Why is the ridiculous whining of billionaire tech bros like Zuckerberg et al. listened to by anyone, of any rank or political persuasion? I'm so tired of these robotic, barely human, utterly amoral nerds having the ear of anyone in government or society more generally. Zuckerberg, Musk, Thiel, etc. Go away, and take your Cambridge-Analytica scandals and tweets in favor of the "great replacement" conspiracy theory with you. "Social media" should have never progressed to this point. It's just pseudo-informational fentanyl for the dullest and/or least mentally fit members of your family and community to get dangerously high on, as they impulsively share LATEST BAD THING! without even bothering to check its veracity first (something which most people don't even know how to do, it seems; if they did, things like "the Haitians are eating our cats" wouldn't be a national political talking point; alas, we are apparently fated to live in the stupidest possible timeline).

And yes, I am aware of the silliness of voicing this particular opinion on a social media website. I don't know what to say to that other than that if you think that description fits this place as well, congratulations: you are me. I thought I was already me, but apparently not.

“For he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible” (Heb 11:17). If you compare this with an expression Genesis 16, the force of both is made much more distinct. “And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after Him that seeth me” (v 13). In the one case Moses saw God; in the other, although Hagar looks after Him, it was God that saw her. We are apt in everything to look at the lower end of the truth, to content ourselves with the scantiest portion that can sustain us.

Now Hagar did not really go beyond this. She was the bondwoman: she knew nothing whatever of the liberty of grace. She might look after God, but what she reached was this, “Thou God seest me.” The simple consciousness that God sees us never goes beyond the knowledge either that He is a Judge noticing our ways to deal with them, or at most, that He is a guardian to protect in the hour of difficulty and danger. But love, liberty, rest and joy in God are hardly known through the bare truth that God sees us.

No one denies it to be a truth; but what must be maintained is that, as believers, we are entitled to the further and more precious privilege of seeing our Father, of “seeing Him who is invisible” (Heb 11:27). This was, in the principle of it, what sustained the heart of Moses. Hagar did not endure—she ran away. It was the bondage of the law that was set forth by her (Gal 4:24). Now the law does bring this out—this is to say, God seeing men, God occupying Himself with man, God dealing with man, God judging men, yet God, it may be, showing mercy to man, as we see in Exodus 34. But communion and fellowship with the Father there never is nor can be, until there is the consciousness that grace reigns.

Not that the law is weakened, dissolved or destroyed; not that its authority is even touched (the Law was never destroyed, but fulfilled by Christ, then “taken away” - Heb 10:9. The Old Covenant was the Law, esp. the Pentateuch—NC). It is not so that our Father brings us into the position of liberty, that would be to set the way of God against His sovereign grace. But the recreated believer is brought out of the region where law applies—out of the scene of death, darkness and bondage, into the place of light (though the law was death to unbelievers in God, the believers were saved—NC): he is brought to his Father. There is no law in His presence (Gal 5:23). Law dealt with the flesh of the world (in providing the knowledge of God’s will to man concerning the sin nature or “old man, i.e. “flesh”—NC). If I am in the place the flesh and of the world, I must be under law or I shall be lawless (lawless, i.e. without God’s guidance of the Law - 1Ti 1:9—NC).

The believer is neither that one nor the other; but he is brought into peace, by the grace of God, unto God. He endures, not because God sees him, but because he sees the Father. He endures, he knows his Father in the Lord Jesus, he has His presence, for he knows Him whom He has sent, and ‘herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1Jo 4:10). This is what He has done and what the law could not do, for it has not propitiation to give. It may demand, but it has nothing to give: it waits to receive the deeds, alas of darkness, of fear and feebleness; it can only receive whatever a poor man’s conscience may offer, trying to make its peace with God (Heb 7:19).

But grace makes the peace by a gift of His own love, gives the eternal peace that it has made through the Blood of Christ’s Cross, and brings into the consciousness the love of Him who has suffered all for us (all rise but not all ascend—NC). Therefore, instead of our being afraid of Him and avoiding Him, endurance is the word for us. This is the portion of the believer, this is what characterizes him. The law dealt with a man as long as he lived. We begin with the confession that we have died, and now we live in eternal life. There is no uncertainty here: whatever may be the practical testimony we bear to Him, there is no weakness nor failure in Him “who is our Life” (Col 3:4). There is endurance, because for us it is “as seeing Him who is invisible.”


—William Kelly (1821-1906)





MJS daily devotional excerpt for September 20

"Sufferings are for chastening (child-training). And chastening is from love, a token of our Father’s care. We live in a world full of trial and suffering. Many of the Lord’s people have complained that their circumstances were too unfavorable for a life of full devotion, of close fellowship with Him, or pressing on to maturity. The duties and difficulties, the cares and troubles of life, render it practically impossible, they say, to live a fully consecrated life.

