LGBT: Let God Be True… (1)

LGBT: Let God Be True…

…But Every Man A Liar (Romans 3:4)

(Part One)

LGBT - Let God Be True - He created them male and female.

LGBT – Let God Be True – He created them male and female.

The fantasy of the fallacy of evolution has finally, once and for all, been forevermore disproven. This, by perhaps some of the very once upon a time champions of its indefensible defense. Apparently, modern American mankind has now de-volved, or gone so far in a backward, downward, diabolical, biological viral spiral, that some of them can no longer even truly discern the difference between whether they are a boy, or a girl. (So much for the much-vaunted and federally financed American education system, huh?) But discerning the difference between whether one is a male or a female, is in all actuality, actually a pretty simple scenario to determine. It’s about the most basic thing to discern there is. Doctors delivering babies have done it for millennia. And even animals (such as monkeys for example) still know the difference. They still know how to identify and interact with members of their own, as well as the opposite sex, and subsequently function as they were designed to do by their Creator from the very beginning. In fact, discerning the difference between whether one is male or female dates back to the very beginning of time with God the Creator and Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden! Genesis 1:27 records: “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Please notice God did not start with ‘Adam and Steve.’ He did not create a third gender, or a confused, combined, contrived mixture of the two – He created the two, only the two, and none other but the two genders, period. Hence, everyone born thereafter would be ‘after their own kind,’ and once again, only either male, or female – no third option; no combination; no need for confusion. Nor has our eternally-perfect God ever made the man-conceived mistake, of putting a woman’s soul into a man’s body, or a man’s soul into a woman’s body.

But please notice that God’s creation of the plants, animals, and mankind as male and female – which God perfectly oversaw and saw as all being “very good” (Gen. 1:31) – was all prior to Satan’s arrival on the scene, and his subsequent, sinful, confusion and corruption of God’s perfection in Genesis 3.

Now, “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace” (1 Cor. 14:33). Not only is God not the author of confusion, neither is He the originator of deception – Satan is (Gen. 3:1-13). Therefore, if one is confused about their gender, they need to get away from their Satanically structured surroundings, and into the word and church of the living God and His Son Jesus Christ, so that they can finally figure it out and find peace and clarity at long last!

It is a truly evil, ungodly, Satanically-confused and sadistically-tortured world in which we find ourselves seeking to carry out the Apostle Paul’s divinely-inspired and dictated commandments from Titus 2:11-13 my beloved brethren. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…”

And; as he additionally instructed young Timothy: But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was. But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra–what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:1-17).

Therefore my beloved brethren, let us not lose heart (1 Cor. 15:57)! Let us follow God’s timeless commandment and instruction as divinely dictated and delivered to His Son’s first century congregation in Philippi: “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God” (Phil. 1:27-28). But do we truly stand fast thus? Find out in the concluding second half of this article, coming soon!

And in the meantime – fear not! For your own peace of mind and soul, please stop whatever else you’re doing right now and take the time to read, study, re-read and review – and maybe even memorize portions of – Psalms 37 and 73!!! You’ll be glad you did! And to God be all the glory; always and in all ways!!!

 

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God’s Great Bubble of Protection

God’s Great Bubble of Protection

Have you ever thought how amazing it is that the Earth seems to be perfectly situated as a habitat for man? Man needs water to survive, and the Earth has a hydrology system that cleans and purifies water on a regular and consistent basis. Man also needs food, and in every part of the Earth plants grow that provide a stable and consistent food source for man. The same ecosystem provides materials that mankind uses to build shelter against the Earth’s natural elements of wind, rain, cold, and heat. Man breathes oxygen, and once again we have just the right balance due to the consumption of carbon dioxide and production of oxygen by plants. Indeed, the Earth is well suited for the existence of man, as Paul writes in Acts 17:25-26, “he gives to all life, and breath, and all things; and has made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the Earth, and has determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.” Scientists refer to this phenomenon as the Anthropic Principle, and find more and more evidence each year of a unique providence for mankind. Let’s look at some of these layers and see the manifold protections they offer.

God has provided protection for His creation on earth.

God has provided protection for His creation on earth.

One such area of providence occurs within the layers of protection that surround the Earth. The Earth’s atmosphere acts as a shield against all sorts of things that might harm humans. It filters out deadly radiation, while at the same time allowing life-giving sunlight to pass through. It burns up thousands of small meteorites that would otherwise bombard us on a regular basis. It regulates Earth’s temperature by preventing rapid heat loss or gain. It dissipates and decomposes harmful gases and particulates that might interfere with normal breathing. It also circulates air from warmer to cooler climates, maintaining a relatively moderate temperature on the surface of the Earth.

