Wednesday, September 26, 2012

The Building 7 Challenge - YouTube

The Building 7 Challenge - YouTube

The Holy Bible Forbids Incest

"The nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home or elsewhere, their nakedness you shall not uncover" (Leviticus 18:9). The consequence of this law is "If a man takes his sister, his father's daughter or his mother's daughter, and sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a wicked thing. And they shall be cut off in the sight of their people. He has uncovered his sister's nakedness. He shall bear his guilt" (Leviticus 20:17).

It seems that many (especially nonbelievers) are confused by the story of creation. For example, the following comment was recently posted on Yahoo Answers:

"Adam and Eve produce children that marry and have kids. That sounds like incest to me. Here's a bunch more incest in the Bible:  http://listverse.com/2008/05/26/top-6-incestuous-relationships-in-the-bible/"

The restriction on marrying near relatives changed as the world aged. In the beginning, the world was created in perfect condition. "Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good" (Genesis 1:31). There were no genetic defects to plague mankind at this time. Hence, Adam married Eve even though she was created from a rib taken from the side of Adam (Genesis 2:21-24). However, Adam and Eve sinned which opened the door for death and decay (Genesis 2:17; Romans 5:12). The decay did not come immediately, but gradually. Adam and Eve's children married each other (Genesis 5:1-4). After all, there were no other humans. Eve was the mother of all living (Genesis 3:20). And Paul points out that all of mankind come from one blood. "And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings" (Acts 17:26).

As time progresses, we find Abram married to his half-sister (Genesis 20:11-12). Jacob married two sisters (Genesis 29:21-28). But by the time the Law was given to Moses on Mount Sinai, detailed restrictions were placed on sexual relations between near of kin. The rules are found in Leviticus 18:6-18. A person was not allowed to marry or to have sex with:

Her father
His mother
His step-mother
His sister
Her brother
His half-sister
Her half-sister
His granddaughter
Her grandson
His step-sister
Her step-sister
His aunt (by blood or marriage)
Her uncle (by blood or marriage)
His daughter-in-law
Her son-in-law
His sister-in-law
Her brother-in-law
Any woman and her daughter together
Any woman and her sister together

However, notice that cousins did not make the list; they could marry.

With all this being said, the most important thing for anyone is not judgement, but instead, to find and receive Jesus Christ.

"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved" (John 3:17).

"That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved" (Romans 10:9).

When we repent and receive, turn our lives over, to Jesus Christ - He forgives us of our sins and brings us into right relationship with God.

The Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ gives us power to turn from our wicked ways and walk in righteousness.

Let us pray that all of us "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen" (2 Peter 3:18).

Blessings!

Source Credit: http://lavistachurchofchrist.org/LVanswers/2004/2004-09-25b.htm

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

A Nice Walk Through Scripture

2 Peter Chapter 1

2. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,


Revelation Chapter 21

8. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.


Matthew Chapter 13

41. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

42. And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.


Revelation Chapter 20

10. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.


Revelation Chapter 20

14. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.


Acts Chapter 3

19. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;


Ecclesiastes Chapter 8

11. Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.


1 Corinthians Chapter 4

14. I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn [you].


John Chapter 3

16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.


John Chapter 14

1. Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

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.

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.

4. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.


James Chapter 1

12. Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

13. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

14. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

16. Do not err, my beloved brethren.


Ecclesiastes Chapter 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.


Matthew Chapter 22

37. Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38. This is the first and great commandment.

39. And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.


1 Timothy Chapter 1

5. Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and [of] a good conscience, and [of] faith unfeigned:


Galatians Chapter 6

14. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.


Psalms Chapter 18

2. The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, [and] my high tower.


1 Timothy Chapter 2

5. For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;


Colossians Chapter 3

17. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.


Malachi Chapter 2

2. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay [it] to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay [it] to heart.


John Chapter 14

15. If ye love me, keep my commandments.

23. Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

27. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.


Matthew Chapter 28:18-20

18. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.

Abortion and Oppression


I've noticed that there is one issue that nearly everyone seems afraid to speak of...

abortion.


When fear takes hold,
we begin to stop talking.
When we stop talking,
we begin to stop thinking.
When we stop thinking,
we begin to stop caring.
When we stop caring,
we begin to lose touch.
When we lose touch (with Jesus, the Truth, our sense of right and wrong, our moral compass),
we begin to lose our way (wrong direction without our moral compass).
When we lose our way,
we are easily deceived.

When we are deceived,
we become willing to ask or take directions from either no one or anyone.

We allow ourselves to be led into dangerous areas.

Imagine being lost in the bad part of a city and trusting anyone on the street for directions.  Or, imagine driving around aimlessly in the bad part of a city afraid to ask anyone (even a police officer) for directions.

Without intervention, we enter deeper and deeper into danger.  We fall further and further into the net.  We become more and more vulnerable to attack.

