Thought For Today
1-Feb-2004
I John 4:1 BELOVED, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
I John 4:2 Hereby know ye the spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
I John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of an'-ti-christ, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is in the world.
This was John speaking, he was warning the people of his time to beware of false prophets! There were false prophets, and false teachers using false doctrine even then. How much more should we be warned now? There are many, many false prophets in the world today, there is much more deceit, and false doctrine taught today than ever before in the history of man! BEWARE of those that teach and cannot back-up their teaching with scripture! I John 4:1 BELOVED, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they be of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. BEWARE, of those that exalt themselves, or certain others among a congregation! If someone is bragging on themselves (Especially from the pulpit) for things they have accomplished in this life without giving God the glory for it then these people are exalting themselves and are teaching false doctrine! If these people exalt certain others from a congregation time and time again, while ignoring certain ones in that same congregation BEWARE, for this is a false prophet looking to satisfy their own lust, and fleshly desires. These type of people can easily deceive you if you are not close to God, God will lead you, rely not on man for man will lead you astray! Put your total faith and trust in God and God alone! I John 4:2 Hereby know ye the spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. We must know the Spirit of God, we need to get close to God and become aquainted with his Spirit, once we have experienced the presence of God's Spirit then we know the true Spirit of God from a false spirit trying to deceive us. God wants you to know his true Spirit, and he will give you the ability to distinguish the difference between his Spirit, and the false spirit used by the enemy to trick us! If you cannot tell the difference between the true Spirit of God, and a false spirit attempting to deceive you, pray and ask God to reveal to you the truth of the spirits that you encounter each day! You must be careful about who you believe, because in Revelation 21:8 It says: 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. II Thessalonians 2:12 says: That they all might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Therefore we must be careful about who we believe, because believing someone's lies can bring us into danger of damnation, especially if those lies lead into unrighteous pleasures! I John 4:3 Says: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of an'-ti-christ, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is in the world. Beware of those that do not believe that Jesus was the Son of God, for they are speaking with the spirit of antichrist! Even when John wrote this the spirit of antichrist was present in the world, and it is even more present today that ever before. Do not listen to those that have not gave their heart to God, and confessed that Jesus is Lord, because they are speaking with the spirit of antichrist! You will hear born again christians speaking things they ought not! Exalting themselves and others, telling untruths, and spreading lies and rumors, gosiping, and talking about other members of the congregation! These people are not filled with the spirit of the antichrist, they are simply deceived by the enemy, the enemy has put blinders on them, and they cannot see the truth! John 16:2 Says: They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. This is talking about killing your Spirit of God, your faith, your belief, your happiness, your compassion, your godly love! There are many born again christians that will try to utterly destroy you in the name of God, thinking this is what God wants! These are the ones that have been blinded to the truth, beware of these people, and pray much for God's guidance when they attack, because this is the enemy using them to blind you to God's love, and compassion! Keep your eye's upon the Lord, asking him for guidance in every situation you face, trust not any man, because man will let you down, trust only in God, and his precious Son Jesus Christ that dies for us! Tim V.
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Thought For Today
2-Feb-2004
John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
John 8:35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Are we the modern day church disciples of Jesus Christ? Does the words he spoke to his disciples when he walked the earth apply to us? Can we claim the same rights as the disciples of old?
