Are Things Really Getting Worse?

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What you believe determines what think. What you think determines what you do. What you do determines your destiny.

There seems to be a couple schools of thought out there among YHVH’s people. One group says that things in society are getting worse, and that this is a sign of the end times before the second coming. Another group says that things aren’t any better or worse than they’ve ever been. Things have always been bad and men have always been as evil as they are today. The only difference is that men’s evil deeds are simply more reported about today thanks to the immediacy of telecommunications and the internet.

What do you think? Here’s some data from a recent poll in the U.S. that’s cause for concern.

 U.S. BELIEF IN GOD DOWN, BELIEF IN THEORY OF EVOLUTION UP

 NEW YORK, Dec. 22 (UPI) — 
Three-quarters of U.S. adults say they believe in God, down from 82 percent in 2005, 2007 and 2009, a Harris Poll indicates.

The Harris Poll found 57 percent of U.S. adult say they believe in the virgin birth of Jesus, down from 60 percent in 2005, and 72 percent … (read the rest of the story at http://www.breitbart.com/system/wire/upiUPI-20131222-203104-2408.)

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For those who think that everything is the same as it always has been, may I remind you of the passage in 2 Peter 3:2–14. Especially note verses 3 and 4. Hopefully these words will stir us up spiritually to “be found by [Yeshua] in peace, without spot and blameless” (verse11).

The bottom line is this: non one knows when their time on earth is up, or when Yeshua will return. So always be ready to meet him.

 

 

Preparing the Way for Messiah Means Unpopular Preaching

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Luke 3:7–17, Then he said to the multitudes. What’s really going on in this exchange between John and the religious folks of his day? Let’s step back and look at the bigger picture.

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The multitudes of Jews had to make the long, hot and arduous journey down through the Judean mountains to the Jordan River, which was the lowest spot on earth, to hear John the Baptist who was the latest fad preacher to come on the scene. However, when they arrived at his lonely wilderness pulpit, instead of stroking their egos by complimenting them for their religious zeal, he excoriates them and calls them a brood of vipers. John confronts them when he says that if they don’t repent, the fires of YHVH’s judgment will consume them (John 3:7–9). John’s preaching pierces their hearts, and lays them low spiritually, and they ask him what he expects them to do (John 3:10). John then preaches a message of social justice involving giving to the poor, being fair and honest in your business dealings, and if you’re a government worker, treating the citizens you serve with respect (John 3:11–14).

Interestingly, he doesn’t instruct these religious Jews in what many might consider to be Continue reading →

 

Blog Scripture Readings for 12/22 through 12/28/13

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Parashat Va’eira — Exodus 6:2 – 9:35
Haftarah — Ezekiel 28:25 – 29:21
Prophets — 2 Samuel 15:1 – 21:22
Writings — Psalms 89:1 – 94:23
Testimony — Luke 3:1 – 6:26

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 12/22 through 12/28/13.

 

A Gift for Yeshua: Why I Love Him — Reflections on His Nativity

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At this time of year, we think of the birth of Jesus (Yeshua). Most people who are knowledgable know that he wasn’t born in December, but in the early fall. But nine months before this puts us at the end of December when Yeshua was conceived — when the life of our Savior began in Mary’s womb. It was at this time that the heaven-sent Yeshua miraculously pierced the spiritual darkness of the this world at the darkest time of the year. This divine spark of life in the womb of a woman would become the spiritual light of this world to lead men out of the darkness of sin and evil and to the supernal light of his Father, Elohim, and to eternal life.

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Whether you celebrate the birth of the babe in the manger in December or in the fall, Yeshua’s arrival is still heaven’s ultimate love gift to humanity as John 3:16 says. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Please stop for a moment and quiet your heart and mind to reflect on the significance of this momentous event that occurred in the tiny town of Bethlehem some 2000 years ago.

For years since I was a child, my mind fully believed what the Bible tells us about the birth of Yeshua. But it wasn’t until years later, as an adult, that while I was alone one night and quietly seeking Elohim, that the revelation of the priceless nature of Elohim’s love gift to me literally pierced my heart like a lightening bolt from heaven. As a result of this supernatural revelation and an overwhelming sense of Elohim’s love that accompanied it flowing Continue reading →

 

The Round Peg of YHVH’s Will Vs. the Square Hole of Men’s Traditions

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Luke 5:33–39, Fast often…eat and drink? The sayings of Yeshua are often enigmatic. This passage is one of them. Here is one possible interpretation of these difficult words of Yeshua.

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It was evident by the questions the Jews were asking Yeshua that he and his disciples weren’t following the accepted norms of the day in how they expressed themselves religiously. Yeshua explains that our religious expression rather should fit the spiritual times and seasons (as determined by the Spirit of Elohim) in which we find ourselves, and that we shouldn’t just blindly follow men’s religious traditions. This will put us out of synch with the heart and will of Elohim.

Yeshua then goes on to illustrate his point by saying that some things don’t fit with other things because they’re mismatched such as a new patch on old clothes, or new wine in old wineskins.

The bottom line is this: If one tries to pound the proverbial round peg into the square hole, both the peg and hole will be ruined. Or put in spiritual terms, what is to be gained from trying to beat the round peg of YHVH’s will into the square hole of men’s traditions or expectations? Sometimes the old traditions are better, and sometimes the new ways are better. Wisdom and being in tune with the will and heart of Elohim will determine which way is preferable.

As we grow stronger in our spiritual maturity, hopefully we will  learn to bend more with the wind of the Holy Spirit, and not so much with the winds of men’s doctrines, traditions and opinions.

 

New Video: Public Enemy #1: Defeating Apathy, Complacecy, Lukewarmness

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The saints’ greatest enemy is spiritual weariness, apathy, complacency, and lukewarmness, and it makes us vulnerable to the attacks of the world, flesh and devil, which can lead to eternal damnation. In the end times before the second coming, the love of many for Yeshua and his Torah-truth will grow cold and they will go into apostasy. This video shows how to defeat this fierce enemy.

 

As in the Days of Noah (and Sodom)

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You better duck because it’s all out war against Bible believers! You know it, see it all around you and read about it every day in the news.

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As Duck Dynasty’s star Phil Robertson learned yesterday, you can say anything in our society no matter how crass and vile it is and be guaranteed  freedom of speech — unless of course you quote the Bible, or share your Bible-backed opinions. It’s then that the pervs, libs, hedonists, self-worshipping moral relativist humanists, and God-hating fascists in the media and entertainment industry and even some activist judges and politicians crawl out from under their rocks and exit their closets in unison (as if on cue from the devil himself) to crucify you.

Though I’ve never watched the immensely popular Duck Dynasty television show (I got rid of my television years ago), anyone who stands up for biblical values has my prayers and support.

You can read about this attack on fee speech and biblical values at http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/duck-dynastys-phil-robertson-indefinite-666808 and http://variety.com/2013/tv/news/duck-dynasty-ae-suspends-phil-robertson-following-gay-remarks-1200974473/. As you read these accounts of Robertson’s comments, notice how the Hollywood pervs mischaracterize Christians, Yeshua and the Continue reading →