A Few Thoughts About Jerusalem, Peace and the 6 Day War

“Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together” (Psalm 122:3)

Jerusalem is the City of David, the City of God. The name Jerusalem is composed of two words. “Jeru”, which means to teach and “Salem”, meaning to be in a covenant of peace, to be at peace.

The Psalmist tells us that Jerusalem is a city that is “compact together”. The word “compact” comes from the word, “chabar” meaning to unite, bind together.

The City of God is bound together by peace. It is the City that unites us in felicity, tranquility and, contentment. It teaches peace because it is peace. It was within the walls of Jerusalem that Jesus Christ said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you” (John 14:27).

For 19 years Jerusalem was a divided city between the Jews of Israel and the Arab countries of Egypt, Jordan and Syria. There was no peace and plenty of turmoil.  In 1967 it all came to head when the Arab countries attacked. Against all odds, Israel and Jerusalem emerged the victor. Incredibly the war lasted only 6 days.

The City of peace will always be “compact together”. It is the City of God, the City of Peace and no man can change that.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” (Psalm 122:6).

Praying, Not Rebelling, For Those In Authority

(First published June 11, 2014)

The Bible is replete with how governors and those in authority should act and be. It gives a frame work in which to operate a Godly and righteous government and nation. If any nation expects the blessings of the Lord then they should follow His precepts and commandments. This is not an order of servitude but a way of life, a way of happiness, and the way of truth. God wants us to succeed, and most of all, He wants us to live.

The Apostle Paul in his first epistle to Timothy addresses the issue of how those in power and control of a people should act. The end result for those leaders who do follow God’s way is peace, quiet, honesty and Godliness. That sounds like what the United States was founded to be!

1 Timothy 2:1-6

1) I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

How wonderful is that? To start off with a prayer for other people! Not only does prayer work but shows where our heart and spirit should be. First and foremost, we cannot be a nation of me first.  President Kennedy expressed it this way:

“My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." - John F. Kennedy

Lead off with prayer first for other people. This is the type of sacrifice of praise, the fruit of the lips that God wants us to offer up. We want to build a nation with prayer and supplication for other people are their well being.

2) For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

We are to pray for those in authority that have rule over us. Every official who has been put into position of authority and lordship over us is God appointed. In so being we should offer them the respect as a God appointee. And it can be extremely difficult to pray for an official especially when they act ungodly. But that is what we are to do. Nothing can stop the power of prayer. So instead of us rebelling against a higher authority we should gather together in prayer, in one accord and pray for their guidance and deliverance.

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation” (Romans 13:1-2).

John Calvin the 16^th century theologian and leader in the Christian Reform had very strong words about Christians and their hate for those in authority.

“For kings He expressly mentions kings and other magistrates because, more than all others, they might be hated by Christians. All the magistrates who existed at that time were so many sworn enemies of Christ; and therefore this thought might occur to them, that they ought not to pray for those who devoted all their power and all their wealth to fight against the kingdom of Christ, the extension of which is above all things desirable. The apostle meets this difficulty, and expressly enjoins Christians to pray for them also. And, indeed, the depravity of men is not a reason why God’s ordinance should not be loved. Accordingly, seeing that God appointed magistrates and princes for the preservation of mankind, however much they fall short of the divine appointment, still we must not on that account cease to love what belongs to God, and to desire that it may remain in force. That is the reason why believers, in whatever country they live, must not only obey the laws and the government of magistrates, but likewise in their prayers supplicate God for their salvation” (John Calvin)

Do not misinterpret what any of this is saying. Nowhere in scripture does it advocate being passive, or heaven forbid, to allow a government to take over the people and become oppressive. Scripture does tell us that those in authority are God appointed and that we should pray for them, so that we, “may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty”.

It doesn’t say goodliness but Godliness. Good will get you killed but God will save.

The United States of America was founded by Christians on Christian principles. Our founders knew the Bible. They also knew man. That’s why a system of checks and balances was instituted in our government that would assure no evil ruler for too long. Term limits were designed as a method of ousting those “ungodly rulers”.

3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

Why? Because we are following God’s commandment. God knows who is in authority and what they are capable of. And if the ruler gets off track God knows that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availth much! (James 5:16).

If the nation prays, then the nation is going to God. It has faith and belief in God. That nation is dependent upon God. Imagine the power and influence of an entire nation empowered by God. Do you think a little ol’ president or a senator or a governor could withstand that?

Only those who truly believe and have faith and trust in God will “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).  Prayer is the acid test of value.

“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn” (Proverbs 29:2). The “authority” spoken of here is of God.

4) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

This has been the struggle dating back to when Jesus was walking on this earth as a man. Pontius Pilate, the governor of the land and head of the military looked Jesus Christ straight in the eye and asked, “What is truth?” (John 18:38).

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

“Separation of church and state” is the cry today. Government does not want truth. It does not want Jesus so therefore we as a nation cannot, “lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty”. In God’s system of checks and balances He has it so designed that we as a people are to pray. We are not to rebel against who God has appointed.

