Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5)

Again, the Greek word for blessed (i.e., makarios) used here has a meaning of being fortunate, prosperous or successful. That is, successful are those that meek! Why? What is it to be  meek? First of all, to be MEEK does NOT mean to me WEAK! Rather meekness is strength under control. Picture a  feral horse (i.e., a mustang)  that expends its great strength by running the fields yet accomplishes little to nothing in the way of work. However, if that same horse is "tamed",  "broken" or "meeked" then that same great strength - that is now under control - can be utilized to accomplish much work for its master!

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted (Matthew 5:4)

The Greek word for blessed (i.e., makarios) used here has a meaning of being fortunate, prosperous or successful. That is, successful are those that mourn! Why? When do we mourn? Mourning is the proper reaction to the loss of something considered precious and dear... something or someone that we loved. This may the loss of a loved one, loss of plans for marriage due to unrequited love, loss of plans for your children's future as they become rebellious, or loss of career opportunities while being sidetracked in your place of employment for decades thus effectively wasting your working life, etc. Furthermore, mourning is part of the natural progression as we move through the stages of grief.

Understanding the Bible promises us that the fallen world we live in, where evil is called good and good is called evil (1), will never become better but rather become worse and worse until it is replaced (1) - how then should we live? To answer hard questions like this we should always look to the one that came to Earth to show us the way - Jesus Christ! (John 14:6) What did Jesus say and do when He started His Earthly ministry at the age of thirty? (Luke 3:21-23) Recall, He started His approximately three year long Earthly ministry in a time when Rome ruled with its brutality, hedonism, and worship of false gods. A time not unlike today... and our world will only become increasingly worse in the not so distant future (2 Timothy 3:1. Hebrews 1:1,2. 2 Peter 3:3,4).

The preceding blogs on the Ten Commandments(1) have precisely articulated how God expects us to live; nevertheless, we have as individuals and as a nation have largely chosen to say "no thanks" to God's offer of rescue from the bondage of sin, its destruction in our lives while on Earth and its promise of eternal death after we die thus identifying with the Biblical definition of a fool (Psalms 14:1). Nevertheless, God so loved the world, even in its despicable fallen state, so much that He sent His unique son to provide a way back to Himself (John 3:16,17. Romans 5:8. 1 Corinthians 15:3,4). However, we have failed to see that if we do not accept God's offer of salvation by His Son Jesus Christ then we are already condemned regardless of how good we are living in this life (John 3:18-20. John 12:46-48. Revelations 20:11-15). If You Can't Say Amen, Say Oh Me!

The First Commandment states that we are not to have any God other than the one true God (Exodus 20:3). You may say that you have not violated this commandment for you believe that Jesus Christ is God.  Well, so do the demons and they tremble in fear of Him (James 2:19. Acts 19:15). Do you know Jesus as Lord(1) or do you just know of Him like the demons? Do you show your love for Him by keeping His commandments (John 14:15,21) or do you say He is your Lord, even going to church on Sunday, but live like you are god the rest of the week? (Ezekiel 33:31,32. Luke 6:46) Is your love for Him so great that by comparison you hate (i.e., you are willing to be infinitely separated from) your spouse, children, parents, job, wealth, pleasure, etc. (Luke 14:26) If You Can't Say Amen, Say Oh Me!

The Second Commandment states that we are not to make, bow to or serve images created to represent God (i.e., an idol) (Exodus 20:4-6). You may say that you not violated this commandment for you have no images that you worship.  However, recall from Commandment Number Ten(1) that covetousness or greed is a form of idolatry (Colossians 3:5). That is, anything that we desire or value more than the one true God becomes an idol to us! Consequently, this means even good things can become idols if we value them more than God. So, do you have any idols in your life? If You Can't Say Amen, Say Oh Me!

The Third Commandment states that we are not to use the name of the Lord in vain (Exodus 20:7). To use the Lord's name in vain is to use it flippantly (i.e., to take it lightly without thinking), profanely (i.e., to treat God whose name is holy with irreverence) or deceitfully (i.e., to be dishonest in invoking the name of God). For example, a very popular saying today is the seemingly innocent expression "Oh My God" (OMG) which is said by many without realizing they are flippantly (i.e., vainly) using God's name. Others ask God to condemn or damn something by use of the infamous GD combination thus profaning His name (more on why this is so egregious latter in this article). And still others praise God while in church on Sunday but then live hedonistically the rest of the week thus deceitfully (and hypocritically (1)) using the name of God! So, have you ever used the Lord's name in vain? If You Can't Say Amen, Say Oh Me!

The Fourth Commandment states that we are to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy (Exodus 20:8-11). To keep something holy simply means to set it apart (Leviticus 20:26). That is, on  the Sabbath we are to cease from the things that we do the other six days of the week and rather do things that bring glory and honor to God. So, have you set apart one day of the week where you cease doing your normal routines and rather spend time honoring God? If You Can't Say Amen, Say Oh Me!

