Devil's Nest

There are places which are not allowed by God for all Christians to stay or hang around. 

All locations that patronises bad habits like drinking, gambling, smoking, womanizing and the likes are prohibited in order to have a clean heart with a meek and quiet spirit; having no reason to shame between God or men, which is in the sight of God of great price. 

As we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, we are indeed commanded to abstain from all appearance of evil. 

1 Thess 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Gal 5:19-21  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

The question now is this; Why are we commanded to shy away from those places? And the answer is very simple; the devil knows who are the men with the mark of God.

Acts 19:13  Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them who had evil spirits, the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

Acts 19:15  And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

You see, the devil does not even know their peers having the same mark of the devil. Having them know you, frequenting therefore in the nest of the devil may render you outnumbered and may be tempted to commit sins.

Don't follow then the devil, follow Jesus Christ instead.

Jn 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Included in those prohibited places are the place of worship built by men where devils are grouped and nested together.

Mt 23:15 A curse is on you, scribes and Pharisees, false ones! for you go about land and sea to get one disciple and, having him, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

Except the Lord shall build the house, they labor in vain that build it. The house built by Jesus Christ, as commanded by God the father, is the Church of God.

Ps 127:1 A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD shall build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD shall keep the city, the watchman waketh in vain. 

1 Cor 10:32 Give no offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 

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

Other than the Church of God, do I have to name names of churches where devils nested and grouped together? Surely, you will know them by their teachings.

1 Tim 6:3-5  If any man teacheth otherwise, and consenteth not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the doctrine which is according to godliness,  He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, from which cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing gain to be godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

Move away from them, for they are teaching other gospel other than the one preacheth by the apostles and ministers of Jesus Christ.

Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach any other gospel to you than that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

Looking Back

Ang hindi (marunong) lumingon sa pinanggalingan, di makararatíng sa paroroonan.

In English, He who does not (know how to) look back at his past (where he came from) will not reach his destination.

Jokingly, He who does not (know how to) look back at his past (where he came from) has a stiff neck.

May be true in some aspect but not biblical. Looking back  will lead no one anywhere.

Gal 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

Saint Paul never looked back at the way of his life in the past with the Jews' religion where he persecuted the church of God, and ravaged it:

Phil 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

When God rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah sulfur and fire from out of the sky, the wife of Lot looked back from behind him, and became a pillar of salt.

Gen 19:26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

Moses never looked back at the status once he belong. Leaving the comfort and power being the son of Pharaoh's daughter.

Heb 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

Heb 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

Heb 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

For we were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk now as children of light and never look back.

1 Pet 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

Truly, it's nice remembering the lust of the flesh.  But those things which were once profit to me, I gave up for Christ.

Phil 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Without and Within

I have discussed in my previous post that there are two (2) kinds of men found outside the Church of God. One already judged and the other to be judged by God Himself.

1 Cor 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

Matt 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Also, there are two (2) kinds of member found inside the Church of God that is called a brother.

1 Cor 5:11 But now I have written to you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother is a lewd person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner: with such person no not to eat.

For them that are within, there is more important thing to desire - deemed as the better way.

1 Cor 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts. And yet I show to you a more excellent way.

Mt 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who go in by it.

Mt 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth to life, and few there are that find it.

I thought all along that above passages are meant for those not within, but this was said by Jesus to the Apostles who are already ministers of the Church.

Rev 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and lewd men, and murderers, and idolaters, and whoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom towards them that are without, redeeming the time.

1 Thess 4:12 That ye may walk honestly towards them that are without, and that ye may have need of nothing.

The Church of God is likened to a couple and a son inside the house;

While sleeping inside the room, the woman sense that there is someone outside prompting him to wake up her husband to investigate who later found out his own son watching television shows in the sala. The sala is within the house but without the room.

Mk 4:11 And he said to them, To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but to them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

Apostle's Religion

The exact word Church of God was mentioned in the Bible (King James Version) 8 times by the New Testament.

My intention is to show internationally or globally that the name of the Church can be read in whatever dialect or languages it was translated.

I just can't understand why many of us are not inside this fellowship where all must grow together in faith.

