Pure Religion

James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

The helping of one another, the love, the caring & the compassion is a must for every brethren who is inside the Church of God.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other,

2 Corinthians 8:14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality.

Taking care of your own family is a prerequisite before one can take care of others outside the home or the Church of God.

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?);

In this manner, Pure religion left no street children or menace of society for the government to take care of. Henceforth, One can perfectly rule a nation only when he is under the rule of God?

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.

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.

The Inheritance

For the Family whom I loved so dearly.

God shall call anyone unto him, into the house of God built by Jesus Christ - the stone which was rejected by the disobedient, which has become the chief cornerstone.

Acts 2:39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.

It is the desire of my heart with a fervent prayer that all of you whom I dearly loved are with me in the house of god which is the Church of God purchased by the blood of Jesus that whosoever believe in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

1 Timothy 3:15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Like me, must even you also be under His grace for outside the Church God judges.

Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

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

That is why, I do not want you to be outside the Church where evil mostly dwell, rubbing elbows with those evil persons who was removed in the Church.

Ephesians 1:18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

This is my ardent desire, a gift and inheritance that I can left as a legacy to all of you deprive me not before I die.

If God permit and you are called, I thank Him for the grace and mercy to you it has been given.

Praise The Lord

How great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge? How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways?

Jeremiah 9:24 But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the LORD.

The living and non-living things do praise God.

Psalm 148:7-13 Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word: Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.

As long as the creature does the purpose of its creation, fulfilling His word is praising the Lord.

Hatred Is Murder

1 John 3:15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

At a glance, the law of Christ is very hard to follow. Hate is something anyone would normally feel in a day to day life. You hate your job, hate this, hate that, hate him or her. Moreover, Why do we have to love an enemy who is not lovable at all?

Luke 6:27-28 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.

Adding the fact that sometimes you did what you do not really intend to do and you hated having done it.

Romans 7:15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.

Romans 7:20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

If we let this sin dwell, and hatred remain, curse that day & time it was aroused for it shows no mercy at all.

What's In A Name?

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. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. 2 Chronicles 7:14-15

Even humans call their own by their name. House of Solomon, Wife of Solomon, Children of Solomon, etc. Therefore, It is but logical that the place where the people of God pray is called the Church of God.

Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

Preachers may pass away, but the doctrines and the teachings shall not pass away as what they saw and heard are written down. Therefore, it is the teachings that you should accept and have fellowship with at the House of God called the Church of God.

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.

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.

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?

The Thief Inside The Church

One living good example of a thief written in the Bible is the story of Judas Iscariot.

John 12:4-6 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.

Members of the Church are taught to share with generosity.

2 Timothy 3:17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Galatians 6:6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

The shared money is called the Holy things or Holy offerings.

As such, when used for personal consumption or sustenance or anything that is not lavish or excessive can make the one using it holy, on the assumption that the user is clean.

Leviticus 22:3 Say to them: ‘Whoever of all your descendants throughout your generations, who goes near the holy things which the children of Israel dedicate to the LORD, while he has uncleanness upon him, that person shall be cut off from My presence: I am the LORD.

Question #1: Is buying a Church airplane holy?

Question #2: Is buying a TV station holy?

Question #3: Is buying a car holy?

Answer: If used for the purpose of preaching the gospel, then yes, it is definitely holy.

To simplify the answer, any action associated with the holy thing of preaching His gospel unto all nations is holy and thus acceptable to all members of the Church.

Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Unholy, are those greedy pastors, ministers, priests who are polluted by the world and uses the Holy thing for their own personal gain.

Is Thine Eye Evil

Matthew 20:1-7 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.

Matthew 20:8-10 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.

Matthew 20:11-14 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.

Matthew 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

Reminds me of a couple who is in dire need of money. They want me to sell their house for Two Million Pesos net of commission. Meaning they will not give a commission from the 2 million pesos and authorized me to make an overprice. I insisted for the 5% commission on the proceeds but they said they are heavily indebted and 2 million pesos is just right for them.

I offer the house for 2.5M which is a little bit lower than the market price but sold only at 2.2M, I said to myself, 200K commission is nearly at hand.

Guess what? They gave me only 110K corresponding to the 5% of 2.2M, a difference of 90K. They said, it's an easy sale from me and 200K is too much.

How many people are like that? Is it unlawful to collect what is mine? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

Reminds me also of Ananias and his wife Sapphira who promised to give 100% from the sale of their possession, but when the money is at hand, they kept back part of the price.

