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Are You Ready For the
Return of Jesus Christ? This article is copyrighted by author with all rights inferred. It may be freely distributed to friends and family provided it is not altered and remains in its original PDF format. Preface A story goes that once a Sunday school teacher of young people
told them that it was anatomically impossible for a whale to swallow
a man therefore the Bible story of Jonah being swallowed by a
big fish could not be true. One young student replied, “When
I get to heaven I’ll ask Jonah if it is true.” The
teacher said, “I don’t think Jonah will be in heaven.”
The student said, “Then you ask him.” Biblical stories
such as the story of Jonah Many think they must become Biblical scholars and spend much time arguing insignificant topics such as whether the pearly gates swing in or out. This book’s message is not intended to provide detailed proof of its topics rather to reach to ones heart and spirit. It is based on the need to do what will prepare your heart and spirit so that you can get to the pearly gates. There are hundreds of books that contain detailed facts and when appropriate such books may be referenced. It is the purpose of this book to motivate a change in your heart and spirit, to draw you closer to Jesus Christ and to prepare you to greet him when he comes to earth again. Another illustration is the story of two men who died and were waiting to be interviewed to determine their heavenly fate. The first man entered the interview room and the interviewer asked him to tell him all he knew about Jesus Christ. The man elaborately described all he knew about Christ and was admitted to his heavenly state. The second man was asked the same question and as he pondered the question and looked into the eyes of the interviewer he fell to his knees and exclaimed, “Oh My God, my King” and wept on the feet of the Savior. The first man was so engrossed in the facts that he lacked the ability to feel the Spirit of Christ and was denied the privilege of recognizing and worshiping the Savior in all His Glory. Although this story is an allegory it conveys the topic of this book. It illustrates that if one does not culture the ability to feel the light of Christ within ones own heart and spirit they may not recognize Christ when he comes. It is my hope that this book in some small part may motivate you to listen to your heart and spirit like the second man.
Table of Contents Preface Chapter One………………………………………..The
Eternal Plan Chapter Two………………………………………..Counterfeit
Success Chapter Three………………………………………Our
works will judge us Chapter Five………………………………………..
What we must do to get the light of Chapter Six…………………………………………Communication with God Chapter Seven………………………………………Trust Chapter One: “The Eternal Plan” There are two great miracles of life, birth and death. It has been said that when we are born we cry and everyone else smiles. When we die we smile and everyone else cries. Philosophers for thousands of years have speculated on the meaning of life, its origins and end. Jesus spoke of the folly of building treasures in life in Luke 12:19 referring to the phrase eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. There is more to life than this life alone. Most religions believe in some kind of life after death while few believe in an existence before birth. Consider the physics of a simple rock. It is an innate solid object yet we know it contains moving particles of atoms and molecules with an energy source. They are moving at tremendous speeds and are in constant motion. Yet from our natural eyes a rock is a solid and can only be changed by extreme heat or physical impact such as crushing or erosion. When did the rock get its energy? Science proves its energy is eternal, that it never can be destroyed. Its energy may become fire such as coal, or ground into sand and each either contains the same atoms or changes from one atom configuration to another. The energy force within a simple rock never dies. Space exploration and science continue to find energy that predates our earth and our solar system. Scientist agrees that energy is eternal, so why not our spirit as well? Are we not more complex than a rock and every particle of our body also has energy? Is it so difficult to accept that our istence indeed is eternal? No depression or failure equals the feelings of being stymied. When we loose the means to be creative or to progress we become depressed. Water is a good example of the difference between progression and inactivity. It has been claimed that a mountain stream can purify its self in just a few feet of aggressive travel over sand and rocks. In contrast a body of water that has no movement becomes stagnant and putrid. So it is in our earth existence. If we have no belief in a past existence or hope of a future beyond death what is the use of life? This attitude is demonstrated in the phrase eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. Nothing can destroy man’s desire to progress more than believing he cannot progress or that he just sprouted from nothing. In contrast if man believes he came from a pre existent heavenly state it can change his whole outlook and purpose of life. It is no wonder those who question God with statements such as if there was a God He would not let bad things happen to us. Consider what would happen if parents could prevent any evil or harm happening to their child. If that child grew from an infant to adult and never experienced a disappointment or failure what kind of an adult would they be? As an adult how would they respond to life’s challenges? If you were an employer would you want to hire such a person? Would you wantto marry someone who had never lost a game, never flunked a test or never knew what it was like to have to work If we did come from a past existence with God to earth what would