English, 1 Corinthians 1:2 To the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been made holy in Christ Jesus, saints by the selection of God, with all those who in every place give honour to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

Tagalog, 1 Corinthians 1:2 Sa iglesia ng Dios na nasa Corinto, sa makatuwid baga'y sa mga pinapagingbanal kay Cristo Jesus, na tinawag na mangagbanal, na kasama ng lahat ng mga nagsisitawag sa bawa't dako, sa pangalan ng ating Panginoong Jesucristo, na kanila at ating Panginoon:

Chinese Union (Trad), 哥林多前書 1:2 寫 信 給 在 哥 林 多 神 的教 會 ， 就 是 在 基 督 耶 穌 裡 成 聖 、 蒙 召 作 聖 徒 的 ， 以 及 所 有 在 各 處 求 告 我 主 耶 穌 基 督之 名 的 人 。 基 督 是 他 們 的 主 ， 也 是 我 們 的 主 。

Italian, 1 Corinzi 1:2 alla Chiesa di Dio che è in Corinto, a coloro che sono stati santificati in Cristo Gesù, chiamati ad essere santi insieme a tutti quelli che in ogni luogo invocano il nome del Signore nostro Gesù Cristo, Signore nostro e loro:

Korean, 고린도전서 1:2 고린도에 있는 하나님의 교회 곧 그리스도 예수 안에서 거룩하여지고 성도라 부르심을 입은 자들과 또 각처에서 우리의 주 곧 저희와 우리의 주 되신 예수 그리스도의 이름을 부르는 모든 자들 에게

Latin Vulgate, I:2 ecclesiae Dei quae est Corinthi sanctificatis in Christo Iesu vocatis sanctis cum omnibus qui invocant nomen Domini nostri Iesu Christi in omni loco ipsorum et nostro

Lithuanian, 1 Corinthians 1:2 Dievo bažnyčiai Korinte, pašventintiems Kristuje Jėzuje, pašauktiesiems šventiesiems su visais, kurie šaukiasi mūsų Viešpaties Jėzaus Kristaus vardo kiekvienoje vietoje pas jus ir pas mus.

Norwegian, 1 Corinthians 1:2 (-)til den Guds menighet som er i Korint, helligede i Kristus Jesus, kalte, hellige, tillikemed alle dem som på ethvert sted påkaller vår Herre Jesu Kristi navn, deres og vår:

Polish, 1 Koryntów 1:2 Zborowi Bożemu, który jest w Koryncie, poświęconym w Chrystusie Jezusie, powołanym świętym, ze wszystkimi, którzy wzywają imienia Pana naszego Jezusa Chrystusa na wszelkiem miejscu, i ich, i naszem.

Portuguese, 1 Coríntios 1:2 à igreja de Deus que está em Corinto, aos santificados em Cristo Jesus, chamados para serem santos, com todos os que em todo lugar invocam o nome de nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo, Senhor deles e nosso:

Romanian, 1 Corinthians 1:2 către Biserica lui Dumnezeu care este în Corint, către cei ce au fost sfinţiţi în Hristos Isus, chemaţi să fie sfinţi, şi către toţi cei ce cheamă în vreun loc Numele lui Isus Hristos, Domnul lor şi al nostru:

Russian Synodal, 1-е Коринфянам 1:2 церкви Божией, находящейся в Коринфе, освященным воХристе Иисусе, призванным святым, со всеми призывающими имя Господа нашего Иисуса Христа, во всяком месте, у них и у нас:

Spanish, 1 Corintios 1:2 a la iglesia de Dios que está en Corinto, a los santificados en Cristo Jesús y llamados a ser santos, con todos los que en todo lugar invocan el nombre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, Señor de ellos y nuestro:

Swedish, 1 Corinthians 1:2 hälsar den Guds församling som finnes i Korint, de i Kristus Jesus helgade, dem som äro kallade och heliga, jämte alla andra som åkalla vår Herres, Jesu Kristi, namn, på alla orter där de eller vi bo.

Thai KJV, 1 โครินธ์ 1:2 เรียน คริสตจักรของพระเจ้าที่เมืองโครินธ์ ผู้ได้รับการชำระให้บริสุทธิ์แล้วในพระเยซูคริสต์ ซึ่งพระองค์ได้ทรงเรียกให้เป็นวิสุทธิชน ด้วยกันกับคนทั้งปวงในทุกตำบลที่ออกพระนามพระเยซูคริสต์องค์พระผู้เป็นเจ้า ของเราและของเขา

Ukrainian, 1 Corinthians 1:2 Божій Церкві, що в Коринті, посвяченим у Христі Ісусі, покликаним святим, зо всіма, що на всякому місті прикликають Ім'я Господа нашого Ісуса Христа, їхнього і нашого,

Vietnamese, 1 Corinthians 1:2 gởi cho Hội thánh Ðức Chúa Trời tại thành Cô-rinh-tô, tức là cho những người đã được nên thánh trong Ðức Chúa Jêsus Christ, được gọi làm thánh đồ, lại cho mọi người bất luận nơi nào, cầu khẩn danh Ðức Chúa Jêsus Christ chúng ta, là Chúa của những người ấy và của chúng ta: