Habakkuk 1:5 Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. -LORD God
For those of you who are not familiar, this is JP Sears.
JP Sears is a comedian who tours the country extensively doing stand-up comedy and publishing weekly online videos. His videos have been viewed more than 500 million times. In addition to inspiring laughter in a weird world, JP’s work takes an unapologetic stand for freedom, free speech, and encouraging people to free themselves from fear.
CAUTION! JP will use very adult language and he is not afraid to engage in controversial topics. Some of you will likely be offended. Warning completed…
JP will openly admit. He is not a Biblical scholar.
But JP does understand fundamental truth about a few Bible verses and concepts.
Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
Click on the link below and look what happens when these verses are applied in today’s world…
Chief Justice John Roberts has confirmed the leaked “Opinion of the Court” from Justice Samuel Alito is authentic. The majority first draft by Justice Alito sets the stage for each individual state to make a decision on abortion. Currently, the vote appears to be 5 (Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett) to 3 (Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan). Chief Justice John Roberts’ vote has yet to be determined as of the posting of this article.
A fence has been erected around the Supreme Court. Protests from both sides of the issue were taking place throughout the day at the Court.
“We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled,” Justice Alito.
“Roe was egregiously wrong from the start. Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences. And far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division.” -Justice Alito
For those who want to read the complete “Opinion of the Court”, click on the link below.
See the YouTube link below for additional analysis.
This topic is an absolute lightning rod. This is an adult conversation. Passions are running hot. Please keep all comments to be thoughtful, respectful and considerate of others even if one disagrees with another. To brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ, be mindful of Who we are representing. We are held to a higher standard.
For those who disagree, file your complaint with the good Lord. He can handle your opinion. You are free to launch your protest. He knows it before you utter your dissent. Keep in mind, His standards are fixed. He is not interested in redefining standards to meet your needs or moral platitudes.
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What does God think about the act of taking a life inside the womb of a mother? In the 20th and 21st century, this act is called abortion.
In our modern day enlightened culture, we would like to think abortion is a new and progressive issue. It may surprise many that this practice of taking life from the womb, as well as life from the mother, was occurring approximately 2,750 years ago as documented by the prophet Amos and by an unknown author (Jewish tradition suspects the prophet Jeremiah) in 2 Kings. We can’t hide what God says. There is nothing new under the sun.
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These are the words inspired by the Holy Spirit of God.
2 Kings 8:11-12 Elisha fixed his gaze steadily on him until Hazael became uncomfortable. Then the man of God began to weep. “Why is my lord weeping?” asked Hazael. “Because I know the evil you will do to the Israelites,” Elisha replied. “You will set fire to their fortresses, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little ones to pieces, and rip open their pregnant women.”
We will start with and focus on the Hebrew word for evil. It is ra’. The word means bad, adversity, or evil. The first time this word occurs is in the book of Genesis.
Genesis 2:9b The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
The tree of knowledge of good and evil was the bearer of the forbidden fruit. In essence, God is explaining to humanity. If you want to know about evil, you will experience evil. God’s instructions to Adam were direct and to the point.
God’s way: to trust in God’s provision is everlasting life. And don’t forget, humanity was created eternal. Or humanity’s way: to know good and evil is death. And so it was, a simple choice.
Life or death?
Genesis 2:17 …but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
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So going back to our verses from 2 Kings 8:11-12. There were four acts of evil Elisha told Hazael he would commit.
set fire to their fortresses
kill their young men with the sword
dash their little ones to pieces
rip open their pregnant women
Taking life from the womb of a pregnant woman is evil. Taking the life of the mother is evil. Dashing and cutting babies to pieces is evil. It is murderous.
Exodus 20:13 You shall not murder.
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These are the words inspired by the Holy Spirit of God to the prophet Amos.
Amos 1:13 Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of the Ammonites, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have ripped open pregnant women in Gilead, that they might enlarge their border.
The Ammonites are clearly repeat offenders of taking the lives of pregnant women and taking life inside the womb.
Pasha or transgressions can also be translated as rebellious acts.
The transgressions or rebellious acts are defined by God: because they have ripped open pregnant women in Gilead.
God has consequences for Ammonites. And because of these events, God promises fire, a tempest wind storm (this could be translated as a whirlwind or tornado), and leadership into exile in Amos 1:14-15.
Scripture is clear. God does not approve of the act of taking life inside the womb of a mother. And God does not approve of taking the life of the mother. He is pro life.
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As far as sin goes, there is no sliding scale of severity with God. Abortion is no worse of an iniquity than any other sin. It is humanity who has redefined, ordered and prioritized which sins are worse, not God.
Remember that death, disease, pains, suffering, hard labor and environmental changes came into being because a forbidden piece of fruit was eaten. God takes any sin seriously to the point of death. As God sees it, sin is sin.
James 2:10-11 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
Let’s be real. We are all sinners with many different issues. The end result of sin is the same, death.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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The topic of abortion has brought a tremendous amount of pain, suffering and regret to many including unborn victims, moms, dads, grandparents, families and friends. The topic Roe v Wade has been polarizing and divisive for close to 50 years in the United States. It is ripping and tearing the fabric of our society.
