Tag: faith

We do have to change

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It’s by design. As I, and others, have repeatedly warned, the establishment of so-called “gay marriage” as a newfangled federal “right,” and the free exercise of religion as guaranteed by the First Amendment simply cannot coexist in harmony. Things diametrically at odds cannot possibly occupy, with any coherence, the same time and space.

The secular left is tripping over itself right now to prove my point. In the wake of last month’s Obergefell v. Hodges opinion – an opinion that somehow divined a top secret “constitutional right” for Patrick Henry to “marry” Henry Patrick – liberals are now demanding, as both Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito predicted, that Christian university’s immediately abandon recognition of, and obedience to, God’s unequivocal natural sexual order, and adopt, instead, the new pagan orthodoxy. – by Matt Barber, 20 July 2015, eaglerising.com/21183

As the Obama administration cracks down on Christian institutions and principles while citing the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment as their supposed justification, the Obama administration conspicuously coddles the religion of Islam in order to display a sort of tolerance to Muslims strictly denied to Christians.  Will Christian universities, businesses, churches fold under pressure man or will they stand for God?  The blessings from God are for those that endure, not those that wilt like the spineless Lindsey Graham or, equally weak, John Boehner.

Hillary says we have to change our deeply held religious beliefs.  We know what she means by that and we should be very concerned by the fact that she said that.  On the other hand she is correct in that we need to become more aligned with Yahweh, the one true God.  Bill’s wife won’t like that, but that is her problem, not mine.  There are a whole lot of people who won’t like that fact but that is their problem, not mine.  As for me, I’m going to align myself closer and closer to God.

Psalm 127:1

We in this country (USA), in this generation are, by destiny rather than by choice, the watchmen on the walls of world freedom.  We ask, therefore, that we may be worthy of our powers and responsibility, that we may exercise our strength with wisdom and restraint, and that we may achieve for our time and, as long as God permits, peace on earth, goodwill towards all others of goodwill.

    Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion…are undermining the solid foundation of morals-based security for the duration of free governments. — Charles Carrol

The Christian religion – its general principles – must ever be regarded among us as the foundation of civil society. — Daniel Webster

 Except the Lord keep the city, the watchmen waketh but in vain.

– Pastor Ward

Choudray’s threat

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No, it is not paranoia when they actually are trying to kill you.

Anjem Choudray has announced the things that Islam will outlaw when it takes over.  Among them are:

Alcohol  Pork  Gambling  Porn  Usury  Promiscuity  Freemixing  Gays  Cinemas  Idolatry  Insurance  Stocks/shares  Insulting Prophets.

But apparently pedophilia will still be accepted.  Freemixing is integration, oh we can’t have that according to Islamic teaching.

Islam sucks

  The alcohol one is kind of funny because Choudray has been known to down more than his share of alcoholic beverages.  It is true, however, that all the evidence is from a few years back but Moslems are known to sneak off to strip bars and imbibe in a few drinks.  “Promiscuity,” now there is another duplicitous term they seem to like in that only women are required to be chaste but even that has a hypocritical multiple level standard.

  If a woman is a paid prostitute or stripper then she is relatively safe from the morality police.  I don’t know for sure how that works.  If a woman is raped she faces stoning while the man, or men, can usually count on walking away scot-free.  Then there is the problem of being improperly chaperoned.

The fact of the matter is that almost everything on Choudray’s list has multiple levels of hypocritical enforcements and/or allowances.  But that is the Moslem way of doing things.

Oh, and just in case you were wondering.  No, I’m not your standard run-of-the-mill pastor, I have been in many countries and rubbed shoulders with many cultures.

The only prophet Moslems actually care about is Muhammad.  “Insult” Mohammad and they fly into a murderous rage; insult Jesus and they really don’t much care.  If Moslems actually believed what the Koran teaches then they would have to recognize their obligation to study the New Testament portion of the Holy Bible because Jesus is the holy one of God, according to the Koran, and he will return to earth, according to the Koran, which makes him, Jesus, the actual “last ‘prophet’ of the one true God,” not Mohammad.

The Chattanooga shooter’s manifesto, among other things, revealed the Moslem belief that there is a test coming at the end of this earth-bound life.  Warning!  Failure to study the Injil guarantees you will fail the test!  Study of the Koran is not sufficient; you must study the Injil (New Testament portion of the Holy Bible) and unlock its secret in order to gain paradise.

