3. Worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness
The Holiness and Sanctification of Worshipers are of paramount importance. To some people this might sound blasphemous and sacrilegious, but this is the message which we have heard from the beginning and that has been declared to us, “If you walk in the light (in truth, free from sin) as he (Christ) is in the light, we have fellowship with one another.”
Real fellowship is in progress only when all participants are walking in the light, otherwise our glorying is in vain, for one little leaven leavens the whole lump, one spoil apple spoils the whole bunch. God will in no way co-exist with sin/darkness. It is for this reason believers are admonished in first Corinthians chapter 5 verse 11 saying; “I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortionist, not even to eat with such a person.”
Because of the believer’s call to holiness, and to worship God in the beauty of holiness; which signifies being consecrated to God and being free from sin, they are duly instructed in 2Corinthians chapter 6 verses 14 to 18 saying; “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord (agreement) has Christ with Belial?
Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, as God has said; “I will dwell in them and walk among them, I will be their God and they shall be my people.’ Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
When comes to the worship of God, there ought to be a clear distinction between the holy and the profane, there are those who should, and should not be admitted to the Temple. The Lord in a vision, spoke to the prophet Ezekiel, and said to him in the book of Ezekiel chapter 44: verses 5-9; “Son of man, mark well, see with your eyes and hear with your ears, all that I say to you concerning all the ordinances of the house of the Lord and all its laws. Mark well who may enter the house and all who go out from my sanctuary.”
“Now say to the rebellious, to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: ‘O house of Israel let us have no more of your abominations. When you brought in foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in My sanctuary to defile it – My house – and when you offered My food, the fat and the blood, then they broke my covenant because of all your abominations. And you have not kept charge of my holy things, but you have set others to keep charge of my sanctuary for you.”
‘Thus says the Lord God: “No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart or uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter my sanctuary, including any foreigner who is among the children of Israel.”
To ascertain that the church maintains its state of holiness, the Lord has given to the church the responsibility to judge its members; and so it is written; “For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges; therefore put away from yourselves that wicked person” (1Cor.5:12-13).
Failing to distinguish the holy from the profane is a violation of the laws of the temple, and the holy things of God. For thus says the Lord in the book of Ezekiel chapter 22: and verse 26;
“Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.”
In the book of Matthew the eighteenth chapter, verses 15-18, Jesus Christ gave instructions as to how we can maintain our state of holiness before presenting ourselves to the Father. He said; “Moreover, if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear you, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church, but if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and tax collector.
Assuredly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
The apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 11: verses 31 and 32 says, “If we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged, and even when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.” There is definitely a clear distinction between the holy and the profane when comes to the worship of God.
An individual or group of people like the church, is considered holy, not because of their own doings, but because of the seed of holiness, and righteousness which we all received from Jesus Christ, when we were all begotten by him at his resurrection, and by nurturing and growing the seed by practicing the way of holiness.
Our new man is created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness; and the growth and development of this nature is attainable by practicing righteousness and holiness. As it is written; “Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray, he who practices righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous” (1Jn.3:7).
We have been called with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to God’s own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” The purpose of this calling is to; “Serve the Lord without fear in love and righteousness before him all the days of our lives,” just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.
This state of holiness is ascribed only to those who; “As obedient children, are not conforming themselves to their former lusts, as in the time of their ignorance, but as he who called them is holy, they also are to be holy in all their conduct.”
This way of holiness and righteousness is God’s way of life. It represents Jesus Christ who is the way, the truth, the life, and our righteousness. Our conformity to this way of holy living makes us God’s chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, his own special people, that we may proclaim the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.
According to the apostle Paul in the book of Romans chapter 6 verses 19 and 22 respectively, holiness is the fruit of righteousness. As it is written; “I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh, for just as you present your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.” And, “Now having been set free from sin, and have become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end everlasting life.”
The church in the true sense of the word refers to “All who have been Redeemed,” Or groups of Christians assembled for worship. The basis on which most churches operate, it is quite apparent that they have not conceptualized the huge separation that exists between the church and the world, and between light and darkness.
Christian Worship should not be a haphazard, unplanned, unprepared religious social activity in the name of God. The main form of preparedness that is required is that of consecration, because worship is coming in God’s presence, and having fellowship with him and with his Son Jesus Christ.
It is no longer to a temple made with hands, but to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the first born, whose names are written in heaven, to God the Judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks more graciously than the blood of Abel.

Key #4 to Happiness – Forgiving Others

A man was walking with his best friend, someone he had known for a very long time. As they walked, they began to argue about some trivial issue. As they argued, they began to be very angry at one another. The more they argued, the angrier they became. They got so angry at each other that the man lost his temper and shoved his friend away from him. His friend stumbled and fell upon a board, which had a loose, rusty nail sticking up from it. The nail pierced the man’s friend in the back.

The man, immediately sorry for what he had done, picked his friend up and took him home to wash his wound and remove the rusty nail. “I’m so sorry,” he kept saying. “I don’t know what cam over me. Please forgive me!”

“That’s your problem,” his friend said. “You’ve always had a bad temper. I’m going to teach you a lesson. I’m going to leave this rusty nail in my back so that every time you see it you will remember what your bad temper did you me.” Even when the rust nail eventually began to infect the wound in the friend’s back, the friend refused to remove it and continued to remind the man of what he had done and how wrong her was, right up until the day that the infection from the nail finally killed him.

It is so easy to look at this story and say, “How foolish! No one should keep a wound open in their body just so they can hold it over the person who caused it! If that was me, I’d want to get healed as soon as I could!” But hear this, Child of God; every day, in relationships all over the world, people are doing just that to their own spirits, and the rusty nail that pierces them and drains their happiness away is called UNFORGIVENESS.

The Danger of Unforgiveness.

In order to see unforgiveness in it’s proper light, it is first necessary to understand what it means to forgive. In the Greek, the word forgive means: to free fully, relieve, release, dismiss, let die, pardon, divorce, let go, loose, put away, and to set at liberty. The Bible makes it very clear that we as followers of Christ are expected to forgive the wrongs that others may do to us: “And when you stand praying, forgive, if you have ought against any.” (Mark 11:25)

Beyond question, then, the Bible expects us to let go of the hard feelings held against someone who has done us wrong, no matter who, why, how, or what. Walking in forgiveness with others is one the believer’s primary keys to finding their happiness in life. When we do not let go of the wrong that has been done against us, but instead hold on to it, then we are walking in unforgiveness.

“So we walk in a little unforgiveness,” someone might say. “It’s only natural; besides, it’s the only way we can protect ourselves from being used and hurt.” Oh, saints, how little we actually know about the function of our own hearts! And how devious is our enemy, who deceives us into hurting others and ourselves in a hundred little ways! How many saints do you know who pride themselves on how they avoid adultery, fornication, murder and idolatry, only to fall prey to unforgiveness, bitterness and lovelessness? How many relationships, friendships and marriages have crumbled and fallen because of unforgiveness? There are too many to count! Out of the many things that damage relationships and spiritual growth, it’s usually the small, seemingly minor attitudes that silently eat away at the foundations until it is too late. “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines; for our vines have tender grapes” (Song of Solomon 2:15). The “little foxes” of unforgiveness will always spoil the tender fruit of our relationships!

