Tag: women bloggers

Spiders: Thief Series

~ Kim Balogh ~ 1 Comment

  

In the 58th chapter of Isaiah, the prophet speaks God’s heart concerning his people’s spiritual condition.

The prophet points out the nation’s sins.

The Lord never wants to bring judgment on anybody, but if his people will not repent of their sins sometimes he has to. The objective is to get our attention.

Before the Lord does this, he always gives his people a warning. He reveals to them where they have missed it and what they need to do to get it right.  

“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.”

The rest of the chapter deals with the sins that his people have committed. In order to repent or get right with God, we need to know what to repent of. Sometimes we are so self-righteous that we don’t see our sins. God has to point them out to us.  

When things start going wrong in our lives, and our prayers begin to bounce off the ceiling, we then ask God. “What’s going on?” 

More often than not, we have become entangled in something God calls sin! With sin in the way, our prayers will not be received. Some people don’t realize this, but our prayers will go unanswered unless we repent of what it is we are doing that is displeasing to God. 

‘Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”

Chapters Isaiah 58,59 point out a whole bunch of things that displease the Lord. Many of which we have been guilty of.

He then uses the spider analogy to give us a clear idea of what our sins do to us. Not only does sin hurt the Lord but our sin hurts us too.

God likens falling into sin like falling into a spider’s web.

Spiders, or the devils are predators. They tempt us to sin. The devil can only tempt us however, in an area of our life not yet surrendered to God. 

In Job 8:13-15 the Lord tells us that the serpent (cockatrice) hatches poisonous eggs and the spider weaves a web for those who forget God. For those who live like hypocrites, and for those who put their trust in the ‘spiders web,’ or in the enemy’s deceptive devices. 

When we leave God out of our lives or even a part of our lives, the serpent comes along and presents to us his ‘grand’ ideas. He gives us worldly wisdom with independent thoughts that, when hatched, become an ensnarment to us! The next thing we know after a while, our house comes crashing down all around us!    

Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider’s web. He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure. Job 8:13-15 

 We need to understand the serpent’s methods, so we don’t get trapped in a spider’s web. Although the serpent is the instigator of the entrapment, he uses the spider to do the entrapping. After all, the web must be woven by a spider because spiders, by nature, are the weaver of webs! 

The spider’s objective is to catch prey. Some spiders may sit in their webs, hoping for some poor guy to come along and fall in, but this is not always the case! Some spiders use strategies to catch their prey. After the spider has weaved its web of lies, it then takes a sticky lasso cord to entangle its prey.

Deception has a way of wrapping us all up in entanglement. We become ensnared in our deception.

Trusting in our own strength is like putting our trust in the spider’s web. It is a deceptive entrapment to trust in our own might, intelligence, and prowess, leaving God out of our decisions.

When we become our own god, the serpent can hatch his poisonous eggs in our big fat ego!

After that, the spider comes along and weaves for us a master plan. We got it all figured out! We know how to solve this problem! We got it covered! 

Oh, how many times we fall for that web of deception! Making decisions without consulting the Lord, trying to fix a wrong thing to make it right, building our own empires! There’s that sticky lasso! Getting us all caught up in entanglements concerning the affairs of this life! 

Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered. Proverbs 28: 26

Some spiders will even mimic their prey in order to avoid being detected. They look so much like a nice Christian or a good person. They have a lot of good advice to give. Then before you know it, you’re trapped in the web of deception! Why didn’t I just pray about that person first?  

I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Psalm 32:8 

There are even spiders who will run their prey down! They camouflage so you can’t detect them, then when you see them for who they are they try hunting you down! You can’t get rid of them! Ever have somebody like that in your life? Constant harassment! 

Well, if I had sought the Lord on that friendship, I would not be in this kerfuffle! 

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Proverbs 13:20 

Lastly, some spiders are poisonous. If you get bit by one of those, you are in big trouble! How often do we decide to trust a person or situation without consulting the Lord? Then we end up getting bit where it hurts! For me, more times than I can remember! 

Like I told you in a previous blog; sometimes it takes a hammer to fall on my head before I get it. But better late than never.

Now I am learning to listen more closely to the Holy Spirit’s inner promptings. Greenlight, yes! Red light, don’t go there! 

Before the prophet Isaiah tells God’s people why they ended up eating rotten serpent eggs in the spider’s web, he shows them their sin. If you look at those or any other sin for that matter, you will find a common theme: ‘refusal to submit to the Lordship of God (Jesus Christ) and doing our own thing.’ 

That is sin in a nutshell! If we are not submitted to God, we give Satan a place in our lives. Whether it is all of our lives or a part of our lives. 

Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7 

The devil sets traps for his prey. While entrapment may be criminally illegal, the devil doesn’t care about legalities. He knows our weaknesses, what we may be susceptible to. That is why he is called the tempter.

Spiders often build webs in our homes! In our garden or somewhere else on our property. That is why we have to be on the alert. Keeping our eye out for those webs! 

When one is entrapped, they lose control. Stuck in a situation that makes them feel trapped. Deception is a spider’s 🕸 đź•·

Sin is a deadly poison! It is a rotten serpant egg! No matter how good it looks, if we ingest it, we could die! At the very least, become sick!

