One in Messiah Congregation
Shabbat Shalom
Dec. 20th, 2008
The ninth month is called Chislev;ëÄñÀìÅå, the 21th day.
Zech. 7 [1] And it came to pass in the fourth year of king
Darius, that the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chislev;
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In Chislev;ëÄñÀìÅå ,
the 20th day (yesterday)
Ezra 10
[1]
Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting
himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a
very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very
sore.
[2] And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered
and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange
wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning
this thing.
[3] Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all
the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord,
and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done
according to the law.
[4] Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with
thee: be of good courage, and do it.
[5] Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all
Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware.
[6] Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the
chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no
bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them
that had been carried away.
[7] And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all
the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto
Jerusalem;
[8] And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to
the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be
forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been
carried away.
[9] Then all
the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem
within three days. It was the ninth month, on the
twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of
the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.
[10]
And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and
have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.
[11] Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers,
and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and
from the strange wives.
[12] Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As
thou hast said, so must we do.
[13] But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are
not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two: for we are
many that have transgressed in this thing.
[14] Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them
which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with
them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath
of our God for this matter be turned from us.
[15] Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were
employed about this matter: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped
them.
[16] And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with
certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them
by their names, were separated, and sat down in the
first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.
The next year
[17]
And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month.
[18] And among the sons of the priests there were found that had taken
strange wives: namely, of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his
brethren; Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.
[19] And they gave their hands that they
would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of
the flock for their trespass.
[20] And of the sons of Immer; Hanani, and Zebadiah.
[21] And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and
Jehiel, and Uzziah.
[22] And of the sons of Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel,
Jozabad, and Elasah.
[23] Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same is
Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
[24] Of the singers also; Eliashib: and of the porters; Shallum, and
Telem, and Uri.
[25] Moreover of Israel: of the sons of Parosh; Ramiah, and Jeziah, and
Malchiah, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah.
[26] And of the sons of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and
Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah.
[27] And of the sons of Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and
Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.
[28] Of the sons also of Bebai; Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
[29] And of the sons of Bani; Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub,
and Sheal, and Ramoth.
[30] And of the sons of Pahath-moab; Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah,
Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.
[31] And of the sons of Harim; Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah,
Shimeon,
[32] Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
[33] Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet,
Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
[34] Of the sons of Bani; Maadai, Amram, and Uel,
[35] Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh,
[36] Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
[37] Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau,
[38] And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,
[39] And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,
[40] Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
[41] Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,
[42] Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
[43] Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and
Joel, Benaiah.
[44] All these had taken strange wives: and some of
them had wives by whom they had children.
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Question:
Why are we here today?
Answer:
We were told to remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy
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The 4th Commandment is a part of the covenant given to us
at Mount Sinai in the 3rd month, Sivan
Ex. 20 [8] Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
[9] Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy
work:
[10] But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the
LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy
daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger
that is within thy gates:
[11] For in six days the LORD made heaven and
earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore
the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.
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Topic: The Truth
1 John 2 [21] I have
not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and
that no lie is of the truth.
Rev. 21 [8] But the
fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers,
and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars,
shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone:
which is the second death.
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[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.
John 4 [23] But the
hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall
worship the Father in spirit and in truth:
for the Father seeketh such to worship him. [24] God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
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John 8 [32] And ye
shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
[40] But now
ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth,
which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
[41] Ye do
the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication;
we have one Father, even God.
[42] Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me:
for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent
me.
[43] Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my
word.
[44] Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye
will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth,
because there is no truth in him. When
he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of
it.
[45] And
because I tell you the truth, ye believe
me not.
[46] Which
of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth,
why do ye not believe me?
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The Spirit of truth, the Comforter
G3875 παράκλητος - paraklētos - par-ak'-lay-tos -
An intercessor, consoler: - advocate, comforter.
Thayer Definition: summoned, called to
one’s side, especially called to one’s aid - one who pleads another’s cause
before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate -
one who pleads another’s cause with one, an intercessor
John 14 [6] Yeshua saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man
cometh unto the Father, but by me.
[15] If ye love me, keep my commandments.
[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: I
will come to you.
[19] Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me:
because I live, ye shall live also.
[20] At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and
I in you.
