Discovering God's Will

Matthew 7:7-11 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Is the almighty God whom we pray, capable of giving all things that we ask for?

Acts 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

Breath is more important than food. You can live in days without food but you can not live within an hour without a breath, though we must eat less in order to live longer.

What is our assurance that God will do all the things that He promised.

Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

2 Timothy 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Hebrew 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Remember that the Father which is in heaven give good things according to his will.

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.

1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Why is it then that we have prayers mostly not granted?

James 4:10 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

When the prayer is not in accordance with His will, and will not do us good, He don't even listen.

Lamentations 3:44 Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.

For a prayer to be surely granted, we must know first the will of God.

Just to give you an idea, I will cite below some prayer which are in accordance with His will.

The will of God is: Ephesians 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

The Prayer: Father, please heal my wife who is sick. Make her healthy like me because I love her and I can't bear to see her suffer.

The will of God is: Romans 12:20 Therefore “ If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

The Prayer: Father, give me extra food that I may share it to a neighbor who is my enemy for years.

The will of God is: Proverbs 19:14 Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the LORD.

The Prayer: Father, You are the only one who can search the heart of every man, give me a prudent wife that I shall love as my own body.

You may have a prayer more acceptable to God than mine. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

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.

Evidently, the prayer of a righteous man, Elijah revives the Widow’s Son.

1 Kings 17:20-22 Then he cried out to the LORD and said, “O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?” And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the LORD and said, “O LORD my God, I pray, let this child’s soul come back to him.” Then the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived.

What is the will of God to Elijah?

1 Kings 17:8-9 Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”

What is a prayer?

Prayer is to make your requests known to God.

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Jesus prayed to the father in a place called Gethsemane.

Matthew 26:38-39 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

The apostles devote themselves to prayer. They pray together with Mary the mother of Jesus & the members of the Church.

Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

For choosing an Apostle to replace Judas, the apostles prayed to God.

Acts 1:24-25 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

There you go readers, Jesus Christ, Mary the mother of Jesus, the Apostles, women, brethren, all prayed to God.

How about kneeling to anyone other than God? Are we allowed to kneel at anyone?

Acts 10:25-26 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.

Paul heals a cripple in a place called Lystra, whereupon the apostles are reputed to be gods.

Acts 14:14-15 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

John was rebuked for worshiping an Angel.

Revelation 22:8-9 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

Take a closer look at ourselves now. Look at who are we praying & kneeling to: Man, Saints, Mary, gods made of gold, silver, stone, wood, bronze, and the latest are idols made of styrofoam. Do I also have to rent my clothes to show my disapproval?

Acts 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

Can a wood hear your prayer?

Isaiah 44:13-17 The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house. He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it. Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto. He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.

Are idols made of silver and gold can hear your prayer?

Psalms 115:4-8 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.

Can a stock or stone hear your prayer?

Jeremiah 2:27 Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.

Jeremiah 2:28 But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Psalms 102:18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.

1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Author Of Confusion

The question of those that don't believe God is: Who created God?

Let us take a closer look on what the Scripture is saying about God.

Isaiah 43:10 “ You are My witnesses,” says the LORD, “ And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me.

Isaiah 43:13 Indeed before the day was, I am He; And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?”

There is an specific commandment for everyone regarding on whom to worship.

Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

When John tried to worship the Angel that showed him what will happen in the future, he was rebuked by the Angel himself.

Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Logically, if God is also created then Romans 1:25 does not apply for it will after all contradict itself. It would appear that this whole scripture is wrong.

1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Difficult Days

Ecclesiastes 12:1-2 Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, “ I have no pleasure in them”: While the sun and the light, The moon and the stars, Are not darkened, And the clouds do not return after the rain;

While we are still strong, with complete teeth & a 20/20 vision.

Ecclesiastes 12:3 In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, And the strong men bow down; When the grinders cease because they are few, And those that look through the windows grow dim;

When we still can hear, sleep soundly & can sing higher notes.

Ecclesiastes 12:4 When the doors are shut in the streets, And the sound of grinding is low; When one rises up at the sound of a bird, And all the daughters of music are brought low.

When we are not afraid to do anything, our hair is still black, can carry a load on a shoulder & still sexually active.