There is a way out, though. God, in his mercy, provided one for us. It is called repentance. Turning back to God. When we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and purify us from all the sin’s unrighteousness!

Jesus Christ is the propitiation for our sin! That means he took our place. Aren’t you glad that he did that? Otherwise, we would be stuck forever in the web of deception, eating rotten serpent eggs!  

If you need to get it right with the Lord today, why not seek him? He said in his word that he will never turn you away! No matter how far you’ve gone from him. He loves you and longs for you to turn to him for his forgiveness and healing. 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

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Tares: (Thief Series )

~ Kim Balogh ~ 1 Comment

Jesus relays a parable in the book of Matthew explaining what happens when we are ‘sleeping’ rather than watching in prayer. 

But be sure that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. Matthew 24:43 

Watchful is a term for being alert concerning spiritual matters, being attentively observant, and exercising care or restraint. 

That being said, I want to draw your attention to another type of thief that comes in when we sleep, both corporately as a body and as individual Christians.  

This thief comes along, and plants tares after the word of God is sown. 

  Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. Matthew 13:24 

This is a kingdom principle. When the seed, God’s word, is sown on the earth, the enemy comes along immediately to sow tares. You can know you are sleeping and not being watchful if you have yet to consider this spiritual principle. 

The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. Luke 8:11,12

 “So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.” Mark 4: 26-29

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. LUKE 8:11

Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 1 PETER 1:23

The enemy sows tares. The enemy, the devil, is a thief. He comes to kill, steal, and destroy. He does this by coming along after the seed is sown to sow his tares. 

What is interesting is the interpretation of the word tares. It is the Greek word zizanion. This is a type of Darnel that resembles wheat. Darnel, known as Lolium temulentum is a false grain. It is an annual plant of the Lolium, Poaceae family. Which are types of grass.

Darnel grows in the same areas as wheat. In fact, it looks so much like wheat that it is often mistaken as wheat. Darnel however is a toxic grass. 

Eaten in enough of a dose, Darnel can actually kill a person. Darnel seeds will make a person drunk. It was used at one time to make beer. 

The Latin word for Darnel is L. temulentum. It means ‘to get drunk’.  

Darnel looks similar to wheat until the ear appears. 

Farmers have to separate Darnel from the true harvest. Darnel today is removed by sorting machinery that separates it from wheat. 

On closer observance, wheat can be distinguished from Darnel. Darnel has thinner spikes than wheat. However, if Darnel is plucked out too soon, the true wheat will be damaged. 

At harvest time, the Darnel and wheat can be more easily distinguished. 

Watching in prayer is making sure the seed that is planted is indeed wheat. We do this by observation or discernment in the Spirit. 

Seeds can be separated before planting, but sometimes this process is difficult, so Jesus tells us to wait until harvest time. Then, it will become clear which is wheat and which is not.  

Sometimes people look and act like real Christians, or a ministry may seem to be of the Lord, or the message preached may seem sound, but after careful observance, we find that it is really Darnel, not wheat. 

Also, sometimes wheat and Darnel grow together. There is a mix, and we need to be able to separate. 

It is easier to spot a blatant false way than one that seems right but is slightly off. Since a little leaven will eventually grow, it’s best to separate ourselves from false wheat before we get choked out!   

One way to discern false wheat from true wheat is by comparing what the word of God says to what is being put forth. This is not so easy. Sometimes one must dig deeper to find false wheat. What looks true may be outright false or have some false attributes. 

All of us have been duped at one time or another by false wheat. That is because false wheat looks almost like true wheat. How can we know for sure what is true and what is false? 

By doing what Jesus said, ‘watching and observing’. We must look closely to see if something is off. The Bible gives us guidelines on what to look for in this regard. I am not addressing in this blog blatant doctrinal error or cultish behaviors, (although that is part of the Darnell problem); I am talking more about distinguishing what is Biblically true from what is almost true. 

Paul tells us that false teachers or false messages put people in bondage. Even if the word being presented has some truth in it, if that message is imposed upon another person, it becomes a work of law rather than an act of grace. 

Paul tells us not to impose our views or our conscience upon others. While some have a clear conscience about eating meat, others do not. Some may feel that wearing makeup, jewelry, tattoos, what one eats, or how one worships is wrong. If a view is imposed on another person, then it becomes to them a form of law. Even if that view is grace to us. (Romans 14:1-23)

Christians should always operate in a graceful spirit. That does not mean we give license to sinful behavior, it means being respectful and graceful in our operation toward others. Even if we do not agree with them or practice our relationship with the Lord in the same way. 

Let me give some examples. 

Some Christians feel to get up and pray every day at 5 o’clock in the morning. Nothing wrong with that, but if they impose it on others, then it becomes a form of spiritual abuse. Law is imposed rather than grace being exercised. 

That makes it, Darnell. False wheat. Why? Because everything, if it is not done in love with the objective of perfecting the saints for their spiritual growth, is law. 

The law brings death because no one can keep all of its stringent requirements! My grace may be someone else’s law! 

Paul tells us that whatever bothers our conscience is a sin! We don’t know another person’s issues, culture or life journey. To impose our lifestyle on other people becomes a sin! It does not matter if it’s a good thing or not! 

