem less sympathetic and more evil and bad. So you look better; because you aren’t them.

The logic and absolute of science has been tested more and more; it has proven itself as what it is a “Theory” of beliefs, what one might even call a religion of faith all to its own. That is why they have something called a Hypothises. Definition of hypotheses: a proposition made as a basis for reasoning, without any assumption of its truth. Here’s a little science from the bible. It referenced the sphere that is the earth in the Old Testament, Isaiah 40:22. This was when the rest of “science” believed the earth was flat. It says that when there is severe sickness, the sick need to be quarantined, Leviticus 13:1-5. It referenced the Mountain ranges under the ocean, Psalm 104:6. The University of Leicester in 2014 proved that the measurements given for Noahs ark, Genesis 6:13-22, would have floated.

But with all of that said science has done so much for us. It helps humans understand how things work; ex. gravity, electricity, the solar system, and medicine. Science is from God, He wants us to test everything 1 John 4:1 and Romans 12:2. Science provides medical advancements that keep the diseases of old away. I am not a denier of science, in fact in a lot of cases it helps prove the “fairy tales” in the bible. Look into archeology, biblical tips on psychology, the need for companionship. God has given us a brain that is a learn, with this knowledge we have doctors and scientists that have been able to learn to do what they do. In school it is taught that the Bible is superstition that helps leaders control other people. We will talk about this later in an upcoming post.

We need to do our own research and study the Bible and not believe what others are saying. Even if you are not a believer the tips that are in this book will help you live a better life, after all what could that hurt. Some will believe that it is a book of fair tails but if we take the time to research, even though sometimes it will take a bit of effort because so much has been changed and hidden but it’s still out there. You will find how accurate it is, the Romans kept meticulous records, even in the short time I have been alive I have seen things changed and rewritten to fit agendas. I will leave with a few qutoes from history to think about:

“What you do in this world is a matter of no consequence. The question is what can you make people believe you have done.”
Arthur Conan Doyle

“The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.”
George Orwell

“Give me just one generation of youth, and I’ll transform the whole world.”
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin

Gods Word

“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. ^{Malachi 3:6 ESV} Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ^{Hebrews 13:8} ESV Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. ^{James 1:17 ESV} God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? ^{Numbers 23:19 ESV}

Getting to Know Him

Do you want eternal life? Do you want to enter heaven through the only guide that can help you navigate your way there? To enter His home, get to know Him better, and make Him your Lord and Savior CLICK HERE…..

What is the Bible Part 3 it’s the Past

November 30, 2021November 25, 2021by Drink of JesusLeave a comment

“The word of God directs us in our work and way, and a dark place indeed the world would be without it. The commandment is a lamp kept burning with the oil of the Spirit, as a light to direct us in the choice of our way, and the steps we take in that way.”
Matthew Henry

I was kind of what you would call a nerd in school, I was weird, awkward, and one of my favorite subjects was History. Throughout history humans seem to repeat the same mistakes over and over again, “I can do it better this time”. So lets put that into a modern perspective; today we drive cars, back then they drove chariots, back then they even found ways not to walk.

In the past they dealt with political strife, you can read about the “Judges” in the books of Judges, read about Saul in the book of Samuel, the first Jewish king. Research the Roman, Egyption, and Chinese Empires. You’ll notice a striking resemblance to what is going on today. Back then they were trying to destroy each other at any cost, just like they are doing today. We seem to be set up in a wash rinse repeat cycle.

The diversity, political posturing, and ongoing political venues have not changed. It is still a never ending fight for who has the power. When you say the Bible happened a long time ago you are right! Does it matter today? Yes; as human beings we keep going the same direction time and time again. God gave us this owner’s manual so that we might stop this vicious circle that we cannot seem to get ourselves out of. When you read the Bible, you are taking steps to jump off the never ending rollercoaster we are on. You can exit all of its ups and downs, the going in circles and the neck breaking turns. The bible helps, when followed, so that you stop making the same mistakes over and over again.

