BY YOUR FAITH #5 - Abel

By Your FAITH #5 - Abel

This post is the fifth part in a series called: "By Your Faith".  In this series we will be going through Hebrews chapter 11; studying the faith of many prophets and other important Old Testament people.  Today is the first of those prophets: Abel.

Our topic today is:  Abel (verse 4 in Hebrews Chapter 11)

We will obviously also be talking about Cain (Abel's brother).

Let's begin by reading the verse that I referenced above:

 Cain and Abel were Adam and Eve's first children and many Bible scholars believe that they were twins.  In Genesis 4 (see below) we see that "later Eve gave birth to Cain's brother Abel."  It seems unlikely that "later" means two years later, so I agree with the scholars theory that they were twins.

Now, why was Abel's offering better than Cain's?  It has to do with the difference in their hearts/their motives.  The offering that Abel gave was an atonement sacrifice.  The fat portions of the firstborn from his flock indicates that he was atoning for his sins.  This also symbolizes that Jesus Christ is the only firstborn, sacrificial Lamb by which we are all saved (those who repent and accept Jesus that is).

Cain on the other hand, brought "some fruits" from the soil - not the firstfruits.  We then see the proof of Cain's evil spirit from his sins that follow.

Look at this list of Cain's sins (as stated in the short Scripture passage above):

- he was angry & downcast when God favored Abel's offering (instead, Cain should have respected God and he should have corrected his ways to please God)

- Cain ignored God's warning about succumbing to sin.

- Cain connived and deceived his brother by luring him out to the fields

- Cain murdered his brother Abel

- Cain lied to God when God asked him where his brother was and Cain even mocked God with his sarcastic response: "Am I my brother's keeper?"

- Then, Cain whined and complained about his punishment (in verse 13 not listed above)

The worst of these sins is of course murder.  Abel was the first man ever to be murdered.  I looked up that passage in the "Blue Letter Bible" and researched the meaning of the word murder in Greek:

- to be deprived of real life

- to perish by means of something fixed in sin

The verse in 1 John explains it perfectly (see below):

Jesus also used Abel as an example when he was speaking with the Pharisees and "experts" in the Law:

"Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all."

Luke 11:50-51

The murder of innocents and faithful saints will be terribly punished.

 

Abel's faith was shown through his sincere sacrifice of repentance.

 

By Your FAITH (Previous posts in this series)

#1 Jesus' Miracles

#2 Ye of Little Faith

#3 Faith, Deeds & Waiting

#4 Being Sure of What We Do Not See

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Jesus' Parables #2 - THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Jesus' Parables #2 - THE GOOD SHEPHERD

In this series we will be studying all of Jesus' parables.  We previously studied six on this blog but that was before I decided to make this into a series.

Today we will be learning about "The Good Shepherd" parable in John 10:10-16.

Just as a reminder:

We begin by recognizing who our enemy is - "the thief" (the Evil one - the devil).  Read verse 10 below - Jesus is the exact opposite of satan.  The evil one steals, kills and destroys.  Whereas, Jesus gives, saves and restores in abundance ("have it to the full").

If we have discernment and can see who are the evil ones, then we will be able to distinguish who are the false prophets.  Recognizing who is our enemy is very important.

A good shepherd will lay down his life to save his flock.  The hired hand can not be trusted when there is real danger.  As we read in the Scripture passage below, the hired hand ran away when he saw the wolf coming because he did not love the sheep like the good shepherd does.

In one Bible commentary (1805 Bible), they believe that the thief and hired hand represent two types of Pharisees.  The first type sacrifices the welfare of their flock for selfish gain.  The second type of Pharisee is the hired hand who did not have true love for the sheep and thereby lacked the courage to risk it all to save the flock.  I'm sure that we can all think of religious leaders today who fall into both Pharisee categories.

