What does Paul have to say to Timothy about the consumption of alcohol?

Paul told Timothy to drink a little wine for his stomach’s sake and other infirmities.  Yes, it was wine, not grape juice. 

“Little” Greek word is oligos, means small.  Then Paul told Timothy about Deacons requirements, that they must not be given to much wine.  “Much”, Greek word polus, which means much in any respect, plenteous.  I understand that if someone had an alcohol drinking problem in the past, then yes, they should not have any wine. We find that the word wine is found 234 times in 214 verses.  We find that Jesus drank wine because they called him a drunker and He made wine as His first miracle at the wedding.  I wonder sometime if some of the so called ministers of Jesus when they condemn drinking wine, they are adding to the scriptures as the Pharisees did which Jesus condemn, by saying that Jesus cannot have wine at the Lamb’s Marriage Supper.  If someone does not want to drink wine, that is fine, but do not use scriptures as a basis for the reason, because it is not true.  I look forward to having that 4^th glass of wine with all the Saints at the Lamb’s Marriage Supper.  Even those who cannot drink wine now will be healed and then can share wine at the Marriage Supper in the Kingdom of God.  What an exciting time we have in front of us.  Blessing

Stephen

(1 Tim 3:8 KJV)  Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

Much: 4183. polus, pol-oos'; includ. the forms from the alt.  pollos; (sing.) much (in any respect) or (plur.) many; neut. (sing.) as adv. largely; neut. (plur.) as adv. or noun often, mostly, largely:--abundant, + altogether, common, + far (passed, spent), (+ be of a) great (age, deal, -ly, while), long, many, much, oft (-en [-times]), plenteous, sore, straitly

Wine 3631. oinos, oy'-nos; a prim. word (or perh. of Heb. or. [H3196]); "wine" (lit. or fig.):--wine.

(1 Tim 5:23 KJV)  Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.

Little: 3641. oligos, ol-ee'-gos; of uncert. affin.; puny (in extent, degree, number, duration or value); espec. neut. (adv.) somewhat:--+ almost, brief [-ly], few, (a) little, + long, a season, short, small, a while.

(Mat 11:19 KJV)  The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

(Luke 7:34 KJV)  The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

(Rev 22:18 KJV)  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

(Mark 14:25 KJV)  Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

Are the “gifts of the Spirit” active today?

When we look at the gifts of the Spirit, yes they are active today.  What are these gifts, let the scripture answer that question.  If we look at the different gifts, the 4 verses show they are different except 1 Cor 12:28 is a repeat of the first part of 1 Cor 12.  When we again go through these scriptures, they all are active within the Body of Christ, our Lord.  Blessing 

Stephen 

(Isa 11:2 NIV)  The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—

·      the Spirit of wisdom and of

·      understanding, the

·      Spirit of counsel and of

·      power, the

·      Spirit of knowledge and of the

·      fear of the LORD—

(Rom 12:6-8 NIV)  We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is

·      prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. {7} If it is

·      serving, let him serve; if it is

·      teaching, let him teach; {8} if it is

·      encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the

·      needs of others, let him give generously; if it is

·      leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing

·      mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

(1 Cor 12:8-10 NIV)  To one there is given through the Spirit the message of

·      wisdom, to another the message of

·      knowledge by means of the same Spirit, {9} to another

·      faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of

·      healing by that one Spirit, {10} to another

·      miraculous powers, to another

·      prophecy, to another

·      distinguishing between spirits, to another

·      speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the

·      interpretation of tongues.

(1 Cor 12:28 NIV)  And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having

·      gifts of healing, those able to

·      help others, those with

·      gifts of administration, and those

·      speaking in different kinds of tongues.

Why was Jerusalem destroyed in 70 A.D.?

This was an controversial thing about why Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD.  There are many different opinions on why.  However, we who study the scriptures know that Jesus gave us the answer to this question in Luke 19:44 when he said, “because the Jews did not recognized the time when God (Jesus) came to help you or recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”  The Jewish leadership did not recognized Jesus as the Messiah, the Anointed One as God which Jesus then held the Jewish leadership accountable because they had the Book of Daniel that explains about His coming from chapter 9.