The Fifth Commandment states that we are to honor our father and mother in order that our days may be long in the land that God has given us (Exodus 20:12). This is the first of God's commandments to contain a promise (Ephesians 6:2,3). To "honor" in the original Hebrew language includes the qualities of love, affection, gratitude, obedience and respect.  It is through honoring our parents that we first learn to honor all that are in authority over us. If children do not learn to honor their parents then they will likely not honor any in authority. Are you ensuring that your children honor their parents so that they will grow up honoring the law of the land? (Proverbs 30:11-14)  If You Can't Say Amen, Say Oh Me!

The Sixth Commandment states that we are not to murder  (Exodus 20:13). To murder is the intentional killing of a human being under the wrong motives and circumstances which includes taking of your own life (i.e., suicide) or that of a baby while in the mother (i.e., abortion anytime after conception). This does not include the killing of humans in self defense, national defense (e.g., war), capital punishment (Genesis 9:6), or unintentional killing of a human (Numbers 35:11) . Furthermore, it does not include the killing of animals for food or clothing, etc.  While many of us would say that they have never committed murder; nevertheless, the Bible states that if you hate including practicing prejudice towards another then you are already a murderer (1 John 3:15. Matthew 5:21,22. James 2:1-13). If You Can't Say Amen, Say Oh Me! 

The Seventh Commandment states that we are not to commit adultery (Exodus 20:14). When God made the first man Adam He saw that it was not good for him to be without a companion (1) (Genesis 2:18). However, no animal was worthy to be called the helpmate or wife of man (Genesis 2:20). Therefore, God put the first man Adam to sleep and from his side took cells from which he made woman and Adam named her Eve (Genesis 2:21-23. Genesis 3:20). This is the pattern for the nuclear family on Earth - one male and one female united for life (Genesis 2:24). Not two males nor two females - again, the pattern was Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve or Eve and Louise! Consequently, the phrase "same-sex marriage" is an oxymoron.

The Eighth Commandment states that we are not to steal (Exodus 20:15). You may say I have not robbed a bank or held a person up; therefore, I am not guilty of breaking this commandment. Have you ever misrepresented your time on a timesheet, taken supplies from work, cheated on your taxes, not reported being undercharged, or published another's work without giving them credit, etc? (1 Peter 4:15) If You Can't Say Amen, Say Oh Me!

The Ninth Commandment states that we are not to lie (Exodus 20:16). Lying is one of the six things that God hates (Proverbs 6:16-19. Proverbs 12:22). To lie is to NOT speak the truth typically with the intent to deceive. This includes: slander which is the spreading of false reports to destroy the reputation of others; gossip which is the spreading of reports of things not validated to be true (i.e., rumors); perjury which is the swearing of an oath to things that are not true, exaggeration which is stretching the truth typically due to PRIDE and being hypocritical which is living a life that is a lie (1 John 1:6. 1 John 2:21), etc. So you say that you do not practice lying? How many of us have accepted a software's End User Licence Agreement (EULA) that states we have read and understood it and yet we have done neither? If You Can't Say Amen, Say Oh Me! (Psalms 116:11)

The Tenth Commandment states that we are not to covet (Exodus 20:17). To covet is to have a strong desire or greed for anything that is not yours and currently unattainable because it belongs to someone else or lies outside your ability to get. We are allowed to desire to have something LIKE what others have but what is prohibited is the desire to have what belongs to another and/or obtaining it in an ungodly way (i.e., by violating any of the other nine commandments).

We know them as the Ten Commandments or Law of Moses, those ancient decrees that even some Christians consider obsolete (Exodus 20:3-17)(2). However, Jesus did not say that He came to do away with the Ten Commandments or Law but rather to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17-19. Luke 16:16,17). That is, Jesus did give us new commandments; however, He never abolished the old ones (John 13:34,35. Romans 3:30,31). Rather He raised them from a matter of external physical compliance to a matter of internal spiritual compliance that included the thoughts and intents of our spiritual hearts (Matthew 5:27,28). Furthermore, He did what the Law failed to do for man - He provided a way back into a personal relationship with God the Father(1) (Galatians 3:11. John 14:6. 1 John 2:23).

I am referring to God's Covenant Implementing Angels (CIA). Realize, long before man was created on Earth, God created millions of beings called angels to serve Him (Job 38:4-7 stars = angels in Revelation 1:20. Revelation 5:11). Unfortunately, one of the ruling angels or archangels called Lucifer led a rebellion* with one third of the other angels following him (Revelation 12:4). Nevertheless, they were quickly defeated, their authority (but not power) removed and they were cast out of Heaven (Luke 10:18). Today we know the Archangel Lucifer by the name of Satan (Satan means the adversary or accuser of the brethren - Revelation 12:10).

On this Christmas Day, the day we celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, I have assembled many of the prophesies from the Old Testament and their corresponding fulfillment in the New Testament (hundreds if not thousands of years latter) that clearly show that He is the Savior of the World!

MERRY CHRISTMAS to You and Yours!