When unforgiveness enters our hearts, it erodes our ability to love, bond and trust, making us cold, bitter and hard. It kills our ability to develop relationships and fellowship with others – even with the Lord God Himself! “But when ye do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses” (Mark 11:26). Many people hold unforgiveness in their hearts in an effort to hurt the one who first hurt them, not realizing that they are the ones who suffer the most! It is near impossible to find happiness in life when you are holding on to forgiveness.

The Importance of Forgiving.

If you ask most saints what are some of the most important spiritual elements in their life, most will tell you about tongues, spiritual gifts, prophecy, and the Word of God. Very few will include love and forgiveness on their list. But what does the Word of God teach us? How does God want the unsaved to respond to spiritual gifts and prophecy? Beloved, all of these wonderful abilities are intended to draw unsaved souls to God that they might receive one thing: FORGIVENESS of their sins through Jesus Christ!

“Be it known unto you therefore, man and brethren, that through [Jesus] is preached unto you forgiveness of sins, and by Him all that believe are justified from all things.” (Acts 13:38-39)

Saints, forgiveness is not just a side issue in the Christian faith; it is the very center of the gospel message. Jesus was made flesh and blood for this very reason – to break down the wall of separation between man and God, that mankind might be saved from the righteous judgment of God and be forgiven of their sinful acts and delivered from their sinful nature so that they might enjoy intimate fellowship with God!

But if we want to continue receiving forgiveness of sins throughout our life (for truly we will need it!), then God requires one thing of us all – that we completely forgive others like He constantly and completely forgives us.

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Eph. 4:31-32, NIV).

The Impact of Unforgiveness.

Despite the clear instructions of scripture, friendships, families, marriages, ministries, and lives are being broken up at a frightening rate. People are turning to divorce, crime drugs, violence and gangs, trying to stop their personal pain and find their life’s happiness. We are seeing Jesus’ prophecy come true: “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of many will grow cold.” (Matt. 24:12, NIV).

Why is this happening? Counselors and psychiatrists have discovered a common thread – unforgiveness and bitter hearts! Sons and daughters are bitter against absent fathers or negligent mothers; wives are bitter against absent or abusive husbands; fathers are bitter against their own abusive fathers, turning their rage against their own families; women are bitter against men, and children are bitter against their parents. Everyone is holding unforgiveness against those who have hurt them, and the resulting bitterness of heart is eating them up inside. We are seeing a whole generation of bitter, angry, hard-hearted people boiling over with silent rage and unforgiveness!

The worst part about it is Satan is having a field day! Why? Because whenever unforgiveness and bitterness enter our hearts, Satan has a legal right to build a stronghold there!

“If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven – if there was anything to forgive – I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes (i.e., methods, devices, and plans)”
(2 Corinthians 2:10-11, NIV).

Paul is saying here that if there exists any occasion where forgiveness is needed in the church, he wants to forgive along with everyone else, for he knows how Satan operates. He knew that every unforgiven offense was an opportunity for Satan to bring the bondage of bitterness, anger, criticalness, strife, and hard heartedness to the offended party. These things would open the door for other tormenting spirits as well! You see, it’s not just about relationships, but about your spiritual and natural health as well. When you do not forgive, your prayers go unanswered, your love grows cold, your natural resistance decreases, your joy and happiness are drained away, your spirit becomes darkened, and every sin you commit goes unforgiven by God until you forgive! Now tell me, is it really worth it?

Five Reasons Why A Person Won’t Forgive.

Someone may say, “But it’s so hard to forgive! You don’t know what they did to me! I just can’t seem to let it go, even though I know I have to!” If this is you, Beloved, then you need to examine yourself closely as to why you as a believer would keep this deadly emotional poison flowing through your system. Here are five reasons why most people will not forgive:

1) They don’t value the relationship. Many people simply refuse to forgive an offender because they no longer value the relationship that they have with them. They are more willing to discard the relationship than to make the effort to restore the relationship. This is due to a lack of love, for without the love of God within us, we cannot see the value that God places in every person on earth! Can you imagine what would happen if God treated us the same way?

2) They are afraid to forgive for fear of being put in a position of weakness and vulnerability with another person. This is the most common reason among those who have been hurt before. They use unforgiveness as a shield to keep distance between themselves and those who have hurt them. They feel safer hiding behind the bitterness and anger rather than letting it go and giving the person another chance, as the Bible instructs them to. The sad part is, they are keeping God out as well, and letting Satan in! Saints, remember this: true, godly love always takes risks, and there is no hurt in this world that God cannot heal!

3) They won’t forgive because pride keeps them from truly seeing themselves in God. Many people will exalt themselves in their own eyes until they treat every offense against them as if it were against God Himself! They see the offender as “unworthy” of their forgiveness or love, not realizing that they themselves are no better than the offender in God’s eyes as long as they hold that grudge. They fail to realize that if Jesus could forgive the sins committed against him during his earthly life and still love his offenders, who are we not to? We must learn to let God be the righteous judge of every sin and get out of His way!

4) They can’t forgive because they are focusing on the wrong image in their minds. Many saints hinder their ability to forgive by constantly thinking on the wrong thing: instead of focusing on the Word of God, the example of Jesus, and guarding themselves against the deception of the enemy, they will focus on the offender, the offense, the words spoken, and the pain experienced. They will rehearse it over and over in their minds, keeping the memories fresh and the wounds sore. Beloved, please listen: as long as you keep talking about it, thinking about it, and hearing about it, you’ll keep hurting over it. Part of forgiving is separating yourself and your pain from the memories of the event – you must put the past behind you, embracing the memory while releasing the pain!

5) They won’t forgive because they don’t understand the damage it does to their hearts. Most everyone who willingly holds onto a grudge does not realize the damage they are doing to themselves. Unforgiveness always leads to bitterness, and bitterness always leads to a hardened heart, one that cannot love or trust anyone. It affects our ability as parents, spouses, and friends. Everyone can tell bitter people; they’re the ones who have become abusive, hard, quick-tempered, stubborn, unfriendly, and cold. The offense may be years gone and long forgotten by the other party, but the impact remains long after the fact. Saints, we must understand this: the only person unforgiveness hurts is the unforgiver!

The Power of Love.

The Battle against unforgiveness is being lost by someone, somewhere, every day. Today it’s like a contagious disease, spreading from marriage to marriage and family to family, leaving behind divorces, broken families, bitter hearts, and painful memories. How can we stop it? The answer is so simple yet so deep that we often overlook it – we must learn to LOVE! Not the warm, fuzzy, teary-eyed lip service love that you see on television of get in many fellowships. But that selfless, aga`pe love of Jesus, the self-sacrificing love that led Him to give His life for us while we were still his enemies, the love that could accept rejection, lashes, beatings, spitting, nails, and a criminal’s cross and still say, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

Beloved, this is where the real battle for your spiritual life and happiness begins; not over doctrines, denominations, Bible versions, or spiritual gifts, but over who will love and who will hate, who will forgive and who will grow bitter! Oh saints, where are those who can turn the other cheek, who can love their enemies, who can bless those that curse them or spitefully use them? Where are those who can truly, honestly forgive? This is what the world needs to see, hear and experience! This is TRUE spiritual growth and a primary key to finding happiness! This is the nature of the true child of God, one who, like a rose, can take the crushing of this world and still give off the pleasing fragrance of love and forgiveness. This, beloved saints, is the mark of a true believer. Praise God!