The second moral to this story (and probably the most important one) is about the combining of more than one sheep pen to create one flock.  This represents the Gentiles being adopted in as equal members of the flock - this is the New Covenant (click HERE to read "7 Covenants -#7 NEW").

Gentiles and Jews alike listen to the voice of Jesus (the Shepherd) - we are one flock with one Shepherd.

Jesus gave his life for all sheep pens and created one flock following One Shepherd.

__________________________________________

Here is a list of the parables that we have already studied:

(Please click on each link to read each post)

- The Wicked Husbandmen/Vinedressers (aka Parable of the Tenants)

- The Persistent Widow (or Unjust Judge)

- PARABLE OF THE VINE (part#1) - "The True Vine & the Father Gardener"

- PARABLE OF THE VINE (part#2) - "Be a Fruitful Branch Instead of a Withering Branch"
- PARABLE OF THE VINE (part#3) - "Producing Joyful Fruit - God's Love Remains Forever"
- PARABLE OF THE VINE (part#4) - "Everlasting Fruit & Everlasting Friends"
- The Prodigal Son (Part#1) - The Son Who Ran Away
- The Prodigal Son (Part#2) - The Son Who Stayed Home
- The Good Samaritan (Part#1) - Love God First
- The Good Samaritan (Part#2) - Love Others
- PARABLE of the Sower (Part#1) - Along the Pathway
- PARABLE of the Sower (Part#2) - On Rocky Places
- PARABLE of the Sower (Part#3) - Seeds Among Thorns

- PARABLE of the Sower (Part#4) - Sown on Good Soil

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Below is a list of the parables that we will be studying in the future: 

- The Lost Sheep

- The Lost Piece of Money

- The Pharisee & the Tax Collector

- The Wedding Banquet

- The Two Sons

- The Friend at Midnight

- The Barren Fig Tree

- The Growing Seed

- The Laborers in the Vineyard

- The Wise and Foolish Builders

- The Two Debtors

- The Ten Virgins

- The Weeds

- The Mustard Seed

- The Leaven (or Yeast)

- The Hidden Treasure

- The Pearl of Great Price

- The Draw-Net

- The Unprofitable Servants

- The Unjust Steward (or Shrewd Manager)

- The Unmerciful Servant

- The Great Feast

- The Rich Man & Lazarus

- The Strait Gate (or Narrow Door)

- Christ The Door

- The Talents (or Bags of Gold)

- The Pounds (or Ten Minas)

- The Sheep and the Goats

- The Tower Builder & the King at War

- The Lamp Under a Basket

- The Doorkeeper

- New Clothes on Old Garment & Old Wineskins

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SECRECY #16 - The Rapture (Margaret MacDonald, John Nelson Darby & C.I. Scofield)

SECRECY #16 - The Rapture

(Margaret MacDonald, John Nelson Darby & C.I. Scofield)

Today is the sixteenth part in the study about "secrecy."  I know that today's topic might be upsetting to many (it was for me) but we need to face the truth - Jesus is the Truth, so there is no fear in questioning and researching.

I grew up believing in "Pretribulation Rapture" but I have just recently found out that we have not been told the whole story about the Rapture "theory".

Our topic today is "The Rapture".

We will begin by defining:

Rapture - the transporting of a person from one place to another, especially to heaven by supernatural means.

Did you know that the word "rapture" does NOT actually appear in our English bibles?  I was shocked when I found that out.

Word etymology:  rapt + ure

From the French & Latin.  First used around 1600.

The meaning:  An abduction, kidnapping or sudden and violent snatching away.

Did you also know that this theory did not become mainstream until the 1850's??  

I was shocked at that also.

It supposedly started with a vision that a 15 year old Scottish girl (Margaret MacDonald) had around 1830.  That's right - this entire theory was supposedly started by a teenager.

Now don't get me wrong - I believe that the gift of prophecy is real (we recently did a series on "The Spiritual Gifts" - click HERE to read "Spiritual Gifts Part#3").  I also believe that our Heavenly Father can and does work through people of all ages, classes and races but this just seemed suspicious to me.

Now we move onto John Nelson Darby who is considered to be the father of modern dispensationalism (pre-tribulation rapture).  There are many scholars who believe that he implemented this rapture theory from Margaret MacDonald's vision.  The reason that scholars believe the vision and Darby's implementation are linked is because he established Pre-trib rapture in the 1830's.  That is quite a date coincidence since it is the exact same time as Margaret's vision.

I need to clarify again - I am NOT limiting our Heavenly Father - He can indeed give two people the same vision at the same time but I am getting to proof soon.

First we have to talk about the third and final person who is credited with making this theory mainstream and that is C. I. Scofield.  Scofield brought this theology to America and eventually created the "Scofield Reference Bible" (which is widely used today).  There is much scandal around Scofield - he accepted bribes, stole political contributions intended for a senator by forging signatures, abandoned his wife and two daughters and was a heavy drinker.

Another clarification - Yes, maybe Scofield changed when he truly found Jesus.  After all, before Paul became a follower of Christ he was most likely responsible for putting early Christians in prison and even having them killed. 

Now to my proof.  I believe that the "rapture" is actually the evil getting removed (which matches with the word etymology above "violent snatching away").  A few years ago I did a series on the book of Jude.  Within this small book of the Bible, Jude quotes from the book of Enoch (click HERE to read "Jude part#4 - Apostates Depraved & Doomed")

The book of Enoch is no longer in our Bibles (it still remains in the Ethiopian Bible which is considered to be one of the earliest versions).  If we believe that the Bible is inspired by God, then since Jude quoted directly from the book of Enoch - that should prove that Enoch is inspired also.  The verses in Jude in the white box below is the exact quote from Enoch.

I only shared that verse from Jude to validate my next quote taken from 1 Enoch.  See below - it says that all the wicked and godless are to be removed!!! 

The wicked being removed has happened often in the Old Testament.  Let's think about Noah & the flood - the wicked were washed away while Noah and his family were kept safe in the boat.  Or the Israelites crossing the Red Sea - the Egyptians were removed by being destroyed when they were engulfed by the water.

This view of Christians being "raptured" during the tribulation just makes Christians lackadaisical.  I can't tell you how many times I've heard my fellow Christians say "I won't be here for the torture so I don't have to worry."  Even saying that to non-Christians.  It's like saying "nanana - you have to endure Armageddon and I don't." 

Rapture theology may not be "secret" per se, but it certainly has not been clear and honest in its creation and implementation.

Other Secrecy Posts:

#1 - No Secrecy With Truth & Light

#2 - Privacy vs Secrecy

#3 - Oath, Vow, Promise, Pledge, Swear

#4 - Secrecy Act, N.D.A., Secrecy Agreements

#5 - Secret Societies (Part1)

#5 - (Part2) Secret Societies (Comment Response)

#6 - Hand Symbolism (666, One Eye & Hush)

#7 - Hidden History (Giants/Nephilim)

#8 - Secret Society Whistleblower#1

#9 - Numerology/Gematria

#10 - Secret Societies & Religion (Whistleblower#2)

#11 - Star of Remphan

#12 - Geoengineering

#13 - Antarctic Treaty & Admiral Byrd

#14 - Flags

#15 - All Caps Name

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Old Fashioned Sunday Hymn Sing #152

Welcome to the 152nd Old Fashioned Sunday Hymn Sing!

I miss the old hymns that I remember from my childhood - there were no drums, no electric guitar and no mind numbing beat. It was just voices and maybe a piano or an organ. The choir led the congregation in singing - and the words of these hymns are poetic. I realize that there is a need for the modern "seeker oriented" worship music - but it is also necessary to have deeper songs (no offense intended to anyone who prefers the newer church songs).

I decided to have an "Old Fashion Sunday Hymn Sing" once a month on this blog.

