As one studies these in the Scripture, it does appear that God uses the elements to show that He is God. They are used to discipline mankind as we continue to reject Him.
There are several doors mentioned in the Scripture, including: Door to the Ark Genesis 6:16A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. Passover Door Exodus 12:7,22-23And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. … And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. Temple Door 1 Kings 6:8The door for the middle chamber was in the right side of the house: and they went up with winding stairs into the middle chamber, and out of the middle into the third. Narrow Door (Gate) Matthew 7:13-14Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Door to the sheep fold John 10:1-9 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. Door of faith Acts 14:27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. The Apostle Paul speaks of a door: 1 Corinthians 16:9For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries. 2 Corinthians 2:12Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, Colossians 4:3Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: The Lord’s Brother, James warns the Jews: James 5:9Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. The Risen and ascended Lord warns the assembles: Revelation 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. The Apostle John called up into heaven to see the future: Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
SALT SEA (Dead Sea) Genesis 14:3, Numbers 34:3,12, Deuteronomy 3:17, Joshua 3:16,12:3,15:2,5, 18:19 Lot’s WifeGenesis 19:26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. Put on Meat Offerings Leviticus 2:13And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt. Numbers 18:19All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the LORD, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: it is a covenant of salt for ever before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with thee. Deuteronomy 29:23 And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath: The city of SaltJoshua 15:62And Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and Engedi; six cities with their villages. Judges 9:45And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt. The valley of Salt2 Samuel 8:13And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men. 2 Kings 14:7 He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day. Also 1 Chronicles 18:12 2 Chronicles 25:11 And Amaziah strengthened himself, and led forth his people, and went to the valley of salt, and smote of the children of Seir ten thousand.
Luke 23:28-31 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
These are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ as he was being led to the cross where he was crucified for the sins of the world.
Over the past two centuries nobody ever imagined this would happen. What woman would scorn the birth of her child much less put it to death? But today, Abortion sweeps our nation, nay it sweeps the world. Millions of unborn babies are aborted (Killed) before they are born. And now in some states babies can even be aborted (Killed) after they leave the womb. Since 1973, when Roe v. Wade was decided, over 57 million babies have been denied the right to life. This tragedy is a devastating mark upon our culture, and even more sickening is that there is an entire industry profiting from each child killed in the womb.
State after state is passing liberal Abortion laws. Some facts listed in 2014: (and they haven’t improved in the last 5 years).
• Nearly half (45%) of all pregnancies among U.S. women in 2011 were unintended, and about four in 10 of these were terminated by abortion. • Nineteen percent of pregnancies (excluding miscarriages) in 2014 ended in abortion. • Approximately 926,200 abortions were performed in 2014, down 12% from 1.06 million in 2011. In 2014, some 1.5% of women aged 15–44 had an abortion. Just under half of these women (45%) reported having a previous abortion. • The abortion rate in 2014 was 14.6 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44, down 14% from 16.9 per 1,000 in 2011. This is the lowest rate ever observed in the United States; in 1973, the year abortion became legal, the rate was 16.3. • At 2014 abortion rates, one in 20 women (5%) will have an abortion by age 20, about one in five (19%) by age 30 and about one in four (24%) by age 45. Who would have ever thought this would happen! And what about worldwide? The data on abortions displayed on the Worldometers’ counter is based on the latest statistics on worldwide abortions published by the World Health Organization (WHO). According to WHO, every year in the world there are an estimated 40-50 million abortions. This corresponds to approximately 125,000 abortions per day.
For more facts on Abortion just GOOGLE “abortion” and read the horrible statistics listed there. As of December 31, 2018, there have been some 41.9 million abortions performed in the course of the year, Worldometers revealed. By contrast, 8.2 million people died from cancer in 2018, 5 million from smoking, and 1.7 million died of HIV/AIDS. … It also records the total number of abortions in the world, based on the latest statistics on abortions published by the World Health Organization (WHO). Globally, just under a quarter of all pregnancies (23 percent) were ended by abortion in 2018, and for every 33 live births, ten infants were aborted. The words of the Lord Jesus Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. We can only join with the apostle John as he concludes the book of Revelation: (22:20-21) He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Following was gleaned from: “FALSTAFF’S COMPLETE BEER BOOK”, “CROSSMAN’S GUIDE TO WINES, SPIRITS, AND BEERS”, “WINE, An introduction to Americans”, ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA, and Most important, THE HOLY BIBLE, The Word of God.