We have a marvelous example of honoring God’s appointed and not rebelling against them with David. King Saul was unjustly pursuing David in an attempt to kill him. On several occasions David and his men had the opportunity to strike back and kill Saul. But David knew that Saul had been anointed by God to rule.

“And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed, and be guiltless? David said furthermore, As the Lord liveth, the Lord shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish. The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go” (1 Samuel 26:9-11).

5&6) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (Ephesians 4:4-7)

The issue is not the king or president. The issue is what is our relationship with God? Have we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior? Are we a righteous nation? Are we praying to God for guidance? Are we dependent on Him?

“When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked” (Proverbs 11:10-11).

“Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord” (Psalms 144:15).

Scriptural ignorance or heresy coming out of the Pope’s mouth.

“God cannot be God without man?” What?? Pope Francis made that comment (and others) at the Vatican this past Wednesday (6/7/17).

Speaking from a pre-written speech, the Pope at his Wednesday general audience said the following, (as released by the Vatican’s press office):

“Dear brothers and sisters, we are never alone. We may be distant, hostile, we may even profess ourselves to be “without God”. But the Gospel of Jesus Christ shows us that God cannot stay without us: He will never be a God “without man”; it is He Who cannot stay without us, and this is a great mystery! God cannot be God without man: the great mystery is this! And this certainty is the wellspring of our hope”, which we find conserved in all the invocations of Our Father. When we are in need of help, Jesus does not tell us to resign ourselves and close ourselves up, but instead to turn to the Father and to ask Him trustfully. All our needs, from the most evident and everyday, such as food, health and work, up to those such as being forgiven and kept from temptation, are not the reflection of our solitude: there is instead a Father who always looks upon us with love, and Who certainly does not abandon us.”

The theological world is going through all sorts of mental gymnastics to either defend or denounce the Pope with his above comments.

“He will never be a God “without man”. OK, I maybe the Pope is trying to assure all that God will never leave us or forsake us.

“it is He Who cannot stay without us”. And now the Pope starts to lose everyone. God does not need man. Man needs God.

“God cannot be God without man”. What? Did the Pope just say that God “needs” man?

God was God for the infinity before man’s creation. God is God now. And God will be God for infinity forward. God is perfect, He is the Supreme Being. Mankind has never had, nor currently has, and will never have, any effect on the status or perfection of God. This is why He is perfect! There is no fixing or improving to be done with perfection!

The Pope is correct when he says this is a “great mystery” because giving the Pope the benefit of the doubt, at best, no one knows what you are talking about. It’s a mystery! At worst, it is either scriptural ignorance or heresy coming out of your mouth.

God will never give us anything we can’t handle! NOT!

God will never give us anything we can’t handle! We’ve all heard it. Most of us have probably said it. Many assume that it comes from the Bible. It doesn’t. It isn’t scripturally based and in fact, works in opposition to what the word of God actually teaches.

So, am I saying that God can and will gives us problems too big for our own capacities? Problems that me, myself and I cannot solve, cure, fix or rectify? The answer put bluntly is, Yes!

John Calvin, the 16th century theologian and a primary figure of the Christian reformation explains how God gives us more then we can bear in his commentary found in Zechariah 1:3.

“We must further bear in mind, that, according to the common usage of Scripture, whenever God exhorts us to repentance, he does not regard what our capacity is, but demands what is justly his right. Hence the Papists adopt what is absurd when they deduce the power of free-will from the command or exhortation to repent: God, they say, would not have commanded what is not in our power to do. It is a foolish and most puerile (childishly silly and trivial) mode of reasoning; for if everything which God requires were in our power, the grace of the Holy Spirit would be superfluous; it would not only be as they say a waiting-mind, but it would be wholly unnecessary; but if men need the aid of the Spirit, it follows that they cannot do what God requires of them. But it seems strange that God should bid men to do more than what they can. It seems so indeed, I allow, when we form our judgment according to the common perception of the flesh; but when we understand these truths — that the law works wrath — that it increases sin — that it was given that transgression might be made more evident, then the false notion — that God requires nothing but what men can perform, comes to nothing. But it is enough for us to know, that God in exhorting us to repentance requires nothing but what nature dictates ought to be done by us. Since it is so, however short we are in the performance, it is not right to charge God with too much strictness, that he demands what is beyond our power.”

Calvin speaks a great truth that must be understood when he said, “…for if everything which God requires were in our power, the grace of the Holy Spirit would be superfluous”. People need the aid of the Holy Spirit! Underline and stress the word need!

But also notice John Calvin says that when it comes to repentance God does not “regard what our capacity is”. We as people will not remain in an environment that has no challenges. We as Christians do not have a “safe place” which exempts us from overwhelming troubles. Yes, God just might pour a gallon of troubles into our pint size life. Remember Job?

Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Putting it plainly, God does give us things that are bigger than ourselves and beyond our capabilities so that we will come to him, to lean on him and to depend on him. Proverbs 3 makes it clear.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.” (Proverbs 3:5-7)

The Apostle Paul gives us an example of this.

“For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us” (2 Corinthians 1:8-10).

The moral of the story in the above passage is, “that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God”.