be the purpose? Why would God send us to an earth experience with
so much death, pain and sorrow? In Genesis God tells us why. The
book of Genesis contains many important clues and information
we need to be able to cope in this life. There is a God and he
is the creator of all the world and the heavens Gave Adam dominion
(responsibility and authority) of all the earth Created Man and
Woman in the image of God. God is not a fly or a blob but a personage
with arms, legs and a body like man’s. I have listed only the more important highlights of the creation. Other things are obvious that are not specifically written in Genesis. It is evident from the story of Cain and Able that at some point God taught Adam about the law of sacrifice. This law was a commandment from God symbolizing the future life and sacrifice to be made by Jesus Christ to redeem the fall of Adam so man could enter Eternal Life. Christ was anointed by God to pay the price of our (Adam’s) sins. The creation and all it entails was not some accident or chance happening but part of an eternal plan designed by God. Consider the message in Revelations 12 about the war in heaven before the earth was created. This war occurred between God and Lucifer. We know that it occurred before the earth was created because it states after the war 1/3 of the hosts of heaven who were angels of the devil were cast to earth. They were not cast into outer darkness or some other place but to earth. God makes no mistakes. If one third of the hosts of heaven who are angels of the devil were cast out of heaven to the earth who do you suppose are the other two thirds? We are the other two thirds of the host of heaven. They are you and I who did not fight against God but with him against the devil. Our reward for fighting against Satan and for God is to come to earth to obtain a physical body. This opportunity gives us a chance to prove to ourselves and to God that we can learn to control our body. The whole plan is to reward us on how well we control our body. This is the purpose of our earthly experience and Gods eternal plan. It matters not what hardships or how long we live rather how we live. This concept is not well accepted because Satan has deceived mankind with alternative concepts. For every good thing God provides the devil has devised a counterfeit to it. In the Garden of Eden Satan demonstrated how he operates. He has not changed but uses the same tactics today. His goal is to create smoke screens of counterfeit concepts to
keep us from believing we had a prior existence with God.Here
are some of his tools and methods of operation. He uses many truths
to hide one lie, which he then uses to distort the truth as he
did with Eve in the Garden of Eden. Reason in your heart and suppose for a minute that you are the devil. What would you think would be the best ways to thwart Gods plan for man. The devil knows each of usfrom our prior existence and knows our personality. He has many angels to try and destroy our communication with God. Remember the previous example of the child who never experiences hardships. God did not create this earth so we could have a peaceful existence without hardships out of love not punishment. Acts 14:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. This scripture shows that God allows Satan to give us thorns for our growth. God loves us so much He will not take away all of our pain and sorrow. The examples of Abraham, Noah, Isaac and Joseph the son of Jacob as well as Christ’s personal life are examples of trials and tribulation given to man. Jesus could have been born in a palace yet chose a stable. The entire creation is based on the principle of opposition. There is nothing in our world that does not have an opposite. Satan vs. God, Light vs. darkness, joy vs. sorrow, gravity vs. weightlessness and on and on. God commanded Adam to rule his wife and she to bear children, be a helpmeet and that they be one flesh. A man and a woman who are one flesh are not fighting or opposing each other. They work together without abuse but as an equally yoked team. God’s concept of marriage and family is broadly challenged in our world today. It is being destroyed with the concepts of same sex marriages, infidelities, throw away marriages, cohabitation without marriage, abortions, substance addictions, women’s rights and all kinds of spousal and child abuses. Satan teaches that we do not have to honor God and who is He to tell us what life style we should live. He builds up organizations, even churches to preach his doctrines. This brings up the concept that a family is the most important unit in God’s plan. God established the importance of a healthy family unit. Philosophers and activist are working to make it illegal to teach God’s concept of a family. Satan knows the importance of a healthy family unit and is destroying its rights so that he can destroy the world’s greatest resource, our children. Satan’s greatest enemy is a happy family unit with fidelity that teaches its children to love God.