This Darnell I’m addressing is the Darnel of the law instead of grace. It can cover a whole bunch of things. The point is that grace is loving another person who does not live up to our standards! 

Now the guy who gets up and prays every day from 5 am until 6 am, then goes to work all day, and then gets up at 5 am the next day and does the same thing has a pattern of prayer that works for him. However, the retired grandma who spends all day in prayer has a different schedule.

She gets up and works in the garden, praying and worshipping. Then she prays as she cooks dinner, prays while she shops, prays after dinner in her rocker, and prays before bed. 

Shall Grandma impose that on all the people who have to work all day?  

What about the biker or gang member who gets saved and has tattoos all over them? Should we condemn that guy for having tattoos before he was saved? Impose our law or grace on him? 

What about the new believer addict in recovery? Should we impose a strict law-based schedule on that guy who doesn’t even know how to live straight, let alone adhere to a bunch of religious requirements? 

Do you see the point? Spiritual adherence without love is the law. It is a form of Darnell.

The Pharisees tried imposing their stuff on Jesus all the time. He called it obeying jots and tittles.  

Paul calls it ‘touch not, eat not, handle not’. (Colossians 2:21)

Legalism is Darnell disguised as wheat. 

Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment after loving God is loving others. 

Paul said that if we have faith to move mountains but don’t have love, then we are nothing.

Love is the greatest pursuit. God’s love is revealed through his grace. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

God’s grace teaches us to live godly. Living godly is being an example to others, not imposing our way of doing things on others.  

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

In conclusion, Darnell is fake wheat. It is poisonous. It can even kill.

The law kills, but grace through Jesus Christ brings life. This is the true wheat. God’s word in the flesh! The word of Grace!

God’s love that came down from heaven! 

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The Court of Heaven

~ Kim Balogh ~ 3 Comments


The Bible says there is a court in heaven. God opens his court to hear testimony.
God is the judge in his heavenly court.
God stands up to open heaven’s court. He pronounces judgement in the earth. TLB PSALMS 82:1

The word for court or ‘congregation’ is Edah. This word does not just mean a group of people. The TLB version says God’s court system is a council. Like a king’s court in which David or Solomon made judgments for the people’s concerns. Like a judge and jury.

Psalms 89:14
“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants.

The heavenly court operates much like our western common law court.

In a court of law for criminality, the prosecution brings forth a charge based on a broken law.

To prove the law was broken, there must be evidence presented.

The defense needs a good argument based on a set of defense standards to beat the charges.

Our defense in God’s court is to plead the blood of Jesus Christ once we confess and forsake our sins.

In a civil case, the opposition must have more evidence for or against it to win or lose a case. It’s called preponderance of evidence. In other words, the more evidence one has, the better to prove guilt or innocence.

In God’s court, the accuser (satan) sets out his case against us. He tells the court of God how we have violated the law somehow. He points out all our failures and inadequacies.

It is important to confess our sins before God and repent ASAP because it can be used against us in a court of law. God’s court.

If the accuser has legal precedence against us, we will reap the consequence of our sin. There is a correlation between a particular sin and a particular judgment in our lives. These are set out in scripture under the law.

The law cannot save us but it can call us out on our sins. The law is not abolished under the New Testament, but the sting of death brought forth by breaking the law is broken through the atonement of Jesus Christ.

Unconfessed sin is dangerous in a Christian’s life.

It causes a curse to operate. Scriptures call this the curse of the law. Breaking God’s law causes death. Spiritually, physically, emotionally, and materially.

Jesus came to redeem us from the curse of the law. All confessed, and repentant sin is redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Some Christians make excuses for having chaotic lives with trouble on their doorstep all the time. They argue, “well, we live in a fallen world.”

I know about the consequences of having sin in my life. I’ve had to learn things the hard way. Since I am old and wiser now, I can warn you to make sure you work out your salvation with the fear of the Lord always at your forefront. That is, don’t take anything in the Bible lightly. Disregarding the scriptures will cause you no end of grief.

Just because you may have been honest all your life but your mouth shoots off doubt, scorn, disbelief, accusations against others, gossip, slander, etc., this will cause demonic activity to flourish in your life. The tongue is a wicked member, but some Christians don’t take this seriously.

When I started doing some huck and chuck, my life got better. When I took God’s word more seriously, I had more success.

Jesus came to redeem us from the curse of the law. Not to let us wallow in sin with the world. Christians do have tribulation, but the Scriptures tell us there is deliverance. The devil will try to trip us up, but we have a way out. That way out is a sword.

In the story of Ester, when the wicked one wanted to kill all of God’s people, the King gave them a sword in order to defend themselves.

We have the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God to counter the accuser.

When MR. Devil tells you that you are a failure because you blew it too many times,you can take the sword of the Spirit and say…IT IS WRITTEN; Mr. Devil, that a righteous man, falls 7 times and gets back up again. That means I’m going to get this right, and you are a liar!

God will back you up.

That’s legal precedence for him to be able to kick the devil out of your life.

If Mr. Devil says, “oh, you are weak, sick, infirmed. You can’t possibly be of any use.”

Take the sword of the Spirit and give him a good one.

Mr. Devil, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Get behind me, in Jesus’ name.

The only thing that the devil listens to is the word of God. He has to. Its the word of God that holds all things together.

Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Hebrews 1:3

When we bring our legal precedence before God’s court, he will honor it.

If you believe that God’s word is more powerful than anything in the universe, you will see your life changed for the better. When you take God’s word and present it before the court of heaven, God will always honor it. He watches over his word to perform it. Be patient and give him time to work all things together for your good!

Don’t give Satan any place. Use the sword of the Spirit when he attacks. Keep a clean slate with the Lord. Plead the blood of Jesus over your life every day. Then the accuser will stay under your feet where he belongs.




Do you BELIEVE in Jesus?

~ Kim Balogh ~ 1 Comment

What does it mean to believe in Jesus?

When we use the word believe in English we assume it to mean the English definition.

However the New Testament was written in Greek so we must examine the Greek definition of the word believe.

The English definition for believe according to the Offord dictionary is:

To accept something as true. To hold an opinion about something.

There are many people today attending churches of all kinds of denominations who intellectually believe in Jesus Christ.

Some of them even believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. They may even believe that he is their Savior.

But is that the Biblical protocol for salvation?

I would argue that it is not.

According to the Greek definition of believe, it is more than having an intellectual assent to something.

Pistis is the Greek word for believe or faith.

The word means to trust in the reliability of. This trust occurs through intellectual agreement but carries on to assent or adhering to by trusting in. In other words believe or Pistis has two parts.

Understanding the concept of salvation through Jesus Christ BUT also through receiving Jesus Christ as Savior.

Accepting as true is the first part and receiving as true is the second part.

Some preach only the first part and leave out the second.

There is a difference in the words accept and receive. The English word used in the New Testament KJV is to receive Jesus as your Savior.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe (have faith) on his name. John 1:12

The word accept as a verb means to receive with a consent, with favor, or with approval.

In other words I accept the concept of salvation through Jesus Christ alone as true.

The word receive as a verb means to get, to be given something by some one.

I receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.

So as you can see, accepting Jesus Christ as Savior only means to approve of as true. Acknowledging a truth does not mean one has received that truth in a personal way.

I acknowledge the fact that Cheetah’s are the fastest cat on the planet. However, I do not have a Cheetah in my home because I have not received one. (not that I would want one, lol)

Scriptures tell us that it is not enough to believe intellectually in the gospel.

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. James 2:19

Accepting as true is not enough to constitute salvation.

When one accepts as true ALL concepts of salvation including REPENTANCE then salvation can occur.

However that requires receiving Jesus Christ as Savior.

How do we do that? We actually don’t. Remember that salvation is completely an act of God. Our part is to accept as true then it is God’s part to give. Then we receive the gift of salvation.

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. John 3: 8

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John 17: 1-4

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe (have faith) on his name. John 1:12

Let me try to illustrate this by an analogy.

If I believe that the president of the United States exists and that he is my president does that mean that I know him or her personally?

I may read every book written concerning  the president ever written. I may know every written fact about the president there is to know. I may even go to university and get a degree to make me an expert on the president’s life BUT do I know him in a personal way?

Have I had dinner at the president’s house? Shared personal experiences with the president?

Have I had an intimate relationship with the president?

If not then I do not really know the president. I know ABOUT THE PRESIDENT.

Jesus said in his word that having fellowship with him through the Holy Spirit brings us into a relationship with him.

However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. Romans 8:9

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. John 16:13

What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. John 1:3

God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9

To be born of God is to know God intimately. Like a man knows his wife or a child knows their Father. Its a personal know. Not just an intellectual know.

How do you know if you really belong to God and are not just intellectually convinced that Jesus Christ is Savior?

Scriptures tell us that we know we belong to God if we are being led by his Holy Spirit.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8:14-19

If we are suffering with him. (persecution)

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Romans 8:17

If the Holy Spirit bears witness to our spirit.

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. Romans 8:16

To bear witness (Martureo) means to give evidence, a good report, bear testimony.

This is done through the fruits of the Holy Spirit being evident in one’s life.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

A person born of God does not live in sin.

Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 1 John 3:6

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 John 2:15-17

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Matthew 7:16-20

As you can see, scriptures make it clear that those who belong to God bear Holy Spirit fruit in their lives. They do not act like the world or live like the world.

Having intellectual belief in Jesus Christ but living a life contrary to scriptures means one has a religious ideology but not a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

You must be born of God to inherit eternal life.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3

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What Is True Repentance?

~ Kim Balogh ~ 3 Comments

For salvation to occur, repentance is required.

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 13: 3

Salvation, yasa in Hebrew means to save, help in distress, rescue, deliver, set free.

This includes salvation from eternal death and anything that a believer needs saving from.

In particular, salvation refers to being saved from sin.

Sin is defined as “transgression of God’s law.”

In other words, violation of the law of God as set out in both the conscience and the Bible.

To be saved from our sins we must repent. In the Greek language, this word is, MetanoeĹŤ which means to think differently, reconsider, and feel moral compunction. (That is to feel guilty for doing something wrong)

True Repentance, according to the scriptures has several steps or parts.

For repentance to occur in our life we must recognize our sins.