How to find happiness – Forgiving Others Exercises:

1)      Make a list of those people who have hurt or wounded you in your life, whether they are alive or have passed away. Include a detailed list of the hurts and wounds inflicted upon you.

2)      Take the time to go before God and ask forgiveness for holding grudges against them; ask Him to remove the offense from your heart. Ask God to wash your heart in the blood of Jesus Christ and to fill you with love for that person. Renounce the Spirit of Unforgiveness, repenting from your heart before the Lord God.

3)      Forgive each offender. Forgive them verbally, out loud. Be specific in what you are forgiving them for. If you have trouble forgiving, review the “Reasons People Will Not Forgive” provided in this lesson. Focus on the impact that unforgiveness could have in your life and ask yourself, “Do I really want this poison in my life? What have I already lost because of unforgiveness? Is it really worth it to damage my own spirit because of this? What blessings am I missing out on because of this?” Now, go back and try again to forgive that person’s hurts against you. Do this for every person on your list and take your time.

(Note: if you still have trouble verbally forgiving this person, this may be a sign that you have developed a demonic stronghold in your life. Ask the Lord God to help you forgive them. You may need to seek deliverance counseling.)

4)      Once you have asked forgiveness from the Lord for harboring unforgiveness, and have verbally forgiven and released each person who has wounded you, now begin to pray a blessing over the life over each person. (Remember, Jesus said to “love those who hate you, bless those who persecute you.”) A sign of true forgiveness from the heart is when we can freely speak a blessing over those who have wounded us and truly mean it from our hearts.

5)      If you still know or have a relationship with someone who has wounded you in the past, it would be wise to go to that person and tell them that you have forgiven them for any trespasses, as well as asking their forgiveness for any sins you may have committed against them. The more hurtful the wound, the necessary this step may become. You may very well free them from the guilt of offending you!

Previous Keys To Happiness Lessons:

How to find Happiness – 15 Lesson Series – Overview

How to find Happiness – Introduction

How to find Happiness – Key #1 – A relationship with God

How to find Happiness – Key #2 – Being Thankful

How to find Happiness  - Key #3 – Learning How to forgive yourself

May you find true happiness, forgive yourself and may God answer your prayers – Amen!

James 1:12
“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has
stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised
to those who love him.” James 1:12

(more…)

so here we go. Why do we say things like “I promise”, or “I give you my word” or “I swear it’s the truth”? do we commonly speak untruths? and then when we really mean it have to add the caveat of “I promise” when we say we will or wont do something is there some established pattern where the other person assumes we don’t mean it unless we swear?

I really find it ironic when a person promises not to lie anymore.

I personally take issue with the whole marriage contract and swearing to love “till death do us part”. However symbolic the ceremony and the “contract/License” is, it is empty w/o truth behind it. With the divorce rate at over %50 (even among “Christians”) I’m pretty sure even promises made before God an witnesses don’t really hold much water. Or when we testify in court we swear to tell the truth, but how many perjure themselves?

Then in parenting I’ve learned to never promise anything. Whether reward or punishment it is established in my house, I will do what I say to the best of my ability. This makes setting of standards and discipline pretty easy. There are established outcomes for certain behaviors. I never say “I promise if you do that one more time I will punish you”. My children know this about me. they also know if I say I will take them somewhere, or do something, or play a game. I will do everything in my power to keep my word.

So in closing, Do you find yourself saying “I promise” a lot? or “I swear”? or is everything you speak considered to be truth as far as you can control it?

If we focus on speaking truth, acting in truth, people will know the instances of us being wrong is not lying but simply err, or circumstances.

Matt 5:36-37 do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’;

1. Be Thankful to God

The third priority in putting God first in one’s life is to show appreciation and be thankful to God, because it is of his fullness of grace we have all received grace upon grace, and since we are receiving what we were destined to receive, which is a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

We express our appreciation and gratitude to God by worshiping him in the acceptable manner with reverence and godly fear, and this is expressed in four (4) ways:-

1. Ascribing to the Lord the glory due to his Name

The main reason why we come and appear before the Lord is to humble ourselves before him because of his Sovereignty, and to express our grateful thanks to him. According to 1 Chronicles 16: 8-30; we are to; “Give thanks to the Lord! Call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing psalms to him; talk of all his wondrous works! For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; he is also to be feared above all gods.” Give to the Lord, glory and strength: give to the Lord the glory due to his name.

In Psalms 95 and 96 respectively we are told to; “Come, Let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song, for the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depth of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him, the sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.’

“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.”

“Ascribe to the Lord, O families of nations, ascribe to the Lord the glory due to his name; bring an offering and come into his courts, worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; and tremble before him.”

We are told in no uncertain terms in 1John chapter one verses 3-4 that, “Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” Therefore since Christian fellowship is with the Father and the Son, it is imperative that those who come before him are walking and practicing the truth, because, “God is light and in him is no darkness at all.’ And, “If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” True worshipers are to worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship him.

It is amazing and appalling to see how many people who profess to know and believe God, have very little respect for His word. They hold His commandments in gross contempt, and in the same breath, stand in awe at the doctrines, traditions, and commandments taught and practiced by men. Like Jesus Himself said to the Pharisees, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions.”

Only One God

Believe it or not there are many false gods which people inadvertently worship instead of the One and only true God. but even if there are so called gods, whether in heaven or on earth as indeed there are many gods and many lords, “There is but one God: the Father, from whom all things came, and for whom we live, and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live” (1 Corinthians 8:5-6).

Therefore, all credits, glory, honor and gratitude should be directed or channeled to the One and only true God, for to Him all glory and power belong, and it is He who gave to all life breath and everything else, and also in Him we all live , move and have our being. (Psalms 62:11 Acts 17:25, 28).

Unfortunately, however, we do not all channel our praises, glory, honor, and express our grateful thanks to the One and only true God. Whether wittingly or unwittingly, many serve and worship other gods rather than the One and only true God.

The Lord said to the nation of Israel, “To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord Himself is God; there is none other beside Him. Out of heaven He let you hear His voice, that He might instruct you; on earth He showed you His great fire, and you heard His words out of the midst of the fire” (Deuteronomy 4:32-36).

The rationale for all this was for Israel to consider in their heart, that the Lord Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; and that there is no other besides him.

However, in order for God to distinguish Himself as the One and only true God, and distinguish His people from all others, He made a conditional covenant with them, so that if obeyed, they shall be a special treasure to Him above all people, for all the earth is His. They are to Him a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Those who obey the covenant are described as, “A chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that they may declare the praises of him who called them out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once they were not a people, but now they are the people of God; once they had not received mercy, but now they have received mercy” (Exodus 19:5-6, Leviticus 19:30; 26:2; 1 Peter 2:9)

1. Bring an Offering and come before his Courts

Bringing an offering before the Lord on his appointed holy convocation is the main objective for presenting ourselves before him. As a matter of fact, it is stated quite categorically in the book of Leviticus chapter 23: verse 37; “ These are the feasts of the Lord which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the Lord, a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day.”

This offering which we are to offer to the Lord whenever we present our selves before him, regularly, on every festival, and holy convocation is known as the burnt offering; with its grain and drink offering. This offering is so special and of such intrinsic importance, that it is, “Besides (or in addition to) the Sabbaths of the Lord, besides your gifts, besides all your vows, and besides all your free will offerings which you give to the Lord.”