Pray, pray and never give up

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prayGood Morning everyone.  People are still coming to Christ Jesus each and every day.  Yes, it is easy to let all the bad news occurring all around us to lose heart and hope but those of us who are followers of The Holy One of God need to keep praying.  Let each one of us begin the day with God.  Let us make an appointment with our Father in Heaven and refuse to break it, especially in a day such as this.

As believers, we may often wonder if there is anything we can do to counter the attacks our enemy hurls at us. We might even ask, “Can we, as Christian couples and parents, stand in the gap for our marriages, our children, our homes, our state, our country?” Let me say a resounding, “Yes, we can, and we must stand united in the victory Jesus has secured for us.”

P – Pray

U – Until

S – Something

H – Happens

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus gave us, among others, this promise:

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Matthew 7:8 For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.

Every promise which God gives us is attached to a duty.  Concerning any duty it is not enough to do it, it must be done according to the prescribed methodology.

God desires that we should have a clear understanding regarding the certainty of prayer.  Never be afraid of being too earnest.  “Knock.”  Note that this is a repeated statement.  As big as the Bible seems to be, it is actually quite concise; therefore when we see something repeated we really should pay closer attention it than we otherwise might have.

Jesus gave us the model prayer and then on the night that He was betrayed He gave us a strong guarantee regarding the efficacy of prayer.  Some people wind up wondering why their prayers don’t seem to be as effectual as those of some other individuals.  For those who wonder why their own prayers don’t seem to have much of an effect as they should according to promise perhaps this particular blog entry may be of assistance.

Watch in prayer to see what comes.  Foolish folk who knock at the door but then fail to stay till someone comes to provide a response will fail to see the door opened but the desperate soul will tend to persist in knocking and will see an answer.  Some don’t believe in prayer because all they have ever done is to knock and run.

Ask, whom?  Not of angels, not of saints but make your request to the only One who is everywhere present.

Ask, when?  Anytime; some times are better than others.  For most, morning is best.  Daniel prayed three times a day at set times.  George Washington followed the example set by Daniel and would not permit anything to interrupt his prayer times.  He knew to ask of the One who is every when present.

Ask, why?  That is the methodology that God has chosen.  In His economy if we don’t ask, He won’t act.

Ask, How?

a.  Orderly; think about what you are going to ask.  Forget that “prayer language” stuff, because if you don’t actually know what you prayed for how will you know if it has been answered?

b.  Earnestly.

c.  Repeatedly: until you receive an answer.  In your own style – you’re talking to your daddy.  If you have not yet accepted Jesus as your personal Savior then God is not yet your daddy.  Popular foolishness says “We are all children of God,” but that is not backed up by the Holy bible.  First, one has to petition for adoption because we are all, in fact, children of Adam and, as such, alienated from His Kingdom biologically whether we be Jew, Gentile, and especially the Ishmaelite.  He desires that each one of us become a part of His forever family whether we be Jew, Gentile, or Ishamaelite.

d.  In faith.  In the name of Jesus; see John chapter fifteen … that is not a magic phrase – it is a privilege extended to us by the Savior and a recognition of whom it is that has guaranteed our ability to have a right relationship, and communication, with the God of the universe.

To pray is to put the understanding in motion.

To pray is to put the affections in motion; to open the heart.

To pray is to put the will in motion.

Praying is frequently thought of as a passive activity and when it is merely a rote recital of the model prayer or some other one without any real thought or effort put forth that may be an accurate description.  However, when the three above ingredients are all put into the mix it becomes a real work with a special dignity of its own.

Prayer, proper prayer, places the soul face to face with facts of the first order of solemnity; with its real self and with its God.

It is noble, because it is the work of man as man, it quickens the interest of man to that which is beyond the range of petty daily and material interests while enhancing proper interest in them by igniting higher enthusiasms into life, and of man becoming more aware of his being and destiny with a vividness which is necessary to him as no other occupation may.  The nobleness of a man’s best form of toil falls infinitely below that of a spirit which enters consciously into converse with the eternal God.  However that toil, no matter how mundane, may be elevated to an almost sacred level once the work of prayer has consecrated it.

If prayer is to be persevered in, it must be based on the conviction that it is heard by a living being.  If God exists, if He be a Personal Being, then surely we may reach out to Him if we actually want to.  If God be not merely an infinite intelligence, but a moral being, a mighty heart, so that justice and tenderness are attributes of His, then surely we may appeal to Him with some concern that we may have.  It is upon this solid ground that God is said to hear prayer in the Holy Bible.  That He should do so follows from the reality of His nature as the one true God.

