What do you believe God requires of you?

This is not what I believe God requires of me but what does Jesus say He requires of us.  Jesus, the Lord tells us through the Scriptures what is required of me.

(Micah 6:8 KJV)  He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but

1. To do justly, and

2. To love mercy, and

3. To walk humbly with thy God?

(Deu 23:21 KJV)  When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for

4. The LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.

(Deu 10:12-13 KJV)  And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but

5. To fear the LORD thy God,

6. To walk in all his ways, and

7. To love him, and

8. To serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

9. To keep the commandments of the LORD, and

10. (To Keep) his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?

(1 Cor 4:2 KJV)  Moreover it is required in stewards, that

11. A man be found faithful.

There are a minimum of 11 items that Jesus requires of me, just from the scriptures with the words of require and required.  I have not even looked at a direct command that Jesus gives us, for example:

(Mark 12:30-31 KJV)  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. {31} And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

The words, “thou shalt” in the KJV is listed 1250 in 1040 verses.  Something to think about what God requires of us.  Blessings

Stephen

 

 

 

 

 

Why do Christians have sickness?

I am going to answer this from the Words of the Scripture on what our Lord and Savior taught the Apostle Paul about why Christians have sickness.  Paul said to the Corinthians:  “That's why so many of you are weak and sick and a considerable number are dying.”  This statement is to Christians, not Gentiles.  In a way, this is a very shocking statement. 

It says “many” are weak and sick.  Are there something these Christians did or not do to cause this.  Yes, in fact there is.  What were they doing to receive this type of instruction from Paul, but to celebrate the Lord’s Supper or as Jesus called it, Passover or Jesus Passover Service.  Jesus Passover was done with bread and cup on the night Jesus was betrayed, not on the night the Jews held their Passover.

This is what Paul was referring to, take the Passover in unworthy manner,  person must examine himself, because whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself.  If we recognize we are unworthy and are sinners, then we need to take the Passover. If we really do not recognize this, then when we take the Passover, we bring judgment on ourselves.  Now, Paul tells us, that is why many of us are weak and sick and a considerable number are dying.  Jesus said the bread is His body.   Isaiah said by his stripes we are healed.  When we partake of the Passover each year, we are to examine ourselves.   

Blessings

Stephen

That's why so many of you are weak and sick and a considerable number are dying.  (1Co 11:30)

When you gather in the same place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper.  (1Co 11:20)

1Co 11:23-29  For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you—how the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took a loaf of bread,  (24)  gave thanks for it, and broke it in pieces, saying, "This is my body that is for you. Keep doing this in memory of me."  (25)  He did the same with the cup after the supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. As often as you drink from it, keep doing this in memory of me."  (26)  For as often as you eat this bread and drink from this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.  (27)  Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks from the cup in an unworthy manner will be held responsible for the Lord's body and blood.  (28)  A person must examine himself and then eat the bread and drink from the cup,  (29)  because whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself.

(Isa 53:5 KJV)  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

How the world today treats sin casually.

No individuals who have received the Holy Spirit should treat sin casually.  First, before we can really answer this, we have to ask, what is sin?  Whomever you ask, will give a different answer to what is sin.  Did you know, the Apostle John tells us what sin is, but nobody believes it and there is a, but, or some expression like this. 

John tells us in 1^st John 3 that sin is the transgression of the law.  Therefore, John tells us that sin is breaking the 10 commandments.  What happens to a person when they break any of the commandments?  Paul tells us they then are producing the works of the flesh in Gal 5.  Since we live by the Spirit, (those who have the Holy Spirit living in and through us) will produce the fruit of the Spirit. 

We find that the world today (Satan is the god of this world or age until Jesus our Lord returns to set up His Kingdom at the start of the Millennium) are saying evil is good and good is evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness.  God said to those who do this “Woe.”  We have heard this all our life from schools, TV, movies and government and from the churches; this is how our society treats sin today by pushing and forcing the works of the flesh upon all people in all places.

Blessings

Stephen

(1 John 3:4 KJV)  Whosoever committed sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

(Gal 5:19-23 KJV)  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, {20} Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, {21} Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

(Gal 5:22-25 NIV)  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, {23} gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. {24} Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. {25} Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

(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.

 

Tent of Meeting

Dah, I guess I am not very observance about the difference between the tent of meeting and the actual Tabernacle.  Never really thought about it.  The word for tabernacle (tent of meeting) is “ohel” and is different from the word for the Tabernacle that the Lord had Moses to build “mishkan.”  I have not really notice a difference before.  Reading vs. 8, explain something about the communication between Moses and the Lord (Jesus Christ).  Moses went into the tent, outside the camp, and the pillar of cloud came down and stayed at the entrance of the tent.  The Tabernacle was inside the camp.  Very interesting.  It said, Lord spoke with Moses, not at Moses, but with Moses, not one way but a two way conversation. This is why it is called, a tent of meeting. A place where Moses could talk with Jesus.  Also, if anyone wanted to inquire of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting.  My guess is, they would tell Moses and Moses would ask the Lord for them.  Could this be one of the reason why Moses father in law said it was too much for Moses and to have Moses assign other to help him.  Who knows, but interesting.

Blessings

Stephen

tabernacle (tent of meeting) :  168. 'ohel, o'-hel; from H166; a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance):--covering, (dwelling) (place), home, tabernacle, tent.

Tabernacle: 4908. mishkan, mish-kawn'; from H7931; a residence (includ. a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, fig. the grave; also the Temple); spec. the Tabernacle (prop. its wooden walls):--dwelleth, dwelling (place), habitation, tabernacle, tent.

