The Liturgist said:

Oh, what books are in your New Testament?

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If you are not going to answer my questions, why should I answer yours?

Oxford Emeritus Professor of Mathematics John Lennox is a Christian apologist. He gave a talk about belief in God in a public lecture at Oxford Union.

Video below.

Psa 83:15 KJV "So persecute them with your tempest, and make them afraid with your storm."

Psa 83:15 KJV "So (God) persecute them (confederate Psa 83:2-8) with your (God) tempest, and make them afraid with your (God) storm."

The Tempest and Storm of God

1. Job 9:17 For he breaks me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
2. Job 27:21 The east wind carries him away, and he departs: and as a storm hurrles him out of his place. Job 27:22 For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand. Job 27:23 Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.
3. Psa 11:6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
4. Psa 50:3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
5. Psa 83:1 A Song or Psalm of Asaph. Keep not you silence, O God: hold not your peace, and be not still, O God.
6. Isa 28:17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
7. Isa 30:30 And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall show the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.
8. Eze 13:11 Say unto them which daub it with untampered mortar, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and you, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it. Eze 13:12 Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, where is the daubing wherewith you have daubed it? Eze 13:13 Therefore this says the Lord GOD; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it. Eze 13:14 So will I break down the wall that you have daubed with untampered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and you shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and you shall know that I am the LORD.
9. Heb 12:18 For you are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, Heb 12:19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

Psa 83:16 KJV "Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek your name, O LORD."

Psa 83:16 KJV "Fill their (confederate Psa 83:2-8) faces with shame; that they may seek your (God) name, O LORD."

• Iniquity is premeditated, continues, and worsens=corruption-reprobate

Turning from Shame to Seek the Lord (Isa 14:12-21 Ezek 28:12-19)

1. Jer 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may you also do good, that are accustomed to do evil. Jer 13:24 Therefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passes away by the wind of the wilderness. Jer 13:25 This is your lot, the portion of your measures from me, says the LORD; because you have forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood. Jer 13:26 Therefore will I discover your skirts upon your face, that your shame may appear. Jer 13:27 I have seen your adulteries, and your neighings (boasting), the lewdness (obscene) of your whoredom (prostitution-filthy lucre), and your abominations (outrage) on the hills in the fields. Woe unto you, O Jerusalem! Will you not be made clean? when shall it once be?
2. Jer 51:51 We are confounded, because we have heard reproach: shame has covered our faces: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the LORD'S house. Jer 51:52 Wherefore, behold, the days come, says the LORD, that I will do judgment upon her graven images: and through all her land the wounded shall groan. Jer 51:53 Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall spoilers come unto her, says the LORD.
3. Eze 7:18 They shall also gird themselves with sackcloth, and horror shall cover them; and shame shall be upon all faces, and baldness upon all their heads.
4. Neh 3:5 And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.
5. Psa 6:10 Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.
6. Psa 9:19 Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in your sight. Psa 9:20 Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.
7. Psa 5:5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: you hate all workers of iniquity.
8. Isa 55:6 Seek you the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD. Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isa 55:10 For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and returns not thither, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Psa 83:17 KJV "Let them be confounded and troubled forever; yes, let them be put to shame, and perish:"

Psa 83:17 KJV "Let them (confederate Psa 83:2-8) be confounded and troubled forever; yes, let them be put to shame, and perish:"

• 1Co 1:27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

The Confederate is Confounded, Troubled, put to Shame, and Perish

1. Psa 35:4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. Psa 35:5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them. Psa 35:6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them. Psa 35:7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have dug for my soul.
2. Psa 35:25 Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up. Psa 35:26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonor that magnify themselves against me.
3. Psa 40:14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil. Psa 40:15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha. Psa 40:16 Let all those that seek you rejoice and be glad in you: let such as love your salvation say continually, the LORD be magnified.
4. Psa 109:29 Let my adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle. Psa 109:30 I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yes, I will praise him among the multitude. Psa 70:2 Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt. Psa 70:3 Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.
5. Psa 71:13 Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonor that seek my hurt.

Psa 83:18 KJV "That men may know that you, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, are the most high over all the earth."

Psa 83:18 KJV "That men may know that you, whose name alone is JEHOVAH (Exo 6:3), are the most high over all the earth."

• God-Jesus=Gen 1:1 Exo 6:3 Isa 7:14 Isa 9:6 Matt 1:18 John 1:1-3,14 Dan 7:9,10

The Lord God=Jehovah=Jesus

1. 2Ki 19:19 Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech you, save you us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you are the LORD God, even you only.
2. Psa 59:13 Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God rules in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.
3. Isa 5:16 But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.
4. Eze 30:19 Thus will I execute judgments in Egypt: and they shall know that I am the LORD.
5. Isa 54:5 For your Maker is your husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and your Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
6. Mic 4:13 Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make your horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and you shall beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.
7. Joh 19:19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Psa 83:10 KJV "Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth."