The laws of nature are not self-sustained forces; they are God’s laws and God can use His own laws.  They have not escaped His control.

Prayer is a forseen action of man, and is embraced in the eternal purpose of God.

Probably the biggest barrier to effectual prayer is found in a person’s perception of his own self-sufficiency which is frequently demonstrated in the attitude and practice of, “When all else fails, pray.”  No, no … no.  Prayer should be our first resort, not our last.

2nd Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Time to Civilize the Muslims

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Inspired by the Draw Muhammad Contest in Garland Texas, where two Muslims tried to gun down the attendants and were killed by the police a new draw Muhammad rally was organized in Phoenix Arizona in front of the same mosque the Garland gunmen used to attend.

Hundreds of bikers attended the May 30, 2015 event, carrying their guns, availing themselves of the 2ndAmendment, in case their 1st Amendment came under attack. Thank you bikers and May God bless you for your boldness; even if you don’t happen to currently believe in Him.

The Muslims attempted to portray themselves as peaceful citizens and they even handed out free bottles of water to the media. One can only wonder, if these Muslims are so friendly and nice, who are those who shoot at the cartoonists, bomb, behead, rape and burn people.  Is it possible that the two from this Mosque were the exception, rather than the rule?  Not likely.

A bit of research shows this Mosques has a history of “radical” attitudes and activities.  Therefore, while they were acting civilized at that moment, you can count on them causing more trouble in the future unless people are prepared to challenge them the next time they start their bullying tactics.

Many people were quick to condemn the Drawing Muhammad contest arguing that it had no other objective than to provoke. They completely missed the point.

Cartoons neither prove nor disprove anything.  So what is the point?  The point is that if we act like cowards and censor ourselves, like after Muslims killed the cartoonists at Charlie Hebdo, we would be submitting to their bullying, which only encourages them to do more and worse.  We send the message that we are afraid of you; that all it takes to make us do your bidding is to kill a few of us and the rest of us will be frightened to death.  Not only we will no longer offend you, we will even attack anyone who dares to.  In this way we would acknowledge that terrorism works and all Muslims have to do to make us comply with their whims is to kill a few of us and we will bend over backwards to appease them and make sure it won’t happen again.

Those who refuse to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.

Whether they are the minority or the majority, the Quran prohibits Muslims accepting the rules of unbelievers. “O believers do not take your fathers or your brothers as your guardians if they prefer disbelief to Islam. Whoever does so is a wrongdoer.”( 9:23) The only status acceptable to Muslims is that they should rule over others. “We made you an exalted nation, that you may be guardians over the people.” (2:143) On the other hand, Koran commands them to obey the rules of unbelievers if they do not have the strength or numbers to terrorize those they deem unbelievers.  It is when they think they are strong enough to bully that the ugly side of Islam exposes Muslims for what they really are.

Historically, Muslims start imposing their bullying tactics as soon as they can. When Muhammad migrated to Yathrib, a Jewish town with substantial Arab refugees, (who were displaced due to the flooding of their country in Yemen), he had barely 200 followers. The population of the town was about eight to ten thousand people. However, his small band of followers managed to subdue the entire city, banish and massacre its indigenous population and changed its name to Madinat al Nabi (Prophet’s town) in just five years. How they did they do that? Through terror!  At Muhammad’s order, they assassinated the poets who composed critical verses against him.  People began to fear speaking against Islam lest they be killed.  Bullying works. He bragged, I have been made victorious with terror. [Bukhari 4:52.220]

Muslims follow the examples set by their prophet to try to conquer the world; therefore it is proper to call them Muhammadians.  Countries that were not conquered through warfare were won through migration. Today Muslims migrate to the west and even though they are a small minority they cast terror in the hearts of the locals to make them submit to the cult of death. They assassinate the critics and the cartoonists. The spineless politicians, the shameless media and the clueless intellectuals are all showing their true cowardice and are telling Muslims that terrorism works; that we are afraid of you and will submit to your rules; that your barbaric blasphemy law is more important than our freedom of speech. We will sacrifice our freedom of speech, the very cornerstone of our representative republic, vilify and prosecute those who offend you as longs as you threaten to kill us.

