"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people."  2 Timothy 3:1-5

Our world is getting weirder and weirder every minute. Most people are rebellious and self-centered and just focused on what's for #1. They go with the flow of the world, and whatever is fashionable or acceptable, most people accept them, too. No questions asked. Most people want to belong and be part of what's everybody and anybody are doing. If the society believes the choices are right, then most people think they are right to them, too, if that's what the world said. They don't research or find out if they are following the right path.

We surely are in the end times. Most people think that we are progressing as people based of what we can have now and freely do, but in reality most people and the world are regressing (the act of reasoning backward from an effect to a cause). Most people do not have morals anymore. The generation right now came from the drugs and sex revolution of the 60's. I wonder what the current young generation's future children will be? Truly a scary thought!  

"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.  For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever". 1 John 2:15-17

Romans 1:28 "Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
1:29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips,
1:30 Slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;
1:31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
1:32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these things but also approve of those who practice them."
 

In the scripture above, the Apostle Paul paints a grim picture of reprobates -- those who have rejected the Lord and have embraced a lifestyle of sin. He makes it clear that God condemns such evil behavior. "They persist in doing these things, knowing that those who do such things deserve death" (Rom 1:32).

As Paul described this evil conduct, we might expect to find mention of such vile things as greed, deceit, adultery, murder and so forth. But please take note of the other inclusions -- especially the mention of "gossip and slander." Does this come as a surprise? Paul said that gossips and bad-mouthers were in the same league as murderers, sexual perverts, and God haters -- and that such sins were worthy of a death sentence!

"Slander" is a word that has an interesting origin. It comes from the word "Devil." According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, slander means "malicious talk; to spread damaging information; to defame; to speak ill of." Is it no wonder where slander derives it’s name? Slander is the work of the Devil, and those who slander are on his team. In fact the Bible says that Satan is called the "accuser of the brethren" (Rev. 12:10). Are you an accuser of the brethren too? If so, even though it may not be your intention, you are being used an agent of the Devil! According to scripture, any Christian who’s mouth is out of control does not have a right relationship with God. "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight reign on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless" (James 1:26).

"Gossip" is derived from the idea of "whispering." According to the same dictionary, "gossip" means "To indulge in idle talk or rumors about others; spreading of sensational stories." Funk and Wagnals dictionary defines it as "Idle, or malicious talk about others." As we can see, gossip is a close cousin to slander, and God’s Word places both in the same cupboard as murder and other wickedness -- sins worthy of death.

Let me ask, as a Christian do you occasionally slip up and commit a murder here or there? Or how about theft -- do you occasionally burglarize a home or steal things from the store? You may think this is silly to ask. Of course, a Christian lifestyle doesn’t behave that way. But how about gossip or slander? Do you engage in idle talk or rumors about others? Do you participate in bad-mouthing or spreading rumors about others? According to the Bible, which sin is less severe? Murder or gossip? I’m sure you get the message. Paul said, BOTH are sins equally worthy of death.

The Apostle Peter, also used murder as a comparison with another, sometimes under-rated sin. "But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters" (1 Peter 4:15). Notice that a "busybody" is placed in the same company as "murderers, thieves, and evildoers." The dictionary defines a busybody as "a meddler; a person who seeks confidential information about others; a snoop; a nosy person."

A busybody is another close relative to gossip -- a person who meddles in the affairs of others. They are like a peeping-tom who snoops and spies. A busybody is the investigator for the gossips and rumormongers, seeking to uncover sensational details and to whisper the latest news. Sometimes busybodies are persons who have too much time on their hands, with nothing better to do than to talk too much. "Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to" (1 Tim. 5:13).

Not Just a Little Bad Habit

By now I’m sure that you realize that anything which is placed in the same category as murder must be a serious sin -- something that should not be taken lightly. But unfortunately, Christians do not usually consider gossip and it’s related activity as sin.

In over two decades of ministry, I’ve encountered scores of Christians who don’t seem to think gossip is wrong -- who are obsessed as busybodies, gossips, and bad-mouthers, and have caused irreparable damage to the body of Christ. I could fill books with the stories of anguish and grief inflicted to hapless victims. "The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts" (Prov. 26:22). Mean, vicious accusations and rumors have ripped out the heart and soul of many fellow Christians and leaders, draining them of their love, enthusiasm, and their desire to live for God. It has split churches, created strife, and promoted division and turmoil. "Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down" (Prov. 26:22).

Sadly, some have said that "the Church" is the only army that kills its wounded. Regrettably, this has sometimes been true. Brothers who have needed our love, forgiveness and encouragement have been mutilated by gossip and evil talk. Is it no wonder that gossip is equal to murder? It is nothing less than verbal rape and assassination.

