8/2/12

Hypocrisy on a massive scale!!!


Yesterday I saw the statistics for my blog for July and I was a bit surprised!!!  During the past three months, the number of the people accessing my blog post has risen from an average of about 1000 to over 1500.  The cause for this is simple: a new audience has found what I do; Russia.  Why? That is a question I have been asking myself for sometime.  I am not Russian and as far as I can tell and I don't think "Russian".  The best explanation I can come up with is that there is a spiritual revival occurring there.  Why? Again, I have pondered this question.  To me, Eastern European Missions is the answer.  This is a group that gives a Bible to anyone who wants one; for FREE!!!  Within the past year or so, this group was given permission to distribute Bibles in the public schools.  And so when I saw this picture in my collection, I was reminded of the terrible situation that has befallen this nation: the government has systematically been eliminating God from our institutions.  What better place for them to start with our young.  Teach them that there are no real "values", that every one's belief (no matter how perverse or outlandish) is correct and that the Bible is to be avoided at all costs.  Its no wonder this country has been on the decline.  More than that, THE GOVERNMENT IS  is a hypocrite!!!! Eliminate the Bible from the young who need guidance, but allow it for the criminal who needs "correction".  How often have I heard people call Christians hypocrites in order to justify there own sin.  Jesus puts it this way....


Matthew, Chapter 7
 1  "“Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged.  2 For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you.  3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye?  4 Or how will you tell your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye;’ and behold, the beam is in your own eye?  5 You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.

If you refuse to listen to Jesus, then how about our finest president; George Washington!!!  The quote on the tee shirt says it all!!!!!



Yesterday, there was an outpouring of support for Chic-o-fil, a business whose director openly supports Biblical teachings and has been persecuted by United States government for it.  I call on every God-fearing citizen to express their dissatisfaction with our rulers in the upcoming election by voting for only those who support this little tee shirt message.  There are millions up millions of us and its time to take back America from the ungodly!!!  After this is accomplished, we need to put the Bible back in our schools and when we do, America will become a moral nation again.  I look forward to the revival!!! 

Aug. 2 2 Chronicles 31-33


Aug. 2
2 Chronicles 31-33

2Ch 31:1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, and broke in pieces the pillars, and cut down the Asherim, and broke down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.
2Ch 31:2 Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites after their divisions, every man according to his service, both the priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the camp of Yahweh.
2Ch 31:3 He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of Yahweh.
2Ch 31:4 Moreover he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to the law of Yahweh.
2Ch 31:5 As soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel gave in abundance the first fruits of grain, new wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.
2Ch 31:6 The children of Israel and Judah, who lived in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of cattle and sheep, and the tithe of dedicated things which were consecrated to Yahweh their God, and laid them by heaps.
2Ch 31:7 In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.
2Ch 31:8 When Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed Yahweh, and his people Israel.
2Ch 31:9 Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.
2Ch 31:10 Azariah the chief priest, of the house of Zadok, answered him and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of Yahweh, we have eaten and had enough, and have left plenty: for Yahweh has blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.
2Ch 31:11 Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of Yahweh; and they prepared them.
2Ch 31:12 They brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: and over them Conaniah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was second.
2Ch 31:13 Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Conaniah and Shimei his brother, by the appointment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God.
2Ch 31:14 Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter at the east gate, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the offerings of Yahweh, and the most holy things.
2Ch 31:15 Under him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their office of trust, to give to their brothers by divisions, as well to the great as to the small:
2Ch 31:16 besides those who were reckoned by genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even everyone who entered into the house of Yahweh, as the duty of every day required, for their service in their offices according to their divisions;
2Ch 31:17 and those who were reckoned by genealogy of the priests by their fathers' houses, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their offices by their divisions;
2Ch 31:18 and those who were reckoned by genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their office of trust they sanctified themselves in holiness.
2Ch 31:19 Also for the sons of Aaron the priests, who were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every city, there were men who were mentioned by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all who were reckoned by genealogy among the Levites.
2Ch 31:20 Hezekiah did so throughout all Judah; and he worked that which was good and right and faithful before Yahweh his God.
2Ch 31:21 In every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.