To the body of Christ, this is an encouragement for us to offer the grace of Jesus we have been afforded in spite of our sins. Believers in Jesus are accurately accused of pointing fingers in judgment and condescension to those who are suffering in matters regarding the issue of abortion (as well as many others). Please be considerate and sensitive to the hurts of others.
Grace, mercy, and forgiveness…
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.
We can’t control how others treat us, but we can control how we react. It’s easy to want to get even with someone who has wronged you, but God says to leave it to him to avenge evil. Getting revenge may seem like a temporary good feeling, but in the long run it will leave you feeling sick inside. Be at peace & focus on those that love you & lift you up. Don’t allow wrong doers space in your head.
Romans 12:17 Do not repay evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
Sometimes what you think is true, what you think is safe and good, is actually evil in disguise. Evil is so enticing, so deceiving, that you don’t know it’s evil until it’s wrapped you up and caressed you as a lover. You gaze into its eyes, enraptured by the pretty words whispered softly in your ears, realizing too late that the pretty words were all just twisted lies. —Quinn Loftis, Beyond the Veil
From birth, children are taught what looks good. They happily respond to the soothing voice of their caregivers; the caregiver’s smile comforts them, and they see that smiles are good. Smiles mean safety. They draw us in, allowing us to put our guard down. As beneficial as this reflex is in the right relationships, it is equally dangerous when we come across the soft–spoken guy with the puppies, or the guy with the lost kitty, or the individual behind the mask of a computer screen presenting himself or herself as a youth so the targeted victim is willing to meet in person.
I believe one of the largest injustices we can commit in this day and age is teaching our children a stigmatized version of “stranger danger”—the version in which we caution them to steer clear of the greasy–haired, yellow–toothed creepy guy who must intend great harm, or the white van version in which vehicles like that snatch children who are never seen again. Why is teaching them this a great injustice? Because individuals who intend to do harm have evolved so that they often don’t look like bad guys. We must do the same in our teaching of what to look for in a bad guy.
One thing I learned from my time on the streets is that most of the time, a bad guy will not act like a bad guy right away. Bad guys spend more time looking like good guys so that they can create the opportunities to be that bad guy. Smiles, eye contact, clean–cut faces, and kind voices are the façades of these individuals. After all, our children and even adults are busy steering clear of the beer–bellied, snaggletooth bad guy with creepy eyes. Their prey is unaware; their opportunity is primed.
Like an animal that lies in wait for its prey, today’s bad guys are deceptive, cunning, and intentional in their actions to do harm. Instead of black ski masks, they wear masks of smiles and charm. Instead of guns and knives, they bear weapons of manipulation and coercion. They are human predators, seeking, waiting, and hunting their prey.
“Love your neighbor, all of ’em.” -Christine Clarity McDonald
A question often posed, or a variant thereof goes like this… “If there’s a God, then why does He allow evil?”
My response is, “Is evil real? Or is it just a figment of your imagination?”
If it’s not real, then what is your concern?
But if it is real, should it be punished?
Have you yourself committed evil? Do you think any evil you’ve done is not as bad as someone else’s evil and therefore you’re good by comparison?
Because evil is real and evil should be punished, that means there is a good that is contrast to evil. Therefore, we have free will to choose good or evil.
And since there is a good to contrast evil proving that it should be punished, then it’s because of a violation of the Moral Law.
The Moral Law comes from the objective Moral Law Giver. Man has proven his morality is subjective relative to his situation or perception of someone else’s evil, and probability of getting caught. This is more proof of evil.
So evil is real.
Evil should be punished.
All have committed evil.
Evil is in contrast to good.
Good is defined by the Moral Law.
The Moral Law is given by an Objective Giver.
The last realization is our accountability to the Objective Moral Law Giver.
As determined earlier evil must be punished.
The penalty is Death.
Plato said, “The Deity may be able to forgive sin. But I do not see how.”
Plato understood that an Objective Moral Law Giver must be Justice. And Justice must be impersonal. So, the Moral Law Giver is obligated to punish sin.
Imagine for a moment sitting before you is a glass filled half way with water. While you’re watching, I place one drop of lethal poison in the glass. There is no antidote. Would you drink it? No, if you’re in your right mind you wouldn’t. What if I filled the glass with more water all the way to full? Now would you drink it? No, you wouldn’t, because the lethal dose of poison is still in the glass.
Your life is the glass of water. And the lethal poison is the evil you’ve done in your life. The additional water is the remainder of your life. Even without more evil, you can’t change the evil of the past. You are doomed.
But the Objective Moral Law Giver provided a way for you. He sent His Son who drank your glass of water and left His glass of water without the poison for you to drink. There’s nothing you can do about it. It’s done.
All that remains is for you to drink it and contemplate what that means to you.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, what whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
And the proof of that eternal life, the power over death, is the Resurrection of His Son.
Genesis 3:4-5 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Evil is a necessary contrast to God.
How else would we know Good?
But how does God get rid of Evil when those who know the difference choose Him?