Ecclesiastes 12:5 Also they are afraid of height, And of terrors in the way; When the almond tree blossoms, The grasshopper is a burden, And desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home, And the mourners go about the streets.

The difficult day is: when you are still young, you have no pleasure in doing things that pertains to God.

The more difficult day is: When you are already old, still, you have no pleasure:

* Attending the fellowship where boarding a transport is a burden.

* Joining the choir where all members are the youth.

* Bow down your knees where you can hardly stand after the prayer.

* Share in the collection where you are jobless.

* Going to places where church missions (charitable, medical) are conducted.

For if you can do these things with pleasure, truly you have remembered your Creator, before the difficult days come.

Two For The Road

The Bible is mentioning about the two gates one can enter.

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

But prior to the entrance gate, there are roads leading to it and blessed are those who find the gate that leads to life.

But there are two kinds of sheep leading to the road of destruction.

The other one chooses to go astray.

2 Peter 2:15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

And the other one is really lost - the very reason why Jesus Christ was sent.

Matthew 15:24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Matthew 18:13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.

For those who have forsaken the right way & gone astray? The road leading to the narrow gate of life is still open.

Malachi 3:7 Yet from the days of your fathers You have gone away from My ordinances And have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” Says the LORD of hosts. “ But you said, ‘In what way shall we return?’

Get closer to light from darkness and change your way from destruction to life.

John 3:18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Believing is the start of one's salvation.

Matthew 10:22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Romans 2:13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.

Bible Personalities

We are created differently but each one has its own rules to follow in a relationship, either you are a priest, bishop, unmarried, widows or virgins.

For Priests from the old law.

Leviticus 21:7 They shall not take a wife who is a harlot or a defiled woman, nor shall they take a woman divorced from her husband; for the priest is holy to his God.

For Bishops of the new law.

1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Except for marital unfaithfulness & death, He is bound unto his wife, yet sekeeth not if loosed.

1 Corinthians 7:27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

For unmarried, widow & virgins.

1 Corinthians 7:34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

1 Corinthians 7:8-9 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

For Gay & Lesbians.

Deuteronomy 22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

Romans 1:26-27 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

If you know who you are? Live to it accordingly.

John 8:47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.

Misguided Members

What is the purpose of Jesus Christ dying on the cross when after believing in Him one can not be saved because of sin. This is the question of one of my friend citing John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life and Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I call this belief elementary or just the basic because salvation is not just believing and presto, you're saved.

2 Peter 2:20-21 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.

What was purchased by the blood of Christ is the sin from the pollutions of the World prior to the acceptance of Jesus as the Lord & Saviour like Mary Magdalene - the prostitute, whom Jesus had cast seven devils.

1 Timothy 1:13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

What was forgiven was the sin done ignorantly not the original sin of Adam & Eve as some quarters insisted.

Ezekiel 18:20 The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

When one lived in righteousness, there and only then that we can connect John 3:16 & Romans 8:38 to justify salvation.

Romans 8:35-36 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “ For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

With the exception of Mary Magdalene, who become faithful follower of Christ, let it be known that there are possibilities of not saved while inside the Church like what happened to Judas Iscariot & the couple Ananias & Sapphira, Hymenaeus and Alexander, disproving the belief that once saved always saved.

Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Can we judge those who are inside our Church?

1 Corinthians 5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife!

1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.

1 Corinthians 5:12-13 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

The once saved always saved theory is not true after all.

Season Of Time

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:2-8 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

1 Peter 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Rottenness In The Bones

I was awaken early morning by a noise from my disgruntled wife. Scolding my daughter for not helping her do the household chores. On top of her voice, she said, I am not your maid who should always wash the dishes. I rushed to the kitchen to do it myself only to find out that she is nearly finished.

Why is she complaining while doing it? Clearly, it's a waste of time for creating an unfavorable atmosphere that weaken my spirit and rotten my bones.

Finding a good wife nowadays is like finding a needle in the midst of a bush.

Proverbs 31:10-27 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Proverbs 31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman not fearing the Lord, she is disgusting.

Proverbs 12:4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

The Day Of The Lord

This is the day that the Lord has made.

2 Corinthians 6:2 For He says: “ In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

The day when God will judge the secrets of men.