Gods Word

“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. ^{Malachi 3:6 ESV} Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ^{Hebrews 13:8} ESV Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. ^{James 1:17 ESV} God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? ^{Numbers 23:19 ESV}

Getting to Know Him

Do you want eternal life? Do you want to enter heaven through the only guide that can help you navigate your way there? To enter His home, get to know Him better, and make Him your Lord and Savior CLICK HERE…..

What is the Bible Part 2 History

November 29, 2021November 25, 2021by Drink of Jesus2 Comments

If someone asked you where to find the Bible verse that begins, “For God so loved the world…you’d probably know he was asking about John 3:16. If you had a Bible, you could find it for him in no time. But there was a time when no one could find a single verse in the whole Bible. There was no John 3:16, Genesis l:l or any other verse because the Bible wasn’t divided into verses or even chapters. Worse yet, there were hundreds of years when there weren’t even any word divisions. Punctuation marks, capital letters and even vowels were omitted. In those days, if Genesis had been written in English, it would have started: NTHBGNNNGGDCRTDTHHVNSNDTHRTH.” You would have had to spend hours or days just to find your favorite verse. Words were divided by Jesus’ time, but vowels weren’t used in Hebrew Old Testaments until the sixth century A. D. Gradually, capitalization, punctuation and paragraphing worked their way into the Old and New Testaments. But Bible chapters such as we have today didn’t come into being until the 13th century. They were the work of Stephen Langton, the Archbishop of Canterbury. For the next 200 years, the Bible, now divided into chapters, continued to be copied by hand. Then in 1448, Rabbi Nathan startled the world by breaking the Old Testament into verses. The New Testament wasn’t divided into numbered verses until 1551 when a French printer, Robert Estienne did the job. He was planning a study Bible that would have side-by-side columns in three translations when he got the idea. He was so rushed for time he decided to do the dividing on a trip from Paris to Lyons. Some people have suggested he did the work on horseback and his sometimes awkward divisions resulted when his “jogging horse bumped his pen in the wrong places.” Yet, with a few exceptions, Estienne’s divisions provide us with the verses we have today. So just as number of people were used in writing of the Bible over a period of centuries, it was the contribution of countless scribes, hundreds of years, and three men in particular—a Catholic archbishop, a Jewish rabbi and a Protestant printer—who turned “NTHBGNNNGGDCRTDTHHVNSNDTHRTH” into Genesis l:l.
Miller Clarke, Campus Life, March, 198l

The modern bible has 2 Testaments 66 separate books 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament with a total of 783,137 words in the King James Version. The longest book in the bible is Psalms. The shortest book is John 3. The Bible is one of the most popular, purchased, and sought after pieces of literature in the history of the world. It was originally written in three different languages, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. The entire bible has been translated into 693 different languages while the New Testament has been translated into 1548 diverse languages. In 1455 Johann Gutenberg successfully printed the first bible. This is a relatively quick overview of what the Bible is. There is so much more after all, its believed to have been written over a 3000 year period.

Getting to Know Him

Do you want eternal life? Do you want to enter heaven through the only guide that can help you navigate your way there? To enter His home, get to know Him better, and make Him your Lord and Savior CLICK HERE…..

What is the Bible Part 1

November 28, 2021November 27, 2021by Drink of Jesus6 Comments

Never let good books take the place of the Bible. Drink from the Well, not from the streams that flow from the Well.
Amy Carmichael

Today I am going to start with prayer I want direction from God not input from outside sources, even myself. Dear Heavenly Father, as I begin this series into what the Bible is please guide us. Lord show us what you intended us to learn and give us the lessons and understanding so we know exactly what You want us to know. In Jesus Name Amen

Time and time again so many, even myself, have asked the question. What is the Bible? The secular definition of the Bible is: “the sacred scriptures of Christians comprising the Old Testament and the New Testament” The Bible is the direct word from God. It is direction for our lives and it is the one and true testament revealing to us the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Bible helps us understand what’s to come, what we can expect and ultimately eternity. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. ^{2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV}

When we are told that it was “breathed out by God” this is in referring to the Holy Spirit: But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.^{John 14:26 ESV} And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.^{Isaiah 11:2 ESV} This is how with a little bit of history and faith we know we can trust the bible. As we read and learn we will see and understand how factual the bible really is: The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they then gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. ^{Psalm 19:7-11 ESV}