I enjoy reading about history (audio books) and one book caught my attention, called “Caesar’s Legion” by Stephen Dando-Collins.  Caesar was a great general and learned many things about him and how the Roman armies.  The book covered Caesar Legions during and after Caesar’s death and what became of his legions.  There was a surprise ending to the book that I did not know about.  Caesar’s best Legion was station in Syria and as the men of the legion retired, the legion would take men from the local area to fill their ranks.  The men that filled the ranks were individuals that hated the Jews.  This Legion was one of the main ones attacking Jerusalem in 70 Ad.  The general in charge of the Romans that was attacking Jerusalem did not want the Temple destroyed.  Because of the hatred the Caesar’s Legion had for the Jews, they disobey the order and they were the ones that burned the Temple and large parts of Jerusalem.  This book was just an interesting thing to share.  Blessing

Stephen

(Luk 19:44)  They will level you to the ground—you and those who live within your city limits. They will not leave one stone on another within your walls, because you didn't recognize the time when God came to help you."

(Luke 19:44 NIV)  They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."

This was an controversial thing about why Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD.  There are many different opinions on why.  However, we who study the scriptures know that Jesus gave us the answer to this question in Luke 19:44 when he said, “because the Jews did not recognized the time when God (Jesus) came to help you or recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”  The Jewish leadership did not recognized Jesus as the Messiah, the Anointed One as God which Jesus then held the Jewish leadership accountable because they had the Book of Daniel that explains about His coming from chapter 9.

I enjoy reading about history (audio books) and one book caught my attention, called “Caesar’s Legion” by Stephen Dando-Collins.  Caesar was a great general and learned many things about him and how the Roman armies.  The book covered Caesar Legions during and after Caesar’s death and what became of his legions.  There was a surprise ending to the book that I did not know about.  Caesar’s best Legion was station in Syria and as the men of the legion retired, the legion would take men from the local area to fill their ranks.  The men that filled the ranks were individuals that hated the Jews.  This Legion was one of the main ones attacking Jerusalem in 70 Ad.  The general in charge of the Romans that was attacking Jerusalem did not want the Temple destroyed.  Because of the hatred the Caesar’s Legion had for the Jews, they disobey the order and they were the ones that burned the Temple and large parts of Jerusalem.  This book was just an interesting thing to share.  Blessing

Stephen

(Luk 19:44)  They will level you to the ground—you and those who live within your city limits. They will not leave one stone on another within your walls, because you didn't recognize the time when God came to help you."

(Luke 19:44 NIV)  They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."

Who should have replaced Judas? Matthias? Why does there have to be 12 Apostles?

Peter said “someone else needs to replace Judas” quoting Psa 109 as the Holy Spirit leads and in him according to Acts 1.  Jesus left the Apostles a way to know who should be selected and that was casting lots according to Acts 1. There are a number of scholars today that teach that Matthias was not the one that should be the 12^th Apostle to replace Judas.  They say it should be Paul or someone else.  This is contrary to the scriptures brings out.

As for why did not Jesus pick someone when He was still there, but had the Apostles to do it, could be a number of minor reasons.  We did not have all the teaching or instructions here, but Jesus might have told Peter and the Apostles to do it that way.  There was no disagreement how they did it.  They first prayed and asked for guidance on who it should be. Jesus then told them by casting lot.

Paul told us from 2 Tim 3, that all scripture is God-breathed. This is why I believe Jesus led Matthias to be selected by lot.  Peter, was led by the Holy Spirit. Remember, Peter and the other Apostles had already received the Holy Spirit before this time (John 20), the same Holy Spirit as you and I have. This is why I say the Peter was led by the Holy Spirit.   There are very little know about Matthias from the scriptures. Even in Historical records, there I only found one comment where Matthias went. The Ethiopic and Greek sources designate Dacia (modern Romania) and Macedonia, north of Greece, as part of ministry of Matthias. His ministry was very hidden from history.

There has to be 12 Apostles otherwise, there will be one foundation in the New Jerusalem that will not have a name.

We know that there has to be twelve Apostles to be judging the twelve tribes of Israel according to Luke 22.

Paul was not an Apostle to the Jews, but to the Gentiles and even converted at this time.

I have two things to bring to your attention to mediate on about Matthias. We also know that other Apostles were not mention in the Book of Acts. Why, it is an interesting answer, maybe for another comment later on.

Please think about the following verses. In Cor, I find this an interesting verse where it says, he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve, that was written by Paul and inspired by the Holy Spirit. Remember, Judas was out of the picture and Matthias was not picked by lot, but Paul referring to the twelve. Paul was looking back at a later date when he wrote this and the only person that was mention to become an Apostle was Matthias and then did Paul include Matthias in the twelve?