Psa 83:10 KJV (Psa 83:9 Midianites)"Which perished at Endor: they (Psa 83:9 Midianites) became as dung for the earth."

Endor (Canaanite city in northern Isarael near southern tip of the Sea of Galilee Jews failed to take)

1. Jos 17:11 And Manasseh had in Issachar and in (1) Asher Bethshean and (a) her towns, (2) and Ibleam and (a) her towns, (3) and the inhabitants of Dor and (a) her towns, and (4) the inhabitants of Endor and (a) her towns, and (5) the inhabitants of Taanach and (a) her towns, and (6) the inhabitants of Megiddo and (a) her towns, (7) even three countries.
2. 1Sa 28:7 Then said Saul unto his servants, seek me a woman that has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, behold, there is a woman that has a familiar spirit at Endor. Read 1Sa 28

Dung of the Earth

1. 2Ki 9:35 And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands. 2Ki 9:36 Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, this is the word of the LORD, which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, in the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel: 2Ki 9:37 And the carcass of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, this is Jezebel.
2. Jer 8:2 And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth. Jer 8:3 And death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue of them that remain of this evil family, which remain in all the places whither I have driven them, saith the LORD of hosts. Isa 31:1 Eph 2:2 children of disobedience
3. Jer 16:3 For this says the LORD concerning the sons and concerning the daughters that are born in this place, and concerning their mothers that bare them, and concerning their fathers that begat them in this land; Jer 16:4 They shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented; neither shall they be buried; but they shall be as dung upon the face of the earth: and they shall be consumed by the sword, and by famine; and their carcasses shall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.
4. Luk 14:35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that has ears to hear, let him hear.
5. Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
6. Rev 2:20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against you, because you suffer that woman Jezebel, which calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. Rev 2:21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Rev 2:22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. Rev 2:23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searches the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Psa 83:11 KJV "Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yes, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:"

Psa 83:11 KJV "Make their nobles like Oreb (Midianite Prince), and like Zeeb (Midianite Prince): yes, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:"

Jdgs 7:25 And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.

Zebah and Zalmunna
Jdgs 8:4 And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them. Jdgs 8:5 And he said unto the men of Succoth, give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian. Jdgs 8:6 And the princes of Succoth said, are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread unto your army? Jdgs 8:7 And Gideon said, therefore when the LORD has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers. Jdgs 8:8 And he went up thence to Penuel, and spoke unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him. Jdgs 8:9 And he spoke also unto the men of Penuel, saying, when I come again in peace, I will break down this tower. Jdgs 8:10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell a hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword. Jdgs 8:11 And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure. Jdgs 8:12 And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host. Jdgs 8:13 And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up, Jdgs 8:14 And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men. Jdgs 8:15 And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom you did upbraid me, saying, are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread unto your men that are weary? Jdgs 8:16 And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth. Jdgs 8:17 And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city. Jdgs 8:18 Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, what manner of men were they whom you slew at Tabor? And they answered, As you are, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king. Jdgs 8:19 And he said, they were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not slay you. Jdgs. 8:20 And he said unto Jether his firstborn, up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth. Jdgs 8:21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, rise you, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks.
Psa 83:12 KJV "Who said, let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession."

Psa 83:12 KJV "Who said (Psa 83:3,4 confederacy), let us take to ourselves the houses (Psa 74:8) of God in possession."

• Psa 83:3 KJV "They (enemy confederate Psa 83:2,5) have taken **crafty counsel (communications=propaganda-false news) against your (God) people (Jews), and consulted against your (God) hidden ones (Christian Saints Psa 17:8,9 Psa 27:5,10,14 Psa 31:20-pavilion-Psa 31:24-all that hope-Titus 2:13 Psa 64:1-10 Psa 91:1 secret place Matt 13:44 Col 3:3 hid with Christ in God)."
• Psa 83:4 KJV "They (enemy confederate Psa 83:2-7) have said (Crafty Counsel Psa 83:3), come, and let us cut (Psa 83:2 lift up the head) them (Jews) off from being a nation (May 14, 1948 Israel a Nation Psa 83:12 Isa 66:8 Ezek 37:12-14); that the name of Israel (the Promise of God) may be no more (knocking baby heads against the wall) in remembrance (extermination)."

The Houses of God

1. Psa 74:7-10 They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of your name to the ground. Psa 74:8 They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land. Psa 74:9 We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knows how long. Psa 74:10 O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme your name forever?
2. Act 17:23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore you ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. Act 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made with hands John 2:21 1Cor 6:19,20 Acts 7:48); Act 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he gives to all life, and breath, and all things;

Psa 83:13 KJV "O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind."

Psa 83:13 KJV "O my (Asaph Psa 83:1) God (Psa 22:1 44:4), make them (confederate Psa 83:2-8) like a wheel (snake consuming its tail Isa 17:12-14); as the stubble (knocked down) before the wind (blowen away)."
Consuming Itself

1. Mat 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
2. Luk 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
3. Isa 17:12 Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! Isa 17:13 The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. Isa 17:14 And behold at evening tide trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.
4. Isa 17:1 The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.