Acts 5:1-2 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Acts 5:9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

Acts 5:10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

I am not saying that the couple is like Ananias and Sapphira, but just the same, they kept back part of my commission.

Squid Ministers & Leaders

No, I don't mean our black brother in Nigeria, Africa or President Barack Obama.

Squids use their ink as a means to flee or deter predators. When threatened, squid will release this dark cloudy substance in hopes of intimidating the incoming danger.

Leaders who twist all that is right are like squids that uses ink as an escape mechanism.

Micah 3:9 Now hear this, You heads of the house of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel, Who abhor justice And pervert all equity,

It seems that it is the other way around. They are the predators darkening the already clear situation, like this aborted medical mission.

Covered with the corresponding permits, while conducting free medical missions, doctors and organizers are threatened and intimidated by Police authorities in response to a baseless report of a town leader for an unknown reason.

Further investigation disclosed that the reason for such action is that the sponsor of the medical mission happens to be the rival religion of the town leader where she is a member of.

It is very alarming, when leaders who are sworn in office to protect and serve the people are the ones who opposes the people from doing good deeds.

Mark 9:38-40 Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.” But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is on our side.

They are always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. What we have to put away are evil persons not those performing medical missions for free.

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.”

Granting that your religion is true, then put away from among yourselves this evil town leader and let God judge him when he is already outside your Church.

Unless, you are the squid minister of this squid leader and your father is the devil.

John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

Babies In Faith

I saw this picture while browsing the internet which reminds me of someone though mature are babies in faith.

We can not give solid food to babies because he/she can not digest it, right?

1 Corinthians 3:2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;

What's my point?

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.

Read this to a man with long hair and to a woman with a short hair and you will see a shrug or a sarcastic remark like, Are you out of this 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.

Where do you belong now, of this world or out of this world?

How much more if we talked of things which are not seen?

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.

Can you follow, or until now you are still a baby?

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

Are You Listening?

Listening is a must for anyone who wants to learn. So that when you are not attentive, you will later lack the understanding of the things talked about. It may be a revision or addition of the things already done in the past.

One example is the instruction of the Apostles to the members of the Church to leave the principles of the doctrine of Christ.

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

What are those doctrines that they must leave?

Hebrews 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

We must leave them because all Christians had gone through these process, the very reason why we are called Christians.

We religiously attended the gatherings because of the promise of eternal life. Remember that we are all considered dead before baptism.

1 Timothy 5:6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

And we desire that every one of us do show diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end through faith and patience.

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.

Have you tasted the good word of God called the breaking of bread? I don't mean bakery bread. Hey! talkative priests, are you listening?

The Great Opportunity

Accepting one's sin or fault is sometimes hard and not easy like the story of a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife. They sold a possession and kept back part of the price.

Acts 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

If the intention of the couple is to give only half of the price, they should not made a covenant with God to offer the whole proceeds of the sale.

Acts 5:4 Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."

Acts 5:5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.

Acts 5:7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.

At this time Sapphira was given a chance by Peter to speak for the truth.

Acts 5:8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

Instead of telling the truth, she just confirmed that they have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test. She too fell down and died.

Oftentimes we tend to point a finger at others to divert the attention of the accuser like the story of a man named Adam & the woman taken out of his rib at the garden in the east, Eden.

Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Guess what is the answer of the man when asked by God?

Genesis 3:12 The man said, "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."

He pointed a finger at the woman and worst he even put the blame on God for creating him the woman.

And the woman put the blame on the serpent.

Genesis 5:13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

The reason for being asked is to give us the opportunity to accept and feel sorry for our sins and to ask forgiveness for doing it. After the woman pointed a finger at the serpent, did God ask the serpent? Not any more, because the serpent was already condemned and this opportunity is given only to us.

Aren't we be glad we have this great opportunity?

How Are We Called?

Apostles like Paul are called as ministers of the Church by and only in the power and will of God.

2 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:

Ministers are called by God to the Church of God, but how about the members?

Remember that God reveal his secrets and mysteries only unto prophets and ministers of Christ.

But there is no difference between the manner of calling the members of the Church of God today than the previous.

2 Thessalonians 2:14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2:15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

The teachings by word of mouth or by epistle is still the same as of today because of the blessed he that readeth and we that heareth.

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.

For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.

1 Thessalonians 4:8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.

There is also one calling that we should not go back which most of us came from.

Ephesians 2:2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

Ephesians 2:3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

And they are everywhere, looking for new recruits in disguise of holiness. Beware!

Matthew 23:15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

If you are still one of them? I am commanding you now, for the sake of your soul, about face! forward march! then run away from them as past as you can.