The Earth also has an electromagnetic shield known as the magnetosphere. This shield is generated as the liquid part of the Earth’s core revolves around the solid part of the core, thereby forming a giant electromagnetic generator. This shield is 10-20 times the size of the Earth, and is constantly surrounding us. The magnetosphere provides tremendous protection from the forces of the Sun as they are hurled toward Earth at (literally) astronomic speeds. When the solar wind collides with Earth’s magnetosphere, a shock wave is formed. This wave diverts magnetized plasma that, if not diverted, would bathe the Earth in radioactive particles that would be harmful almost all life on the planet. But the magnetosphere does more than just protect Earth against shock waves. Two additional layers of the magnetosphere, known as the Van Allen Belts, provide additional protection from those particles that get through the magnetosphere. The Van Allen Belts act as a sort of particle vacuum cleaner, sucking up these stray particles into its magnetic field, thus providing the Earth with additional protection from harmful rays.

Most recently, however, scientists have discovered another bubble of protection. This bubble is known as the heliosphere. This is the bubble that is created by the Sun’s solar wind. It extends around the solar system. (It is about four times the size of the orbit of the planet Neptune.) The heliosphere also has an edge (known as the heliosheath) where the solar wind stops. The heliosheath is important to mankind because it protects the Earth from galactic cosmic rays. These rays are produced by supernovas and black holes, and travel near the speed of light. They are dangerous because they can alter man’s DNA. As the first line of defense, the heliosheath deflects such particles from even entering our solar system at all.

The heliosheath, the magnetosphere, and our atmosphere are all bubbles of protection from the many harmful forces that exist within our Universe. Without these layers of protection, mankind could not exist. Do such layers of protection exhibit intelligence and design that is beyond that for which mere material substance can account? Indeed they do! We can conclude that such protection is evidence of an intelligent Designer, and that such providence demonstrates a care and concern for mankind that is beyond that which is purely materialistic in nature. Praise God for His wonderful bubbles of protection!

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The Power of the Implanted Word

The Power of the Implanted Word

God’s Word commands us to “receive with meekness the implanted word” after having “put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness” (James 1:21).  This “implanted word” we are to receive is “able to save (our) souls” (James 1:21).  It is also able to cause us to be born again (1 Pet. 1:22-25), set us apart from a sinful world (Ps. 19:7-11; John 17:15-17), and keep us and the church pure (Ps. 119:9, 11; Acts 20:28-32).  With this in mind, is there any doubt how important the Bible is to faithful Christians?  However, in order to truly benefit from the powerful Word of God, we have to do some things.

Are His Words Implanted In Your Heart?

Are His Words Implanted In Your Heart?

First, we have to “put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness” (James 1:21; cf. Col. 3:5-9).  In order for the implanted word to bear its fruit in our lives, the weeds of sin must first be uprooted.  We can’t hope to benefit from any study of the Bible if we continue to dwell on the spiritually filthy and engage in wickedness.  (Could this be why many do not get that much out of Bible study?)

Secondly, we have to have the proper attitude when we study God’s Word.  Specifically, we have to receive the implanted word “with meekness” (James 1:21).  A humble and receptive attitude is essential in order to get the most out of Scripture.  It will help if we remember that we are sinners also, and we can easily be deceived.  So we should study…not to simply learn facts, and not to win religious debates and arguments…but to learn God’s truth to save ourselves and those around us (Ps. 119:18).

Thirdly, God’s Word must be “implanted” in our hearts (James 1:21).  That means we have to take the words out of the pages and implant them in our hearts.  Otherwise, we are no different from the Old Testament Israelites who only gave lip service to the words of God written on stone in the ten commandments.  As Christians under the new covenant, we are under a better covenant than they were in that God’s Word is to be “written on (our) hearts” (Heb. 8:6-13).  So we need to ask ourselves this.  Where is God’s Word today?  Is it only in ink inscribed on paper?  Or have we read it and meditated upon often enough that it has become implanted in our hearts as well?

