If It’s Not Personal….

The Great Commission simplified. It’s a personal testimony. You can’t witness effectively if it’s not personal. If it is, no one can justifiably argue against it.

18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with Him. 19 But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful He has been.” 20 So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them. Mark 5:18-20

Ignorers And Refusers….

Reading through Leviticus chapter 20, we read about the punishment for parents that sacrifice their children to Molech. I can’t help but think that it still goes on today, in the form of abortion. People don’t value life. This angers God, because it violates and brings shame to His name. And to take it even further, God punishes those that watch this happen and do nothing to stop it. This is the reason Christians are to speak out about sinful behaviors. Abortion is most egregious. Why? Because the unborn don’t have a voice or a choice in the matter. God uses people to save the unborn. Pro-choice promoters that claim to be believers are those as Leviticus calls them “ignorers” and “refusers” to make right a wrong. Instead of sacrificing these children to Molech, they sacrifice them to the god of SELF. I don’t see any difference between these people sacrificing their children to Molech, and today’s society sacrificing their children to SELF. The bottom line is God is being disobeyed and innocent children are being murdered all because people are choosing to be deceived by Satan, or blatantly ignoring the truth. Those that believe God need to stand up and protect those that have no voice. You’ll not only be the helpless’s advocate, you won’t be angering God by standing around and doing nothing about it. It’s all a matter of the heart. Prove to yourself where your loyalty lies.

2 “Give the people of Israel these instructions, which apply both to native Israelites and to the foreigners living in Israel.“If any of them offer their children as a sacrifice to Molech, they must be put to death. The people of the community must stone them to death. 3 I Myself will turn against them and cut them off from the community, because they have defiled My sanctuary and brought shame on My holy name by offering their children to Molech. 4 And if the people of the community ignore those who offer their children to Molech and refuse to execute them, 5 I Myself will turn against them and their families and will cut them off from the community. This will happen to all who commit spiritual prostitution by worshiping Molech. Leviticus 20:2-5

If Respect For God Was Restored….

Just imagine if respect for God was restored in America today? It would be a totally different place. The atmosphere would be one of unity. Cheating, lying, taking advantage of others, and disrespect for our leaders and elders would be none existent. Imagine what that would be like? Now, ask yourself, is this possible for me? Of course it is. Imagine if you started implementing respect for God and others in your life, the impact it would have? This is exactly God’s plan: His Will lived out, one heart at a time. If this is something that you want, what’s stopping you from making it happen in your life? Imagine, one heart at a time, sincerely respecting God and others? It would make a huge impact on the world. Especially in your community. If you want to be obedient to God, make respect for Him and others a top priority. And never let anything get in your way of living it out. Real change comes from one heart at a time. When God sees the sincerity in your heart, or better yet, when you see the sincerity in your own heart, He ushers in the power to change. And when it does, you get the benefit of personally experiencing it.

32 “Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. Fear your God. I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:32

Too Big For Him?

If the wind and waves obey God, don’t you think He’s trustworthy? If God has the power to control a violent storm, do you think your problems are too big for Him?

35 As evening came, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with His head on a cushion. The disciples woke Him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t You care that we’re going to drown?”39 When Jesus woke up, He rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then He asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey Him!” Mark 4:35-41

Why Some People “Get It”….

If you have ever wondered why some people “get it” while others don’t, these words of Jesus give the answer. Paying attention, listening closely, and pursuing relationships will bring the promise of understanding. The reason people don’t “get it” is because they don’t pursue Him. As my favorite verse in all of scripture says, “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. You can’t expect to understand truth if you’re not pursuing it whole-heartedly. Live in the moment. Be present in the present. You’ll find understanding when you pursue understanding with all of your heart.

24 Then He added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given–and you will receive even more. 25 To those who listen to My teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” Mark 4:24-25

When You Speak The Truth….

When you speak the truth, you never have to worry about what you said. When you behave in a way that God sees as right, you never have to worry about being accused of doing wrong. Integrity doesn’t have a holiday. God honors those that honor Him.

9 People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall. Proverbs 10:9

The World Gets Offended….