God is Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Great I AM, never changing! He is the same God today as he was 2000 years ago! He hasn't changed, nor has his commandments, promises, and sayings changed! When Jesus said in John 8:31 "if ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;" he was not only talking to the Jews which believed on him in those days, but he was talking to anyone who believed on him from then on! Which includes those of us who confess Jesus is Lord, and believe that God raised him from the dead after three days in the tomb. YES, we are disciples of Jesus, and therefore are required to go forth and spread his word! In John 8:32 Jesus tells us that " And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." When we know Jesus, and have him living in our hearts, then, YES we know the truth! I can say with all honesty, and truth that when I invited Jesus into my life, and into my heart there was a complete change came over me. I looked at the world through different eyes, I began to see people in a different way. I now see situations, and circumstances completely different than I ever did before. I suppose you could say I have been set FREE! " And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. " In John 8:33 the people Jesus spoke to didn't understand what he was saying. So in John 8:34 Jesus says: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." He was telling them and us, that if we commit sin (Intentionally, such as unbelievers) then we are the servant of sin! To be a servant of sin, bound by habits, and addictions, chasing after ungodly pleasures, is to be not only a servant of sin, but a servant of satan! We cannot have two God's, either we become the children of the God of creation, or we serve the lord of darkness! John 8:35 "And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever." If we are a servant of the lord of darkness, we can in no way abide in the house forever, but our final destination for ever will be the devils hell. But, if we confess Jesus, and become children of the Great I AM, the King of kings, the Lord of lords then our eternal destination through out the endless ages will be in the house of Jehovah God. John 8:36 "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." The Son of God came to this earth and died so that each and every person living now, or ever has lived, could have a way to escape the devils hell. And to escape this eternal damnation he required so little of us! All we have to do is confess Jesus is lord, Jesus the Son of God, John 8:36 "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." Romans 10:8 through 10:13 gives the basic instructions for eternal salvation! I think every christian needs to read these six scriptures at least once a week as a reminder of how easy God made it for us to reserve our spot in his eternal love. Everey christian should know where these scriptures are located, you don't need to memorize them, but at least know where they are, because as a christian you will be faced at some time with helping someone pray and confess Jesus is Lord, know where these scriptures are, and when you pray with someone, and you know that God has used you to save another soul from the devils hell, you will realize the awesome love, and compassion that God has for each and every person on earth!! BE FREE!!
Tim V.
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Thought For Today
3-Feb-2004
Luke 7:41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
Luke 7:42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
Luke 7:43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
Do you go to church with some people that has a very spotted past? Do you have X-drug addicts in your church? Do you have X-alcoholics in your church? Is there people in your church that has been in prison? Do you have people in your church that has been unfaithful to their spouse? Do you have people in your church that has stole things? Are there people in your church that have told lies? Rest assured that you do in deed have these kind of people in your church, if you don't then you have a church full of perfect people, and if they are perfect then they are Jesus! Think to yourself about the person in your church that has been in the most trouble in their life. Look at the way they live now, in most cases this person is living as good as they possibly can because they were like the man that was forgiven the five hundred pence, God forgave them much, therefore they love God much! We are not to condemn anyone, God is the only one that has the right to condemn anyone! We are to love one another with brotherly love. This does not mean we have to like what some people do, or how they may live, but we do have to love them as a person, this is one of God's commandments! And you can believe that the person in your church that did the worse things, is the one that Loves God the most! So don't condemn someone for their past, because God has forgotten their past therefore we should also!
Tim V.
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Thought For Today
4-Feb-2004
Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.
Revelation 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. A-men'.
Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, A-men'.
Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
I think Revelation is an awesome book! I read the book of Revelation and try to imagine myself in John's place as God revealed these things to him! It had to be a great experience. Read the book of Revelation and try to imagine yourself in John's place! I have come to appreciate John's ability to write about what he saw! Revelation 1:5 Is telling us that this is the testimony of Jesus Christ! In Revelation 1:2 it explains that this is the testimony of Jesus Christ! Jesus is the most faithful witness, although Jesus was the Son of God, he was also a human being, he was a man just like you and me (daughters of God included) he had feelings just like us, he was tempted by human desires, wants, needs, and lusts, just as we are daily, but Jesus overcame these things of the flesh to become God's most faithful witness! And by his complete faithfulness, and his perfect sinless life (Jesus sinned not) he became the first begotten of the dead, God raised him up after his death, God restored life back into his body, his fleshly body was dead and God put life back into it! Thus making him the first of many that God will resurrect from the grave!! And by Jesus' unselfish act of dying for the sins of the world we too will be seen by God as sinless because Jesus took on our sins for us! Jesus has become the prince of the kings of the earth, the kings of the earth being every born again christian that will confess Jesus is Lord. Jesus will reign over the earth as king upon his final return, we will lay our crowns before him because he is the King of kings, and the Lord of lords! We will crown Jesus our King! He gave his earthly life for us so that our sins could be washed away by his blood, when God looks at us what he sees is a righteous soul protected by the blood of his only begotten son! Revelation 1:6 is again talking about us being kings, and priest unto God and his Father. We will crown Jesus King over us which will make him King of kings! Revelation 1:7 Jesus will return the same way he left, and that is in the clouds! And when that Great, and Glorious day happens, every eye will see him, and they will know who he is! Those that have not made themselves ready will be surprised, and will be left to wail because they will know that Jesus has returned for his church, and they were not a part of it! In Revelation 1:8 It plainly tells us who Jesus is: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Make sure you are ready to stand before God with a pure heart, because no man knows when he cometh!
