Blog Scripture Readings for 8-6 Through 8-12-17

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THIS WEEK’S SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR STUDY AND DISCUSSION:

Parashat Eikev — Deuteronomy 7:12 – 11:25
Haftarah — Isaiah 49:14 – 51:3
Prophets — Ezekiel 37:1 – 43:27
Writings — 1 Chronicles 3:1 – 8:40
Testimony — Philippians 3:1 – 4:23; Colossians; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

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 8/6/17 through 8/12/17.

 

A Psalm of Natan—Can Anyone Relate?

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Like David, I write psalms from time to time. I have a small book full of them. Most never see the light of day.

There is a psalm in the Bible for every emotional high and low. That’s one of the beauties of the psalms. Most end in an upbeat praise to Yah no matter how low the starting point. Mine are no different.

I just now wrote a new psalm and I’m being led to share it with you. I labor over most of my psalms for days or weeks. This one was birthed in an hour. Maybe someone can relate, and it will bless someone. Then again maybe not…

Psalm X—A Psalm of Natan Lawrence

I’ve given it all and have nothing left except what You give me to give.

I’m running on empty, so where is Your heavenly filling station?

I am nothing except what You make of me.

I have nowhere to go except where You lead me.

I have nothing to say except what You put in my mouth.

For half a century Your word has been my breakfast, yet I know nothing.

You’re a vast ocean and I’m a single drop.

 

I’ve done it all:

Shepherded Your sheep who’d rather go astray,

Helped to gather the lost tribes here and across the nation—

But the rebels refused and divided.

Made disciples as You commanded of sheep who only bit and stomped.

Preached the gospel a thousand times till my voice was hoarse…

To those who stopped their ears and spat.

Poured out my soul to hearts of stone till my heart bled.

Prepared sumptuous meals to those who refused to eat till I was starving.

Visited You while You were in prison,

Fed You when you were starving,

And clothed You when You were naked.

Written volumes unlocking the delectable mysteries of Your word,

But they refused to eat—

Preferring instead their play toys!

Begged, pleaded, threatened, encouraged Your people to seek You,

Till I have no more voice, am empty of tears, weary of strength and faint of heart.

Led them to green pastures and to still waters,

But the manna from heaven was to them as dirt.

Blazed new paths in the forest and no one followed.

Made a tabernacle camp in the wilderness, and Your children merely complained.

Raised high the banner of Yeshua, and they went back to sleep.

Worshipped, danced and shouted like David,

While they sat unmoved, glued to their chairs.

Raised my voice in prayer crying out to the Most High,

While the sound of snoring rose from the back row.

 

Unfulfilled dreams have come and are now long past.

My dreams or Yours?

I cannot tell.

Are my failed visions merely launch pads to something yet to come—

My Master’s plan yet unrevealed?

Were these ventures pointless cisterns of my own hewing,

Merely tests of my character, refinements of my soul,

Preparing me for the real mission over the next hill?

 

All that I’ve done, learned, studied, taught, preached, written—

And still no revival!

Is it all vanity of vanities?

Has my focus been misplaced on doing instead of being?

 

So what now?

 

Like Samuel and Jeremiah, You’ve called me from my youth.

Like John, I stand alone— a voice in the wilderness.

Like Joseph, I’m held captive in the prison of this world.

Like David and Jeremiah, I await Your deliverance from the miry pit weeping.

Like Elijah, in the cave’s mouth,

I stand alone discouraged awaiting Your voice.

Like Nahum, I’ve written down the vision and stand watch waiting.

Like Moses, I can’t go forward without Your Presence.

Though the land is dry, barren, desolate and destroyed,

Like Habakkuk, I will sing my hymn of faith and rejoice in Elohim my strength!

Like Isaiah, I await Your waters in the wilderness,

When, behold, You will do a new thing,

When You will rend the heavens and come down,

And the mountains will shake at Your presence,

And Your fire will consume, refine, ignite and defend Your defamed Name.

Like Isaiah, my lips are unclean,

So cleanse me…

Here I am!

Use me.

 

Until then, like Amos, I’ll go back to picking my figs,

And tending my flock,

Until You send me forth.

Like David, I will look to the hills from whence comes my help,

Lifting my eyes skyward as a servant looks up to his master,

As a dog to its owner.