Then in Acts 6, then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples, Matthias must have been included since there is no one else mention as an Apostle.

Something to mediate about.

A friend told me the following comment:

“Are we to accept and believe the entire Bible as Truth or just those portions that we want to, choose to, or simply cannot deny?  As for me, I make a personal commitment a decade ago now to accept what I read in the Bible as Truth, and thus far I haven't come across anything that has shaken that commitment.”

As for me, I totally agree with my friends comment.

Blessing

Stephen

(Rev 21:12-14 KJV) And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: {13} On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. {14} And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

(2 Tim 3:16-17 NIV) All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, {17} so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

(Acts 1:24-25 KJV) And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, show whether of these two thou hast chosen, {25} That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

(1 Cor 15:4-9 KJV)  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: {5} And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: {6} After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. {7} After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. {8} And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. {9} For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

(Acts 6:1-2 KJV)  And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. {2} Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

(Luke 22:30 KJV)  That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

(John 20:22-23 NIV)  And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.  {23} If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

How would Paul have us set ourselves as an example.

The only example we can set is the example that Jesus set.  Paul follow the example of Jesus in 1 Cor 11.  Paul then tells us in 1 Cor 4 that his way of life is in Jesus and then in 1 Th 1 we are to imitators of the Lord.  I try to follow the example that Jesus sets for us.  Jesus says there is a Way of Life for His people to follow.  Jesus tells us in John 14 “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  We are taught that there is only two Ways of Life, the Way of Life that Jesus taught by His example, words and the way of death that Satan taught by his examples and broadcast according to Jer 21.  I read and study how did Jesus live, how he worship, treat others, His teaching, His commands, etc.  The Jesus tells us in John 14 that who has “my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.” Jesus then tells us “obey my commands, you will remain in my love” in John 15. This why we are here is to learn His Way of Life and be imitators of Him, obey His commands, so we can go out into the world as examples and teachers.  We all feel like we fall short.  But do remember, this is a life time walk with our Lord, Jesus until it is our time.  We are told to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord.  This is something we are to do every day.  That is why we are given a new day every 24 hours to start fresh after our sleep.  We learn from our mistakes and try not to do it again.  We have the Holy Spirit living in us and leading us daily.  And remember, we will be at the Lambs Marriage Supper.  Give thanks to God every day.   Stephen (1 Cor 11:1 NIV)  Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. (1 Cor 4:16-17 NIV)  Therefore I urge you to imitate me. {17} For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church. (1 Th 1:6 NIV)  You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. Followers: 3402. mimetes, mim-ay-tace'; from G3401; an imitator:--follower. (John 14:6 KJV)  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (Prov 6:23 KJV)  For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: (Prov 10:17 KJV)  He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth. (Prov 15:24 KJV)  The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath. (Jer 21:8 KJV)  And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death. (John 14:21 NIV)  Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." (John 15:10 NIV)  If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.

Why do some prayers appear to go unanswered?

 

There are many reasons why prayers go unanswered and instead of me just list a list, I will let the scriptures speak for themselves.  Blessing

Do I listen to God:  (Zec 7:13 NIV)  "'When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,' says the LORD Almighty.

Wrong motives:  (James 4:3 NIV)  When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

Forgive others:  (Mat 6:12 NIV)  Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Sin in my heart: (Psa 66:18 NIV)  If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;

Iniquities:  (Isa 59:2 NIV)  But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.

Believe: (Mat 21:22 NIV)  If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

According to his will: (1 John 5:14-15 NIV)  This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. {15} And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him.

What did Paul means when he says, “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression” (I Timothy 2:14)

I have always found these verses about Adam and Eve very interesting to mediate about.  Yes, the father of lies, Satan, deceived Eve.  As Paul said, Eve became a sinner when she believed a lie from Satan. Eve knew what God said they could do but because God was not there, she listen to Satan and did what Satan told her.  It seems from Gen 3 that her eyes were not open to what she did until she gave the fruit to her husband, Adam.  When Adam did eat, then the eyes of both of them were open.   There is an old saying that is true, “The way to a man's heart is through his stomach” and what did Eve do, she gave to him and fed his stomach.  We have some examples from scriptures about food getting results.  When God ask Adam what happen (who is the head of the family), he first blame God for giving him this woman, then said she did it and gave me through (my stomach) this food and I did eat because of her.  The woman did not accept the responsibility, she blames Satan for deceiving her and for her to believe a lie instead of believing what God told them.  Fingers pointing every way.  Eve who killed herself and her husband because of a lie and Adam did not do anything and just went along with Eve having the final word. The bottom thing is that they fell to the father of all liars, Satan.  Yes, we know that Satan goes about.  I do like how Peter explains this in 1 Peter 5: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