Good Christians are highly motivated to do well and be involved in good acts. Jesus Christ’s teachings indicate that we should become the best we can. Since the devil builds counterfeit plans to deceive good people away from Christ success becomes one of his great tools. It has been said, “If Satan cannot tempt good people with evil he will tempt them with good.” My first response to this strange statement was similar to the following scripture indicating something is either good or bad. 1 John 1: 11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. As I gave it more thought I began to see how skillfully the devil
uses a little good to camouflage his evil designs. Consider the
example of a conscientious marriage councilor who must do much
of his work in the evenings. As he achieves success in saving
marriages he is apt to spend more and more time away from home.
His own family begins to suffer Another example is, the frequently used ploy by network marketing companies who loudly proclaim they are a family and Christian centered company, then encourage their people to spend most of their family time working the business and attending seminars. They say, “Just a short time of working hard and look at what you will be able to offer your family when you make all this great money.” Often by the time they have the money and time the family is either destroyed or the children are grown. The serious consequence of this attitude is that in the process they have changed from a family oriented person to a materialistic person. I would like to give you a Book of Mormon story that illustrates this principle. It is the story of a man named Korihor found in the book of Alma chapter 30. Later in the chapter Korihor admitted that the devil had appeared to him and this is what he devil told him to teach the people. 12 And this Anti-Christ, whose name was Korihor, …began
to preach unto the people that (1) there should be no Christ.
And after this manner did he preach, saying: 13. O ye that are
bound down under a foolish and a vain hope, why do ye yoke yourselves
with such foolish things? Why do ye look for a Christ? (2) For
no man can know of anythingwhichistocome. 14. Behold, these things
which ye call prophecies, which ye say are handed down by holy
prophets, behold, they are foolish traditions of your fathers. Lets diagram the points the devil taught and see if it applies to our world today? 1. There should be no Christ. How does this relate to the counterfeit program for success? Modern success teaches this concept with the phrase, “Positive Thinking.” Positive thinking appeals to all good people as a motto for doing good and is oft compared to the scripture, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” Proverbs 23:7 The devil has used our appetite to be good and successful to deceive us. He is the author of the modern philosophies of success. He has so skillfully written them so that they appeal to good people. He incorporates hundreds of Christ’s teachings and examples of good to camouflage the so-called secrets of success hidden between the lines. The devil is able to get people to accept his philosophies because man does not fear him and does not believe he can write books, have teachers and so on. Remember the tool of “enmity” God gave Eve in the Garden of Eden?When man does not recognize the existence of the devil or that he is a real threat, man is vulnerable and easily deceived. Every success book teaches many good things, yet between the lines hide the real agenda that money is the measurement of success and it is ok to take advantage of the foolish to get an advantage. The concept that if they are stupid enough to let me take advantage of them they deserve it is often a motto of the rich.No matter how many good stories and Christ like attributes they use ultimately success philosophizers scorn the poor and teach greed, vanity and pride. There is no scripture in the New Testament where Christ equates money to Eternal Life and hundreds that teach purity of heart.Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Matt. 19:23-24 This is one of many examples. Christ is not saying riches are bad, quite the opposite as there is many examples where He encourages those with riches to give to and help the poor. Something they cannot do if they do not have money. See Joseph of Armathea in Matthew 27:57.What Christ is saying in this allegory is that for a rich man to enter heaven he must do as the camels had to do. The gates in the walls surrounding their cities were designed to be too low for an upright camel with a man or burden to protect the city. For a camel to enter through the gate (eye of a needle) the burdens had to be removed from their backs and they had to alk through the gate on their knees. So the allegory is that for a man to enter heaven he must give his burdens to Christ and walk on his knees in humility worshiping Christ in order to enter heaven. Consider the story of the parable of the rich man and Lazarus a poor man. 20. There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And itcame to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And hecried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. Luke 16:20 –31 See also Luke 12:16, and Luke 16:1 The story of Jacob in Genesis 29-32 is one of the most remarkable stories of wealth and success in the way of God not man. Jacob obtained wealth at God’s hand not his (Jacob’s) ingenuity. Consider the story of Joseph son of Jacob who was sold into Egypt as a slave by his brothers. 1 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer
of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the
hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.
