Seek the Old Path

I would urge anyone, EVERYONE to read your Bibles. I don't care what you believe or your religion, denomination and organization but if what you believe, your interpretation or what your church teaches does not equal to the teachings of the Scriptures there are grave consequences to face on the day of judgment.
This is no laughing matter. If you interpret the scriptures to please yourself or to please others, you certainly are not pleasing God.

2 Peter 1:19-21 KJV

19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Just read the scriptures for yourself. Remove your own preconceived ideas and just read it to learn. This is your life and salvation and truth are in the pages.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV

15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

There are of false doctrines in the world even among 'Christian" circles. Everyone wants to believe they are right but look into it for yourself.

Proverbs 14:12, 16:25 KJV

12  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Read 2 Corithians 11:1 - 4, Galatians 1: 6 - 9

This is what can be noticed with doctrines that are not the truth. They either add to the Word of take away from it.
I say this because I lived the experience of not knowing the scriptures for myself, not being able to defend my faith from the Scriptures. The Bible.
If you want the truth look into it and don't just select things here and there. Take it as a whole. God has not changed. He is still righteous. He still executes judgment, and he is still merciful to those who would humble themselves before him, on HIS terms not yours. He made us not the other way around.

Jeremiah 6:16 KJV

Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

Don't be ignorant, time is short and I even fear for myself but I want to enter into the Kingdom of God. I certainly hope that you will too.

Deuteronomy 12:32 KJV

What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

The command in the Old Testament is also in the New.

Revelation 22:17-21 KJV

17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.18  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:19  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.20  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.21  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

God bless.

Chastisement

Do you ever get that feeling, while watching a fellow Christian with the wrong habit, to give them correction to let them grow more Christ-like but tend to draw back from it because he or she may take offence to it.
You probably have it in your head that they'll end up say something like: "Why are you judging me?" or
"You know it was just a joke, lighten up."

I was conversing online with a friend of mine earlier today. I've known her for a few years now and we talk from time to time. Today she shared with me something about a bad habit she had, something I had noticed when we first met. I'm glad to say that she now realizes that it was wrong of her and has made it up in her heart to repent of it.

But it got me thinking of something...
Are we willing correct those who need correcting regardless of what their justification? (I speak of those who are in the faith). Do we shy away from being an offence to others for the sake of friendliness?
An even more interesting question is, when was the last time you received correction from someone more mature in the faith and how did you take to it?

Receiving Correction

Scripture points to two types of person when it comes to correction:

Proverbs 9:8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

The wise and foolish are quite contrary, one to another and the book of Proverbs are really shows what they are.

For a foolish person, receiving correction is a problem since more than not, they are "wise in their own eyes" and "it's fine... don't worry about it".
The person correcting us isn't trying to embarrass us or humiliate us. Their first priority is to build us up spiritually. They see something wrong and they want to help. Now God will send correction anyway he sees fit, whether by brethren, through His Word, your God-given conscience (keep it sharp) or maybe even in a circumstance.
Nevertheless, it is for our own good.

Hebrews 12:5 -11 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

I'll give an example of myself. While in my 4th year of University and acquiring for skills in animation, I started to brag to one of my classmates about what I could do. My Christian friend, Garwin, came over to me afterwards while I was standing by myself and told me what I did was wrong, and I shouldn't be trying to exalt myself like that. How did I take it? I told him "Thank you", because I understood what he wanted for me.
It's like what most parents will probably do for their rebellious teenagers, but as teens (for those of us who are here) we've see it another way. It's strange too not only when they tell us not to do what we want to, but they usually end up being right in the long run.

In all honesty, correction is good for us to receive. It shows that God is caring for us, and it is better to receive it willingly.

Giving Correction

Giving correction isn't something for a person who thinks they are better of when they aren't:

Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

It's really good when we can care enough to correct someone, however sometimes we may get angry for what our brethren may have done and say it in such a way that rather than them being more encouraged to continue in the Lord or even to do the right thing, they get offended and feel degraded.

Listen, none of us are perfect but the aim is to strive to perfection.
There is something my wife and I discuss sometimes and it's about how to talk to people.

"You can be right in what you say, but wrong in how you say it," she'd say sometimes, and I agree.

