Freedom! by Gary Rose

 

‘"Live Free or Die" is the official motto of the U.S. state of New Hampshire, adopted by the state in 1945.[1] It is possibly the best-known of all state mottos, partly because it conveys an assertive independence historically found in American political philosophy and partly because of its contrast to the milder sentiments found in other state mottos.’

From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_Free_or_Die

Imagine the patience and creativity of the person who shaped a bill of our currency ( I assume it is a dollar bill ) into this message! For those of us who love liberty, our constitution and republic, it is a cornerstone of our society.

Today, many Americans are taught to hate our country; this is a travesty! Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is something we all should cherish! Our forefathers loved freedom so much that many, many of them died obtaining it in our revolutionary war. Their zeal was characterized by Patrick Henry’s famous statement: “Give me liberty or give me death” statement. Note: for more information about this statement and the speech it came from, see https://www.history.com/news/patrick-henrys-liberty-or-death-speech-240-years-ago.

With the rise of the far left, our freedoms are being eroded and if the trend is left unchecked, eventually destroyed. We must defend our way of life or communism will prove victorious and we will become slaves in our own country.

This week, I learned that our government is experimenting with and planning to incorporate a new form of digital money called “The Fed”. This change from physical money to digital is yet another example of the takeover of a one government world. Imagine a government which is able to track every single transaction you make? When that happens, you can kiss every shred of privacy goodbye.

Note: for more information about THE FED, see the following links...

THE FED

https://www.federalreserve.gov/econres/notes/feds-notes/central-bank-digital-currency-a-literature-review-20201109.htm

https://www.forbes.com/sites/frankvangansbeke/2020/08/18/the-fed-and-digital-currencieswhats-possible/?sh=6ea687172d20

https://prepareforchange.net/2020/09/25/cashless-society-coming-soon-the-fed-is-preparing-to-deposit-digital-dollars-directly-to-each-american/

Why are this things happening? Why would people be so devious, so evil as to attempt to control your every action? The answer is power, greed and pride. As our government has gradually gained more and more control over our lives, those who are in control of the various branches of government want more and more of everything. Power and money are just two examples of the evil that resides within them.

The Bible says…

1 Timothy 6 ( World English Bible )

⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain.

⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out.

⁸ But having food and clothing, we will be content with that.

⁹ But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction.

¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

1 John 2 ( WEB )

¹⁵ Don’t love the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him.

¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s.

¹⁷ The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God’s will remains forever.

Sinful human beings who have an unbridled lust for the things mentioned in verse 16 above, love their lust. Whether they realize it or not, they have sold their soul to Satan and doomed any shred of hope for eternal life with God.

Those of us who love God, must expose them for what they are, for their influence will corrupt others to follow in their paths and eventually lead to their destruction as well.

Therefore, how should we live? 1 Timothy 6:6-8 tells us to be godly and content with what God has given us. As I think more about these things, I remember the words of Jesus from the sermon on the mount:

Matthew 6 ( WEB )

¹⁹ “Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal;

²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal;

²¹ for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

²² “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light.

²³ But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon.

²⁵ Therefore, I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

²⁶ See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they?

²⁷ “Which of you, by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan?

²⁸ Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin,

²⁹ yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these.

³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you, you of little faith?

³¹ “Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’

³² For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

³³ But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.

Follow God and seek his kingdom, regardless of cost. Heaven and eternal life are worth any and every sacrifice. Believe these things, for they are true!

Bible Reading for January 27 and 28 by Gary Rose

Bible Reading for January 27 and 28

World  English  Bible

Jan. 27

Genesis 27

Gen 27:1 It happened, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his elder son, and said to him, "My son?" He said to him, "Here I am."

Gen 27:2 He said, "See now, I am old. I don't know the day of my death.

Gen 27:3 Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field, and take me venison.

Gen 27:4 Make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat, and that my soul may bless you before I die."

Gen 27:5 Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.

Gen 27:6 Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, "Behold, I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying,

Gen 27:7 'Bring me venison, and make me savory food, that I may eat, and bless you before Yahweh before my death.'

Gen 27:8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command you.

Gen 27:9 Go now to the flock, and get me from there two good kids of the goats. I will make them savory food for your father, such as he loves.