This special offering is of intrinsic importance: it is the offering which Jesus Christ as our High Priest is appointed to offer on behalf of our sins. In the book of Hebrews chapter 5: verse 1, and Chapter 8: verse three respectively states that; “Every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.” And, “For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One (Jesus Christ) also have something to offer.”

This offering is of such great importance and valuable to God on behalf of our sins, it is required from our hands not only at the appointed festival or holy days, but also on a regular basis. This offering is as equally important and useful, as it is sacred and sanctified. The Lord said to Moses; “Command the children, and say to them, ‘My offering, my food for my offerings made by fire as a sweet aroma to me, you shall be careful to offer to me at their appointed time.”

The Lord continues; “This is the offering made by fire which you shall offer to the Lord: two male lambs in their first year without blemish (the shadow of Jesus Christ the Lamb of God), day by day, as a regular burnt offering. The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, the other lamb you shall offer in the evening.’ It is a regular burnt offering which was ordained at Mount Sinai for a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the Lord.”

A burnt offering as clearly indicated is, a combination of; an animal sacrifice without spot or blemish, with its accompanying grain offering, and it’s accompanying drink offering. In the Book of Numbers chapter fifteen, the Lord said to Moses; “All who are native born shall do these things in this manner, in presenting an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord. And if a stranger sojourns with you, or whoever is among you throughout your generations, and would present an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord, just as you do, so shall they do. One ordinance shall be for you of the congregation and for the stranger who sojourns with you, an ordinance for ever throughout your generations; as you are, so shall the stranger be before the Lord. One law and one custom shall be for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you.”

• A Thanksgiving Offering to God.

Before Christ was led to be crucified, he said to his disciples, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. And he took a cup and when he had given thanks he said, ‘Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes:’ And, “He took bread and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me” (Lk.22:15-19).

Bread and wine is the designated thanksgiving offering attributed to the Melchizedek Priesthood from inception, because after Abram returned from rescuing his nephew lot, “Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand” (Gen.14:17-20).

To Moses the Lord said, “Give this command to the Israelites and say to them: See that you present to me at the appointed time the food for my offerings made by fire, as an aroma pleasing to me.” Say to them; this is the offering made by fire that you are to present to the Lord: two lambs a year old without defects, as a regular offering each day” (Num.28:1-3).

This regular burnt offering consisted of:-

• The lamb which represented Jesus Christ who loved us and gave himself up for us as a sweet smelling aroma and sacrifice pleasing to God. (Eph.5:2).
• The grain offering which was made up of fine flour mixed with pressed olive oil represents the broken body of Jesus Christ in the form of unleavened bread
• The drink offering which was a quart of a hin of a fermented drink (wine) represents the blood of Jesus Christ.

The rationale behind the morning and evening thanksgiving offering is explained by David, in the psalms and in his last instructions to the Levites. In the psalms he wrote; “It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your loving kindness in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten stringed lyre and the melody of the harp, for you make me glad by your deeds,

O Lord. How great are your works, O Lord, how profound your thoughts! The senseless man does not know, fools do not understand, that though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be forever destroyed” (Ps. 92:1-4).

And in his final instructions to the Levites, David instructed that; “They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord. They were to do the same in the evening and whenever burnt offerings were presented to the Lord on Sabbaths, and at New Moon festivals, and at appointed feasts” (1Chro.23:30-31).

Previous Articles – Put God First – Part #1 - Put God First – Part #2

A while back I was at Jiffy Lube, sitting in the waiting room…waiting. I was on facebook when the lady next to me asked what People do on facebook. I told her I’m doing a daily bible reading and posting my thoughts on what I read that day. Then the conversation got interesting.. She asked me if I thought I was better because I was a Christian. Then proceeded to explain to me how a contractor she used had the “fish” on his card and proceeded to dupe her out of money(the whole fish or cross as a marketing device is another topic). I told her it sucked when people do that and apologized for “Christians” in general. Then she asked again “do you think you’re better because your a Christian?”   What tumbled through my head was few answers. one being yes, the bible says I am, I mean of coarse I am, I have the creator of the universe residing in me, of coarse I’m better than someone who doesn’t, but that didn’t come out.  Thank you God. I actually kind of flipped it “define good, your version of good, the worlds version of good, or God’s version of good? cause I figure on the world’s version I’m way above Hitler, but far below Gandhi. I can tell you this, I’m better than I was for sure!! I sometimes judge myself against other Christians and realize that scale is even broken… I don’t know what their starting points were, what trash was in their lives that isn’t now, what they are still battling.” at this time I realized I went into my not so famous “preacher mode” and had an audience of about 5.

So I closed with this “I know this, I’m not good, but I know the one who is, and I try everyday to follow him, and when I do, and when I’m obedient, not just good things, but awesome things happen” as if on Que the guy called my name handed me my keys and I walked out.

who’s your favorite sports star, what can you tell me about him, how much do you know about him how many details?

who’s you favorite sports team?? do you miss any of their games? do you defend them with a passion …ever throw fists over it?

what is your favorite sport?? how well do you know that sport, the rules , the plays, the teams? how much time do you spend keeping up on that sport??

now I ask,

who’s your God? what can you tell me about him, how much do you know about him? how many details?

How well do you know the Gospel? do you miss a chance to learn it? ? do you defend it with a passion …ever lose friends over it?

How Much do you love the Bible? How well do you know the stories, the characters, How much time do you spend being in it? living what it teaches?

I’m as guilty as the next,. in fact maybe as of just recently i can tell you more about the bible than I can about Star Trek. I might be able to tell you more about the characters in the bible than the characters on Lost.

just saying maybe we need to refocus on what we worship

I like the term radical, it’s been given a bad reputation when tied to religion. We constantly hear about “radical religious” people doing harm, protesting at funerals, even murder, all in the name of God. However when I read the Bible I see a different type of Radicalism. Isaiah 58 (that’s Old Testament for those who think the Old Testament is hell fire and damnation) talks a lot about the wrong/right way to be radical.

Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
lighten the burden of those who work for you.
Let the oppressed go free,
and remove the chains that bind people.
Share your food with the hungry,
and give shelter to the homeless.
Give clothes to those who need them,
and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

I know there are a lot of don’ts in the Bible and we tend to focus on these, there are a lot of do’s in there also. I try to live my life focusing on how the Bible tells me to act in love. Odd thing it’s actually easier to focus on the don’ts. If you love someone, you don’t steal from him, don’t lie about him, don’t sleep with his wife, and don’t murder him (see the Ten Commandments) easy right? Basically if you can ignore that your neighbor exists, you can do these. Now the do’s, those are extreme, just a few, feed him, forgive him, fight for him, listen to him, cry with him, share what you’ve worked so hard for with him. The list is a lot longer than that. And a radical will not just do these things but seek out opportunities to do them.

We have all seen radicals on both sides of this coin, which one do you think is changing the world?(even if it is only 1 persons world) Which do you think is pleasing God?