"Would God that they might learn the lesson of His Word! Every trial comes from the Father as a call to come away from the world to Him, to trust Him, to believe in His love. In every trial He will give strength and blessing. Let but this truth be accepted, in each trial, small or great; first of all and at once, recognize the Father’s hand in it. Say at once, I welcome it from Him; my first care is to glorify my Father—He will use it all for my good.”—James Hudson Taylor (1832-1905)

Stephen777 said:

I go back to my belief that humility is being able to buy the best but denying ourselves of it and going with something in the middle. Buying brand new high dollar vehicles when the average person buys 45k+ mile vehicles goes against what humility and meekness is.
The equipment, no they are his personal use equipment. I am not able to afford to rent the equipment.

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You're right here.

An alternative scenario. If you bought a brand new vehicle and intend to use it for at least 20 years, putting over 100k miles on it would that be humility too?

It isn't like you're buying a brand new vehicle every 5 years but only every 20 years or even more.

URA said:

Greetings to all! My church has begun a program called Alpha, which is designed for all Christians, and even non-Christians who are just exploring spirituality. Yesterday, we had one such non-Christian come, who said she wasn't a believer, but wanted more spiritual friends, and was very engaged in our discussions about Jesus.

Alpha is based on learning a little about Christianity, and small group discussions. I was pleased by how welcoming my small group was when I joined, and now even more welcoming of this seeker who came yesterday. This is an exciting time, to see someone opening herself up to Christ, and being accepted by Christians without passing judgement on her. I just want to pray for her soul, for all her friends (said most of her friends are hard-line atheist or agnostic), and for my small group, that we continue to be a welcoming presence for all who seek Christ & community.

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Alpha is a great program for new believers and seekers. We had it running through our local churches a few years ago and it's still active tody.

ACTS 1：8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.


DYNAMIC WITNESSING


We saw in the first devotion, that we aren't to be worried about when Jesus will come. It's interesting that Jesus hasn't even ascended back to heaven and the disciples are trying to find out when He is returning.


What is the key word here? It is BUT!


Jesus recommissions the disciples. Remember in Matthew 28, He said all power is given in heaven and earth to Him, and now that power was to be given to the Apostles and Disciples.


What would of happened if the disciples had gone directly to the temple and started preaching? Nothing would of happened, because the Holy Spirit wasn't given to them yet!

It's great to look into the Greek here. "Power" is the word dunamis, which is where we get the English word, dynamite. Remember, that we don't just have a message that is powerful, but one that is ABSOLUTE DYNAMITE! A message that shatters nations and empires.


The second Greek word is maturos. This is the word for "witnesses." We get our English word, martyr from this; nearly all the twelve disciples became martrys, all except John.


God had a plan: first the Jews, then Samaria and then the Gentiles. God knows what He's doing and we have to follow His leading.


Notice also that the power was personal, "ye shall receive power," that is still the case today. We have the same power, that dunamis living inside of us. Why is it living inside of us? Because we are to be bold witnesses for Christ; we are to do the same things as the disciples did! They said they were there to tell what they had seen and heard Jesus do. It is our purpose to tell what Jesus has done in our lives.


May we be witnesses just like the disciples were to all Jesus said and did…Amen.


Filled with dynamic power.


GOD BLESS YOU

Chapter 1 verse 8


8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”


IT IS FOR US


This is surely one of the most amazing promises in the whole bible, but so often we think that it was a special anointing that was just for the disciples, it applied for them, but it doesn't apply to us.. now.


But it is truly for us, it for us., right here and now in the 21st century.


The promise still rings true, the same dynamic power that was given to the disciples back in first century Palestine is still available to us, right here and right now.


The promise of power is the same and the commission to reach the world is still the same, some of you will witness in your own backyard, some further afield and some go to the uttermost ends of the earth, wherever you share the gospel, the urgency still stands.


The call to be his witnesses is still the same, you have the Living holy spirit inside of you.


Are you being a witness for him, wherever you are?


God bless you


Keith




THE BOTTOM LINE


TBL China – The Bottom Line, Ministries


LISTEN TO


Evangelism Part 1
1:05:57Emeal (E.Z.) Zwayne• 18/10/13200+
BIBLE CHURCH OF OWASSO - Men's Ministry

Evangelism Part 1


Evangelism Part 2
1:05:37Emeal (E.Z.) Zwayne• 18/10/13200+
BIBLE CHURCH OF OWASSO - Men's Ministry


Evangelism Part 2


Genesis: The Key to Reclaiming the Culture1

Ken Ham

Answers in Genesis Ministries

Genesis: The Key to Reclaiming the Culture

PRAY FOR


PAKISTAN PEOPLE


AWAN

Awan in Pakistan



DEAF

Deaf in Pakistan



CHAMAR MUSLIMS

Chamar (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan

MassimoTheChristian said:

I feel like a social outcast but I'm not 100 percent sure that I am but I feel as though my parents and certain places on the internet rejected me and I don't have any friends.