I personally do NOT have a great singing voice - I used to play the guitar & piano but my voice is NOT an instrument. That's the great thing about this digital hymn sing, you can warble along without being embarrassed or without offending anyone else.

The hymns that we will be studying are taken from an old hymnal from a Baptist church that is no longer in existence - "The North American Hymnal" published in 1956 by "THE ROGER WILLIAMS PRESS"

I will also try to find a version of the featured hymn on "YouTube" to share with you each month.

Today's featured hymn is "Majestic Sweetness Sits Enthroned" and the author is Samuel Stennett.  This author was born in Exeter (England) but spent most of his life in London.  His father was a Baptist minister and Samuel became the assistant pastor (eventually taking over as head pastor once his father passed away).  Samuel wrote a few poems and hymns but he was mostly known for his doctrinal writings.  His grandfather was Joseph Stennett who was much more talented at hymn writing.

click HERE to view "Fruit of the Spirit #2 - JOY"

I have included two videos of this hymn (after the lyrics below).  The second video is a softer version of this song.

Enjoy!

Turn with me to number 354 in your hymnals and let's sing:

Majestic Sweetness Sits Enthroned

written by Samuel Stennett (171725-1795) & composed by Thomas Hastings (1784-1872)

1. Majestic sweetness sits enthroned Upon the Savior's brow;  His head with radiant glories crowned.  His lips with grace o'erflow.  His lips with grace o'erflow.

2.  No mortal can with Him compare, Among the sons of men;  Fairer is He than all the fair Who fill the heav'nly train.  Who fill the heav'nly train.

3.  He saw me plunged in deep distress, And flew to my relief;  For me He bore the shameful cross, And carried all my grief.  And carried all my grief.

4.  To Him I owe my life and breath, And all the joys I have;  He makes me triumph over death, And saves me from the grave.  And saves me from the grave.

A special thanks to "Biblical Pursuit" for sharing this with us!

A special thanks to "Heavenly Music" for sharing this with us!

Other Hymns on this blog:

Sweet the Moments, Rich in Blessing

Spirit Divine, Attend Our Prayer

Behold A Stranger At The Door

Holy Bible, Book Divine

O Jesus, I Have Promised

Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken

Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me

Where He Leads Me

We Gather Together To Ask The Lord's Blessing

Bread of the World in Mercy Broken

O Master of the Waking World

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"Jesus Is........ THE BREAD OF LIFE"

Jesus' Parables #1

Jesus' Parables

Even though we have studied six of Jesus' parables on this blog, I consider this post as the beginning of a new series.  I recently found an old Bible from the early 1800s and it is full of notes and commentaries that are very different from our modern equivalent. In this Bible, I found the quote below explaining why the parables told by Jesus are so valuable (see below). 

That last line is so true! -  "things learned with delight are the longest remembered."

That is why, in this series we are going to study ALL of Jesus' Parables.

Just as a reminder:

Here is a list of the parables that we have already studied:

(Please click on each link to read each post)

- The Wicked Husbandmen/Vinedressers (aka Parable of the Tenants)

- The Persistent Widow (or Unjust Judge)

- PARABLE OF THE VINE (part#1) - "The True Vine & the Father Gardener"

- PARABLE OF THE VINE (part#2) - "Be a Fruitful Branch Instead of a Withering Branch"
- PARABLE OF THE VINE (part#3) - "Producing Joyful Fruit - God's Love Remains Forever"
- PARABLE OF THE VINE (part#4) - "Everlasting Fruit & Everlasting Friends"
- The Prodigal Son (Part#1) - The Son Who Ran Away
- The Prodigal Son (Part#2) - The Son Who Stayed Home
- The Good Samaritan (Part#1) - Love God First
- The Good Samaritan (Part#2) - Love Others
- PARABLE of the Sower (Part#1) - Along the Pathway
- PARABLE of the Sower (Part#2) - On Rocky Places
- PARABLE of the Sower (Part#3) - Seeds Among Thorns

