Mon, Nov 25th - 10:22PM

THOSE PEOPLE

The Life of Jephthah

By the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord, we believe, know and understand, brethren, that the Holy Spirit is a Person equal in divine essence with God the Father and God the Son. He was active in creation and the inspiration of the Bible. To fulfill His function in redemption, the Spirit attests the absolute truth of the gospel, convicts of sin, brings about the new birth (regenerating), inducts every believer into the Body of Christ (baptizing in the Spirit, not water), resides in him permanently (indwelling), controls the one who yielded to Christ (filling), produces the gifts for ministry and the Christian virtues which conform believers to the image of Christ (sanctifying), and serves as the guarantee of eternal life (sealing unto the day of redemption). John 3:3-6, 16:8-11, Acts 5:3-4, Rom 8:1-8, Gal 5:22-23, Eph 4:4-6, 5:18. God the Holy Spirit is appointed to teach directly, through servant leaders, teachers and the church entire to lead it into all truth. The Holy Spirit dwells in and with the servant leaders, teachers, in fact all believers individually and as a whole, to convict, convince, fully persuade and enable every believer to live the life of Christ, being instructed in the absolute truth of the eternal unchanging standard of scripture, and operating within the fortress of its boundaries. Evangelism is not a denomination, although some have the gift of evangelism, nevertheless it is the command of God to the whole church.

Brothers and sisters, Jephthah, after the death of his father Gilead is literally thrown out of the home by his half siblings with the approval of the elders, because they believed, wrongly, that he was not entitled to any inheritance due to being the son of a harlot. Some might have advised Jephthah to just suck it up, move on, forget about it, start a life new somewhere around nice people that didn’t know of his background.

Certainly, some people do that but I suspect it is the exception and not the rule. Our framework of who we are, what we deserve, brothers and sisters, is instilled in us first by our caretakers or parents, overtly, and covertly down to minute subliminal messages given on a multitude of levels and in many ways continually over time. What we say and do to our children over time is the school in which they will learn what we really think of them and to what degree if any that we really care about and love them. How they see us act is important but much more important is how we act towards them in word and deed.

We accept these messages in as much as they are given so early, we have no developmental capacity to challenge them. Another thing too is that the growing child has no other comparative frame of references to contradict those messages. Family in many ways back then was the only source of a person’s core identity. Jdg 11:3Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with him.

Is it not predictable that Jephthah would take up with a bad crowd? When he went out with these vain men it is doubtful that they asked people nicely to voluntarily give them their valuables, they took what they wanted. After all, hadn’t Jephthah learned that it was fine to take from people what you wanted from them as his inheritance had been taken rather stolen from him?

There is an understanding, dearly beloveds, that it is highly likely for survivors of abuse to go on to abuse others unless the destructive programming is exposed and rejected so that the pattern is broken. When children bully and abuse others it can be a symptom of what is going on in the home. Christians do not have to be caught up or bound by patterns of the past. Through the power of Jesus Christ people can learn and apply God’s word along with the help of godly counselors whether of brothers and sisters and/ or servant leaders to overcome the pain/shame of the past, gain insight, hindsight, and foresight for a new beginning as becoming of the children of God. Notice brothers and sisters Jephthah’s family/tribe never apologizes, and never asks for forgiveness. In fact, nothing is said of forgiveness between Jephthah and his tribe at all. Many have written on the abuse and misuse of forgiveness, holy people, feel free to study this further on your own, I love you all. 

Love

Sun, Nov 24th - 1:47AM

THOSE PEOPLE

The Life of Jephthah

Praise Jesus Christ, brethren, who indwells us: Eph 5:30 - For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 

Moreover, it is His sinless blood that flows through our spiritual veins unto eternal life with Him forevermore. It is the glorious Son of God, our Saviour Jesus Christ, adored and exalted above every name that is named in heaven and in earth that has made us His people and by His mighty power, and eternal love He has bound us all together in Him as one body.