Sexual practices that were considered wicked and that defile people are spelled out in Leviticus chapter 18. We live in a society today that clearly doesn’t understand the principles behind them. God didn’t want His chosen people to behave in a manner that violates His character and design. The people of Canaan and Egypt clearly lived lifestyles contrary to His design. So He commanded the Israelites to be set apart from the people around them. Sexual practices that defile a person shouldn’t be practiced by those who follow God. It is one of the areas in which Christians are to live differently from society. When Christians promote “one man one woman” for marriage, same-sex sexual practices are forbidden, binary gender theory, and the world gets offended. When Christians promote this it’s for Christians, not the world. So if you’re offended, and not a Christian, get over it. It’s not meant for you. If you’re still offended, then maybe your conscience is working towards leading you to God. Ungodly people practice ungodly actions. To be offended when a Christian calls same-sex practices a sin, when you’re not a believer only makes sense if your conscience agrees with it. The reason you get offended is because deep down inside you want agreement, or approval, or acceptance, and you know you will never get it from God. So you try to pass laws and force people to conform to your way of life. That’s not tolerance, rather it’s intolerance. The very opposite of what most try to promote. If you’re not a Christian, and do not want to become one, stop trying to silence those who are, in an attempt to feel better about what you’re doing. If God is not in your life, and you don’t want Him in it, stop trying to force those that do have Him in their lives, to grant changing the definition of what sinful behavior is. If you don’t believe it’s a sin, then stop trying to change the minds of people who know it is and refrain from participating in it. If people only thought things through, we really wouldn’t have these issues. You either are a God follower, or you’re not. Stop trying to force those that are God-followers to be disobedient to their faith in order to make yourself feel better about a behavior they promote as sinful. This chapter spells out sexual sin that is unacceptable to God. Regardless of what you believe, this is what God says is sinful. If you disagree and call yourself Christian, your heart needs some refinement. If you are not a Christian and disagree that’s perfectly acceptable, so stop trying to make everyone accept it. It’s fighting a losing battle with people who believe God’s way and do their best to live it out.

1 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. I am the Lord your God. 3 So do not act like the people in Egypt, where you used to live, or like the people of Canaan, where I am taking you. You must not imitate their way of life. 4 You must obey all My regulations and be careful to obey My decrees, for I am the Lord your God. 5 If you obey My decrees and My regulations, you will find life through them. I am the Lord.6 “You must never have sexual relations with a close relative, for I am the Lord.7 “Do not violate your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; you must not have sexual relations with her.8 “Do not have sexual relations with any of your father’s wives, for this would violate your father.9 “Do not have sexual relations with your sister or half sister, whether she is your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she was born into your household or someone else’s.10 “Do not have sexual relations with your granddaughter, whether she is your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter, for this would violate yourself.11 “Do not have sexual relations with your stepsister, the daughter of any of your father’s wives, for she is your sister.12 “Do not have sexual relations with your father’s sister, for she is your father’s close relative.13 “Do not have sexual relations with your mother’s sister, for she is your mother’s close relative.14 “Do not violate your uncle, your father’s brother, by having sexual relations with his wife, for she is your aunt.15 “Do not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law; she is your son’s wife, so you must not have sexual relations with her.16 “Do not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife, for this would violate your brother.17 “Do not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter. And do not take her granddaughter, whether her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter, and have sexual relations with her. They are close relatives, and this would be a wicked act.18 “While your wife is living, do not marry her sister and have sexual relations with her, for they would be rivals.19 “Do not have sexual relations with a woman during her period of menstrual impurity.20 “Do not defile yourself by having sexual intercourse with your neighbor’s wife.21 “Do not permit any of your children to be offered as a sacrifice to Molech, for you must not bring shame on the name of your God. I am the Lord.22 “Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin.23 “A man must not defile himself by having sex with an animal. And a woman must not offer herself to a male animal to have intercourse with it. This is a perverse act.24 “Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, for the people I am driving out before you have defiled themselves in all these ways. 25 Because the entire land has become defiled, I am punishing the people who live there. I will cause the land to vomit them out. 26 You must obey all My decrees and regulations. You must not commit any of these detestable sins. This applies both to native-born Israelites and to the foreigners living among you.27 “All these detestable activities are practiced by the people of the land where I am taking you, and this is how the land has become defiled. 28 So do not defile the land and give it a reason to vomit you out, as it will vomit out the people who live there now. 29 Whoever commits any of these detestable sins will be cut off from the community of Israel. 30 So obey My instructions, and do not defile yourselves by committing any of these detestable practices that were committed by the people who lived in the land before you. I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 18:1-30