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How old are you? What do you do for fun?

Ezekiel 37(CJB)​

15 The word of ADONAI came to me:
16 "You, human being, take one stick and write on it, 'For Y'hudah and those joined with him [among] the people of Isra'el.' Next, take another stick and write on it, 'For Yosef, the stick of Efrayim, and all the house of Isra'el who are joined with him.'
17 Finally, bring them together into a single stick, so that they become one in your hand.
18 When your people ask you what all this means,
19 tell them that Adonai ELOHIM says this: 'I will take the stick of Yosef, which is in the hand of Efrayim, together with the tribes of Isra'el who are joined with him, and put them together with the stick of Y'hudah and make them a single stick, so that they become one in my hand.'
20 The sticks on which you write are to be in your hand as they watch.
21 Then say to them that Adonai ELOHIM says: 'I will take the people of Isra'el from among the nations where they have gone and gather them from every side and bring them back to their own land.
22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Isra'el; and one king will be king for all of them. They will no longer be two nations, and they will never again be divided into two kingdoms.
23 "'They will never again defile themselves with their idols, their detestable things, or any of their transgressions; but I will save them from all the places where they have been living and sinning; and I will cleanse them, so that they will be my people, and I will be their God.
24 My servant David will be king over them, and all of them will have one shepherd; they will live by my rulings and keep and observe my regulations.
25 They will live in the land I gave to Ya'akov my servant, where your ancestors lived; they will live there - they, their children, and their grandchildren, forever; and David my servant will be their leader forever.
26 I will make a covenant of peace with them, an everlasting covenant. I will give to them, increase their numbers, and set my sanctuary among them forever.
27 My home will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.
28 The nations will know that I am ADONAI, who sets Isra'el apart as holy, when my sanctuary is with them forever.'"

Ezekiel 37(CJB) "Make them Y'hudah&Efrayim a Single Stick", How to Realize?

What is the difference beween perspective of Jewish, Messianic and Christian?

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Can you imagine yourself being maligned by your national broadcaster as an evil war criminal? Shooting at unarmed civilians. Having your whole nation perceive you as nothing more than a monster. Well, the ABC "investigative journalists" (pronounce as "liars") did just that to a commando called Heston Russell in 2022. Using doctored video and unreliable testimony from an American soldier to label Mr. Russell as war criminal. The video was found to have added in extra gunshots sound to make it look like an unhinged shooting of civilians. Even worse the American soldier said to not use his story as he admit that he can't recall correctly. On top of that Mr. Russell wasn't even in Afghanistan when the video was supposedly taken.

ABC was sued by Mr. Russell and the courts sided with Mr. Russell. Even after being caught ABC stood by their "journalists" and refuse to apologize to Mr. Russell.

To me the producers, investigative journalists and the ABC higher ups must be sentenced with the same punishment as an actual war criminal. Because if Mr. Russell would have failed to fend off this horrid hit piece by the "media", he could have been punished as a war criminal thus destroying his life forever. Today's western "journalists" have gotten too comfortable with running hit pieces without consequences.

Alessa_the_jaz said:

I think god did somewhat touch upon my situation. I’m still delaying doing the right thing because I’m still fearful of confrontation but I’ve realized the possibility that god may not exactly be against me.



I feel he does want me to repent and not just for my own good but for the good of those who I’ve offended. The only issue now is if I idle and continue to delay, my chance to reconcile with god may be less, if that makes sense.



What I’ve done and the damage I’ve caused is deserving of a lot of punishment and Im still unsure how god will heal the damage and pain I’ve caused but I know he will somehow do it.



I just feel in my heart that I’ve committed a sin that leads to death and I might die or God may yet surprise me in his mercy and keep me alive.



But I think that if that’s really my case then it’s likely I will still go to heaven because after I confess I’ll have already ‘repented’.



Like I said in a recent post, I regret the way I’ve lived and I want to live because there’s so much I want to do with my life but I know I’ve utterly destroyed my life with sin.



In truth, another selfish reason - In why in my heart I don’t want to confess is because I obviously don’t want to die and I want to live a good life. I’m scared of what I will lose. in real time I’ve seen my blessings turn to curses and my life come to a small destruction.



I suppose it could partly be my flesh but I don’t want to complain or be ungrateful of gods mercy in letting me into heaven at least . I’m still scared and I know I don’t want to die. it’s not something I’d like to admit but I won’t lie about it either.







