For Most People, Big Government Has Replaced Elohim

My Experience at a Town Hall Meeting With Our Representative to the US Congress

Last night, my wife and I went to a town hall meeting of our state representative to the US Congress. This was my first time doing this. We had a question for him regarding a personal matter. He is a liberal Democrat; we didn’t vote for him, but he is our elected representative.

To our surprise, the room was packed with several hundred people. He was there for only one hour. Questions were answered on a lottery basis; each person had a ticket, which were then drawn. Only those people got to speak. Our ticket was not drawn. Afterwards, we were blessed to be able to talk with one of the Congressman’s aids who graciously promised to help us with our problem, for which we were most grateful.

Our representative was most polite and diplomatic when answering people’s questions. but clearly his paradigm and value system is different than ours. While we respect him, we don’t hold to his liberal views. Clearly, he doesn’t hold to a biblical worldview.

What amazed me was this. Nearly all the 20 or so people that were allowed to ask a question or to make a comment were of the same mindset: More government is the answer to their problems, not less government. Some of these problems are of their own making like the young lady who complained about the high cost of her college loans, which she and she alone signed for and is responsible for! Some of these problems are beyond man’s ability to control such as climate change. Some of these problems were caused by government intervention and regulation in the first place such as the high costs of medical care or college tuition. Some of these problems are caused by human nature such as big corporate greed, while others are caused by who knows what like alzheimer’s disease. I could go on and on. The bottom line was that, in the minds of these people, bigger government was the answer to every problem. Government was their savior. The state has taken the place of God!

Not only that, every time an opinion was expressed, each person in attendance had been a green or red piece of paper they could wave to express their opinion pro or con. Red was for disapproval, while green was for approval. Whenever a pro-big government opinion was expressed, a sea of green placards went up—enthusiastically waved. I was one of the few nay-sayers in the crowd.

I came away from that meeting feeling as if I were in an alien universe.

Because I have the light of Elohim’s word to guide me from within, I take responsibility for my own actions and don’t look to government for the answers to all of my problems. Because YHVH’s Word is a lamp unto my feet, I make the right decisions in the first place and eat the right food and live a clean lifestyle, so I don’t need government medical assistance or healthcare or financial assistance.  Because I follow the Bible’s admonitions and work hard six days a week to pay my bills, and because I tithe, I don’t need government welfare checks because my Elohim supplies all of my needs. HalleluYah! Because of the wisdom of the Bible, I don’t spent more than I can afford, I don’t covet what I can’t pay for, I’m content with and thankful for what I have. If I have needs, I pray to the Father in the name of Yeshua and he answers my prayers. I don’t have to put it on the charge card, or ask others to pay for it.

Unlike these other people, I was at this meeting because of a problem that is affecting me that was caused by government regulation and is costing me an extra $1000 per month. My problem has to do with so-called “affordable” government run healthcare. We were doing just fine with our  insurance coverage before the government got involved. Now we’re paying twice as much and getting much less the coverage. Thank you very much big government! I was doing just fine before you nosed into my business! Now, I’m seeking relief to get oppressive government off my back! I can manage my own life just fine without government meddling!

I took two things away from that meeting.

First, we’ve come a long way from the famous words of President John F. Kennedy back in the early 1960s, “Ask not what your government can do for you; ask rather what you can do for your government.” Have things changed since then! America has gone from a can-do, self-sufficient people, to a whining and sniveling bunch of cry babies looking to mommy to help them.

Second, the Bible says that a wise man builds his house on the rock. My rock is Yeshua the Messiah and the Word of Elohim, which is a light to guide me on the blessed path of truth in the darkness of this world. And YHVH supplies my needs and answers my prayers. If my main hope were in government to solve my problems, I’d be a most miserable person!

America has largely lost its moral and spiritual compass and is now a house built on sand! Will it stand when the storms come?