As we continue to dig into the word of God, we understand again there was no justification of Jephthah being disowned by His family because His mother was a harlot. Many studies describe her as a prostitute as I have in this one, but I do not believe this is correct as I dig down further into the study because the word harlot has different meanings in one instance it can be used to describe a prostitute, and in another it can be used to describe a woman who is an adulteress, such as Jephthah’s mother, rather than a wanton prostitute.

Jephthah, again was definitely not a bastard, for he had the covenant of circumcision, because God forbade any uncircumcised male to ever be accepted in Israel: Gen 17:14 - And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

We know from this that Jephthah would have been taken from his birth mother at 8 days old into the household of Gilead: Gen 17:12 - And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.

Gen 17:13 - He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. This, the Abrahamic covenant was promised hundreds of years before God established the Law of Moses and cannot be disannulled by the Mosaic Law.

Even when God established the Law of Moses, He forbade the people from punishing of children for the sins of their fathers: Eze 18:20 - The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

God retains the sole right to punish, reward or avenge according to His sovereign will. He alone is just in all that He does and all that He does is always right and just. God alone retains the right to use others as His instruments of retribution to punish people for their sins. We see examples of this in both the old and the new testaments: Jer 27:8; 1Pe 2:14.

Some might ask how could a child 8 days old survive being taken away from its mother? The child could have been wet nursed, most likely it was nursed by Gilead’s wife. A woman can lactate although she is not pregnant. One example of this is: Rth 4:16 - And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.  17 - And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Many Christians are providing loving safe homes to the children that came out of wedlock into their families. Through hard work and faith these marriages have reconciled for the good of the whole family. However, there are those who have made little progress in accepting children born out of wedlock in the home, whether the marriage remains in contact or not.

When the child is not seen as an innocent victim too, the child will be denied the rightful love, care, and protection it deserves, beyond just food and a roof over its head-even that might be inadequate.  Don’t make the child wrongfully one of “those people” who ought to be ashamed of themselves and condemned for being born out of wedlock. Don’t punish or abuse these children physically and or mentally to pay back the cheating spouse for what she or he has done. Perhaps there is a brother or sister who has reached the boiling point, every time they look at such a child all they see is the person their spouse cheated with. If there is any brother or sister or anyone out there who feels that they are losing or have lost control and might hurt a child, it is urgent to take the child out of the home who is in danger of being harmed, in fact this must be done for the child’s safety. Get help for yourself. There is no shame in getting help, but there are terrible consequences if you do not. Keep your hands to yourself because you cannot be trusted to safely discipline a child under these circumstances. Don’t make the child a victim twice.

Brethren, if you suspect child abuse and or child neglect or endangerment you can call the authorities/emergency to report it. It can also be done anonymously.

Know this too: Luk 17:2 - It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

Love   

serola

Fri, Nov 22nd - 11:07AM

THOSE PEOPLE

The Life of Jephthah

Brethren, we know the biblical history of flagrant hypersexuality amongst the nation of Israel with pagan nations. Is this a case of the pot calling the kettle black? If Jephthah being the son of a whore was such a shameful blemish on the family’s “good name,” he was not alone for there were plenty in the nation that blemished the eternally good name of the Father among men.

Was Jephthah’s family justified in denying him an inheritance because his mother was a whore? If people born of a whore or descendant from one is justification for being disinherited, we know the harlot Rahab is in the human blood line of Jesus Christ. We know Rahab had a son Boaz who married Naomi the Moabitess too, yet God raised Jesus above every name that is named and set Him on the throne at His right hand.

Brothers and sisters, based on the biblical evidence Jephthah’s expulsion and disinheritance was not justifiable. It is common for some to encourage people hurt and damaged by being stigmatized to just forgive and get over it as best they can. However, dearly beloveds, God’s word does not encourage us to minimize the hurt and pain of our brothers and sisters: 1Co 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Those targeting others as unworthy, or defective are usually active in verbalizing their disapproval towards their victim daily or as often as they can get in touch with them. Violence is on the table towards the victims. We see in modern times even that people who are targeted are often assaulted or even killed. This can happen on the micro and macro levels in the world. We should not be calloused or dismissive regarding this issue.