Romans 7: 7-25 tells us that God’s law shows us our sins. When we see that we have failed to live up to God’s expectations as put forth in our conscience and in the word of God, we need to, first of all, recognize we have sinned against God. If we lie to ourselves, disregard the scriptures, and hide our sins we will not prosper. Also, if we do not listen to God’s word, eventually our sins will find us out. They will be exposed. Sometimes publicly, to others.

People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. Proverbs 28:13

But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out. Numbers 32: 23

Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Luke 12:2

For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. Luke 8:17

After we acknowledge our sin then we must confess our sin. That means owning up to our stuff. We can confess to God alone, or sometimes it is good to also confess to a friend we trust or a church leader we trust. This is so we can have prayer support.

Acknowledging our sins means taking accountability. We come to the realization that we messed up. The onus is on us, not the other guy. Even if they had a part in our sin. Our responsibility is to confess for our part in the matter.

In Psalm 32 David acknowledges his sin. That is he saw his sin for what it was. He recognized his failure to live up to God’s law. Then David said that he did not try to hide his sin. He looked at his failure well and called it for what it was. Breaking God’s law. 

Many of us have failed to take a good look at our actions, our thoughts and our motives. We justify our sin. 

“Well, you know they did such and such. They said such and such. I’m in the right. I had just a little slip.” 

Failure to own up to our sins will cause us to reap many consequences. Some of us think we are going through trials because God is proving us or it’s appointed for us to suffer, when in actuality, we have unconfessed sin in our hearts and we are reaping the results of our sins! 

Now I’m not saying there isn’t persecution for the righteous but trials we are going through many times are to deal with our stuff! Our bad attitudes, our justifications for wrong behavior, our slothful diligence in spiritual matters.

Jesus told us that Satan came to him but he couldn’t find anything in him to accuse him. That’s because Jesus had no sin. 

I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world comes, and he has nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father commanded me, even so I do. Arise, let us go from here. John 14: 30,31

Peter went through the fire. His heart was exposed. Peter denied Jesus three times. He failed many times in his faith, but he repented and became a mighty man of God! (Matthew 16:22-23)

David Committed adultery, lied, and murdered, but he also repented, and God used him to write the beautiful Psalms. 2 Samuel 11, 12

David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 2 Samuel 12:13

Paul persecuted Christians and even sanctioned their death. (Acts 9)

Just about every Bible character found out through their trial what was in their heart.

Even righteous Job found out he was not so righteous because God challenged him about it. (Job chapter 39)

When our sin is revealed to the light by God then we need to own up to it. 

We must recognize our sin as sin against God’s word, then we must confess our sin.

What does confess actually mean? In Hebrew yâdâh means to bemoan or be sorry for. That is having intense regret. To toss away as bad.  

In Greek confess is homologeĹŤ which means to acknowledge, but also to make a promise not to do the wrong behavior again. The word actually means making a covenant agreement.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3670/kjv/tr/0-1/

We agree with God that our sin is wrong. We agree we broke God’s law. We are sorry to the point of changing our behavior. Then we agree in a covenant or promise with God not to continue in that sin.

Some sins, however are so ingrained in us that we need supernatural divine intervention. Addictions are like that, but so are some cultural practices that differ from the word of God. Sometimes it’s our upbringing or training in violation of scriptures or our many years of thinking a certain way. 

Whatever the sin issue is, if we acknowledge that it is against God’s word, if we are sorry, if we want to change then we can work with the Holy Spirit to bring down the strongholds of sin in our life. 

Not everything is a quick deliverance fix. Some things need action from our decision and will. We then cooperate with Holy Spirit to be delivered entirely. This repentance fruit may take a process of time. It is up to us to make that first step.

Renouncing our sin makes the demonic powers who have had their hand in our sin somewhere know we mean business with God. 

Renounced is apeipomÄ“n in Greek. It means to disown or refuse to have a connection to. 

In other words, stop the sin, disconnect from the sin, or any demonic powers associated with that sin.

Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” John 8: 10,11

Finally, we must bring forth fruits of repentance. This means that if we are genuinely repentant, our lives will begin to reflect it. We will walk in the light of the Lord. Then those old sins will not have a hold on us anymore. 

Bring forth, therefore fruit worthy of repentance. Matthew 3:8

God’s blessings flow into our lives when we genuinely repent of our sins. The darkness will have no more control over us. Obedience to the word of God always brings blessings with it!  

If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments so as to carry them out, then I shall give you rains in their season, so that the land will yield its produce and the trees of the field will bear their fruit. Indeed, your threshing will last for you until grape gathering, and grape gathering will last until sowing time. You will thus eat your food to the full and live securely in your land. Leviticus 26:3-10

If only you had paid attention to My commandments!
Then your well-being would have been like a river, And your righteousness like the waves of the sea. Isaiah 48:18

He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” Luke 11:28

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Look to the Lord!

~ Kim Balogh ~ 1 Comment

For every need the answer given in the scriptures is, look to the LORD!

Even when Jesus prayed, he looked up to heaven.

Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. Matthew 14:19

What does it mean to look up to the LORD?

“Look up” in the Hebrew language is tsâphâh which means to peer into the distance, to observe, await, to keep watch.

Keeping that in mind, let’s take a look at “look up” in context.

Psalms 5:3 tells us that looking up is connected to prayer.

I will direct my prayer unto thee and look up.

