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    SAMSON AND DELILAH

    SIN AND FORGIVENESS god-is-speaking-are-you-listening Blessings popular-bible-stories-and-more

    "SAMSON AND DELILAH" AUDIO BLOG

    Above Image: 1st Century mosaic showing a firebrand tied between two fox's tails.

    "    And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails." Judges 15:4-5
    The Birth of Samson

    ​Judges 13

    1     "And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.

    2 And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.

    3 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.

    4 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:

    5 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines."

    What is a "Nazarite unto God"? From biblestudy.org

    ​Quote: "Those desiring to take the vow of a Nazarite had to be willing to sacrifice certain aspects of their life for the duration of their pledge. They had to abstain entirely from wine or drinking anything with alcohol in it (Numbers 6:3, see also Amos 2:12). In fact, those who decided to dedicate themselves to God as a Nazarite had to abstain from eating any grapes or any product made from them like juice, raisins and so on.

    "Those who were under the vow could not shave any hair on their head (e.g. beard, mustache, eyebrows - Numbers 6:5, Judges 13:5, 16:17). This meant that those who promised to serve God in such a way were easily recognizable to other people, as they had long hair, bushy eyebrows, a long unkempt beard, etc.

    A Nazarite was not permitted to come near a corpse, even if it was from a close family member, so that they would not be rendered unclean (Numbers 6:6 - 7)." End quote.

    Samson Kills a Lion

    When Samson was older, he killed a lion with his bare hands; he used no weapon.

    "And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he rent him [the lion] as he would have rent a kid [goat], and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done." Judges 14:6

    It is significant that the scripture tells us he had nothing in his hand to kill the lion, so he killed it with his bare hands, meaning he touched a carcass, an unclean thing, an abomination.

    It is also significant that it tells us specifically that he withheld the information from his parents, who would surely have made him perform the customary rituals for cleansing after touching a dead animal.

    Later, Samson saw the same lion he had killed previously, and there was a beehive in the carcass. Samson scooped up the honey and ate it, and gave it to his mother and father to eat, and they ate it, being unaware that it came from a dead animal's body.

    "Or, if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase . . . and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty."

    Did Samson break his vow, and also cause his mother and father to sin as well? Clearly, they never repented of this sin, or performed the customary rituals to cleanse themselves, as is borne out by the subsequent life and death of Samson. 

    BLESSINGS AND CURSES

    Samson's first wife, a Philistine, was given away by his father-in-law to his friend. This enraged Samson, who burned down the Philistine corn (see image of 1st Century mosaic above). The Philistines retaliated by burning down Samson's wife and her family.

    Samson then judged the Israelites for some 20 years, before marrying Delilah, who tricked him for eleven hundred shekels of silver from each of the kings, who wanted to know the secret of Samson's strength so they could defeat him. Samson finally told Delilah his secret, that a razor had never touched his head; she told the kings, and then she let them shave Samson's head, while he was asleep on her lap.

    Samson became weak, and the Philistines captured him, put out both of his eyes, and put him in prison as a grinder, one who pushes the grinding or mill stones. Eventually, Samson brought down the building on the Philistine's heads. Quote: "    He perished in the last terrible destruction he brought upon his enemies. So the dead which he slew at his death were more [in social and political importance-the elite of the people] than they which he slew in his life. Straining all his nerves, he bowed: As with the force of winds and waters pent, When mountains tremble, those two massy pillars, with horrible convulsion to and fro he tugged, he shook, till down they came, and drew the whole roof after them, with burst of thunder upon the heads of all who sat beneath, Lords, ladies, captains, counsellors, or priests, their choice nobility and flower." End Quote. From kingjamesbibleonline.org.

    Can you see how Samson was cursed as soon as he disobeyed the angel of the LORD, who represents God's Will?

    God's Word is alive and active and powerful, and it is for us, to receive His blessings! Read it, meditate on it day and night, get it down on the inside of you, into your heart, so that the wiles of the devil cannot not take away your blessings. The devil can test us all day, every day, and if he sees a weakness in us, he will, a weakness in our armor, where God's Word is not protecting us.

    Psalm 119:11 says it best: "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."