The sovereignty of God to promote or demote whom He will is His alone. Therefore, on this basis He justifies Jephthah, but there is more.

Love

Tue, Nov 19th - 10:29PM

THOSE PEOPLE

The Life of Jephthah

Thanks, and praise be to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who indwells us and has left us His word so we do not have to flounder or wonder how to please, live and serve Him. Without the indwelling Holy Spirit no one can understand the word of God, and none can live it except through His power. As we dig into the word, holy people, we can count on the Holy Spirit to lead, guide and teach us. Here or there He may stop us to feed us with some choice morsel of needed wisdom, or fix us a whole meal of understanding that we did not expect to find.

In some places the Holy Spirit will give us some things to chew on and stretch us in our understanding. The Holy Spirit will lead us to all things Jesus Christ. In some places, dearly beloveds, He will cause us to test the spirits or teachings we receive from others; in some places He will correct or refine our own knowledge of the gospel. In some places the Holy Spirit will stop us and encourage us to lift us up, to pray, meditate, or medicate-find a needed comfort, calmness and or rest. In some places He may cause us to laugh or cry, and He will no doubt discipline and bring us to repentance when and where we need it. We never fail to find treasure from mining God’s word. The Holy Spirit also warns.

It matters not that unbelievers claim to know the Holy Spirit they are lying: Jhn 14:17 - Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

The Holy Spirit always directs us to and never away from Jesus Christ: Jhn 15:26 - But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth, dearly beloveds, never through the schools we attend, degrees held, positions we hold, and never through manmade organizations, denominations, institutions, or worldly philosophy of vain people:

 Jhn 16:13 - Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

As we continue in the study it is thought by some that Jephthah was a bastard based on his bio-mom being referred to as a strange woman. However, strange woman here in Judges 11:2, means another or different mother. She is not labeled as being of any specific nation. The reason for her being rejected is clearly that she was a whore.  I think this is important although later we note that the Bible does identify some but not all strange women by nation:  1Ki 11:1 - But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;

Deu 23:2 A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD.

Gen 19:30 -38. A bastard is anyone according to the Law as being born of incest a sexual relationship between parents and their children as were Lot and his two daughters from which the nation of Moab and Ammon came. Incest included with step parents, and also siblings including half siblings etc. was forbidden, and those who did so were cursed by God. It goes without saying that under the Law everyone was cursed who did not obey it. Feel free to study this further on your own.

Deu 23:3 - An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever:

We understand that Jephthah’s bio- mom was not of the nation of Israel, for the death penalty was a given for any woman of Israel guilty of being a whore.

Israel, in disobedience to God did mix with the women of Moab: Num 25:1 - And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.

Neh 13:23 - In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:

King David is a descendant of Boaz who married Ruth a Moabitess: Rth 4:10. And we know, dearly beloveds, not only did God sit him on the throne of Israel, but promised him that his seed, the coming Messiah would reign on the throne of David forever.

Even today some if not all Christians who might be born of incest, rape, or from mothers who are or were prostitutes are often rejected by people who know their origins, and even believe that they are rejected by God as well.  

Perhaps some might feel that the Bible is contradicting itself here and do not see how it is justified that Jephthah is allowed any relationship with God, or allowed by God to be a judge over Israel. Of course, saints (G40 hagios), God is not obligated to explain Himself to anyone, however God does provide an explanation, and the Bible never contradicts itself.

Love

Mon, Nov 18th - 8:22AM

THOSE PEOPLE

The Life of Jephthah

Judges 11: 1Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah. 2And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house; for thou art the son of a strange woman. 3Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with him.