2 And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and
he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master
saw that LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. Genisis 39:1-5 Here is a young man who received dreams and visions and was scorned by his brothers. He had every right to be bitter and angry. If he had been bitter and angry Potiphar would never have appointed him over his house. In other words Joseph had the ultimate positive attitude and obedience to God. As the scripture states God was with Joseph and prospered him. Then as the story continues Joseph refused to submit to evil and by so doing gave up all his wealth and became a slave again. Again he had every right to be angry and bitter but again had to have had a pleasant and positive attitude to be trusted as the keeper of the prison. Again God blessed him and eventually Joseph obtained greater wealth than any other person in the kingdom other than Pharaoh. The story of Joseph forgiving his brothers is remarkable and gives us a valuable lesson on the workings of God with his faithful followers. 3 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. 4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. 5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. 6 For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. 9 Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy sonJoseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not: Genisis 45:3-9 Note the underlined words; if God sent Joseph to preserve his
brothers it means all the trials and tribulation including the
evil acts of his brothers was in some manner designed 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, Consider making a donation at http://joeholmes.info
Christ says take no thought for riches and seek first the kingdom of God with righteousness and all will be added. Is this not what Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph did? Even the story of Job is a wonderful example of our progress in life in the Lords way not men’s. Job had great wealth and success and all was taken away by the
devil. Job’s friends criticized him and in essence told
him that it was his own entire fault because he had negative thinking.
This is the devils plan to torment man and get him to believe
it is his ingenuity that creates wealth or failure. This way the
devil destroys us with depression and anger. Consider the test
to Job, it was to curse God and die or to be trusting and obey
God. It was to avoid being angry with God and maintain trust,
love and faith. We must understand that the devil will pay us to worship him. Is it no wonder that hundreds of people who are willing to sacrifice
family and integrity become wealthy? The devil is real and he
pays anyone who will sacrifice the values taught by God. Just
look around you and see how many of the wealthy and rich are vain
and anti- Godly? The devil uses money to promote his agenda to
destroy the meek and pure in We must give up our appetites for wealth and replace it with love and obedience to the commandments of Christ in order to be pure in heart. In other words take no thought for wealth but seek the righteousness of God first. Completely submit ones self to God without expecting wealth. Learn to love God without putting a condition or barraging with God.
In this chapter we have established that there are opposites of good and bad, God and Satan. That Satan is a real and powerful force in the world today doing everything he can to destroy the spiritual welfare of all men. He is working at a frenzied pace in these last days trying to thwart the return of Christ. Satan has a counterfeit program for every good thing God has provided. Satan hides his programs with sugar coating of things that appear to be good. He uses many truths to hide one lie. The devil cannot have power over us unless we let him. We have learned that God gave to us the effective weapon of enmity to protect ourselves from the devil. If we do not recognize the devil as our enemy we will not be able to discern his snares. His snares are improper applications of sex, money and power.
The Bible has several scriptures stating grace is applied by
faith without works (Ephesians In Acts 12:31 the requirement to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ is a requirement to be saved. One cannot believe on the Lord and fail to live His commandments. They cannot be separated. Consider the Saviors parable about the tares and the judgment that will come at the end of the World. Matthew 13:36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into
the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto
us the parable of the tares of the field. Christ teaches that both judgment and mercy or grace applies
to His children. Both works and grace are required and neither
can be without the other. This means no matter how perfect we
may become we cannot open the gate to Heaven. It also means if
we are evil Consider making a donation at http://joeholmes.info
The meaning of the next scripture makes more sense when we apply the concept that without good works (faith) we cannot be granted the grace of Christ. Gal 2: 16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. No one can obtain salvation by just works. If a man lives a perfect life he cannot obtain the kingdom of God without Christ opening the gate and welcoming him in. Our good works can bring us to the gate and then we must appeal to the grace (love/power/authority) of Christ to accept us. Any other path is vain. There are hundreds of scriptures throughout the Old and New Testament concerning judgment and Gods providence being given based on righteousness. Noah, Abraham, The children of Moses, Sodom and Gomorrah the prophets and events of the Jews all show that God blesses and curses based on obedience. Obedience is the same as faith. Rev 20: 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. Father in Heaven has granted to Jesus Christ the responsibility and authority to judge man. Jesus has the power (grace) to judge and determine the eternal fate of all who live on the earth. John 5: 22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed
all judgment unto the Our body is a temple to God. It is His greatest gift and creation that He has given to us. He expects us to honor our body and purify it. He warns us that if we defile our body he will destroy it. 1 Corr 3: 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Rev 2: 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. When God searches the reins and hearts it means he will evaluate our self-control over the desires of our heart. In this chapter we have established that both works and grace apply to our eternal salvation. Our works are manifested in our body (temple). God will look at our mind and heart (works) and reward us accordingly (apply grace). The process of self-control of our mind and heart is the primary aspect to becoming pure in heart.
As we contemplate what pure in heart means compare it to the research conducted by Dr. Masaru Emoto, a Japanese researcher who has published the book, "The Message from Water." He placed vials of water between speakers for several hours and other vials with various statements or names taped to the vile overnight. He then froze the water, sliced it and photographed it under a microscope. The pictures below are some of his tests. © Hado Kyoikusha Co. Ltd © Hado Kyoikusha Co. Ltd © Hado Kyoikusha Co. Ltd © Hado Kyoikusha Co. Ltd Polluted water from the Fujiwara Dam, before offering a prayer
© Hado Kyoikusha Co. Ltd
© Hado Kyoikusha Co. Ltd © Hado Kyoikusha Co. Ltd Distilled water placed between two speakers playing heavy metal music for several hours Distilled water placed between two speakers playing Kawachi Folk dance for several hours Distilled water after love and appreciation Distilled water after © Hado Kyoikusha Co. Ltd © Hado Kyoikusha Co. Ltd © Hado Kyoikusha Co. Ltd
Mother Teresa Adolph Hitler These pictures show the affect of thoughts; music and words have on the cellular organization of water. Notice how positive aspects concentrate the light in each picture Consider making a donation at http://joeholmes.info
What if all God has to do to evaluate the purity of our heart is to look at the composition of our body? With this concept is it possible that we become our own judge. That our body cannot lie to God who can see all things therefore he may be able to classify us simply on who we are. This experiment suggests that no matter how impure our body is or was we can change it. We have the power to change our body, our heart and mind to become pure in heart. The music experiments show how water is affected by peaceful or negative music. The same applies to us with all our associations and relationships. If we associate with or frequent evil places we cannot avoid it affecting our entire body and mind. We cannot abuse our body with negative chemicals and avoid the negative effects on our body. Many in the world today teach that we can do anything we want and there are no consequences. The experiments with water provide scientific proof that this is not true and that we are affected. We cannot abuse any commandment or teaching of Jesus without it darkening our body and spirit. Likewise when we follow Christ we increase the light in our spirit and body. Matthew chapter five tells us we must let our light shine and not hide it. Chapter six compares our light to how we perceive things with our eye. If our eye sees evil our whole body will be of darkness. When Jesus was transfigured he shone as a light like the sun. Luke chapter one verse seventy-eight to eighty tells us Jesus gives us light. John chapter one verse four tells us Jesus is the light that shines in darkness and the world does not comprehend it. Numerous other scriptures teach that Jesus is light and gives to those who follow Him light. In Dr. Emoto’s experiments we see that when we incorporate good in our lives we increase our light. Or in other words when we follow Jesus we increase our light. The light of Jesus purifies our heart. Consider making a donation at http://joeholmes.info
Since there is an opposite of light if we want to have the light
of Jesus we must eliminate darkness. In our life Jesus is our electrical source and all we have to do is look to him. This means we forsake evil and follow His commandments and teachings. Lengthy explanations and discussions could be written on each of God’s commandments or instructions. With a few exceptions I will only outline them for your consideration and let you draw your own conclusions. I have purposely avoided specific Bible chapter and verse references and hope you will take the time to look them up and read them for yourselves. Outline of God’s Commandments and instructions. 1. Gods instructions to Man in the Garden of Eden Consider making a donation at http://joeholmes.info
Consider making a donation at http://joeholmes.info
Consider making a donation at http://joeholmes.info
There are numerous additional instructions given by the apostles and Christ throughout the Bible such as Peters question on how many times must we forgive another and Christ’s answer of seventy times seven. No commandment or instruction is given for God they are given for our benefit How we live and apply each commandment affects our cellular makeup like the water pictures in chapter four. For example when Christ tells us to forgive it is not for Him but to affect a change in our hearts. When a cement truck killed our eighteen-year-old daughter we could have been angry and hateful toward the driver. Instead all my family showed
A few months later a family we were acquainted with lost a baby from shaken baby syndrome at the hand of the young father. The entire family were frequently quoted and interviewed in the news expressing hate and demanding vengeance. They attended the court trials demanding the severest punishment possible. Unlike our experience they were distraught angry and had no peace or spiritual comfort. The terrible tragedy in the Amish community when the milkman