I want to overcome my fears and truly repent though. I’ve already prayed for a heart of obedience, so I can face those who I’ve offended and confess, but I’m still fearful. I know now at least I don’t have to confess to everyone I’ve wronged, I just know there are specific people I absolutely need to confess to.



I just dont know how to fully trust god in this and I can’t tell if god even answers my prayers. I can’t realistically imagine myself confessing anytime soon because of this fear and stubbornness.

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Sounds like you want an out other than repentance to me, friend. God is more stubborn than you are, though. He can outlast you till you come to the end of yourself, trust me!

That's stubborn LOVE, Alessa, for your own good, since you are choosing to continue in what He knows is hurting you.

Want mercy? Gotta receive it. How? Give up the circular reasoning and excuses and OBEY Him.

The devil plays games with you - Jesus does not.

John 14:21 NIV

"Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

God bless!

biblegateway.com

I now pronounce you man and wife,
Now go and live together life,
And love each other, say a prayer,
Your love not get in disrepair.

For life, it has its ups and downs,
And romance may not hang around,
And prettiness not always be,
Especially when two become three.

Love depends not on emotions,
Love enhanced by our devotion,
Loyalty to vows now taken,
Faithfulness not now forsaken.

Giving of ourselves to other,
And not living undercover,
Honesty in all we offer,
Love each other that much stronger.

An Original Work / May 8, 2023

So, what does that look like if we truly love one another with this love that is from God? Well, it isn’t lust, and it isn’t just feelings (emotions). How did God show his love for us? Jesus Christ (God the Son) gave himself up for us in death on a cross, putting our sins to death with him so that we can now, by God-persuaded and God-gifted faith in him, be delivered out of our lives of slavery to sin so that we can worship, serve, and obey our Lord with our lives in doing what he commands and what he has called us to do and be.

So, lying to people to make them feel good about themselves is not love. Telling lies is not kind, no matter how you dress it up. And ignoring deliberate and habitual sin in the lives of our fellow professers of faith in Jesus Christ, and/or giving approval to them and to their lifestyles, is not love, either. Diluting and altering the gospel message to make it more acceptable and less offensive to the flesh and to the ungodly is also not love. For love tells the truth that people need to hear so that they can be saved.

And salvation from sin is not forgiveness of sins so that we can go to heaven when we die, but regardless of how we live. Jesus died to deliver us out of our bondage (addiction) to sin so that we will now walk with him in purity of devotion to him, living holy lives, pleasing to him. He died to transform us and to make us more like him in character and in thinking and actions. But if we reject his salvation by continuing in deliberate and habitual sin, we will not have salvation from sin and eternal life with God (Romans 6:1-23).

So, is love doing good to each other? YES! But the good that God has planned for our lives, not what we who are flesh might call good and that gratifies our fleshly cravings. So doing good to others is not pacifying them nor joining in with them in their sinful practices. For love prefers what God prefers, which is all that is holy, righteous, godly, morally pure, upright, honest, faithful, and obedient to our Lord. So in loving others we will not sin against them but we will love them as God loves us, in the same ways.

But we will do for them what is for their good. And so we will be sharing with them the true message of the gospel as taught by Jesus and by his NT apostles. And Jesus said that if anyone would come after him, he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin) and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to our lives of living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if for the sake of Jesus we deny self, die daily to sin, and follow him in obedience, then we have eternal life with him (Luke 9:23-26).

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,15-17; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2]

People Need the Lord

By Greg Nelson / Phill Mchugh

Everyday they pass me by
I can see it in their eyes
Empty people filled with care
Headed who knows where

On they go through private pain
Living fear to fear
Laughter hides their silent cries
Only Jesus hears

We are called to take His light
To a world where wrong seems right
What could be too great a cost
For sharing life with one who's lost?

Through His love our hearts can feel
All the grief they bear
They must hear the words of life
Only we can share

People need the Lord, people need the Lord
At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door
People need the Lord, people need the Lord
When will we realize that we must give our lives?
For people need the Lord, people need the Lord

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Whether there will be electricity, or whether it is needed, or whether we will remember to ask .. hard to say.

But there will definitely be praise and jubilation.

Before I get into the meat of what this is teaching, I want to say that these words must be studied and taught in the context of the whole of 1 John to be correctly interpreted and understood. For a mere outward confession (or profession) of faith in Jesus Christ, or a mere outward acknowledgement that he has come in the flesh, does not mean that person is from God. For the Scriptures warn us about “wolves in sheep’s clothing” who masquerade as servants of righteousness, but inwardly are ferocious evil beasts.