Brothers and sisters, this is such a heart- breaking story of Jephthah and the other children involved too. There are those who counsel the abused that the first thing they must do is forgive their perpetrators. Forgiveness is a good thing. However, biblically speaking, it is not necessarily the first thing that injured people should do and we will look at this more a little further on in this study.

I know there is much wisdom and counsel in the story Jephthah’s life. There is a warning here to those who have children and are thinking of marrying someone who is not the biological parent.

Certainly, these marriages can work out well, but never by accident for it takes an unflinching truthful evaluation of the good, the bad and the downright ugly to see whether or not the people involved should proceed to marriage, if at all. The first thing for all to evaluate in these marriages is to determine if the couple have a history or not of the ability and willingness to set consistent sound standards and operate within healthy boundaries or work towards these goals for the health, protection and wellbeing of the children. When these marriages do not work out many times the children are harmed, some even killed.

Let us hold children survivors of parental abuse in our prayers and the adult survivors as well. Holy people, let us minister to them our love and support with the absolute truth that they were never to blame for what was done to them, it was never their fault for they did nothing wrong and have nothing to be ashamed of ever.  Let us aid them to receive, trust, accept and understand their identity as the well-beloved sons and daughters of Jesus Christ and His people. Let us fully embrace, teach, and strengthen them to live within the healing balm of the standard and boundaries of the new covenant of Jesus Christ. Every child is a wanted child in our King and Saviour Jesus Christ and among His forever family.

Only Christians are able to truly love for our King has given us the right, the privilege, the power and delight to love one another and all men in His very person.

 Jhn 6:37 - All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

There are no outcasts in God’s kingdom, saints (G40 hagios), for it is impossible for God to lie. His love endures forever.

Rom 8:38 - For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  39 - Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Love

serola

Fri, Nov 15th - 7:41AM

THOSE PEOPLE

The Life of Jephthah

Brothers and sisters, let us fellowship in the scriptures and continue to dig into and mine the word of God. Praise our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who has filled us with the Holy Spirit of Truth and love to teach, lead, guide, feed, and build us and our understanding up in the knowledge of Him. Some among us, dearly beloveds, feel they are still just scraping the surface of this study. Others have already gone into the mine of this study so far ahead and so deeply we can barely see the tops of their heads. However, where ever we are in this study it is where the Holy Spirit would have us stop and dig up treasure that will minister to us and for us to share with others.

Most certainly the Holy Spirit is always putting the welfare of children on our hearts and stirring up our compassion for them. I pray the hearts of the ministering women, and the nurturing fathers of the church and the church body as a whole, will be continually stirred up. Some I pray will get out of bed, turn off the tv etc. put down their bags of Cheetos, wash their orange stained lips and fingers and get back to church, because they are sorely needed in the body, because they are still necessary in the church. Therefore, saints (G40 hagios), do not any longer sin by depriving the church, of your gifts and wisdom, or your joy in service; for you know how to strengthen and love without enabling: Heb 10: 24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Unlike the wise servant leaders, some servant leaders are only interested in a young church in hopes of perpetuating “their ministry”. In doing so unwisely, they are damaging the church and hurting themselves, being disobedient and unable to provide the nurturing and care of the many hurting in the church. These servant leaders often complain of feeling drained, sucked dry, and needing to get away from the church as much as possible. Let us pray they will repent and do things the only right way-God’s way. Only Jesus Christ can build up the true church. Anyone building up a church by manmade doctrines, schemes, plans even if men unwisely approve, they will still fail in the sight of God. The true church has nothing to do with its size whatsoever, brethren, and is for ALL generations.

Most certainly, there are adult victims abused as children, who suffered abuse, rejection, neglect, and even physical violence and broken hearts who are in need of the healing love, care and wisdom of the whole church. We understand that they should not be dismissed with telling them to “just get over it”, not that some have not done so, but there are others that God requires the church to minister to and heal by His great power.