What we must realize is, gossip is more than a little bad habit. Gossip is wicked and sinful -- a seething disease of corruption from the mouth. Gossips use their mouth as a weapon -- a weapon which is always aimed at people to fulfill Satan’s desires to "steal, kill, and destroy" (John 10:10). "With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor" (Prov. 11:9). Gossip is an enemy to God and everything called holy -- a cancer which spreads a deadly infection to the body of Christ. Not only did Paul place a gossip in the same league with murderers and sexual deviates, but Jesus warned that for those who would offend his little ones, it would be better for them to be bound with a millstone and drowned in the sea (Mark 9:42). Surely, a harsh and horrible punishment awaits those unrepentant gossips who harm followers of Jesus.

How to recognize Gossip
 

Gossip is one of the most dangerous sins because it is so subtle and ambiguous -- many are unable to recognize it. Be on alert against gossip whenever you hear of "secret information" being circulated, or if you hear anyone else’s name is used in a conversation. Gossip exists whenever persons "talk about others" in less than a favorable way. The root of gossip is negativeness, judgementalism, slander, etc. Avoid associating with people who gossip "A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much" (Prov. 20:19). You probably remember the old saying: "If you can’t say something good about others, don’t say anything at all." Wise advice if you wish to avoid sin.

Gossip often masquerades as "concern" for others. Rumors or gossip will seem more palatable if they first hide behind a pretentious expression of concern. "I hate to say anything about this to you, but I’m ’concerned’ about so and so." At other times the gossiper will seek you out as their "confidante" to unload their "heavy heart" about their concerns. "I’m very troubled about so and so and I don’t know who else to talk to about it." In reality, the gossip is not sincerely concerned about solving the problem, only in talking about it -- stirring it up. "A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends" (Prov. 16:28). A gossip thrives on the negative, the controversial, and the sensational. Any person who is genuinely concerned about solving a problem, will go and privately confront the person at the source and express their concern. Or else they should go privately to the pastor so he will do it.

The gossip is like a spider looking for a prey to lure into their trap of gossiping. They may confide to you secrets or their private concerns about other people. Perhaps in consolement, you may express your half-hearted agreement with their concerns, or you may even be enticed to confide your secret concerns to them. Consequently, the gossip will eventually repeat the process with someone else -- but next time, they will add your name as an endorsement of their private "issue," and will eventually even disclose the secrets you shared to them. And on and on it goes.

There are times when people need to confide their own problems with a friend in the Lord. But avoid revealing anything to a person who gossips -- they can’t be trusted. "A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret" (Prov. 11:13).

Things to remember about gossip
 

• Gossip is as sinful as murder and will suffer the same consequences unless there is repentance (Rom. 1:32).
• God holds you accountable to your words (Matt. 12:36-37).
• The person who gossips to you about others, also gossips to others about you.
• Gossip & slander disqualifies persons for spiritual leadership (1 Tim. 3:11, Jas. 3:2).
• Gossip often masks as pretentious concerns for others.
• Gossip often thrives upon secrecy. Where secrecy is removed, gossip is hampered.
• Gossip always contributes to a problem and never to a solution.
• Gossip always distorts and exaggerates, and is never a reliable source of truth.
• Those who gossip & slander are not in right fellowship with God (Rom. 1:28-32).
• Those who gossip rarely get answers to prayer, and often face persistent, unexplainable problems (Psalms 66:18, Prov. 21:23, Prov. 6:12-15).

What to do about Gossip
 

• If you have been a gossiper, confess this as sin and ask Christ to forgive you. "Repent" by turning in a new direction and surrendering your tongue to Christ, not to gossip or bad-mouth again (1 John 1:9, 1 Cor. 7:10).
• Keep your nose out of other people’s business.
• If you can’t say something good or encouraging about others, then keep your mouth shut (Eph. 4:29).
• Never criticize another person, except to their own face with an intent to help. Criticism can never be "constructive" if expressed to anyone else.
• If your "friends" start bad-mouthing others to you, stop them in their tracks -- refuse to be a partaker of their sins (1 Tim 5:22).
• Avoid association with persons who gossip (Prov. 20:19).
• Expose works of darkness by reporting gossip to the pastor that he may confront and offer correction. Gossip should be treated as any other vile sin (Eph. 5:11).
 
 

"I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence" (Psalms 39:1).

