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  • Follow After Me -3- The Holy Bible

    Follow After Me -3- The Holy Bible

    It is written…

    And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly. – Deuteronomy 9:10

    All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV

    muhammed cave
    written from an angel
    Maya_dream_of_the_Birth_of_Gautama_Siddharta
    written from dreams

    A man comes up to you and claims, ‘I have a new doctrine, a new teaching. It was given to me by an angel in a cave.’ Would you follow him? Would you believe him?

    A different man tells you, ‘I have a new doctrine, a new teaching. It was given to me when I sat alone on a mountain.’ Would you follow him? Would you believe him?

    Wouldn’t you ask a man who would lead you to death for proof of his doctrine and teaching? Wouldn’t you ask a man making a claim of royalty and promises for the after-life for independent proof beyond dreams and visions?

    In fact, Jesus IS the Christ of the Living God! When Jesus came to us, our Lord and Savior not only worked miracles by the Hand of God, Jesus pointed always to Scripture.

    He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” – Matthew 21:13 ESV

    Jesus was challenged by not only Satan to prove He IS the Son of God, Christ was challenged continually by the Jews, who asked him,

    “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”

    Our Lord answers always with additional proof from the scriptures.

    • And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,
      “‘This people honors me with their lips,
      but their heart is far from me… Mark 7:6
    • And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ – Mark 14:27
    • and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead… – Luke 24-26
    • It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— – John 6:45

    • In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. – John 8:17

    Some make false claim to know what God has said, who God is and how God would have you use your mortal life. They may speak of a peace in death or a present leading to death for their cause…

    Do you follow these who would claim to know God better than you from ancient and unreliable myths never proven true? Would you bet your eternal life on their self-serving temporal claim of a mere mortal man?

    Hebrews 9 English Standard Version (ESV)

    The Earthly Holy Place

    Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness…

    12  he [Christ] entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

    26b But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

    27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

    28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

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    hawking calculationWe will face, though we would deny it, a day of our mortal death. We will face, though we justly fear it, a day of our eternal judgment. And let us not think that any calculation of our own can alter the plan of Almighty God.

    Job 10:

    “I loathe my life;
    I will give free utterance to my complaint;
    I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
    2 I will say to God, Do not condemn me;
    let me know why you contend against me.
    3 Does it seem good to you to oppress,
    to despise the work of your hands
    and favor the designs of the wicked?

    18 “Why did you bring me out from the womb?
    Would that I had died before any eye had seen me
    19 and were as though I had not been,
    carried from the womb to the grave.

    20 Are not my days few?

    Then cease, and leave me alone, that I may find a little cheer
    21 before I go—and I shall not return—
    to the land of darkness and deep shadow,
    22 the land of gloom like thick darkness,
    like deep shadow without any order,
    where light is as thick darkness.”

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    Now I saw, upon a time, when he was walking in the fields, that he was (as he was wont) reading in his book, and greatly distressed in his mind; and as he read, he burst out, as he had done before, crying, “What shall I do to be saved?” – John Bunyan, from The Pilgrim’s Progress

    I saw also that he looked this way, and that way, as if he would run; yet he stood still because (as I perceived) he could not tell which way to go. – Bunyan

    14 Can your courage endure, or can your hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with you? 

    I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it. – Ezekiel 22:14

    To be continued…

    NEXT: Evangelist

  • Follow After Me -2- Released from My Prison

    Some Disciples left everything to follow Jesus about 2000 years ago. They were sinners, family men, working men, men like you and me in every way. Although these men and women led simple lives, just like you and me they had problems.

    EmpireAssyriaTheir country had fallen to enemies centuries ago. Prophets of God had asked centuries before how long the punishment of the Lord’s Chosen would last.

    Habakkuk 1: 

    2 How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?

    Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save?

    3 Why do you make me look at injustice?

    Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?

    Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.   4 Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails.  The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.

    How like our 21st century after Christ! How like the days of the early Christian church are these last days.

    Their political and religious leaders were corrupt and greedy. Few followers of the Way, local Jews or anyone else were rich or had adequate income to live comfortably for more than a few days. Again, how like today are these areas devastated and affected by violence and war by the hand of the enemies of the Lord God.

    PaulscitiesvisitedA world super-power had conquered their homeland, taxed and ruled over them with an iron hand, occupying their towns with soldiers of superior strength. (Romans called this area of the world, Syria, from the name of a former empire.)

    These Messianic Jews and Gentile followers of the Way came to be known as ‘Christians.’ It would not be long until Romans, Greeks and Jews alike would persecute them.

    A Prison of our world and the Witness of Christ-followers

    Christians were known to do strange things, like singing Psalms or songs in prison or as they faced certain death by execution. Paul, a Roman citizen and messianic Jew had been thrown into prison along with Silas, but by the Hand of God they were released from their shackles in a great earthquake.