    I mean, it cannot be any clearer than that. Hide God's Word in your heart so that you do not sin against Him. Make sure that when the devil tests you, your first response is from God, righteous, morally upright, with love, mercy and compassion for all mankind, especially your brothers and sisters in Christ. 

    Remember, Jesus said Love your neighbor as yourself Matthew 22:39, and Love not the world neither the things in it at 1 John 2:

    15 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

    16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

    17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

    He that does the will of God, obeys God, and is blessed.

    There is redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ. Do not be like Samson, Cain, and so many others in the Bible. Many received blessings, great blessings, and also received curses for their disobedience.

    Samson was blessed with strength, but he did not obey God, and he was greatly cursed as well.

    Repent. Jesus said, "Change your hearts, and show by the way you live that you have changed." Matthew 3:8

    Praise God. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.

    ​
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    THE MAN AND THE STICKS

    SIN AND FORGIVENESS god-is-speaking-are-you-listening God's Plan popular-bible-stories-and-more Revelations from God

    "THE MAN AND THE STICKS" AUDIO BLOG

    1 Corinthians 10:11 ​"Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come."
    This morning, the meaning of Numbers 15:32-36 below became clear to me. I have to admit that this Scripture has always bugged me. Why would a God of love and light do such a thing?

    I even told our Pastor at one point, "Not. My. God." God bless Pastor David. He has the patience of a saint (as we all should). Of course, I was missing the bigger picture, God's picture.

    Numbers 15

    ​32 "And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.

    33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.

    34 And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.

    35 And the Lord said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.

    36 And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the Lord commanded Moses."

    ​We feel bad for one man (I know I did), because it seems that all he wanted to do was build a fire to cook food, but that is what our eyes see, the man's outward appearance. God looks at our hearts.

    "But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

    Or as Jesus said at John 7:24, "    Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." In other words, judge on integrity and godliness.

    This blog is not easy to write, but does that mean we should not write it, or speak the truth? The fact is, no matter what some church leaders are teaching their congregations, God never promises a good time for bad people: For o    ur God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:29. 

    Remember Noah and the Ark (click for scripture), when only eight people remained to repopulate the earth? 

    Or, Sodom and Gomorrah (click for scripture), when God destroyed the cities and everyone in them, because He could not find 10 righteous men, women or children among all of the inhabitants?

    "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to day and for ever." ​Hebrews 13:8. And, although we are special, a chosen generation, we are not THAT special that God will overlook our flagrant, in-His-face sin. He will not.

    1 Corinthians 10

    ​1     "    Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

    2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

    3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

    4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

    5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

    6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

    7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

    8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

    9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

    10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

    11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come."
    But, they didn't have a book that warned them like we have. There is a darkness coming, a dark silence. Will you be on God's boat?

    Repent, turn away from sin, and turn back to God. Praise God. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.

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    SATANCON

    PRAYER SIN AND FORGIVENESS THE HOLY SPIRIT god-is-speaking-are-you-listening

    "SATANCON" AUDIO BLOG

    Calling All Prayer Warriors
    ​
    Roar, like the Lion of Judah!
    Revelation 5

    5 "    And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

    6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth."

    Jesus Christ, from the lamb who was slain to the conqueror who saves. He teaches us the Power of God's Love, God's Word, and Prayer. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.
    Can you name one good thing about Satan? I can. One good thing is that if people believe in Satan, then they must also believe in God, because men that follow darkness hate the light. You cannot hate something unless you believe in it. If they believe in the light, then there is always hope that they will turn back to it:

    John 3

    19 "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

    20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

    21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."

    The Satanic Temple, with its international headquarters in Salem, Massachusetts, is holding its annual convention, called SatanCon, in Boston on April 28, 29 and 30, 2023. There will be satanic rituals, costumes, souvenirs, and toys for the children, all with a satanic theme. This is a sold-out event!

    What can you do about it? What can one person do? For starters, pray fervently, without ceasing. I know as soon as some people read that sentence, they will stop reading this, or turn off the video. They think, Prayer is not for me. Prayer is for other people. My life has been just fine without prayer. God is not listening to me. That one time, I prayed, He did nothing to help me. He doesn't care about my prayers.