killed five schoolgirls in Each person has a choice to become bitter or to obtain peace through forgiveness. This is the example of God’s commandments being for us not for Him. When we choose anger we canker our heart and our cells become dark and depressed. When we choose to forgive we obtain light and peace as if the Heavens open and Christ sends us his love. Our application of every commandment brings light and love of God or turns it away and attracts darkness and anger. We choose to turn on or off the light switch to obtain light or the absence of light. No amount of rationalization or denial of God’s commandments can alter this outcome. It has been aptly said, “If we are farther from God today than we were yesterday, who moved?” Pure in heart means in our hearts we desire and are trying to live God’s commandments. No one but Christ will ever live a perfect life. We all fall short and have weaknesses. The difference is not just obedience but our attitude. When we are sincerely trying and want to follow Christ we are on the right track to obtaining a pure heart. Obviously trying will not make our heart pure but it is the essential process to do so. Jesus would not have instructed us to become perfect even as God is, if is impossible for us to do. It may take us years to accomplish but it is possible if we make Christ our partner. Consider making a donation at http://joeholmes.info
When Christ ascended into heaven he promised to send the Holy Ghost to comfort and teach man. John 14: 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: …26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Ephesians 1: 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The apostles and disciples received manifestations to direct them in where to go and where not to go. They were given inspiration by the Holy Ghost, which is also referred to as the Spirit as well as visions or dreams to tell them when and where to preach the Gospel of Christ. Acts 16: 6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the
region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach
the word in Asia, 7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed
to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. 8 And Some may say well that was then and was for the Apostles that God has shut the heavens and no longer speaks to man. God still speaks to man if and when he listens. Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: Romans 8: 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 1 Cor 3: 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1 Cor 2: 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually Consider making a donation at http://joeholmes.info
We have the promise that the Spirit of God dwells in us if we turn off the natural man and listen with a pure heart. As a child my mother taught my brothers and me a valuable lesson on how to turn off the natural man and listen to God with a pure heart. We lived in a rural area with a small alfalfa (hay) field. We played baseball especially the game of five hundred and one day we came into the house and complained to our mother that we had lost our ball in the alfalfa. She asked us if we had prayed and asked God to help us find the ball. She then taught us that we must not ask for help until we had done all we could on our own, that God seldom helps us when we can help ourselves. She explained that only after we had done all we could and given our best effort, were we entitled to pray to God to help us. We returned to the field and looked again then together we prayed
for help in locating our baseball. Immediately after our prayer
one of us turned and walked across the field bent down and picked
up the ball. Over the years as children we repeated this process
time after time. We learned that if we walked the wrong direction
we would not feel right about it I cannot tell how we knew what direction to walk and when to stop and pick up the ball I just know it worked. It would not work if we used a lot of mental energy, we simply had to be humble and child like in our faith in God to make it work. It seemed as if a small inner voice whispered to us with instructions on what to do. Later as adults my brothers have related similar experiences in their adult life of spiritual promptings. One brother is a truck driver and one day took one of two rout choices to get to his destination and felt the spirit tell him not to go that way today. He turned around and took the other rout. He never knew why and never learned of anything wrong with the first rout and has used it many times since. The wise and learned would scoff and count such feelings as foolishness. Indeed are not the attributes of the learned and wise what the Savior taught us to avoid. Did He not teach us to be like little children for thus is the Kingdom of Heaven. As I became an adult and studied the Lords instructions on prayer I compared it to my Mothers wisdom. I have learned that it is what the Lord meant when He said, “Ask, Seek and Knock.” Consider making a donation at http://joeholmes.info Matthew 7: 7 ¶ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? The Savior is saying in order to receive the Holy Spirit to answer
prayers we must do three things; These three steps mean we learn to apply them with a spiritual listening ear not the natural man. That God wants us to grow and will never give us a serpent. I like to compare this process to a child that asks their father
for a new sports car. A wise parent would never give the child
a new sports car until they are able to use it safely and without
spiritual harm. In the verse above when it says if he ask a fish,
will he give him a serpent is like the sports car. The wise parent
will wait for the right time to teach the child how to drive safely.