The Confederate as Chaff

• Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
• Job 21:18 They are as stubble before the wind, as chaff that storm carries away.
• Isa 29:6 You shall be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.

1. Exo 15:7 And in the greatness of your excellency you have overthrown them that rose up against you: you sent forth your wrath, which consumed them as stubble.
2. Job 21:18 They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away.
3. Psa 35:5 Let them be as chaff afore the wind: let the angel of the LORD chase them.
4. Isa 40:24 Yes, they shall not be planted; yes, they shall not be sown: yes, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.
5. Isa 41:2 Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? He gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow.
6. Jer 13:24 Therefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passes away by the wind of the wilderness.
7. Mat 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
8. 1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house (physical body) of God: and if it first begin at us (Christians), what shall the end be of them (Isa 30:1 Eph 2:2) that obey not the gospel of God?

Psa 83:14 KJV "As the fire burns a wood, and as the flame sets the mountains on fire;"

Psa 83:14 KJV "As the fire burns (consumes) a wood, and as the flame sets (starts) the mountains on fire;"

Consuming Wood

1. Isa 30:33 For Tophet is ordained of old; yes, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, does kindle it.
2. Isa 33:11 You shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you. Isa 33:12 And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.
3. Isa 64:1 Oh that you would rend the heavens, that you would come down, that the mountains might flow down at your presence, Isa 64:2 As when the melting fire burns, the fire causes the waters to boil, to make your name known to your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at your presence!
4. Jer 1:13 And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, what see you? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north.
5. Job 41:20 Out of his nostrils goes smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.
6. Eze 20:47 And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree in you, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein. Eze 20:48 And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.
7. Mal 4:1 For, behold, the day comes, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yes, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that comes shall burn them up, says the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

Setting Mountains on Fire

1. Deu 32:22 For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
2. Nah 1:6 Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. Nah 1:7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knows them that trust in him. Nah 1:8 But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies. Nah 1:9 What do you imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time. Nah 1:10 For while they be folded together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry. Nah 1:11 There is one come out of you, that imagines evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor. Nah 1:12 This says the LORD; though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more. Nah 1:13 For now will I break his yoke from off you, and will burst your bonds in sunder.

Psa 83:5 KJV "For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against you:"

Psa 83:5 KJV "For they (enemy confederate Psa 83:1-4) have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate (Psa 83:2) against you (God):"

• Psa 83:2 For, lo, your enemies make a tumult: and they that hate you (God) have lifted up the head.

Consulting Together Against Israel

1. Psa 2:2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
2. Pro 21:30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
3. Isa 8:9 Associate yourselves, O you people, and you shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Isa 8:10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
4. Isa 54:17 No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment thou shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, says the LORD.

Psa 83:6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;

Psa 83:6 The tabernacles (moveable habitation) of (1) Edom, (2) and the Ishmaelites; (3) of Moab, (4) and the Hagarenes;

• Isa 66:8 Who hath heard such a thing? who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
• Eze 37:12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, this says the Lord GOD; behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. Eze 37:13 And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, Eze 37:14 And shall put my spirit in you, and you shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall you know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.

1. Edom – southwest Jordan
2. Ishmaelites – Saudi Arabia
3. Moab - Palestinians and central Jordan
4. Hagarenes - Egyptians

Psa 83:7 KJV "Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;"

Psa 83:7 KJV "(5) Gebal, and (6) Ammon, and (7) Amalek; (8) the Philistines with (9) the inhabitants of Tyre;"

• Isa 66:8 Who hath heard such a thing? who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
• Eze 37:12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, this says the Lord GOD; behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. Eze 37:13 And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, Eze 37:14 And shall put my spirit in you, and you shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall you know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.

1. Gebal - Hezbollah and northern Lebanese
2. Ammon - Palestinians and northern Jordan
3. Amalek Arabia of the Sinai area
4. Philistines - Hamas of Gaza strip
5. Tyre - Hezbollah and southern Lebanon

Psa 83:8 KJV "Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children (Edom and Moab-Jordan) of Lot. Selah."

Psa 83:8 KJV "(10) Assur also is joined with them (enemy confederate Psa 83:1-4): they have holpen (helped) the children (Moab and Ammon-Jordan Gen 19:36-38) of Lot. Selah."

• Isa 66:8 Who hath heard such a thing? who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
• Eze 37:12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, this says the Lord GOD; behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. Eze 37:13 And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, Eze 37:14 And shall put my spirit in you, and you shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall you know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.

Assur - Syrians and northern Iraq

Psa 83:9 KJV "Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:"

Psa 83:9 KJV "Do unto them (enemy confederate Psa 83:6-8) as unto the Midianites (Arabian Canaanites); as to Sisera (Commander of King Jabin), as to Jabin (King of Hazor), at the brook of Kison (1Kings 18:40 River in northern Israel near city of Haifa flowing into the Mediterranean):"

• Midianites early Arabic Canaanite tribe, wared with Israelites, descendants of Abraham before selection by God, not under the Abraham Covenant.