Blessing

Stephen

(1 Tim 2:14 KJV)  And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

(1 Tim 2:14 NIV)  And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.

(Gen 3:3-4 KJV)  But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. {4} And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

(Gen 3:6-7 KJV)  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. {7} And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

(Gen 3:12-13 KJV)  And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. {13} And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Transgression: 3847. parabasis, par-ab'-as-is; from G3845; violation:--breaking, transgression.

Deceived: 538. apatao, ap-at-ah'-o; of uncert. der.; to cheat, i.e. delude:--deceive.

(1 Pet 5:8 KJV)  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

 (Prov 30:20 NIV)  "This is the way of an adulteress: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, 'I've done nothing wrong.'

Read Luke 17:37. What do you think this means?

As we know, there are so many views on this verse, Luke 17:37 (the eagles be gathered together) that no one really knows what the meaning, including myself.  Let me give a very remote possibility as I kind of see it.  First, the word “eagle” in the KJV and “vultures” in the NIV and ISV, to me does not really make a difference.  Both are bird of prey.  What leads up to this, but individuals are taken or flee, depends on how you understand it. Why are they fleeing, because the great battle of Armageddon is coming.  You notice, they asked, where, Lord, will this take place.  Then Jesus said, wherever  the corpse (dead people), there the vultures will gather (to eat the flesh of dead people).   God call the birds together for the great supper to eat the flesh of dead people.  I kind of look at this when Jesus sets up His Kingdom right before the millennium starts.  See the following scriptures.

Blessing

Stephen

Luk 17:37  Then they asked him, "Where, Lord, will this take place?" He told them, "Wherever there's a corpse, there the vultures will gather."

(Luke 17:37 KJV)  And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord?  And he said unto them, Where so ever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

(Luke 17:37 NIV)  "Where, Lord?" they asked. He replied, "Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather."

Eagle:  105. aetos, ah-et-os'; from the same as G109; an eagle (from its wind-like flight):--eagle.

Gathered together:  4863. sunago, soon-ag'-o; from G4862 and G71; to lead together, i.e. collect or convene; spec. to entertain (hospitably):--+ accompany, assemble (selves, together), bestow, come together, gather (selves together, up, together), lead into, resort, take in.

(Rev 16:16 NIV)  Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

(Rev 16:14 NIV)  They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.

(Rev 19:17-18 NIV)  And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God, {18} so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great."

Eoad to Emmaus - What caused the two disciples who met Jesus on the road to Emmaus to finally recognize Him?

This is an interesting question considering what speculated there are about what cause the disciples to finally recognize Jesus. What does the scripture really say about this. First, we know from Luke 24:16 that the disciples were kept from recognizing him, meaning they were blinded to this fact just as the House of Judah (Jewish Nation) minds are blinded until God thinks it is time to remove the blindness of the Jewish people. If you walk with someone over 7 miles and have one person do most of the speaking, you do not go very fast, so they might have been together a min of 2 hours?  Verse 30 and 31 says when they were at the table to eat, God open their eyes and then they recognized Jesus.  The two disciples said they recognized Jesus when he broke the bread in verse 35.  We know people do things by habit and how they do it.  These disciples have been with Jesus over 3 and half years and how many times have they seen how Jesus broke bread for the disciples.  They know Jesus must have had a certain way to break bread and when their eyes were open, they recognized this.  In the disciples own words, Jesus was recognized by then when Jesus broke the bread.  But it was only after their eyes were open as in the future, the Jewish people eyes are open and then they will accept Jesus as their Messiah, the Anointed One. 

Blessing

Stephen

(Luke 24:16 NIV) but they were kept from recognizing him.

(Luke 24:30 NIV) When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.

(Luke 24:31 NIV) Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.

(Luke 24:35 NIV) Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Millennial Temple - things that Jesus will restore in the future

 The following is just a few of the things that Jesus will restore in the future.