So it is in our prayers sometimes the best answer is no or wait
until we are ready. The wise parent even when the child becomes
a responsible youth would probably not give them a sporty car.
Rather they would let them use the family car to avoid giving
the youth more temptation than they are yet able to handle. So
it is with God We can and must learn to put off the natural man to obtain the
promised blessing of the This privilege is not given to the sinner but to those who develop a pure heart. With this great gift we can better discern between good and evil. With this gift we will be able to
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When Joseph who was sold in to Egypt revealed himself to his brothers he made an important revelation about how God works in our lives. Genesis 45: 4…And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom
ye sold into Egypt. 5 Consider this verse on how God gives to us for our best spiritual growth, not how man thinks. John 9: 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. God gives us challenges, thorns and thistles for our good so that we may develop attributes that manifest in us the works (glory) of God. In my years of research on the topic of success I have seen how the great philosophers and wise men of our day teach that if any calamity befalls us it is our fault. In a seminar an instructor said, “If we have an accident it is because we created it in our mind and we caused it to happen.” This is one of the terrible lies of the modern success philosophies that actually say there is no God. It says only man’s ingenuity or positive thinking leads to his success or failure. This philosophy is skillfully designed by the devil to keep us from understanding and trusting God. He uses it to confuse and mislead us to think we are responsible for everything. If we experience the thorns or thistles in life the devil tells us we are failures and causes us to become depressed and angry with ourselves. Or he wants us to blame God for the misfortune he Satan afflicted upon us. To others who worship him he lifts up with pride and tells them their great intellect created their success. This is all designed to convince man that there is no great eternal plan and to keep us from trusting God. As in the previous chapter we must overcome this natural man and trust God. It has been said that in the years that wells were dug for water that a mother gave to her young daughter a lunch with instructions to take it out to her father who was digging a well. As the child came to the deep well she looked down and all she could see was darkness. She called to her father who answered her and told her to throw the lunch down the well and he would catch it. He then called to her and said, “There is more here than I
This story illustrates the child’s trust in her father. She was able with that faith and trust to overcome the natural man tendencies we have as adults. Our trust of God is like this story. The child did not blindly jump as some may think. She knew her father and trusted him so implicitly that she had no doubt of his ability to catch her. She had other factors to help in her decision such as hearing her fathers voice and knowing he caught the lunch. If this father had ever abused his trust she certainly would not have jumped. If there had been others near with the natural man philosophies they would offer all the trite sayings of the unbelievers who do not trust God. God tells us we must become as little children in our faith and trust in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. We do not need to shut off our rationalization and ignore facts in life. We simply must not let things we feel by the spirit be dimmed by that which we cannot see. When we put off the natural man and seek the light of Christ we can obtain the Holy Spirit that can bridge the gap between what we cannot see and that which we feel in our heart. Trust means that no matter what we encounter we know there is a loving God who will some day provide our entrance into His Kingdom. Whether a child lives one day or is handicapped that it is all part of the great plan of God. The scriptures have recorded tragedies that caused great human suffering throughout all generations and still prophesy of even greater calamities. The devil and unbeliever would have us think that if God allows such calamities that there can be no God. Such lies deny the eternal nature of God who knows all things. God’s love bridges all pain and suffering and He promises peace and eternal life. Did not Jesus endure great tribulation and suffering both as an example and to perform His selfless act of transcending above all evil to bring us the gift of Eternal Life? The devil wantonly shouts he is the victor and that God is dead. Did Jesus choose a palace and robes of purple when he was born
or a humble stable to demonstrate to us that status in life is
not important? His supreme example and love will transcend all
evil and He will return as a glorious resurrected being. When
He comes he will destroy the wicked and embrace all who have pure
hearts. Only those who have forsaken evil and acquired spiritual
trust in Him our Redeemer will be alive to welcome His Glorious
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