Phobia is an irrational fear. Muhammad wanted people to fear him. He said, “I will instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them.” (8:12) How can then we say the fear of Islam is irrational?   Islamophobia, as someone has pointed out, is a word invented by fascists, and used by cowards to manipulate morons.

Christians need to remember that their Scripture admonishes them to stand up against the Devil.  It is only then that he will flee.

Then we have Barak Hussein Obama’s outrageous statement that “the future must not belong to those who criticize the prophet of Islam.” This man who rarely speaks truth was at least truthful in his biography where he wrote: “I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.” Americans read it but hid their heads in the sand much like the Germans who read Mein Kamph hid theirs.

Obama is a Muslim who hates America. Anyone who doubts that needs to open their eyes and pay attention to the facts.  Unfortunately the corruption is widespread. Nidal Malik Hasan the Palestinian-American convicted of fatally shooting 13 people and injuring over 30 others in the Fort Hood mass shooting in 2009, shouted Allahu Akabr while executing his terrorist act and maintained that his motives were religious. Yet, the Department of Defense, supported by law enforcement, politicians, journalists, refused to make any connection between Islam and Hasan’s action despite his own assertions.

Daniel Pipes pointed out, “Were the subject not morbid, one could be amused by the disagreement over what exactly caused the major to erupt. Speculations included “racism” against him, “harassment he had received as a Muslim,” his “sense of not belonging,” “mental problems,” “emotional problems,” “an inordinate amount of stress,” the “worst nightmare” of his being deployed to Afghanistan, or something fancifully called “pre-traumatic stress disorder.” One newspaper headline, ‘Mindset of Rogue Major a Mystery,’ sums up this bogus state of confusion.”

There is no confusion. This is called dhimmitude. The two factors that promote it are fear and greed. The people, and those in power, including the media and the academia, are largely afraid of Muslims although some have been bought.  Many Universities receive donations from Iran and Saudi Arabia to create departments for Islamic studies that advance their agenda.

Therefore it is time for all Christians to stand up and say, “You shall proceed no further,” to the death cult of Islam and all of its enablers.  It is time for all freedom loving Americans to stand and stop the advance of the barbarians.  There will be a clash of civilizations but once the Islamofacist bullies see that we mean business they will suddenly decide to leave their 7th century behavior and become part of the civilized world.   …at least for a time.

Islam advances thanks to people’s ignorance.  Defending Islam is an insult to the victims of this religion-of-death worldwide. What about those so called Christians who want to love Muslims telling the victims of Muslims in Iraq and all over the world? Aren’t they, in fact, telling them, “I hate you but I love your oppressors,” by their words and deeds?  When you defend evil you are part of it.

Muslims’ strategy to conquer the world is to deceive on the one hand and on the other to cast terror. This was the strategy of Muhammad. Terror is the language that Muslims speak and understand. To stop Islam therefore, we must turn the table on them and give them a dose from their own medicine.   Muslims must feel uncomfortable and threatened in order to behave like good citizens. If they are not under your foot, they will be at your throat. That is how the mind of Muslims work.

  • Pastor Ward

Scripture got it right….again. 

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Scripture got it right….again. .

The most recent estimate of stars in the universe is 300 billion trillion. That’s a 3 followed by 23 zeros. (The number is constantly growing as we find more).
Fourteen billion years (the evolutionists theory of how old the universe is) isn’t nearly enough time to explain so many stars, unless it was an everyday occurrence, which we do not observe.
Save yourself the headache and stick with Gods Word which is unchangeable. Secular scientists will catch up eventually….

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As it turns out, not even Jesus Christ has a Christ-like attitude

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When pondering “WWJD?” do not forget that brandishing whips and overturning tables is not out of the realm of possibilities.  Jesus was not afraid to get right in someone’s face and offend.  He was much more concerned with God’s will than making friends.  Even when He had a large group of followers He didn’t try to avoid offending them in order to keep them from “unfriending” Him.

Jesus reproved and rebuked people because He genuinely cared and He wanted them to do right and wasn’t afraid to do what was needed whether popular or not.  Sometimes I snicker when someone on social media tries to tell me that I don’t have a very Christ-like attitude:

As it turns out, not even Jesus Christ has a Christ-like attitude.

From the blog “Hope Stands” (link above)

After quoting Tony Campolo, Brandon Robertson writes, “Dr. Campolo has been an advocate for a more Christ-like and loving posture towards LGBTQ people in the church for many years now.”[1]

Right away, that stopped me in my tracks, regardless of what the rest of the article said.  As soon as you use the language of a “more Christ-like posture,” all my red flags go up.  Are we reading the same Bible?  This smells like legalism.