[Matthew 7:15-20; Matthew 24:11,24; Luke 6:26; Jude 1; 2 Peter 2:1-22]

Also, this word translated in English as “confesses”, means to speak to the same conclusion as God, to be in full agreement and alignment with God, together (united) with God. So this is not a superficial and false confession, and it is not lip service only, but this has to do with us being united with God in thought, belief, and purpose, and in truth. So, there is a reason why we must test the spirits, and why we must not believe everyone’s words, for liars and deceivers abound. So we can’t go strictly by what people say.

So, what are these spirits which we are to test? Well, this is talking about human beings, is it not? We are to test their spirits. And a person’s spirit is his inner being, his nature, his character. But remember that these are deceiving spirits, so we cannot always go by what we see outwardly or what people display about themselves when they have an audience, and especially when they are desirous to be regarded by others in a particular way, sometimes for the sole purpose to deceive and/or to injure others.

So, we need to be aware that not everyone is who they claim to be or who they appear to be in front of other people. For many walk (in conduct, in practice) in darkness (sin) and will not come into the light (truth, the gospel of Christ, righteousness, repentance, obedience to God) lest their evil deeds be exposed for what they are. They hate the light (Jesus Christ, his gospel), and they prefer the darkness (their habitual sins), because then they can continue living in sin, and many of them while claiming faith in the Lord.

So, if we are going to test the spirits (the true nature of human beings), we can’t go by their words alone, although we must certainly test their words against the teachings of the Scriptures (in the right context) to make certain that what they are teaching is the truth and not the lies made to sound like truth. The Bible says we will know them by their fruits, by what they produce. For, those who are faithful servants of the Lord Jesus are going to produce what is righteous, godly, morally pure, and obedient to God/Christ.

Those who are false to the truth, who are wicked and immoral in their true nature, and who are those who use and abuse others to their advantage, will share particular natures, which are sinful natures, and which produce what is unrighteous. Among them you will find these characteristic traits:

They are chameleons, lacking in moral character and consistency of character. They are one way with some people, but a different way with other people, or when they are alone and no one is watching what they are doing in secret. For they are double-minded, double-dealing, hypocritical, two-faced, deceitful, treacherous, unfaithful, double-crossing, without compassion, without caring, heartless, mean, cruel, and malicious. They are cold-hearted and cold-blooded, dishonorable, and utterly corrupt.

They are those who create and who exhibit (display) false impressions, distortions of truth, and the twisting of truth for the purpose to deceive. And they are those who are morally filthy, lewd, and licentious. They are those who spy on other people and who betray those they claim to love. For they are those who love to deceive, and who love to gossip and to convince people to believe lies about other people out of anger, spite, hatred, and resentment and bitterness. It is their way of “getting even” with people.

For they are those who are dishonorable, sordid, vile, wicked, depraved, dishonest, and evil, who will try to bait others into particular conversations with themselves in hopes that they can get them to say something that they can use against them. So, they will try subtly or deviously to elicit a response from others who they are targeting, which usually is then taken out of context and bent in their favor and against the person who they are betraying and targeting and baiting. Another way of “getting even.”


So, when this tells us not to believe every spirit, this means we should not believe everything people tell us unless it is Scripture, or backed up with Scripture (in context), or consistent with the teachings of the Scriptures (in context), or proven true in some other way. But even there, just because we read it or hear it or think that we see it, it could be fake. It could be taken out of context. It could be photoshopped to make it look like one thing while it is another. So, we should test everything, especially what people tell us about other people. And we test these in prayer and with the Scriptures.

And if you are a person who is being targeted by these who fake their Christianity and who fake their true character for the purpose to deceive, and for the purpose to do evil to others, don’t let what others do to you make you afraid. If you are following Jesus Christ with your life, he has you in his hands. And you can overcome them via prayer and faith and continued walks of righteousness and holiness, in obedience to the Lord, regardless of lies being spread about you or any other persecutions you might face. Keep following Jesus, and keep speaking the truth of his word. Some people are listening.

People Need the Lord

By Greg Nelson / Phill Mchugh

Everyday they pass me by
I can see it in their eyes
Empty people filled with care
Headed who knows where

On they go through private pain
Living fear to fear
Laughter hides their silent cries
Only Jesus hears

We are called to take His light
To a world where wrong seems right
What could be too great a cost
For sharing life with one who's lost?

Through His love our hearts can feel
All the grief they bear
They must hear the words of life
Only we can share

People need the Lord, people need the Lord
At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door
People need the Lord, people need the Lord
When will we realize that we must give our lives?
For people need the Lord, people need the Lord

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tonychanyt said:

NIV, Isaiah 14:


NIV, Revelation 22:


Is the morning star Lucifer/Satan or Jesus?