I will watch and observe in prayer what the Lord says to me. I will wait for his direction, I will wait for his word.

Isaiah 8:17 tells us that the prophet says, he will wait and look to the lord for an answer to his prayer.

Isaiah 45:22 says that when we look with respect to the Lord, he brings salvation. God alone can save us from our sin, and save us from all trouble.

Zechariah 12:10 tells us that when the Spirit of grace and supplications are poured out from the Lord, it causes the nation of Israel to look up to the Lord.

We can see a spiritual principle here. Putting this together we find that when God’s mercy is released through the spirit of prayer, it brings revelation knowledge of Jesus Christ.

An important point to remember when praying for Israel but also for the lost of all nations.

The book of John reiterates this. Using the Greek word optanomai.
To look or gaze with awe and wonder.

 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. John 1:36-40

So we can see that this “looking” phenomenon is more than simply taking a look. It’s looking with respect, awe, and wonder. Like gazing into the eyes of the one you love!

Keeping this in mind let’s examine this “looking up” in the context of prayer.

Hebrews 12:2
Says looking unto Jesus. The Savior pierced for our sins who is the author and finisher of our faith.

Looking with awe and wonder with respect to the Lord, the author of our faith who is also the completer of our faith.

We must look to the Lord for our salvation which encompasses all the things we need to be saved from.

Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Psalm 105:4
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalm 34:5
 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. Isaiah 45:22

But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. Micah 7:7

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IS IGNORANCE A SIN?

~ Kim Balogh ~ 6 Comments

According to the Bible there are 2 kinds of ignorance. The first being innocent ignorance and the second being willful ignorance.

Innocent ignorance is still considered to be a sin, according to Jesus. In Luke 12:47,48, the Lord tells this story.

And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

In our common law which is based on Biblical law, citizens are expected to know what the law says, in general terms even if they do not know particulars.

Ignorantia juris non excusat is latin for ignorance of the law is no excuse. This is a legal principle which means that a person who is unaware of a law, may not escape liability for violating that law, just because they were uninformed concerning that law.

“Ignorantia Legis Neminem Excusat“, Manitoba Law Journal, Vol. 2, Issue 10 (October 1885), pp. 145–157

The Bible makes this principle clear in Numbers 15:22-30. Innocent ignorance is still considered a sin. Not as bad as willful disobedience but never the less, a sin.

But suppose you unintentionally fail to carry out all these commands that the LORD has given you through Moses. And suppose your descendants in the future fail to do everything the LORD has commanded through Moses. If the mistake was made unintentionally, and the community was unaware of it, the whole community must present a young bull for a burnt offering as a pleasing aroma to the LORD. It must be offered along with its prescribed grain offering and liquid offering and with one male goat for a sin offering. With it the priest will purify the whole community of Israel, making them right with the LORD, and they will be forgiven. For it was an unintentional sin, and they have corrected it with their offerings to the LORD—the special gift and the sin offering. The whole community of Israel will be forgiven, including the foreigners living among you, for all the people were involved in the sin.

If one individual commits an unintentional sin, the guilty person must bring a one-year-old female goat for a sin offering. The priest will sacrifice it to purify the guilty person before the LORD, and that person will be forgiven. These same instructions apply both to native-born Israelites and to the foreigners living among you.

But those who brazenly violate the LORD’s will, whether native-born Israelites or foreigners, have blasphemed the LORD, and they must be cut off from the community. Since they have treated the LORD’s word with contempt and deliberately disobeyed his command, they must be completely cut off and suffer the punishment for their guilt. TLB

Innocent sin is lesser in comparison to presumptuous sin, which is knowing something is wrong but in pride rejecting doing what is right or what the word says, due to weakness of the flesh.

Innocent sin is a lack of deep understanding of the seriousness of the sin involved. For example, the unbelief of the lost may in some cases be due to innocent ignorance, but is still considered to be sin according to God. This is because as Paul points out in Romans chapter 1, nature itself is a witness to the Creator plus nature teaches what is right and what is wrong. To defy God’s natural laws by rejecting them as untruth can be innocent ignorance but also may be willful ignorance, depending on the situation.

Willful ignorance is a graver sin. It is not as bad as presumptuous sin or deliberate sin, but it is sin never the less. Willfully ignorant is a legal term which means one who lacks the information or facts because they refuse to acknowledge them.

In criminal cases, willful ignorance is meant to substitute for actual knowledge: When the defendant does not actually know , but was willfully ignorant of it, courts may treat her as if she actually knew. Global-Tech, 131 S. Ct. 2060 at 2070.

Its the same principle in the Bible. The anti Christ spirit may be changing God’s laws today in order to excuse sin, but God’s law always trumps over the devil’s lies.

For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law. Romans 2:12

Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. James 4:7,

And Balaam said to the Angel of the LORD, “I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases You, I will turn back. Numbers 22:34,

God calls unbelief a sin. Thomas had innocent unbelief. He was not there when Jesus appeared to the other disciples, and was not going to take their word for his resurrection. When Jesus showed up he proved himself to Thomas, then Thomas believed. Jesus however, spoke into his unbelief. “Do not doubt but believe.” (John 20)

Scriptures tell us that without faith, that is trust in God’s word, the scriptures, it is impossible to please Him. Many say they “believe in Jesus” but they willfully reject his word. They deny his power, his deity, his laws.