Yes, predictably, Robertson goes on to exude his support of the LGBTQ community, but no matter, because he’s already lost me.  Whatever else he said about LGBTQ makes little difference now, so long as he began with those words “a more Christ-like and loving posture.”  That snide remark showed me that he was about to parade the Messiah out in front of us in order to use him for his agenda and take us on a little guilt trip.

But Jesus won’t be paraded around.  A more Christ-like attitude?  What does it mean to have a “more Christ-like and loving posture?”

Does it mean that Jesus would never call anyone names?  He once called a woman a dog (Mark 7:27).  He regularly called people hypocrites, which was a huge insult in his day (Matthew 7:4).  Here are some other names he swathed onto people: blind guides (Matt. 23:16); fools (Matt. 23:17); white washed tombs (Matt. 23:27); snakes (Matt. 23:33); hidden tombs (Luke 11:43); children of hell (Matt. 23:15); and—particularly biting—“Your daddy is the devil!” (John 8:44).

And Jesus wasn’t just harsh with the religious leaders.  He was an equal opportunity offender.  In fact, he called one of his closest followers “Satan” (Matthew 16:23).  Then check out what Jesus said to the seven churches in the book of Revelation.  He gave a very candid and clear assessment of each church, helping it to see where it needed to shape up or ship out.  “You are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked” (Rev. 3:17).

Why is Jesus so harsh?  He gives the answer, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent” (Rev. 3:19).  Reprove?  Discipline?  Tell them to repent?  Is that what you call an un-Christ-like posture?

But there’s more.  Speaking through the apostle Paul, Jesus said, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).  Unless, of course, they are washed, sanctified, and justified (11).

Again, Jesus spoke through Paul, “For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, and idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” (Ephesians 5:5-6).

I could list many more examples of Jesus’s “un-Christ-like” posture.  My point is that the way of Jesus is to expose the sin and forgive the sinner.  There is grace and forgiveness for every sin named in these verses.  His radical tactics pave the way for his radical love.

There’s no place in Scripture where Jesus calls a person to himself without asking him or her to change.  In fact, by calling us to change, he’s letting us know that change is now possible because of the grace he first gives.  Jesus never validates a person’s natural condition, whether good or bad.  He only asks them to do whatever it takes to follow him.  Pluck out your eye.  Cut off your arm.  Leave your father and mother.  Sell you possessions.  Circumcise your hearts.  Don’t look back.   Take up your cross.  Lay down your life.  Sin no more.

He’s often hard with us because that’s what true love is.  True love is not validating who we are, but true love is helping us to love God more.  True love will wound us in order to heal us.

Please stop equating a more Christ-like and loving posture with only hugs.  Because if that’s the case, then Jesus Christ was one of the most un-Christ-like people who has ever lived.

In fact, I would go so far as to argue that the kind of “love” that some are asking for today is not love at all.  It’s something much worse.

If My people…seek My face….

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Featured Image -- 18One of the sad realities within the local church today centers on the fact that numerous born-again Christians have little or no knowledge of the spiritual warfare that takes place all around us. The Bible is crystal clear in proclaiming that there is a battle raging in the heavenlies as the forces of evil continue to wage war against not only the Creator, but also against all who trust in Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord. Islam is just one of the examples of that warfare.

As believers, we may often wonder if there is anything we can do to counter the attacks our spiritual enemy hurls at us. We might even ask, “Can we, as Christian couples and parents, stand in the gap for our marriages, our children, and our homes?” Let me say a resounding, “Yes, we can, and we must stand united in the victory Jesus has secured for us.”

As Genesis 3 shows us, Satan’s desire is not only to destroy our lives, but also to weaken and sever the relationships we hold dear. We might all agree that Adam and Eve were both at fault for their disobedience and rebellion against God’s commandments. But a careful reading of Genesis 3:12 shows that Adam blamed his sin not only on his wife, but also on his Creator by saying to the Lord, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.”

Without question, Satan is still using the same tactics against our marriages and homes today. He seeks to divide us from our spouses and our children as he plans his strategies to destroy the unity God has designed for us. Just as he was successful in breaking the unity Adam and Eve shared with their Creator, he is still achieving an alarming number of victories in the modern-day Christian home, as the sins of pride and selfishness are often all too prevalent.