    These are not words that God, the Father, has instilled in your heart. These are things that Satan has whispered in your ear: I can't. I'm not good enough. Someone else will do it.

    There is no one else to do it. There is only us, God's Children, His Chosen, His Warriors. If you have ever thought about praying, but never started, don't know where to start, now is the time. God does not care about your grammar. He cares about your heart.

    How To Pray Effectively (so God will hear your prayers)

    Believe. Accept God, His Holy Spirit, and His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Cleanse your heart by repenting. How do you do that? Cry out to God. Let's bow our heads and pray for that right now. Say this prayer out loud, right now:

    Heavenly Father, thank you for Your many blessings in my life. Thank you for forgiving me of my sin. I repent of the sin in my life, and I turn away from it. I surrender to you in full obedience. I believe with all my heart that Jesus Christ is Your only begotten Son, who died on the cross for my sins. I believe you raised Him from the dead, and that He now sits on the throne, at Your right hand, in heaven. I accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior, now and forever more. Amen.

    Now that you have repented of the sin in your life and accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, open the communication airways with God right now by standing up, yes, actually do it, stand up, raise your hands in the air like you just don't care, and cry out: All Glory, Honor, Praise and Thanksgiving to God Most High, the Living God, the God of the Living, whatever you call Him, God, the Father. Again, keep your hands in the air and say, All Glory, All Honor, All Praise and All Thanksgiving to the One True God. Hallelujah. Praise God. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.

    And watch God's Holy Spirit come fill you with His glory right where you are standing.

    Now that you have opened the communication airwaves, begin to pray. Pray for God's Spirit to rain down on SatanCon, filling the hearts, souls and minds of those attending the convention with the love of the Father and His son, Jesus Christ. Pray for a Spiritual revival right there at the convention, amongst the attendees, something that the news will have no choice but to report. Pray for an awakening of God's children, to be called out of the darkness into His marvellous light. 1 Peter 2:9

    The biggest confusion for me about prayer was that I thought I just needed to pray for something one time, and, then, when God got around to it, and if it was His Will, He would answer my prayer. This is not how prayer works. Prayer is not a "one and done" deal. God's Word is alive, and His Word says, Pray without ceasing (without stopping). 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Pray until your prayers are answered.

    To help combat these demonic forces ascending on Boston April 28 through 30, many churches are holding prayer vigils. Our church Living Waters Assembly of God, 450 Davis Street, Greenfield, MA, will be having a prayer and fasting vigil April 28 and April 29, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and April 30, the chapel will remain open after Sunday morning worship service as long as people are praying.

    Fasting is another element of God's Power for men on earth. As Jesus tells us, there are some demons that can only be cast out with prayer and fasting. Matthew 17:21. If you are taking medication, or have health concerns, please consult your doctors before fasting.

    If you attend a church, encourage them to hold a prayer vigil for this important prayer call. If you do not attend church, find one that is having a prayer vigil, and attend it as much as you are able. If that is not for you, then pray at home, pray with your family and friends. Jesus says, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20

    We pray that you will join us in crushing Satan's head at SatanCon April 28 through 30. We do not need to wait until then to pray about it. Start praying now. Pray fervently (with intensity in spirit, enthusiastically). Pray without ceasing (without stopping).

    They will try to hide the Spiritual Revival that will take place, but they will be unable to silence it. It will roar like the lion of Judah!

    Praise God. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.

    God bless you all.

  • Published on

    THE TWO WITNESSES

    SIN AND FORGIVENESS god-is-speaking-are-you-listening God's Plan Revelations from God

    "THE TWO WITNESSES" AUDIO BLOG

     
    Is man ready for God's End Times? One of the biggest eye openers for me that I might not be quite ready was when I read the account of the Two Witnesses in Revelation 11. It seems no one will turn back to God in the end.

    Why did Jesus tell us to love our neighbors as ourselves? Was it just so the world could be all Kumbaya and live in peace and love? Of course, that is part of it, but if we do not love our neighbors now, we will not be ready for God's End Times.

