Without Faith

There are three (3) kinds of sins committed by man.

First: The sins of commission - Those who walk not in spirit and fulfilling the lust of the flesh.

Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Second: The sins of omission - The coward whose works are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot.

Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

Finally: The sins committed by unbelievers - like Cain whose offerings are done without faith.

Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Hebrews 11:11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

What is then the gravest sin among the three (3)? They are all sins with the same destination - the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

Revelation 21:8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

Fire From Heaven

Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him.

2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.

When the lawless one will no longer be held back and will be taken out, there shall arise false christs and false prophets.

Matthew 24:24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

The coming of the anti-Christ is through the activity and working of Satan which will be revealed and will proclaim himself that he is god.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Beware of this lawless one who is the anti-Christ with all power, signs, and lying wonders. Take note and remember these deceiving miracles.

Revelation 13:13-15 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

Imagine a fire coming down from heaven and a talking image of the beast that must be worship? Who can resist this great deception? Unless you are warned of its existence. There will be affliction, distress, and oppression beyond what the world has ever seen, or will see again.

Matthew 24:21-22 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

In this period of time, look up in the sky! Jesus is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him.

2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

As of this date, no one who claims to be god or the son of god, can show great sign of making fire coming down from heaven to earth in the sight of men. Still no one, but be ready when it come.

Big Brother

Jesus Christ told us that not everyone is called a brother.

Matthew 12:50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.

He being the first born son among us.

Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

For we are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus as many of us were baptized through Him. Giving us the authority to call our brethren "brother" as Peter called Paul.

2 Peter 3:15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,

The reason why we are commanded not to call anyone father for we are all brethren.

Matthew 23:8-9 But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.

Though in a relationship, even in a brotherhood, there must be hierarchy - a symbol of authority.

Matthew 23:11-12 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Any reaction to whom most people called "most holy father" or "reverend father"?

The Inward Man

Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. It is the outward man that they can kill & destroy.

2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

That is why, we must be born by the spirit.

John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

If indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you, you are in the Spirit, for those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Moreover, even unclean spirits can enter and dwell in a man.

Mark 5:8-9 For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.”

Imagine a Legion of unclean spirit that can dwell in your body?

Mark 5:13 And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.

By definition: A Legion is the major unit of the Roman army consisting of 3,000 to 6,000 infantry troops and 100 to 200 cavalry troops. How unrighteous that one man can be?

Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it. Offer your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.

1 John 5:18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.

James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Bold Accusation

aprildowling - # Phoenix : AZ : United States said...

How ironic...trying to earn from a blog while promoting your religion. If you were doing this for the right motive (which I am assuming is to "save" people), you wouldn't need to put the ads on your blog to make money from it. Tsk, tsk, religious people never change!

November 26, 2009 12:51 AM

Ely Biado said...

You might have the misconception of trading the word of God for a price.

Did you pay me or donated something for reading this blog?

2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

I pray that you will listen to what God is saying not minding me at all. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory - the reason why I am citing word from God with complete verses is to show that the wisdom comes from God not mine.

Affiliate marketing has its own products to sell and it doesn't mean to say that when you are religious, you will not work anymore for a living. The good thing is, I am not selling the word of God for a price. Truth is, you can read it free without paying me anything. Thanks to www.blogspot.com

John 10:31-32 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?”

Let us share the bread which endures to everlasting life not of bread which perishes. Only those who believe that the Bible is the word of God are invited.

I am also promoting your blog by putting your link above as a gesture of being a Christian.

Luke 6:28-29 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.

May God bless you! And if the inward man of you is speaking on your behalf, may the Lord rebuke you!

Jude 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

The Unforgiven Sins

The prayer of the faithful will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.

1 John 5:16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.

If the sins are committed before we come to the knowledge of the truth, the sins can be forgiven.

Hebrews 5:13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

For even adults are considered babes in faith if they have no knowledge in the word of righteousness.

Hebrews 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

For if anyone who come to the knowledge of the truth and again If we give up and turn our backs on all we've learned, all we've been given, all the truth we now know, we repudiate Christ's sacrifice and are left on our own to face the Judgment

Hebrews 10:26-27 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.

Those are the sins leading to death - the unforgiven sins!

Apostles Gone

Apostles sent by God become a spectacle display to humans and angels alike, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor’s parade, condemned to die.