I have often talked with numerous people who have had serious questions about the origins of evil and sin in the world. Many may wonder, “How and when, did sin begin?” As the Bible teaches, Satan sinned when he exercised his free will to rebel against his Creator.

Over my years in pastoral ministry, I have encountered far too many believers who lack the knowledge about who they are in Christ. I am completely convinced that unless we acquire a solid biblical understanding of our “in Christ” position, we will be unable to fully counter the attacks of our enemy as he tempts us to exercise our free will and rebel against the commandments of God. As believers, we have a tremendous responsibility to study God’s Word so we can be better able to stand firm with the knowledge and power our Lord has provided for us as we face the devil and his forces of evil.

Without a doubt, it is time that we, as the children of God, woke up and begin living as strong advocates of the cause of Christ Jesus.  May our awareness be so quickened that we will begin recognizing the attacks of the devil when they come our way but not be distracted or deterred by the superfluous stuff.

Would you agree that Satan has been achieving his victories for far too long?  Will you join with me as we literally claim the power of God Holy Spirit against the one who seeks to divide and destroy our marriages, our homes, our churches, and our country?  As the people of God, we can praise our Creator for all His abundant promises as we literally stand in the strength He provides.

2nd Chronicles 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

  • Pastor Ward Clinton

Why do you believe what you believe?

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BibleGreetings everyone.  Let us praise the one true God for those who are escaping from the ways that lead to death and eternal darkness to follow in the path of the Holy One of God whose way is the way of life, light, and love and which is, in fact, the way that the One True God desires that each and every person on this earth should go.  Some of us know this already, others need to know therefore we need to pray for them.

Corrupt Imams claim the Bible is corrupt however the Koran does not make any such claim.  Confused people who have merely accepted the claims of corruption could carefully study the Koran for themselves but there is no need for that because the wiser course of action would be to simply accept the challenge of reading the New Testament portion of the Holy Bible and learn the truth about the one whom the Koran calls Isa, the Holy One of God.

The Injil, or New Testament portion, of the Holy Bible has the words of life and light and the only way to draw near to the One True God.  During the time of Ramadan, especially, one is supposed to be seeking to draw closer to the One True God and there really is no better way known to man to do that than to learn from the words of and about the Holy One of God and that can best be done by reading the Injil, starting with Injil Markus.  In the Holy Bible it will be found to be called “Mark” or “The Gospel of Mark.”

Mohammad believed in the accuracy of the Holy bible, however he did not trust some of those who interpreted its meaning in Arabic because their lives were inconsistent with the teaching of the book and therefore his skepticism was not directed towards the purity of the text itself.

Muhammad Abduh Sayyid Ahmad Khan, a religious and social reformer (died 1905) stated:  “As far as the text of the Bible is concerned, it has not been altered.” (M.H. Ananikian, The Reforms and Religious Ideas of Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan.  The Moslem World 14 (1934) p. 61)

Egyptian scholar, Muhammad ‘Abduh stated: “charge of corruption of the Biblical texts makes no sense at all.  It would not have been possible for Jews and Christians everywhere to agree on changing the text.  Even if those in Arabia had done it, the difference between their book and those of their brothers, let us say in Syria and Europe would have been obvious.”

Abdullah Ibn `Abbas who is counted as one of the Sahaba (companions) and was Mohammed’s cousin was of the belief that the Holy Bible was not corrupted.  Others who wrote shortly after him were in agreement.  “Ibn Mazar and Ibn Hatim state, in the commentary known as the Tafsir Durr-I-Mansur, that they have it on the authority of Ibn Muniyah, that the Taurat (i.e. the books of Moses), and the Injil (i.e. the Gospels), are in the same state of purity in which they were sent down from heaven, and that no alterations had been made in them, but that the Jews were wont to deceive the people by unsound arguments, and by wresting the sense of Scripture… Shah Waliyu `Illah, in his commentary, the Fauzul `l-Kabir, and also Ibn `Abbas, support the same view.” (T. P. Hughes, p. 62)

Taqiyya says follow the path of Muhammad; Truth says follow the path of the Holy One of God, the Messiah, Praise be upon Him and all who obey His teachings for that is the way to true, eternal, Paradise.  The Messiah also invites you to follow the true path.