It is so awesome to know that we have been given a book that is like a Service Manual used by professionals to diagnose problems for every little item around us. Example of service manuals are automotive repair, vacuums repair, dishwasher repair, how to grow a garden, encyclopedias, the list is huge. This manual that we have been given helps us understand the situations that we face every day. Fear (Psalm 23:1-6), anger (Proverbs 14:29), dismay (1 John 5:19), Love(1 Corinthians 13:4-8), Depression (Psalm 34:17-18), Politics (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12), Laws (Romans 13:1-7), Relationships (Ephesians 4:29). The list really could never end, if you are going through something in your life it is discussed in the bible. We are told that, and shown, For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ^{Hebrews 4:12 ESV}

Getting to Know Him

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You are Good Enough

November 27, 2021September 29, 2022by Drink of Jesus1 Comment

There was a rock hound named Rob Cutshaw owns a little roadside shop outside Andrews, North Carolina. Like many in the trade, he hunts for rocks, then sells them to collectors or jewelry makers. He knows enough about rocks to decide which to pick up and sell, but he’s no expert. He leaves the appraising of his rocks to other people. As much as he enjoys the work, it doesn’t always pay the bills. He occasionally moonlights, cutting wood to help put bread on the table. While on a dig twenty years ago, Rob found a rock he described as “purdy and big.” He tried unsuccessfully to sell the specimen, and according to the Constitution, kept the rock under his bed or in his closet. He guessed the blue chunk could bring as much as $500 dollars, but he would have taken less if something urgent came up like paying his power bill. That’s how close Rob came to hawking for a few hundred dollars what turned out to be the largest, most valuable sapphire ever found. The blue rock that Rob had abandoned to the darkness of a closet two decades ago — now known as “The Star of David” sapphire — weighs nearly a pound, and could easily sell for $2.75 million.
John MacArthur, Grace to You Newsletter

Do you or have you ever consider yourself worthless, not good enough, or inadequate? Do you look at those around you and say “man they really have it together, I could never be like that.” Do you feel like no one loves you, cares about you, and that you’d never be missed? God wants you to know that you are just like this sapphire to Him, you are priceless even though you do not see it yourself.

Did you know that Christ hung out with the “sinners,” not the people sitting in the temples? He would hang out with the people everyone else classified as losers and misfits. We’re told that we are all the same in His eyes the person that is sitting on the street corner or the CEO of a multi billion dollar company. Your local homeless shelter volunteer and the person that is sitting on death row.

Without Jesus in their lives they are lost and hurting just in different ways, we all have something we are working on. He repeated so many times that He came to save those who did not know his love. They questioned Him why He would do that and attacked Him because of the company He chose to keep. Do not ever think that you are not good enough. He loves you; in His own words: For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. ^{Luke 19:10} Those that are sitting in church have been found that does not mean they are perfect. They are still working every day with the help of Gods love and direction. Never forget only one was free of sin, Jesus Christ, we all have our battles. Nobody is above you and nobody is below you!

Dear Heavenly Father, sometimes I have to admit that I do not understand what you’d see in a person like me. I mess up all the time, I am not always bad but I fall short sometimes. You suffered and got nailed on cross to put a road block between me and the devil. Lord thank you. In Jesus Name Amen

Getting to Know Him

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Grace

November 21, 2021November 22, 2021by Drink of Jesus1 Comment

Everyday there is something that presents it’s self that we have to make decisions that will affect the way we live. Decisions about the way we act, and decisions that will affect our friends and family. If it wasn’t for grace my imperfections would sink me like a ship that has run aground.