[21] He that hath my commandments, and
keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall
be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
John 15 [26] But when the
Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the
Father, he shall testify of me:
John 16 [7] Nevertheless I tell you the truth;
It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I
depart, I will send him unto you.
[8]
And when he is come, he will reprove the
world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
[9] Of sin, because they believe not on me;
[10] Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
[11] Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
[12] I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them
now.
[13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth,
is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of
himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew
you things to come.
[14]
He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
[15] All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he
shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
1 John 4 [6] We are of God: he that knoweth God
heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
1 John 5 [6] This is he that came by water and
blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is
the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit
is truth.
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John 17 [17] Sanctify them through thy truth:
thy word is truth.
[18]
As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the
world.
[19]
And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified
through the truth.
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1 John 1 [6] If we say that we have fellowship with
him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
[8] If we say that
we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 2 [4] He that saith, I know him, and keepeth
not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1 John 2 [21] I have not written unto you because
ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the
truth.
[27] But the
anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that
any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is
truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
1 John 3 [18] My little children, let us not love
in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
[19] And hereby we
know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
2 John 1 [1] The elder unto the elect lady and her
children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they
that have known the truth;
[2] For the
truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
[3] Grace be with
you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the
Son of the Father, in truth and love.
[4] I rejoiced
greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have
received a commandment from the Father.
3 John 1 [1] The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius,
whom I love in the truth.
[2] Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in
health, even as thy soul prospereth.
[3] For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the
truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
[4] I have no greater joy than to hear that my
children walk in truth.
[5] Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the
brethren, and to strangers;
[6] Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if
thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:
[7] Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of
the Gentiles.
[8] We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers
to the truth.
[9] I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the
preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
[10] Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth,
prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither
doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and
casteth them out of the church.
[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.
[12] Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself:
yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.
[13] I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write
unto thee:
[14] But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to
face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.
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Whom shall you fear, your wife, husband, your children, any
relative, any friend or foe?
Luke.12
[4] And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body,
and after that have no more that they can do.
[5] But I will
forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed
hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear
him.
Isa. 66 [24] And they shall go forth, and look
upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their
worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be
quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.
Mark 9
[43]
And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into
life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
[44] Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not
quenched.
[45]
And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt
into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
[46] Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not
quenched.
[47] And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter
into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
[48] Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not
quenched.
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Today's Topic: "Step ONE" - Fear éÄøÀàÈä of the LORD
Pss. 111 [10] The fear of the LORD is the
beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his
commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
Prov. 1 [7] The fear of the LORD is the beginning
of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Prov. 9 [10] The fear of the LORD is the
beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Fear
H3372 éøà yare' -
yaw-ray' - A primitive root; to fear; morally to revere; causatively to
frighten: - affright, be (make) afraid, dread (-ful), (put in) fear (-ful,
-fully, -ing). (be had in) reverence (-end), see, terrible (act, -ness,
thing).
BDB Definition:
to fear, revere, be afraid, (Qal) to fear, be afraid, to stand in awe of, be
awed, to fear, reverence, honour, respect, ) (Niphal) to be fearful, be
dreadful, be feared, to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe, to inspire
reverence or godly fear or awe, (Piel) to make afraid, terrify, to shoot, pour,
Part of Speech: verb
Beginning
H7225 øàùÑéú re shiyth, ray-sheeth', the first, in place, time,
order or rank (specifically a firstfruit): - beginning, chief (-est), first (-
fruits, part, time), principal thing.
BDB Definition: first, beginning, best, chief, beginning, first, chief,
choice part
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Let's read some "Fear of the Lord
scriptures"
Pss. 19
[1] The heavens declare
the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
[2] Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth
knowledge.
[3] There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
[4] Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the
end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
[5] Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as
a strong man to run a race.
[6] His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto
the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
[7] The law of the LORD is perfect,
converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
[8] The statutes of the LORD
are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes.
[9] The fear of the LORD is
clean, (fair, pure (-ness). enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are
true and righteous altogether.
[10] More to be desired are
they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the
honeycomb.
[11] Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is
great reward.
[12] Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
[13] Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have
dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the
great transgression.
