GOD IS NOT YOUR CUSSWORD, USE YOUR OWN NAME

THE THIRD COMMANDMENT

THE NAME!

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain...(Exodus 20:5)


This is such a profane and corrupt society and it seems as if there are no boundaries left in America. We can blame the culture primarily - mainly the movies, TV and music, but we share a lot of the culpability. We are partly to blame because we have allowed the frog to boil slowly. We did that by compromising here, shaving there, little here, a little there...and before you know it, we have all kinds of people, including a cussing pastor in Seattle, blaspheming the Name of the LORD, my God!


Here is just as a simple and obvious reminder to all of us: it shows just how serious Jesus and the Father are about taking the Name of the Lord - not just in vain (as in "OMG" and worse) but how EMPHATIC He is about it. We know that from the very first line of the LORD's PRAYER: "OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN - HALLOWED (HOLY, MAGNIFIED, GLORIOUS...AND MORE) IS YOUR NAME!


The ancient Jews/Hebrews/Israelites so revered the Name of God (or G-d), they would not even call Him Jehovah or YahWeh! They would call Him - HaShem! All that means is -"THE NAME"!  In that Biblical culture especially, a name is given to you to describe not just WHO you are, but your attributes and characteristics! Because there is no one greater than God, all He has to say, as when Moses asked Jesus "Who should I say sent me?" and Jesus replied "....I am that I am sent you" ...or...YahWeh (Jehovah)!


HaShem is so righteous, powerful and all-knowing, that the Hebrews dare not blaspheme Him and would not even dare go there, even to this day, in the religious orthodox areas. Western culture seems to have no problem blaspheming the Name of the Lord - in conversations; songs; all kinds of multimedia and even from the pulpit. It flows out of an unredeemed people's mouth like nobody's business. In the office, in the factories or diners, His Name is a cuss word, an exclamation point and worse...everything except Who and What He, HaShem...REALLY IS, Hallowed be His Name!


But God, has promised in the verse above, to hold us accountable for not just everything we say and do, but especially for this offense. As I was meditating on this verse yesterday and what it means, I asked the Lord to please forgive me for everything I have ever said out of line in the past. I repented right there and there for following the world and using His Name in the specific circumstances He brought up to my mind from over 30 years ago, even! Repentance is a purifying thing, my friends.


Finally, just one tip, instead of saying "OMG" in a text message or something, why not say "OMW" (Oh my word)....that way, you and I would not be taking the Holy Name of the Lord in vain! Amen

TOMORROW: THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT

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NO OTHER!

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT 

(First of a Series on the Ten Commandments)

Exodus 20:3 (NASB):

Part 1:

This world is full of false gods - the idols which men and women have made unto themselves because it is easier to so do, in their rebellion.  It has been like this during the entire history of man, after the fall of Adam and Eve in the LITERAL Garden of Eden. But in this amplified hi-tech world of the 21st century, we see it reaching Sodom and Gomorrah proportions.

The pagan idols and gods are not just the demonic of the eastern and other religions with their shamans. Those are obvious to the discerning Christian. What is increasingly disturbing are the millions caught up in the spiral into the pit of Santeria and other blending of the demonic and Catholicism. Most of these people live in places like Cuba, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Venezuela etc. Through the elite and immigration, the practice has spread to Florida and other parts of cosmopolitan USA.  

When you add the increasing acceptance of Yoga into the mainstream, we see the infiltration into the last bastion of Christianity in the west - the declining Evangelical church of America. Church leaders are allowing "Christian Yoga" into God's church, claiming they are not doing the accompanying hindu chants, but are just worshipping our God through exercise....by the way our God Himself said "Can a make take fire into his bosom and not be burned?" ....just saying!

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ MY ARTICLE ON SO-CALLED CHRISTIAN YOGA

Adonai was very specific here. He is representative of the Father of the Universe - Jehovah God - Abba! There is to be NO OTHER WORSHIP of these false dieties and for the Christian who thinks he/she is being tolerant and "loving all peoples" by bowing down to this....then going to church on Sunday, there is going to be a bill come due one day! 

This has manifested itself in the Barna polls. They now reveal that 57% of so-called evangelical christians say that there are other ways to heaven than Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior! These non-believers are the fifth column in our churches! When the tribulation comes, they would be the ones used to persecute real believers.  We see them all over the media now....having interfaith meetings; promoting pro-abortion candidates and seeing nothing wrong with alternate lifestyles equating itself with Biblical Values and Biblical marriage. In addition to these obvious violations against Holy God, we see a watering down of the True Gospel of Christ and more emphasis on entertainment and psychology, instead of Sola Scriptura (The Bible alone)!

