Fighting, infighting and selfish ambitions
Dramatics, lawsuits, struggles for power
Skirmishes, battles, wars and separations
And right in the middle of this

Splashing silently in the midst
Gently but growing large on the scene
Right in the midst
Of the wood, hay and stubble

Pushing aside all other scenes
Scattering all the dramatics
Of fighting scribes, kings & leaders
Infighting priests, rabbis & pastors

Spreading all
Ever so quietly
Into the sidelines
Forgotten

Comes a baby
Wrapped in rags
Swaddling clothes
Lying in a manger

Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

All who read this will you pray right now?

This is a raw heart message from a waking prayer-filled heart just shared with a number of muslim students who we continue to share the gospel with.

Would you pray with us that the God of heaven and earth will shake the hearts of these young people and draw at least the few to Himself who He promised.

Many are called but few are chosen.

Here is the raw message just shared.

…

SALVATION IN CHRIST ALONE

It is clear that the only complete assurance of salvation is through Christ as promised through our Creator, the God of Abraham, Moses & David. I long for people to have this same assurance, and even if people may consider me their enemy because of whatever hateful teachings they have heard and been taught, still our Creator has taught us all, and we all recognize that mercy triumphs over judgment. The holy and righteous love of God transforms our hearts, and creates in us a deep love for holiness and purity, truth and goodness. The love of God in Christ constrains us and compels us because He first loved us, and only because of His love do we recognize our own sinfulness and so He transforms us to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves.

Who is our neighbor?

I’m glad you asked.

Jesus taught us that our neighbor is not the ones who love us. Everyone loves those who love them.

Rather, JESUS transforms us to have the sacrificial transforming love of God because He takes sinful, selfish, hateful, angry, fighting people… He takes enemies and by His sacrificial love overcomes that evil with His goodness.

He gave Himself for us while we were still sinners and angry and mean and unforgiving and hateful fighters, and He turns all who truly submit to God, all who surrender their own hateful murderous hearts, He turns judgment and fallen people into hearts who no longer desire to hate and steal and covet, but rather are so broken and humbled by His sacrificial love that we now also love our enemies or those who consider us enemies because of the sacrificial and love filled Cross of Christ.

This is what it means to be born again.

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:3‭-‬5‬
[3] If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, [4] they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions [5] and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

Without looking, so you have any idea the context of the passage above? Don’t look, write your answer down first. Now look. This should demonstrate the fact that by definition, disputes and disputable matters will always seem trivial to some and not at all trivial to others.

And so, we are engaging the very relevant issue of disputes and disputable matters.

Below is a sample list of some of the assorted topics we plan to continue tackling in our ongoing asynchronous and weekly discussion groups.

Last week we began to touch on sanctification which we are continuing to discuss and of course apply because this is a life long application.

This week, we are continuing to build on that and also introducing the principle of handling disputable matters as well.

More on all these things.

Here is a sampling and small glimpse of the boldly engaged, genuinely caring & active listening nature of these discussions.

…

Discussion Approach
Holding strong views with great respect
Thick skin & gentle hands
Strong & gracious words
Bold & unwavering while respectful & caring
Iron sharpening iron

…

Discipleship Topics

Sanctification
Disputable Matters
Membership
Tithing
Tongues
End Times
Perseverance
Church Politics
Politics (Government)
Citizenship
Civic Duty
Pacifism
Guns & violence
Voting & activism
Evangelism

A young man asked a question about the importance of time in the WORD. His suggestion was that a young person spending 3 minutes in the WORD could be more mature than an old person spending 3 hours in the WORD.

Here is the reply of the tongue.

Great question
It is the principle of sowing and reaping

A spiritually immature older person needs to be changed from immaturity to maturity

A spiritually mature young person recognizes the greater value of seeking first the kingdom of God and His Righteousness.

And so, no matter the age, the one who sows to the Spirit will very simply reap of the Spirit but the one who sows to the things of the world will reap the things of the world.

The one who has their heart set on the natural things should not expect to reap in the Spirit. Those who set their hearts on earthly things will not. That is why Christ said we cannot serve both God and money.

We should be careful not to desire both because the heart cannot truly go after both. It is better to admit to our heart one or the other than to be deceived and claim both because only those who deny the natural can reap the spiritual.

Those who claim the natural or aim to cling to both will ultimately only reap the natural

30 November 23
Proverbs 31

The Proverbs 31 Man

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31:23‬
“Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.”

God will allow a godly man to grow in favor with God and man. God will make even his enemies to be at peace with him. The man who fears God will have his sights set on doing God’s will and on pleasing him. This will cause his words to shine forth like the noonday sun. His desire will not be for women but for the wisdom of God, and the elders of the land will recognize this wisdom which only comes from God. And they will listen and acknowledge the wisdom of the Most High.