See, dearly beloveds, the God Man Jesus Christ knows how it feels to be unjustly rejected, unloved and bruised: Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

We know, brethren, those that are bruised  Jesus Christ will not allow them to break altogether: Mat 12:20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

We know our God Man/Saviour, High Priest, Advocate,  Deliverer, Redeemer knows how it feels to be despised, and broken hearted and He makes intercession for His people everywhere:  Luk 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

The gospel saves all who believe in and on Jesus Christ from sin and delivers all from its deadly power and sting; it heals the rejected, devalued, unloved and unwanted, cures all of our wounds in the healing balm of God’s everlasting love. Let the broken hearted amongst us know therefore, Jesus IS STANDING BY (FOREVER IN YOU) AND YOUR HEALING IS NIGH. The Holy Spirit is ever standing by also, we are never alone: Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Rom 8:34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Rom 8:31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Love

Wed, Nov 13th - 6:40PM

THOSE PEOPLE

The Life of Jephthah

Brothers and sisters, what a way to start a marriage. No wife ever thinks that the first child born from her husband would be from him and another woman. Jephthah is a victim here and certainly the wife and the other children that would later result from the marriage are victims too. Gilead was only thinking of himself, but sin always has consequences and can certainly harm innocent people by it too. Perhaps Gilead thinking since he held such power and authority his son by the harlot would be accepted by everyone, but that did not happen. The rejection of Jephthah was a round about slap in the face to Gilead by his family and tribe.

The nation of Israel, the people, their leaders and the priests, had tremendous problems with sexual sins and were slow to repent of them, leading God to step in and punish them at various times as recorded in scripture.

Human nature has not changed from the beginning and sexual sins are just as rampant today as they were in the past, so much so that the Bible warns Christians again and again:

1Th 4: 2For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

Dealing with sin in the church: 1Co 5:1-13.

1Co 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

Eph 5:3But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

Col 3:5Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Silence about sin in the church=agreement which is forbidden. Ref. whoremonger: Eph 5:5; 1Co 5:1.

1Co 6:9Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Love

serola

Tue, Nov 12th - 11:12PM

THOSE PEOPLE

The Life of Jephthah

Stigma: According to the Webster’s New World Dictionary, the short definition of stigma is, “a mark of disgrace or reproach.” Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, Ph.D. offers this definition of stigma, “Stigma is a perceived negative attribute that causes someone to devalue or think less of the whole person.” Given these two representations for the meaning of stigma, anyone can see that stigma, of any kind, is a deeply negative mindset and provides no value to society in general.

Social stigma is the disapproval of, or discrimination against, a person based on perceivable social characteristics that serve to distinguish them from other members of a society. Social stigmas are commonly related to culture, gender, race, intelligence and health.

Stigmatize definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

Definition of 'stigmatize'. stigmatize. If someone or something is stigmatized, they are unfairly regarded by many people as being bad or having something to be ashamed of.

Judges 11: 1Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah. 2And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house; for thou art the son of a strange woman. 3Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with him.

Brothers and sisters, it would be a mistake to think that the above passage written briskly and to the point is not rife with important lessons even for Christians today. We can look at it from God’s eternal holy perspective and the human perspective of the key individuals in it as well.

It is clear that Jephthah and his accomplishments were stained, devalued by the town, mother and siblings and not really protected by his father, due to him being the progeny of a prostitute or harlot. Raise your hand if you feel compassion for a child thrust into this kind of mess (I raised mine). Although this takes place a long time ago, it is not unheard of today.

Early on as a child Jephthah probably did not understand why the woman of the house was not warm to him as to his siblings. Most likely as he grew older he comprehended what it meant that his biological mother was a harlot. There can be no doubt he endured a high degree of name calling both in and outside of the home, which is child abuse.  A real home is more than just getting food and shelter. In every sense Jephthah is made to pay for the sins of his parents. Yet in another sense how can you hold a child responsible for whom he is born to as though he had a choice in the matter. But there will be one who will show him compassion.