Living by grace instead of by works means you are free from the performance treadmill. It means God has already given you an A when you deserved an F; He has already given you a full day’s pay even though you may have worked only one hour. It means you don’t have to perform certain spiritual disciplines to earn God’s approval. Jesus Christ has already done that for you. You are loved and accepted by God through the merit of Jesus, and you are blessed by God through the merit of Jesus. Nothing you ever do will cause Him to love you any more or any less. He loves you strictly by His grace given to you through Jesus.
Jerry Bridges

Definition of Grace: the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings. A period officially allowed for payment of a sum due or for compliance with a law or condition, especially an extended period granted as a special favor. ^{Bing Translator}

Dear Heavenly Father I am not perfect. I mess up all of the time Lord, but You never let me down I just wanted to say thank and I love you. In Jesus Name Amen

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
Romans 11:6 ESV

More about Grace

Getting to Know Him

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Who You Are

November 9, 2021March 26, 2022by Drink of JesusLeave a comment

Did you know that you are the way you are because He created you to be who you are? The things you hate about yourself are what make you special. He gave these to you and He’ll use them to help others. Every part of you He knows He molded you to be you. With all the imperfections of this world He will be there to light your path no matter how rough.

But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8 ESV

Getting to Know Him

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Declaration

November 8, 2021November 7, 2021by Drink of JesusLeave a comment

Don’t just bottle it up scream it from the top of the mountains. Confess your love and thank him for the life preserver. We share the love that He has shared with us by speaking it we affirm it.

For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Romans 10:10 ESV

Getting to Know Him

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A Lack of Knowledge

November 7, 2021November 7, 2021by Drink of Jesus1 Comment

Caution

In the book of Hosea, we are given a harsh but eye opening rebuke; My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge ^{Hosea 4:6 ESV} We are always so “busy” to read the bible, and to spend time praying and getting to know God. I am not trying to throw stones I am guilty of it also. After a long hard day we want to come home sit down and relax. We have put in so many hours or getting up fifteen minutes early will take a few minutes of desperately need sleep. We can admit we can find an extra 10 mins here or there that we could spare. There are many things and issues that distract us and take away the time we have. What is 10 mins. in the scope of eternity: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 ESV

Perspective

Our lives are so short compared to the opportunity that we have been given through a life following Jesus Christ. We have a decision that can be made that will end with two separate but important results. One living with the best Dad you could ask for. The other decision is living with an abusive guardian that will torture you for the rest of eternity. In reality our lives are short and pass by so fast. We need to make that decision as soon as we can. Like Christ’s return we do not know the time or the number of days that we have. We have not been told that we are going to be perfect. There was only one that walked this earth that was perfect, His name was Jesus Christ. Do not beat yourself up when making a mistake ask for forgiveness and do your best not to do it again. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. ^{James 3:2 ESV}

Rebuked

There will be some that accept the lie that there is nothing, it is sad what do they have to live for. They will belittle some, yell and scream at others, and they will try to make you doubt what you are doing. Stand firm and pray for them be the light they need. Like moths to a lamp, they will flock to what is good, after all isn’t that what we all want? And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. ^{2 Corinthians 4:3-6 ESV}

Be the light and let God sow the seeds that have been planted by the light and love that you have shared. Remember, the God of this world has been around longer than we have. He is jealous and wants to destroy every thing that God, the one true God has created. The devil has created so much division in the world. Looking around, the gospel is not the only thing being rebuked. Families, truth, science, even common sense. I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. ^{Romans 16:17-18 ESV}

Smooth Talkers

There are so many things when we look around that are deceiving massive amounts of people. If we know the Bible and what it says we will create a huge road block that is hard to bypass, like a hedge of protection. There are so many versions of people trying to be spiritual. Different ways to make it to God, those claiming theirs is the right way, do not be deceived. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. ^{Matthew 24:5-14ESV}

His Word

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}

Getting to Know Him

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A Book of Cute little Stories?

October 10, 2021October 10, 2021by Drink of JesusLeave a comment

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}

Getting to Know Him

Do you want eternal life? Do you want to enter heaven through the only guide that can help you navigate your way there? To enter His home, get to know Him better, and make Him your Lord and Savior CLICK HERE…..