- PARABLE of the Sower (Part#4) - Sown on Good Soil

__________________________________________

Below is a list of the parables that we will be studying in the future: 

- The Lost Sheep

- The Lost Piece of Money

- The Pharisee & the Tax Collector

- The Wedding Banquet

- The Two Sons

- The Friend at Midnight

- The Barren Fig Tree

- The Growing Seed

- The Laborers in the Vineyard

- The Wise and Foolish Builders

- The Two Debtors

- The Ten Virgins

- The Weeds

- The Mustard Seed

- The Leaven (or Yeast)

- The Hidden Treasure

- The Pearl of Great Price

- The Draw-Net

- The Unprofitable Servants

- The Unjust Steward (or Shrewd Manager)

- The Unmerciful Servant

- The Great Feast

- The Rich Man & Lazarus

- The Strait Gate (or Narrow Door)

- The Good Shepherd

- Christ The Door

- The Talents (or Bags of Gold)

- The Pounds (or Ten Minas)

- The Sheep and the Goats

- The Tower Builder & the King at War

- The Lamp Under a Basket

- The Doorkeeper

- New Clothes on Old Garment & Old Wineskins

Each parable has incredible lessons that we can implement into our daily lives.

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Prayer Manifests in the Physical

Prayer Manifests in the Physical

In this post, I will show how prayer (a spiritual action) can manifest in the physical (it can change our physical reality).

Firstly, I need to clarify or define "prayer"

Prayer

- a petition to God

- an earnest request or wish

- the act or practice of praying to God

At the very end of this post is a video about "Prayer Basics" (You can scroll to the end or click HERE if you would like to watch that video).

Remember that our struggle is not in the physical (flesh and blood) but in the spiritual (see verse below):

Jesus said that whatever we ask for in His name (if we say "Heavenly Father, in Jesus name I pray......) then it will happen.  The verse below clearly states that we should be able to do even greater miracles than Jesus did when He was here!

(click HERE to read "God's Power Inside Us Means No Fear of the World Outside")

Everything that Jesus did was requested in the spiritual realm but the change occurred in the physical realm.

(click HERE to read "By Your Faith - Jesus' Miracles")

Here is the controversial issue - WHATEVER we ask for shall be given to us.  Well, that is not very Christ-like is it?  That would be like - "I want this and I want that."  

The Scripture passage below clarifies that dilemma.

Nobody should seek his own good but rather put others first and help them in their needs.  Selfishness is never constructive or beneficial.

It is very difficult to know exactly how to pray because we often cannot fathom the amazing answers to our prayers that God has planned.  The Holy Spirit intercedes for us and uses the spiritual language with groanings to convey what is truly in our hearts (see Bible verses below).

Also, in the last verse below we see that the answers to prayer are in the physical - "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him".  The phrase "in all things" means that we see results/answers both in the physical and spiritual realm. 

In Ephesians chapter 6 where it talks about "Becoming a Christian Soldier," we read the same thing about "praying in the Spirit" (see below).  Prayer really is our most powerful "spiritual weapon."  (click HERE to read "Becoming A Christian Soldier - PRAYER")

Also, notice in the verse above the last part about "always keep on praying for all the Lord's people." - keeping focus on others rather than being selfish.

Answers are not always instantaneous (they can be but not all the time) - we need to pray without ceasing - pray continually (see below).  Plus, being joyful and thankful prevents us from always complaining.

Focusing on joy and on being thankful prevents the downward spiral of depression and despair.  See Scripture in the picture below.

(click HERE to read "Fill Your Mind With These 8 Things")

I want to end this post touching on "abundance".  I recently saw a commercial talking about "manifesting abundance."  Well, that is so wrong because abundance that truly satisfies can only come from God.  Multiplication and increase comes from our Heavenly Father and not from the "universe".

Prayer is talking to God and that will mean unimaginable changes in our physical reality.

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