We have to consider for a moment, how would we want to the situation to be handled with us? Are we so "over-righteous" (holier than thou attitude) that we cannot care for them. It's possible to be like a Pharisee in how we reason with people.

Ecclesiastes 7:16  Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? 

Paul spoke about how he would have come to the brethren in Corinth and basically asked them "Which would you prefer, A or B, A or B?"

1 Corinthians 4:18-21
18  Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.
19  But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.
20  For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
21  What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

So let's really consider how we give and receive correction from our brethren okay, and remember, we don't belittle the sin but we pull out brethren out of it with love.

Jude 1:20-2520  But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,21  Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.22  And of some have compassion, making a difference:23  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,25  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

 See also: James 5:20, 1 Peter 4:8

Bless God and God bless.

Thou shalt not steal

I have an answer and a question: But I'd like you to read this and take your time, because I'm hoping it will prick at your hearts...
I ask us if using cracked software and unpaid for software makes us thieves in the eyes of God.

Software piracy is obtaining software or electronic resources by illegal means or using a software without the license to doing so...

I read an article earlier today and it spoke about one who is a professing Christian cannot be a contra- Christian. What I mean is one who practices sin while calling themselves "Christian", and the result is, they aren't. Example: A thieving Christian, or a gay Christian or a... well I suppose you get the idea... Its like living the concept of "Syncretism" or doing it because its convenient.


Let us look at these verses:

Thou shalt not steal. -  Exodus 20:15

1 Corinthians 6:9   Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10  NOR THIEVES, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

So this is they that have no inheritance with Christ.

Matthew 5:29  And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30  And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

"offend" means to cause to sin.

Putting a little differently:
And if using Photoshop or any other software or e-book (that was cracked, or without payment) causes you to sin, cut it off or find an alternative that doesn't break the law.

If torrenting movies and software causes you to sin, then cut it off... or stream them... from legal sites

I think these verse can apply to our attitudes as well, if we say we are Christians, we should desire to drop these things, not for ourselves but for Christ. Deny ourselves...

If I could take the verse literally, I'd sooner pluck my eyes and ears out because of what my environment accommodates...
Now, I speak not of being perfect, oh that I were incorruptible, I'd be weeping, but that is what we wait on, bodies incorruptible. Changed. Amen! Till then we praise the position of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Righteous, Advocate, High Priest. Forgiver of sins... Praise God. Its wonder God doesn't kill us when we sin... Such love, that's why we can go to Him so freely. Can you imaging sacrificing a cow before coming before God...


We cannot blame the environment, we are the ones who decide to sin or not when Satan brings himself and then when we fall prey and don't pray... we get weaker and then can't bother. We should lose the attitude, and flee self. FLEE SELF! We contend with the devil but we should flee ourselves, its a battle we can't win... not on our own.

Pray for the strength to overcome, till then, may God through Christ Jesus grant us peace... within our souls.

Don't let "Photoshop" kick you out of the Kingdom, and don't say in your heart "God understands when you now know that it is WRONG!!"

Don't support sin. Flee!!

God bless you in Jesus' Marvelous and Wonderful and Holy Name.

Our Faults are like Patty Crumbs on Your Lip

The patty crumb represents a fault we may have in life, it could stay there, unless our friend tells us that its there.

When we are told of the crumb on our lip, we might just say, "Oh..." quite nonchalantly and lick it into our mouths accepting the fault and continuing to make the mistakes, or we might pick the crumbs off our face, and thank that friend for letting us know, this time trying our best to purge ourselves from that fault.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

-Proverbs 27:6

 A good friend would, no matter how hurtful it may seem, let us know of our faults (its done in love),  that we may continue to strive on the good path, the one strait way with Christ Jesus Our LORD.

Lets not leave the patty crumb on our friend's lip, neither let us not continue in our faults when we are corrected.

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
- Hebrews 12:11-13

 When we recognise our faults and sins, we should confess them before Jesus Christ, who make petitions unto the Father for us, and thank God for friends who care enough to point them out to us that we may strive to perfection, rather than run away. The Great Shepherd will look for His sheep.

Let us put aside and give up our patty crumbs and not pick them up of the floor yet again to eat them.

May the peace of God the Father rest in our hearts through His Son and Our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus.