Archive for consequences

Knowing Truth From Lies

Posted in #PaulthePoke with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 13, 2022 by paulthepoke

Scripture: 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude

Memory Verse: 3 John 1:4, I have no greater joy than this, to hear my children walking in the truth.

Key Theme: These four epistles offer concepts of contrasts. Ultimately, what is the truth and what is a lie?

God is the source of truth. All three persons of the Trinity are truth as a source. May God be found true (Romans 3:4). The Spirit is stated as truth in 1 John 5:7. Jesus proclaimed He is the truth in John 14:6. Jesus is the representation of the Father (Hebrews 1:3).

Truth can be learned from many sources. Some of these include the apostles. The apostles saw, touched, and heard the truth in Jesus for themselves (1 John 1:1-3). Truth can be learned from members of the church. A positive example would be Demetrius who received a good testimony from the truth itself (3 John 1:12). Truth can be learned from the spirits. But it is important to test the spirits to determine if they are from God (1 John 4:1). A teacher of the church can teach the truth for the building up of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12). Practically, the truth can be learned by reading the Word, our Bible.

There are consequences when choosing or rejecting the truth. Choices lead to practicing righteousness or sin (1 John 3:7-10). There is the choice of light (God) or darkness (lies), (1 John 1:5-6).

How do we handle the issue of sin? Are sins confessed or is personal sin denied? Confession of sins can lead to forgiveness and cleansing. Denying sin results in making Christ a liar (1 John 1:8-10). There are considerations of obedience and practice in regards to God’s commandments. Application of teaching determines whether or not one has God (2 John 1:6-9). Choose good over evil (3 John 1:11). The choice to love leads to life. He who does not love abides in death (1 John 3:14). Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer (1 John 3:15). It is important to practice what one believes. Ultimately, your eternity hinges on whether or not you believe the truth that Jesus died for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3).

Jesus tells us in John 8:44 that truth is not found in Satan. He is the father of lies. It is his nature to lie. It is his desire to lie. Satan does not stand for the truth. He is a liar. Satan is a sinner from the beginning (1 John 3:8). Satan has many instruments at his disposal to dispatch lies. The antichrist of the future is noted in 1 John 2:18. Even now the spirit of the antichrist is at work (1 John 4:3). In Revelation 13 the beast from the earth or the false prophet dispenses lies. He calls for the worship of the antichrist. False spirits are called to be tested in 1 John 4:1. False prophets (1 John 4:1) are at work in the world. Satan also has demons at his disposal. He is the ruler of demons (Matthew 12:24). Members of the church are noted. Characteristics of these men are described in Jude 1:12, 13, and 16. A specific example of a man in the church would be Diotrephes. He rejected the authority of the apostles and was singled out with condemnation (3 John 1:9-10). Satan also has the world at his disposal. The whole world lies in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19).

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

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Happy Thanksgiving!!! 2020 Style

Posted in #PaulthePoke with tags , , , , , , , , , on November 25, 2020 by paulthepoke

1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

COVID 19 and the year 2020 are included in all circumstances. So Give Thanks!!!

Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday. This will be a Thanksgiving unlike any other.

For the record, I am a medical professional of 27 years. I have treated COVID-19 patients. I utilize CDC precautions every day providing care to fellow citizens.

Politicians and medical professionals are calling on citizens to use precautions during this holiday and every day.

Some politicians are even willing to arrest and fine citizens who disobey their edicts! They want the police to drive through neighborhoods and ticket families and groups of people who do not comply.

Eat outside, no more than 4 people, no singing, no more than 2 hours, social distance, wear a mask, and on and on and on…

However, the state of California is going to allow people to go to the bathroom during Thanksgiving with conditions.

“Gatherings that occur outdoors are significantly safer than indoor gatherings. All gatherings must be held outside. Attendees may go inside to use restrooms as long as the restrooms are frequently sanitized.” California Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH)

This is a permission slip to hold Thanksgiving with family and friends. It is called the U.S. Constitution.

Below is a link to the U.S. Constitution. Encourage children to read it. Lord knows they are not being taught this in their education.

https://www.heritage.org/constitution

I would also encourage everyone to read the Bill of Rights. Pay special attention to the First Amendment.

Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Click on the link below for the Bill of Rights

https://www.archives.gov/files/legislative/resources/education/bill-of-rights/images/handout-3.pdf

Photo by Anna Tukhfatullina Food Photographer/Stylist on Pexels.com

Respect the thoughts and opinions of others. This Thanksgiving is an opportunity for balance and common sense to prevail. It does not have to be one way or the other, polar extremes.

We are still a free country. And with freedom comes responsibility. Freedom does not mean we are free from the consequences of our choices.

Ephesians 5:20 …giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…

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The Individual and His Moral Code… Phil Kulis

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Culture, Gospel, Phil Kulis with tags , , , , , , , on March 21, 2019 by paulthepoke

The strawman argument of which moral code is the correct one is ridiculous. Pick a standard of Moral Law and adhere to it. You can’t.

Whatever your moral code is, being a human, you’ve never been able to keep it.

That’s called sin.

How do you deal with the issue of the sin you have committed for violating your own moral code?

Do you just say it’s all relative and you can do whatever you want when it pleases you? (Moral relativism?)

Then that means you have no integrity and makes you a liar. This is violating your own moral code.

What then is justice? You cannot claim to be a just and righteous person if you have no integrity.

If someone violates what you consider your moral law and you judge and you condemn them, yet you allow yourself to violate it without reconciliation you are the wicked and evil of this world.

“The Deity may be able to forgive sin, but I do not see how.” -Plato

Arguing about what Moral Law is doesn’t address the issue of VIOLATING the Moral Law. You don’t have any way of undoing the violation. You are condemned by your own insistence on a moral code.

You damn yourself with no way out.

The perpetrator of the crime stands bound in chains with law enforcement holding him before the Judge. The case has been heard and the jury is unanimous. The verdict is GUILTY. The sentence is DEATH.

There is no argument over which moral code the person thought was better. He violated his own code. He also judged and condemned others for what he himself did.

Justice must be served.

The gavel comes down. The Bailiff is about to take him away to the execution of the sentence.

The Judge stands and says to the Bailiff, “Wait!”

The Judge brings forth His only Son from the audience and says to the Bailiff, “Let the prisoner go free, My Son will serve his sentence in his place.”

The prisoner is set free. And the Son is put to death in his place.

You are the prisoner. God the Father is the Judge and His Son is Jesus Christ.

Are you going to continue to violate the Moral Law? There is no other to take your place for any subsequent court appearance.

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Predestined With Free Will: Humanity

Posted in Jude with tags , , , , , , , , on December 23, 2018 by paulthepoke

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

It is God’s will that each created, individual human being should not perish or face judgment. God wants all of us to have a change of heart and mind and return to Him.

But God created us with the capacity to choose our own way and choose the things we want. Every day we make multiple decisions. For example, I chose to hit the snooze button when the alarm clock went off this morning. I had oatmeal instead of bacon and eggs for breakfast. I put on brown pants and a sweater. I did not want to shave but I chose to brush my teeth. You get the point.

On this planet, there are over 7 billion individual wills who have this same capacity. People are acting on their own behalf. Religion, culture, and lifestyle influence and dictate behavior on a global scale. Some have chosen sides for either good or evil. Some have not chosen sides and drift to their own drum. Some choose to believe in nothing.

As altruistic humans, we love to believe our free will is for the greater good. We conveniently neglect the consequences of our sinful choices. When we screw up, we blame God. The reality is, we are responsible for our thoughts and actions.

James 1:13-15 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

With eternal consequences for sin, humans love to blame God as an overbearing, unfair task master. “God wants to crush us with His thumb like a bug! God is a mean, cruel ogre!” This just is not true. Listen to what the prophet Ezekiel has to say. And this is even in the Old Testament…

Ezekiel 33:11 Say to them, as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?

The issue is us, humanity. We have a choice. Do we choose Jesus or not? Do we accept His payment for sin or not? Eternal judgment is the cost for sin. God provides a solution for the consequence of sin. The solution is Jesus’ death on the cross.

1 Timothy 2:4-6 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.

God knew before the creation of time and Earth who was going to choose His path. He also knew who was going to refuse His path. This is God’s plan for all of humanity before time. He Chose Us, Every Single One of Us.

Ephesians 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will…

see also Romans 8:29-30

But, humanity has free will.

Ecclesiastes 8:11 When the sentence for a crime is not speedily executed, the hearts of men become fully set on doing evil.

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Revelation: Thyatira, God Knows Our Deeds

Posted in Hell, Prophecy, Revelation with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 7, 2017 by paulthepoke

Revelation 2:23 And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.

This is the kind of verse the atheist and critic have a field day. I can hear them now.

“The God of the Bible is a genocidal ogre who wants to kill people and crush them under his thumb. God is not a God of love.”

The atheist and critic have one fundamental problem. They want to ignore the consequence of behavior. There is a right way and a wrong way. God made it very clear from the beginning. The message is consistent from the Garden of Eden through the end of the New Testament. If one disobeys, they will die. Plain and simple.

Genesis 2:17 “…but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The last thing the atheist and critic want is accountability. They want to do whatever they want. The end result of this thinking is anarchy. It did not work in the past and it will not work now or in the future.

Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.

The atheist and critic have propped up their intellect as deity. They know what is best. And don’t anyone dare question them or point out moral standards. They will have none of it.

 

And I will kill her children with pestilence… The “her” continues to be Jezebel. “Her children” or followers will get theirs. The text literally states, “I will kill with death” in the original Greek.

 

…and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts… This message is not for Thyatira only. It is a message for all the churches and all the believers. God the Son (as well as the Father and Spirit) knows your thought life. He knows your feelings and intentions.

Psalm 139:1-2, 4 O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you understand my thought from afar. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it all.

 

…and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. The atheist and the humanistic critic love to point out how humanity is getting better, constantly evolving, and improving. They say on balance, man has done more good than bad. They want to be judged on their merits and deeds.

Be careful what you ask for. At least three times in the book of Revelation, humanity is told they will be judged according to their deeds. The last two examples are mentioned in the context of the great white throne.

Revelation 20:12b …and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.

Revelation 20:13b …and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.

A message to the atheist and critic, Hell is real whether you believe it or not.

Revelation 20:15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

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