Covid-19

March 20, 2020April 13, 2020by Drink of JesusLeave a comment

Covid-19 Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, cover your children with the blood of Jesus Christ, while they are covered Lord Make this virus pass over their homes and families. Lord protect them from this sickness; for those who do get it Lord surround and comfort them. While this virus is attacking so many help settle fears, anxieties, and doubt. Lord we give this battle to You, send your angels to fight for us and keep us and our families safe from this Pandemic. Give our leaders the wisdom they need, protect them from attacks so they can guide us through this with open eyes and with the needed insight. Help them to see what needs to be done to keep everyone safe. Lord help us to share God’s love. In Jesus Name Amen

Don’t be Afraid God’s got this

As we are facing a frightening time in our history that has affected everyone, I pray as much as I can but right now it is even more important to talk to God. While I was praying this morning God reminded me of the Passover. The Passover was created to keep Gods people safe from the tenth plague that God was sending to Egypt because pharaoh would not let the Israelites go. God told Moses after he was unsuccessful to convince pharaoh for the ninth time to let his people go that the plague was going to take every first born living creature. God protected His people from this plague, they came out unscathed and ready for the next undertaking. We are reminded and should always remember to focus on the protection that we have through a close relationship with God: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place the Most High, who is my refuge no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” ^{Psalm 91:1-16 (ESV)}

A Final Plague Threatened (ESV)

The Lord said to Moses, “Yet one plague more I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will drive you away completely. Speak now in the hearing of the people, that they ask, every man of his neighbor and every woman of her neighbor, for silver and gold jewelry.” And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people. So Moses said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘About midnight I will go out in the midst of Egypt, and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle. There shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has never been, nor ever will be again. But not a dog shall growl against any of the people of Israel, either man or beast, that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.’ And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, you and all the people who follow you.’ And after that I will go out.” And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, and the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go out of his land. ^{Exodus 11:1-10}

Why does it take extremes?

This has always gave thoughts of how stubborn we can be sometimes, God will do things in our lives to show us His presence we see it believe for a second and then find ways to explain it and turn our backs again. I can admit I have been the same way in the past and I would find ways to discredit, oh that was a coincidence, the things that God was doing in my life until He hit me with that proverbial brick. He will make it so obvious that it cannot be explained away. So the brick that Pharaoh needed was the tenth plague something so drastic that God’s, the one and only god, existence could not be questioned.

Getting Ready for the Plague

Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb. Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you. ^{Exodus 12:21-23 (ESV)}

Getting Ready for Troubles

As a Christian we can get ready by putting on armor and fight these things that are being flung at us. When we have put on this armor it gives us protection from the god of this world, the devil. The devil has had years to prefect the ways that he attacks us, he is good at it. He causes doubt and misunderstanding, while Jesus was being tempted he even used the bible to try and deceive Jesus. This is why it so important for us to be armored up: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. ^{Ephesians 6:10-20 (ESV)}

Passed Over

At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead. Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as you have said. Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me also!” ^{Exodus 12:29-32 (ESV)}

Protected

We were given a gift so that there is no need to sacrifice a lamb when we sin or for protection, it is Jesus Christ. When we become Christians we walk in the light of or Lord Jesus Christ: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. ^{1 John 1:7 (ESV)} We have been given the gift of the Holy Spirt who gives us the protection and wisdom to walk the path that is in front of us. While I was praying this morning I was reassured that Jesus Christ is our Lamb and that He covers us with His blood just like the lamb’s blood of the Passover. The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! ^{John 1:29 (ESV)} but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.^{1 Peter 1:19 (ESV)}he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.^{Hebrews 9:12-14(ESV)}and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood ^{Revelation 1:5 (ESV)}

Thoughts to Ponder

Looking at the explanation of what Jesus represents, how He sacrificed through pain and suffering and ultimately His death just so that we would be with Him in heaven for ever. Lets us know how much God loves each one of us! So when we pray to be covered with His blood we are asking for the ultimate protection, that which comes from the Creator of the entire universe. Who better to ask for someone’s protection than Him?

Getting to Know Him

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Citation:

“Bible Gateway Passage: Matthew 1 – English Standard Version.” Bible Gateway, http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus 11-13&version=ESV.