Tim V.
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Thought For Today
5-Feb-2004
Luke 15:4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them. doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
Luke 15:5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
Luke 15:6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me: for I have found my sheep which was lost.
The thought for today is concerning shepherds, and sheep! In Luke 15:4 Jesus is not speaking in a parrable. He ask a simple question, which I think anyone who had sheep, cattle, horses, pigs, or anything would answer the same way. If one got lost we would leave the rest and go in search of the one that was lost! If we didn't, we would eventually lose every one of them! This is what Jesus is trying to get across to the people, not only the people of his time, but the people of yesterday, today, and tomorrow! Let me ask you a question: How many of you have been going to church and a brother or sister from your church has stopped coming to church? Now: Did the pastor go in search of this person? Is not the pastor of the church a shepherd over the congregation? I am not trying to make anyone's pastor look bad, no not at all! However in our society today, with everything being in such a hurry, it is easy for someone to postpone, and forget about something as simple as making a quick visit to someones home to see why they have stopped coming to church. One simple visit may bring that person back to the church, and may prevent that person from falling away from God. Should a shepherd over a congregation ignore it when someone stops coming to church, he will eventually lose his flock, and he will be accountable for them when he stands before God! A pastor is chosen by God to be a shepherd over God's flock, I for one would not want to stand before God and try to explain why I allowed his sheep to become lost and I didn't even attempt to find it!! If your pastor does not attempt to find the lost sheep in your congregation, you may need to go and visit the lost sheep yourself and attempt to bring them back into the flock! You will be blessed for this! In Luke 15:5 It tells us that when the lost sheep is found that there is to be rejoicing! This goes for the ones that have strayed from the flock, as well as the ones that are newly brought into the flock! Anytime that someone gives their heart to God there should be great rejoicing within that congregation!! Often times however we as other members of the flock just sit and watch as someone gets saved and then regard this wonderful experience like it is no big deal, BELIEVE ME it is a BIG DEAL to GOD!! The angels rejoice in heaven when someone gives their heart to God!! We need to start making a big deal out of someone getting saved, don't worry what your friends, or family, or the brother or sister sitting next to you may think, we are not rejoicing for them, we are rejoicing for the new member of the flock, and for a blessing unto God! Be not concerned about man, nor what man can say or do to you, but be concerned about God, and about how you can better serve God, and how you can better listen to God! Luke 15:6 Is telling us what I just said above, we need to rejoice over one soul giving their life over to God, because that is one more the devil will not get!!
Tim V.
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Thought For Today
6-Feb-2004
Matthew 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Alms: Anything given freely, especially money, to help the poor, charity. People who give alms and make sure others know about it are just as the heathen, they are looking for self satisfaction, and glory for themselves. This would not be considered giving alms, this would be trying to buy praise and glory for themselves! There will be no rewards in heaven for these people.
Matthew 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. Hypocrite: A person who pretends to be something other than he is or better than he really is; one who makes a false pretense of being virtuous or religious. Don't brag about what you do to help others, for if you do you are a hypocrite looking for glory of men. And, if you are looking for glory of men, then your reward will be of men and not in heaven.
Matthew 6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: This scripture is referring to the church which is the body of Christ. Just as the scriptures above this is telling us when we help others we are not to run to the rest of the congregation and brag about our charity to others. We are to cheerfully give to those in need secretly, and know that out Father in heaven will reward us openly.
Matthew 6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. Same as Matthew 6:3 be charitable in secret. Not looking for the praises and glory of man.
Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. When praying about situations especially concerning others, do not make a big deal about it by praying loudly in church, or standing on the street. This is not to say: Don't pray in church or on the street, because we should pray whenever we feel led to, but we do not have to make a big production about it in an attempt to draw attention to the fact that we are praying. To draw attention to ourselves of other men by praying loudly is being a hypocrite, and is using prayer to get the glory of men! Pray in church, pray on the street, but do so modestly so as not to intentionally draw attention to yourself in an attempt to gain self glory! Remember the rewards of hypocrites will be rewards of men not of God!
Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. This scripture is telling us basically the same thing as Matthew 6:5, pray not to draw attention to yourself in an attempt to gain glory of men. When praying about your personal matters, or the matters of someone who has ask you to pray do so in secret, do not pray about yours or someone else's personal matters aloud in church, or on the street, but do so in private. An example would be: Praying aloud in church about a financial problem you are having, this would be trying to tell the congregation that you need money in hopes that someone would walk up to you after church and hand you money. This is not how it is done! Pray to God the Father in secret and he will reward you openly! He will lay it on someones heart to help you with that financial problem, and it will be of God not of men.
Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Heathen: A person who does not acknowledge and worship the God of the bible; a person who is neither Jewish, Christian, nor Muslim; a pagan. When you pray you do not need to say the same thing over, and over. God hears you the first time. I try to ask God one time, and then I start thanking him for the answer and I continue thanking him even after the answer comes. I think this verse talks about much speaking as kind of like the devil worshippers who chant the same thing over, and over.
Matthew 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. Asking God for what we need is not necessary because he already knows what we need before we ask. However, I think asking God for what we need is a way for our human selves to feel like we are doing something to acknowledge our faith and belief in God, and God understands this. So I think it is ok to ask God for what we need, but do so in private, not in public!!
Tim V.
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Thought For Today
7-Feb-2004
Psalm 23
A Psalm of David
Psalm 23:1 THE LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psalm 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Psalm 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psalm 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
If anyone knows anything about sheep, and shepherds, then Psalm 23:1 explains everything! A good shepherd takes care of his sheep. A good shepherd makes sure that his sheep does not want for anything. Psalm 23:2 A good shepherd keeps his sheep moving, always moving to the green pastures, because if they stay in the same pasture too long they will eat up all of the food and go hungry. Just as God does with his sheep, they need to listen to God and keep moving to green pastures, if they stay in the same pasture too long they will run out of spiritual food. Be like the sheep and listen to the shepherd, for God is a good shepherd and will do only what is good for his sheep. He leadeth me beside the still waters. Sheep will not go near troubled waters, such as fast moving water, they always drink from still water. Running water represents a danger to sheep, if they get in the running water and their wool becomes soaked they will drown. God will not bring us close to running water, he will always lead us beside of still waters if we only listen to him. In Psalm 23:3 It says, He restoreth my soul, God will always restore you if you just believe, he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Everything we do should be to glorify God, we should be righteous for God, for his name's sake, because we as christians represent God. Psalm 23:4 Tells us to not fear! Fear no evil, do not fear life, nor death! God is with us here as we live our daily lives, and he will be with us in death when we pass from this world into the next, so fear not for God is with us! God will bring you out the victor, Psalm 23:5 Tells us that as long as God is in control we will win against the enemy! And, he will see to it that the enemy knows we are the victors, because God will preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Prepare to stand before your enemies as the victor, because the battle is not your's, but God's and he will win! Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Psalm 23:6 Explains itself.
Tim V.
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Thought For Today
8-Feb-2004
Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.
Exodus 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Exodus 20:15 Thou shalt not steal.
Exodus 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet the neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
Count them, there are ten of them! These are the basic Ten Commandments. There are other commandments in the bible, but these are the Ten that God gave to Moses for his people to live by! Read Exodus Chapter 20, it only has 26 verses in it, but it says so much. After looking at the above scriptures consider how hard it would be to live according to those scriptures. If you are like most people you would not have much trouble living by God's set of rules. The rules are simple: 1. God is God, no one or nothing else is a god. 2. Worship no graven image of any kind, no budda's, no cows, no pictures, worship the God of the bible not an image of him. 3. No cursing. 4. The sabbath day is a day of rest, a day for God, don't he deserve it after all he made the days! 5. Honour your parents, not only because they deserve it, but because God said to, if not for them you would not be here. 6. Don't kill. 7. Don't cheat on your spouse, love your husband or wife as you love God. 8. Don't steal, if it's not your's you shouldn't have it without permission of the owner. 9. Tell no lies about anyone. 10. Do not take any thing that you have not earned, neither by theft or in a court of ungodly law.