He gave Satan power, free will and eternal life. Can He just renege on what He gave?
Mankind may be a forum to reveal Himself, then permanently destroy Evil and Death.
It seems to me that if Evil took away God’s power, free will and life by throwing Him in prison, judging Him, nailing Him to a cross and killing Him, then God is justified in doing the same in return.
Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people He will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.
1 Corinthians 15:54-57 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 21:4-6 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.
The game Five Nights at Freddy’s is a horror game that was released on August 8th, 2014. No, this game is not based off of Freddy’s Steakburgers and Custard. And no, it is not based off of Freddy Krueger. Five Nights at Freddy’s takes place at Freddy Fazebear’s Pizzeria. This is a spinoff of Chuck E. Chesse’s but you’re not there during the day. You’re there at night. Why? Because there have been alleged reports of the animatronic characters wandering around at night and killing the guards in the game.
Hang on! The Bible tells us to not kill people.
Exodus 20:13 You shall not murder.
The goal of the game is to survive the night from the animatronics who are closing in and wanting to kill you.
Ever since this game was released, five more versions of this game have been launched. The game has become increasingly popular.
How was this concept conceived? Well, the creator Scott Cawthon, had been creating more kid-friendly games such as Chipper & Sons Lumber Co. when he saw a rating that said one of the characters looked like a “scary animatronic animal”. He (Cawthon) then thought that he could create an even scarier, more demonic concept. And, the crazier thing is, he claims to be a Christian! What sort of Christian makes horror games?!
The Bible tells us to stay away from evil!
1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil.
Now to explain the evil, in the first game, the man on the phone talks about an incident called the “Bite of ‘87”. This is where an animatronic murders a child. In the fourth game, it is revealed that a child is shoved into the animatronic’s mouth by bullies.
Woah! God tells us the punishment for child sacrifice is death!
Leviticus 20:2 Say to the people of Israel, Any one of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones.
The “Purple Guy” in the game goes on a child killing spree. The souls of the children possess the animatronic characters. They get their revenge on the “Purple Guy” by locking him in a suit. “Purple Guy” turns out to be the antagonist, Springtrap, in the third game. Springtrap is kept away with a tempting child’s recorded voice.
I could go on and on about these evils. But God wants us to think of better things than these evils.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
We can’t control how others treat us, but we can control how we react. It’s easy to want to get even with someone who has wronged you, but God says to leave it to him to avenge evil. Getting revenge may seem like a temporary good feeling, but in the long run it will leave you feeling sick inside. Be at peace & focus on those that love you & lift you up. Don’t allow wrong doers space in your head.
Romans 12:17 Do not repay evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
Ephesians 5:16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
map: theguardian.com
The phrase “making the most” is an interesting translation. It is the Greek word exagorazo. Per Strong’s Concordance it means: to redeem; by payment of a price to recover from the power of another; to ransom; buy off.
Someone has purchased these days for us. See Jesus on the cross. Revelation 5:9b for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. See also 1 Corinthians 6:20, Colossians 1:14, Acts 20:28, Ephesians 1:7.
The days of our lives are precious and not to be wasted. Treasure these days and utilize them for good… because the days are evil.
Psalms 34:21 Evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
Another translation is Evil people shall self-destruct. Is this ever true. They will be punished. There are not 72 virgins.
Psalms 34:14 Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
… seek peace and pursue it. In the original Hebrew “seek” and “pursue” are not passive. The action is to be intensive and intentional. “Seek” or require, desire, exact, request, demand are the concepts. “Pursue” or put to flight, chase, dog, attend closely upon, persecute, harass, to follow after, and aim to secure are the ideas (Strong’s Concordance).
Evil needs to be confronted.
Galatians 1:4-5 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father…
Yes, evil exists in our time (November 2015). There are plenty of examples on display in our world. We can expect there will be more evil.
Take comfort, evil will not stand forever.
Revelation 21:4-5 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”
Isaiah 7:15 “He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good,
Curds and honey were foods of the common person. These foods were staples in the diet of the time. Typically, they are symbols of abundance. God referred to the land of Israel as a land flowing with milk and honey in Exodus 3:8a “So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey… At this point in history with Ahaz as king, curds and honey are the only foods remaining. The food supply had been decimated.
The “He” in verse 15 is Jesus. These are the credentials of the One who was born of a virgin and named Immanuel in verse 14. He will eat the food, curds and honey, of the common man. He does not have the diet of royalty.
Christ was tempted by Satan in the wilderness in Matthew 4:1-11. Jesus was tempted with food when He was hungry. Satan tempted Him with His life. Jesus was tempted with absolute power if He would submit to Satan. The tempter tried to entice the Son to reject the words of the Father and follow him. He chose good and refused evil.
It is stated two times. He will refuse evil and choose good. Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Isaiah 7:16 “For before the boy will know enough to refuse evil and choose good, the land whose two kings you dread will be forsaken.
In other words, Ahaz relax. Syria and the northern kingdom are toast. You all will be okay. Historically, Syria and the northern kingdom alliance get theirs way before the birth of the One who refused evil and chose good.
Evil is a necessary contrast to God.