    If there is one scripture in God's Holy Word worth remembering, it is Revelation 11 and the Two Witnesses:

    Revelation 11

    1 "And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

    2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

    3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

    4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

    5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

    6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

    7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

    8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

    9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

    10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

    11 And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

    12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

    13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

    14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly."

    Would you be ready if the Two Witnesses came today? We all can and should be ready. Just as the Two Witnesses is one scripture that may reveal to us that we have no clue about the End Times, there are also a couple of passages from Jesus that will make sure we are ready for them, if we listen to Him:

    "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;" Matthew 5:44

    If we "do everything in love, as" 1 Corinthians 16:14, tells us to, we will fulfill all the law and the prophets, because as Jesus said, Loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself are the two greatest commandments.

    Now, it is commonly-accepted belief that the Two Witnesses come during the seven-year tribulation Daniel 9:24-27, which is good news for Christians, because that means we will have already been caught up together in the clouds with Jesus 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, and will not have to be tested in this way.
     
    And, they shall not suffer their bodies [that is, the Two Witnesses] to be buried: "    And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them." Revelation 11:11

    Love God, and love your neighbor as yourself, so that you are not left on earth when God's Two Witnesses unleash His wrath. Read God's Word and store it in your heart so that you do not sin against Him.  Psalm 119:10-12. Pray for understanding.

    Repent. Forgive and pray for forgiveness. Pray for the love of God in all of His children, and all men, and for the peace that passes all understanding.

    Don't be the one who waits to see Him coming on the clouds before you believe in Him. It may be too late then.

    Follow along and say this Prayer of Salvation to accept Jesus Christ as your savior:

    Dear God. Thank you for loving me. I repent of the sin in my life, and turn to You in full obedience. I believe that Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, died on the cross for my sins. I believe that you raised Him from the dead, and that He now sits on the throne at Your right hand. I love and accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior, now and forever more. Amen.

    ​Peace and blessings, Melanie


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    ENTITLED

    LOVE SIN AND FORGIVENESS god-is-speaking-are-you-listening

    "ENTITLED" AUDIO BLOG


    Why does it seem like everyone is offended by everything? I mean, they cancelled Mr. Potato Head! What's up with that?

    The feeling or emotion of being offended comes from self-pride, or, in this instance, a sense of entitlement, and fear, lack, doubt, unbelief, all things Satan instills in us. "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7

    Entitlement . If you think about it, man is really only "entitled" to one thing, and that is the breath of life breathed into his nostrils: "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."     Genesis 2:7

    And that, only as long as God allows: "And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done." Revelation 16:17

    No one understands the Bible completely. That is why there are many commentaries and opinions on many passages. But God ... But everything He created is very good. "And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good." Genesis 1:31

    I read this morning that they are removing Jefferson statues (somewhere in the United States) because he owned slaves. Do you see what they are doing there? Will they remove the Bible next because they owned slaves? 

    God takes the evil imaginations of men (and demons, spiritual wickedness in high places Ephesians 6:12) trying to harm us, and turns them to our good. Satan always loses. As Joseph told his brothers, after they threw him into a pit to die, and then he was sold into slavery in Egypt, and became second in command to the Pharaoh: "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." Genesis 50:20. Because, of course, as we know, decades later, Joseph saved his brothers and their families, and many people, from a grievous famine in the land.

    God has nothing but thoughts of peace toward us. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jeremiah 29:11

    And God's final act mercy for man was sending His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins.

    "But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

    He gives us good and perfect gifts from heaven above:

    "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17

    And, "We love him, because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19

    Hallelujah to the Lamb of God. Praise God. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.


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    FORNICATION IS A SIN

    SIN AND FORGIVENESS god-is-speaking-are-you-listening God's Plan Revelations from God
    "FORNICATION IS A SIN" AUDIO BLOG

    SIN NO MORE

    "All unrighteousness is sin..." 1 John 5:17
    Heavenly Father, thank you for Your many blessings in our lives. Thank You for Your Word, Your Spirit and Your Son. Bless your children. Bless the world. In Jesus' Mighty Name. Amen.
     