The Midianites (Isa 10:26 Isa 28:15-18 Jer 1:13 Parallel of coming Israeli Islam-Idolatry war)

1. Num 31:7 And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males. Num 31:8 And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword. Num 31:9 And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian captives, and their little ones, and took the spoil of all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods.
2. Jdgs 7:22 And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath. Jdgs 7:23 And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites. Jdgs 7:24 And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying, come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. Jdgs 7:25 And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.
3. Isa 9:4 For you have broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
4. Isa 10:26 And the LORD of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and as his rod was upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt.

Sisera and King Jabin of Hazor

• Sisera commander of the Army of the Canaanite King Jabin of Hazor.

Jdgs 4:15 And the LORD discomfited Sisera (Canaanite Commander), and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak (Jewish Commander {with prophet Deborah}); so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet. Jdgs 4:16 But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth (at the entrance of the pass to Esdraelon from the plain of Acre at the base of Carmel) of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left. Jdgs 4:17 Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael (defeated Jabin’s army) the wife of Heber the Kenite (tribe associated with Jews and Midianites): for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor (Jewish and Canaanite city Josh 11:10) and the house of Heber (Jewish north of the sea of Galilee) the Kenite. Jdgs 4:18 And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle. Jdgs 4:19 And he said unto her, Give me, I pray you, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him. Jdgs 4:20 Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man does come and enquire of you, and say, is there any man here? that you shall say, No. Jdgs 4:21 Then Jael Heber's (1) wife took a nail of the tent, and (2) took an hammer in her hand, (3) and went softly unto him, (4) and smote the nail into his temples, (5) and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. Jdgs 4:22 And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, come, and I will show you the man whom you seek. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples. Jdgs 4:23 So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel. Jdgs 4:24 And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.

Josheb said:

Of course you are.

You are not perfect, so you are, simply as a matter of inevitability, doing something wrong.

Therefore, stop asking that question and start asking a more fruitful question(s). For example, the word "wrong" can have to meanings, one more and one efficacious. The question, "Have I done something that is immoral?" is a MUCH different question than, "Have I done something that is ineffective?" The first question is going to bring on guilt and shame and guilt and shame rarely help anyone solve a problem objectively or effectively. The second question can facilitate a goal-oriented response and that might contribute to improving the many problems existing within you and your marriage. Your wife's problems are not yours to solve. Thinking you can or should solve her problems may be one of the things you've done wrong . That's not a moral wrong, though. That is an ineffective wrong, not a moral wrong.

Think of it this way: the popular tele-counselor Dr. Phil often asks his victim's a very simple question. He asks them a bunch of questions and lets them tell their stories, and as they do so the audience increasingly sees the inanity of the game show participant's life. When the obviousness of the inanity reaches a critical point Dr. Phil springs the infamous question, "Why's that working for you?" And, of course, the other person has that momentary introspective look and answers, "I guess it's not."

In all the many years I was a counselor I rarely happened upon a client who did not already know if and when their behavior was immoral. No one needs to be told yelling epithets at a spouse is morally wrong. No one needs to be told rape, battery, theft, etc. are morally wrong. A few, occasionally, need that explained to them but most of counseling has absolutely nothing to do with morality. They better question is always "How is what you are currently doing helping you achieve your goals?" or "How is what you are currently doing help you achieve the life you would like to obtain?"

The answers to those questions mean you must first know what your goals are.

If you do not know where you are going, then you most definitely will not get there . It's not rocket science, but the simplicity and value of that principle often escapes people. If you're moralizing, then stop it. On the occasion that you do err morally the prescription is very plain and already known: apologize! Or, if you're interested in a more thorough response the confess the wrongdoing, purpose not to repeat the behavior and replace it with more godly alternatives, make amends wherever possible and ask for forgiveness (and receive it when given). You already know this. On the occasion you try something that does not work then, again, the prescription is readily available: chalk it up to an ineffective action, something that didn't get you where you wanted to go and try something else.

Guard your mind against "Nothing I do will ever make a difference!" and train yourself to say, "Well, that didn't work as well as I thought i might so let me try something else."

1 Corinthians 10:23
All things are permitted, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted, but not all things build people up.

Moralizing yourself into guilt, shame, and remorse is permitted, but it is not very beneficial and does not edify you. Accepting the fact that you, me, your wife, Ricky, Lucy, Bert, Ernie, and everyone else is a sinner is a reality that everyone should accept. Once accepted, the power the Christian has facing sin to overcome it in the otherwise ordinary circumstances of life can be enormously empowering.

Set some goals. Set a few easily accomplished ones that prospectively will move you toward solving the problems alluded to in the op OR moving you, personally, toward a position where you are better able to do so. Set some moderately distant goals and set some goals that are more over-arching and will take time to accomplish. Work them all a little at a time. Review them periodically to 1) measure progress and 2) make adjustments wherever needed (because mistakes will be made).