Tim V.
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Thought For Today
9-Feb-2004
Luke 9:57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
Luke 9:58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests: but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
Luke 9:59 And he said unto another, Follow me, But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go bury my father.
Luke 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
Luke 9:61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
These scriptures are so important! Anyone who decided to follow Jesus must be prepared to follow him anywhere he may lead them! In Luke 9:58 Jesus is explaining that he has no home, he has not where to lay his head. If you decide to follow Jesus you may find yourself in the same place, this is not to say you will be living under a bridge, or in a box, no this is saying that you may be traveling from place to place a lot. See Jesus could have went back to his childhood home and his parents would have welcomed him, there were many places he could have went and called home. Multitudes would have gladly invited him into their home to live out his life! However this was not God's plan, just as God's plan for your life may require you leaving your home. When telling God you will follow him, be prepared to do just that! If you tell him you will follow him and then back out you make yourself a liar, and all liars will have their part in the lake of fire, so if you say it stick to it! Luke 9:59 and Luke 9:60 is telling us we may be required to put even our families behind us when we agree to follow Jesus. This is not to say that we must forget them, and say goodbye forever, no this is saying that we must put God first in our lives, if God wants you to do something, and your spouse wants you to do something differnt, and you have told God you will follow him, then unless you want to be a liar to God you must follow the Lord no matter what your spouse may say or do! If you bow to your spouse instead of God you will be required to stand before God and explain why you bowed to a human instead of God. God can give you eternal life filled with happiness, man/woman can give you a few short years of companionship which is nothing compared to an eternity with the Lord Jesus. Luke 9:61 and Luke 9:62 is pretty much confirming Luke 9:59 and Luke 9:60 We are not to be concerned about our past lives when we agreed to follow Jesus, that is past, all things will become new including our lives. This is not to say that everyone that agrees to follow Jesus and to do his will is going to be seperated from their families. No, the majority of those who follow Jesus never have to leave their families, all I am saying is we need to be prepared to do ANYTHING that God may ask! Luke 9:62 Is telling me that once I decide to follow Jesus, I can not look back, or go back to my old life! If I should turn around and go back to my old life after agreeing to follow Jesus I would not be fit for the kingdom of God, and I would not be allowed to enter into heaven, and considering there is only heaven and hell with nothing between the two, should I not be allowed to enter into heaven then I would have to go to hell, and I have chosen not to do that!! So remember if you have agreed to follow Jesus, you need to get in contact with him and find out what you are suppose to do for him in your life!!! God appoints something for everyone to do, do yours!!
Tim V.
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Thought For Today
10-Feb-2004
Ecclesiastes 12:12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
In Ecclesiastes 12:12 God is saying that to make many books, and to study many books is a weariness to the flesh. The word admonish means to rebuke, So what God is doing is rebuking us from making and studying many books concerning the way he wants us to live. He plainly says "of making many books there is no end;" This tells me God knew what the world was going to be like today! There are so many books out there that tells us how to live a good life for God. People reading these books become weary! "and much study is a weariness of the flesh." One book says one thing, another book says something else! People become weary trying to decide which book to believe! People, put aside those books and pick up the bible! God gave us a book to go by, we really don't need all those others! Some other books can be helpful, but if you are reading a book and you notice that you are gathering more questions, than the book is answering, put it down! Confusion is not of God, it is of the enemy! Ecclesiastes 12:13 Is telling me that what we need to do is to put God first and foremost in our lives. Studying these other books that only confuse us is taking us away from God not bringing us closer to him! God gave us the answer in Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. God's conclusion about the entire matter is simple, and it is: "Fear God, and keep his commandments:" We must keep the Lord's commandments to the best of our ability, and my fear of God is to fear losing him from my life! If we strive daily to keep his commandments then we should have no fear, like I said my fear is of not pleasing him! "for this is the whole duty of man." Our duty as man, the creations of God himself is "Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." Let's do our duty! If we do our duty we will not have to be concerned about: Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Remember that every work you do, whether it be good or evil will be brought out into the open! This is not talking about the sins that you ask God to forgive you for, No, this is talking about those that have not repented for their sins, or christians that still have sin in their lives and are not removing it by asking God's forgiveness for it. Hidden secrets that many christians have in their closets, or swept under their beds, should you not get forgiveness for these things before the return of Jesus, or if you leave here by the way of the grave, then they will be brought out in the open for everyone to see, and you will be judged for them!! Get the things out of your life that shouldn't be there. You don't need many books to understand God, just do as Ecclesiastes 12:13 tells us to do.