This article (VL-147) is copyrighted © by Dale A. Robbins, 1990

Have you recently heard the rantings and cursing of Mel Gibson in a leaked voice recording? This is an example of a man whose heart condition is totally distorted by the devil, his true character shows for everyone to hear. Of course, after he asks for forgiveness in public to people he offended (but had never asked God for same because he keeps on repeating his offenses, just different people and more prideful and arrogant), it will not be blamed on Mel eventually by his doctors and the media; but his actions will be rationalized as a manic depressive mood swing, in short, he is bipolar, just like the rest of the  mentally and emotionally challenged people of the world; and needs medical help, that's all.

What Mel really needs is getting down to his knees, close to the level of the ground, humble himself  to God and recognize his true need for a Savior. To completely turn around and renew his mind and have a true relationship with Jesus Christ. He claims that he believes in God and that he is saved. Far from it according to Jesus Christ. More and more of Mel's ungodly and sinful actions beg to differ. 

^{Matthew 7:23} Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' This is the exact word of Jesus to those who are evildoers. Don't be deceived. Evildoers are not just those who worship the devil. Evildoers can have his own church, he can produce Christian films, like The Passion of the Christ; but his heart is very far away from God. Mel Gibson's actions, words and his rantings tell me so that he is an evildoer as described by Jesus.

As Proverbs 16:18 of the Holy Bible says: "Pride precedes a disaster, and an arrogant attitude precedes a fall." Proverbs 11:4 "Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death." Mel Gibson needs to start assessing his self-righteousness and hopefully, through all this, He turns to God and seeks Christ righteousness instead.

"Hypocrites and false believers have no place in the kingdom of God. Those who approach God believing that their actions will save them without true faith will be rejected. It is quite possible to carry out the letter of God's law, but IGNORE THE SPIRIT of it. Anyone who thinks they can earn their way into heaven without truly believing in Christ will be turned away." from Gospel.com

Mel Gibson reminds me of Saul of Tarsus, the one that is referred to now as Saint Paul of the Roman Church. Paul was passionate in killing the early followers (better known as the Jewish Christians) of Jesus Christ because he did not believe what Jesus has done to save us sinners. He believed that Jesus was a fake and a blasphemer of the Roman Empire and the Mosaic Law, now known as Torah; and what it represented.

Saul, better known now as Paul was a Jew by virtue of his birth, but a Roman citizen and worked for the Roman Empire as a pharisee (an ancient Jewish sect that emphasized strict interpretation and observance of the Mosaic law (God's Ten Commandments) in both its oral and written form). A pharisee is also known as a self-righteous man, proud and arrogant and only believed that salvation comes from their form of religion. Mel Gibson said the same thing-- that salvation is attainable only through his church he believes in. Mel is a good example of a hypocrite ( A person who pretends to be good, pious or sympathetic without really being so.) Aren't we finding this now about Mel?  After his rantings against the Jewish people when he was arrested for DUI that the Jews are the cause of wars of the world.

It could be partly true, but it's more jealousy against the Jews that nations hate and caused wars against the Jews. The Jews are the chosen people of God. For God Himself consider them to be His chosen people up to this day. And that's the hidden agenda of other nations that passionately hate the Jews to the point of wanting to annihilate and remove them on the face of the earth.  History can never be changed. What God wanted the Jewish people to be is humble, to be examples to the world in holiness. To be the people that God wants to spread His Gospel of Salvation. Other nations cringed out of disgust because of this truth. They cannot accept this fact, so they want to kill Jews and Christians, as well. Can Mel Gibson be as narrow minded as these other nations?

What Mel Gibson does not understand is Jesus Christ is a Jew. The twelve disciples of Jesus Christ were also Jews, that became the early Jewish Christians who originally spread Jesus Christ Gospel of Salvation. Christianity originated from the Jews, no matter how you look at this, Salvation comes from the Jews. Even Jesus Christ said so. Mel Gibson needs to know that whatever it is that this world believes derogatorily against the Jewish people, we owe it to the Jews that we know the existence of God and His Love, Faithfulness and Mercy and we learned about Salvation through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. That's the truth about this whole thing of Christianity. Jesus did not change this fact, He fulfilled this Truth through the Jewish people. The early Christians, which are the messianic Jews and Jews for Jesus now; did not keep the Truth about Salvation through Faith ALONE in Jesus Christ to themselves. They shared it to the world of the Gentiles, as well as the Jews. The sinful nature through jealousy and hatred of mankind would not accept that truth, so they came up with all kinds of ideas through their man made religions through the ages. It's written in the history of mankind, the bare essential truth of people against true Christianity.