Like Martha, I will sit myself quietly at Yeshua’s feet,

Quiet my anxious soul

Like a weaned child with his mother.

And I will wait patiently on Yehovah Elohim.

 

Maybe I’m finally coming to the end of myself…

And you can really use me now.

Sometimes it feels good to get things off your chest and out into the open!

 

Demonization—The Levels of What It Is

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Matthew 17:21, This kind. There are different kinds of demons that influence humans. The Testimony of Yeshua speaks of being “possessed with a demon” or “demons,”  “vexed with a demon,” or “severely possessed with a demon” (Matt 4:24; 8:16, 28, 33; 9:32; 12:22; 15:22; Mark 1:32; 5:15, 16, 18; Luke 8:36; John 10:21).

All these ideas are expressed by the Greek word daimonizomai meaning “to be under the power of or possessed by a demon, or demonized.”

There are levels of demonization. The Bible reveals that demons can influence humans (e.g. from fiery darts of Satan shot at the saints by which he attempts to influence them [Eph 6:16], by lying to humans [1 Kgs 22:22–23], through unclean spirits [e.g. Matt 12:43; Mark 1:23, 26; 3:30] and by literally living in or possessing a person. The latter is the most extreme form of demonization.

In this passage, a demon lived inside of a child (v. 18), and when Yeshua rebuked the demon, it came out of the child. When a person is possessed with a demon, prayer and fasting may be necessary on the part of the deliverer to cast out the demon. This is because the deliverer has, to one degree or another, himself been weakened spiritually by faithlessness and perverseness and therefore lacks the spiritual power and faith to cast out the demon (vv. 17, 22), or because he has been negatively influenced by those around him who are this way (v. 17), and thus has been weakened by his spiritual environment. This is why Yeshua, at times, had to put the spiritually weak and faithless people out of the room before healing a sick person (Mark 5:40).

Prayer and fasting energizes a person spiritually by afflicting the soul (the mind, will and emotions) and forcing it into conformity with the word, will and Spirit of Elohim through which one gains the spiritual power to accomplish supernatural feats such as  casting out demons.

 

So-Called “Progressivism” Is Actually Regressive

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Today, on the comments section of this blog, a lengthy comment was posted from a “Progressive” taking exception with President Trump and “Conservatives.” He called all politicians “moral” and found it hard to understand why anyone would hold to conservative values.

Here is my response to him:

Thank you for your comments although they’re too lengthy for the comments section of a typical blog including this one.

Even though your comments are contrary to main philosophical tenets of this blog and grossly mischaracterize my philosophical views, I am not opposed to counterpoints when presented intelligently and respectfully as you have done. As the Bible wisely states, iron sharpens iron, and when our beliefs are challenged, as you have done, this opens the channels for dialog allowing, hopefully, the advancement of truth.

This blog is primarily a Bible study blog, and it’s from this perspective and worldview that we operate. Thus I will answer you accordingly. I will be brief and to the point. The older I get, the more I see the value in saying more with fewer words.

The God/Elohim of the Bible isn’t sectarian. He is neither a Democrat or Republican, a progressive or a conservative, a socialist or a capitalist. He is on the side of truth—his truth. Therefore he can’t be pigeon-holed into labels. As a follower of him neither can I. Truth as the Bible defines it can be found in many areas. In the political arena, the so-called Progressives have some truth as do the Conservatives. In determine who to follow, the questions to ask are these: What is truth? Who determines it? Who enforces it thus legitimizing it? How much truth does a person or group have? One can have one percent truth and 99 percent lives, or vice versa. Which is better? Who determines this?

The idea that “all politics is moral” quite frankly is laughable. That presumes that all men are moral. If that were the case, then why are there politicians in jail convicted of crimes? Was Mao, Stalin, Hitler, et al moral? They were politicians.

The problem here is that the social evolutionist presumes that man is evolving upward and improving morally. If that were the case, then why, when left to themselves, do things in the physical world naturally go from a state of order to disorder? That law of physics alone disproves the evolutionary model right there. This is true of humans as well. At this point, I’m reminded of the book and movie, “The Lord of the Flies.”