2Ch 32:1 After these things, and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fortified cities, and thought to win them for himself.
2Ch 32:2 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,
2Ch 32:3 he took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the springs which were outside of the city; and they helped him.
2Ch 32:4 So there was gathered much people together, and they stopped all the springs, and the brook that flowed through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?
2Ch 32:5 He took courage, and built up all the wall that was broken down, and raised it up to the towers, and the other wall outside, and strengthened Millo in the city of David, and made weapons and shields in abundance.
2Ch 32:6 He set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the broad place at the gate of the city, and spoke comfortably to them, saying,
2Ch 32:7 Be strong and of good courage, don't be afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude who is with him; for there is a greater with us than with him:
2Ch 32:8 with him is an arm of flesh; but with us is Yahweh our God to help us, and to fight our battles. The people rested themselves on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
2Ch 32:9 After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (now he was before Lachish, and all his power with him), to Hezekiah king of Judah, and to all Judah who were at Jerusalem, saying,
2Ch 32:10 Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, In whom do you trust, that you abide the siege in Jerusalem?
2Ch 32:11 Doesn't Hezekiah persuade you, to give you over to die by famine and by thirst, saying, Yahweh our God will deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
2Ch 32:12 Has not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, You shall worship before one altar, and on it you shall burn incense?
2Ch 32:13 Don't you know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands? Were the gods of the nations of the lands in any wise able to deliver their land out of my hand?
2Ch 32:14 Who was there among all the gods of those nations which my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of my hand?
2Ch 32:15 Now therefore don't let Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you after this manner, neither believe you him; for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of my hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of my hand?
2Ch 32:16 His servants spoke yet more against Yahweh God, and against his servant Hezekiah.
2Ch 32:17 He wrote also letters, to rail on Yahweh, the God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of the lands, which have not delivered their people out of my hand, so shall the God of Hezekiah not deliver his people out of my hand.
2Ch 32:18 They cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.
2Ch 32:19 They spoke of the God of Jerusalem, as of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men's hands.
2Ch 32:20 Hezekiah the king, and Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, prayed because of this, and cried to heaven.
2Ch 32:21 Yahweh sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and captains, in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. When he was come into the house of his god, those who came forth from his own bowels killed him there with the sword.
2Ch 32:22 Thus Yahweh saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side.
2Ch 32:23 Many brought gifts to Yahweh to Jerusalem, and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah; so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.
2Ch 32:24 In those days Hezekiah was sick even to death: and he prayed to Yahweh; and he spoke to him, and gave him a sign.
2Ch 32:25 But Hezekiah didn't render again according to the benefit done to him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath on him, and on Judah and Jerusalem.
2Ch 32:26 Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of Yahweh didn't come on them in the days of Hezekiah.
2Ch 32:27 Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honor: and he provided him treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of goodly vessels;
2Ch 32:28 storehouses also for the increase of grain and new wine and oil; and stalls for all manner of animals, and flocks in folds.
2Ch 32:29 Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him very much substance.
2Ch 32:30 This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper spring of the waters of Gihon, and brought them straight down on the west side of the city of David. Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
2Ch 32:31 However in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.
2Ch 32:32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his good deeds, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
2Ch 32:33 Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the ascent of the tombs of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death. Manasseh his son reigned in his place.
2Ch 33:1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.
2Ch 33:2 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, after the abominations of the nations whom Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel.
2Ch 33:3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he reared up altars for the Baals, and made Asheroth, and worshiped all the army of the sky, and served them.
2Ch 33:4 He built altars in the house of Yahweh, of which Yahweh said, In Jerusalem shall my name be forever.
2Ch 33:5 He built altars for all the army of the sky in the two courts of the house of Yahweh.
2Ch 33:6 He also made his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom; and he practiced sorcery, and used enchantments, and practiced sorcery, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he worked much evil in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke him to anger.
2Ch 33:7 He set the engraved image of the idol, which he had made, in the house of God, of which God said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name forever:
2Ch 33:8 neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from off the land which I have appointed for your fathers, if only they will observe to do all that I have commanded them, even all the law and the statutes and the ordinances given by Moses.
2Ch 33:9 Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that they did evil more than did the nations whom Yahweh destroyed before the children of Israel.
2Ch 33:10 Yahweh spoke to Manasseh, and to his people; but they gave no heed.
2Ch 33:11 Therefore Yahweh brought on them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh in chains, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
2Ch 33:12 When he was in distress, he begged Yahweh his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.
2Ch 33:13 He prayed to him; and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that Yahweh he was God.
2Ch 33:14 Now after this he built an outer wall to the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entrance at the fish gate; and he encircled Ophel with it, and raised it up to a very great height: and he put valiant captains in all the fortified cities of Judah.
2Ch 33:15 He took away the foreign gods, and the idol out of the house of Yahweh, and all the altars that he had built in the mountain of the house of Yahweh, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.
2Ch 33:16 He built up the altar of Yahweh, and offered thereon sacrifices of peace offerings and of thanksgiving, and commanded Judah to serve Yahweh, the God of Israel.
2Ch 33:17 Nevertheless the people sacrificed still in the high places, but only to Yahweh their God.
2Ch 33:18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel, behold, they are written among the acts of the kings of Israel.
2Ch 33:19 His prayer also, and how God was entreated of him, and all his sin and his trespass, and the places in which he built high places, and set up the Asherim and the engraved images, before he humbled himself: behold, they are written in the history of Hozai.
2Ch 33:20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his place.
2Ch 33:21 Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned two years in Jerusalem.
2Ch 33:22 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as did Manasseh his father; and Amon sacrificed to all the engraved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them.
2Ch 33:23 He didn't humble himself before Yahweh, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but this same Amon trespassed more and more.
2Ch 33:24 His servants conspired against him, and put him to death in his own house.
2Ch 33:25 But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place.

"THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS" Introduction


                     "THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS"

                              Introduction

AUTHOR:  The apostle Paul (1:1; 5:2).  This was the unanimous view of
the early church, and even those modern critics who challenge the 
authorship of many of the New Testament books concede that Galatians is
truly Pauline.

BACKGROUND OF THE EPISTLE:  During his first missionary journey
(46-48 A.D.), Paul together with Barnabas had the opportunity to 
establish several churches in the Roman province of Galatia (Ac 13:14-
14:23).  On his second trip (49-52 A.D.), Paul and Silas visited them
again (Ac 16:1-5).

It wasn't long, however, before some Jewish Christians came in and
began teaching that Gentile Christians needed to be circumcised and
keep the Law of Moses (similar to what happened at Antioch of Syria,
cf. Ac 15:1).  In an effort to persuade the Galatians, it appears the
tactic was to discredit Paul as an apostle, challenge his concept of 
the gospel of Christ, and charge his doctrine with leading to loose
living.

TIME AND PLACE OF WRITING:  Dating Galatians is affected by one's 
view of whether the churches of Galatia were located in the north 
central part of Asia Minor (ethnic Galatia), or in the south central 
part (the Roman province of Galatia).  The "North Galatia Theory" 
maintains that the churches were in the north, and that Paul had not 
been there until the beginning of his third missionary journey (54-55 
A.D.; cf. Ac 18:23).  This would require that Paul wrote his epistle 
sometime toward the end of that journey, or afterward (i.e., around 
57-58 A.D. or later).

I subscribe to the "South Galatia Theory", which identifies the 
churches of Galatia as those established on Paul's first journey (cf. 
Ac 13:14-14:23).  I also believe that the meeting described in Ga 2:
1-10 took place during the "Jerusalem Conference" related in Ac 15:
1-29.  This view opens several possibilities for the place and time of
writing:

      1) Corinth, in the period of Ac 18:1-17

      2) Antioch, in the period of Ac 18:22

      3) Ephesus, in the period covered by Ac 19:1-41

      4) Macedonia or Achaia in the period of Ac 20:1-3

With such uncertainty one cannot be dogmatic, but in view of Paul's 
lengthy stay in Ephesus, that would seem a likely possibility, and the
date would be approximately A.D. 55.

PURPOSE OF THE EPISTLE:  The churches in Galatia were being influenced
by those who would "pervert the gospel of Christ" (1:6-7; cf. 3:1).  
Known as "Judaizing teachers", these individuals taught that Gentile 
Christians needed to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses (cf. Ac 
15:1).  Paul recognized that this doctrine would jeopardize the 
salvation of those souls who accepted it (cf. 5:4).  Because the 
enemies of the true gospel were trying to support their case by 
undermining Paul's authority as an apostle of Christ, it was necessary
to verify that he was truly an apostle "not from men nor through man,
but through Jesus Christ and God the Father" (1:1).  Therefore, Paul
writes:

                       TO VERIFY HIS APOSTLESHIP
                                  AND
             THE GOSPEL OF JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH IN CHRIST

Because of his outstanding defense of the gospel of Christ in which we
have freedom from sin and the Law, this epistle has frequently been
called "The Magna Carta Of Christian Liberty."

KEY VERSE:  Galatians 5:1

   "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made
   us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."