2 Thessalonians 2:14-15 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

For those who disregarded the heavenly calling, God has this to say.

Proverbs 1:24-29 Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. “ Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD,

Come closer brethren, grab His hand and be prepared for the day of the Lord.

The Real Meaning Of Victory

Basically, those who store treasures on earth often shows pride in oneself and irrational disdain for others. They are the people where money is not a problem. Unfortunately, did God gave them favor more than the rest of us?

The question is, Is receiving good things from God considered blessed in life?

Deuteronomy 29:5 And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet.

Armed with those travel arsenals, the Israelite still need endurance to overcome sufferings, so that after they have done the will of God, they may receive the promise:

Revelation 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”

The Israelite ate manna on their way to wilderness, but, did they already received that hidden manna and white stone bearing their name on it?

Romans 3:4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “ That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.”

Parliament On The Streets

Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

Which means that If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked. The reason why people staged parliament on the streets instead of going to court to seek justice against those erring rulers.

Proverbs 29:27 An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.

People power, military coup de' etat, name it we did it only to find out that the leaders are unstoppable. Not fearing the Lord, they work more wickedly and the economy is continuously declining due to violence sending investors to move away.

One good example of a clash between the righteous and the wicked is the story of Israel against an Egyptian ruler named Pharaoh.

Exodus 7:1-5 And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land. And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.

What if God also harden our Leaders heart, are we not yelling at deaf ears?

1 Timothy 2:1-3 exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

Fellowship With The Father

Regarding the spiritual gifts of prophesy.

1 Corinthians 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein.

1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

That through fellowship, we may sit, read, listen & learn.

1 Corinthians 14:30-31 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

But only to those of mature faith can they impart God's wisdom.

1 Cor 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

Let we manifest the gospel of Christ unto all nations through preaching.

1 Corinthians 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

As the Apostles of Christ thus saying.

1 Corinthians 2:4 - 5 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Gays Will Not Inherit The Kingdom Of God

Gays will not inherit the kingdom of God, said by those who don't understand the will of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

Unrighteous as we are, we are washed by the blood of Jesus Christ his Son that cleanse us from all sin.

1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Delivering us from darkness to light, from the power of Satan unto God, it doesn't mean that Gays will change their feminine heart. They are still Gay for sure because it is a natural feeling like lesbians.

Jeremias 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil.

In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

It is a commandment applied to everyone whether you are a boy, girl, gay or a tomboy because clearly God shows no favoritism.

Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

Savings From The Word Of God

For following the word of God is in the long run a financial savings.

Womanizing for example leaves a man a crust of bread. Going to such places where evil women lurks are a great reduction to the house budget of a married men or single men but head of the family.

Proverbs 6:24-25 To keep you from the evil woman, From the flattering tongue of a seductress. Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, Nor let her allure you with her eyelids.

Proverbs 6:26 For by means of a harlot A man is reduced to a crust of bread; And an adulteress will prey upon his precious life.

In the eating of food, God forbid us to keep ourselves from things offered to idols. Preparing for a fiesta celebration to honor or offer thanksgiving to idols, false gods or saints is a great burden for anyone who has no money. Not to mention the savings incurred in the purchase of an expensive idols statue, replica or pictures of Jesus which are all made by hands of men.

Acts 21:25 But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.”

Knowing that God dwelleth not in temples made with hands, leads me to make an account of the large and expensive buildings which was built for the primary purpose of worship - cathedrals, basilicas, mosques, synagogues, hagia sophia, etc. What a waste of money.

Acts 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Hebrews 9:24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;

God needs no money, but we can make use of that money for our own salvation.

Deuteronomy 23:20 Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

Proverbs 19:17 He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given.

Lights In The World

One co-blogger Sterndal asked me this question: I just would like to ask about your religion. i hope you don't mind, but are you a catholic?

Here is the excerpt of my answer to him which was included in the comments section of one of my blog.

"My religion is that of the Apostles. Church of God.

1 john 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—

1 John 1:2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—

1 John 1:3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

God said, my people are called by my name.

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Any church therefore other than Church of God is a fake religion."

I just would like to clarify the above statement "my people are called by my name".