To reject scriptures because one is told they are not relevant for today, or God doesn’t do that any more, or God approves of me anyway, or they put man’s word above God’s word, can be depending on the situation, innocent ignorance or willful ignorance. Either way, it is still sin.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him. James 12:32

However, they did not listen, but stiffened their neck like their fathers, who did not believe in the Lord their God. 2 Kings 17:4

Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins. John 8:24

So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief. Hebrews 3:19

In order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. 2 Thessalonians 2:13

But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Revelation 21:8

The spirit of pride is behind taking offense to God’s word. Many today in churches out right reject the Bible. Some reject portions of the Bible. They even persecute those who have faith in God’s word.

So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 1 Peter 2: 7,8

Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. Matthew 24: 9,10

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Mathew 5:10-12

The Bible tells us to be innocent of evil but to wise concerning what is good. Romans 16:19

We are called to pray for our understanding to be enlightened, so that we can know what is the hope of our calling, what is the riches of God’s inheritance that he has provided for us and to know what is the exceeding greatness of his power towards us who BELIEVE. Ephesians 1:18

We are called to walk, not in willful ignorance and unbelief, but by faith in Jesus Christ who loved us and gave himself for us!

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart. Ephesians 4:18

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Remedy For A Broken Heart

~ Kim Balogh ~ 1 Comment

In Exodus 6:1-9 we read that the Israelites could not hear God’s word that he wanted to deliver to them because they had a broken spirit.

Many times because we have been hurt or abused by someone emotionally or spiritually our ears become closed to the truth. Even if the truth is right there in the Bible staring us in the face! We will ignore it or simply outright deny it.

There are two ways to go when one has been abused. We can hold on to the grudge and allow a bitter root of judgment to set in or we can forgive and go to the Lord for healing.

Choosing to hold on to unforgiveness, resentment and unbelief can have effects on us physically. It can cause mental illness like depression, arthritis or rottenness of the bones as scriptures call it, as well as all manner of sickness.

By sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. Proverbs 15:13

Below are links confirming the Bible through science.

https://theconversation.com/you-really-can-die-of-a-broken-heart-heres-the-science-57442

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324090

https://marquemedical.com/damaging-effects-of-negativity/

God cannot heal us if we refuse to let go of hate, anger and revenge.

A broken spirit “dries the bones.” Proverbs 17:22

A broken spirit causes shame, confusion, disappointment, depression, withering or pining away.

The Bible gives us a remedy for a broken heart and a crushed spirit.

Psalms 51:17 tells us that the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.

Broken in the Hebrew is shâbar. It means to be broken in pieces, to burst, break down, bring to the birth, (trauma,) crush, destroy, hurt, quench, tear apart.

Ruach, is the inner spirit person or heart.

The meaning of sacrifice is to “offer up.”

When we offer up to the Lord our broken heart he will bring healing. The first stage of healing is to see if there is any part we may have played in the offense or abuse. If we provoked our situation in any way we need to repent and stop the behavior.

Then we must forgive. To forgive is to let go of the offense. Don’t hold anything against that person. If we take matters into our own hands by revenge, like slandering, cursing, or putting our hand to the person, we will only add more trouble to our grief. The Lord asks us to forgive others so he can forgive us.

We need to allow the Lord to revenge or bring correction into the situation instead of playing God by taking matters into our own hands.

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 5:32

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. Matthew 11:25

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Matthew 6:14

The next stage to healing is to draw near to the Lord. As we draw near to Jesus, he will draw near to us.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8-10, 

The Lord draws near to the one with a broken heart and a contrite or crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18
The Lord does not despise them or look down on them.

After the Lord Jesus ministers his grace, healing, deliverance to us as he sees fit because we are all different, then it is time to build up the walls around our heart.

Proverbs 15:13 tells us that without control over our spirit, that is without being able to influence or manage our heart, it is like a city with no walls. The heart is not protected from danger.

How is this building up walls around our heart done? By renewing our mind with God’s word. Whatever scriptures are needed to counter act those negative thoughts and emotion we can apply them to our lives.

We do this by praying the word of God into our heart, meditating on the word, (thinking on those scriptures) and by praying for those who have hurt us! When we know deep in our heart the truth, then the truth will set us free indeed!

Give your broken heart to God! He is the healer!

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More Than Conquerors

~ Kim Balogh ~ 3 Comments

When the Bible tells us that Christians are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ, what exactly does that mean? Let us, first of all, examine what the word conquer means. According to the dictionary, to conquer means to defeat or subdue by force. Especially by force of arms. To overcome or surmount physical, mental, or moral force.

Romans chapter 8 tells us that we are more than conquerors. To be more than something means to exceed. To go beyond a gain.

We are more than conquerors because Jesus Christ has conquered. He won the battle and we are now situated in his victory.

According to Romans chapter 8, we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ, over all these things: over the flesh, the sufferings of this present time, having patience, perseverance and hope until the redemption of our bodies, condemnation, persecution, and tribulation of all kinds.

Romans 8 tells us that we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ because the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.

How does the Holy Spirit help us conquer?

Through Holy Spirit inspired prayer!