Note: The first four books all refereed to the Holy Bible, and presented alcohol and drinking in a ‘glorious and fun’ way. The Holy Bible is not so generous.
This message will mainly address the topic of Wine, in particular, Did Jesus drink Wine? Many who drink today defend their drinking by saying Jesus drank! This message will NOT be addressing the following: a. Statistics of work, money time and lives wasted because of drinking. b. The destroyed homes, defiled innocence, misery and poverty brought about by those under the influence of too much drink. c. Also will not go into detail about the – -youth who shot his father after drinking 17-20 beers -father who knifed his wife and 3 year old son after a week of drinking -drunken husband who doused his sleeping wife with a beer glass full of gasoline and then lit her on fire -5 month old child who died of neglect and exposure and laid dead in his own crib for 5 days while his drunken parents argued who should call the doctor -all night teen drinking party that ended in a deadly game of Russian roulette -drunken father who killed his 3 week old baby with a red hot poker, by inserting it in all the natural body openings -or any of the other hundreds of gory stories that appear in our daily newspapers every year because of drinking d. NOR will it review any of the senseless deaths that occur on the highways (daily) because of the “I can drive better when I’m drunk” attitude. NO, what this will attempt to do is dispel (usually by Christians) the justification of drinking, BECAUSE Jesus drank wine.
WINE appears 37x in the New Testament, in 10 Books using 4 Greek Words
OINOS 27x in Gospels Matt, Mark, Luke, John 4x in Epistles Rom 14:21, 1Tim 3:8, 5:23 Titus 2:3 7x in Revelation 6:6,14:8,10,16:19,17:2,18:3,13 Translated WINE: implies fermented (intoxicationg) (Hebrew YAYIN same as Greek Word) OINOPHLUGIA 1x in 1 Peter 4:3 Translated EXCESS OF WINE PAROINOS 2x in 1 Tim 3:3, Titus 1:7 Translated NOT GIVEN TO WINE literally tarrying at wine (Par = abusive / brawler) GLEUKOS 1x in Acts 2:13 Translated NEW WINE implies fermented (intoxicating)
WINE in the Gospels: (OINOS) Matt 9:17 – 3x an illustration on why disciples did not fast (vs 14) Mark 2:22 – 4x (see Matt) 15:23 – 1x Jesus on cross offered WINE – He DID NOT drink Luke 1:15 – 1x John the Baptist WILL NOT drink Wine 5:37-39 4x A Parable (see Matt) 7:33 – 1x John the Baptist DID NOT drink Wine 10:34 – 1x Good Samaritan takes care of wounded man John 2:3-10 – 5x OINOS is preceded by greek word KALOS which is Translated GOOD which equals valuable/virtuous ??? Would this be intoxication Wine ???? 4:46 – 1x refers to the above miracle (Contrast this to Proverbs 20:1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. And Proverbs 23:31Look not thou upon the Wine when it is red, when it giveth Its color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. Is this the WINE Jesus made?)
WINE in the Epistles: Rom 14:21 NOT good to drink WINE (cause a brother to stumble) Eph 5:18 command) be not drunk with WINE 1 Tim 3:8 not given to much WINE 5:23 suggested for medicinal purpose “use a little Wine” Titus 2:3 POLUS (gk) much implication is to stay away from Wine Revelation 6:6, 14:8,10, 16:19, 17:2, 18:3,13 Speak symbolic of the wrath of God and wrath of the Woman 6:6, 18:13 refer to Wine as part of the worldly economy
What was Wine when the Bible was written? It was squeezed grape.
It was naturally fermented (with passing of time) and would never get higher than 11% alcohol content.
What did Jesus Drink? Matt 26:29, Mark 14:25, Luke 22:19
Proverbs 20:1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 23:31Look not thou upon the Wine when it is red, when it giveth Its color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. Abstinence is Biblical Titus 2:3 “The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good tidings”. The phrase, “not given to much wine” has opened the door for many people to wonder the impact of the passage. “The union of the two negatives suggest the close connection between a loose tongue and intoxicating drink.” TITUS by D. Edmund Hiebert. “Both were real possibilities for women whose families were grown and who may have had too much idle time on their hands {cf 1 John 5:13-14}.” TITUS by A. Duane Litfin. It’s well documented that the custom of the day allowed people to mix water with wine to purify the poor water. Never does the Holy Word of God promote drinking intoxication wine or drink or for Christians to get drunk. There is a debate over using wine as a prescription for medical problems as a remedy only. The Scripture suggest Paul directed such for Timothy. The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible notes point out several versus that direct abstinence {see number 3568 under Temperance.} Wine and strong were never used by the Lord Jesus Christ. Always new wine {diluted grape juice} was used by Christian Churches since founded by Jesus Christ. The use of wine or alcohol is not recommended for cooking. With the flesh so powerful a person could loose their testimony.* Suggest not drinking any intoxicating drink as the Bible doesn’t promote it. There are ten times more verses that warn against drinking than do allow it for the aged. The first reference to alcohol – Noah getting drunk paint the ruins of strong drink. (The above from Pastor Tim Jackson, Community Baptist Church, Lansing, Michigan. 1999) Further study of drinking in the Bible always shows that SIN follows the drinking and drunkenness. *Many Catholic Priests have become alcoholics by drinking the wine taken during the Communion. Total Abstinence was/is recommended for: Priests Lev 10:9 Nazarites Num 6:3 Wise men Prov 23:31 Kings Prov 31:4 Rechabites Jer 35:6 Daniel Dan 1:8 John the Baptist Luk 1:15 Christians Rom 14:21
Our Nation, in fact the whole world, is falling apart… Spiritually … Morally … Socially … Politically … WHY???? One good answer is WE HAVE FORGOTTEN THE 10 COMANDMENTS!!! These are not specific, detailed laws BUT principles …. Designed by God! EXODUS 20:1And God spoke all these words: Given by God for the purpose of Life, Liberty and Happiness. The first 4 give us the way to establish a relationship with the One True God. The last 6 give us the way to establish a relationship with each other. The first 4 — spiritual principles. The last 6 — moral principles. They cannot, will no save anyone BUT adherence to them will give peace in this life. Look at them: 1) One God 2) No Idols 3) Bad language 4) Sabbath 5) Honor parents 6) Do Not Kill 7) Do Not Commit Adultery 8) Do Not Steal 9) Do Not Lie (false witness) 10) Do Not Covet
As we as Believers ignore them … Our Nation falls apart … and the world also ignores them … The World falls apart … Man’s Laws can be changed (and possibly should be)
OTHER OLD TESTAMENT REFERENCES TO SALT: 2 Kings 2:20-21And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him. And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land. Ezra 6:9 And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail: Ezra 7:22Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. Job 6:6Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg? Jeremiah 17:6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Ezekiel 16:4And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. Ezekiel 43:24 And thou shalt offer them before the LORD, and the priests shall cast salt upon them, and they shall offer them up for a burnt offering unto the LORD. Ezekiel 47:11 But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt. Zephaniah 2:9Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and salt pits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them. The Lord Jesus taught: Matthew 5:13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Mark 9:49-50For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another. Luke 14:34Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? From the Apostle Paul: Colossians 4:6Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. From James: James 3:12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
Just who or what is Mother Nature? Why do we keep crediting or blaming Mother Nature? Mother Nature is defined as:a personification of nature that focuses on the life-giving and nurturing aspects of nature by embodying it, in the form of the mother. This replaces God! God is in total control of ALL that happens here on earth. He created it all. Genesis 1-3. Who caused the flood of Noah? Genesis 6:7 Who sent plagues upon Pharaoh during Abram’s time? Genesis 12:17 Who sent the plagues upon Egypt to free Israel? Exodus 9:14 Who parted the Red Sea? Exodus 14:21-22 Who Plagued Israel when they made the golden calf? Exodus 32:35 Who protected and provided for Israel during the 40 years on their way to the Promise land? Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. The Lord God used plagues upon Israel to remind them of who He is and His punishment and protection when they disobey. Deuteronomy 28:59. Who sent a great fish to swallow a disobedient Jonah? Jonah 1:17 Who sent the strong wind, earthquake, and fire in Elijah’s time? 1 Kings 19:11-12 And again, in Isaiah 29:6, Amos 1:1 Who freed Peter from Jail? Acts 12:11 There are many, many more examples of God intervening with man. And yet even Believes want to credit “Mother Nature”. Nay, God is in control of everything in Heaven and Earth. Psalm 115:15, 121:2, 124:8, 134:3, 146:6, Matthew 11:25, Revelation 14:7