Gen 27:10 You shall bring it to your father, that he may eat, so that he may bless you before his death."

Gen 27:11 Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, "Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man.

Gen 27:12 What if my father touches me? I will seem to him as a deceiver, and I would bring a curse on myself, and not a blessing."

Gen 27:13 His mother said to him, "Let your curse be on me, my son. Only obey my voice, and go get them for me."

Gen 27:14 He went, and got them, and brought them to his mother. His mother made savory food, such as his father loved.

Gen 27:15 Rebekah took the good clothes of Esau, her elder son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob, her younger son.

Gen 27:16 She put the skins of the kids of the goats on his hands, and on the smooth of his neck.

Gen 27:17 She gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

Gen 27:18 He came to his father, and said, "My father?" He said, "Here I am. Who are you, my son?"

Gen 27:19 Jacob said to his father, "I am Esau your firstborn. I have done what you asked me to do. Please arise, sit and eat of my venison, that your soul may bless me."

Gen 27:20 Isaac said to his son, "How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?" He said, "Because Yahweh your God gave me success."

Gen 27:21 Isaac said to Jacob, "Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not."

Gen 27:22 Jacob went near to Isaac his father. He felt him, and said, "The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau."

Gen 27:23 He didn't recognize him, because his hands were hairy, like his brother, Esau's hands. So he blessed him.

Gen 27:24 He said, "Are you really my son Esau?" He said, "I am."

Gen 27:25 He said, "Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless you." He brought it near to him, and he ate. He brought him wine, and he drank.

Gen 27:26 His father Isaac said to him, "Come near now, and kiss me, my son."

Gen 27:27 He came near, and kissed him. He smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him, and said, "Behold, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which Yahweh has blessed.

Gen 27:28 God give you of the dew of the sky, of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and new wine.

Gen 27:29 Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers. Let your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you. Blessed be everyone who blesses you."

Gen 27:30 It happened, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob had just gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.

Gen 27:31 He also made savory food, and brought it to his father. He said to his father, "Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that your soul may bless me."

Gen 27:32 Isaac his father said to him, "Who are you?" He said, "I am your son, your firstborn, Esau."

Gen 27:33 Isaac trembled violently, and said, "Who, then, is he who has taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before you came, and have blessed him? Yes, he will be blessed."

Gen 27:34 When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceeding great and bitter cry, and said to his father, "Bless me, even me also, my father."

Gen 27:35 He said, "Your brother came with deceit, and has taken away your blessing."

Gen 27:36 He said, "Isn't he rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright. See, now he has taken away my blessing." He said, "Haven't you reserved a blessing for me?"

Gen 27:37 Isaac answered Esau, "Behold, I have made him your lord, and all his brothers have I given to him for servants. With grain and new wine have I sustained him. What then will I do for you, my son?"

Gen 27:38 Esau said to his father, "Have you but one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, my father." Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.

Gen 27:39 Isaac his father answered him, "Behold, of the fatness of the earth will be your dwelling, and of the dew of the sky from above.

Gen 27:40 By your sword will you live, and you will serve your brother. It will happen, when you will break loose, that you shall shake his yoke from off your neck."

Gen 27:41 Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him. Esau said in his heart, "The days of mourning for my father are at hand. Then I will kill my brother Jacob."

Gen 27:42 The words of Esau, her elder son, were told to Rebekah. She sent and called Jacob, her younger son, and said to him, "Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you.

Gen 27:43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban, my brother, in Haran.

Gen 27:44 Stay with him a few days, until your brother's fury turns away;

Gen 27:45 until your brother's anger turn away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send, and get you from there. Why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?"

Gen 27:46 Rebekah said to Isaac, "I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these, of the daughters of the land, what good will my life do me?"

 

Jan. 28

Genesis 28

Gen 28:1 Isaac called Jacob, blessed him, and commanded him, "You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.

Gen 28:2 Arise, go to Paddan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother's father. Take a wife from there from the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother.

Gen 28:3 May God Almighty bless you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, that you may be a company of peoples,

Gen 28:4 and give you the blessing of Abraham, to you, and to your seed with you, that you may inherit the land where you travel, which God gave to Abraham."