 

Some more good news: US Senate Chaplain Barry Black

I invite you to read Chaplain, Rear Admiral, Dr. Barry Black’s bio at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Black. Fascinating! BTW, he’s a Sabbath-keepper.
Also, please go the the CBN News link to this article and listen to the interview with Chaplain Black. Very encouraging!
CBNNEWS.COM

Senate Chaplain in Awe of Senator Who’s Led 13 Heads of State to Christ

02-21-2017

U.S. Senate Chaplin Barry Black is the spiritual leader for some of the most powerful people in America; he’s not only the pastor for 100 senators, he also ministers to about 600 others on Capitol Hill.

Black is the 62nd chaplain of the Senate and the former chief of chaplains for the U.S. Navy, so some might be surprised when he says there are lawmakers who “dwarf him spiritually.”

“We have one senator who has led 13 African heads of state to Jesus Christ,” he told CBN News.

“I mean I haven’t led a single African head of state to Jesus Christ and this senator has been able to do that. You have several ordained ministers in the Senate, Yale Divinity School, this kind of thing.  They bring their spirituality,” he said.

The nation’s pastor recently brought down the house at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., sparking cheers and inspiring thousands of audience members to jump to their feet.

During the speech he talked about Republican and Democrat lawmakers attending Bible studies together, holding hands and praying.

In an interview with CBN News about his new book, Nothing to Fear: Principles & Prayers to Help You Thrive in a Threatening World, he shared his thoughts on the reasons behind the political divide in the nation.

“I think it’s because we have any enemy,” he said.

“The devil is at working trying to divide us, but I’m so glad that in John 17 our Lord in His intercessory prayer, He could have asked the Father anything for believers; He said ‘Father make them one, as we are one,’ and if we’re united as people of faith, there’s absolutely nothing we can’t accomplish in His name.”

Black also mentioned that the legislative process is adversarial. But he described how the weekly Bible studies he hosts are attended by members of both parties, despite their political differences.

“The beauty of having 25 to 30 of them meeting at a prayer breakfast  each week, having them meet again at a Bible study each week is they interact with one another and from time to time, you’ll hear of the Gang of these are lawmakers from both sides who basically say enough is enough and they have sufficient spirituality to then become gadflies and ensure that the legislative branch functions as God intends for it to,” said Black.

He also said that the Church as a whole often underestimates the power of prayer.

“We don’t grasp the real power of prayer corporately because we are not exercising the privilege of prayer privately.  When we discover in our personal lives, our devotional lives, the power of prayer makes a difference. First Thessalonians 5:17 says pray without ceasing…that’s the only thing God has asked us to do continously and we don’t. We’re not exercising it,” he said.

“What happens when you start praying without ceasing, which means being constantly aware of the presence of God, is you see the power,” he concluded.

Black would not name the senator, but he went on to say that several lawmakers are very strong believers.

 

Some good news for a change in the news: Spiritual Awakening in the White House

Don’t know about you, but I’m to the point that I can hardly read the news any longer because of how much it sickens me.

Everywhere, everywhere, everywhere unprecedented horrors and wickedness here and abroad! It so offends this man of Elohim who has dedicated his life to lifting up biblical values and promoting Yeshua! This tidal wave of evil upon us and the forces of hell unleashed are almost too much for a sane and righteous mind and heart to cope with.

So here’s some good news for a change. It may not exactly be yours or my brand of biblical teaching, but, hey, it’s a start, it gives me great hope and reason to rejoice and I’m also reminded of Paul’s words:

Some indeed preach Messiah even from envy and strife, and some also from good will: The former preach Messiah from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Messiah is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. (Phil 1:15–18)

For all the naysayers out there who hate the Christian church, consider this: If our YHVH Elohim is powerful enough to use Balaam’s ass to speak his words, he can use anyone or anything!

Look, I’m not for or against any political leader or party. I am on the side of Yeshua and truth and righteousness as the Bible defines it. Had these Bible studies been going on in the Obama Whitehouse, I’d have been rejoicing even more!

Maybe the spiritual “revival” going on in the Whitehouse is why the left and so-called “progressives” (they’re anything but!) are trying so desperately hard to bring President Trump and his presidency down! Do you think?

I tend to think that behind the scenes there is a giant cosmic spiritual struggle going on between the forces of good and evil for the soul of this nation. The on-going controversies we read about daily in the news is merely the surface manifestation of this battle in the heavenlies. 