Let's check the context of (ESV) Is 14:


Isaiah prophesied against the earthly king of Babylon. He exalted himself and was prideful.


He would be brought down. That's the context.


ESV translated the word differently from NIV.

Strong's Hebrew: 1966. הֵילֵל (helel) — 1 Occurrence

O Morning Star,
הֵילֵ֣ל (hê·lêl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1966: The morning-star

Brown-Driver-Briggs:



H1966 referred to a shining star like Venus. ESV treated it as a proper name. The word "star" was not in the Hebrew.

LXX translated H1966 as G2193.1-Εωσφόρος. Wiki:


Some connected H1966 to Lucifer/Satan.

Why did Isaiah compare the king of Babylon to H1966-Venus?

The Babylonian Empire conquered many countries and did great things like exiling the Jews. However, its glory was ending like Venus the morning star. When the sun rose, it would disappear:


On the other hand, Berean Standard Bible, Re 2:


In Isaiah, it was a single Hebrew word; here, it was a noun phrase. The morning star was a reward.

Re 22:


Jesus was the Morning Star. He is the believers' reward.

Jesus will come again on the last day to dispel all evils and darkness. This morning star symbolizes a new day. It represents the promise and glory of a new era.

Numbers 24:


Is the morning star Lucifer/Satan (Is 14:12) or Jesus (Re 22:16)?

NIV's translating both H1966 and <G4407 G792> to "morning star" was misleading. They denote two distinct concepts. Isa 14:12 denotes a dying star; Re 22:16 denotes the dawning of a glorious new day.

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Thought you might enjoy this, Tony. Hope you don't mind me glomming onto your study!

Just a little fun, and a joy to me to sit on my couch and have His witness ever to focus on (see pic at link).

Blessings, bro!

Where do some of us have the privilege of living? Texas. Known as the what? The Lone Star state.

Revelation 22:16 NIV

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

Origin of the word "Texas"?

Etymology. The name Texas, based on the Caddo word táy:shaʼ (/tə́jːʃaʔ/) 'friend', was applied, in the spelling Tejas or Texas, by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves, specifically the Hasinai Confederacy.

John 15:15 NIV

"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."

Woo hoo!

What a Friend we have in Jesus, wherever we're planted!

Revelation 7:9-12 ESV

"After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

"And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

More?

Check this out:

"NIV, Isaiah 14:

12 How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!

NIV, Revelation 22:

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star..."

Complete study: From tonychanyt...

mrunk said:

I posted a while back. I could tell you about myself but I wrote a story and if you read this story and if you get it you will understand me. Jesus often spoke in parables. This is mine. I wonder how many of you will figure out what this parable means and how many will get it wrong. Note I have found God and as much as I would love to say that my faith is unwavering; I struggle and part of the reason I struggle not only with faith but with sin is connected to my story. I hope this doesn't get deleted as I know that other people who will read this and instantly get.

My Story

I am a warrior, and my enemies are ruthless and relentless. Yet, these enemies are not of the physical world. They are demons, each one bearing a name. Each was born either by my own hand or by the hands of others. They are named Fear, Anger, Anxiety, Stress, Hate, Lust, Envy, Jealousy, Hopelessness, Loneliness, and many more.

Alone in the dark, they surround me and attack. They scratch, bite, cut, and beat me. I swing my sword, trying desperately to keep them at bay. I scream so loud that the universe trembles, yet no one hears my pleas for help. I cry out into the darkness, begging for just a moment of peace, for someone to save me from these demons.

One demon hisses, "You are weak and pathetic." Another sneers, "There is no help for you. No one cares about you." Exhausted, I fall to my knees, crying, wondering why I deserve this torment. "Because you're worthless," one demon jeers. Another mocks, "Look at you, sobbing and afraid. Pick up your sword and fight back! Curse us and call us horrible things!" But another retorts, "He cannot, for he is too afraid and weak."

With trembling hands, I grab my sword and scream, launching an attack to push the demons back. Then, one demon steps forward—bigger and stronger than all the others. He is called Despair, fed over the course of my life by the other demons, making him the ruler of them all. He stands before me, the tip of my sword at his chest. He looks me in the eyes and says, "Kill yourself. End this fight and find peace."

I turn my sword towards me as I tremble, tears streaming down my face. The whole time, Despair laughs at me. "Do it! Finish your worthless life. You don't deserve it. No one loves you. How could anyone love such a wretched thing?" He leans in close, his breath reeking of death. There is no compassion or mercy in his eyes. "It's wrong that the universe allows so many to die but lets a pathetic worm like you exist. You are a mistake in the universe. Just kill yourself."