Gen 28:5 Isaac sent Jacob away. He went to Paddan Aram to Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, Rebekah's brother, Jacob's and Esau's mother.

Gen 28:6 Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan Aram, to take him a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he gave him a command, saying, "You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan,"

Gen 28:7 and that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Paddan Aram.

Gen 28:8 Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan didn't please Isaac, his father.

Gen 28:9 Esau went to Ishmael, and took, besides the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.

Gen 28:10 Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.

Gen 28:11 He came to a certain place, and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. He took one of the stones of the place, and put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep.

Gen 28:12 He dreamed. Behold, a stairway set upon the earth, and its top reached to heaven. Behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

Gen 28:13 Behold, Yahweh stood above it, and said, "I am Yahweh, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. The land whereon you lie, to you will I give it, and to your seed.

Gen 28:14 Your seed will be as the dust of the earth, and you will spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. In you and in your seed will all the families of the earth be blessed.

Gen 28:15 Behold, I am with you, and will keep you, wherever you go, and will bring you again into this land. For I will not leave you, until I have done that which I have spoken of to you."

Gen 28:16 Jacob awakened out of his sleep, and he said, "Surely Yahweh is in this place, and I didn't know it."

Gen 28:17 He was afraid, and said, "How dreadful is this place! This is none other than God's house, and this is the gate of heaven."

Gen 28:18 Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil on its top.

Gen 28:19 He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first.

Gen 28:20 Jacob vowed a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and clothing to put on,

Gen 28:21 so that I come again to my father's house in peace, and Yahweh will be my God,

Gen 28:22 then this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, will be God's house. Of all that you will give me I will surely give the tenth to you." 

 

Jan. 27, 28

Matthew 14

Mat 14:1 At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus,

Mat 14:2 and said to his servants, "This is John the Baptizer. He is risen from the dead. That is why these powers work in him."

Mat 14:3 For Herod had laid hold of John, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.

Mat 14:4 For John said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."

Mat 14:5 When he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

Mat 14:6 But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced among them and pleased Herod.

Mat 14:7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatever she should ask.

Mat 14:8 She, being prompted by her mother, said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptizer."

Mat 14:9 The king was grieved, but for the sake of his oaths, and of those who sat at the table with him, he commanded it to be given,

Mat 14:10 and he sent and beheaded John in the prison.

Mat 14:11 His head was brought on a platter, and given to the young lady: and she brought it to her mother.

Mat 14:12 His disciples came, and took the body, and buried it; and they went and told Jesus.

Mat 14:13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat, to a deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities.

Mat 14:14 Jesus went out, and he saw a great multitude. He had compassion on them, and healed their sick.

Mat 14:15 When evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying, "This place is deserted, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food."

Mat 14:16 But Jesus said to them, "They don't need to go away. You give them something to eat."

Mat 14:17 They told him, "We only have here five loaves and two fish."

Mat 14:18 He said, "Bring them here to me."

Mat 14:19 He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes.

Mat 14:20 They all ate, and were filled. They took up twelve baskets full of that which remained left over from the broken pieces.

Mat 14:21 Those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Mat 14:22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat, and to go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

Mat 14:23 After he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain by himself to pray. When evening had come, he was there alone.

Mat 14:24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

Mat 14:25 In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.

Mat 14:26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It's a ghost!" and they cried out for fear.

Mat 14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying "Cheer up! It is I! Don't be afraid."

Mat 14:28 Peter answered him and said, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters."

Mat 14:29 He said, "Come!" Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked on the waters to come to Jesus.

Mat 14:30 But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"

Mat 14:31 Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

Mat 14:32 When they got up into the boat, the wind ceased.

Mat 14:33 Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, "You are truly the Son of God!"

Mat 14:34 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.

Mat 14:35 When the people of that place recognized him, they sent into all that surrounding region, and brought to him all who were sick,

Mat 14:36 and they begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment. As many as touched it were made whole.

Abiding in Him by Richard Mansel

https://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Mansel/Richard/Dale/1964/abiding.html

Abiding in Him

How will we be found when the Lord returns? The time of the Lord's return is a mystery. "Of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only" (Matthew 24:36). So, how should we be conducting ourselves?

