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Lk 15:1-2 - Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. 2 Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." NASU
Let him hear! In other words, we should be paying very strict attention when one is teaching the Word of God. Is it the truth or is this a lie? The New Testament warns us very plainly that not everyone who teaches the Bible is from God.
The apostle Peter said it this way in 2 Pet. 2:1 - But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Peter gave testimony that it was true "false prophets" did come in among the people and destruction was the end result. When you read the NT you will notice that the apostles John and Paul likewise talked about "false prophets and teachers". If you will remember when the devil was tempting Jesus in the wilderness he quoted the Word of God to Him. I have been a Christian for over 48 years and I can tell you I have heard a lot men and women misquote the Bible and I have even read more false teaching in books.
Have you ever heard of the "Hallucination Theory"? The "hallucination theory" claims that Jesus' disciples all had "hallucinations" of Jesus being resurrected. In other words, they only thought they saw a resurrected Jesus. Dr. Gary Collins says, the big problem with the "hallucination theory" is that no two people ever have the same hallucination. In this situation we would have all the apostles plus more than 500 Christians (I Cor.15:6) who say they saw the resurrected Jesus. Therefore, over 500 people would be having the same "hallucination". I find it easier to believe the truth than lies. There are many people who promote "false teachings" from the Word of God. I can only say this, "It is your duty to check for yourself what you are hearing to know if it is the truth or not". I had one person tell me that water in a believer's baptism doesn't mean water. Years ago when I first became a Christian I would try to share with them how it did mean water and show them Biblical examples of people getting baptized. In Acts 8:38-39 - And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away;…" Now if they want to read that passage and tell me that the water is not water all I can say, "Is that is not my problem." There argument is with God not me. If someone wants to believe the wrong things about baptism I leave them with, "Tell me how that works out for you". Paul said in the book of Philippians, "…work out your salvation with fear and trembling;…" You will notice Paul says, "your salvation…" You are responsible for getting yourself to heaven and I am responsible for getting myself to heaven. If you want to believe everything you hear without checking it out for yourself that is totally up to you. Think About These: There are none so blind as those who refuse to see. People will generally accept facts as truth only if the facts agree with what they already believe. Andy Rooney Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word
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Joshua 1:6-7 - "Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go." NASU
A person who is courageous is one who tells himself he is going to be courageous at that moment. We all possess a courageous or brave spirit. Some of us fail at being courageous when we choose not to be. It isn't because we can't. It is because we chose not to be when a challenge arises. When a courageous person is faced with new circumstances or even dangerous situations, he believes he must confront them and does. All one has to do is remember the courageous NYPD and FDNY officers running into the burning twin towers on September 11, 2001 (911) to see courage in action. They choose to enter those towers. It was their choice. They choose to be courageous. There can be no running from the challenge as this would not be a person who is courageous but would be more in line with a person who is cowardly.
Moses had recently died and up to this point Joshua had been Moses' assistant. God spoke directly with Moses and Moses made the decisions based on what God had told him. This is all going to change. God is now going to speak directly to Joshua. Joshua will be the new leader. Joshua will be making decisions based on God's commands. Joshua was going to lead the Israelites into battle and all he has to do is believe God's promises. In Joshua 1:5 God promises him - "No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you." NASU Now it is on Joshua's shoulders to believe what God told him. God tells us the same thing in Hebrews 13:5 - that He will not forsake us. Do you want to be courageous? Then believe God's promises when your faith is being given a test because that is what courageous warriors of God do.
When you take a stand to be courageous it is a mental decision. The more you know God's Word the easier it will be for you to be courageous. I heard a preacher say one time, "If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything." People who know God's Word will not fall for anything or at least they shouldn't. Go ahead make your decision to be strong and courageous today. Stand up to the challenges that are before you today and every day and when you do you will be courageous. Think About This: Courage is not the absence of fear, but the conquest of it. Remember, you are your own doctor when it comes to curing cold feet. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Matt.27:46-47 - About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" NASU
This coming Sunday is Resurrection Sunday what the world commonly calls Easter. You will probably hear a few sermons about how God turned His back on Jesus and abandoned Him on the cross. I want you to know I don't believe that theory. So I am publishing this Pump Up to share with you my belief about what Jesus was really saying on the cross. Please accept my apology for the length of this Pump Up.
God speaks to Joshua as the leader of the Israelites. He tells Joshua, "No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you." Joshua 1:5 God told Jacob and Solomon He would be with them and that He would not forsake them.
"THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?" Heb 13:5-6 Christians have the same promise made to them about God and the promise that He will NOT Ever Desert or Forsake us.