Next, your thesis presume that man is innately good. This is the typical foundation upon which cosmic or secular humanists base their beliefs. This is neither a biblical worldview and nor logical one. If man is innately good, then why all the problems, sin, disease, pollution, war, criminality, misery, suffering, etc. on the earth? The secular humanist and Marxist models blame this on man’s environment and how they were raised (i.e. nature and nurture). If they can just manipulate (called social engineering) the environment (political, economic and social systems) and destroy religion, then we’ll have paradise on earth. Hmm?! Show me where that’s ever worked? Castro, Pol Pot, Mao, Stalin, Hugo Chavez, etc., etc. have all failed miserably!

The Bible, on the other hand, teaches that men are innately sinful and morally debased. He needs redemption, deliverance and to be brought to a higher level through divine intervention. He needs a hand up, not a hand out. Elohim provides the former, governments of men the latter. The former improves a person from the inside out; the latter enslaves and often debases a person!

You see, the political progressive looks to government to supply all of its needs and to fix all of its problems. Government has become their god. This is called the religion of statism. This seems to be the ladder you have leaned your ladder up against. The problem is that government is run by sinful men who are not always moral. Therefore, putting one’s faith in government is regressive, not progressive. That’s why I view Progressivism largely as a joke. It’s not working in Europe. Why do you think it will work in America? A wise man learns from other people’s mistakes (and from history), so he doesn’t have to make them himself.

Over the history of the world governments have come and gone. There is nothing new under the sun. Men still have the same social ills they always have. So why should I trust government? Usually it’s the source of the problem, not the solution. Government enslaves, not liberates.

I could go on and on. And I have only made it to the fourth paragraph of your rather lengthy comment. I shall stop here.

 

The Rise of Secular Humanism—The Devil’s Religion

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The Devil’s Original Lie and the Religion of the New World Order

We are presently watching unfolding before us an epic and cosmic struggle between the forces of evil and good. The world system or cosmos of the devil is pitted against the unalterable and immutable plans, purposes and Word of the sovereign Creator of the universe, YHVH Elohim.

At the center of this battle is man. He was created in the image of Elohim and destined to become a son of Elohim. The Adversary, on the other hand, wants to make man into his image—a son of perdition. Man has to choose whom he will follow. To sit on the sidelines, ignore the battle and not to choose is, by default, to choose the side of the devil. Man must carefully choose his course of action, for the consequences are eternal. Inaction—not to choose—is to ignore the battle and by default to choose the side of the devil.

That battle will reach its nexus at the end of the age, just prior to the return of the Messiah. Will man fall for the lies of the counterfeit Messiah, or remain faithful to the Truth and Word of the real Messiah? To resist the deceiver and not fall for his lies one must know the face of his enemy: his tactics, game plan and the nature of his deception. The lies he will use in the end times to woo the multitudes to his side are not new. The tactics and game plan are the same, for it has never changed from the beginning. What are the lies he will use to seduce man to his side of this struggle? When did the deceiver first ply his trade? The answers are in the Book of Life.

The Big Lie and Its Origin—The Scriptures Speak of a “Lie”

There are those who turn from the revealed truth of Elohim and turn to believing a lie as Romans 1:24–25 states:

Wherefore Elohim also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of Elohim into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen

The Man of Sin/Lawlessness will cause many to turn from YHVH’s truth and believe a lie as 2 Thessalonians 2:7–12 states:

For the mystery of iniquity does already work: only he who now restrains will do so, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom YHVH shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause Elohim shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Outside of the New Jerusalem will be those wicked ones who believe a lie as the Book of Revelation states:

And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination, or makes a lie, but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Rev 21:27)

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie. (Rev 22:14–15)

The primary meaning of these passages is referring to those who have exchanged the truth of YHVH for a lie. But what lie? Who did Yeshua say was the father of lies (John 8:44)? The devil is, of course. So, ultimately all lies that humans believe had to have originate from those lies the devil through the serpent told the first humans in the Garden of Eden.

What Was This “Big Lie”?

Fundamentally, all big lies against the truth of YHVH actually originate from several big lies with which the serpent seduced Adam and Eve at the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Gen 3:1–5). The serpent told the following lies: Continue reading →

 

For Most People, Big Government Has Replaced Elohim

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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

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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
Charlene Aaron

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.