‭‭Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.
Proverbs‬ ‭29:25‬

Spread this simple message, this simple observation far and wide.

Man ought to fear God. Every man, woman and child must fear God. This fear of God is the very beginning of wisdom. To be sure, most do not and will not truly fear God, though they must and they will in due time. For every knee will bow before the One Who is above all.

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

Proverbs‬ ‭29:25‬

But do not miss this. Many will even listen. Many will perhaps read or listen to a simple message like this about the fear of God and the fear of man. But there is a deeply subtle and dangerous, an eternally fatal fear which creeps in among the vast majority. The fear of man is a snare, a trap.

Others, also a tiny minority perhaps, will hear such a message and think they must react with there own gusto, their own bravado, in their own strength. But this is not the fear of God.

What there must be, indeed what there will be is this very simple thing which must be made clear, which must be declared simply and plainly. Fear God, and do not fear man. And again we repeat what the scriptures declare. Fear God.

Fear God.

Fear God. And do not fear man.

What is this fear of man?

It now pervades this society, and not only this but it has crept in throughout the world. This fear of man is a snare. It is a trap. Even those reading this amount to a cross section of society. The vast majority will hold to this fear of man. They may listen, indeed they may even approve of clear truth and godly messages. Yet a simple observation will make it plain that they retain this same fear of man. For they will not fear God and speak a word of truth.

They will not speak the words of God. They will not follow the clear and simple instructions of God to fear Him and Him only. To love God and our neighbor as ourselves. To hold to the truth that sin kills, that Satan has come to steal, to kill and to destroy. But that JESUS came to give life and that more abundantly.

The vast majority will not fear God, and for most this will be because of their love for their own sinful ways in their own sinful hearts and because of the fear of man.

Do not fear man. Do not shy away from speaking the truth. Speak the truth. Absolutely speak the truth plainly, clearly, boldly with great gentleness and great respect, with great boldness. This is respect. This is true love, to declare the righteousness and grace of God. Anything less is no respect or love at all.

Do they tell you not to speak plain facts? When you obey such foolishness you show that you fear man. They tell you not to speak about God. They say do not speak about JESUS. In fact, they do not even need to say a word. The fear of man runs deep. So deep that even many who know about JESUS, about heaven and hell, about sin, righteousness and judgment, will not then even dare to live open lives of righteousness and certainly will not speak this clear word.

This word is clear that not only those who practice immorality, sodomy and all sorts of despicable acts, but also those who are unfaithful to the wife of their youth, all those who are slaves to sin, all those who have chosen to remain captive to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the arrogant pride of life will perish. And note well, read what the scriptures declare, not only these, but the COWARDLY…all these will find their place in the lake of fire.

‭‭But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

Revelation‬ ‭21:8‬

Even those who hear this message, those who claim to approve, those who claim to follow Christ, indeed many who, though they believed in Christ in their hearts will not so much as confess with their mouths that JESUS MESSIAH IS LORD.

This is the fear of man.

The fear of man is a snare.

JESUS declared

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew‬ ‭10:28‬

By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor– and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be– That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks–for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation–for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war–for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed–for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted–for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions– to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually–to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed–to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord–To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us–and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Go: Washington

https://www.mountvernon.org/education/primary-source-collections/primary-source-collections/article/thanksgiving-proclamation-of-1789/

Someone asked how to read and reflect on Proverbs.

Great question

Proverbs is very unique in this way. It is the only book in the Bible quite like it from beginning to end with verse after verse of individual sayings.

The short answer is just pick one verse and chew on it. Share what this means in your own life.

A bit more on this will be helpful too. Follow any discussion about Proverbs, and you’ll notice examples in the ways others read and reflect on Proverbs. We notice that anyone talking about Proverbs will usually spend a few minutes and only talk about a couple verses. This is why we can see the value of going through Proverbs every single month as a default discipline running in the background of our lives in the WORD.

There are many ways and creative ideas for doing this, and a few will be shared here. You will have others, and others will be able to share their own ideas on this too.

For example, you’ll notice how brothers will sometimes focus at least part of their discussion on a few verses scattered throughout the chapter which all relate to a particular topic. That’s one way you can focus on something that stands out to you in a chapter. Another similar way is focusing on a particular word that stands out in one or in a number of verses.

There are many creative ways of reflecting on Proverbs also. Sometimes, a journey through Proverbs, even for that whole month, can be focused daily on the same number verse for the whole month. You will notice that all the first verses in all the chapters in Proverbs are especially poignant so you could pick the first verse. Or if someone else you are reading with has already commented on the first verse, you may want to pick the verse that matches the hour of the day when you are looking at it, or the year (23). These are all great ways just to pick a verse or a thought, an insight or a powerful truth to focus on and share together for that day.

Proverbs group studies which include daily posts will also provide reflective thoughts, not only for us to receive but also for further reflection and especially for daily action and application.