Here is my belief about what Jesus was saying on the cross. First, this is an Old Test. Quote, one must return to Psalm 22 where this quote originated and study the context of how it was used there. Once you do this I believe the answer becomes very clear. Psalm 22 is a Messianic Psalm. This means it applies to the Messiah or Jesus. Jesus is hanging on the cross when He speaks these words. The only scriptures they had at this time were the OT scriptures. The OT was not divided into chapters and verses. Therefore, Jesus couldn't say turn to Psalm 22 and you will find the answer as to what is happening to Me. The first entire Bible in which chapter and verse divisions were used was Robert Stephanus' edition of the Latin Vulgate (A.D. 1555). When Jesus quotes the first words: "My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?" He was telling His disciples to read the Psalm that begins with those words. When you read that Psalm the truth will be revealed: Ps 22:3-5 Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel. In You our fathers trusted; They trusted and You delivered them. To You they cried out and were delivered; In You they trusted and were not disappointed. Ps 22:23-24 You who fear the LORD, praise Him; All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel. For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from him; But when he cried to Him for help, He heard. NASU In verses 3-5 the Psalmist is saying, God is holy, and the Israelite fathers trusted in God and were delivered. In verses 23-24 he is saying God has not hidden His face from this person who is suffering. In fact, this person cries out for help and God heard His cry. This Psalm is considered a Messianic one which means it is about the Messiah and I would agree. Therefore, Jesus is NOT saying God has forsaken Him, but the exact opposite. God had heard His cry for help and helped Him.
You and I may go through times when we feel like God has forsaken us, but our feelings are wrong as they have been before. God doesn't forsake us. God keeps His word and helps His children. Jesus tells us very clearly He is not alone during His crucifixion. He informs His disciples they will be scattered or in other words they are going to run and leave Jesus all alone, but He says I am not alone. John 16:31-32 - Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me." My dear brothers and sisters in Christ if there is anything I am sure of it is this: God doesn't forsake His children. Think About This: The promises of God are certain, but they don't always mature in 90 days. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Ps 1:1-3 - How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers. NASU
I remember before I was a Christian listening to a guy about how I could make some real easy money by selling drugs. That bad decision cost me a lot of grief and money. As I look back on my life what I have discovered is the best way to provide for yourself and your family is find a job you love to do and do it. Once you have found that job give it 100% everyday. Paul wrote to Timothy he quoted to him an Old Testament passage when he said, in 1 Tim. 5:18 -For the Scripture says, "YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING," and "The laborer is worthy of his wages." The Psalmist also tells us where we should stand and sit. In other words, he is telling us where to hang out and who to hang out with. Paul said it this way: "Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals." (1 Corin. 15:33). As I have said before, "Show me your friends and I will show you your future." The Psalmist's best advice to us is don't stand or sit with the wrong people.
When we give ourselves to helping others is there really any blessing that compares to it. In the book of Acts Luke penned it this way: "In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" How to guarantee to be blessed in this life is by helping others. Last September I organized a food pack for the people of Ukraine through IDES. My original goal was 50,000 meals. We asked people to make financial contributions. They gave so much money we were able increase our goal to 60,000 meals. Now I needed to recruit a 100 people to give 4 hours of their time. When I thanked everyone for coming to help accomplish this goal they let me know it was a blessing to them to be able to participate in this worthy cause. Find a worthy cause and invest yourself in it and you will be guaranteed a blessing. Think About These: Charity is twice blessed - it blesses the one who gives and the one who receives. This was in a church bulletin: The Lord loves a cheerful giver. He also accepts from a grouch. The best gift we can give some people is a chance. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word John 18:36 - Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm." NASU
Never have I seen the attack on that which is morally right like I have seen today. If I focused on this evil my spirit would be depressed and uneasy constantly, BUT I don't focus on it. I focus on our scripture for the day, John 18:36. Jesus stated His Kingdom is not of this world and because of that I am thankful to know that I am a member of His Kingdom. His Kingdom will conquer this world and the evil one who is constantly stirring up chaos.
2 Kings 19:35 -Then it happened that night that the angel of the LORD went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men rose early in the morning, behold, all of them were dead. WOW! One angel of the Lord went out and killed 185,000 Assyrians in one night. In the book of Matthew Jesus says this -"Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?..." (Matt. 26:53). A legion most likely represents 6,000 in number. So Jesus is saying the Father could put at His disposal 72,000 angels immediately. One angel wiped out 185,000 so you can do the math what would 72,000 angels be able to accomplish? Oh yes, and don't forget this you can't kill an angel. Yes, when I look at the craziness going on in this world I stop and say. "Thank you Lord for calling me out of this world of darkness and into Your marvelous light aka - Kingdom." Peter said it this way: 1 Pet. 2:9-10 -But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. If you are like me and from time to time the craziness of this world appears to be overwhelming look to God's Word and you will find a "Peace and Hope" that surpasses all the chaos this world is displaying. Think About These: Hope is putting faith to work when doubting would be easier. There is more hope for a confessed sinner than a conceited saint. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word |
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