When fear takes hold,
we are ripe for destruction.
We are easily used, easily abused, and easily taken captive.

In this condition, overcome by fear,
we are controlled and oppressed.
Our condition, our environment, the people and things that surround us, foul spirits - take control.
Once fully oppressed,
we are reduced to the condition of slaves.
Slaves of unrighteousness,
are apathetically complicit.
We become hopelessly ensnared by our original sin - fear.
In this condition, we find ourselves helpless.
Constantly, we are concerned about what others will think.
Completely, we are unconcerned with Truth.
We become separated - unable to know
and incapable of standing for righteousness.
Hopelessly, we are swept under a deluge of lies.
Mass media proclaims
our right to choose.
Yet we become more comfortable with letting others decide.

It seems easier to let others choose for us.
"It's settled law."
"It's mass consensus."
"It's cruel to offend."

No strength to escape,
and too afraid to pull back the shade.
Terrified to peek out the window.

"Oh what horrors may we see in the truth."

The unknown paralyzes us.

We are deathly afraid.
Even to entertain
the thought of escape - unmentionable.
Unable to recognize reality,
our hopeless condition -
a condition in which we are destroyed.

One moment at a time, we suffer
a slow, painless, quiet death.
Like frogs in hot water, we are ready to boil.
Numb we are to the Truth.
Numb we are to all right reason.
Secretly terrified,
we find ourselves
on our own
isolated.
A singularity within the mass
is each of us
hurling into oblivion.

Soon, we become offended ourselves.
We become angry at anything that can actually help us escape.
Quickly we are irritated by any hint of righteousness.

It's very presence reminds us of something we have long chosen to forget.
Righteousness -
we don't want to remember
the cross of Christ.
The very sight swells our anger.

We find ourselves cursing the cross and all it represents - righteousness.

"Oh, if we could only forget
or bury its truth forever."

Or better yet, "let's reduce it to an object of no meaning, let's turn it into jewelry, to bring us some kind of cheap luck."

We don't like being angry.

We must forget about this thing - righteousness.

Our emotions become our weakness.
Our mask becomes our strength.
We must bury them - useless feelings, bleeding hearts, - all useless.
We must put an end to all this anger.
We must banish all emotion.
Let us create games as our outlet.
Let us outlaw thought.
Let us live without offending anyone.
It's better that way.
Let us call this "peace".
Peace of mind
is comfort
at all cost.

We must not be reminded of the possibility of escape,
or even the existence
of something else beyond our immediate sight.

We must remain
fully secure
in our immediate surroundings.
It is best
for ourselves
for our society
for our rulers.
For us to be
destined
for common destruction.
Mass media proclaims
the end is near.

Do we see?

What begins in fear ends in bondage.

When we become slaves of fear
unrighteousness becomes free to rule.
When unrighteousness rules
we become unprepared.
Once unprepared,
lost and alone,
we are vulnerable.
Once we are vulnerable,
we are easily destroyed.

When the time comes
to give the right advice
or make the right choice - we freeze.
We choose the path of least resistance.
Out of apathy, born of fear,
we falter.
We let ourselves down.
We fail others.
It's then that our fall is complete.

Fear is sin (Revelation 21:8 KJV).

Let us repent and be free.

Let us speak the truth while we still can.

If you have made it this far,
take the time to consider your own condition.
Search your heart.
What do you fear?
What are you afraid to say?
What are those things that keep you
living in fear?
What do you know is true
and keep to yourself
out of your own selfish fear?

Consider this - OUR intervention.

This is OUR problem.

Are we unable to remember - where we went wrong?

Are we unable to recognize wrong at all?

In the lost condition, wrong seems right.

Everything becomes relative,
to ourselves,
to our personal (corrupt) feelings,
to our happenstance.
It's just easier to ignore,
to have no position,
to go with the flow.
It seems safer to walk quietly
into the eternal chamber of death.
Don't struggle.
It seems safer to die spiritually.

Do we see?

Everything is backwards.

Society says:
Death is safe and secure.
Death is preferred.
Death is encouraged, advertised, subsidized.
Death is celebrated.

It's our right to choose?

When our preference is death
life seems meaningless.
Our entire life becomes a lie.
Because in the lost condition
our life is death.

Without intervention,
our condition is hopeless.
We are afraid to consider treatment.
Our healing is stifled.

It's our right to choose?

It's our choice to choose.

Our choice is really the only thing left up to us - thank God.  For we have made a real mess of things with our wrong choices (Genesis 3:6).  Yet all of this can begin to change for each of us right now.  By choosing Jesus Christ, by believing in Him, by asking Him to open our eyes.  And with boldness, allowing Him the glory of leading us through every moment from this point forward.  Let us pray for Jesus to lead us completely out of this mess and into the fullness of all truth and all righteousness.  Amen?

www.180movie.com

Where in the Bible does it say that fear is a sin?

Revelation 21:8

King James Version (KJV)
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.