[14] Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable
in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
How to get and understand the fear of the
Lord
Prov. 2
[1] My son, if thou wilt
receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
[2] So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to
understanding;
[3] Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for
understanding;
[4] If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
[5] Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of
God.
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Fear, Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding
all go together
Job. 28
[1] Surely there is a
vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it.
[2] Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the
stone.
[3] He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the
stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.
[4] The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters
forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.
[5] As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up
as it were fire.
[6] The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of
gold.
[7] There is a path which
no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen:
[8] The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by
it.
[9] He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the
mountains by the roots.
[10] He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every
precious thing.
[11] He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid
bringeth he forth to light.
[12] But where shall wisdom be
found? and where is the place of understanding?
[13] Man knoweth not the
price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.
[14] The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with
me.
[15] It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for
the price thereof.
[16] It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx,
or the sapphire.
[17] The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it
shall not be for jewels of fine gold.
[18] No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of
wisdom is above rubies.
[19] The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be
valued with pure gold.
[20] Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
[21] Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from
the fowls of the air.
[22] Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our
ears.
[23] God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place
thereof.
[24] For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole
heaven;
[25] To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by
measure.
[26] When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of
the thunder:
[27] Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and
searched it out.
[28] And unto man he said,
Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is
understanding.
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A few more fear of the Lord scriptures
[2] That thou mightest
fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which
I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life;
and that thy days may be prolonged.
[13] Thou shalt fear
the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.
[24] And the LORD
commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our
good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.
[12] And now, Israel,
what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy
God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God
with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
[20] Thou shalt fear
the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and
swear by his name.
[8] Let all the earth
fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
[9] O fear the LORD,
ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
[11] Ye that fear the
LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
[13] He will bless them
that fear the LORD, both small and great.
[4] Let them now that
fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
[20] Bless the LORD, O
house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD.
[27] The fear of the LORD
prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
[26] In the fear of the LORD is
strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
[27] The fear of the LORD is a
fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
[16] Better is little with the
fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
[33] The fear of the LORD is
the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
[6] By mercy and truth iniquity
is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
[23] The fear of the LORD
tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be
visited with evil.
[4] By humility and the fear of
the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
Ecc. 6
[16] Be not righteous
over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
[17] Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest
thou die before thy time?
[18] It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from
this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of
them all.
Ecc. 8
[12] Though a sinner do
evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it
shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:
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Fear God always
[17] Let not thine heart envy
sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
[29] O that there were
such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments
always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
[24] And the LORD
commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our
good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.
[23] And thou shalt eat
before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name
there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings
of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy
God always.
[12] Wherefore, my
beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much
more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
[15] But sanctify the
Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man
that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
[24] That all the people
of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye
might fear the LORD your God for ever.
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Yeshua talked about the "Fear of the Lord"
Matt. 10
[28] And fear not
them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather
fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Luke 12
[1] In the mean time,
when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch
that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of
all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
[2] For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither
hid, that shall not be known.
[3] Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in
the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be
proclaimed upon the housetops.
[4] And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body,
and after that have no more that they can do.
[5] But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath
killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
---------------
John on the
isle called Patmos
Rev.
19
[1]
And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying,
Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
[2] For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the
great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged
the blood of his servants at her hand.
[3] And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and
ever.
[4] And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and
worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
[5] And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye
his servants, and ye that fear him, both
small and great.
-------------
1 Pet. 2 [17] Honour all men. Love the
brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
-------------
From the beginning øÅàùÑÄéú to the conclusion, end ñåÉó
"Fear
God", and keep his commandments
Ecc. 12 [13] Let us hear the conclusion of the
whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty
of man.
ñåÉó ãÌÈáÈø, äÇëÌÉì ðÄùÑÀîÈò:
àÆú-äÈàÁìÉäÄéí éÀøÈà åÀàÆú-îÄöÀåÉúÈéå ùÑÀîåÉø, ëÌÄé-æÆä ëÌÈì-äÈàÈãÈí
----------
[14] For God shall bring
every work into judgment,
with every secret thing,
whether it be good,
Or
whether it be evil.
--------------------------------------
Scripture says:
Jer. 10 [2] Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the
way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen
are dismayed at them.
Jer. 16 [19] O LORD, my strength, and my
fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto
thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have
inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.
-----------------
Isa. 5 [20] Woe unto them that callevil good, and
good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put
bitter or sweet, and sweet for bitter!
[21]
Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
[22]
Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle
strong drink:
[23] Which justify the
wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
----------------------------
I thouight it
appropriate to discuss some "Pagan Feasts" in December.
Saturnalia - In pagan Rome, the celebration of the Winter Solstice began on
December 17 with the feast of Saturn -- also called the Saturnalia. Through
December 23rd, the Roman world engaged in merrymaking and the exchanging of
gifts in honor of father sun and mother earth./font>
The
Saturnalia festival has an astronomical character, referring to the completion
of the suns yearly course, and the commencement of a new cycle. Saturn, from
whom we get the word for the day of the week, Saturday, represented by the sun
at its lowest aspect at the winter solstice. The earth is cold, most plants are
dead, and it was believed that the sun might also be approaching death. Today
winter solstice is around December 21, but because of calendar changes, it was
originally December 25th. Saturnalia celebrated the sun overcoming the power of
winter, with hope of spring when life would be renewed.
In
Roman times, Bacchus, the god of wine, became the lord of these festivals.
--------------
Kwanzaa
-Ron Karenga (aka Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga) invented the seven-day feast (Dec.
26-Jan. 1) in 1966,
branding it a black alternative to Christmas. The idea was to celebrate the end
of what he considered the Christmas-season exploitation of African Americans.
-------------
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception - A Roman Catholic Holy
Day of Obligation - December 8th.
-----------
On
Dec. 21, the Irish Cultural Center (ICC) will host its annual Winter Solstice Party. There will be live Celtic
music, poetry, food and drinks. In keeping with the traditions of Winter
Solstice, there will also be a vigil fire ceremony.
-------------
Winter Solstice is considered one of the oldest holidays. Many
of the traditions associated with Christmas originated from those of Winter
Solstice.
Winter
Solstice takes place on Dec. 21 this year and marks the shortest day of the
year in the Northern Hemisphere. The literal translation of the word solstice
is "sun standing still", as they say.
In
ancient societies, agriculture was of great importance. Consequently, the
seasons were a big part of these societies' celebrations. Spring and summer
were considered times of new life, whereas fall was the time of the Harvest.
Winter
was a dreaded time due to the lack of sunlight. Fearing the sun might never
return, people honored it, celebrating it with music, bonfires and feasts so
that it would return the next year.
The
Romans celebrated the Solstice by decorating the halls of their homes with
branches of laurel and evergreen trees. Exchanging of fruits, cakes, jewelry
and toys were also very common.
Another
made-up tradition that made its way into that of Christmas was the hanging of
mistletoe.
Mistletoe
was considered precious because it grew on the sacred oak trees. Thus, families
were given a spray of mistletoe to hang in their doorways for good luck.
To
the Celtic Druids, hanging mistletoe under a doorway or in a room was a sign of
goodwill towards ones visitors. Kissing someone under the mistletoe was also a
Winter Solstice tradition. The thought behind it was that it was a pledge of
friendship.
------
In
other parts of the world, Winter Solstice was referred to as "Yule."
This was because Yule logs were burned and people drank, feasted and listened
to poetry around a bonfire.
--------
Another
made-up December holiday is the Buddhist holiday Jodo-E.
On Dec. 31, the Haku-Un-Ji Zen Center of Tempe will host a Jodo-E ceremony at 2
p.m. Jodo-E is considered a "cleaning day," said Sokai Osho, a Zen
Buddhist priest.
The
ceremony will consist of cleaning the temple, a dinner served in traditional
Japanese form and meditation.
---------
Mithra
Mithras
was the sun god of the Persians and subsequent empires including the Roman
Empire through the 4th century. During the 4th century, Mithras "mysteriously"
vanished and Roman "Christianity" began. A Christianity not like that
of the 1st century; but, a polluted, corrupt "Christianity" lacking
few Mithraic rituals.
Mithras
was invoked in the inscriptions of the Biblical Artaxerxes, king of Babylon:
making Mithras one of the pagan gods that God had warned His chosen people to
beware of. Christ had come and defeated Satan by personally paying repentant
mans death penalty for the transgression of Gods laws - the penalty He,
Himself, had established at the time of creation. And yet, in the 4th century,
by way of a Satanic "if you cant beat em join em" deception, a blend
of the worship of God and the worship of pagan gods was officially proclaimed
as "Christianity" by the Roman Empire.
As
the gospel spread throughout the nations; and the persecution of true believers
proved to be ineffective, Satan, the author of confusion, began his final
assault on the truth - the truth that "sin is the transgression of the
law" and that the penalty is death.
The
celebrations including December 25th in honor of the rebirth of Mithras at the
winter solstice and Easter , the solar observance of the spring equinox,
attempted to void the 1st commandment in the name of "Christianity".
The
graven images of the pagan deities, given "Christian" titles,
attempted to void the 2nd commandment. And the Sunday observance of "Deis
Solis", the day of the sun attempted to void the 4th commandment.
Attempted only, for Christ had proclaimed "till heaven and earth pass, one
jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law."
---------------
Christmas
The
following is a quote from the Encyclopedia Brittanica, Volume 11 ; page 390.
"During
the later periods of Roman history, sun worship gained in importance and
ultimately led to what has been called a 'solar monotheism.' Nearly all the
gods of the period were possessed of Solar qualities, and both Christ and
Mithra acquired the traits of solar seities.
The
feast of Sol and Victus (open unconquered Sun) on December 25th was
celebrated with great joy, and eventually this date was taken over by the
Christians as Christmas, the birthday of Messiah." !!
The
Christians were trying to get more converts So they adapted a pagan holiday to
their worship to appease the pagans in 336 AD.
The
Encyclopedia Britannica reports that "The traditional customs connected with
Christmas have developed from several sources as a result of the coincidence of
the celebration of the birth of Messiah with the pagan agricultural and solar
observations at midwinter. In the Roman world the Saturnalia (December 17) was
a time of merrymaking and exchange of gifts. December 25 was also regarded as
the birth date of the Iranian mystery god Mithra, the Sun of
Righteousness."
Colliers
Encyclopedia agrees. Quote: "After the triumph of Constantine, the church at Rome assigned
December 25 as the date for the celebration of the feast, possibly about A.D.
320 or 353. By the end of the fourth century the whole Christian world was
celebrating Christmas on that day, with the exception of the Eastern churches,
where it was celebrated on January 6. The choice of December 25 was probably
influenced by the fact that on this day the Romans celebrated the Mithraic
feast of the Sun-god (natalis solis invicti), and that the Saturnalia also came
at this time."
Both
encyclopedias plainly reveal that the source of the celebration of December 25
is the birthday of Mithra, the pagan sun god.
Sun
worshippers since the time of Babel recognized this time of year in honor of
their gods.
1st
century believers,
taught personally by the Messiah, did not celebrate His birthday. 2nd century
theologians condemned the thought. Only after severe persecution, destruction
and inaccessibility of biblical scripture and the blending of pagan doctrine
with the worship of God was the Mithraic celebration of December 25th
proclaimed to be "Christian" in nature.
These
facts are well documented. They can be found in any encyclopedia. There
is no way to "Christianize" the birthday of the sun god. Anyone with
access to an computer or encyclopedia can know better and those with
theological degrees do!
--------------
Hanukkah
The
First Book of the Maccabees was written in Hebrew around the time of the events
that it describes. The Second Book of the Maccabees was written about sixty
years after the events that took place. The book was written in Greek for the
Jews who lived in Alexandria and other parts of the Greek Empire. Both books
discuss the same events, but from different perspectives. These books were not
included in the Hebrew Bible, but they are part of the Apocrypha, a group of
Jewish writing from this period that were preserved by the Christian Church.
(Catholic)
Praying
for the dead is a Catholic belief.
2
Machabees 12 44
(For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again, it would
have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,)
2
Machabees 12 46
It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the
dead , that they may be loosed from sins.
2
Machabees 12 43
And making a gathering, he sent twelve thousand drachms of silver to Jerusalem
for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead
, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection, 44 (For
if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again, it would have
seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,) 45 And because he
considered that they who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid
up for them. 46 It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray
for the dead , that they may be loosed from sins .