I’ve had spirited debates with many atheist/agnostics, I try to avoid them because they tend to be fruitless. Usually it’s not for the sake of the atheist that I jump in, but for the sake of an honest agnostic or seeker in the middle of the crossfire. Even in my early seeker days of being agnostic and watching atheist/christian debates I notice a pattern. 1 They deny Jesus existed, then when you put up evidence that he did, apparently beyond a Reasonable doubt even for them because they move on to the next argument. 2 They will concede He existed but claim He didn’t do what the Bible says, then this gets proven beyond a REASONABLE doubt and it’s on to 3 Ok he was a good teacher but not the son of God, this to is proved by his own statements. Then the truth comes out the reason I think so many stay away from God, and the reason I ignored him for so long “OK even if this is all true, I don’t want to follow him anyway, I mean look at the evil has been done in the name of God”

I know for every intelligent/educated argument for Christ, there is one against. same can be said of church doctrines. So how do we get the message out? We know from history that force doesn’t work, neither does coercion, or arguments. here’s a parable…. put someone in a pitch black and cluttered stadium and tell them where the flashlight is and they may head for it, they would stumble and fall and maybe find it eventually, but they would have to believe that the flashlight was there, and that having said flashlight is better than stumbling around in the dark. However if you were to turn on the flashlight, they could not deny it’s existence, and they would have a better chance of getting to it, still with the world being compared to a stadium piled high with crap, they have to have a desire to find the light. and the brighter we let the light shine the better chance they will head for it.

Luke 8:16″No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.

Fear. It’s an ugly thing, ugly feeling and ugly spirit. It exists and has motivated us, imprisoned us, beaten us, manipulated us, lied to us, provoked us and defeated us our entire lives. It’s been around for thousands of years. It lies in wait to achieve its goal…get us to fail, give up, make a wrong move and worst of all…to hate God, not believe Him, not trust Him and give up on His promises to us.

It has many forms and takes many forms. It continually finds ways of disguising itself but it is there. If we are not alert we miss subtle, clever and cunning ways that are used to deceive us. Sometimes, most likely most times, it has been around in our family line for generations. Each generation influenced and directed by the success of this spirit on the generations before…until it is disclosed and taken down!

The title of this article sounds stupid, huh? Nope. It’s not. I’m living proof. I’m from families that over thousands of years, like everyone else, were controlled by this ugly tool of hell. I have proof. I saw this in my own parents and living relatives when I was old enough and healed enough to recognize it. I know this because the Lord allowed me to see the truth as the scales were removed from my eyes and fear from my life. It wasn’t easy. It was a gigantic battle. Fear had taken many forms in my life and theirs. It drove most to destruction and a few to success, though they never enjoyed it or felt the success.

Our world has had an intense release of fear in the form of the “terrorist” movement. The people who want to spread terror. Other similar words that are included in this meaning “terror’…fear, horror, fright, dread, shock panic, alarm, etc. That’s what the word means. A “people” that want the title “terrorist”. It gives them power and a place. Or so they think.

This is not new. It’s been around for centuries. The titles have changed but not the people. Read the Old Testament. It’s filled with other names kingdoms, kings, leaders, rebels who either tortured, maimed, imprisoned or destroyed nations. The motives have always been the same…confuse, control and conquer and destroy. The only difference is that now the destruction power is greater, swifter, and far reaching.

Greater numbers are easily affected because the global information network is massage and twirling around at the speed of light. We have become information junkies. Depending upon the news source or alliance we side with, we read and watch those links. All others are considered “them” and “those people.” Truth is a subjective opinion…in most cases.

But there are the things that cannot be refuted though many try. I could name many examples but what about just these? Four planes destroyed people and buildings in our nation on our soil. Millions were murdered in the holocaust and there are tattooed arms and living survivors to prove this tragedy. There have been financial meltdowns in the past where much was lost in the forms of human life and possessions. The Great Depression was… and almost was again. Fear in its most dangerous form, visual and physical truth. Once again it is powered throughout mankind to seed the offspring(s) of fear again and again.

I found it difficult to balance preparation for what seem to be or becoming with trusting what I knew. This was a greater challenge as many of my friends over the years forwarded me many “truths” about the past, the now and the future. This struggle increased when I knew the sources were valid but I knew the Lord commanded me to never walk in a spirit of fear. How was I to do both? I went to what I knew. I had to stand against this new form of fear that tried to affect my life.

You see, through the help of the Lord, I had defeated many known areas of torment in my life (another name for fear). I recognized those forms. Now I found new, a disguised one. I didn’t realize it at first. I’ve been given many opportunities to battle against other deep rooted sources of this detestable little bandit of life. “Little?!” you may ask. Yep. That’s what I mean.

I’ll explain. I lost two of my beloved dogs two months ago. They died three weeks apart. Then, the Lord had guided me to adopt too rescue dogs. This is a different story for a different time. I had one little dog left, Zeke. His apparent ancestry was most probably Chihuahua. The two new dogs were going to be larger than him since the momma was shepherd mix and the daddies, well who knows. There were big paws on both of them. These were clues.

I watched as Zeke growled and snarled and moved into his alpha position. They submitted and rolled over accordingly. They were about his size when they arrived and this was an easy task to achieve since all they wanted was love.

Months have passed. They are now four times his size. His technique has not changed. If he’s had enough, he growls, snarls and intimidates to get them to submit and do want he wants. He has learned to play well with them when he wants to. They don’t’ see that is he so small and he doesn’t care that they both stand three heads above them.

I was watching their interactions this week. The Lord spoke to me… “That’s exactly what the devil does with you. You think he’s this big growling thing. Look at how tall you stand and how powerful you are through my love and my healing. You don’t have to bow down or roll over ever again. That thing is smaller than Zeke and less powerful. You have me and the name of my Son, Jesus. We defeated him before. We will continue to do this and so will you! You have no need to fear…anything or anyone!”

I knew how to do this! The Lord had trained me on how to do this! He told me years ago “Don’t look at what is ahead that appears impossible or unknown. Think on the things I have done in your past. Look at what you know about Me and what I have given you. I am the Faithful, All Powerful God on the throne. I have not changed. I parted the Red Sea. I raise the dead and heal the lame. I have not fallen asleep. When fear or worry or disbelief comes…think on what you know of Me and how I have demonstrated Who I am in your life. What I have done. Think on the past struggles while you think on what victories that resulted. Look at who you are today and what you were before. Look at that truth. My arm is not too short. I will not leave you. I am your loving Father, Protector, Provider and Friend. No need to fear. Fear nothing!”

These lessons have walked me through many confrontations with this ever-changing enemy. As I write this, the Lord revealed to me an area that has been discouraged because of continual lack of success. I had been stopped by this fear of failure in one of the things I have wanted most in life. He just showed me that I was to attack this thing and move forward. Hallelujah! Our God is a faithful God! He wants our freedom. He wants our success. He wants our peace. He wants the desires of our heart that he placed in us at an early age. He wants our dream(s) fulfilled. I know what mine is. Do you know or remember yours? Have you given up? Has fear held you back? Has fear driven you into things or at someone? Are you so busy worrying about the future you can’t see the miracles of the present?

Exercises that helped me take small steps early on that you may want to consider:

1. Look up all the scriptures speaking against fear in the bible. There are many ways to do this on a search engine in one of the free online bible programs. Or, just look in the back of your bible. Most have references listed. There are also quick scripture reference books available for purchase that you can carry with you. There are links in this Web site too! This search will show you this is not a new battle. Many have fought the same fight.