2 Chronicles 7:14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Even for us humans, things that belong to us are called in our name. You will not call the son of Peter as the son of John or the wife of Peter as the wife of John. We even assign our whole name attaching Junior at the end, thus if the father's name is Juan de la Cruz, the son is called Juan de la Cruz Jr.

1 Timothy 3:1-4 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence

1 Timothy 3:5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);

The Catholic Church also has a bishop, but can I ask my intelligent readers a question, are they biblical? You can not even find their church in the entire Bible not even mentioned once by the Apostles in their entire preaching.

Matthew 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

The Church is already existing before He died. After His death, are we authorized to create another Church other than that which was already laid?

1 Corinthians 3:11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

John 6:65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

Simply read the verse above as, no one can accept, enter or be a member of the Church of God without divine intervention because it's hard to surrender material things the world has to give. Refer to my previous article on How Are We Called.

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Catholic Church has a wide and broad gate. You are free to do what you want. - vices like drinking of wine, smoking cigarettes, dressing up like almost naked, always free as a bird and are still Catholic for life.

This is the commandment to the Church members with respect to anyone who is called a brother in the Church.

1 Corinthians 5:11-13 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

Do I mean keeping company only with the righteous inside the Church but how about those outside the Church?

1 Corinthians 5:9-10 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.

Philippians 2:14-15 Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.

A Waste Of Time

I wrote in my previous post on how do I justify my belief in God which is likened to the relationship of a husband & wife, not doing what the other hated.

Our life is full of temptations, that sometimes our measure of doing it is the answer to a question, Are you happy? Womanizing for example is satisfying the lust of the husband but unacceptable to the wife. Robbery augment the needs of the robbers but injustice to the people they robbed.

What do I mean? For we to know God is to know His commandments that we may walk in the path of righteousness.

Looking at the herd of people attending the wake of the late President Corazon Aquino, I remember this verse from Jesus regarding the burying of dead.

Luke 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

Meaning, Anyone who is alive but has no faith is dead in the eyes of God.

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Dead Faith No. 1:

The Catholic Priests are urging the nation to pray for the soul of the President. Is this possible?

Ecclesiates 9:5-6 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. Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun.

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.

A conserted effort for a national prayer can not anymore reward the President for she will be judged according to his own sin works.

Dead Faith No. 2:

Kris Aquino, the daughter, is saying on national television that her father Ninoy Aquino might fetch her mother and together go up to heaven. Is this also possible?

John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

With the verse above, even the Apostles who died with Jesus are not yet in heaven.

Hebrews 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—

Hebrews 11:38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

Hebrews 11:39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,

Hebrews 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Not until the coming of Jesus where the dead will be raised. Who knows but God, President Corazon Aquino and Ninoy Aquino might be part of the first resurrection.

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

1 Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Keeping The Words Of This Book

One of my friend in Facebook, Solomon Seal Samuel from Nigeria, asked me this question. How would you justify your belief in God?

To understand it better, let's use parallelism to show that this example has the same level of importance.

Basically the wife hated mostly the drinking, smoking and gambling vices of their husband.

If the husband stop drinking & gambling but continue smoking, can he justify his belief that he's in love?

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

James 3: 2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

Blessed is he who keeps the words of this prophecy.

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.

This is how I justify my belief.

Who Are You In The Church

Let me introduce the members of the Church of God.

Member No. 1 - The majority members of the Church. The poorest of the poor, the fatherless, the widows, the less fortunate, oftentimes they don't have money and no food to eat. They are the essence of a pure religion.

James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

He called the orphans and widows because He cares for them.

1 Corinthians 1:26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.

Member No. 2 - The minority members of the Church. The rich and the affluent where money is not a problem. They are urged to be ready and willing to share more for the expenses of the Church. They come and go because they stumbled and few remain.

1 Timothy 6:17-18 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

But those that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

Member No. 3 - The members in between. The extreme members where food to eat is not a problem. Sometimes they have money and on one occasion they don't have. When troubled by his family expenses, he was confused and mixed-up. Although the verse below is addressed to all, this is more applicable and fitting to this member.

1 Corinthians 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

But, whoever you are inside the Church, this is the generic commandment.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

Ezekiel 24: 14 I the LORD have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall they judge thee, saith the Lord GOD.

Finally, Do you know who you are in the Church?