John writes, "And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him" (1 John 2:28-29).

Since Christ came and died for us and gave of Himself so freely (Galatians 2:20) we ought to spend ourselves for His kingdom. We should prepare ourselves and conduct our lives so we will not be ashamed when we stand before Him.

To be ashamed, as John writes, means to "grow pale, to change color from shame." We certainly do not want to be the ones ashamed on the Day of Judgment. Instead, sinners and 'Christians' who have scoffed at Christianity, justified drinking, fornication, false teachings, blasphemy and the like, will lose color and will strangle their laughs when they realize Christ is real and has come with a sword of vengeance (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Romans 1:28-32).

John writes that we must know God is righteous. He has all truth and has supplied us with sacred truths in Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

John also writes that we must be born of Him. Only in Him will we find salvation (John 3:3-5). Otherwise, we will be found with the sinners and will be lost forever (Matthew 25).

Finally, John writes that we should practice righteousness. We live for Him every day of our lives. Then because we are faithful to His cause we become filled with boldness. Proverbs 28:1 says, "The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion."

Boldness here involves speaking freely. People speak out concerning matters they are passionate about whether it be politics, hobbies or gossip. Since we have boldness and confidence, we can be busy in the practice of righteousness. A 'practicing attorney' is someone who is active in this profession. What are we doing to practice righteousness? Is it obvious to those among whom we circulate daily? If not, how can we be "lights to the world?" (Matthew 5:16).

Richard Mansel

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

 

JESUS DIED FOR ALL MEN BY STEVE FINNELL

 

https://steve-finnell.blogspot.com/2017/01/

JESUS DIED FOR ALL MEN   BY STEVE FINNELL

Jesus died for all men, however, all men will not be saved. God loves everyone, but salvation is conditional.

JESUS DIED FOR ALL MEN

1 Timothy 2:5-6.....the man Jesus Christ, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.

Jesus paid the price of salvation for all men, not just for a selected few.

Hebrews 2:9 But we do see Him who was made a little lower than the angels, namely Jesus , because of the suffering death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

Jesus tasted death for everyone. Jesus did not die for a preselected few.

Mark 16:15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

Jesus did not send the disciples to preach to only those that had been hand picked by God for salvation. The disciples were to preach to all the world. Jesus died for every person in the world  then and now.

THERE WILL BE ONLY A FEW WHO WILL BE SAVED.

Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Heaven will not be crowded.

SALVATION IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL, BUT IT IS CONDITIONAL.

Romans 1;16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Salvation is available to all who believe. Salvation is conditional.

Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen."

All men who have heard the gospel have been called. The chosen are the ones who believe. It is a personal choice. Men have free will.

CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD.

Romans 10:13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."

How do men call on the name of the Lord? They call on His name by FAITH-REPENTANCE-CONFESSION-and WATER BAPTISM.

FAITH: John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

REPENTANCE: Acts 3:19 Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 17 30-31 Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring that all people everywhere should repent, 31......

All people who want to be saved need to repent of their unbelief and make the commitment to turn from their sinful lifestyle and turn toward God.

CONFESSION: Matthew 10:32 "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. Romans 10:9-10 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10.......Acts 37[And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may, And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."]

WATER BAPTISM: Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 1 Peter 3:20-21 ....safely through the water. 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you---not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience---through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

JESUS DIED FOR ALL MEN, HOWEVER, ALL MEN WILL NOT BE SAVED BECAUSE SALVATION IS CONDITIONAL! 
SALVATION IS A CHOICE. MEN HAVE THE FREE-WILL TO MAKE THAT CHOICE.

MEN CAN BE SAVED IN TWO HOURS MORE OR LESS. MEN JUST HAVE TO MEET GOD'S TERMS FOR PARDON.

(All Scripture from : NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE)

 

Bachelorette on show’s sexual relations: ‘I can do whatever, I sin daily and Jesus still loves me’ by Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

https://thepreachersword.com/2019/06/21/bachelorette-on-shows-sexual-relations-i-can-do-whatever-i-sin-daily-and-jesus-still-loves-me/

Bachelorette on show’s sexual relations: ‘I can do whatever, I sin daily and Jesus still loves me’

In a new promotional video for the so-called reality show “The Bachelorette” Hannah Brown is talking with contestant Luke Parker, who is telling her what he thinks about sex.