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thank you

J_B_ said:

I'm curious to hear what people have to say about the things they are devoted to: sports, family, job, hobby, etc. I'd also be curious to hear what motivates that devotion.

Of course, there are similarities and dissimilarities between such devotion and Christian faith, and yes, we can discuss those as well. But I'm not interested in arguments striving to claim that such similarities prove a subconscious desire for the spiritual.

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Me? Devoted. Devoted. What does that mean? ... whatever it actually means in degree and application, I'd say I'm devoted to my family and my books, and a daily dose of motivational music. Sometimes, I watch a bit of sports or a favorite sci-fi t.v. show.

I'm just a simple, analytically oriented nerd who loves his family. And who strives to follow Jesus as best I can...

... What about you, J.B. ?? What's your locus of interests and devotion?

Joseph G said:

Question. What does plurality mean?

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It means more than one.

Joseph G said:

Successive ages or unique concurrent ages?

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Successive.

Joseph G said:

Or both somehow?

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Could be.

Joseph G said:

What is the point of the Lord building our character here?

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Good question.

Joseph G said:

We are destined for Heaven anyways. Well one of the obvious reasons is to become more Christ-like, which I would imagine enables us to bear greater fruit for the Kingdom, which gives us satisfaction in our work. Who doesn't appreciate incremental promotions to a closer walk with God and resulting responsibilities to love others? Otherwise, WE become stagnant and bored. And incidentally in that process, God's pruning is incredibly effective.

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Right. That's the process of sanctification. Check out How to grow in faith

Joseph G said:

Already, in photos and videos and what-not, we can't believe everything we see. No worries though, WE won't be deceived, because we continually fix our gaze upon the Truth Himself.

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Amen.

Joseph G said:

I sincerely agree that the possibilities of advancement in all aspects of existence in the next life, are gonna blow our minds - especially as God is pleased to reveal a wee bit at a time to motivate us. Who needs man's forms of entertainment when we have His? Perpetual joy indeed.

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Amen, brother

I think of Ezra 9:1-12 and repentance to God, who alone judges us by our ancestors actions, from ancestral sin.

Hi Forum!

I am looking for a devotional resource I can use with my family. I have 2 grade-school kids so it would have to be age appropriate. Ideally, I would like a scripture verse, and a short commentary about it. This would be something we could do at the dinner table before having our meals.

Any thoughts?

loveofourlord said:

you call it a delusion, but as in other topic, it's not one, they are literally the opposite gender with the brain, many show the signs of their brain functionally more female then male, wich is caused by hormones and such. It be little different then if you could attatch a male head to a female body, the heads image of the body wouldn't fit. Just as boys who are given surgery at birth to be given female genitals, still grow up attracted to girls, and know something is wrong.

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I think its more complex than that. Put it this way around 85% of children who think they are trans realign naturally with their body. Some come to realise they are actually gay or lesbian and not trans. So if such a large % thinking they are opposite sex and end up realigning with their nate sex then they were deluded about being trans due to other reasons.

Then you have a fair % of people who think they are trans but have Autism and other psychological disorders who are not trans. There are also those mostly males who suffer Autogynephilia. They derive a sexual safisfaction from being a women.

Then there are those who suffer o0ther body dysmorphia who may mistakenly think they are trans when it was more than they were rejecting their bodies for other reasons due to emotional problems.

Put all these together and there are a lot of false positives that can potentially happen which are not screened for and end up being mistaken as trans. Add to this that there is no objective test and that acceptance of being trans only requires saying so we than have potential for a lot of confusion and false positives and potential harm.

I agree that there is a certain % with persistent gender incongruence where there is a chemical imbalance in the sex hormones of the brain. During fetal development the development of physical sex is a seperate process to the sexing of the brain. Under normal development the brain should match physical sex but something goes wrong.

Though this is an influencing factor its not consistent nor a complete reversal of the brain. They still retain other nate sex and gender traits. For example a trans women who is a biological male can still be attracted to a female. They will identify as a lesbian rather than have a traditional opposite sex partner to retain their nate sexual orientation.

They may also retain nate features. Transwomen can still have male like behaviour. Be more aggressive, engage more in male type behaviour like crime and violence. So its not 100% opposite and this is an areas that is still being understood.

A complete remodelling of the body into the opposite sex doesn't solve the problem for most long term. There is still a degree of inconguence and dysmorphia. The other problem is in remodelling the body this creates a different kind of dysmorphia of not feeling authentic in a artifically created body.

It also brings up an important dilemma. If as you say some have opposite sex brains due to developmental issues, which is still a disorder and not a normal human variation of development. But does this mean we could and should find ways to realign the persons brain chemicals to their physical sex during early pregnancy. Thus avoiding the prblem altogether.