2. Find the scriptures that you can remember the easiest and say them continually when fear comes at you in any way. Mine were… and still are… “God has not given me spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind” and “Perfect love casts out all fears”. You may want to put these on notes in various places.

3. Ask the Lord to show you the “little foxes”, the little fears that are hidden or disguised in your life. Ask Him for His power to remove and heal those areas. Don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t happen overnight. You can’t expect to go to a gym and lift one hundred pound weights on the first visit. You have to build your muscles. Eventually even the one hundred pounders seem light!

So remember the past…and fear nothing in the present or the future! You are not alone and never will be! He is a God that loves you and wants the best for you. To help you with your search…here are some reminders found in the promises of His word:

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
Psalm 91:4

Whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”
Proverbs 1:32-33

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:9-11

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
1 John 4:17-19

2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

In my humble opinion, the phrase ‘God helps those that help themselves‘ is a lie from man. For me, it is no different than these other phrases that are used to tickle the ears of the flesh: God hates sin but loves the sinner, God just wants me to be happy, God created it, so it must be good, I’m not hurting anyone so it is ok, etc.

I posted the other day a copy of a blog post: Who is God? It’s a quick read if you have a moment. The context is about not leaning on our own understanding of God, but to lean on who God says He is. There is a lot of deception out there by man and even our own thoughts and reasoning can deceive ourselves. We should be very thoughtful, wise, and watchful so that we do not allow our understanding of God to trump His Truth. We should examine everything and place every thought into captivity.

In this post, I’m going to discuss why ‘God helps those that help themselves’ is  a deception -

Where do I get the information to support my statements that this statement is a lie and a deception? The Word of God speaks for Himself. A bunch more scripture could be posted, but here’s a couple:

Ephesians 2:1-9 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

2 Corinthians 10:17-18 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Titus 3:3-7 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Isaiah 25:4 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

These are spiritual things, pertaining to our souls. When someone says ‘God helps those that help themselves’, they are speaking things of the flesh, works, deeds, etc. The scripture seems pretty clear, God loves us and helps us because we are helpless without Him. Praise God!

There are other catch phrases that are very deceptive, such as ‘God just wants me to be happy!’ It’s very deceptive because it sounds good to the ears. Of course, without a doubt, God wants us to be happy and enjoy life. This phrase is very dangerous deception. There is a fake enjoyment and happiness (one of the flesh), and a real enjoyment and happiness (one of God).

I have heard this many times in life (and have probably used it too) from friends, in the context of talking about drinking, having sex outside of marriage, and other things that are contrary to what God commands – “It’s fun, and I’m enjoying my life. What’s wrong with that? I’m not hurting anyone. God just wants me to be happy! I’m happy and enjoying life doing these things, what’s wrong with that?!” Ugh, Lord, I pray for eyes to see, ears to hear and hearts to receive your truth.

The truth is that all of these things are selfish ambitions (the motive is glorification of self). Also, they are 100% contrary to God. The truth of the matter is that God wants us to be Holy. What does the Lord say? -

Leviticus 19:1-2 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.

Leviticus 20:7-8 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I amam the LORD which sanctify you. the LORD your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I

2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

1 Peter 1:13-16 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

When we are walking with the Lord, in agreement, then oh boy. TRUE joy will flow. Not happiness as we understand in the flesh, but the joy of the Lord will fill us. His joy is not based around a worldly happiness, i.e. nice home, green grass, new car, perfect relationship, making tons of money in a desired career, glorifying the flesh with sex, drugs, drinking, etc. His joy is of spiritual things. Smiling in the storms of life, a sense of contentment, surrounded by peace, because the Lord is with thee! It’s truly a blessed place to be.

Surely, the Lord pours blessings on us, such as a Godly marriage, a comfortable home, a dependable car, etc. but these are a result of being in a right standing with God. We have to be very careful on this because we can focus on blessings of God and end up doing righteous works, which are not of God but of selfish motives. (We obey merely to get something in return, which is ungodly/selfish). It all starts with a right heart for God. Yes, we will receive blessings, praise God. If that’s why we are doing what we do, it’s a glorification of self still. I have done this myself, Lord forgive me and renew a right spirit within me. Ok, I’m going off on a tangent..

The phrase ‘God helps those that help themselves’ is a lie. The only action we take is to believe in the Son of God, die to self, place Him Lord over our lives, surrender, etc. But even this action, it’s God helping us through the Holy Spirit. Salvation is of the Lord. He alone jolts the souls. The real translation of this phrase should be:

God helps us because we cannot help ourselves

Praise God, thank you Lord for helping us. We were once lost, but we are now found. We were once dead in our sins, but we are now alive. Praise God.

joseph @ http://www.serious-things.com

(taken from a recent post on my blog: God helps those that help themselves)

Related article “Followup – God helps those that help themselves“

Fork in the road – (final) part 4

In place of the simple elegance of the rules for self-government and social stability – given to us by our Creator – (Ex 20:17) expressed in the third part of this blog —– the Earth Charter calls for the imposition of a global tyranny over every aspect of human activity which becomes evident once you strip away the rhetorical devices and eco-socialist jargon.

We must join together to bring forth a sustainable global society founded on respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice, and a culture of peace… An unprecedented rise in human population has overburdened ecological and social systems… Fundamental changes are needed in our values, institutions, and ways of living. We must realize that when basic needs have been met, human development is primarily about being more, not having more.

We affirm the following interdependent principles for a sustainable way of life as a common standard by which the conduct of all individuals, organizations, businesses, governments, and transnational institutions is to be guided and assessed…

In order to build a sustainable global community, the nations of the world must renew their commitment to the United Nations, fulfill their obligations under existing international agreements, and support the implementation of Earth Charter principles with an international legally binding instrument on environment and development.

WOW – some very strong words there.

Now I do not believe everything mentioned here is either wrong or unobtainable, but I sure as heck read instructions for us to obey the United Nations – an unelected body seeking world supremacy.

Joe Hargrave writing: The Earth Charter, the replacement of God with Man, has this to say:

….. it deeply reflects a mindset and a world view in which God has been completely removed from the core, and is instead either relegated to the periphery or is entirely absent.

….. In the 21st century, the “Earth Charter”, which has been financed and supported by powerful global institutions, makes absolutely no reference to a creator. It is, for all intents and purposes, not only a secular but an atheistic document. Of course it insists that “discrimination”, including religious discrimination, be eliminated.

The extent to which the drafters and supporters of this document believe they have it within their power to create an Earthly paradise without God is manifested, in an obscene and direct way, in the so-called “Ark of Hope.” In what is apparently a re-creation of the Ark of the Covenant of the Old Testament, this false ark was created to house the Earth Charter.

While the website only claims that the “ark” is a creation of a handful of people, I find it hard to believe that it was not commissioned by someone who had something to do with the drafting of the Earth Charter itself. Either way, those people have accepted the charade, and a few other documents have been added to it since its inception.

The original Ark was constructed under very specific instructions from God. Within the Ark was contained the Law that he passed down to the Israelites. The new “ark” has been constructed to hold a charter, and other documents, that have been crafted by man, for man. In many cases, they are that are either indifferent to, or supportive of, grave violations of that very law – such as abortion (under the guise of “reproductive health”).

