Archive for November, 2011

Hear This!

Posted in Uncategorized on November 22, 2011 by paulthepoke

Book of Revelation, Christ’s comments to the churches, “He who has an ear, let him hear… “

There are two primary words that are used in the Bible for the word, hear.

The Old Testament word in the Hebrew is shama, שׁמע

Its meaning is more specific. It means to hear intelligently, discern, often with the implication of attention; to hear obediently; to hear diligently.

In the New Testament, the Greek word is akouo; to hear. This is where we get the English word “acoustics” from in the Greek.

God’s Word implores us hundreds of times TO HEAR!!!!

This is the case throughout the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. We are told to hear, take heed, give an ear, hear these words, or listen. God is desperately trying to get our attention. God speaks His will to us through His written Word.

Take some time and read the Bible. God is not a mute. Listen to what God has to say.

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Genesis 1:29 The History of Food

Posted in Creation with tags , , , , , , on November 16, 2011 by paulthepoke

Genesis 1:29 Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;

God’s original intent for humanity was to be a vegetarian, specifically a vegan. PETA should love God’s word. Meat is not included on this menu. Vegetation was so plentiful, there was enough food for all of creation. But, because of sin and as time marched on, food became more scarce and harder to come by. This is evidenced in Genesis 5:29 Now he called his name Noah, saying, “This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the LORD has cursed.” Just a few generations in, humanity is already realizing the effects of the curse. Work is hard.

Meat was not introduced into the diet until after the Flood. This is approximately 2,000 years after Creation. That figure can be obtained by adding up the years of genealogies in Genesis. Observation is courtesy of Ken Ham, The Genesis Solution.

After the Flood and with the introduction of the Law, God placed limits on the kinds of animals man could eat. Leviticus Chapter 11 gives many details of what can and cannot be eaten. Here are a couple of examples. Leviticus 11:3-4 ‘Whatever divides a hoof, thus making split hoofs, and chews the cud, among the animals, that you may eat. ‘Nevertheless, you are not to eat of these, among those which chew the cud, or among those which divide the hoof: the camel, for though it chews cud, it does not divide the hoof, it is unclean to you.

Fast forward to the day of Peter after Christ has died on the cross for sin. Christ has fulfilled the Law. Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.  Peter in Acts 11 has an encounter with the Lord regarding the Law and unclean food. Restrictions on food consumed are being lifted. Granted, the greater issue is not about food but food is used as the example. Acts 11:6-9 and when I had fixed my gaze on it and was observing it I saw the four-footed animals of the earth and the wild beasts and the crawling creatures and the birds of the air. “I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ “But I said, ‘By no means, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ “But a voice from heaven answered a second time, ‘What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.’ There is less food available.

Moving ahead at least two thousand plus years from Peter, the tribulation looms. Food will continue to become more scarce. Joel 1:10-12 The field is ruined, The land mourns; For the grain is ruined, The new wine dries up, fresh oil fails. Be ashamed, O farmers, wail, O vinedressers, for the wheat and the barley; because the harvest of the field is destroyed. The vine dries up and the fig tree fails; the pomegranate, the palm also, and the apple tree, all the trees of the field dry up. Indeed, rejoicing dries up from the sons of men.

Joel 1:16-20 Has not food been cut off before our eyes, gladness and joy from the house of our God? The seeds shrivel under their clods; the storehouses are desolate, the barns are torn down, for the grain is dried up. How the beasts groan! The herds of cattle wander aimlessly because there is no pasture for them; even the flocks of sheep suffer. To You, O LORD, I cry; for fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness and the flame has burned up all the trees of the field. Even the beasts of the field pant for you; for the water brooks are dried up and fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness.

The lack of food is so great, humanity becomes the hunted by animals. Revelation 6:8 I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.

Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

During Christ’s Millennial Kingdom conditions will improve with food becoming more abundant. A couple of examples are as follows. Amos 9:14 “Also I will restore the captivity of My people Israel, and they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them; they will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, and make gardens and eat their fruit.