Sort of the other way around. Instead of altering the body to match the brain we make the brain match the body the way it was meant to be. Surely modern medicine can ac hieve this or will in the future.

Or would this be too much for the Trans activists who insist this is a normal variation of being human like there are 3rd and 4th sexes and gender identity is the true measure of human sex and not biology. So trying to change trans is abuse.

Part of the ideology is that human behaviour is a social construction and not based on nature or anything objective. Just like we can socially reconstruct the reality for society with say families we can do the same with sex and gender. Or reality itself. This stems from Postmodernism where there is no truth and objective reality but only relative and self referential truths and realities.

So the problem is because its such a subjective and relative idea that people can easily be fooled and believe they are something they are not. I think whats happened is that the ideology has been created much bigger than the reality. Yes there are people who have some basis for feeling and believing they are the opposite sex.

But the idea has morphed into people using feelings and beliefs as the basis for who they are and what reality is rather than objective reality. Its mortphed into a delusion based on feelings and not facts.

We know that feelings and belief are very supceptible to manipulation, to cognitive errors in thinking and often wrong. So to make the only measure of reality self identification will inherently have a big chance of having a high degree of false positives.

That is why is vital to be checking, not assuming, and taking things on face vale. Investigating the facts, alternative reasons why this is happening.

The problem is its like a self reinforcing loop. Trans activists don't want a bar of any talk about investigating alternative reasons. To them its only one reason and any talk of underlying or alternative reasons is transphobic and conversion therapy because its not affirming the person on face value.

祷告中心

为阿富汗及其人民祈祷


Afghan, Tajik in Afghanistan



Afghanistan - Prayercast


Pashtun, Southern in Afghanistan


Shughni in Afghanistan

Welcome to reach and teach devotions.

This devotion is gleaned from my own devotional time with the Lord and study of God's word. I am no bible teacher, just an ordinary believer who loves God, God's word and God's people. God still speaks through his word, as Ezra says Open the book, God speaks through his word.

Below the devotion is a resource centre which have many links that you can listen to and pray for.

You will also find a link to my previous devotions on the Bottom line website, and you can access thousands of other English devotions.

My devotion is not copyrighted and therefore you are free to share it with as many people as you wish, especially on social media platforms.

If you are a pastor, you can use it for a sermon or sermon outline.



CHAPTER 1


5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

WISDOM NEEDED NOW

Wisdom is a great gift from God, Solomon asked for it and received it.

In Proverbs 1, it says:

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Psalm 111 says:


The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

God graciously gives us wisdom to deal with everyday circumstances, we are told later in James 3, what true wisdom is:

17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

How do we endure and handle trials? When trying times come, how do we handle them?

We ask for wisdom from God and he will give us the wisdom to get through these things. But we ask in faith, we have to have a complete and utter trust in God and this must come with no doubt.

Sometimes when faced with a situation, we ask for God's wisdom, but then we try to figure it out through the world's wisdom, this is being caught between two minds, we cannot be two minds. We cannot afford to have one foot in both camps.

Christians need to completely and totally trusting in the Lord. Otherwise, we will be like a wave on the sea, God cannot give wisdom to us, unless we trust him 100%, God's wisdom and man's wisdom, do not mix.

For the believer, it is either one or the other and I know what kind of wisdom I want, and that is God's wisdom.

Ask God for his wisdom, act in faith and believe that he will give it to you.

God's wisdom, will enable you to overcome trials and to see them in the right perspective, it clears the mist and allows you to see them in the divine perspective, but man's wisdom, only sees them from man's perspective

God bless you

Keith



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SERMON CENTRE


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JUSTIFICATION

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ADOPTION

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SANTIFICATION

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JOHN LENNOX

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SONG CENTRE

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As followers of Christ,
We can’t live by our feelings.
Must use wisdom and logic
In all of our dealings.

Not let others upset us
And get the best of us.
We must pray through each matter,
And heed not their chatter.

We must follow our Savior
And live in His Favor,
And must walk in His wisdom
And follow His vision.

For now Satan would have us,
His will to destroy us.
So, do not give in to him,
But God worship. And sing a hymn.

An Original Work / March 16, 2023

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are all going to have trying times and circumstances in our lives which will challenge the legitimacy of our faith in the Lord Jesus, and which may bring us to tears, but which should draw us closer to the Lord as we learn more and more to rely on God and not on ourselves. For we have an enemy, Satan, who wants nothing more than to destroy us and to break us down so that we will run from God instead of running to God. So, we must draw on the strength of the Lord.

For it is in these darkest times in our lives when we need the Lord more than ever before. So especially in times like these we must call on the Lord for help, and we must bring to memory all that the Lord has done in our lives throughout our lives so that we don’t give way to the enemy’s lies and begin to think that God has forgotten and forsaken us. And if you can keep a journal of your quiet times with the Lord, this is a good way to go back and to see all the ways God has worked miracles in your life previously.