Finally, we must be “doers of the Word and not hearers only” (James 1:22-25).  In other words, God’s Word must be applied to our lives.  Otherwise, we deceive ourselves…and usually the only ones who are deceived are us!  If we are the type of people who like to say “Amen!” to a scriptural sermon and yet continue doing the exact opposite of what we’ve heard (cf. Ezek. 33:30-32), God isn’t deceived.  Neither is Satan.  Most likely our spouses, our children, and many others will also see right through us…all while we continue to deceive ourselves by thinking, “I’m a good, faithful Christian because I go to church all every Sunday,” all while not acting like a Christian Monday through Saturday.  This is why the true blessings from God’s Word come not by “looking into the perfect law of liberty” alone, but also by “continuing in it” and being “a doer of the work” (James 1:25).  It is not just the reading of the Bible that provides peace and joy, but also the actual application of it to our lives when we faithfully obey it.

God’s Word is called “the perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25) because of its power to save us, regenerate us, sanctify us, and preserve us.  That’s how it provides true freedom…liberation from the guilt and dominion of sin.  What gives God’s Word its power is the message it contains: the gospel (Rom. 1:16).  Undoubtedly most if not all who read this have heard the good news about the death of Jesus Christ for our sins and his resurrection by the power of the Holy Spirit, proving he is our Savior and Lord…but simply hearing is not enough!  We must also lay aside the filthiness of sin through repentance (Acts 17:30-31), and humbly receive the gospel message with faith (John 3:16).  We must be a “doer of the Word” by choosing to obey if we want God to save us (Heb. 5:9).  This is why we must also be baptized in order to receive salvation and the forgiveness of our sins (Mark 16:16; Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21).

May we receive God’s Word with meekness and obey it, because that is how it is able to save our souls!

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¿HA PENSADO EN SUICIDIO?

¿HA PENSADO EN SUICIDIO?

El 20 de Mayo de 2009, un Joven llamado Lucas vecino de la provincia de Alajuela Costa Rica, de 15 años de edad, apareció sin vida cerca de las 7:30 de la mañana del mismo día. La ultima nota que escribió fue: “La vida no tiene sentido, no existe ninguna razón para seguir en este mundo y solo quiero descansar”. Conocí a él muy bien tanto que tuve la oportunidad de predicarle el evangelio. Era algo que le gustaba porque parecía llenar su vacío sin embargo no tomó la decisión a tiempo. Cada año se suicidan casi un millón de personas eso equivale a una muerte cada 40 segundos. El promedio mayor está entre 15-40 años de edad esto sin incluir las tentativas de suicidio que son 20 veces más que los casos de suicidio consumado.Entre los principales responsables están el trastorno por el consumo de alcohol y la depresión(Agosto de 2012 organización mundial de la salud, OMS)

Suicidio?

Suicidio?

El suicidio deporsí ya es un problema pero la raíz del mismo es lo que nos preocupa, la depresión es un enemigo silencioso y el veneno puede ser mortal si no se toma un antídoto eficaz. El apóstol Pablo dijo tiempo atrás que nuestra lucha, no es contra sangre o carne sino contra fuerzas espirituales de maldad en las regiones celestes (Efe 6:12). Aunque en su contexto Pablo escribe a un grupo de Cristianos para que se mantuvieran firme luchando contra todas las oposiciones que presentaría el diablo para destruir el plan eterno de Dios, a saber la Iglesia de Cristo, la idea sigue ahí; hay una batalla librándose todos los días y es de carácter espiritual. Sea usted cristiano o no, vaya a la Iglesia todos los domingos o no, nuestra mente está siempre tratando de decidir entre lo bueno y lo malo. Si usted en este articulo busca algo que le puede ayudar a salir de la depresión y le llamó la atención el titulo porque realmente en algún momento de su vida a pasado una ráfaga ligera con esa palabra “Suicidio”, y quiere saber más permítame ayudarle con 5 verdades para deshacerse para siempre de este asunto y que nunca más se sienta culpable de haber pensado en algo tan espantoso.

RECONOZCA SU CONDICION: Cientos de personas terminan en lo peor de los casos con una historia muy triste. Es de vida o muerte que usted pueda reconocer que se encuentra en una depresión y que necesita ayuda. Otro viejo enemigo que estorba en el camino para hacer que eso se vuelva imposible se llama; orgullo. El orgullo jamás va a permitirle a usted reconocer que está envuelto en un problema, que ya usted no puede hacer nada más al respecto y que desesperadamente necesita ayuda. Note Proverbios 16:18 y 18:12, para observar como Dios se expresa del orgullo, por tanto cuidado con él. Reconocer su condición y buscar ayuda, recuerde No cualquier ayuda sino gente que sí va a colaborarle de corazón. Si usted es cristiano tenga presente que por esa precisa razón Dios nos colocó en una familia, la familia de Dios (Efe 2:19). Y si no es Cristiano busque a uno, ellos le ayudarán con honestidad y desinteresadamente.

SOLUCIONE UN PROBLEMA A LA VEZ: El apóstol Pablo expresó lo siguiente en Flipenses 3:13 “…pero una cosa hago, olvidando ciertamente lo que queda atrás y extendiéndome a lo que está adelante”. Note dos cosas: 1) Olvidaba y 2) Se extendía hacia adelante. En el contexto de este pasaje Pablo hizo un recuento de su vida pasada y de sus méritos pero ahora lo tenía todo por “basura”, para ganar a Cristo. Hay muchas personas que guardan la basura en la repisa. Es decir no permita que el pasado venga y lo atormente de mil formas, por su bienestar entienda que usted está en el hoy y ahora, así que enfoquecé a solucionar un problema a la vez así como a vivir un día a la vez. Cristo dijo: “…basta a cada día su propio mal” (Mat 6:34). Tratar de solucionar todo al mismo tiempo solo le traerá más congestionamiento.

NO TRATE DE LLAMAR LA ATENCION: El buscar la atención de la gente siempre va a resultar en fracaso aún cuando se es Cristiano. SI usted está en un pozo de tristeza no trate de llamar la atención de la gente para atraer lástima y compasión a para con usted. Me parece que esto solo lo hundirá más al verse decepcionado por todos o ignorado (a). Permítame sugerirle en primer lugar pensar sensatamente y hablar con Dios en oración, no importa que usted sea pecador o que no haya actuado bien con Dios en los últimos meses, lo bello de El, es que siempre está ahí como un amigo que le va a escuchar y que a travez de su providencia (usar las cosas y personas en nuestro entorno para obrar) le va a ayudar a salir adelante y sí su corazón es sincero como el de Cornelio en Hechos 10 va también a encontrar la verdad y paz que solamente Dios da para quienes cumplen sus mandamientos en el Nuevo Pacto (Juan 15:14 leer por favor). Cuando vaya a abrir su corazón a alguien para buscar ayuda, piense sea sabio y escoge a la persona más ideal, pero no divulgue su problema porque al final el divulgado será usted mismo y le escribe alguien quien ya paso por esa misma carretera donde esos “atropellos” son fuertes.

APRENDA A TENER DOMINIO: Cuando “suicidio” atraviese sus pensamientos aprenda a tener dominio propio y bloquee esos pensamientos. La manera más fácil de hacerlo es pensando en otras cosas, casi que diríamos; obligue a su mente a hacerlo (Fil 4:8). Pablo predicó en un par de ocaciones acerca del dominio propio. Quería él que sus oyentes aprendieran a tenerlo y usarlo. Exactamente como un automóvil, el automóvil no le dice a usted a donde ir, sino caso contrario usted maneja al automóvil. Solamente piense que fuera el auto quien decida a donde ir… ¡accidente seguro! así sucederá si permite que los pensamientos le controlen a usted.

MIRE POR LA VENTANA DE LA ESPERANZA: Deténgase y piense que no todo está perdido y que no hay ya más salida que abandonar este mundo. Amigo mío no existe mejor remedio para el suicidio que pensar: Si lo hace, le espera de seguro condenación eterna por haber transgredido la soberanía de Dios tal como lo hizo Judas (Hechos 1:18), es triste pensar que alguien ha sido infeliz aquí y ha sufrido pero se quita la vida pensando que va a escapar de sus problemas cuando más bien los va a empeorar. Si no lo hace puede que usted encuentre solución y que su estado venga a ser mejor que el primero( Vea el caso de Job).

Solamente permítame mencionarle una historia que pudiera ser parecida a la suya. Este hombre es un guardia de seguridad hace muchos años y no podía dejar escapar a ningún reo, ya que si se le iba uno el precio que debía pagar era su propia vida. Una día entran a la prición, dos hombres muy peculiares y son llevados a máxima seguridad. A media noche acontece un fuerte terremoto y los barrotes que sostenía a los presos se caen. Al llegar al lugar el oficial se percata que no era uno ni dos sino que muchos, por no decir todos los presos ya no estaban, así que la mejor decisión que toma es sacar su espada y suicidarse. Al momento escucha la voz de uno de los presos y que dice: “ Aquí estamos todos, no te hagas daño”, el hombre desesperadamente pide ayuda y aquellos dos presos “peculiares” eran nada más y nada menos que predicadores del evangelio. El conoce, se arrepiente y se bautiza con todos los suyos para el perdón de sus pecados y ahora es feliz que vio una luz en medio de la obscuridad, miró travez de la ventana de la esperanza y se encontró con la salvación eterna y el gozo incomparable de ser un cristiano. Esta historia de hecho puede encontrarla en Hechos 16:19-34. Usted puede encontrarle sentido a su vida en el evangelio, Cristo puede devolverle todas las ganas de vivir, pero irónicamente tiene que morir (espiritualmente en el bautismo) para alcanzar salvación.