“Let’s talk about sex and how the marriage bed should be kept pure,” Luke told Hannah.

“Let’s say you have had sex with one or multiple of these guys, I would be wanting to go home,” Luke admitted.

Apparently, Hannah, who professes to be a Christian and was shown praying before meeting the bachelors, was offended by Luke’s comments and confessed she had “physical relations” with some of the other contestants but said “Jesus stills loves her.”

“Regardless of anything that I’ve done, I can do whatever, I sin daily and Jesus still loves me. It’s all washed and if the Lord doesn’t judge me and it’s all forgiven, then no other man, woman … anything can judge me,” Hannah told Entertainment Weekly after the promo aired.

“Nobody’s gonna judge me, I won’t stand for it,” she continued.

According to the promotional clip, however, Hannah seemingly sends Luke home after their “sex” chat and even flips him off as he is leaving.

“My faith that is a big, huge part of me and a lot of times people get Christianity and religion messed up,” Hannah told ET. “Your faith should be something personal and a relationship and it’s not to judge others.”

Now for the record, The Preacherman does not watch “The Bachelorette.” In fact, I never saw the promotional video. My source is from an article in The Christian Post by Charity Gibson.

Hannah’s attitude is characteristic of many people who harbor misconceptions, about sin, grace, religion, and judging.

(1) God’s grace is not a blank check to sin.

Hannah’s retort minds me of the apostle Paul’s anticipated response from his readers when he wrote, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?”

The answer. “By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it.”

While all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23), the frailty of the flesh is not an excuse to willfully and wantonly engage in sinful practices. Planned, persistent, and deliberate sins puts us at odds with the plea of the Bible to “abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul” (1 Pet. 2:11).

(2) The Bible teaches that fornication is a sin.

Our culture accepts sexual relationships apart from marriage as being normal, expected and even healthy. But the majority opinion is wrong.

Furthermore, God’s love, grace, and mercy do not excuse sexual relationships outside of marriage. Hebrews 13:4 affirms that “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”

Paul admonished us to “flee sexual immorality” and says that it is a sin that can keep one from “the Kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9-11,18).

(3) God’s love does not ignore our transgressions.

Yes, God loves us. He sent Christ to die for sins. And He is longsuffering. (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8; 2 Pet. 3:9). But this not does mean that God turns a blind eye to our sins. He earnestly desires for us to repent. To change. To be transformed from the deeds, desires, and deceitfulness of this world (Rom. 12:1-2).

(4) Religion and Christianity are not mutually exclusive.

Hannah’s pejorative comment about religion is one that we often hear. Many folks labor under the false notion that they can hold to some personal faith apart from Biblical instruction and be pleasing to God.

God’s Word, however, says something about religion that applies to this issue. “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (Jas 1:27).

The religion of Christ involves both principles and practices that one professing faith ought to believe and embrace.

(5) Not all judging is a sin.

Accusing others of judging is a frequent dodge to deflect the condemnation of our sins. Jesus commanded, “Judge righteous judgment”(Jn. 7:24). Discerning good from evil requires judgment (Heb 5:14). And to obey the exhortation “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” (Eph 5:11) demands judging based on God’s Word.

Let us not excuse our sins or become slaves of sin. Rather may we be servants of Christ. Forgiven and free from the bondage of sin.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

"THE GOSPEL OF MARK" A Gentile Blessed For Her Faith (7:24-30) by Mark Copeland

"THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

A Gentile Blessed For Her Faith (7:24-30)

INTRODUCTION

1. Many Christians today take their faith and its privileges for granted...
   a. Perhaps it is the old adage, "familiarity breeds contempt"
   b. But Gentile Christians in particular should never lose sight of the grace shown them

2. I refer to privileges that were long bestowed on the Israelites...
   a. Such as a covenant relationship with God
   b. With all the blessings that accompany such a relationship
   c. Which are now available to all who come to God with faith in Christ

[An incident in the life of Christ reminds me of "the way we were".  It
involves a Gentile woman who was blessed for her faith.  In Mk 7:24, we
begin as we pick up with...]