Ezekiel 36:29-30 “Moreover, I will save you from all your uncleanness; and I will call for the grain and multiply it, and I will not bring a famine on you. I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field, so that you will not receive again the disgrace of famine among the nations”.

Eternity future shows us an environment without the curse. The result is perpetual fruit during all months of the year. There will be no more thorns and thistles. The toil of work will be gone. The circle is complete and restored. Revelation 22:1-3a Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will no longer be any curse…

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Apostle Paul, Resume

Posted in Gospel with tags , , , , on November 9, 2011 by paulthepoke

Paul PrisonThe Apostle Paul (name means short) is the author of 13 letters in the New Testament. Scholars argue that he is possibly the author of Hebrews as well. Paul was born as Saul in the city of Tarsus in the region of Cilicia (Acts 22:3). Tarsus is located near the northeastern corner of the Mediterranean Sea. He was born a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin (Philippians 3:5). He grew up in Jerusalem and studied under the famous teacher Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) and he was a member of the Pharisees (Philippians 3:5). Paul’s father was a member of the Pharisees (Acts 23:6). Extra Biblical source (Holman Bible Dictionary) indicates that Paul’s family was moderately wealthy deriving their income from leather goods and tent making. Paul by trade was a tentmaker (Acts 18:3). He did not marry (1 Corinthians 7:8). Paul was a Roman citizen and he used this to his advantage on his travels (Acts 23:27).

Prior to his conversion, Saul was not a friend of believers in Jesus.  He arrested and imprisoned believers. He was extremely zealous and had passion for Judaism. He was a Hebrew of Hebrews (Philippians 3:5). Approval of death and persecution of believers was given by Paul. He chased, persecuted, and blasphemed them to distant cities. Paul even described his own behavior as exceedingly mad or furious (Acts 26:10-11). He was present at the stoning of the martyr Stephen (Acts 7:58). In retrospect, Paul considered himself not fit to be an apostle because of his actions (1 Corinthians 15:9). Of all of the sinners, he is the chief or foremost (1 Timothy 1:15).

His conversion and belief in Jesus as the Messiah took place on the road to Damascus. Jesus Himself provided all the proof Paul would need to become a believer: a bright light, a voice, and identification. He was blinded and healed a few days later in Damascus (Acts 9:1-19). After his conversion, he spent three years in Arabia (Galatians 1:17).

Paul frequently reminded readers that he was called to be an apostle by the will of God in the introduction of his epistles. Specifically, he was called to be an apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 13:47-48; Romans 11:13; 15:16).

Paul made four missionary journeys. He traveled in the Roman province of Galatia during his first trip, specifically in south, central Asia Minor. On the second trip, Paul travels through Asia Minor and enters into southeast Europe. Specifically, he travels into the regions of Macedonia, Achaia (the modern day coastal areas of Greece). Ultimately, Paul ends up in Rome via ship on the Mediterranean Sea.

To say Paul suffered many hardships during his travels is an understatement. He was persecuted and jailed many times over. He escaped with his life on many occasions. Paul was expelled from cities and left for dead.  Riots resulted because of his belief in Christ and the stance he took. He received 39 lashes five times, was beaten with a rod three times, stoned once, shipwrecked three times, and nearly drowned. He faced dangers from robbers, fellow countrymen, foreigners, false teachers, wildlife, and sea life. Paul was often hungry, thirsty, cold, naked, weary, and suffered pain (2 Corinthians 11:23-27). Paul was constantly kept in check by the “thorn” in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

Paul also provides a definitive statement on what the gospel is. God provided the solution to the sin problem at the cross of Jesus Christ. When Christ died on the cross He paid the penalty for all of our sins, past, present and future. Christ was buried. Christ was raised from the dead. The Bible calls this message the “good news” or the “gospel”. Man is saved on the condition of believing (putting faith in) the gospel –1 Corinthians 15:1-3; Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16.

Christ’s resurrection validates His payment for sin on the cross. The resurrection confirms the fact of the good news.


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