The Wonderful Promise of Prayer

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PrayerGood Morning everyone.  People are still coming to Christ Jesus each and every day.  Yes, it is easy to let all the bad news occurring all around us to lose heart and hope but those of us who are followers of The Holy One of God need to keep praying.  Let each one of us begin the day with God.  Let us make an appointment with our Father in Heaven and refuse to break it, especially in a day such as this.

As believers, we may often wonder if there is anything we can do to counter the attacks our enemy hurls at us. We might even ask, “Can we, as Christian couples and parents, stand in the gap for our marriages, our children, and our homes?” Let me say a resounding, “Yes, we can, and we must stand united in the victory Jesus has secured for us.”

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Matthew 7:8 For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.

Every promise which God give us is attached to a duty.  Concerning any duty it is not enough to do it, it must be done according to the prescribed methodology.

God desires that we should have a clear understanding about the certainty of prayer.  Never be afraid of being too earnest.  “Knock.”  Note that that is a repeated statement.  As big as the Bible seems to be, it is actually quite concise; therefore when we see something repeated we should pay closer attention than we otherwise might have.

Watch in prayer to see what comes.  Foolish folk who knock at the door but then fail to stay till someone comes to provide a response will fail to see the door opened but the desperate soul will tend to persist in knocking and will see an answer.  Some don’t believe in prayer because all they have ever done is to knock and run.

Ask, whom?  Not of angels, not of saints but make your request to the only One who is everywhere present.

Ask, when?  Anytime; some times are better than others.  For most, morning is best.  Daniel prayed three times a day at set times.  George Washington followed the example set by Daniel and would not permit anything to interrupt his prayer times.  He knew to ask of the One who is every when present.

Ask, why?  That is the methodology that God has chosen.  In His economy if we don’t ask, He won’t act.

Ask, How?

a.  Orderly; think about what you are going to ask.  Forget that “prayer language” stuff, because if you don’t actually know what you prayed for how will you know if it has been answered?

b.  Earnestly.

c.  Repeatedly: until you receive an answer.  In your own style – you’re talking to your daddy.  If you have not yet accepted Jesus as your personal Savior then God is not yet your daddy.  Popular foolishness says “We are all children of God,” but that is not backed up by the Holy bible.  First, one has to petition for adoption because we are all, in fact, children of Adam and, as such, alienated from His Kingdom biologically whether we be Jew, Gentile, and especially the Ishmaelite.  He desires that each one of us become a part of His forever family whether we be Jew, Gentile, or Ishamaelite.

d.  In faith.  In the name of Jesus; see John chapter fifteen … that is not a magic phrase – it is a privilege extended to us by the Savior and a recognition of whom it is that has guaranteed our ability to have a right relationship, and communication, with the God of the universe.

To pray is to put the understanding in motion.

To pray is to put the affections in motion; to open the heart.

To pray is to put the will in motion.

Praying is frequently thought of as a passive activity and when it is merely a rote recital of the model prayer or some other one without any real thought or effort put forth that may be an accurate description.  However, when the three above ingredients are all put into the mix it becomes a real work with a special dignity of its own.

Prayer, proper prayer, places the soul face to face with facts of the first order of solemnity; with its real self and with its God.

It is noble, because it is the work of man as man, it quickens the interest of man to that which is beyond the range of petty daily and material interests while enhancing proper interest in them by igniting higher enthusiasms into life, and of man becoming more aware of his being and destiny with a vividness which is necessary to him as no other occupation may.  The nobleness of a man’s best form of toil falls infinitely below that of a spirit which enters consciously into converse with the eternal God.  However that toil, no matter how mundane, may be elevated to an almost sacred level once the work of prayer has consecrated it.

If prayer is to be persevered in, it must be based on the conviction that it is heard by a living being.  If God exists, if He be a Personal Being, then surely we may reach out to Him if we actually want to.  If God be not merely an infinite intelligence, but a moral being, a mighty heart, so that justice and tenderness are attributes of His, then surely we may appeal to Him with some concern that we may have.  It is upon this solid ground that God is said to hear prayer in the Holy Bible.  That He should do so follows from the reality of His nature as the one true God.

The laws of nature are not self-sustained forces; they are God’s laws and God can use His own laws.  They have not escaped His control.

Prayer is a forseen action of man, and is embraced in the eternal purpose of God.

Probably the biggest barrier to effectual prayer is found in a person’s perception of his own self-sufficiency which is frequently demonstrated in the attitude and practice of, “When all else fails, pray.”  No, no … no.  Prayer should be our first resort, not our last.

2nd Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.