And, yes, there will be those times when our spirits fail us, and our emotions give way to tears and perhaps to doubts and so we need those reassurances from our Lord and from his word to comfort our hearts and minds. For Satan loves to try to fill our minds with all sorts of fears and doubts which we then must reject while we claim the promises of God over our lives. But let me say here that all of God’s promises have conditions (stipulations), and so we must guard against claiming promises which may not apply to us.

And even though the Scriptures teach us that if we resist Satan that he will flee from us, he may not flee at the first resistance, or he may come back at us with a different approach, because his goal is to wear us down so that he can conquer us. So we have to keep resisting and eventually he will flee, but he will come back and try again at another time, perhaps when we are the most vulnerable or when we are physically weak, and when he feels he will have a better chance at getting us to crack. But we must keep resisting!

But resisting alone is not enough. We must draw on the strength of the Lord. We must be in his word daily, seeking his face, listening to his voice, and following him in obedience to his commands. We must remain steadfast in our walks of faith and obedience to the Lord, and keep on pressing forward even when our emotions or our minds or our bodies might be weak and tired. We cannot and should not go by our emotions, for our emotions will fail us. We have to press forward even when we don’t feel up to it.

And, yes, we should pray to the Lord for deliverance from all enemies, for if we are following Jesus Christ with our lives in wholehearted devotion to him, we are going to have enemies. And those enemies could be our closest friends or companions or family members or others who profess faith in Jesus Christ. And they could be “pastors” and “elders” of “churches,” who are following after the ways of the flesh and the ways of the world and who are being trained to reject those who have seriousness of faith in Christ.

And no matter what we are up against, or whom, we must be those who are seeking after the Lord and his ways, and who are desirous to be taught to do the will of God for our lives. And his will for our lives goes way beyond just making a profession of faith in him. But his will for us is to do his will and to surrender our lives to him, to submit to him as Lord, to die daily to sin, and to walk daily in obedience to his commands. And it is to learn what his plan is for our lives and then for us to submit to that plan and to do it.

[Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 24:9-14; Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:35-58; John 8:31-32; John 10:27-30; John 14:15,21,23-24; John 15:1-11; Acts 26:18; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; 1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 12:1-2]

Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer

Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897
Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897

Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wandering sinner to find.

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer others to save.

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

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realdeliverance said:

9/6 have people's minds thinking all kinds of ways. Specifically "the women".

How inappropriate. Takes a certain individual to have that kind of mindset in them. Or just Dirty-Minded always


That's all.

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What is "9/6"? A date, perhaps 6th September or 9th June? How does 9/6 have people's minds thinking all kinds of ways?

realdeliverance said:

To know all gossip of me, I see through the mind.

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Sorry, but I don't understand what you mean. Are you simply saying that in order to know all that is being gossiped about you, you need to be a mind-reader?

Light and fluffy, they are feeding
What the people think they’re needing.
Feel good messages are their shelter,
But now they are helter-skelter.

Life with frolic is a plenty,
But the truth, now who’s got any?
Lies galore and misplaced feelings,
Have them on the line they’re reeling.

Keep it light, now pitter-patter,
So they know not what’s the matter.
Make excuses, feed their habits,
So their noses in their tablets.

Tell a joke, and tell a story,
Make it light or make it gory.
Entertain them, keep distracted,
So to sin they are attracted.

Keep them laughing, roll in aisles,
Keep them grinning, see those smiles.
Don’t get serious, no not ever,
Keep it light and keep it clever.

Hide the truth so they not knowing
That their lives they’re surely blowing –
Walk in sin, no life in Jesus,
If obey not God who feeds us.

An Original Work / August 27, 2022

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’” (Matthew 7:21-23 ESV).

The love that we are to have for Jesus Christ, for God, is agape love, which prefers what God prefers. And God prefers all that is holy, righteous, godly, morally pure, upright, honest, faithful, and obedient to his commands. And for the believer in Jesus Christ this means preferring to live through Christ, embracing God’s will, choosing his choices, and obeying them through his power. It means we are actively doing what the Lord prefers rather than us doing what our flesh prefers. So love for God/Christ = obedience to God.

And this is not optional. We can’t just make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ and then go on living in sin and for self and presume that God is going to let us into his heaven. For this love is not the mushy gushy kind that is based in our emotions and in how we feel at any given moment. Will we feel love for God? We should, yes! But a feeling of love is not what this is all about. This is love in action shown by our obedience to our Lord and to his commands, whether or not we feel like obeying at any particular time.

Many people today, though, are not teaching this. Many are teaching the opposite of this. They are teaching that no works are required of us at all, and that we don’t have to obey God, and that we don’t have to repent of our sins, for those are works. And even if some do teach that we should obey the Lord and his commandments, many do not teach obedience as critical to our salvation and eternal life with God, which is what Jesus was definitely teaching here, and which the NT apostles taught, too.