After His Passion* Jesus was raised from the dead* by His Father, our God, to become the “first fruits” of all Christians that will be raised from the dead in the future (1 Corinthians 15:20. Romans 6:4). That is, those that have by faith accepted the gift of salvation* through Jesus Christ and then die go to live in spiritual bodies in a spiritual place called Heaven (2 Corinthians 5:8. John 14:1-3). Then, in the future those humans that live in Heaven will be brought back to Earth to be reintegrated with their resurrected former “soul focused” physical bodies that have been transformed (1 Corinthians 15:51-54). (In addition, those that have accepted the gift of salvation and are still alive on Earth at this time will received their transformed bodies then, too. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

In the 2004 movie the Phantom of the Opera a young girl with a beautiful voice (Christine) finds herself being cared for by an acquaintance of her father's after her father's and mother's death. In addition, she had a childhood sweetheart (Raoul) and they both had enjoyed hearing stories told by her father prior to his death. One story was of an "Angel of Music" that her father promised to send to her upon his death to watch over her, protect her and train her voice.

THE HOLY OF HOLIES

The Outer Court of the Tabernacle, as viewed by someone approaching it, would appear as a privacy fence fifty cubits(2) (72.9 ft/22.3m) wide by one hundred cubits (145.8 ft/44.5m) long by five cubits (7.3 ft/2.3m) high made of fine (i.e., with a high thread count per inch) white linen supported by bronze posts (twenty on the long sides and ten on the short sides) with bronze bases and silver caps on top (Exodus 27:9-15). In addition, there were silver hooks on the posts for attaching the linen and bronze stakes for cord that would support the posts on both sides (Exodus 27:17-19).

THE GOLDEN ALTAR OF INCENSE

Located directly in front of the veil that leads to the Holy of Holies, at the West end of the Holy Place, stands the Golden Altar of Incense.  It is also made of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold. It is smaller than the Brazen Altar in the Outer Court, measuring about one and one-half feet square and three feet high. It is transported by two poles inserted into two gold rings attached to two corners of the altar (Exodus 30:1-10).

THE TABLE OF SHOWBREAD

The Table of Showbread is located to our right along the North side of the Tabernacle directly across from and illuminated by the Golden Lampstand. Remember, there was no other source of light in the Holy Place other than the Golden Lampstand. The light from it is reflected off of the walls that are made of boards of acacia wood (very disease and pest resistant) overlaid with pure gold (Exodus 26:15-29) and the ceiling that is made of colored fine linen with pictures of the Cherubim (i.e., angels that guard God's throne in Heaven) sewn on them (Exodus 26:1-6). Just as the Priests could not see the bread without the illumination of the Golden Lampstand - we can not see God's provision for our lives without the illumination of the Holy Spirit.

THE TABERNACLE

The Tabernacle was a tent located within the Outer Court.  It was 45 feet long, 15 feet wide and 15 feet high.  Four curtains serve as the roof and walls of the tabernacle.  The innermost curtain is made of fine linen.  Four curtains serve as the roof and outer covering of the walls of the tabernacle:

The design for the Tabernacle of Moses (or Tent of Meeting) was given to Moses by God while on Mount Sinai and it is based upon the Tabernacle in Heaven (Hebrews 8:5.Exodus 25:40). This Earthly tabernacle was to prophetically point the way to God the Father through Jesus; therefore, no error was allowed in its construction. Furthermore, the building of the tabernacle reveals the ultimate desire of God our Father - to live amongst us His children (Exodus 25:8). Oh, the joy of God when He became flesh and dwelt amongst His people - Emmanuel (i.e., God with us)! (John 1:14)

What does the term “baptized” with the Holy Spirit mean?

To baptize means - to place into.  Jesus baptizes - places us into - the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11. Mark 1:8. Luke 3:16. John 1:33).  The first people to be baptized with the Holy Spirit, by reason of Jesus’ request to the Father (John 14:16. John 15:26. Acts 2:33), were the approximately 120 waiting in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost including Mary Jesus’ mother (Acts 1:4. Acts 1:12-15). The Holy Spirit came into the room and filled it with Himself (Acts 2:1,2).  Therefore, they were placed into or baptized in the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:16) and the Holy Spirit came within them (1 Corinthians 12:13). 

When did the Holy Spirit first come to Earth?

The Holy Spirit has been on Earth for a long time (Genesis 1:1,2).  He was involved in the creation of the universe; therefore, it would be safe to say that He has always been on Earth (Isaiah 40:12-15).

We have established from the Bible that the Holy Spirit is a person*,  He is God*, and He is separate and distinct from God the Father and God the Son.  However, is He equal to God the Father and God the Son (Jesus)?**

Question: The Holy Spirit is __________.

• a. an influence emanating from God
• b. a wonderful power
• c. an illumination that God imparts to us
• d. a divine person

God exists in three different forms simultaneously (the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit) (Deuteronomy 6:4. John 17:21.Luke 3:22).  Man was created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26,27); consequently, man has three parts: the spirit, the soul, and the body (1 Thessalonians 5:23. Genesis 2:7). God is the Father of all spirits (Hebrews 12:9).  Therefore, when we were conceived God gave us a spirit that was alive.  Alive meaning a spirit that could go into God’s presence.