In agony, I scream and thrust the sword into my chest. But as I do, the sword vanishes, and it falls to the ground. Despair retreats into the crowd, laughing, and as he disappears, he says, "Not yet, my pathetic little friend. Our fun is just beginning."

The demons surround me once again. I collapse to the ground, bury my head between my knees, and cry out, "Do what you will to me. I don't care anymore."

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Greetings Brethren and welcome to the forum. I will help you as much as I am able. Just give me a PM and we will work these things out according to the will of God. Bless you!

Father God,

We ask for Your intervention for Dave's issue. By Your Mighty Hands, clear away all the hurdles that are blocking Dave from receiving smooth, fair and proper solution. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Stay resolute brother. Don't let the bureaucracy of Verizon dissuade you from correcting your situation. Where possible get the proper authorities to investigate your case. As I don't stay in the US I can't advise with authorities to direct you to. In my country we have Consumer Tribunal to sort out such things. Maybe you will have similar consumer protection authorities.

whitab said:

My family & I moved to a new house last month. We're loving it so far but on 2 different occasions, we've had someone knock on our door past midnight. The second time it happened a few nights ago, we decided to call the police just in case they were around somewhere. They came & checked for us, & there was no sign of anyone.

I put it out of my mind both times that it happened, but last night I had a nightmare about it. It was about a guy in a red t-shirt with a screwdriver trying to get in from the front door. I haven't had a nightmare in months, so it honestly scared me when it happened. I wanted to calm down by doing some Bible reading, so I decided to read Matthew 24 (I've taken an interest in biblical prophecy). I was reading through, & I was shocked to see verse 43 which was said by Jesus Christ:

But understand this: If the owner of a house had known when the robber was coming, he would have watched. He would not have allowed his house to have been broken into. (KJV)

I just don't know what to make of it, if anything at all. I 100% could be crazy about this happening, & I'm open to that possibility. I'm just looking for any kind of clarity on this.

Thanks for reading, & any input.

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Definitely take this seriously as the Lord appears to be giving you a revelation through his word. A dog is also good for security and companionship in general.

HARK! said:

I did enough research on you poker player to consider the source.

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lol, no you didn't. You didn't research anything. You didn't read the posts in this thread; you didn't read the links within them. If you'd done any research at all, you wouldn't be making these comments. You're just doubling-down on your smug incorrectness. Your posts would make more sense if you were just trying to troll me into confusion.

In post 66, I only sought to bring up Harris' polls in Pennsylvania. That's it. And, for some reason, you keep coming at me with national polls as if that somehow debunks what I said about the PA polls.

If you wish to cling to his spin; that's your prerogative.

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As I already noted, his "spin" is the very same NYT/Siena poll that you referenced. He's not spinning anything; he's just describing the results of the poll. That poll released both nationwide numbers and numbers for PA specifically. I'm talking about the PA numbers and you keep talking about the US numbers. Was there not 30 seconds of your research that clued you in to this?

View attachment 354815

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/09/19/us/elections/times-siena-poll-likely-electorate-crosstabs.html

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Did you bother to read the top of that page?




Again, those are the NATIONWIDE numbers. When you click "Pennsylvania Toplines", you get the PENNSYLVANIA numbers, which have her up 48-45 in Pennsylvania, as I already pointed out.

Dead Eye said:

The Creation Time period discloses the Creation of the Present Eart.

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In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth. The Universe is 13.8 billion years old. The earth is 4.54 billion years ago. So the first day in Genesis chapter one has to be at least 9.26 billion years old. Gerald Schroeder tells us that each day is half the length of the day before. So the second day would be 4.63 billion years. Day three would be 2.315, Day four 1.1575. Day four 578.8 million . Day five us 289.4 million years. Day five is 144 million.

144 million years ago marked the beginning of the Cretaceous Period, the last period of the Mesozoic Era, when the continents continued to break apart from the supercontinent Pangaea, the first flowering plants evolved, and a diverse range of dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops began to appear; this period also saw the emergence of modern bird and mammal groups, and ended with a mass extinction event that wiped out most dinosaurs and many other life forms on Earth.

This is the end of day five and the beginning of day six.

Around 65 million years ago, a significant event known as the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) extinction event occurred. This event led to the extinction of approximately 75% of Earth’s plant and animal species, including all non-avian dinosaurs. The leading theory is that a massive asteroid, about 10 to 15 kilometers wide, struck Earth near what is now the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. This impact created the Chicxulub crater and released an enormous amount of energy, equivalent to several million nuclear bombs2. The aftermath included global wildfires, a “nuclear winter” effect that blocked sunlight, and drastic climate changes, which severely disrupted ecosystems23.
This event marked the end of the Cretaceous period and the beginning of the Paleogene period, fundamentally altering the course of life on Earth1.