1 Corinthians 4:9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.

They left a book of legacy for generations to come sealed by David that can only be read by a blessed reader.

Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Anybody can ask a question or a reason of their hope and he will read the answer straight from the book of the Lord - No reference in any other book whatsoever.

Isaiah 34:16 “ Search from the book of the LORD, and read: Not one of these shall fail; Not one shall lack her mate. For My mouth has commanded it, and His Spirit has gathered them.

1 Peter 3:15 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

The blessed reader is the only person who can explain everything to everyone and everywhere in the world the entire gospel of Christ.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

By the blessed reader, the Apostles can still preached even unto the uttermost part of the earth up to the end of the world for everything that they have seen and heard was translated and written for us. But, Who will be our Apostle and High Priest when all the Apostles are all dead and gone?

Hebrews 3:1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,

Hebrews 7:24-25 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

What we need is a reader, not Apostle or Priest for we have Christ Jesus that continues forever and can not be changed. If there is one claiming to be, then, he is a fake and a liar.

Lyrics:

Where have all the Apostles gone, long time passing?
Where have all the Apostles gone, long time ago?
Where have all the Apostles gone?
Fake Priests pick them, every one
When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?

Matter Of Choice

Celibacy is defined as the lifestyle of someone who is, and is striving to remain, unmarried all his/her life. It is also used to describe a state of life where one chooses to abstain from all sexual activities (also known as "continence"). Often, it is incorrectly used to refer a mixed or an involuntary or even temporary abstinence from sexual relations – celibacy is by definition a freely chosen state of being unmarried and practicing sexual abstinence.

Vegetarianism is the practice of following a diet based on plant-based foods including fruits, vegetables, cereal grains, nuts, and seeds, with or without dairy products and eggs. Vegetarians do not eat meat, game, poultry, fish, crustacea, shellfish, or products of animal slaughter such as animal-derived gelatin and rennet.

Both lifestyle & practice is a matter of choice & enforcing it as a doctrine of faith in order to deceive the faithful is against God & Christ.

1 Timothy 4:1-5 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

In fact, Peter was commanded to kill and eat animals.

Acts 10:12-15 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”

Forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from foods, are forms of deceitful illusion in disguise to turn away someone from his faith.

Marry or not to marry, eat or not to eat, they are all acceptable. Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks.

Simple & Obvious

When it comes to religion, nobody will ever claim that theirs are not authentic. The question is, How do you know that their doctrine is from God? The answer is very simple and obvious. The evidence can seen clearly by the eye.

John 7:17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.

The doctrine is already written but many are selective on what they are going to teach. May be because the practice is in existence since birth and introducing a new law will harvest disagreements from all sectors of society.

Details below are discussed already in my previous posts but I find it necessary to mention it again.

The Man with long hair is a disgrace unto him but the woman with long hair is her covering or protection against bad angels.

1 Corinthians 11:14-15 Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering.

It is a hair covering & definitely it's not a hat, veil, turban, cap or anything that can be worn on the head. Therefore, cutting the hair of the woman is removing her covering or protection.

1 Corinthians 11:10 For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.

God want women to get in there with the men in humility, not primping before a mirror or chasing the latest fashions but doing something beautiful for God and becoming beautiful doing it. Imagine a woman going to Church with protruding cleavage, short shorts, backless & exposing her navel or nipple to arouse the desire of men.

1 Timothy 2:9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing,

Announce this doctrine in a congregation then enforce it and let's see how many are left.

James 2:10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

The Savior

The basic step to salvation is, whoever believes in Christ Jesus should not perish but have eternal life. But the only way to be sure we're in God, is to keep His commandments.

1 John 2:4-5 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. It will save us from His wrath to come.

1 Thessalonians 1:10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

Romans 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Jesus Christ therefore is the savior of those who are inside the Church.

Ephesians 5:23-24 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

But those who are outside the Church God judges. 1 Corinthians 5:13

1 Timothy 4:10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

If you then found something good, don't delay, don't hesitate, do it - for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave you are going.

Amazing Stone

It is disgusting to hear lips that speaks lies and a tongue that mutters wicked things, but to know a feet and fingers that speaks and teaches, this is amusing.

Proverbs 6:13 He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;

How can they convey a message is something that the recipient must interpret. This is often done unnoticed except for the sign language where everybody could see.

Online chatting and cellphone text exchanging are good examples of a talking fingers, but this one is amazing - the shouting stones.

Luke 19:39-40 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”

The stone can also stand as witness having heard every word of God.

Joshua 24:27 Joshua spoke to all the people: "This stone is a witness against us. It has heard every word that God has said to us. It is a standing witness against you lest you cheat on your God."

Behold, here's the stone, the corner stone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.

Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Acts 4:11-12 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

War Shock

This is the term called for a war Soldier coming home with a different attitude far from normal.

As an infantry Army Officer serving my country for a continuous tour of duty of six (6) years, I was a living witness that such condition was not the end result of having experienced a cruel war. For if this reason is to be taken into consideration, we can readily conclude that all Soldiers assigned in war zone has a war shock.

Opposite of bravery, war shock is the result of a failure by any soldier to overcome the fear of death.

The basic manifestation of fear is, when at the first burst of gun fire, the Soldier just hide and tremble not firing his gun. The most fatal one is when he goes out of his mind for he will stand up & open fire recklessly. You are lucky if you are not in front of him for at that stage he can no longer distinguished the enemy from an ally. A simple flash back of any previous encounter with the enemy can trigger his uncontrollable behavior.

In short, if you are a soldier with a war shock, you are the previous coward who can now shoot hastily at anybody with or without provocation.

To all the Soldiers in the battlefield, I am talking by experienced, I know it's hard out there.

Luke 12:5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!

The Good Field

John 15:1-2 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

God is the gardener and we are His field.

1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.

The seeds that He plant within us remains forever.

1 Peter 1:23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

As a man with the word of God, thoroughly equipped with every good work, we are expected to change our behavior with the world.

John 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

They begin to think we are different for not joining them as we did before.

1 Peter 4:3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.

Finally they will declare us their enemy, a stranger that they know not.

1 Peter 4:4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.

They don't understand that we are now the good field with a good seed keeping distance from the weeds sowed by the devil.

Memory Loss

Memory loss is something that will happen possibly to us as we get older. The most popular of this kind is Amnesia or Alzheimer's disease.

Amnesia in simple terms is the loss of memory. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually even the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. In most people with AD, symptoms first appear after the age of 60.

The Scripture also mentioned that the loss of memory will happen after the heaven and the earth passed away.

Revelation 21:1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.

As the new heavens and a new earth are created, all the earlier troubles, chaos, and pain are things of the past, to be forgotten.

Isaiah 65:17 “ For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.

Like the newly born baby who know nothing, we also don't know anything even the eternal plan and the wonderful things prepared by God.

1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written: “ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

The Proper Venue

This particular commandment may not gain majority approval even for the so-called devotees.

Matthew 5:42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

And when the borrower will not be able to pay, you are prohibited to go to any court of law.

1 Corinthians 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?

You may ask, who are the saints? Unlike the Catholics where their saints must die first and be declared after, members of the Church of God are considered in the Bible as Saints.

1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

Besides, how can a saint judge things that pertain to this life when he is already dead?

1 Corinthians 6:3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?

The Church is the proper venue. One believer must not sue another believer—right in front of unbelievers.

1 Corinthians 6:4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge?

Let us therefore accept the injustice and leave it at that and let ourselves be cheated.

1 Corinthians 6:7 Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?

Whisper In The Corner

One important past event in the Bible is the suspension of members of the Church of God.

1 Corinthians 5:13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.

The worst and the most scary judgment is when two members were delivered by Saint Paul to Satan.

1 Timothy 1:20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Their activities are done not in the open but whispered in a corner which temporarily escapes attention but revealed in the end.

2 Timothy 2:17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort,

The apostles told beforehand that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons, who cause divisions in the Church, not having the Spirit.

Jude 1:16 These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.

And this is not just a thing of the past. The putting away of members who fight against the teachings and delivering them to Satan, are still on-going inside the Church of God.

It's a continuing process, started by a whisper in the corner.

Without Blemish

I wonder why the burnt offerings made unto God are without blemish. God is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.

Leviticus 22:19 you shall offer of your own free will a male without blemish from the cattle, from the sheep, or from the goats.