And then notice the progression of the conversation here. If we love Jesus, we will keep (obey) his commandments (New Covenant). Whoever keeps (obeys) his commandments, he it is who loves Jesus/God. And he who loves Jesus will be loved by God the Father, and they will come to him and make their home with him. But whoever does not agape love Jesus does not keep (obey) his words, (and so he will not be loved by God the Father, and they will not come to him and make their home with him – understood).

[John 8:31-32; John 10:27-30; John 14:15-24; John 15:10; Luke 9:23-26]

And Paul and the other apostles taught the same thing. John taught that if we say that we are in fellowship with God, but while we still walk (in conduct, in practice) in darkness (sin, wickedness), we are liars. And if we claim that we know God but while we do not obey his commandments, in practice, we are liars. For whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil. But whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as God is righteous. So, whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God.

[1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6,15,24-25; 1 John 3:4-10,24; 1 John 4:19-20]

And Paul taught that if sin is what we obey, it leads to death, but if obedience to God is what we obey, it leads to righteousness and to sanctification, and its end is eternal life with God. For if we are slaves of sin, the end of those things is death. And the righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in us who walk (in conduct, in practice) not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For if we live according to the flesh, and not according to the Spirit, its end is death, not life eternal with God.

[Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Corinthians 15:2; Galatians 5:16-21; Galatians 6:7-8; Ephesians 5:3-6; Colossians 1:21-23]

And, as a side note to all of this, lately I have been hearing of very large crowds of people “worshiping Jesus Christ.” But worship of Jesus Christ, which is biblical and true worship of God, begins with us dying with Christ to sin and being raised to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin but as slaves to God and to his righteousness. True worship of God is in the surrender of our lives to him to do his will, the forsaking of our sins, and walks of obedience to his commands in daily living, in practice.

True worship of God, which is acceptable to him, is in the giving of our lives to him as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to him, no longer conformed to the ways of this sinful world, but transformed of God in the renewing of our minds so that, by how we live, we prove what is the good and acceptable will of God for our lives. It is in us daily denying self and dying to sin, by the Spirit, and walking in the ways of the Lord in obedience to his commands in holy living. Music can be a part of worship, but alone it is not worship.

[Romans 12:1-2; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Luke 9:23-26]

Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer

Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897
Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897

Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wandering sinner to find.

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer others to save.

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

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AlexB23 said:

Do you have any updates on your farm, @HARK! ? When will the harvesting period begin, as autumn is quickly approaching?

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I've done some preliminary harvest of my sorghum crop. I pressed the stalks with my sorghum press: Sorghum Press Build

I boiled down the extract until it reached a temperature of 227 degrees F. Making syrup shares similarities to making candy. I even got a little sorghum caramel on the edges of the pot.

This year the syrup is delicious! I bought Red Top this spring. Last year I bought Milo. The Milo has bigger seeds; but the syrup had a bitter aftertaste.

I've been gathering firewood for the winter; and as much as I hate to do it; I've been cutting down mesquite trees around my tank (pond) so that I can dig it out wider and deeper. (Mesquite beans are sweet, high in protein, and can be ground into flour.) It sometimes goes almost dry, in dry summers; so I want to ensure that it won't go dry before I start my fish farm. I'll start digging it out soon after I completely harvest the sorghum; and I'll spread the soil out over that field. Once I get the footprint of the tank finalized; I'll build a greenhouse nearby, and use solar power to run the pumps for hydroponics. Always something going on.

Diamond72 said:

Where does He say that? He talks about a garbage dump where they burn the garbage. We read about that even during the Kingdom age in the book of Isaiah.

geenna: Gehenna, a valley W. and South of Jer., also a symbolic name for the final place of punishment of the ungodly
Original Word: γέεννα, ης, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: geenna
Phonetic Spelling: (gheh'-en-nah)
Definition: Gehenna, a valley west and South of Jerusalem, also a symbolic name for the final place of punishment of the ungodly

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the garbage dump was a place of eternal fire. Always fire there.

He told the story of the rich man and Lazarus. That was hell there. And where the fire is not quenched and the worm does not die. Don’t you believe Him? Yes the definition is right.

Oompa Loompa said:

Yes. It takes courage to step in the world of politics, or being a judge, knowing that you could be assassinated. I hope that answers your question. Otherwise, should we stop honoring the death of MKL Jr because he was not in combat when he was shot?

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Seems to me we honor Martin Luther King Jr's life, and what he did during it, more than we do his death.

-- A2SG, probably why we focus more on things like the "I have a dream" speech than that single day in April.....

Your story really moved me. I am sorry you was put in this bondage by your own family member. It is very sad. You do though deserve to break free from this bondage Galatians 5:1 and I hope that you can as God is there to release people from bondages as well. We all have our own unique situations though, but I hope life is treating you well today. I have read of people who recovered from Bulimia in their 50's after decades, I wish you well.

The 9/11 devotional is out. It discusses the hard work of the EMTs, first responders and volunteers who saved lives, even if it meant risking their own lives.

Roughly 340+ firefighters lost their lives on 9/11 in an attempt to save as many lives possible (EMS news source):

9/11 Devotional: