What are vows today?

When we discuss the sanctity of vows, it could also mean oaths.  I believe Matthew explains it best when Jesus compares vows, oaths as to do not swear in chapter 5.  Jesus said,  'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.  Very strong words as a command from our Lord, Jesus concerning oaths and swearing.  The oath / vow is very similar to when we sin, we sin against God and not against individuals.  When we make a oath / vow, it is with God and not against individuals.  There are a lot of variables in making an oath / vow according to the scriptures.  The bottom line is, if we make a vow / oath, we are required to keep the vow / oath since it is with God.  Jesus said not to swear, so what do we do in our normal lives, is when we are called to jury duty or court or legal papers, we are ask, do we swear to tell to whole truth and nothing but the truth.  Courts and legal papers gives a believer an out because they can affirm.  Just one small command, but it is an oath or vow that is equal to swearing.  Interesting.  Blessing

Stephen

(Mat 5:33-37 NIV)  "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' {34} But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; {35} or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. {36} And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. {37} Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

What is double-mindedness? What do I go back and forth on?

What does it mean to be double-minded person to me, someone who vacillating between good and evil, living the Way of Life that our Lord, Jesus taught and lived and the way of death that Satan teaches.  In Psa 119, it tells us that God hates a double-minded person.  John tells us from Rev 3, tells us that because we are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth.  I think that James covers it best.  James tells us that a double-minded person is unstable in all of their ways, which way of lifestyle do they live.  James then tells us to purify our hearts, we who are double-minded.

One of the hardest decision I have to make when I am driving somewhere, is going through a signal light at an intersection.  Oh, I know the rules, about the green, yellow, and red light.  We have the photo-picture taking red light runners at intersections now in Texas.  The decision is when do we stop and when do we go through the intersection.  As we approach the intersection, the yellow light comes on, when do we go through or stop at the crosswalk.  We do have short yellow lights timing at many interestions.  Do we stop, when the yellow light comes on, when we are, what, 30 feet from the crosswalk, 10 feet from the crosswalk, at the crosswalk, or in the intersection then slow down?  If we are 10 – 30 feet from the crosswalk, the red light probably comes on before we are through the intersection.  I might not be the only one who is not sure what to do, because of the new law for the photo-picture taking, rear-ended accidents jumped up big time.  So, who really knows.  You ask and get different answers from the powers to be.  So, let’s us not be double minded in our Way of Life.  Blessing

Stephen

(James 1:8 KJV)  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Double:  1374. dipsuchos, dip'-soo-khos; from G1364 and G5590; two-spirited, i.e. vacillating (in opinion or purpose):--double minded.

(James 4:8 NIV)  Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

(Psa 119:113 NIV)  I hate double-minded men, but I love your law.

(Psa 119:112 NIV)  My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.

(Rev 3:16 NIV)  So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Why do you think judgment must begin in the “Household of God?”

We are told by Paul from scriptures that the household of God are those who have the Holy Spirit living in them (Saints) and are the pillars and foundation of the truth which “is” the church of the Living God. 

Peter in my opinion explains best what this means.  Peter tells us that those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. 

To commit ourselves to our Creator, Jesus, is to follow His example and life and teachings and commands.  We are to live the Way of Life that Jesus taught us from His words from John 14:6.  Jesus gives us some very detail concerns about out Christian Walk of Life in Rev 2 and Rev 3, to the seven churches.

We are given the very personal words from our Savior and Lord, Jesus about commendations, concerns, exhortation and a promise to the overcomer (the Saints) from Rev 2 & 3.  Then Peter tells us, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner.”  Yes, we are being judge now for our rewards.  The others will be judge later.  Will we not then  judge angels?  Blessings

Stephen

(Eph 2:19-20 KJV)  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; {20} And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

(1 Tim 3:15 NIV)  if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

 (1 Pet 4:14-19 NIV)  If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. {15} If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. {16} However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. {17} For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? {18} And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" {19} So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

(John 14:6 NIV)  Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

(1 Cor 6:3 NIV)  Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!

What are some of the so-called, “political correctness” issues of our day?

Political correctness is in everything we have in society from what we say, do, eat, believe in everything.  Political correctness is in church, state, and society.  We cannot use certain words anymore because it might offend someone.  Who is behind this political correctness, but Satan and his demons, are like lions out to destroy the Believer or Christian who believes what the Bible says and teach and to live by the very words of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, showing that we love him by obeying His teachings and command. 

Satan with his ministers will be in charge of this world until Jesus returns to set up His kingdom and rule with an iron fist to restore all things to the way that the Father wants. 

Blessing 

Stephen 

(Isa 5:20 NIV)  Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

(Exo 23:2 NIV)  "Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd,

(1 Pet 5:8-9 NIV)  Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. {9} Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

(John 14:15 NIV)  "If you love me, you will obey what I command.

(John 14:23 NIV)  Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

(John 14:24 NIV)  He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

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

(Mal 2:17 NIV)  You have wearied the LORD with your words. "How have we wearied him?" you ask. By saying, "All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and he is pleased with them" or "Where is the God of justice?"

(Rev 12:9 NIV)  The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

(2 Cor 4:4 NIV)  The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Hi Berean

You ask an interesting question. “Certainly, we would not be judging good angels, do you think?”  This is my personal opinion; the word for angel is “messenger” as used with talking about angels of God, not demons.  Because of space, I left out vs 2, where you and I are Saints, we will judge the world in the future from what Paul tells us.  This is one of the reason we are to learn from the Teaching, commands and example of our Lord, Jesus so we will know how to have the proper judgment for the angels and the world.  This is one of the responsibilities of a Saint in the future.  Exciting and hesitating at the same time.  Blessing

Stephen

Angels:  32. aggelos, ang'-el-os; from  aggello [prob. der. from G71; comp. G34] (to bring tidings); a messenger; esp. an "angel"; by impl. a pastor:--angel, messenger.