    Acts 16:

    The Philippian Jailer Converted

    25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.

    27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.

    30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

    31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

    32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

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    Who was really imprisoned here? Was it Paul and Silas? Or was the jailer, a husband and provider for his family who was about to take his own life over a perceived mistake at work, truly the prisoner of his daily existence?

    Were the prisoners two men singing Psalms from a jail cell or a family suppressed in the futility of their daily lives in a home of hopelessness?

    The jailer realized that these two men had a higher hope in Christ Jesus.

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    35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” 36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.”


    37     But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.”     38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city.Saeed Abedini faith

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    Justice will be served. Paul and Silas, though imprisoned falsely by men in power, experienced a temporary justice. Though the Christian prisoners were freed, they were asked to leave the city.

    The imprisoned jailer who thought Roman soldiers would execute him for his mistake had asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul, Silas, the Philippian jailer and his family all received a better justice – an eternal justice of the Lord God Almighty.

    We have been released from the prison of our sin and guilt of our unrighteousness.

    We have received mercy and grace in Christ Jesus.

    To be continued…

    NEXT: The Holy Bible

  • Follow After Me – a series on Christian life in the 21st c.

    Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

    – Matthew 16:24

    Who do you follow?

    It seems in this 21st century that following Jesus is NOT the thing to do. Worshiping GOD seems to be a thing of the past. Tolerance for other religions (even those with no tolerance for our beliefs) seems to be an inviolable standard for a post-modern morality without standards. Christianity is on the outs.

    Those living in a European Union of atheist existence no longer challenge the communist for their opposition to God, but for their competition to our greed. Suppressed peoples of Africa, Asia and the Middle East are ignored for their needs, yet exploited for their resources.

    In the United States, a nation founded after a great awakening to the glory of God and hope in Jesus Christ, freedom of speech has digressed into irresponsible sound bites. And in a post-Christian U.S., religion in our former nation under God, has fallen into a frenzy of preservation of a lost way of life. We are no longer a safe haven for the tired, the poor and huddled masses. Even the language of future leaders would gamble on a ban of immigrants.

    Who in this world would you follow?

    A strong dictator with guns and oil and young men who will die for him? A billionaire who would buy the Presidency of a powerful nation? A robed Arab prince who beheads Christians? Perhaps an autocratic zealous religious leader of a long-gone false and violent prophet? Who would you trust with your life and your family?

    Who would you follow today?  Who would you trust with your present and your future, even sins of your past and hope for your eternity?

    Jesus Christ,

    a Savior for every century, a Redeemer for every sinner

    You probably don’t live in Israel. You are not likely the owner of a fishing fleet or dishonest tax collector. I know you don’t imagine that a dozen poor men, a few hundred common and poor Jews and women with no stake in a Roman district on the Mediterranean 21 centuries ago have anything in common with you.

    In fact, if you believe in God; in fact, if you believe in Christ Jesus; in fact, if you live in this day as a follower of the Way of Jesus you don’t have much in common with those who compete with you in the workplace and challenge you in your everyday 21st century life.

    You may only be looking for some answers to a life that matters – your life, even the souls of those you love. Where do you look? Who do you trust?

    Who would you learn from? Whose example would you follow? After all, you and I are sinners – failed sinners in a fallen world which digresses quickly toward the destruction of all we value.

    Why Jesus? Why do the words of the Gospel, the Good News of the Messiah of God coming to mankind, resonate with us?

    Read the story of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Man of 21 centuries ago, who IS raised from the dead and rules over powers and principalities we cannot understand and you will see that He is the only man in history who IS exactly who He says He IS.

    Jesus Christ IS God Incarnate!

    He came to mankind in love for the cost of our sins. He came to save us from death and punishment. He will come again in judgment of those who have hated God and their fellow man. Jesus came to the world to establish His Kingdom in love. The LORD GOD, who has called for us to follow after Him in word and in deed, will celebrate the glory of His creation for all eternity in the fellowship of those who love and worship Him.

    Challenges of a 21st c. Christian life

    This NEW series will address our challenges of living as followers of Jesus Christ in a world of selfishness and obeying God in a world corrupted by godlessness. At any time in these last times, following Jesus in the footsteps of love through the darkness of days seems difficult at best.

    The Name of Jesus and glory of God are maligned by the headlines of hateful souls and agendas of prideful sinners.

    Yet read the Bible: understand the Law of God, praise the glory of the LORD, hear the writing on the walls, experience the hope of the Gospel, embrace the letters of love and heed the revelation of God’s will. Know the beginning and the end. See that the LORD has come to you and to me, because we are sinners in need of a Savior.

    I pray that the encouragement of this series might help you to see yourself as a fellow sinner who would like to flee this world, yet by our witness to the light of eternal hope we choose to listen to the Son of Man, Christ Jesus, who calls out to each of us:

    “Follow after me.”

    To be continued…

    NEXT: Hope for the Guilty