    God has shown me that there is a time coming soon when people en masse around the world will be crying out, LIARS, LIARS, LIARS, at the fake news. There will be     great celebrations, and weeping and gnashing of teeth. He has shown me that, It Is Happening, now. What is "It"? God’s Will, His Plan. His timeline in this event of His Plan. He is shining His Light, shaking the earth, waking up His children, and exposing the darkness.

    Isaiah 42:16 "And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them."
     
    God is waking up the lost, and the believers, with a Spiritual Revival, and that Spiritual Revival is inside me, and each and every one of you.
     
    We are the Light of God. He is the head, and we are the body; the head tells the body what to do, and the body does it. God gives us good things, so that we are free to serve Him, serve His lost, needy and weary children, all to His great Glory.
     
    Sometime around January 2021 God put heavy on my heart a lack of concern by Christians, and especially "holy people," regarding fornication, also known as premarital sex, or sex between two people who are not married.
     
    Apostle Paul preached in Corinth, where they were well-known for having many prostitutes, and the people worshipped false gods. Some of the people of Corinth were Christians, who thought these things were acceptable, and practiced them freely. Apostle Paul tells them, and us, at 1 Corinthians 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.”
     
    Our bodies are holy, sanctified, made free of guilt and sin through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and we ought not to defile them with sexual immorality. Amen?
     
    In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul tells them to “Flee fornication:”

    verse 18 "Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body."
     
    So, Flee fornication. Run don’t walk. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Amen?
     
    More importantly, “he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body." We already read in 1 Corinthians 3:16 that our body is not our own; our body is the temple of God, who indwells inside of us, so when we commit fornication, we are sinning against God’s temple. If we strive for God’s blessings, then we need to remember His curses as well.
     
    At 1 Corinthians 7, Paul goes on further to press his point about fornication, or sex outside of marriage. 1 Corinthians 7:8-9.

    verse 8 "I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn."
     
    I have read before that the “burn” Apostle Paul is referring to here is a “burning passion,” which I never really understood, because it is not consistent with the remainder of God’s Word, which clearly says that fornication is a sin:
     
    1 Corinthians 6
     
    12 “Everything is permissible for me, but not all things are beneficial. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything [and brought under its power, allowing it to control me].”
     
    Everything is permissible for me. In other words, I have free will. But even if I can do it, should I? Does it benefit me, other than immediate gratification? We have become a society, a world, of instant gratification, have we not? I have free will, but I will not let it enslave or control me; I will let God’s Will and God’s power control me. Amen!
     
    Continuing with 1 Corinthians 6:13 “Food is for the stomach and the stomach for food, but God will do away with both of them. The body is not intended for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body [to save, sanctify, and raise it again because of the sacrifice of the cross].” Amen.
     
    There are many informative commentaries and opinions on what this scripture means. I’m going to quote an excerpt from biblehub.com, from the commentary by Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges:
     
    Quote: Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats.] Meat is a necessity for our present undeveloped life; in the world where hunger and thirst will be no more it will no longer be so. And therefore both it, and the organs formed to digest food will be no longer wanted.

    Continuing with the Quote: Now the body is not for fornication] St Paul is led, by the importance he attaches to this point, to treat it first. The abominable licentiousness, or sexually unrestrained acts, of heathen cities in general, and of Corinth in particular had led to a general conviction that the body was for fornication. St Paul contradicts this, and most emphatically proclaims that fornication is distinctly in itself an unlawful act, contrary to the laws laid down by God for man, and calculated to deprive men of the blessings of the Resurrection.” End Quote.

    Let me just repeat that part: “Fornication is distinctly in itself an unlawful act, calculated to deprive men of the blessings of the Resurrection.” Ouch!
     
    But our God is good and merciful, and just to forgive if we ask and turn our hearts over to Him. He wants ALL men (and women) to return to Him and be healed, and receive eternal Life. Amen? He is giving us time, and making it really easy for us to see the evil around us, and to listen to Him, hear Him, obey Him, and choose Him, God, the Father, and His only begotten son, Jesus Christ. Hallelujah! Praise God. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.

