Author: Jim

The Way of Cain Part 2

More thoughts about Cain.
Think about Adam and Eve. Expelled from the Garden, no more walks in the Garden with God, work by the sweat of the brow, knowing they would die.
Then, Eve delivers a SON, she cries “ I have gotten a man from the LORD”.
How happy they both must be. Then another son (and some daughters).
They taught their children how the sacrifice to the Lord.
The sons grow and go out, one becoming a shepherd and the other a farmer.
Then comes the time for them to bring an offering to the Lord.
Genesis 4:3-4 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
Remember Adam and Eve shown them how this was done.
Abel brings his offering, the shed blood, to atone for sin.
Cain brings his, THE WORK OF HIS HANDS!
Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Cain gets angry. Genesis 4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
The LORD offers Cain another chance. Genesis 4:6-7 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Many Christians today are guilty of ‘The way of Cain’, not trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, BUT by their own works.
NOT the way of Cain, BUT the way of the Cross.

Romans 4:4-5 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
1 Corinthians 6:11 And 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.
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Titus 3:5-7 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
The Lord said: Matthew 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
NOT the way of Cain, BUT the way of the Cross.

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End Time Events

This age will be consummated.
The Christian dead will be liberated
Living Saints will be translated.
The faithful will be remunerated.
The Heavens will be animated.
The worldly Church will be humiliated.
The modern critics will be repudiated.
The godless will be located.
God’s truth will be confirmed.
The world will be consternated.
The faithless will be remonstrated.
The tribulation will be inaugurated.
The earth will be renovated.
Suffering will be terminated.
Sin will be eradicated.
Holiness will be perpetuated.
All believers will live forever.

1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

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Gideon Part 2

Why Gideon? … God’s Choice: Romans 9:15-24

But Gideon did have some good traits: Judges
6:15 Humility… I am the least in my father’s house.
6:17 Caution… shew me a sign …
6:24 Spiritually … Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD …(also 7:15)
6:27 Obedience… did as the LORD had said unto him: …
6:34-36 Fellowship with God … Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon,(also 7:4,9)
7:16-18 Strategy… he divided the three hundred men into three companies
8:1-3 Tact… What have I done now in comparison of you?
8:22-23 Loyalty to God…  the Lord shall rule over you.

BUT even the best (when they trust themselves) fall into sin!

Solution: Keep GOD first in your life.

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Time

Revelation 10:6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:

How important is Time? Think about it, TIME governs our lives. It’s time to begin … It’s time to get up! It’s time to eat Breakfast! It’s time to go to school/work! It’s time for lunch! It’s time to go home! It’s time to eat supper! It’s time to study/play/watch TV! It’s time to go to bed! And it begins again the next day. How often during the day to you look at your watch or a clock? Time controls our every MINUTE.

Did you read the verse in Revelation 10:6? TIME NO LONGER! That day is coming, the Lord promises it. BUT until then we need to manage our time wisely. Some things we really need to take time for:

⇛ Time Part 2 -TIME FOR SALVATION
⇛ Time Part 3 -TIME TO STUDY GOD’S WORD
⇛ Time Part 4 -TIME TO PRAY
⇛ Time Part 5 -TIME TO WORSHIP
⇛ Time Part 6 -TIME TO WITNESS
⇛ Time Part 7 -TIME FOR THE LORD JESUS TO COME AGAIN

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Your TIME is up……

Demon Part 2

Unclean Spirit
The Lord tells Israel:
Zechariah 13:2 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.
2 times in Matthew: Matthew 10:1, 12:43
10 times in Mark: Mark 1:23,26-27, 3:11,30, 5:2,8,13, 6:7, 7:25,
6 times in Luke: Luke 4:33,36, 6:18, 8:29, 9:42, 11:24
2 times in Acts: Acts 5:16, 8:7
2 times in Revelation: Revelation 16:13, 18:2
Evil Spirit
God allowed these events to occur:
Judges 9:23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
1 Samuel 16:14-16,23 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well. … And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
1 Samuel 18:10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand.
1 Samuel 19:9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.
The Lord, during His earthly ministry, casts them out:
Luke 7:21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.
Luke 8:2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
Paul had to deal with them:
Acts 19:12-13,15-16 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the LORD Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. … And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Demon – Devils – Evil Spirit – Unclean Spirit are all mentioned in the Scripture.
Believers should have nothing to do with them.

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The Prodical Son Part 2

A Fathers Forgiveness

Reviewing the Son’s Problems:
SELF WILL … Give me, I want
SELFISHNESS … gathered all together
SEPERATION … took off alone
SENSUALITY … riotous living
SPIRITUAL DESTITULION … found himself lost
SELF ABASEMENT … relied on self
STARVATION … without food, friends
The story could end right here. And for many it has and does, BUT it doesn’t.
It would seem the lad had been raised in a good home. One that worshipped God. One who knew Scripture.
15:17 REALIZATION He came to himself. “What have I done”.
15:18 RESOLUTION I WILL ARISE (he knew Scripture, Knew whom he had sinned against).
15:19 REPENTANCE It begins in the heart
15:20 RETURN Need to put it into action
RECONCILIATION Note the father’s reaction. What were the father’s feelings? While the son was gone … reports came back (15:30) Rumors … Stories of his sinful son.
The father thought, “Where have I failed?”. No doubt many accusations, too strick, too many spankings, too much scripture, too much Temple … etc. The only thing Dad could hope for was PROVERBS 22:6
(today, we would add: 2 Timothy 3:6, Ephesians 6:4). Dad, Mom, raise your kids according to the Bible, not the world or it’s standards.
This lad had probably been raised knowing Proverbs 22:15, 23:13-14, 29:15. Why then did he stray? Philemon 1:15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
15:21 REPENTANCE Full repentance, not only to God but to his father, whom he had wronged.
15:22 RECLOTHING The father restores his son.
15:23-24 REJOICING The son had returned and was restored.
Today it gives great joy when one is saved o restored to the presence of the Lord.
As the Lord Jesus says: Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Believers many times are like the Son, they stray from God…
for the same reasons:
SELF WILL … Give me, I want
SELFISHNESS … gathered all together
SEPERATION … took off alone
SENSUALITY … riotous living, pleasing self
And they can be reunited following these steps:
REALIZATION of their sin
RESOLUITION to remove that sin
REPENTANCE, RETURNING, RECONCILUTION