(Exo 33:7-9 NIV)  Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the "tent of meeting." Anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. {8} And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. {9} As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses.

(Exo 33:7 KJV)  And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that everyone which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.

 

Follow up on the Sabbath Rest

You ask a very interesting question.  I could not go into any additional information because I was at the 500 word limit.  You ask what is my view and do I observe it with a pure worship attitude and thankful heart.  A thankful heart yes and a thankful heart for all our Heavenly Father has given me over the last few years of life as I should have died from the cancer that was eating away from me.  A pure worship attitude, I wish I could say yes, but from the heart, no.  Yes, I still have Satan playing games with me and sin when I do not want to and do the things I do not want to, but I also know that we all have a heavenly Father will forgive my sins that I commit again Him.  Yes, all the sin we commit is again the Father, not someone else and we need to ask for forgiveness.

My view of the Sabbath rest is looking at the life of our Lord, Jesus. How did He observe the Sabbath.  It seems like when the Jewish leadership were up in arms against Jesus, it was always about the Sabbath and what was He doing.  First we know from Scriptures that Jesus went to Sabbath services each week (no question here, it was on Saturday, not Sunday).  Second we know Jesus spent time and fellowship with His friends and family on the Sabbath.  Third, we know Jesus serve others by healing on the Sabbath and other things.  There are other things Jesus did on the Sabbath as for an example for us today.  Just read what upset the Jewish leadership about what Jesus was doing because it was contrary to the Jewish Sabbath.  We cannot go by what the Jewish leaders say about the Sabbath and feast day today because that is a religion of the Jewish people and not the religion that was given by Jesus in the OT.  Just by Scriptures, the Jewish leadership does not observe the Passover on the same night Jesus observes the Passover.  They do not observe Pentecost on the right day of the week (50 days) or the Last Great Day of the Feast. Yes, I try to see how Jesus lived His life and try to live my life as He did.  We are to be righteous as Jesus was righteous and do what we know is right from the Scriptures, and only when Jesus grabs my hand and carries me, will then salvation and change be done at His coming.  Hopes this answers your question. 

Blessings

Steve

How do you view the Sabbath rest?

This ask me what is my view of the Sabbath rest and I find it interesting very few individuals really understand what it really means, Sabbath rest.  I believe all here in our little fellowship understand that Jesus was the Creator of all things, the Spokesman in the Old Testament and the one who wrestle with Jacob and the one who sat down to a meal with Abraham, etc.  We know that Jesus does not change and what He taught Moses, Abraham, Adam, Paul and others would be the same as He teaches from His Word, the Scriptures.  We notice from Ex 31:17 that Jesus rested on the seventh day and Jesus rested and was refreshed.  Yes, he was refreshed.  Notice, it was not on the first day of the week or the fourth or fifth day, but the seventh day.  Jesus from this verse shows the seventh day was an agreement between Him and Israel concerning the seventh day.  We know the seventh day was given in Gen at the creation time.  But, there is one individual who observed the seventh day before the agreement with Israel.  That was Abraham.  Jesus talking with Isaac said He was going to do this because Abraham did what I told him to do.  He kept my instructions, commands, statutes, and laws.  Abraham was not a Israelite or a Jewish person, their seed came from him in the 2^nd and 3^rd generation. Jesus just told us that Abraham observed the seventh day and he was blessed because Abraham kept the instructions, commands, statutes, and laws of Jesus.  We know that in the future that the Millennium Temple will only be open on the Sabbath Day and Festivals. So today, we say we are in the Sabbath rest and can worship as a fellowship on the first day of the week and not have to worry about the seventh day until the Millennium.  This is telling me that Jesus is the same yesterday and tomorrow, but not today.  It does not make sense to me that we do not have to observe the seventh day today.  This is my perception and opinion on the Sabbath rest.  Yes, we are in Jesus hands and protected.

Blessings

Stephen

(Heb 13:8 KJV)  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

Exo 31:17 ISV  It is a sign forever between me and the Israelis, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.'"

Exo 31:16 ISV  The Israelis shall keep the Sabbath to make the Sabbath observance a perpetual covenant from generation to generation.

Gen 26:5 ISV  I'm going to do this because Abraham did what I told him to do. He kept my instructions, commands, statutes, and laws."

 

 

 

 

 

Free will and the Millennium and what will we do

To answer your question about Free will and the millennium, there will some type of free will and choice during the millennium, but not like we have.  Besides of human nature (both them and us will have), they will not have to put up with Satan and his servants as we do because they will be put away for a 1000 year.

(Rev 19:15 KJV)  And out of his mouth (Jesus) goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

(Psa 2:8-12 NIV)  Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. {9} You will rule them with an iron scepter ; you will dash them to pieces like pottery." {10} Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. {11} Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. {12} Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

(Rev 2:26-27 NIV)  To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations-- {27} 'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery' -- just as I have received authority from my Father.

(Zec 14:17-19 NIV)  If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain. {18} If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The LORD will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. {19} This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.

(Micah 4:1-3 KJV)  But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. {2} And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and (Jesus) he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his (Jesus) paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD (Jesus) from Jerusalem. {3} And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

(Phil 2:10-11 NIV)  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, {11} and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

(Acts 3:21 NIV)  He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.

(Luke 19:17 NIV)  "'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.'

 (Isa 11:9 NIV)  They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.

 (Hab 2:14 NIV)  For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.