The mentality behind this project is amazing. It is an open declaration of independence from God, of the total replacement of God by man, of his laws by man’s laws, of his power by man’s power. To call this “pagan” would not even be accurate, since the pagans worshiped what they believed were spirits or deities in their own right. This is the elevation and veneration of humanity to the highest position in the known universe. (can anyone say Babel?)It is the most perverse form of idolatry. In my view it must be utterly rejected and opposed by all Christians, regardless of whatever points of agreement might exist on individual proposals. Christianity in general, and the social teaching of the Church in particular, already contains all that is good within the Charter, and rejects that which is misguided and evil (most of which is not in the Charter itself, but in plenty of other documents).

Contender Ministries reminds us that … while the Earth Charter lays out much of the framework for a new global spirituality, many other forces are at work in our world to slowly lull us into believing in and accepting the global community – A global community where our spiritual lives and our economic, legal, and governmental systems will be dictated to us all in the name of the greater good. All of these forces, in the form of NGO’s, business, non-profit organizations, media, academia, and New Age cults are working closely with the United Nations to usher in the New Age.

The Earth Charter Dialogues, through their roundtable forums, are working to establish a World Environmental Organization under the U.N., a World Tax to fund sustainable development, and, using the European Union as an example, they hope to regionalize the global community, thus creating a more efficient and manageable global system. They are frustrated by the lack of a supremely powerful body to help implement their new world order and are working hard to strengthen global governance and eliminate nationalism.

Achieving these goals would, very smoothly, pave the way for such organizations as the Aquarian Age Community, who is working now to create a permanent spiritual forum within the U.N., and the Lucis Trust which views Mikhail Gorbachev as a premier world leader and boasts members at the highest levels of the United Nations bureaucracy. (the Lucis Trust was formerly the Lucifer Trust) There is no shortage of New Age and Occult influence at the United Nations.

Right under our noses the way is being paved for the prophesied one world religion and huge armies of volunteers are being amassed to usher it in. Are we as Christians mobilizing our armies? Are we reaching those who are most vulnerable to a promise of peace and love of Earth and Cosmos?

As Christians in the Lord’s army, it is our duty to save as many as we can for Him. Keep our nations and our world in your prayers, and remember that there is a lot of work to do in what might be a very short time. While we don’t know when our Saviour will return, we certainly don’t want to be caught napping. At least I hope we don’t.

In Summary: We seem to have come to a fork in the road people. How is this going to affect you and your loved ones, and which path will you take?

Decisions will have to be made. Is Christ your Lord and Saviour?

Is the United Nations your lord who must be obeyed?

What will you teach your children about all of this? They are not too young to have it explained to them – or will you simply leave it to their school educators and the news media to corrupt their delicate minds and souls?

And as to sustainable development, did you know:

…… that one of the key goals of the United Nations is population control. In fact, an incredibly shocking U.N. population division policy brief from March 2009 has been uncovered that not only discusses the need for population control, but also asks how fertility decline in the least developed countries can be accelerated. Seriously!

You can read this March 2009 U.N. document right here (but be warned that it is a PDF document, so you will need a PDF viewer to read it):

http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/UNPD_policybriefs/UNPD_policy_brief1.pdf

If you yourself do not make the decision, you can rest assured the United Nations will make it for you!

The U.N. Meditation Room (left) is built in the shape of a truncated pyramid. In the centre is an altar made out of magnetite, the largest natural piece of magnetite ever mined. For meditation purposes it is probably the most ideal spot on the planet, since the magnetite altar has its foundation straight down, built into the bedrock of the land below; tapping into the energies of the earth itself. The mysterious mural also helps the worshippers tune into esoteric energies, and helps facilitate a state of altered consciousness.

References and links used in the four parts of  this blog.

The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus which means hidden, secret or mysterious. For the Christian – this truly would be described as any practice to do with the supernatural that is forbidden in the Bible or is self evidently evil.

Ron Enroth says that collectively these occult phenomena have laid claim to the following distinctive characteristics. One, they disclose and communicate information unavailable to humans through normal means, that is, the five senses. Two, they place persons in contact with untapped powers and paranormal energies. Three, “they facilitate the acquisition and mastery of power in order to manipulate or influence other people into certain actions.”

(Ronald Enroth, “The Occult,” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, ed. Walter A. Elwell (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1984), 787. )

Space Junk

The Green Agenda

The Club of Rome

United Nations Watch – Contender Ministries

The Earth Charter’s Spiritual Agenda

Modern History Project – Ark of Hope – Earth Charter

The Earth Charter: The Replacement of God with Man

Hazards of the occult

Christian Library – cults

The Green Agenda Index – quotes

Gaia Information

UN 2009 Population Control Brief

Meditation Room at the UN

One has only to enter the so-called “Meditation Room” at the U.N. Headquarters in New York to recognize the dark antichristian origins of the spiritual philosophy which has conceived and pervaded this organization.

The bare wedge-shaped room with its eerie lodestone altar, and the cryptic, Picasso-like mural on the smallest wall, symbolize the empty heart of countless esoteric religious cults down the ages. It therefore comes as no surprise to learn that the U.N. has its own official Indian meditation instructor, Sri Chinmoy, who holds two meditation sessions per week within the U.N. building, and whose specialty is to lull his audiences into trance with music!

Even the normally staid Houses of Parliament in the U.K. have played host to Sri Chinmoy – at the invitation of the Speaker of the House of Commons-so that politicians could receive instruction in his meditation technique.

Dr. Robert Muller also sheds some light on the relationship of the United Nations to the “New Spirituality”. He rewrites the first chapter of the biblical Book of Genesis to make it refer to the creation of the United Nations.

Under the title of ’The New Genesis’, the first verse states:

“And God saw that all nations of the earth, black and white, rich and poor, from North or South, from East and West, and of all creeds were sending their emissaries to a tall glass house [i.e. the U.N. Headquarters. AM] on the shores of the River of the Rising Sun, on the Island of Manhattan, to stand together, to think together, and to care together for the world and all its people. And God said: “That is good”. And it was the first day of the New Age of the Earth’.

[Robert Muller (ed.), The Desire to be Human: A Global Reconnaissance of Human Perspectives in an Age of Transformation (Miranana, 1983), p.17.]

Key #3 to Happiness – Forgive Yourself!

“If you have made mistakes, even serious ones, there is always another chance for you. You may have a fresh start any moment you choose. For this thing we call “failure” is not the falling down, but the staying down.”

 –Mary Pickford, Canadian actress

As Christians, we are taught at an early age to forgive others.  We even recite in the Lord’s Prayer, “… we forgive those who trespass against us.”  And I am sure that must of us can recall the line from a poem written by English writer Alexander Pope, “To err is human, to forgive is divine.”

We learn that we must also ask God for His forgiveness when we sin or otherwise go against God’s word.  1 John 1:9 (NIV) admonishes us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” But how do we learn to forgive ourselves?

If you are anything like me, you may be your own worst critic. You may spend countless hours beating yourself up tor making a few mistakes in your life.  You may obsess over such things as “Why did I make that stupid comment in the business meeting this morning?” or “Why did I take the expressway this morning instead of the local streets? Now I am stuck in all this traffic!”  Or you may be agonizing over a misdirected life decision, “Why did i major in Computer Science in college instead of English? I always did enjoy writing. Why didn’t I follow my passion?” Or you may be struggling with other issues like a car accident that turned out to be your fault or a failed marriage that ended in divorce. Looking back on these incidents now, they may seem  so trivial, but at the time, the thoughts or decisions may have seemed like the most important issues in the world!