You think Yeshua or Daniel quoted from this book? Never!
Below
in not Antiochus IV Epiphanes ( he is not at the end ) When Alexander the
Great's empire broke up, it resolved into four major kingdoms. Seleucus was one
of Alexander's generals, and came to control the Syrian portion of the empire.
Syria was one of the two dominant divisions of the empire, and continued
through twenty kings. Antiochus IV was the eighth of these twenty Seleucid
kings. He ruled from 175 - 164 BC.
Approximately 200 years afte Antiochus
IV Epiphanes Yeshua said pertaining to the time of the end by quoting Daniel
which was approximately in 600 BC: ( ruler of the Hellenistic Seleucid
Empire )
Yeshua
said:
Matt.24[ 15] When ye
therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the
prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Mark.13[ 14] But when ye
shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet,
standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them
that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
Dan.8
[1
] In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto
me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.
[2]
And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan
in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I
was by the river of Ulai.
[3]
Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river
a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than
the other, and the higher came up last.
[4
] I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no
beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of
his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.
[5]
And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of
the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn
between his eyes.
[6]
And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had there seen standing before
the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.
[7]
And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against
him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the
ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon
him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.
[8]
Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn
was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of
heaven.
[9]
And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding
great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
[10]
And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the
host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
[11]
Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily
sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
[12]
And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of
transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and
prospered.
[13]
Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint
which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and
the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be
trodden under foot?
[14]
And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the
sanctuary be cleansed.
[15]
And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for
the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.
[16]
And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said,
Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.
[17]
So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my
face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the
end shall be the vision.
[18]
Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the
ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.
[19
] And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last
end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.
[20]
The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.
[21]
And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between
his eyes is the first king.
[22]
Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand
up out of the nation, but not in his power.
[23]
And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come
to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences,
shall stand up.
[24]
And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy
wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and
the holy people.
[25]
And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he
shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall
also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without
hand.
[26]
And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore
shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.
[27
] And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did
the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood
it.
Antiochus IV Epiphanes - 215-163 BC, he reigned 175-163 BC. He was
not in the time of the end nor in the last end of the indignation or in the
latter time.
The
Feast of the Dedication mentioned below is not talking about the story in the
book of Maccabees
Scripture
says:
John.10
[22]
And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter
[23] And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.
Remember these points:
Chanukah
in Hebrew means dedication pertaining to the Temple
There
is no Temple now to celebrate (destroyed in 70 AD )
Wrong
month, should be Adar which is Feb. (Ezra 6:15 )
No
8 days of oil mentioned in the Maccabees
No
8 or 9 candlestick menorah in Scripture ( only 7 and very important )
Play
Dreidel - A German Gambling Game? oh no...
----------
Chanukah is a Hebrew word meaning dedication.
In
the scriptures above, pertaining to Chanukah or dedication, John was talking
about Solomon's temple that Ezra help rebuild. (1 Kings 8:2; 2 Chr. 5:3)
Also please read the scriptures below in Ezra, chapter 6.
Ezra
6 : [14]
And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying
of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and
finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according
to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
[15]
And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, the 12th month
(our Feb. - cold - not December which is Chislev, the 9th month in the Hebrew Bible
),
which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
[16]
And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the
children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy,
[17]
And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two
hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve
he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
Esth.
3
[7] In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king
Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and
from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar. ( Feb.
not Dec. )
Chanukah is a Hebrew word meaning dedication because this observance
marks the rededication and building of the Temple after it had been desecrated.
Also remember: The first dedication was in the 7th month,
Ethanim, 1Kings. 8:2 ( Sept. - Oct.) not December:
1Kgs.8:[2]
And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast
in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.
Also,
this is not new years as some falsely report.
[63]
And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered unto the
LORD, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep.
So the king and all the children of Israel "dedicated" the house of the
LORD.
-----------------------------------
Let's talk
about Thanksgiving, there are many different accounts.
The
Pilgrims left Plymouth, England, on September 6, 1620 for the New World.
Although filled with uncertainty and peril, it offered both civil and religious
liberty. Arriving in Massachusetts in late November, the Pilgrims sought a
suitable landing place. 1621
The
Pilgrims were a specific group of Calvinist Christians.