The father Gilead did the right thing in not allowing his son to be raised by a harlot, but it would have been better if he had enough self-control and respect for his wife not to have slept with a harlot in the first place.

God warns Christians today:

1Co 6:15 - Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

Sin begins in the heart as Jesus warns: Mat 5:28 - But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Love

serola

Mon, Nov 11th - 7:58AM

THOSE PEOPLE

Brothers and sisters, it seems like we can find “those people” everywhere in the world. You know what I mean? All the people who are not “like us”. How do “those people” come to be? Who has the authority or right to determine who “those people” are? Is it harmless to assign human beings into “those people” categories?

Now, brethren, there was this man who was financially well off, married, had children, and a very prominent position in his town. However, he cheated on his wife with another woman. Eventually the wife would find out. One has to wonder how she felt. Was she angry, hurt, disappointed? Did she think this woman must be better than her in some way or wonder what this other woman had that she didn’t? Did she feel betrayed, inadequate as a wife and woman? Did she wonder if she was enough or would ever be enough for her husband? Did she wonder if he had brought home diseases to her from this other woman? Did she blame herself thinking if she had been a better wife her husband would not have looked elsewhere? Did she scream and flail at him with her hands shouting “how could you do this to me?” Would she forgive him or just want to pack up herself and kids and leave him? Did the town find out bringing shame on her and her family? We probably have even more questions about this matter than posted here, such as was the husband penalized in any way or ever apologized to his wife and kids in as much as one could for such a thing?

We just don’t have the answers for much of these questions, brothers and sisters, but it would not be too far off the mark to think that the wife might have felt and done some of the aforementioned things. Interestingly, the name of the wife and the name of the prostitute is unknown.

Indeed, brothers and sisters, the wife would find out her husband had cheated on her. Imagine how a wife would feel knowing that her husband had cheated with a common prostitute. That was bad enough, but he had gotten the prostitute pregnant, and she bore a son. Worse yet the husband brings the child into the marital home for the wife to raise.

So, holy people, get out your pick axes, chisels, and shovels and let us get ready to dig into the word of God as we look into the life of Jephthah.

Love

Sat, Nov 9th - 7:54AM

THE SIN OF PRIDE

Brothers and sisters, let none of us be haughty or puffed up as though anything we have obtained is only through ourselves: 1Co 4:7 - For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

Prideful servant leaders fearful of losing membership will not give the whole truth of the gospel message. Instead they give syrupy platitudes that folks should just try to do better, which replaces the admonishment against sin. They reject any biblical verses regarding hell because they do not want to “scare” anybody into being saved out of fear. Yet Lord Jesus Christ preached the gospel as one of absolute love and truth: He commands the righteous: Luk 1:50 - And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

Fear: to reverence, venerate, to treat with deference or reverential obedience. God commands Christians to have a holy reverence and fear for the awesomeness of His power, not in fear of being destroyed or not inheriting the kingdom, but as to God who alone is worthy of holy fear: Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Jesus Christ preached the absolute love and never left off the absolute truth of the gospel. It cannot be said often enough, holy people, the gospel of Jesus Christ is mankind’s final, complete, nonnegotiable and eternal last chance to escape the wrath of God and eternal punishment of the wicked. Amen brethren, God is absolute love, and God absolutely hates sin. NOW, while the door is still open, NOW, while there is still life and time, NOW, God commands us to urge people to believe in and on Jesus Christ, not to delay, not to wait until tomorrow, tomorrow is not promised, after death it is too late!! Jesus preached the whole truth of the gospel: Luk 12:5 - But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

God is no one’s teddy bear, don’t mess with Him.

God forbids the gospel message to be reduced to the error of sooth- saying- to tell people to give God their life, invite God into their heart, to say a prayer, to accept Christ, to accept the invitation of Christ, to make a decision for Christ. None of that is the gospel message, but man-made error a false gospel that saves no one.