(1 Cor 6:2-3 NIV)  Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? {3} Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!

World:  2889. kosmos, kos'-mos; prob. from the base of G2865; orderly arrangement, i.e. decoration; by impl. the world (in a wide or narrow sense, includ. its inhab., lit. or fig. [mor.]):--adorning, world.

Ephraim, Northern Kingdom and Judah, Southern Kingdom.

In the lecture, it was brought out that Ephraim being the dominant tribe became idiomatic for the Northern Kingdom.  I always wonder why the Northern Kingdom name was Israel and / or Ephraim and the Southern Kingdom was call Judah because they were the dominant tribe.  I know Israel is another name for Jacob, and Ephraim and Judah were sons to Jacob / Israel. 

There is a confusing verse that Paul writes about in the Faith Chapter.  It is Heb 11:21 and says, “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons."  Why bless Joseph’s sons (Ephraim) and not bless Judah (Jews) who our Savior came out of. 

Going through the lecture of Genesis, I think I found part of the answer why.  We know that Gen 49 is where Jacob / Israel  tells his sons what will happen to you in days to come.  This is not a blessing, but what will happen in the future. 

In Gen 48, Jacob / Israel told Joseph his two sons will be his.  Vs 48 is the area where Jacob cross his arms and put his right hand on Ephraim head, who was younger.  Joseph disagreed with Jacob about this. 

This is where Jacob / Israel blessed Joseph two sons and said, they are to be called by his name (Israel) and the names of  his fathers, Abraham and Isaac.  So, the two sons were given the names of Israel.  This explains to me why the Northern Kingdom is called Israel and / or Ephraim, depending on how it is used.  Blessing

Stephen

(Heb 11:21) By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons "and worshiped while leaning on the top of his staff."

(Gen 48:5 NIV)  "Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine.

(Gen 49:1 NIV)  Then Jacob called for his sons and said: "Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come.

(Gen 48:14 NIV)  But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim's head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh's head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.

(Gen 48:15-16 NIV)  Then he blessed Joseph and said, "May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, {16} the Angel who has delivered me from all harm --may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly upon the earth."

How is God the Great Physician? Describe it both physically and spiritually.

When we take of the yearly Jesus Passover Service, Paul reminds us that the bread of the Passover services is Jesus body and it was broken for us in 1 Cor 11 and we are commanded by Jesus to do it in remembrance of Him.    Yes, a command by Jesus to do it.  Why, Peter explains that by Jesus wounds, we have been healed in Luke 22:19.  When we take of the bread of the Passover, it is a reminder that Jesus body was broken for us and we are healed because of His wounds.  Isaiah confirms this in Isa 53:5 and Isaiah also says, Jesus was pierced in the side because of our sins we commit again God (all sin is against God).  James then tells us when we are sick throughout the year, we are to call the elders of the church and they will pray over us and will anoint us with oil in the name of Jesus.  How many Christians call the elders for anointing when they or the family are sick or do our elders even do this or have oil to anoint the sick Christians.  These are things that our church bodies as a whole do not do today.  Just another command from Jesus.  Yes, Jesus is our High Priest and Physician that will heal us of our sickness.  Just as the Israelites had to do and follow a procedure in faith, we also as Christians have a procedure we need to follow in faith that is given in the scriptures.

Blessing

Stephen

(1 Cor 11:24 KJV)  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

(Luke 22:19 NIV)  And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."

(1 Pet 2:24 NIV)  He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

(Isa 53:5 NIV)  But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

(James 5:14-15 NIV)  Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. {15} And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

Give an example(s) of the quote: “We become like the gods we worship!”

We all know that the most common answer to this question about we become like the gods we worship.  We can look at movie stars, sports stars and government leaders.   We even have a TV series called “American Idol: The Search for a Superstar”.  How many say we love our cars, our computers, and other things like this.  Look where we spend our time and we will see where our idols are.  Idols are not just silver and gold, but what is in the mind and heart of the individual. 

So, what we do or see in our life style will tells us where our heart is and what we worship.   Yes, Psa 115 and 135 is correct in that how we spend our time and we show by this is how we worship our idols, we will be like them.  Look at a star trek convention or something like this and watch how the individuals are dress and worship by actions to the movie actors involved.  We look at our top government officials and realize that government is anti-Christian, anti-Bible and anti-scripture.  They say they are Christians, but words does not mean a thing, but by their actions and way of life they live which show they are living the way of the works of the flesh and not by the fruit of the spirit. 

There is one area that shows up in our walk with Jesus is where we will read all types of books and / or books about the Bible or scriptures but yet not read the Bible itself.  We depend on others to tell us what the scriptures say.  Does not the scriptures tells us that the Holy Spirit will lead and direct us in all understanding of the scriptures.  Do we spend more time reading other books than the Bible.  How many times I hear or read, I am going to set down tonight and read a good book.  It is not the Bible they are talking about.  This is an idol just as bad as silver and gold.

The Apostle Paul tells us 1 Cor 10 that is very hard to do in our society, that is “my dear friends, flee from idolatry.”  Oh, that is so hard to do today.  Blessing

Stephen 

(Psa 115:8 NIV)  Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.

(Psa 135:18 NIV)  Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.

(1 Cor 10:14 NIV)  Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.

(Hosea 4:6 NIV)  my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. "Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.