The offerings are to be eaten by the children of Aaron.

1 Corinthians 9:13 Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar?

Leviticus 6:18 All the males among the children of Aaron may eat it. It shall be a statute forever in your generations concerning the offerings made by fire to the LORD. Everyone who touches them must be holy.

The offerings that comes from the good heart of the giver makes the children of Aaron holy or without blemish.

Matthew 23:19 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?

All these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Matthew 5:23-24 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Live such good lives among the unbelievers that they may see your good deeds and glorify God.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

The gifts, the giver, the recipient of the gifts must therefore be without blemish to become holy in the eyes of God.

God Is Hatred

This evil thought comes to mind while reading some of the verses in the Bible.

Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.

Likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, suffered the vengeance of eternal fire including their children thereof.

What if God killed only the wicked parents, who will take care of those little children? Will Lot & his two daughters can take care all of them?

Luke 18:16 But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.

At first, you may think poor are those little children but on the second thought they are the luckiest ever, never have to face judgment anymore. In the end I may conclude, God is Love. How I wish I died when I'm still a child.

Isaiah 55:9 “ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

The Poor Rich

Leviticus 23:22 ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am the LORD your God.’”

Reading this verse, I can't help but to thank God and praise Him.

A poor family like us, have experienced going to the field after peanut harvesters are gone. True enough, inside the soil are ground nuts remnants. We call this process in Ilokano vernacular "Tudtod" (picking of whatever remaining on the ground).

In a fish pond for example, when harvesters are gone, we took possession of the pond and inside those muddy areas we still catch some fish, big and small, enough viand for a day or two.

Well, that is life living far from the City. Here, the poor are entirely dependent on jobs and helps from the government. Even the goods coming from generous heart, local or international, intended for those affected by calamities are not exempted from some greedy people the victims thought to rescue.

Ezekiel 22:29 The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger.

Some Leaders are corrupt. Yes, they are greedy dogs which never have enough. They all look to their own way, every one for his own gain, from his own territory. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world?

Proverbs 22:16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.

Fall By Calamity

The righteous died at younger age but the unrighteous are hard to fall. I often heard this saying when I was still young from folks in our locality that one survived in an accident because he is a bad guy and one did not because he is good & kind - with matching shaking of the head.

But reading the Scriptures proved otherwise.

Proverbs 24:16 For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity.

Certainly, people judged on the outside of a man compared to God who search the heart and mind of every man.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 “ The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.

Knowing therefore that for being righteous, one may fall seven times and rise again, can we not persevere to become such & not fall by calamity?

A Gift From God

We sometimes blame God for the frustrations and disappointments we have experienced in life. The question is, Are bad things really comes from above?

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

A water for example is a good gift coming from above. It is a combination of 2 hydrogen and 1 oxygen (H2O). Taking the hydrogen and mixing it with another kind of elements to form a weapon of mass destruction will then become an invention from man's ingenuity and definitely not from God.

A banana fruit for example is a valuable source of vitamin B6, vitamin C, and potassium. The inner part can be eaten raw or cooked by adding sugar but excessive consumption of sugar has been associated with increased incidence of type 2 diabetes, obesity and tooth decay.

The secret word is originality, thus, adding, mixing, mingling, budding, grafting, deducting anything to it, is often times dangerous.

As good wife comes from the Lord.

Proverbs 19:14 House and riches [are] the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife [is] from the LORD.

Same with religion which is the Church of God.

2 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy [our] brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

The emergence of different religions, sects and other denomination is a product of man's inventions unmindful of the good and perfect gifts that comes from above.

Deuteronomy 12:32 “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.

Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Do you know of a perfect gift from above that has been changed by man rather than accepting as it is presented to us?

All Souls Day

It's All Souls Day again for the devotees and I just want to mention few things to remember.

First, the prayers and offerings for the dead has nothing to do with their salvation.

Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten.

Second, the dead don't have a day and visiting them to show your love and compassion is something the dead will never know.

Ecclesiastes 9:6 Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun.

Third, the dead shall be judged according to the works done while still living.

Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.

Knowing that we shall be judged for our own sin, we can do nothing for the salvation of the dead.

Deuteronomy 24:16 “Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin.

What is All Souls Day then? Perhaps, a picnic, a gatherings or a family get together that can be done with or without the dead under.