We find that during the millennium that the Temple is only open on the Sabbath and new moon according to Ezek 46:1. When Jesus returns to the earth and sets up His Kingdom, ruling from the Temple during the millennium, we find that He and all people will be celebrating the Savior’s Passover (Ezek 45:21), the Weekly Sabbath and all the appointed High Days of Jesus, what our Lord taught. Offerings in the Temple will be started according to Ezek 45:17 for all the festivals, the New Moons and the Sabbaths--at all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel. What are the appointed feasts of Jesus ((Lev 23:2 NIV) "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'These are “my” appointed feasts, the appointed feasts of the LORD – Lev 23:2), then read Lev 23 to see which ones are Jesus appointed feasts for His people to observe. If His Bride does not do it now, they surely will do it at the start of the Millennium when Jesus sets up His Kingdom.  

A question was asked:  Stephen, what I wonder is why the Temple will only be open on Shabbat and the New Moon. Would this not be a logical place for the people to gather to worship, to talk together in awe at being in this place. The gathering together of the saints has been a blessing throughout the centuries - will we lose that in Heaven? Or will we somehow all be together in our new bodies in ways I can't imagine?

You ask an interesting question and I had to mediate about it. We know from scripture that Jesus is going to restore all things according to His word. We know that Jesus worked 6 days and rested on the Sabbath when He re-created the earth and things. Because of sin caused by Satan, a curse was put on the earth. Individuals were supposed to work 6 days and rest on the Sabbath. The Eastern church (Asia) were following the teaching of Jesus and the Apostles, ex. Passover, Sabbath, Feast Days, etc. The Western church wanted to observe Sunday, Easter, Christmas and when the Eastern Church would not go along with it, the Western Church killed 1000's upon 1000's Eastern Church Christians who wanted to follow the teachings of the scriptures but not follow the Western church ways. Most of the churches today follow the teachings of the Western Church. This is why Jesus will restore what He taught and I believe that the Temple will only be open on the weekly Sabbath and Feast Days and new moons, 6 days people will work and rest on the Sabbath. As for us in our new bodies (exciting isn't it), we will be so busy working and helping out individuals during the millennium. Look at Isa 30:21, it says " And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left" Are we the ones that says this? Who knows.

You are so right, all we can do is see what scripture says, not someone speculation. For we now see through a glass, darkly. There will be many surprises in store for us.

Blessing

Stephen

(Exo 16:26 NIV) Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any."

(Exo 20:9 NIV) Six days you shall labor and do all your work,

(Exo 20:10 NIV) but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.

(Exo 20:11 NIV) For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

(Isa 30:19 KJV) For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.

(Isa 30:20 KJV) And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:

(Isa 30:21 KJV) And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

(Ezek 46:1 KJV) Thus saith the Lord GOD; The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened.

(Ezek 45:21 NIV) "'In the first month on the fourteenth day you are to observe the Passover, a feast lasting seven days, during which you shall eat bread made without yeast.

(Luke 22:15-16 KJV) And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer: {16} For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. (At the Temple during the millennium?)

(Ezek 45:16 NIV) All the people of the land will participate in this special gift for the use of the prince in Israel.

(Ezek 45:17 NIV) It will be the duty of the prince to provide the burnt offerings, grain offerings and drink offerings at the festivals, the New Moons and the Sabbaths--at all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel. He will provide the sin offerings, grain offerings, burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to make atonement for the house of Israel.

(Lev 23:2 NIV) "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'These are my appointed feasts, the appointed feasts of the LORD, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.

(1 Cor 13:12 KJV) For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Can a divorced Christian remarry?

In the beginning, God wanted marriage to be a lifelong commitment to each other.  Jesus allowed in the OT a divorce due to uncleanness (Deut 24:1) to be done because of the hardness of their heart .  Jesus said in the NT (Mark 5) “I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.”  This statement is applied to both men and women.  Paul brings out in 2 Cor 6 “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.”  Paul then writes to Christians, that he, not Jesus, made this decision in 1 Cor 7:12-15, that if a Believer has a spouse that is willing to live with them, they must not divorce them, otherwise your children would be unclean.  It is about the family unit and the children.  Paul said, if the unbeliever leaves, let them go and then a Believer is not bound in such circumstances.  Yes, a divorced believer may remarry under certain requirements.   This is a very emotional and heart-rending subject.