    In Romans 1, Paul also preached God's Word to the Romans, about why terrible things came upon them:

    Romans 1

    25 "Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

    26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

    27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. [or just]

    28 And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate [morally unprincipled] mind, to do those things which are not convenient;”
     
    That is a lot of powerful words right there, words that are alive: Retain God in our knowledge, obey God, or be turned over to a morally unprincipled mind.
     
    Recently, I came to an important realization. What sets Christians apart from the world is not that we love everyone, and God’s Light shines through us. Yes, that is wonderful and true. But, no, what sets us apart is the “morally principled mind” that is instilled in us from God’s Word.
     
    Morals, a moral compass, knowing the difference between right and wrong, are things that many of us take for granted, and we just assume all people have, or most people; I know I did until recently, while chatting with someone online, in the comment section of an online video, they asked me what gave me the right to say that abortion is wrong?
     
    I replied, Common sense; morals: knowing the difference between right and wrong, the Bible gives me my rights, the death and resurrection of God’s only begotten son, Jesus Christ, gives me my rights. And, the other person responded with, Morals are a matter of perspective!     You can read that blog, "Delight God Today," by clicking here.
     
    Morals are a matter of perspective! THIS is what we are seeing play out around us. You know, I read an article some time ago that said that only 13% of children today know who God is compared to 58% sixty years ago when they removed Him from our schools. This also happens to be when the Big Bang Theory and evolution were proposed. So, not only did they remove God from schools, but they tried to remove Him from our hearts as well.
     
    Thirteen percent of our children are being raised with morals, knowing right from wrong. The line is drawn between right and wrong, good and evil, God and Satan. Choose God because God wins, and He is coming back to the world, back to our nation, back to our schools, and back to our hearts. Amen.
     
    How He is coming back is through shakings, signs and wonders and smoking vapor happening all around us, but also, He is coming back through us, through His Children, His Warriors standing up and speaking out, proclaiming God is the Father and Jesus Christ is our king of Kings and Lord of Lords. It is time to speak out about these hard truths, because the time for the lukewarm Christian has passed. We can no longer be complacent. It is time to awaken from our sleep of spiritual complacency.
     
    So, fornication is a sin, and with sin comes curses and death. God said in Deuteronomy 23:2 "A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the Lord."

    The definition of a “bastard” is a person born to parents not married to each other, or through fornication. Again, these are not just words. I mean, God gave us marriage so we could avoid fornication, so we could avoid sinning against our own bodies, defiling His temple, and also avoid cursing our own future generations to come.

    At 1 John 1, God gave us the Good News about sin, about being forgiven: 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This includes fornication, and bastards. If we repent and pray for forgiveness, God will not forsake us. Hallelujah. Amen.

    In Luke 13, Jesus tells them explicitly that confessing our sins does not mean we continue to willfully sin. Jesus says at Luke 13:3 "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." 

    I emphasize these concepts mostly because they were difficult concepts for me to understand, so I assume others may struggle with them as well. It took me a while to understand that to “repent” and to ask for forgiveness are two entirely different things. To repent is to "turn away from.” In other words, to sin NO MORE. To live our lives as our forefathers, the apostles, Jesus Christ himself did, righteously, in obedience to and with all glory and praise to God, the Father. Amen.

    In contrast, asking God for forgiveness is telling Him that we know we have sinned, and asking for forgiveness of those sins.
     
    And, so, we put the two together, repentance, turning away from sin and turning to God, in obedience, changing our hearts and showing by the way we live that we have changed, and, also, confessing to God the sins of our lives, and asking Him for forgiveness of those sins. And, most importantly, trying with everything humanly possible inside of us not to commit the same sins again tomorrow. Amen? Amen.


    At John 5:8, Jesus literally said, Sin No More.
     
    He didn’t say, “Hey man, you’re forgiven forever, no matter what you do. No problem, keep on sinning.” Nope. He said, Sin No More!
     
    John 5:14 "Afterward Jesus finds him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, you are made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing befall you." 
     
    Hmm. Sin no more lest a worse thing befall you. That is so sad, because people cannot understand what is going on in their lives. Sin no more lest a worse thing befall you. These are not just words. God provides blessings and curses. Amen.
     