OUTLINE:

INTRODUCTION (1:1-10)
   1. Salutation (1-5)
   2. Reason for the letter (6-10)

I. PAUL'S DEFENSE OF HIS APOSTLESHIP (1:11-2:21)

   A. THE DIVINE ORIGIN OF HIS GOSPEL (1:11-17)
      1. Thesis:  His gospel received directly from God (1:11-12)
      2. His pre-Christian years, and conversion (1:13-17)

   B. HIS RELATIONSHIP TO THE OTHER APOSTLES (1:18-2:21)
      1. His first visit with Peter, and early years as a Christian 
         (1:18-24)
      2. The council at Jerusalem (2:1-5)
      3. His sanction by James, Cephas, and John (2:6-10)
      4. His rebuke of Peter at Antioch (2:11-21)
         a. Peter's hypocrisy (2:11-13)
         b. His speech to Peter, how we are justified by faith in 
            Christ (2:14-21)

II. PAUL'S DEFENSE OF THE GOSPEL OF JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH (3:1-4:31)

   A. THE PERSONAL ARGUMENT (3:1-5)
      1. How they received the Spirit (3:1-4)
      2. From whom they received the Spirit (3:5)

   B. THE SCRIPTURAL ARGUMENT (3:6-25)
      1. The example of Abraham (3:6-9)
      2. The curse of the Law (3:10-14)
      3. The priority of the Promise over the Law (3:15-18)
      4. The purpose of the Law (3:19-25)

   C. THE PRACTICAL ARGUMENT (3:26-4:7)
      1. In Christ they are one, as children of God, Abraham's seed,
         and heirs of the promise (3:26-29)
      2. Redeemed from the law, and adopted as sons, they are no longer
         slaves, but heirs (4:1-7)

   D. THE SENTIMENTAL ARGUMENT (4:8-20)
      1. His fears over their returning to bondage (4:8-11)
      2. Their past and present relationships to him (4:12-20)

   E. THE ALLEGORICAL ARGUMENT (4:21-31)
      1. An allegory for those who desire to be under the Law 
         (4:21-24a)
      2. Symbolic of the two covenants; one from Mount Sinai which 
         gives birth to bondage, and the other from the Jerusalem above
         which makes free (24b-31)

III. THE CALL TO STAND FAST IN THE LIBERTY OF THE GOSPEL (5:1-6:10)

   A. A LIBERTY THAT EXCLUDES THE NECESSITY OF CIRCUMCISION (5:1-6)
      1. Do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage (5:1)
      2. Circumcision means nothing; requiring it results in falling 
         from grace (5:2-4)
      3. We should wait for the hope of righteousness with faith 
         working through love (5:5-6)

   B. A LIBERTY THAT FULFILLS THE LAW (5:7-15)
      1. Beware of those who would bind the Law (5:7-12)
      2. Use your liberty as an opportunity to serve one another with
         love, and you will fulfill the Law (5:13-14)
      3. But beware that you do not use it as an opportunity for the
         flesh in which you consume one another (5:13b,15)

   C. A LIBERTY IN WHICH ONE IS TO BE LED BY THE SPIRIT (5:16-26)
      1. Liberty is not an excuse for license (5:16-18)
      2. The works of the flesh contrasted with the fruits of the 
         Spirit (5:19-23)
      3. Those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh and are 
         walking in the Spirit (5:24-26)

   D. A LIBERTY WITH A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY (6:1-10)
      1. For helping those with burdens (6:1-5)
      2. For doing good to all, thus sowing to the Spirit (6:6-10)

CONCLUSION (6:11-18)
   1. A final rebuke to those who would bind circumcision (6:11-13)
   2. Paul's confidence in the cross of Christ (6:14-17)
   3. Benediction (6:18)

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE INTRODUCTION

1) According to the "South Galatia Theory", on which journey did Paul
   establish the churches in Galatia?
   - His first journey

2) Where does one read about the establishment of these churches?
   - Ac 13:14-14:23

3) What are some of the cities in which these churches were located?
   (14:20-23)
   - Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia

4) Among the many possibilities for the place of writing and time of 
   this epistle, which one seems likely because of Paul's extended stay
   at that place?
   - Ephesus, on his third missionary journey, A.D. 55

5) What two things were being required of the Gentile Christians that
   jeopardized their salvation? (cf. Ac 15:1; Ga 5:2-4)
   - Circumcision
   - Observance of the Law of Moses

6) What three tactics appear to have been used by "Judaizing teachers"?
   - Discredit Paul as an apostle
   - Challenge his concept of the gospel of Christ
   - Charge his doctrine with leading to loose living

7) What is Paul's purpose in writing this epistle?
   - To verify his apostleship and the gospel of justification by faith
     in Christ

8) What has The Epistle To The Galatians been frequently called?
   - The Magna Carta Of Christian Liberty

9) Which verse in the book stands out as the "key" verse?
   - Ga 5:1