After
King Henry VIII separated the Church of England from the rest of the Catholic
Church, many English subjects were dissatisfied with the king acting as the
highest church authority.
Encouraged
by the Protestant Reformation in Germany, Holland, and Switzerland, these
dissatisfied subjects separated from the Church of England in favor of a type
of Christianity without a church hierarchy with the Bible as the only authority
(as they interpreted it).
Without
a hierarchy, many different interpretations of the Christian faith were
practiced by various separatist groups.
As
a whole, these groups can also be called puritans.
One
group, originally called the Leiden Congregation (because they left England and
lived in Leiden, Holland for several years), believed that they could not
successfully live with their beliefs among the English (and the English
authorities also pressured the government of Holland to remove them). This
group set out to live as a congregation in the new world.
They
became known as the Pilgrims because they saw themselves as settlers in a
promised land with a promised future.
The
Pilgrim Church no longer exists as a single entity. They were a type of
Calvinists and puritans. Their religion is similar to today's Baptists,
Congregationalists, and Methodists.
Fast
forward a bit in time...
In
1789, following a proclamation issued by President George Washington, America
celebrated its first Day of Thanksgiving to God under its new constitution.
That same year, the Protestant Episcopal Church, of which President Washington
was a member, announced that the first Thursday in November would become its
regular day for giving thanks, "unless another day be appointed by the
civil authorities." Yet, despite these early national proclamations,
official Thanksgiving observances usually occurred only at the State level.
Much
of the credit for the adoption of "of a later ANNUAL national Thanksgiving
Day may be attributed to Mrs. Sarah Joseph Hale, the editor of Godey's Lady's
Book.
For
thirty years, she promoted the idea of a national Thanksgiving Day, contacting
President after President until President Abraham Lincoln responded in 1863 by
setting aside the last Thursday of November as a national Day of Thanksgiving.
Over
the next seventy-five years, Presidents followed Lincoln's precedent, annually
declaring a national Thanksgiving Day.
Then,
in 1941, Congress permanently established the fourth Thursday of each November
as a national holiday.
-----------
The problem
with this is today "ANYONE" does Thanksgiving.
Whatever
religion you have or do not have, family get-togethers, drinking beer, eating
turkey, eating your left over Halloween punpkin (pumpkin pie) and watching
football and the parade has replaced God. Thank god? Which god?
----------
There are many others.......... None are the "Feasts of the
Lord" in Lev. 23
----------------
Sad to say, not
many people celebrate or even know about the "Feasts of the Lord".
The fall Feast of the Lord is in the 7th month Ethanim not Tishri.
(Sept.)
1Kgs.8
[2] And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the
feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.
These
feasts and holy convocations, we believe represent the Second Coming of the
Messiah in someone's lifetime.
---------------
Fall Feast of the Lord and Holy days
Blowing of the Trumpets
Lev.23:[24] Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in
the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of
trumpets, an holy convocation.
------------------
Day of Atonement
[27] Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of
atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your
souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
-------------------
Feast of Tabernacles
[34] Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this
seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.
[39]
Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the
fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first
day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.
[41]
And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be
a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh
month.
[37] These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy
convocations
-----------------
Two questions
come to mind:
Did you learn
the way of the heathen?
Did you ever
say, "Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein
there is no profit?
Jer. 10 [2] Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the
way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen
are dismayed at them.
Jer. 16 [19] O LORD, my strength, and my
fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto
thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have
inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.
---------
Matt.15[ 3]Yeshua
said:....... Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your
tradition?
[6]
... Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your
tradition.
Mark.7[ 13] Making the
word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and
many such like things do ye.
[9]
And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may
keep your own tradition.
Col.2[ 8] Beware lest
any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the
tradition of men , after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
1Pet.1[ 18] Forasmuch as
ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold,
from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers ;[19
] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and
without spot:
[20] Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but
was manifest in these last times for you,
-------------
It is high time
to "wake up"
Rom.13 [11] And that, knowing the time, that now
it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than
when we believed.
[12]
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works
of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
[13]
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in
chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
[14]
But put ye on the Lord Yeshua the Messiah, and make not provision for the
flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Shalom
Shalom