Blessing

Stephen

(Deu 24:1)  … because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.

(Mat 5:32)  But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

(Mark 10:3-9)  And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.  But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;  And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.  What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

(2 Cor 6:14)  Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. …

(1 Cor 7:12-15) … I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.  And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.  For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.  But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances;…

Information about my blog

FYI:  my blog will for the most part be limit to a max 500 words covering different aspects of the scriptures.  First, I will say, I do not take the Bible literality, but I do take the Bible Seriously.  I try to live by the Way of Life that Jesus taught and lived by.  As we know, there are only two ways of life, Jesus “Way of Life” and Satan “way of death” (Jer 21:8).  I will cover this information with future blogs.  If for some reason you do not understand what I said or disagree with what I covered, please let me know.  Show me from the scriptures where I am wrong and I will change the way I live.  Blessing to you all.

Blessing

Stephen

Partners in fellowship
Bible - Basic Information Before Leaving Earth

The New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed;
The Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed.

How do Jesus our Messiah values compare with those promoted by the media.

When I read through this list of things in Luke 6, the first thing that came to my mind is that the media will denounce what Jesus is doing and they now denounce what Christians and Believers are doing today.  Satan has totally influence the media and there is very strong hatred for anything that belongs with the scriptures.  They want to do away with the scriptures because they say there is hate in the scriptures for individuals in our Satan led society.  Christians are now being killed around the world because of our belief in our Lord, Jesus, the Messiah.  The one I believe that promise me is vs 22 “Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man” and this is happening right now in our society.  Jesus tells us in John 15, that "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”    This is a promise from Jesus to us.  This same warning is very personal to me.

 Stephen

(Luke 6:17-19 NIV)  He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, {18} who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by evil spirits were cured, {19} and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.

(Luke 6:20-26 NIV)  Looking at his disciples, he said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. {21} Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. {22} Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. {23} "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets. {24} "But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. {25} Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. {26} Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.

(John 15:18 NIV)  "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.

Centurion Example

Ok, I realize I am the only one here that learned something new about this centurion.  My preconception for some reason was that the centurion went himself and other things.  The centurion had authority and he sent Jewish elders to Jesus to ask them to go to his home and heal his servant.  First, this really had to dig at the Jewish elders to do this for a gentile and to go to Jesus who the elders wanted to get rid of.  The centurion’s servant was just more than just a servant, but a highly valued person and probably a friend.  The Jewish elders had to “plead earnestly” with Jesus to come, now that had to be degrading to the Jewish elders for how they really felt about Jesus.  Later, then the centurion sent others (friends – Jews or Gentiles?) and said, "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof” and the centurion said that is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you.  Jesus did heal the servant.  Did the centurion faith even grow more after the healing?  This is one of many questions I would like to ask in the future.

Stephen

(Luke 7:2-4 NIV)  There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. {3} The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. {4} When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this,

(Luke 7:6 NIV)  So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.

(Luke 7:7-8 NIV)  That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. {8} For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

(Luke 7:10 NIV)  Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

 

In what way is the law our schoolmaster?

This subject can be very different from what we think.  A schoolmaster is a teacher or master who is in charge and teaches their students about certain subject.  We are talking about the law and who gave the law to us but Jesus, our Lord, our teacher or master to gives us instruction in how to live our lives. We cannot be saved by observing the law according to Gal 2.  However, we know our inherent depends on what we do in this life.  Jesus tells us from John 15,   if we will obey His commands, you will remain in His love.  These are strong words.  John tells us “This is love for God: to obey his commands.”  More strong words, look at 1 John 2 and 3.  John said, “The man who says, "I know him," but do not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”  We are to follow Jesus in what He did, how he did it, why He did it and how did he live.  Yes, Jesus was a Jew, be He wrote and spoke the Old Testament and follow its laws because he does not change. We know that when the millennium starts, then all people will follow the laws of Jesus and His appointed times (feast days). 

Blessing

Stephen

(Gal 2:16 NIV)  know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

(Acts 17:11 NIV)  Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

(2 Tim 3:16-17 NIV)  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, {17} so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

(John 15:10 NIV)  If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.

(1 John 2:3-6 NIV)  We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. {4} The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. {5} But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: {6} Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

(1 John 3:22-24 NIV)  and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. {23} And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. {24} Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

(1 John 5:3 NIV)  This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,