⇛ continue reading The Prodical Son Part 3

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The Prodical Son Part 3

THE OTHER BROTHER

Remember the younger brother’s problem: SELF
Remember the Father’s Forgiveness: Forget past and Rejoice
But what about the Older Brother?

Get the picture: The Father had a plan for his sons.
But the youngest rebels and leaves. The older brother stays.
Now the parable reveals two forms of sin:
Active .. the youngest son
Passive … the older son
Back to the text: Luke 15:25-27 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
The passive sin is about to surface. Luke 15:28-32
15:28 Jealousy … Anger … Hate … Pride
The father sees something wrong and goes to his elder son.
(God always comes seeking the lost, the one in sin, No man seeks God.
God seeks us. He loves Us).
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
15:29 Jealousy, Anger … “thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:”
15:30 Hate … Pride … he left I stayed and served
15:31 The father, in love, tried to console him.
15:32 It’s time to rejoice and be glad.

Which brother sinned?

Both needed to get right with their father.

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In Remembrance of Me

Luke 22:19 And he (Jesus) took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Do you remember when the birth of Jesus was? How the Angels announced his birth? How the shepherds came to the stable? How the wise men came to the house seeking the King?

Do you remember when Jesus was 12 years old? How he disappeared from his parents? How they later found him in the Temple? The look on their faces when he said, I must be about my Father’s business?

Do you remember How Jesus began His Ministry? How he came to John the Baptist? How he looked when the Holy Spirit descended? How he looked when he came out of 40 days in the wilderness?

Do you remember His first year of ministry? The miracles he performed?
The way he chose the 12 apostles?

Do you remember His second year of ministry? The miracles he performed?
How the people flocked to hear him preach with authority?

Do you remember His third year of ministry? How the people began to turn away because his teachings being TOO HARD? The raising of Lazarus?

Do you remember the last Supper? The solemn occasion it was? How he taught eternal truths? How he gave comforting truths about going to heaven? How he washed their feet?

Do you remember What happened in the Garden? The agonizing prayers he offered? The sweat as Blood? The guards coming in great number? Peter cutting off the ear? The angry look on their faces? JUDAS and the kiss?

Do you remember the trials he faced? How he faced the chief priest, Pilate, even King Herod? How he spoke not a word? The humiliation, the spiting, slapping, hitting, beatings?

Do you remember the crown of thorns? The purple Robe? The Mockery of the soldiers?

Do you remember Pilate trying to set him free, “I find no fault with this man”?

Do you remember how the crown reacted? “Away with him, Away with him, Crucify him, Crucify him”.

Do you remember Golgotha, the place of the skull? The cross on the ground, the THUD, THUD, THUD as the spikes were driven into his hands and feet?

Do you remember the agony on his face as the lifted the cross? The THUD as it dropped into place on top of Calvary?

Do you remember even then they could not leave him alone? They slandered, they cursed, they railed against him “If thou be the son of God, come down from the cross”! “If he be the king of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him”!

Do you remember the two malefactors, thieves and how they cursed him.

Do you remember how, even as Jesus hung there in all his misery, agony and torments he said “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”? And then to the repentant thief, “Today, thou shall be in paradise with me”.

Do you remember His last words as he gave up the ghost “It is Finished”?

⇛ continue reading In Remembrance of Me -Part 2

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Zechariah (Book)

We always think of Bible Prophets as old men, but 2:4 would indicate he was a young man. He prophesied during the time of Haggai the prophet but was much broader in scope, including both conditions of the time and of the coming of the Messiah.
1:1,7 Gives the dates of his visions. Compare Haggai 1:1,15 2:1,10

The Book can be divided into three sections:
1:1-6 Opening Exhortation

Section I A series of eight visions
1:7-17 The man among the Myrtle trees and the drove of horses
1:18-21 The four horns and four artisans (carpent) the work or skill of a carpenter
2 The man with the measuring line
3 The cleansing of the High Priest
4 The Golden Candlestick and the two Olive trees
5:1-4 The Flying Roll
5:5-11 The Ephah and the two women with wings
6:1-8 The four Chariots (6:10-15) crowning of the high priest

Section II Chapters 7 and 8
Their religion, including fastings, were mere forms, with no real meanings….
But God would again restore Israel and Jerusalem.

Section III Chapters 9-14
Predictions concerning the destruction of the Jews, and then a vision of the ultimate triumph of God’s Kingdom

Key passages:
1:3 When we turn to God, He will turn to us.
4:6 God works (has always worked) through His Spirit
6:12 A predication of the coming Kingdom

Prophetic Passages:
Predicted – Fulfilled
3:8-9, 13:1 – 1 Corinthians 15:5
9:9 – Matthew 21:1-11
11:12-13 – Matthew 26:14-15, 27:3-7
12:10 – John 19:33-37, Revelation 1:7
13:7 – Matthew 26:31

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