These are just some of the manifestations and bitter fruit of a race of people - the human race - which has removed itself far from the Law of God.  This is the Law that gives Life - eternal Life, but man has destroyed it...and himself in the process, because he has no concept of the wrath which is to come.

The good news is that this is one Law easier to keep than most! There is ONLY One God, three in essence but One God. 

He is a jealous God in that He knows His Worthiness, Holiness and Perfection. 

He has revealed Himself in the pages of the Bible. 

When we are saved and brought into the Kingdom, we know these things. 

When we are saved and see Him as He is, through His Word and the Spirit, we know He is the One True God and worship Him - ONLY HIM. 

When we are saved, we see His Law as it really is - LIFE!

Glory to His Name!

PART 2 TOMORROW: WHAT IS HIS NAME?

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THINK ON THESE THINGS - MONDAY

LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION

We live in such a vile and fallen world full of distractions; infractions and temptations! When the serpent tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden, he unleashed a pandora's box of evil on mankind we are still living with. 

Temptation comes in many forms.


It comes in the financial. In horrible economic times, the evil one temps God's people to shade, cut corners and look the other way to get ahead.
It comes in the flesh. The carnal culture has extended into the church, as adultery, immorality and pornography has the same influence inside the church building as out.
It comes in the Body of Christ. Ministry and church leaders are using earthly means and strange fire to stay afloat and run their organizations while claiming to represent God.


The Bible says in James 1:13 ESV " Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God" for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempts no one."

People say God can do anything. Wrong. God cannot and will not sin. He also will not lead you into a compromising position. You do that  yourself all on your own!


Therefore this phrase, next up, in our study of the LORD'S PRAYER is a grenade with a pulled pin! The Bible is clear that God will NOT lead ANYONE into sin! God is Holy Holy Holy. So "leading" anyone into Temptation is not His Nature of Holiness!


There is some misunderstanding into the English translation from the original Greek Language! The key part of the phrase is "Kai me eisenenkes hemas me eis pierasmos". This really implies, when looked at literally, "do not bring or allow me to fall into temptation (or a test)"! Then if you follow into the next phrase, Jesus says "but LEAD us AWAY from evil.


God will provide a way out of the temptation He allowed you to fall into, because of your own lustful nature. HE ALWAYS PROVIDES AN ESCAPE! If you do NOT take that escape, the sin is entirely on YOU! So let's go to Jesus and Prayer now:

Matthew 6: 8-13:

Our Father in heaven,
      Hallowed be Your name.
      Your kingdom come.
      Your will be done
      On earth as it is in heaven.
      Give us this day our daily bread.
   And forgive us our debts,
      As we forgive our debtors.
    And do not lead us into temptation,
      But deliver us from the evil one.
      For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION:  Lord, Your Word says we will not be tempted beyond the ability to handle it. Your Word says resist the devil and he shall flee from us. Lord, we have the Power within us, the Power of the Holy Spirit, to say NO. To say GET THEE BEHIND ME SATAN. To be a man or woman of integrity like Joseph and to flee the adulterer, the briber, the thief, the kleptomaniac and more.  Let us remember we wear You on our sleeves, so that we may never bring dishonor to You. Remove all temptation from our path, but when it comes oh Lord, You take over and turn our eyes away from it, so it may pass us by. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

BUT DELIVER US FROM THE EVIL ONE: Father deliver us from the evil one. He has many demons amongst us, many stumbling blocks, and many ways to bring confusion to our lives. He uses Your church to sow division, soft doctrine and shallow service. He has taken Your beautiful creation of this world and caused some to worship it, instead of You. He has taken the beautiful people You have created and perverted their images into raw pornography, MTV and various other idols of this world. Build a wall of fire around me. Build a wall of fire around my family and friends. Build a wall of fire around my marriage and my spouse. Build a wall of fire around my heart and my eyes so that when he sends his evil in beautiful packages and they get too close, they will burn up with the fire of Your Wrath because You are my shield and buckler, Oh Lord. Thank you, In Jesus’ Name. Amen

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THINK OF THESE THINGS - SATURDAY

TLC TV'S 'LONG ISLAND (NY) "MEDIUM" THERESA CAPUTO

APOSTASY, ABOMINATIONS & MEDIUMS...BUT GOD, HE HAD MOSES!

Apostasy, stupidity and lack of discernment are growing by leaps and bounds in these last days! We have reality TV shows for years like Crossing Over with John Edward and now the latest "sensation" for the lost - TLC's  "LONG ISLAND MEDIUM" - Theresa Caputo.