    And, in John 8:11 “She answered, ‘No one, Lord!’ And Jesus said, ‘I do not condemn you either. Go. From now on sin no more.’”
     
    God does not let things happen. Adam and Eve made this choice for us, and now we have a choice to choose God or satan, good or evil. Amen?

    Jesus gave many examples of people who claimed to be righteous. Luke 13 is one such instance, from the Amplified Bible 
     
    1 “Just at that time some people came who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate [the governor] had mixed with their sacrifices.

    2 Jesus replied to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans because they have suffered in this way? 

    3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways and live changed lives], you will all likewise perish. 

    4 Or do you assume that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed were worse sinners than all the others who live in Jerusalem? 

    5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways and live changed lives], you will all likewise perish.”

    Now, some Historians note that the Galileans in verse 1 were probably at the Temple offering sacrifices, when Roman Governor Pilate’s soldiers came through and killed them all at the sacrificial altars, and mingled their blood with the slain lambs’ blood at the altars. Pilate wanted more money from the Temple treasury, but the Jews refused, so Pilate sent men dressed as citizens, and armed with daggers, into the crowds, demanding money, and killing whomever resisted.
     
    The Jews who were reporting this to Jesus in verse 1 were implying that they were better than the Galileans because they did not die like that.
     
    Notice that Jesus, in His response to them, repeats verse 3 at verse 5, showing a sense of urgency: "I tell you, no; but unless you repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways and live changed lives], you will all likewise perish.” 

    Jesus’ answer shows that the Jews who told Him about the Galileans believed that God had permitted them to be killed due to their sins. Jesus was letting them know, in no uncertain terms, that those who died were not necessarily greater sinners, but rather the Jews should themselves repent, turn away from sin, and turn to God, and that if they did not repent, they would all perish as well.
     
    Continuing with Luke 13:6, The Parable of the Fig Tree:

    6 “Then He began telling them this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree that had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it, but did not find any;

    7 so he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and have found none. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground [depleting the soil and blocking the sunlight]?’

    8 But he replied to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, [just] one more year until I dig around it and put in fertilizer;

    9 and if it bears fruit after this, fine; but if not, cut it down.’”


    There are a lot of commentaries and opinions about whom the fig tree and the vineyard represent in Luke 13:6, so let’s focus on what we do know from the parable.
     
    It seems as though it is not as important whom the fig tree and the vineyard represent, as it is what God expects from them: In Luke 13:7, God is looking for fruit on the trees. Surely, He will do the same with His vineyard. He has given us a season to change our lives (repent), before the trees that do not produce fruit are cut down. We can see this happening around the world now; the Harvest Has Begun.
     
    But, now, let’s look at Romans 14, to see what kind of fruit God is looking for on His trees and vines:
     
    Romans 14 from the Amplified Bible


    6 “He will pay back to each person according to his deeds [justly, as his deeds deserve]: 

    7 to those who by persistence in doing good seek [unseen but certain heavenly] glory, honor, and immortality, [He will give the gift of] eternal life.

    8 But for those who are selfishly ambitious and self-seeking and disobedient to the truth but responsive to wickedness, [there will be] wrath and indignation.

    9 There will be tribulation and anguish [torturing confinement] for every human soul who does [or permits] evil, to the Jew first and also to the Greek [or Gentiles],

    10 but glory and honor and inner peace [will be given] to everyone who habitually does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek [Gentiles].

    11 For God shows no partiality [no arbitrary favoritism; with Him one person is not more important than another]."
     
    So, we can see that those who seek to do good, and sow seeds of righteousness, will receive eternal life, but those who are responsive to wickedness will be subjected to tribulation and anguish. Jesus is not coming back to bring peace; He is coming to bring a sword of division.


    I quote this next scripture a lot because I think it says a lot. Jesus tells us many times how to avoid the tribulation and anguish described to come for those who sow wickedness.
     
    Matthew 3 from the Amplified Bible, verse 8 "Change your hearts! [repent] And show by the way you live that you have changed.

    verse 9 I know what you are thinking. You want to say, ‘but Abraham is our father!’ That means nothing. I tell you, God could make children for Abraham from these rocks.
    ​
    and, verse 10 The ax is now ready to cut down the trees. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."
     