Salvation

February 19, 2020by Drink of Jesus17 Comments

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. ^{John 3:16-18 ESV}

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ^{Romans 10:9 ESV}

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ^{Acts 2:38 ESV}

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ^{Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV}

He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, ^{Titus 3:5 ESV}

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” ^{Acts 4:12 ESV}

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ^{John 14:6 ESV}

The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. ^{Psalm 37:39 ESV}

Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people! Selah ^{Psalm 3:8 ESV}

To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. ^{Psalm 62:1 ESV}

Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.” ^{Acts 28:28 ESV}

Demons

February 11, 2020September 29, 2022by Drink of Jesus1 Comment

They sacrificed to demons that were no gods, to gods they had never known, to new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers had never dreaded. ^{Deuteronomy 32:17 ESV}

So they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to goat demons, after whom they whore. This shall be a statute forever for them throughout their generations. ^{Leviticus 17:7 ESV}

Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. ^{Matthew 12:22 ESV}

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. ^{1 John 4:1 ESV}

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, ^{1 Timothy 4:1 ESV}

No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. ^{1 Corinthians 10:20 ESV}

And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” ^{Mark 9:25 ESV}

For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. ^{Revelation 16:14}

And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” ^{Luke 4:33-36 ESV}

And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. ^{Mark 1:34 ESV}

As they were going away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” ^{Matthew 9:32-33 ESV}

Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him. ^{1 Samuel 16:14 ESV}

In which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience ^{Ephesians 2:2 ESV}

But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. ^{2 Corinthians 11:3-4 ESV}

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. ^{2 Corinthians 11:13-15 ESV}

As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.^{Acts 16:16-18 ESV}

Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. ^{Mark 16:9 ESV}

And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. ^{Mark 9:17 ESV}

“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.” ^{Matthew 12:43-45 ESV}

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. ^{2 Corinthians 12:7 ESV}

Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him.^{John 13:26-27 ESV}

When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.^{Luke 8:26-33 ESV}

And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” ^{Mark 1:23-24 ESV}

And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.” And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.”And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. ^{Matthew 17:15-18 ESV}

And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.^{Matthew 15:22-28 ESV}

As they were going away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him. ^{Matthew 9:32 ESV}

They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons; they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood. ^{Psalm 106:37-38 ESV}

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. ^{Colossians 2:8 ESV}

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. ^{1 John 4:1-3 ESV}

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ^{Ephesians 6:10-12 ESV}

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. ^{2 Corinthians 11:14-15} ^ESV

And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ^{Mark 16:17 ESV}

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ^{James 4:7 ESV}

The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” ^{Luke 10:17 ESV}

Freewill

February 10, 2020by Drink of Jesus3 Comments

Marriage

February 4, 2020May 21, 2020by Drink of Jesus1 Comment

A Serious Proposition

He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. ^{Proverbs 18:22 ESV}

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.^{Genesis 2:24 ESV}

Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves a favor—since they’re already “one” in marriage. No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers it. That’s how Christ treats us, the church, since we are part of his body. And this is why a man leaves father and mother and cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become “one flesh.” This is a huge mystery, and I don’t pretend to understand it all. What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church. And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honor her husband.^{Ephesians 5:25-33 (MSG)}

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.^{1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV)}

Getting to Know Him

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Citations:

Open bible info

Editor: Stephen Smith. Publication date: Apr 10, 2020. Publisher: OpenBible.info.

MSG

ESV

Anger

February 3, 2020February 3, 2020by Drink of Jesus1 Comment

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. ^{Psalm 37:8 ESV}

For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. ^{James 1:20 ESV}

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. ^{Proverbs 14:29 ESV}

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ^{Ephesians 4:26 ESV}

Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. ^{Proverbs 19:11}

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. ^{Proverbs 15:1 ESV}

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. ^{Ephesians 4:31}

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; ^{James 1:19 ESV}

Anxiety

February 1, 2020by Drink of Jesus6 Comments

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” ^{Matthew 11:28-30 ESV}

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ^{Philippians 4:6 ESV}

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. ^{Psalm 55:22 ESV}

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ^{Romans 8:31 ESV}

Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? ^{Psalm 118:5-6 ESV}

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. ^{Romans 8:28 ESV}

Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. ^{Proverbs 12:25 ESV}

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.^{James 1:12 ESV}

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. ^{John 14:27 ESV}

Worry

February 1, 2020by Drink of Jesus2 Comments