These are the people who claim to "see" dead people, communicate with them, as well as conduct seances and divinations. The Learning Channel (TLC) even showed her praying to Satan before she was due to meet a group of women just as stupid as she is. Is calling people like Caputo and her "clients" stupid a harsh thing? No.

Here is what HOLY GOD warned, and when God speaks, you had better listen. Do not think this warning in Deuteronomy 18:9-14 is Old Testament and you do not have to obey it. Your eternal soul is in real danger if you follow this garbage with mediums; psychics; tarot cards etc without remorse and seeking God's forgiveness
Deut 18:9-14 NKJV "⁹ “When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. ¹⁰ There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, ¹¹ or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. ¹² For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. ¹³You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. ¹⁴ For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the LORD your God has not appointed such for you." (emphasis mine).


MOSES


Continuing on, into our 6th week of the Hike through Hebrews 11, we have the following verses: "²⁷ By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. ²⁸ By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 
²⁹ By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned."

Moses left this kind of system behind when he left Egypt which is still steeped in paganism.  He left this perversion behind, which Americans have picked up in their biblical ignorance, because he felt the Call of God in His Life. You see, my friends, the Holy One speaks with Clarity, Simplicity and Unity of purpose. His Spirit does the speaking for Him here on earth and dwells in the spirits of those who are redeemed and saved. This is all God needs. 

His clear and powerful Creation testify to Who He is. You don't need some conman or woman talking to a demon, who already knows who the dead person is, to relay a "message from beyond". You need revelation from Above...i.e. "A Fresh word as it were. Therefore take a look at what Moses did in Faith and BY Faith as we began the last 40 years of his 120 years here on earth and let it inspire you:


Moses felt the Call
Moses followed the Invisible
Moses fulfilled the Impossible
Moses crossed the impassable (sea)
Moses saw the incredible
Moses consecrated the immutable
Moses worshiped the Improbable
Moses marveled at the Indescribable
Moses wrote the indisputable
Moses reigns in Glory with the Unmistakeable....


That unmistakeable One is Jesus! Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our Faith Who has the answers to any question of the Life He created. No loudmouthed psychic, demoniac or horoscope book can hold a candle to my Jesus. Any questions?!

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THINK ON THESE THINGS - MONDAY

   HOPE FOR THE FUTURE - THE 9/11 GENERATION

                   With Faith, they will succeed!

There is an entire generation of young people who were either toddlers, pre-teens or early teens when the sons of satan attacked the Twin Towers/Pentagon/Flight 93 on that awful day, ten years ago. The past decade has been hard on them growing up.

The culture is foul and unwholesome; the educational system is run by people who care more about indoctrination than instruction and the church has left them open to falling prey to other religions. It is so bad that we now have the following:

- Ken Ham's book "Already Gone" has exposed the failure of ALL churches where he proved, after exhaustive research, that we lost this generation to the world, pagan religions and eternity by 8th Grade Sunday school!

- Barna's great and amazing surveys proved the lost nature of our young people where he found 57% of so-called Christians, IN OUR OWN CHURCHES, think there is another way to heaven than Jesus! They have bought the lie of the world, hook, line and sinker.

- We have the new phenomenon of Boomerang kids....where youngsters either never leave home or grow up, graduate and have families...then boomerang back to live with their parents due to the horrible cost of living and the bad economy.

- Our kids face a terrible future because the "greatest generation" and the baby boomers sold our kids birthright for a pot of stew to the demons of endless debt, big government and useless college degrees, for far into the foreseeable future!

In all of this, is there any hope at all? Can our children still have a bright life, full of joy, service and faith ahead of them?! Yes they can...and they will - IF WE DON'T LET THE SYSTEM HAVE THEM.

It seems we cannot get past the first five verses of Hebrews 11 over the past 5-7 days! But in light of the Anniversary of 9/11, I chose the day after to look at what it means for our kids' future....and it has to do with Faith!

Hebrews 11:1 NLT says "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see."


If you read through the entire Bible, and know anything about God, He has His people everywhere. It's called the Remnant. Our families are the remnant...and we can make sure that many in the next generation are as well. More can be said about this in the coming weeks and months ahead. 


But as we start a new week, please take a look at this video and be encouraged! The beautiful people, mostly young, are hopeful and full of Joy! You and I can teach our kids to teach others this kind of joy and hope...which can only be found in Faith, in the Bible and in Jesus. There is NO OTHER WAY. They can't wish themselves into heaven. They can't meditate with unfamiliar spirits into nirvana and they can't and will never please a Holy God with unholy man-made philosophies.


There is hope! There is Hope in the Name of the Lord...and His Name is Jesus!