Spiritual Socialism

Many seem to believe that all paths are the same and that they lead to God no matter which path they choose.  We must keep in mind that the devil is a liar and is the father of lies.  Just as socialism makes everyone equal, in theory, Spiritual Socialism attempt to do the same.  The Holy Bible tells us that Jesus is the Way. John 14:6  There is only one Way to God and not many.

Lending to the LORD

Pro 19:17  He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD;

Other translations read slightly different but say the same.  Whoever shows mercy to the poor lends unto the LORD.  If we give to the poor, we are giving to the Lord.  There are many poor around this world and I know I cannot reach them all.  I can only reach those which are in reach.

When was the last time you gave to a worthy cause?  When was the last time you gave to the poor?  Jesus said, "The poor you have with you always."

James 1:27  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. 

Orphans need help.  Widows need help.  We must give of our abundance for God has surely blessed us with more than we need.  We are wasteful with what he has given us.

The second part of the verse which was posted at the beginning of this article is and that which he hath given will he pay him again.  The LORD will repay us in what we give.

Have a generous heart.  Give what you can to those who are in need.  Giving does not always involve money.  Sometimes a hug or lending an ear to someone, will make all the difference to that person.

From Nobody to Somebody

Gen_6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Who was Noah? Was he a great man that everyone looked up to and revered? Noah was a "nobody" that was never heard about until the time that God is preparing to destroy the face of thee earth with a great flood. Why did God choose Noah to build the ark? Was there something special about Noah? Why didn't God choose someone else to build the ark?

Let's Look at some other "nobodies".

Gen_12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

Who was Abram? Was there something really special about him that God would call him out of all the people that were living at the time? Why didn't God call someone else out instead of Abram? There are many many others that have been called from being "nobody" to being somebody. The Bible illustrates one after another that shows us this.

Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Samson, Gideon, David, Solomon, were all "nobodies".

The disciples that Jesus called were "nobodies" also. Peter was a fisherman along with his brother Andrew. James and John the sons of Zebedee. Philip and Bartholomew. Matthew and James the son of Alphaeus. Simon the Canaanite and Judas Iscariot. Twelve nobodies that have not been heard of before have been called out by Jesus.

These "nobodies" went on to do mighty works for the Lord in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They went so far not only as to spread the Gospel, but most of them also died in service for the Lord.

These are only a few of the "nobodies" mentioned in God's Word. There is one "nobody" that is mentioned very little but the work that he did was one of the greatest works that a man could be called to do.

Mat_27:32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.

Mar_15:21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

Luk_23:26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

Seems rather simple doesn't it. This man Simon had to carry the cross of Jesus. Doesn't look like much of a work on the surface does it. But think deeply about this. Was it only a cross of wood that Simon had to carry? Is this all we have to say about this man? Let's go back in time to the Old Testament for a bit.

Lev_4:7 And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Part of the blood of the sacrifice is put onto the horns of the altar. The horns of the Altar had a significant purpose. The blood was put on the horns of the Altar. The horns also held the sacrifice on the Altar to keep it from sliding off.

Now when Simon the Cyrenian carried the cross of Jesus he carried the Altar of the sacrifice. Jesus was the sacrifice for the sins of the world and the nails were the horns of the Altar that held Him in place top keep Him from sliding off the Altar. Simon the Cyrenian went from being nobody to being somebody. Why was it Simon that had to carry the cross? Surely God could have called out anyone to do this small task. God chooses whom He will.

I once was a "nobody". Who has God called? God has called everyone to repentance.

2Pe_3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Why don't you think about it? Meditate upon the fact that God has called you, a "nobody", to be somebody. I know that I have many faults, but I also know who I am in Christ. I used to be a "nobody", but now I am somebody in Jesus Christ. You have the opportunity right now to become somebody. Will you let this moment slip by? Will you let the devil talk you out of the greatest blessing anyone can receive? Jesus waits for you with arms open wide. He loves you so much that the nails weren't really needed to hold Him on the cross. His love for you held Him there.

God Judges Sin

God judges those who refuse to repent.

Ezekiel 6:6. In all your dwellingplaces the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your images may be cut down, and your works may be abolished.

7. And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

God is the Creator, and the whole creation is responsive to God. By His rights as Creator He can do whatever He wills with all people and all things He has created. Good is not capricious (impulsive, irrational) in the use of His power, and He can do no evil, but He has the absolute right to rule as judge over His creatures, to reward righteousness and punish evil as He sees fit.

God, because He is God, has an absolute right to our ultimate devotion. God's hatred of idolatry (and all other sins) is in direct proportion to His love for us and His desire to have us be all we can be as His creatures. God hates idolatry because He alone is God, and only by having a relationship with Him can we, His human creatures, reach our full God-given potential.

When we say God is sovereign, we mean that by virtue of His being the only God, He rules over the whole creation with supreme power and authority to do whatever He wills to do. As the sovereign Lord of the whole creation, God is also the judge of all His creatures.