The truth is if we confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts (believe trust in, rely on Jesus Christ for our spiritual wellbeing) that Jesus is the son of God, who died on the cross for our sins and rose again with eternal life, we shall be saved forgiven of all of our sins, sealed with the Holy Spirit and become Christians, children of God.  We are commanded to tell the truth about water baptism: Act 10:47 - Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

Water baptism, does not save, our salvation is totally complete and finished through faith in Jesus Christ, but water baptism is our public testimony that we have become followers of Jesus Christ.

The devil attacks the proud because he knows they are counting on their mere human strength to oppose him. No human being has the strength to defeat the devil by mere human power alone. 

REPENT!!!

Jas 4: 7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

We submit ourselves to God, brothers and sisters, or wind up trying to fight the devil in our own human strength-which will not go well at all for us.

SUBMIT YOURSELVES: subdue, put under, make subject yourselves under obedience (obedient), make subject (to, unto), be (put) in subjection (to, under), submit self unto.

God’s message to the whole church is that there is absolutely no need to fight, compete, and/or struggle to gain preeminence in the body of Christ. Let us therefore humble ourselves before our Almighty Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and trust Him to set us in His body according to His will for His glory and the good of His church the body of Christ.

1Pe 5:5 - Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

Love

serola

Wed, Nov 6th - 12:10AM

THE SIN OF PRIDE

Mat 23:12And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Abased: to depress; figuratively, to humiliate (in condition or heart): abase, bring low, of one's soul bring down one's pride; to level, reduce to a plain,  to bring into a humble condition, reduce to meaner circumstances, to assign a lower rank or place to abase, to be ranked below others who are honored or rewarded.

Exalted: to lift up on high, to exalt, to raise to the very summit of opulence and prosperity, to exalt, to raise to dignity, honour and happiness.

Self- exaltation, brothers and sister can never be trusted, never has the interests of God before itself, most of us know it is absolutely forbidden. Dearly beloveds. God is not mocked: Gal 6:7 - Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Pro 14:9 - Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

1Sa 15:23 - For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

Jesus is the Head of the church. As in the past so it still is that Jesus will set some aside from ministry, although they will not lose their salvation, they have been found not fit to be trusted with the gospel nor His people. Some too will be set aside because they were never Christians in the first place, never saved although ordained by the hands of men, institutions, or organizations, but never through the only way though believing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The flocks of proud servant leaders suffer and are wizened, spindly, weak, having not been fed with the word of God, but with worldly platitudes, smarmy emotional pap, useless chit chat and secular teachings of the flesh. Their sheep having never been fed nor armed with the gospel message get into a lot of difficulty in the world and fall prey to false teachings of many kinds.

Brothers and sisters, nevertheless, there are countless faithful servant leaders all over the world building up the flock through the word of God correctly interpreted. Their flocks are peaceful and well equipped with the gospel message. If we were to paint a picture of these flocks it would be a painting of sweet, well fed with the word little sheep, every one of them, even the little ones-WITH KNIVES, BETTER SWORDS OF THE SPIRIT-and well trained in how and when to use them.

 Humility, brothers and sisters, is a do it ourselves job. However, if we refuse or resist doing it for ourselves, then God steps in and does it for us and it is never pretty as I mentioned earlier. Anytime we minimize, or put anything before the gospel we will answer to God for it. Would it be surprising that the servant leaders who exalt their bands, musicians etc. over the gospel would one day find out the band, musicians would get puffed up and come to believe in error that they did not even need the servant leaders, and just start a church without them? Or even by legal means strip them of the right to be on the church grounds or property?

The wise will repent and turn around and do things God’s way, and be convicted, convinced and fully persuaded that the only right way is God’s way and the God’s way is the only right way.  