Share a story that comes to mind from reading the whole chapter or something from your life experience which brings a proverb to life.

Someone said that Proverbs are life lessons boiled down into one saying, while parables are life lessons explained in story form.

Tell a story. Tell a paroimia. [Ask what that is, and you may be richly rewarded.] Tell a classic story or a parable. Connect a proverb to an obscure passage in Zephaniah or Ezekiel.

These are a few ways to read and mull over, reflect on Proverbs.

What are the ways you read Proverbs? Brothers, share your story, share your thoughts and reflections. And let the LORD work deeply in our hearts by His powerful WORD.

Here are just some of the Old Testament (Tawrat, Zabur–Mezmur) prophecies which pointed to the crucifixion of the Messiah Who was to come from the very beginning. There are so many more, and Yeshua Messiah Himself quoted these and many others about Himself during his life, at his crucifixion and after His resurrection. Messiah Yeshua also taught His disciples even more of these from the scriptures, so then they also taught and recorded these in the New Testament (evangel–injeel) scriptures as written and according to the Old Testament scriptures.

Single verses, short passages and excerpts are quoted below. For full chapters, links are included for your convenience so you can simply click the links to read the full passages.

…

From Adam (4000 years before Messiah)

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3:14‭-‬15‬
[14] So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. [15] And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

…

To Noah (2500 years before Messiah)

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:17‭-‬18‬
[17] I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. [18] But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you.

…

To Abraham (2000 years before Messiah)

Genesis 22:1-18 (link to full passage)

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭22:1‭-‬2‬ (excerpt)
[1] Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. [2] Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

…

To Job (~1500 years before Messiah)

Special Study Link

…

To Moses (1300 years before Messiah)

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭21:22‭-‬23‬
[22] If someone guilty of a capital offense is put to death and their body is exposed on a pole, [23] you must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse. You must not desecrate the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.

…

To David (1000 years before Messiah)

Psalm 2 — Psalm 16 — Psalm 22

‭‭Psalm 22:14‭-‬18‬
[14] I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me. [15] My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. [16] Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. [17] All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. [18] They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.
[24] For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.

…

To Jonah (800 years before Messiah)

Jonah 2 (must read surah & see this study)

‭‭Jonah‬ ‭2:2‭-‬3‬
[2] He said: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead [sheol] I called for help, and you listened to my cry. [3] You hurled me into the depths [cf. abyss], into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me.
[6] To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit [cf. tartarus].

…

To Isaiah (700 years before Messiah)

Isaiah 53 (* A MUST READ SURAH! *)

Isaiah 53:7b says, “He was led like a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep is silent before shearers, He never said a word.”

…

To Daniel (600 years before Messiah)

‭‭Daniel‬ ‭9:22‬
[22] He instructed me and said to me, “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding.
[24] “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.
[26] After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ Messiah will be put to death, but not for himself. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.

…

To Zechariah (500 years before Messiah)

‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭12:10‬
[10] “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.”

Zechariah 13:7 is the scripture Jesus quoted: “God will strike the shepherd and his sheep will scatter.”

This is somewhat of an introductory exploration aimed at gaining a basic feel for the nature of accusations and the anatomy of an accuser.

Anyone who has dealt with persistent complaining knows just how draining that is. Dealing with complaining and complaints, criticism and the complainers themselves is one thing. Dealing with accusations and persistent accusers takes this to another level. It may seem to be an ordinary interpersonal dynamic until you take note and begin to pay attention to it.

There is something demonic about false accusations and an accusing personality. You can see this yourself by watching many journalistic reports when the journalist is clearly antagonistic toward the guest. Questions are questions, but pay attention and notice the significant contrast between honest questions and loaded accusatory questions. It becomes extremely difficult to speak with people who are attacking and accusing you. It is nearly impossible to maintain a productive discussion when the tone begins to be filled with accusations.

So what is the anatomy of an accuser? An accuser is in an arrogant position from which they demonstrate their thinking that they have the grounds to make accusations against their target. Indeed, those who have been wronged ought to have a forum to voice their cries against their oppressors. And so, this is a clear distinction which ought to be made between an accuser and a false accuser.

An accuser will generally have an abundance of facts and evidence permeating their accusations. A false accuser on the other hand will have an overabundance of character attacks, slanderous and defamatory condemnation much more than solid evidence of the wrongdoing of the accused.

Beware an accusatory approach to people. Evidence speaks for itself. Focus on the issues at hand and refrain from an accusatory approach which will tend toward an abundance of false accusations. The truth does not need a defense. People who are being accused may need a strong defense but the best defense is the truth. Hence, the best approach is to focus on the facts, and it is counterproductive to make accusations from a position of arrogance. Sand is weighty, but a crushed spirit, who can bear.

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27:3‬
Stone is heavy and sand a burden, but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18:14‬
The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?