Talvez le sorprenda lo que voy a decir a continuación, pero pensar en quererse morir no es pecado, la acción del suicidio SI lo es. Pablo deseaba morirse pero no sabia que escoger porque quedar en el cuerpo era de más utilidad (Filip 1:21-22). Mi más sincera oración es que usted desee morir pero porque tiene la certeza que estará con el Señor para siempre por haber obedecido sus mandamientos y por haber servido arduamente en su obra. Le animo a que puede acercarse a la Iglesia de Cristo más cercana de su comunidad, ellos, le garantizo podrán y desearán ayudarle y usted encontrará una familia, tal como la encontré yo.

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Why the Question?

Why the Question?

The Bible records the question "Why?" in many places.

The Bible records the question “Why?” in many places.

“Why” is a word used 261 times in the Bible.  It is a word that is used to begin a question or to state surprise.  However, I would like to use it in regards to impress something of supreme importance.  Beginning with Judges 6:13, it states, “Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.”  Gideon’s why was one of faithlessness and doubt.  He had the audacity to ask “if” the Lord was with them because he doubted that He was.  Yet, we should learn that we should never doubt that God is with us and that He can do great and mighty things with us if we will trust Him.  Later, when Gideon followed God, He used Gideon to deliver His people.  How can we possibly forget that, “If God be for us, who can be against us” (Rom. 8:31 & 35-39)?  Sometimes we forget that one man and God make up a mighty majority!

In the days Jesus walked the earth, Jesus mentioned some why’s, especially when the multitudes were following Him.  He asked, “Why are you worried?”  Put the kingdom first, and it will eliminate the world (Matt. 6:25-34).  Again though, Jesus asked His disciples, “Why are ye fearful?” (Matt. 8:26).  He then asked a multitude, “Why call me Lord and do not the things I say” (Lk. 6:46)?  Why, why, why?  So many why’s, yet, are we following Him yet (Heb. 5:8-9)?  Are we realizing that our Master once asked His Father in Heaven, “Why hast thou forsaken me? (Mk. 15:34) as His breaking heart was enduring the death of the cross?  Must we continue to ask why or can we resolve to follow Him in all things?

Then there are the “why’s” of Peter who asked the Jews, “Why marvel?” (Acts 3:12).  Jesus can do greater things for you (Acts 3:12-19).  Sadly though, Peter asked Ananias, “Why hast Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?” (Acts 5:3).  Ananias and Sapphira as we know, were the first examples of sin in the first century church.  They lied to Peter and the leaders of the church, and most importantly, to God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit.  And as a result, they were struck dead.  Satan, the father of lies, had filled their hearts with sin and that is what he does when our hearts are empty.  But, we should not give Satan any room in our hearts, but to fill our hearts with good things.  In fact, our hearts and lives should be full of good works like Dorcas (Acts 9:36).

From Pilate asking, “Why? What evil hath he done?” (Matt. 27:23), to Paul’s saying, “Why do you judge your brother? (Rom. 14:10-12) or “Why do you glory as if the things you possess are your own?” (I Cor. 4:7), perhaps, no better why is asked than that of mighty Ananias, who when faced with a murderer of Christianity, said, “Now why tarriest thou?” (Acts 22:16).  We should never hesitate to do God’s will.  We ought to obey Him (2 Cor. 6:2).  Sure, we may have many excuses of “Why not.”  But you know, a preacher asked a man who was offering excuses for not obeying the gospel to go home, get a pencil and paper, and write down every reason he had for not obeying the gospel.  The man came the next night and was baptized. He said he could think of many excuses, but not one reason.  We should know that we have no reason for not following God.  The Lord is with us and we should not worry to follow Him.  So, let‘s put God first and maybe start using the word “why” to ask ourselves, “Why are we not doing more for the Lord?”

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