Tim V.
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Thought For Today
11-Feb-2004
II John 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
II John 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, recieve him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
II John 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
The above scriptures are very serious! We need to be very cautious about what doctrine (Preaching-Teaching) we allow our ears to hear, or our eye's to read. When listening to someone speak or write about God, Jesus, or anything pertaining to the bible, we need to be careful about believing what they say or write. If you are not sure about what someone is saying concerning the bible, DO NOT AGREE with them until you can read scriptures to back-up what they are saying! In II John 1:9 It tells us that whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. This tells me that when someone speaks about God, Jesus, or anything pertaining to the bible there should be a scripture to back up what they are saying, if there is no scripture to back up a comment, or sermon, I cast it aside and believe it not! If someone reads scriptures from the bible, and then explains them in a way that don't make sense to you, or perhaps confuses you, be careful because God is not the author of confusion the devil is! II John 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, recieve him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: If someone is talking false doctrine such as I described above DO NOT BEFRIEND them! This person is not guiding you in the right direction, this person will be guiding you away from God not toward him! neither bid him God speed: We are not to encourage this false teaching in no way. II John 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. To encourage this false doctrine is to become a part of it, and the false prophets, and false teachers are evil doers and thus you would become an evil doer going against the will of God. Should you be in a church where the preacher is preaching anything that can not be backed up with scriptures, you need to leave immediately, do not become a partaker of their false doctrine!
Tim V.
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Thought For Today
12-Feb-2004
Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Simple Verse! Strive to do the best you can according to God's word, obey the commandments, teach your children, your grandchildren, friends, and relatives the word of God and you will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Tim V.
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Thought For Today
13-Feb-2004
Exodus 17:9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Am'-a-lek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.
Exodus 17:10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Am'-a-lek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
Exodus 17:11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, the Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Am'-a-lek prevailed.
Exodus 17:12 But Moses' hands were weary; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
If Aaron and Hur had not been there to stay up Moses' hands, (Hold up) then the children of Israel would not have won the battle against Am'-a-lek. Joshua and his men would have been defeated! Is there someone in your life that is your Aaron and Hur, someone that supports you and lifts you up when you become weary during battle? Do you support others and lift them up when times and circumstances become tough, are you someone's Aaron or Hur? Be careful about who you let down, it could mean the difference between winning a battle as children of God working together, or losing that battle to the enemy because someone became weary and you didn't support them, support your true God fearing leaders, brother's and sisters that rightly divide the word of God. Be cautious however, support only those that can back up their words with scriptures!! Do not support those that preach the world, or those that take the word of God and change it to their liking. These kind of people are false prophets, and teachers, if someone is tickling your ears, or anyone elses ears, steer clear of them because they are not of God!!
Tim V.
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Thought For Today
14-Feb-2004
Valentines Day! I don't know how long Valentines Day has been celebrated, but I believe we should consider it a special day, after all it is a day for showing our love for each other. I think God approves of what Valentines Day represents. Today we will read one of Solomon's songs concerning the one he loved, I think Solomon wrote this to his Valentine.
Song of Solomon 4:1 BEHOLD, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair: thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gil'-e-ad.
Song of Solomon 4:2 Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them.
Song of Solomon 4:3 Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.
Song of Solomon 4:4 Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.
Song of Solomon 4:5 Thy two breast are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lillies.
Song of Solomon 4:6 Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.
Song of Solomon 4:7 Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.
Song of Solomon 4:8 Come with me from Leb'-a-non, my spouse, with me from Leb'-a-non: look from the top of Am'-a-na, from the top of She'-nir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards.
Song of Solomon 4:9 Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.
Song of Solomon 4:10 How fair is thy love my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!
Song of Solomon 4:11 Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Leb'-a-non.
Song of Solomon 4:12 A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.
Song of Solomon 4:13 Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard.
Song of Solomon 4:14 Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:
Song of Solomon 4:15 A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Leb'-a-non.
Song of Solomon 4:16 Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.
Tim V.
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Thought For Today
15-Feb-2004
Proverbs 20:1 WINE is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
How simple can it be? The word of God is mostly self explanitory if you only take the time to actually think about what you are reading. Proverbs 20:1 is telling us that wine is a mocker, it will trick your mind into thinking wrong, and deceiving yourself with that wrong thinking. Anyone that has drank too much wine knows what I am talking about. I will not say that a drink of wine is wrong every once in awhile, the answer to that is between you and your God, But, let me ask you this: If you saw your pastor drinking a toast using wine how would you feel? What if you saw him turn a bottle of wine up and take a drink? What is the difference, the end result is the same, the difference is drinking from a wine glass, or from the bottle. Strong drink is raging: Strong drink is definately a sin! No maybe's here, no if's and's or but's, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. To allow wine and strong drink to deceive you is to be unwise, or in todays terms stupid!
TimV.
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Thought For Today
16-Feb-2004
Revelation 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
Revelation 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
God allowed John to see what things were going to happen leading up to the end of the world as we know it! For those of us that have decided to make heaven our eternal home it is not the end of the world, but the beginning of a new world. For God said there will be a new heaven and a new earth, so I have decided to make the new heaven and the new earth my eternal home, WHY you ask? Because These sayings are faithful and true: Every word of the bible is true, if the bible says it then you can count on it, don't try to read something into a verse that isn't there. Many people will take a verse or two and analize it beyond recognition, by the time they are through picking it apart it can mean the complete opposite of what God meant for it to say, instead, take the word of God for what it is, if a verse says God said, then guess what: GOD said! Yes the bible is true every last word of it, read it, live by it. Revelation 22:7 is telling us to live by the bible, it is telling us that we will be blessed if we do our best to live by the commandments that God has set down for us! Behold, I come quickly: Be prepared to meet God always! God has not told anyone when he will be coming back, so we must always be ready to stand before him knowing we have done our very best to obey his commandments. Also we may be called out into eternity at any time by the way of the grave. So we must always be prepared to meet our God.
Tim V.
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Thought For Today
17-Feb-2004
Jeremiah 23:1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord.
Jeremiah 10:21 For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.
Jeremiah 23:2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.
Jeremiah 23:4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.
The scriptures above should be of great concern to every christian, especially the pastors. Jeremiah 23:1 Is Gods way of letting the pastors know that if they scatter and destroy his flock, they are in big trouble! In Jeremiah 10:21 The scripture tells us that when a pastor becomes brutish (Stupid) he will make decisions without seeking the Lord first, and when this happens he will not prosper, and the congregation will scatter. Jeremiah 10:21 Is not talking about prospering as in money, or things, but it mean to prosper in the ways of the LORD. God's plan for his church is to grow, if there be a congregation that does not grow but instead only changes faces, (Scatters) that church has a pastor that does not prosper in the ways of God, and has become brutish. Jeremiah 23:2 Is warning the brutish pastors what will happen if they continue to scatter the flock by their petty self-righteous arrogance, pride, greed, lust, envy, and lying spirits. Jeremiah 23:1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord. God says in Jeremiah 23:2 "behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. I would not want to be the one God is saying that to! I think some pastors have lost touch with what is really important in God's work. I think they have lost the fear of what awaits them if they disobey the word of God. Should someone turn away from God because a pastor shows favoritism, becomes lustful, or does anything that is out of the will of God, then that pastor will have their blood on his hands, that pastor will stand before God and answer for what he has done! Every pastor should consider the end result of any decision before they make it, and they should look to God for guidance before making decisions that concern the (flock) congregation. Jeremiah 23:3 Is telling us that God will gather his flock together after they have been scattered, and they will be fruitful, and increase. Jeremiah 23:4 Tells us that God will appoint shepherds (pastors) over the flocks (congregations) that will give them the true word of God without any spirits of arrogance, pride, greed, lust, envy, or lying. There will be pastors (shepherds) over the congregation (flock) that does not show favoritism toward certain members of the congregation (flock). If you are witnessing this with your pastor, fear not, but read Jeremiah 23:4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD. And believe!
Tim V.
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