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26,27

In this present time of tribulation which we have in this world, not only will that tribulation never separate us from God’s love but it will in fact work together for our good. According to Romans 8, we are predestined to be conformed to or fashioned into the Lord’s likeness.

All the tribulations of this life keep us dependent on the Lord, they increase patience, help us see our weakness, brings us to repentance in areas of sin, give us spiritual insight, increase wisdom, develop experience, and bring hope.

Tribulation works the things we experience in such a way that it increases our trust in the Lord. We learn to rejoice through every trial we are brought through because we know that the victory is the Lord’s! He always turns things around for our good!

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. Psalms 34:19

Prayer is the key to deliverance from every trial! Holy Spirit-inspired prayer will work every situation out in our favor. For our good and for our spiritual growth. For we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ who loved us and gave himself for us!

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-38

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Search out a Matter

~ Kim Balogh ~ Leave a comment

 The Bible tells us that a wise person will look well to their going. In other words, a person who uses wisdom will ensure they search out a matter before jumping to a conclusion. 

The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going. Proverbs 14:15

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. proverbs 25:2

Unfortunately, some people believe everything they hear if it is a popular “bandwagon.”

They will follow the leader, eating whatever meal is served to them. The book of Acts talks about the Bereans, who were more noble than others. According to Paul, these Bereans actually searched out the scriptures, checking to see if the apostles were telling them the truth. 

Acts 17, “These (Berea) were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily whether those things were so.” 

It is interesting to note that the apostles never got offended that a group of people did not just take their word verbatim. They rejoiced that these Bereans did a Bible study to see if what the apostles were saying lined up with the scriptures in their entirety or not. 

If we get offended because someone challenges our doctrine or belief system by checking it out, we are more interested in our pride than the truth. 

Also, if we defend our doctrinal position based on tradition rather than truth, we are saying that we prefer familiarity over truth. 

Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish. Proverbs 12:1

The Bible tells us to compare spiritual things with spiritual things. Not just take an isolated scripture and build a doctrine out of it. Nor, for that matter, should we trust a group of people with the same agenda to give us the complete truth. No matter what “council” they belong to.

Scriptures need to be examined according to their original language and intent and comparing author to author. Does the doctrine have consistency between authors, and does it flow with the whole picture?

Scriptural doctrines are often built on inferences and bias rather than the truth of the scriptures. If something is NOT explicitly stated in scripture, then making it official church doctrine is not a good idea. I do not agree with some “church doctrine” that is not essential but never the less important to which the majority adhere.

Many Christians will have a bird with you if you disagree with their “official” church doctrine. Most Christians do not base their “truth” on evidential evidentiary facts but on a popular bandwagon theology. If you disagree with them, they will label you a heretic.

It seems to me that Jesus had a hard time convincing a religious group that he WAS the truth and they were wrong about their beliefs concerning Messiah. Why was this? As Jesus said, “Having neglected the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.” Mark 7:8

 I have debated with some of these ‘scholars’ who don’t have enough evidence to convince me they hold the truth.

That being said, my point is that it is up to the teacher to teach doctrine scripturally based, but it is up to the student to do a Bible study to see if the teacher is teaching is correct. 

However, it is not required of either teacher or student to argue with a person who wants to believe what they want to believe. All that is required is to do the teaching and leave the outcome to God.

As the scriptures tell us, “If any be ignorant, then let them be ignorant. ” 1 Corinthians 14: 38

Since teachers are to be judged more harshly than other ministries, it is essential to teach according to the consistency of scripture. Then with a clean conscience, we leave our assessment for God.

Since we are all human and susceptible to human frailties, we occasionally make mistakes, and when convinced of error, we must be quick to make it right. 

Keep in mind that cultural differences may interpret scriptures biasedly or at least from a different perspective. A person from India may see an issue in a different light than someone from America, for example. The Lord does allow some flexibility in how we interpret some matters. He said that something may be a sin to one person while to another, it is not. Everyone must be convinced in their own mind. That is, of course, with minor Biblical issues. 

Another point to mention is the different personalities and giftings of people. One focus of biblical studies may be different from another’s focus. I recently read a book by a wonderful old saint from the past who, not being an eschatology expert, interpreted a scriptural topic based on personal experience rather than biblically based doctrine. Coming out of much suffering and ministering to the persecuted church, she rejected the pretribulation rapture doctrine. The scripture she gave was that we are “appointed to tribulation.”

While this is true, she failed to understand that tribulation and THE TRIBULATION are different concepts. THE TRIBULATION or “Jacobs trouble” is when God deals with Israel. It is a 7-year time period. Christians are appointed to suffer for Christ’s sake, but THE TRIBULATION, according to many end-time students, including myself, believe it is a specific 7-year period.

Lastly, we can all agree on objective truth. Certain things in scripture are black and white. Bottom line. No two ways about it. Just the way it is, it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from; objective truth is truth. God expects us to keep it that way. 

In conclusion, both the teacher and the student must look well to their going. Search out a matter. Dig into the word with all readiness of mind to find the truth for yourself. 

The teacher is constantly learning, and the student is always learning. Both the wise teacher and the wise student will make it their life ambition to sit at the master’s feet and continue to learn. Then they can be a workman not ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

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