Keep praying for our leaders and keep doing spiritual warfare!!!

Now the good news:

From http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/politics/2017/july/bible-studies-at-the-white-house-whos-at-the-heart-of-this-spiritual-awakening

Bible Studies at the White House: Who’s Inside This Spiritual Awakening?

07-31-2017

WASHINGTON – A spiritual awakening is underway at the White House.

Some of the most powerful people in America have been gathering weekly to learn more about God’s Word, and this Trump Cabinet Bible study is making history.

They’ve been called the most evangelical Cabinet in history – men and women who don’t mince words when it comes to where they stand on God and the Bible.

Ralph Drollinger of Capitol Ministries told CBN News, “These are godly individuals that God has risen to a position of prominence in our culture.”

They’re all handpicked by President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.

“I don’t think Donald Trump has figured out that he chained himself to the Apostle Paul,” Drollinger laughed.

Drollinger is a former NBA-playing giant of a man with an even bigger calling. He founded Capitol Ministries with the idea that if you change the hearts of lawmakers, then their Christian world view will guide them to make good policies.

He’s started Bible studies in 40 state capitols, a number of foreign capitols, teaches weekly studies in the U.S. House and Senate and now leads about a dozen members of President Trump’s Cabinet in weekly studies of the scriptures.

Health Secretary Tom Price, Energy Secretary Rick Perry, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, Agriculture Secretary Sunny Perdue, and CIA Director Mike Pompeo are just a few of the regulars.

“It’s the best Bible study that I’ve ever taught in my life. They are so teachable; they’re so noble; they’re so learned,” Drollinger said.

It’s groundbreaking since he doesn’t think a formal Bible study among executive Cabinet members has been done in at least 100 years.

America’s top cop, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, also attends the study.

“He’ll (Jeff Sessions) go out the same day I teach him something and I’ll see him do it on camera and I just think, ‘Wow, these guys are faithful, available and teachable and they’re at Bible study every week they’re in town,'” Drollinger said.

President Trump is invited to attend the Bible studies, too. Each week he receives a copy of Drollinger’s teaching.

And Vice President Pence is also planning to join the study as his schedule permits. He also serves as a sponsor.

In Pence, Drollinger sees many similarities to biblical figures like Joseph, Mordecai and Daniel – all men who rose to the number two position in governments at different times in history.

“Mike Pence has respect for the office. He dresses right – like it says Joseph cleaned himself up before he went to stand before the Pharaoh,” Drollinger told CBN News.

“Mike Pence has uncompromising biblical tenacity and he has a loving tone about him that’s not just a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal,” he continued. “And then fourthly, he brings real value to the head of the nation.”

Like others, Drollinger often compares President Trump to biblical strongman Samson.

“I just praise God for them,” he said. “And I praise God for Mike Pence, who I think with Donald Trump chose great people to lead our nation.”

 

The Spirits in Prison, the Resurrection of Yeshua and Baptism

1 Peter 3:19–22, Spirits. From the context of this passage, these were demonic spirits (Gr. pneuma), not human spirits, since in verse 21 Peter refers to humans by the Greek word psuche­­—in English, souls. Demons are not souls and don’t have souls; rather, the Bible refers to demons as lying, evil or unclean spirits (e.g. 1 Kgs 22:22; 23; Acts 19:15, 16; Luke 4:33; 8:29; 9:42).

Preached to the spirits in prison. Did Yeshua preach to the spirits in prison while he was dead? No. Verse 18 states that Yeshua was put to death, was then quickened or made alive by the Spirit (i.e. was resurrected from the grave), and then, in the spirit, he went to preach to the spirits in prison. Yeshua preached to the angelic spirits who rebelled in Noah’s time after he was resurrected from the dead. In that prison, which Peter refers to as tartaroo (2 Pet 2:4 cp. Jude 6), these evil spirits await Elohim’s final judgment (Jude 6).

Likely, Yeshua went there to inform these evil spirits that despite his resurrections and offering of salvation for human sinners, there is no redemption for them for the evil deeds they committed as recorded in Gen 6:2. Interestingly, the Book of Enoch reveals that these same demons appealed their sentence in times past, but to no avail (1 Enoch 6:4; 13:12–3; 14:4–5).