Mat 6:33 - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Love 

Mon, Nov 4th - 6:29PM

THE SIN OF PRIDE

Thank God who has revealed to us the mystery of His will by Jesus Christ, in codified thoroughly in the scriptures so that we can know how-to walk-in holiness before Him: Eph 1:9 - having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,  This is why, brethren, we are convicted, convinced and fully persuaded by God Himself, that pride in all of its forms openly and secretly must be absolutely rejected.

God (God the Father; God the Son Jesus Christ and God the Holy Spirit) alone is to be exalted. God alone is to be glorified. Uh huh, absolutely true and God will not ever share any of it with me, you nor anyone or anything else, for He alone is worthy of the totality of it with every accolade that can be given in heaven and earth along with the totality of all of our worship, praises, thank offerings and so much more:  Isa 42:8 - I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Isa 43:7 - Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

For the Christian, brothers and sisters, the Bible is clear that we are instructed by God to humble ourselves, which has nothing to do in any sense in cowering or submitting to mere men in fear. Instead regarding certain of men the Bible declares:  Rom 13:7 - Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. 8 - Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Nevertheless, the Bible clearly warns and instructs us, holy people, that there are certain of whom neither honor nor respect should be given although we love all men, we cannot love the wicked practices of any man nor woman, but should rebuke them. The prideful do not like the word rebuke and in error see it as being mean spirited and offending people. But the Bible instructs us otherwise whether the congregation or those who hold office in the body, we have to say it continually, saints (G40 hagios), no one is above church discipline: 2Ti 4:2 - Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

Concerning those stubbornly clinging to non-docrinal teachings:

Tit 1:13 - This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

Tit 2:15 - Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

The church is not to be silent in the face of wickedness in the world either: Eph 5:11 - And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

I.Reprove: to convict, refute, confute

A. generally with a suggestion of shame of the person convicted

B. by conviction to bring to the light, to expose

II.to find fault with, correct

 . by word

i.to reprehend severely, chide, admonish, reprove

ii.to call to account, show one his fault, demand an explanation

A. by deed

 .to chasten, to punish

How to be great in the sight of God:      Mat 18:4 - Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

We have to be like Lord Jesus Christ: Mt. 20: 25But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Love

serola

Fri, Nov 1st - 5:56PM

THE SIN OF PRIDE

Gal 5:26 - Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Desirous of vain glory: glorying without reason, conceited, vain glorious, eager for empty glory, presumption, arrogancy.

No Christian has to allow themselves to yield to their old adamic dead sin natures, which provokes and incites envy in the body. Our dear brother Paul also warns: 1Co 9:27 - But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Paul is not saying he would lose his salvation, but that God would dismiss him from His office as unworthy of it. Jesus Christ is the Head of the church and has a more worthy replacement in the stead of any of the proud and unfaithful.

Brothers and sisters, we know that the righteous when confronted with the truth will repent but the wicked never will. Some are slow to receive rebuke from God, the conviction of the Holy Spirit upon their consciences, and admonishment from brothers and sisters. Some that are proud see this as an attack against “their ministry”, or the devil using a believer to attack “their ministry”.

Sadly, those who are slow to repent God will allow them to suffer the consequences of their sin of pride, even the loss of the office of servant leader, or exclusion from fellowship with other believers. In some cases, public exposure in the world to warn others about them. The prideful don’t trust that the gospel is absolute. Holy people, initially some are ignorant of this being unlearned, but will come to learn and believe it. However, the prideful know it but do not believe it.

Brethren, the prideful will flip the gospel message to be all about God needing people to receive His offer. Firstly God does not need anyone:  Act 17:25 - Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

Secondly the gospel is not an offer nor invitation which can be refused with no penalty; it is God’s express command to all mankind: Act 17:30 - And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Saints (G40hagios) even now the prideful are preaching a false salvation that salvation is all about getting a better life, giving God their lives, healing emotional brokeness, overcoming addictions, getting rich, getting or having a good family life etc.

Ultimately, dearly beloveds, the loving disciplinary hand of God intervenes in the life of every Christian:   Heb 12: 5And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Love