    Again, He is cutting down the trees that do not produce good fruit. So, sin No More! Produce good fruit, or get cut down. Blessings and curses. The choice is really easy. Amen?

    Almost all of God’s words to me over the last few years have been along the same line: Repentance, obeying God, accepting Jesus Christ, Judgment, reaping what we sow, and the Harvest. I mean, that’s pretty much the sum total of God’s Word to us in the Bible. Obey or perish. I really cannot understand how anyone could teach differently, or believe differently. His Word is crystal clear on that subject. Obey or perish. We are special because He gave us His Spirit, His Word, His Son. Amen.

    God has been putting a lot on my heart in the last few years. Although it may feel like nothing is happening, that He has forsaken us, that this is the new normal, God has shown me if repent, turn away from sin, and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, God WILL give us love, power and a sound mind, and no poison darts from hell will be able to touch us.
     
    God gave us His Spirit, His Word, and His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, so that we can overcome this evil world, as Jesus overcame it, and receive life everlasting.

    He has not forsaken us; He will never forsake us. This is not the new normal. There will be much weeping and gnashing of teeth for people who refuse the Good News of God, and much more celebration for God’s Children.


    In Psalm 37, we see that God's children, believers in the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which gave us the New Covenant, will not fear the evildoers:

    Psalm 37 verses 1 through 6

    1 "Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

    2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

    3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

    4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

    5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

    6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday."
     
    Look, I know it is hard to see any good in what is happening around us, or in people perishing, but if we are in God’s Word, reading it, storing it in our hearts, then we will know why these things are happening, and that His children will be protected if they repent. THAT is what His Word tells us, repeatedly. He never promises a good time for bad people.
     
    So, we are the people who have faith and are saved. Hallelujah! Amen. God said previously that we have been in a Spiritual War, but, also, that He won, as he always does. Satan will never win, and like the Egyptians at the red sea, the time is at hand for God's judgment upon the wicked.  
     
    Hebrews 10 from an easy-to-read Bible:
     
    35 "So don’t lose the courage that you had in the past. Your courage will be rewarded richly.

    36 You must be patient. After you have done what God wants, you will get what he promised you.

    37 He says,

    'Very soon now, the one who is coming
        will come and will not be late.

    38 The person who is right with me
        will live by trusting in me.

    But I will not be pleased with the one
        who turns back in fear.'

    39 But we are not those who turn back and are lost. No, we are the people who have faith and are saved."

    Listen, JUDGMENT IS NIGH, BUT "THE END IS NOT YET"
     
    Finally, Isaiah. I think Isaiah is one of God’s greatest prophets. He came into his calling as a prophet when he prophesied the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, some 700 years before Jesus’ birth. I mean, the bible is amazing, right?
     
    So, God is calling? Are YOU answering? If not, God says, at Isaiah 66:4 “I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.” 

    Delight God today, for tomorrow is not promised. 
     
    Let’s bow our heads and pray: This prayer is from the Bible, Psalm 51 verses 1 through 19, because no one can say it better than God:


    Heavenly, Father, thank you for our many blessings.
     
    Psalm 51

    1 “Have mercy upon us, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out our transgressions.

    2 Wash us throughly from our iniquity, and cleanse us from our sin.

    3 For we acknowledge our transgressions: and our sin is ever before us.

    4 Against thee, thee only, have we sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

    5 Behold, we were shapen in iniquity; and in sin did our mothers conceive us.

    6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make us to know wisdom.

    7 Purge us with hyssop, and we shall be clean: wash us, and we shall be whiter than snow.

    8 Make us to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

    9 Hide thy face from our sins, and blot out all our iniquities.

    10 Create in us a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within us.

    11 Cast us not away from thy presence; and take not your holy spirit from us.

    12 Restore unto us the joy of thy salvation; and uphold us with your free spirit.

    13 Then will we teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

    14 Deliver us from blood guiltiness, O God, thou God of our salvation: and our tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

    15 O Lord, open thou our lips; and our mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

    16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would we give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

    17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”

    ​Hallelujah! Praise God! In Jesus’ Mighty Name. Amen.