I. THE NARRATIVE

   A. THE SEARCH FOR PRIVACY...
      1. Jesus had travelled about 40 miles from Capernaum
      2. He came to the region of Tyre and Sidon, also known as Syro-Phoenecia - Mk 7:24
      3. He sought privacy, probably needing rest - cf. Mk 6:31-32

   B. THE REQUEST FOR A MIRACLE..
      1. A woman with a daughter possessed by an unclean spirit came to Him - Mk 7:25
      2. She was a Greek (Gentile), a Syro-Phoenician by birth - Mk 7:26
      3. She "kept asking" Jesus to cast out the demon - Mk 7:26
      4. She even acknowledged Jesus as "O Lord, Son of David!" - cf. Mt 15:22
      5. Matthew reveals that initially Jesus did not speak to her - cf. Mt 15:23
      6. That she began pestering His disciples - cf. Mt 15:23

   C. THE REFUSAL TO HEAL...
      1. Matthew's account explains Jesus' thinking - cf. Mt 15:24
         a. "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
         b. Compare His charge regarding the "Limited Commission" - cf. Mt 10:5-6
         c. His mission was to fulfill prophecy concerning Israel's Messiah
         d. He would later expand His ministry to the world - cf. Mt 28:19; Mk 16:15
      2. Jesus' response to her suggested as much - Mk 7:27
         a. "Let the children be filled first..."
         b. There were promises to Israel that needed to be filled before those to the Gentiles

   D. THE RESPONSE TO FAITH...
      1. The woman's response to Jesus shows her faith - Mk 7:28
         a. "Yes, Lord..." - she acknowledge the right for Him to refuse her request
         b. "...yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the
            children's crumbs.." - she would be happy with "crumbs" left
            over from His ministry to the Jews
      2. Jesus admired her faith and healed her daughter - Mk 7:29-30
         a. Matthew adds that Jesus said, "O woman, great is your faith!" - cf. Mt 15:28
         b. And that her daughter "was healed instantly" - cf. Mt 15:28

[Thus this Gentile woman was blessed for her faith.  With this incident fresh on our mind...]

II. SOME OBSERVATIONS

   A. OTHER GENTILES BLESSED BY FAITH...
      1. The centurion at Capernaum - Mt 8:5-13
      2. Cornelius, the first Gentile convert to the gospel - Ac 10:1-6
      -- The first centurion ate "crumbs", the latter the first to "sit at the table"

   B. GENTILES ARE NOW BLESSED BY FAITH...
      1. We are no longer:
         a. Without Christ
         b. Aliens from the commonwealth of Israel
         c. Strangers from the covenants of promise
         d. Having no hope and without God in the world  - Ep 2:11-12
      2. We are now:
         a. Brought near by the blood of Christ - Ep 2:13
         b. Reconciled as one body in Christ - Ep 2:14-17
         c. With access by one Spirit to the Father - Ep 2:18
         d. Fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God - Ep 2:19-22
      -- True to Jesus' promise (Mt 8:11-12), Gentiles can now sit at the table!

   C. ARE WE MAKING GOOD USE OF OUR BLESSINGS...?
      1. Not if we refuse to come to the table
         a. By not obeying the gospel
         b. Jesus now invites everyone - Mk 16:15-16
      2. Not if we refuse to eat at the table
         a. Through disobedience and neglect
         b. This was the mistake of many of the Jews - cf. Mt 8:11-12; 21:43
      3. Not if we eat only the crumbs
         a. Through apathy and neglect
         b. This was the problem with Sardis and Laodicea - cf. Re 3:1-2,14-19
      -- If the "sons" will be cast out, how much more ungrateful "dogs"? - cf. Ro 11:21-22

CONCLUSION

1. This incident, "A Gentile Blessed For Her Faith", should remind us of...
   a. The way we were before Christ
   b. The blessings we now enjoy in Christ

2. Do we have her kind of faith...?
   a. Persisting even when first rebuffed?
   b. Willing to accept even the smallest of blessings?

For those who do, a spiritual feast awaits...! - cf. Ep 1:3  

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2016