This passage ends in verse 22 with Yeshua taking his position victoriously at the right hand of Elohim above angels, principalities and powers. In other words, Yeshua has overcome all the evil plans and machinations of Satan and his evil spirits to subvert Elohim’s plan of redemption for man resulting in the glorification of man. By the context of this passage, Peter has Gen 6:2 in view and the sin of the rebellious angels and their attempt to corrupt and to subvert humanity both physically and spiritually. By Yeshua’s resurrection and his victory over sin, death, hell and the grave, he has defeated all the enemy’s plans.

Prison. (Gr. phulake) There are no instances in the Bible of disobedient human souls being placed in an other-worldly prison (Gr. phulake). On the other hand, Satan is bound in a prison (Gr. phulake) for a thousand years during the millennium (Rev 20:7).

1 Peter 3:19, Baptism. This passage is equating baptism with a pledge of loyalty to the risen Savior. In the cosmic struggle between good and evil, between Satan and Elohim as specifically noted in the larger context of this passage as regards the sins of the angelic “sons of Elohim” in Gen 6:2, baptism is the public oath a new believer takes in favor of Elohim and against Satan. This is why the baptism ritual in the early Christian church included a renunciation of Satan (and his minions) and involved literally turning one’s back on the setting sun and facing the rising sun. This wasn’t an act of sun worship, but an acknowledgement of Yeshua, the Creator of the sun who is the Sun of Righteousness (Mal 4:2) and whose face shines like the sun (Rev 1:16) and who is the spiritual light of the world (John 8:12; 1:1–9), and who came to dispel the spiritual darkness (John 1:1–9) introduced into this world by Satan at the tree of knowledge (Gen 3) and by those angels that rebelled against Elohim and attempted to corrupt humanity both physically and spiritually (Gen 6:1–6; Jude 6; 2 Pet 2:4).

 

Blog Scripture Readings for 7-30 Through 8-5-17

Aside

THIS WEEK’S SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR STUDY AND DISCUSSION:

Parashat Va’etchanan — Deuteronomy 3:23 – 7:11
Haftarah — Isaiah 40:1-26
Prophets — Ezekiel 30:1 – 36:38
Writings — Nehemiah 9:1 – 13:31; 1 Chronicles 1:1 – 2:55
Testimony — Ephesians 2:1 – 6:24; Philippians 1:1 – 2:30

Our full Scripture Reading Schedule for 2016-2017 is available to download and print.

Most of this week’s blog discussion points will be on these passages. If you have general comments or questions on the weekly Scripture readings not addressed in a blog post, here’s a place for you to post those. Just use the “leave a reply” link below.

The full “Read Through The Scriptures In A Year” schedule, broken down by each day, can be found on the right sidebar under “Helpful Links.” There are 4 sections of scripture to read each day. One each from the Torah, the Prophets, the Writings, and from the Testimony of Yeshua. Each week, the Torah and haftarah readings will follow the traditional one-year reading cycle..

Weekly Blog Scripture Readings for 7/30/17 through 8/5/17.

 

There is a time…And there is NOT a time

Shabbat shalom to all my friends in Yeshua around the world!

May Yeshua the Messiah bless you all as you seek to serve, love and abide in him every day more and more. Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. —Natan

Ecclesiastes 3:1–8, There is a season.   

There is a time and season for everything. That sounds like an innocuously bland and self-evident statement, but not really.

There is a time to do things, as the wise preacher informs us in his famous Ecclesiastes three passage, which begins with the famous words, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a  time to die…” and so on.

But the more the years and decades slide past me and as I reach the grandparenting season of my life, the more I realize that there is, perhaps, more importantly, a time not to do a lot of things that I might have done at an earlier time in my life. There are battles not to fight, words not speak, things not to do. There are several reasons that immediately come to mind for this.

First, and, perhaps, most importantly, it’s about priorities. As one reaches the top of the hill of one’s life and begins the descent on the other side toward death, one can see more circumspectly one’s past life as well as that which remains whether it be a long or a short Continue reading →

 

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