Just remember that God has a plan for your life. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Whatever road your life takes or whatever decisions that you are making, it will all work out for the good in the long run.  Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, who have been called according to his purpose.” As long as you continue to trust God and put him first in your life you will succeed. Romans 8:37, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will will direct your paths.”

Don’t forget to continue thanking God for all that He has done for you.  Ha is still working through you, even in the most difficult of times. And yes, even when God seems silent, He is still there with you!

So if you are currently working toward a specific goal on life’s journey and what you thought was going to work out several months ago is no longer working out for you, don’t give up! Take some time to regroup. Revise your plans, reshape your goals, and get back in there!

“… a lot of times the world doesn’t put rocks in our way. Instead we put them there ourselves.  When we hold on to our mistakes, we’re throwing rocks in our own path…  when we detach ourselves from worry and let go of our mistakes, the road always opens up.  That’s why if you want to make a commitment to never quitting,  one of the first steps is to simply get out of your own way.”

 – Russell Simmons, hip hop mogul (with Chris Morrow), in his book, Do You! 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success

Don’t waste any more time continuing to be angry with yourself and by all means, forgive yourself for not getting it right this time.  Whatever the issue was.  Move forward with your life, starting with right now!

What is Self-Forgiveness?

To forgive oneself is not to make excuses for oneself. To forgive ourselves is:

–to pledge to learn from our mistakes;

–to gain a degree of self-control and not repeat them;

–to grow in our capacity for love and peace.

 This article may be a helpful resource for you as well, How To Forgive Yourself & Stop Feeling Guilty

The next time you start beating yourself up for doing something wrong, ask yourself the following questions:   from personal success coach Lisa Phillips: visit her website here

1. At the time of the event, was it realistic for you to expect yourself to do something different / behave in a different way?

2. Did you have the right people around you at the time that could have helped you?

3. At the time of the event, did you have the information or knowledge you needed to make a better choice?

Forgiving yourself for your limitations is a crucial first step in healing your life.  In an unprecedented time of turmoil and stress, most human beings are doing the best they can with the resources, wisdom, and knowledge they have available to them. Yes, it’s important to learn from your mistakes, but eventually you need to get the lesson and move on.

Learn From Your Mistakes

Trying to learn from your mistakes is a very healthy way of dealing with them. A reflection of what you have learned from your mistakes would be a perceptible change in your behavior. Remember that committing a mistake is not a crime, but repeating it, surely is! We learn from our mistakes, as we have to pay a price for them. To err is human and to learn how to avoid the same mistake in the future is also within human capacity.

Encourage Yourself To Move On

Realize that your life is not going to end or stagnate just because of a mistake of yours. Probably, the biggest lesson life teaches us is to move on. Forgive yourself completely and look forward to the future, which is always brighter and full of hope. Languishing in past will not give you an opportunity to time-travel to the bygone times and change things. Disembark yourself from past mistakes and march ahead!

Share your mistakes

Holding things to yourself will make it increasingly difficult to forgive yourself and stop feeling guilty. You can’t afford to keep wallowing in guilt over your wrongdoings. Remember that your mistakes always add to your experience, as life is a continuous learning process. You can always share your mistakes with others and warn them of the consequence that you suffered from. You will also get a chance to vent out your frustration in a more constructive way.

Unburden Your Heart

If you believe that your mistake is too big to be forgiven and keeping it to yourself is killing you, speak up and lift that burden off your heart. Confess your mistake in front of a close friend, whose guidance you trust and value. A guilt-free existence is only possible when your mistakes are not perpetually weighing on your conscience. Pardon yourself by pouring your heart out before someone you know will make you feel better.

Journaling: Recording your thoughts in a journal is a valuable way of releasing your feelings.  Each time you feel guilt during the day, write it down in your journal. You will be able to track when you feel this, and why, which will help you begin to understand your guilt. The same goes for the good feelings you experience. Write down the moments when you feel joy and richness in your life, and you will begin to recognize the things that release that joy.

Atonement: Learn how to consciously make a sacrifice in light of your desire for forgiveness. You can create your own sacrifice by asking yourself, “What will be my offering?” It could be philanthropy, political activism — something that requires a sacrifice of your time, money or effort. The key is to consciously make that sacrifice in light of your desire for forgiveness.

Success And Failure – Keys to happiness exercise:

It states that God is perfect, therefore everything he does is perfect, therefore everything he creates is perfect. Including man.

Wait, wait a minute. Before you erupt in a torrent of derogatory statements directed at my intelligence…

Think of the most handsome guy or beautiful chic you know. They have a MAJOR flaw, right? Either in their personality, their speech, their IQ… something. Now think of the cleverest person you know… MAJOR flaw again, this time especially around their social life. Now think of the most successful artiste you know… Michael Jackson easily comes to mind for me. Robert Kelly, Whitney Houston… again, MAJOR flaw. Particularly with regard to narcotic drugs and matters of sexuality.

Now think of the most ordinary ‘mwananchi’ you know… Average IQ, average looks, generally friendly, enjoys a good game of soccer, takes an occasional drink, perhaps even talks to his/her reflection in the mirror every morning for a boost of oomph! Question, what are his/her flaws?

Got your attention now? Good. I can now proceed to state my hypothesis.

God created a perfect man. 100%. This man was like God, a triune being, three in one: the physical man, the soul man, and the spirit man. All in one body. When man sinned in the garden of Eden, he suffered death. The spirit man died. However, the soul man and the physical man were also affected. The perfect balance between the soul, the spirit and the physical body had been messed up by sin. The physical body began to age and the soul was damned to hell.

Man was now operating at <100% balance, let’s call this percentage X. God was not pleased with this, so he sought a way to redeem man and bring him back to the point of 100% balance. This he did through the crucifixion and resurrection of his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Through him, man is restored to the epitome of balance. Yet those who are ‘born again’ still fall into sin. We struggle with drug addiction, sexual immorality, gossip, shyness and fear…

Lost? Good. You will read on.

My theory postulates that from birth, all mankind is at point X on the PERFECT plot. The total value of your spiritual, creative (imagination is the premise of the soul) and physical gifts add up to X. If one part of you contributes a greater part, the other parts will contribute less so as to attain perfect balance at point X. In the genius, his brain contributes more towards this balance and so usually his social life suffers. The beauty of the physical body usually takes up the piece of the pie that belongs to the intelligence quotient. Extra-ordinary artistic prowess more often than not interferes with the ability to judge between what is profitable for the body and what is not.

Upon accepting Christ, upon salvation, the graph deflects upward from it’s hitherto plateau-like appearance. The more we are transformed into a Christ-like appearance, the closer we approach the 100% mark. Some describe ‘salvation’ as a process. They may be right. It is the process represented on the PERFECT plot as a gradual slope from point X to the maximum point 100%. NOTE: This point is only achieved in heaven.

In summary, the theory of perfect balance postulates that all men are equal in the sum of their God-given gifts and abilities. None is better than the other. The rich lack what the poor have; the beautiful, what the plain have; the genius, what the average person has.

There is a perfect balance in mankind.

Thank you for taking time to read my note. I am very interested in your opinion so please comment! God bless.