The misconception that God will never give you anything you can’t handle is most likely derived from a passage in 1 Corinthians.

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

First of all, Paul is saying that we face no trial or adversity that hasn’t already been faced by others. But as we are faithful to God by entrusting all to him, even our very lives, He, God is also faithful to us. God said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” (Hebrews 13:5-6).

It is important to notice in the passage from 1 Corinthians 10:13 that it is God who makes, “a way to escape”. It isn’t our own doings. We as humans are limited. God is not human therefore limitless.

Jesus said, “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)

Man is limited. Our adversities, if anything will highlight and showcase our shortcomings and show our need for repentance. We cannot make it through this life to the next on our own. God will give us things that go beyond our own capacities. Why would we need God if we could handle everything ourselves?

Man is absolutely dependent upon God.

The Sin of Church and Religion

This begins a two part series discussing the sin of religion, church and its leaders. This article focuses on religion and the church. Tomorrow’s article focuses on ministers, preachers and pastors.

Pride is not only about self, it can be about religion too. Every religion has pride in itself and in its word to the exclusion of God and His word. A religion has formulated some doctrine, some code, some belief or standard that it follows. Or as Merriam Webster dictionary puts it religion is an, “organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods”.

The fallacy is that these organized systems of beliefs and ceremonies invariably come from man, are of his creation, and not from God. People are taught church and religion and are not taught God, the Bible, Christ and Him crucified.

Why is this? This is a sin, a heinous sin. And an adherent to that faith will consider his faith as “the” faith to the exclusion of all other religions and to the exclusion of the Bible itself! That’s pride, and it also has nothing to do with God and his word.

Think about it. Who was the greatest detractor of Jesus Christ? It was the church and religion. The prideful Jewish leaders, the Pharisee, Sadducees, church elders and scribes were the ones who sought to kill and destroy Jesus and His word.

“And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.” Luke 6:7

It was the religious elite that accused Jesus of being demon possessed.

“And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.” Mark 3:22

The church and religion were blind to Jesus and the power of God.

“And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he (Jesus) taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders, And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?” Luke 20:1-2

The church sent religious leaders to dispute the Son of God speaking the word of God.

“And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.” Mark 12:13

We find that the church and religion were people pleasers and depended upon the government to exercise church will.

“And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them. And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.” Luke 20:19-20

“And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.” Mark 11:18

It is very important to stress that it was the church and religion that wanted to “destroy” Jesus Christ. Jesus and His word had reached the people and the church was afraid of losing its adherents, of losing its power and control and of losing its revenue stream.

The epitome of man’s religion and the church clashing with the will and way of God happened in the land of Gennesaret.

“Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?” Matthew 15:1-3

The, “tradition of the elders” was nothing more than church and religion. The religious leaders were asking Jesus why he didn’t follow their church doctrine.

Even the head of the government and the military understood the situation. He knew that the pride of the church and religion was the motivating cause in their attempt to eliminate Christ and the word of God.

“But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.” Mark 15:9-10

Nothing has changed.

There is a simple test for all of this; the Bible! Compare church doctrine to the Bible. Compare a religion to the Bible. Eliminate inconsistencies.

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21

The conflict between religion and the church with Jesus Christ is a conflict between the devil and God.

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

The church and religion attempted to destroy and kill Christ. They succeeded in crucifying Him, but that was all part of the game plan from the start.

But here is the point; what has changed? How does church and religion compare to Jesus Christ and God’s word as in the Bible? Not church doctrine. Not some religious precept. What does the word of God say?

“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” 1 Peter 4:17

“For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” 1 Corinthians 11:31-32

Judgment is nothing more than overlaying God’s attributes and characteristics upon us. Anything inconsistent with that overlay is a sin and must be eliminated.

Don’t worship a church or a religion or its leaders. Worship God! Believe only in His words and not some manmade version of it.

“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27

Tomorrow we pick back up on the subject but shift the focus towards church leaders.

Emotions are a transferable spirit. What you possess you also convey. So ask yourself this, “Am I contaminating or curing the people around me?” - Bill Hitchcock

"But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit." - 1 Corinthians 6:17

Fear Of Climate Change?

Do you live in fear of the consequences of climate change? Do you believe in God? Do you believe in the Bible?  If so, please read Psalm 46. It is only 11 verses long. It’ll take 30 seconds. If that is too much then just read the first 3 verses. Don’t be ruled by fear, but rather by God. He is our comfort, joy and refuge. There are additional truths from the Bible about the world, seasons, natural disasters and climate listed afterwards. I hope you read them.

Psalm 46

1) God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

2) Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3) Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

4) There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

5) God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

6) The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

7) The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

8) Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

9) He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

10) Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

11) The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

The Psalmist continues to assure us of God’s magnificence and power over the elements with Psalm 93.

1) The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.

2) Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.

3) The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.

4) The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.

5) Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever.

In Psalm 74 we see that God has control of the day, the night, and the seasons.

16) The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.

17) Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.

And finally, in the first book of Moses we discover that we actually have nothing to worry about. All we have to do is trust, believe and rely on God.

Genesis 8:22

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.