This of course would have been the sabbath.

In 2029 and 2036, the asteroid 99942 Apophis will make notable close approaches to Earth. If the information from NASA is accurate. I use this date as the end of the Church age and the Beginning of the Kingdom age.

• April 13, 2029: Apophis will pass at a distance of about 19,662 miles (31,643 km) from Earth’s surface, which is closer than many satellites1. This event will be visible to the naked eye in certain parts of the world, including Australia, southern Asia, southern Europe, and Africa1.
• 2036: Apophis will again come close to Earth, but calculations have ruled out any impact risk for both 2029 and 2036.

Vambram said:

I have been blessed to be listening to Christian music for well over 40 years. On this subforum, I have been posting, for the last few months, links to songs and videos from Christian singers and Christian bands. Let me encourage you to take a look and listen to those songs. A friend and brother of mine, @AlexB23 has discovered Christian singers from the 80s and 90s, and even current artists by listening to the songs which I have been posting. I hope that you will also enjoy them as well, my friend and sister.

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Amen to this. The 1980s-2000s Christian music are the best. And yes, some Christian music over the past 10 years may lose meaning, but Vambram has shown me that there is still good Christian music from 2024. Also a Canadian guy here named @Martin Barret makes Biblically grounded Christian music in 2024 that hearkens back to the 1990s and early 2000s.


@Hazelelponi , if you want some newer Biblical Christian songs from over the past 15 years that stick to the Bible, here are some that I enjoy. Martin Barret is on this list as well. Vambram introduced me to a few of the ones from 2024.

Secret Service whistleblower flags failure to follow protocol at Trump golf course​

The Secret Service did not follow its typical protocol to post agents at vulnerable spots at former President Donald Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday which could have identified a second would-be assassin sooner, a whistleblower told Sen. Josh Hawley.

Mr. Hawley, Missouri Republican, sent a letter to Secret Service Acting Director Ronald Rowe detailing the whistleblower’s accusation and asking questions about the security of the golf club.

The whistleblower, who, according to Mr. Hawley, is an individual who has previously protected Mr. Trump at the West Palm Beach golf club, alleges there are “known vulnerabilities” in the fence line surrounding the course that offer a clear line of sight to anyone playing on it.
“As a result, the whistleblower alleges it has been Secret Service protocol to ‘post up’ agents at these vulnerable spots when Trump visits the course,” Mr. Hawley said. “That apparently did not happen on September 15. Instead, the gunman was permitted to remain along or near the fence line for some 12 hours.”

DragonFox91 said:

There's a couple Proverbs that play on exaggeration.
Jesus can get snarky. I can picture him rebuking them w/ a playful humor when he delivers 'his lines.' I think he had a charm to him, they didn't feel like he's mean when he's rebuking them.

IMO the Bible isn't meant to be a joke book tho, otherwise how could you take it serious. No doubt God has a sense of humor tho, we're meant to laugh some. Laughing is good, no?

What do the hippies say? Jesus was a partier. I don't necessarily agree w/ that the way they paint it as, but he was a likable guy who got invited to everyday things, even by the lost at times.

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Yep, agreed on all points. I would imagine that in God demonstrating a bit of humor in Scripture and in our experiences He does so with the full expectation that the Holy Spirit will keep us in line with the overarching seriousness as intended.

I know I share a laugh with Him when I do something goofball like tripping over my shoelaces. It's all part of the privilege of having a running dialogue with Him all day long! We kids are blessed!!!! He does "delight" in us, no?

Don't we have a laugh at our own toddlers bravado and mischieviousness at times? Who do we think we get that from, isn't it the One in Whose image we are created?

Perhaps of special note is the example of how we relate to each other as friends. Jesus says He no longer considers us servants, but His friends - so intimate that He trusts us with a giggle or two, that we'll handle our roles as His Ambassadors just fine.

I figure folks that miss out on His humor are actually depriving themselves of a deeper walk. *shrug* Sometimes I have to stop in mid-prayer and have a laugh with Him when I'm aware that I'm trying to cover all the potential bases like an incantation or something. Am I the only one who does that occassionally?

Speaking of a laugh, ever heard of Grady Nutt, Christian pastor and humorist? He does a really entertaining rendition of the Parable of the Prodigal Son. But man, when he gets to the point of his insight into the tale, it is poignant! Maybe I'll post it sometime, if too many feathers wouldn't get ruffled.

Just an aside, I would say that along with your opining about Jesus' good nature, that you would agree that it would be however unlikely that He would use self-deprecating humor, as a certain tv show (or netflix or movie) would have us believe. Along with dreaming up back stories and extra dialogue, I'll continue to take a pass on that...

God bless!