When people deny God is the creator, there is doubtlessly involved in this a deep seated desire to be free from the accountability to God. God is the creator, we are accountable to Him, and He has the right to tell us what is right and wrong and also to judge us for wrongdoing.

Why does the fact that God is the only God give Him the right to our devotion, and the right to judge us if we are not devoted to Him?

One hundred and thirty- five years passed between the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel to the Assyrians in 721 B.C. and the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C., the first Jews were deported to Babylon. Over the next 20 years, more Jews were deported to Babylon. The final day of God's judgment on ancient Israel was long in coming-so long in coming that many believe it would never come.

King Solomon wisely observed, "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." (Ecclesiastes 8:11). Because God is long suffering toward sinners, not desiring that any should perish in sin, it becomes easy for many to think a day of reckoning will never come. Slowly but surely it became evident to the Jews of the captivity that the day of reckoning had arrived for them, and God was repaying them for their centuries of idolatry.

According to Scripture there will be a final Day of Judgment at the end of the age. (Revelation 20:11. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.) However, we need to be mindful that the days of judgment come continually to nations and individuals, whenever and wherever God puts an end to evil.

A Final Thought

 We live in a time when many give no serious thought to the fact God will judge sin. Others think God is "too good" to judge sin.

What the Cross Means to Me

The cross to me is a symbol of death and torment. Jesus was nailed to the cross and died the death of murderers and thieves. He said we should pick up our crosses and follow Him. To do this we must go through all that Jesus went through. We must die the death reserved for murderers and thieves. This is not a literal death as in dying of self-inflicted wounds. It is the death of the ungodly desires of the flesh.

I must carry my own cross at all times and make sure that my flesh is under subjection to the spirit. This is what the cross is for. We hang our sinful desires on the cross and crucify them. Jesus became sin so that we would not have to die a literal death. Paul wrote about carrying this old body of death. We do that daily. We can be as spiritual as anyone, but we still carry the body of death with us.

This is all personal to me. It is how I see things myself. All believers must carry their cross with them wherever they go. To hang your flesh on the cross is to be like Jesus. We are the body of Christ and should have the mind of Christ in us. Christ went to the cross willingly and we should do the same.

The cross means salvation has come to any and all who will accept the offering of Jesus for their sins. It is freely given, though it cost Jesus His life.

Outcast

Introduction

Have you ever felt unloved, unwanted, hated and despised? Jesus was considered an outcast by the priesthood of His day. He is the stone that was rejected by the Jewish people. He went about doing good and was opposed each time. Some even went so far as to call His work, that of Beelzebub. He made His seat with outcasts. He met with the blind, the lame and the lepers. He ate meat with unclean people who were considered unfit for society.

There was a woman with an issue of blood who said within herself, "If I could just touch the hem of His garment, I will be made whole." She touched the hem and was immediately healed. Jewish law states that she was unclean and should not be touched and anything that touches her is unclean and should be destroyed.

Jesus was hung on the cross because He was rejected. He went against the status quo, and the high priest felt threatened by Him. Jesus is the gift that God gave to all men. There is not a man who ever lived that Jesus was not given to. Because of His faithfulness, He is now considered the chief cornerstone.

1Peter 2:6 states that God has laid in Sion a Chief Corner stone and that any who believe on Him will not be confounded.

Outcast

BROKEN TEASED BULLIED BRUISED

KICKED PUNCHED BEATEN AND ABUSED

DEVIANT ODD WEIRD

I AM CALLED THE OUTCAST



TIRED OF LIVING THE LIFE I AM IN

LOOKING FOR PEACE AND TRANQUILITY

REJECTED DEJECTED

THE OUTCAST IS NAMED



I AM UNCLEAN AND FILTHY

MY THOUGHTS ARE EVIL

NO ONE LOVES ME FOR WHO I AM

I AM THE OUTCAST DESTINED FOR HELL



I AM NOT WORTHY TO LIVE

QUALITY OF LIFE IS INSUFFICIENT

A DELINQUENT WHOSE MOTHER DESPISED HIM

I AM THE OUTCAST WHO IS SET ASIDE



LEFT TO DIE ALONE IN SUFFERANCE

NO LONGER WILL I FEEL HATED

I WILL GO TO THE GRAVE IN DEATH

THE OUTCAST'S LIFE WILL BE TERMINATED



I SEE A MAN STANDING WITH ME

HIS HEAD SCARRED AND BLEEDING

HOLES IN HIS HANDS AND HIS SIDE

HE IS THE OUTCAST THE FIRST AND THE LAST



HE REACHES OUT TO ME

HIS EYES ARE FULL OF COMPASSION

HE PULLS ME CLOSE TO TELL ME

YOU ARE NOT THE OUTCAST



BROKEN TEASED BULLIED BRUISED

KICKED PUNCHED BEATEN AND ABUSED

DEVIANT ODD WEIRD

I AM NO LONGER THE OUTCAST



Matthew 21:42 The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner:

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