Jesus said on John 4:22 "You don’t know what you’re worshiping. We Jews know what we’re worshiping, because salvation comes from the Jews." Aren't that statement from Jesus Christ Himself clear as a bell? We can try to change history and preach the wrong Gospel and interpret the Gospel to our own liking, but nothing can change the fact that Jesus Christ Himself who we need for our own Salvation and all about Christianity, came from the Christian Jews. They are still Jews no matter how we assess the whole thing. The Scriptures written in the Holy Bible from the Old and New Testaments are written by the Chosen People of God- the Hebrews that God called Israelites and God intended to give the Promised Land to the Jews as their own and named it Israel. It's us GENTILES that screwed up everything that God has intended to happen for the Jewish people. It is us GENTILES who made the Jewish people inferior and shied away from their Messiah.

Ultimately, God has the say. God is the ruler of this earth and whatever He decides to do, there's nothing we can do. But God in His long suffering and endless mercy let the inhabitants of this earth live this long on earth. But God is not sitting in His Throne next to Jesus Christ just watching us. God is working behind the scenes. His plans and purposes for this earth is still going forth. We are in the end times and;  if you are following God's prophecies, God's chosen people are back in their promised land. Slowly, some Jews are turning to and accepting Jesus Christ as their Messiah and their Lord. Have you heard about the Messianic Jews or Jews for Jesus? They are growing in numbers. God has predicted this to happen and eventually when Jesus Christ comes back the second time around with the Sword of God's Truth  right there in Jerusalem; wherein all the Jews will finally accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and their Savior. So you see, Mel Gibson-- Salvation is not only for the GENTILES like us. God offered His Gift of Grace of Salvation first to the Jews and has never changed His mind, because God is an unchanging God; His plan and His purposes are still on the roll.

Mel Gibson is part of God's plan but He is so arrogant and proud; but sooner or later, hopefully sooner, Mel will realize his self-righteousness is in the way between him and God. Mel who is one of the Sauls of Tarsus of our times will be stopped cold  in his tract by Jesus Christ Himself. Hopefully not after Mel Gibson faces God's wrath, but instead in his lifetime here on earth.

Saul on his way to Damascus had an experience of a lifetime that changed him to what he had become. He had a personal manifestation and revelation from Jesus Christ and Jesus appeared in person to him, blinded him temporarily and the rest is history. Saul who changed his name to Paul had become a zealous and ardent worker and leader for the early Christian ministry movement which were all Jews for Jesus and Messianic Jews (whichever you prefer to call the early Christian Jews) and; so was Paul, a converted Christian Jew. Paul was ready to die for Jesus. Mel Gibson needs to read about Paul of Tarsus. What Paul had done to make true Christianity what it is now-- his belief that we only need Jesus Christ for our salvation. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross is enough for Salvation for those who will believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior to lead them directly to heaven. Paul believed that Salvation is for everyone, Jews and Gentiles are one in Christ. Paul, who was guided by Jesus Christ, preached that salvation is through FAITH on Jesus Christ alone and no deeds or works are involved in our Salvation. And if we want to work for God after our Christian conversion, we do it heartily because it is out of our love for Him, our gratefulness that God in His GRACIOUS desire to save us from damnation of hell gave us Jesus as a permanent atonement to reconcile us with God and bridged our way to a personal and intimate relationship with God.

Paul can relate to it because in his faith in Jesus Christ alone, God had forgiven him, a murderer of several Jewish Christians of his time. Eventually, Paul was crucified on the cross by Rome, which Paul accepted as absent from his body but finally present and joyful spending his eternal life with Jesus Christ. Paul's death was not in vain on earth though. He converted a lot of gentiles from different nations to true Christianity. He finished his work that Jesus Christ, who he persecuted, wanted him to do. Paul's letters and his undying love for Christ can be read in the New Testament. Paul's extensive work and love for Jesus Christ are in the Books of Acts, Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy.

Don't stay a "Saul" for the rest of your life; change your ways Mel Gibson. Come to Jesus without your pride and arrogance. With your repentance heart, let Jesus HEAL you from inside out. Let Him completely take over your life, completely surrender your will to Him. God will take you places better than those you had gone to and still-- you're left empty and a broken man. Leave your celebrity status behind. Rely on Jesus ALONE for your Salvation, strip your life with your deeds and works for God that are not pleasing nor satisfying God. Faith in Jesus Christ alone is what God wants you to have. Ask God for His wisdom to understand His plan and His purposes for you. God is reaching out to you by using people to completely bring you down to your knees and acknowledge that you need a Savior. God loves you so much that He doesn't want you to be set in your ways of false belief about Him. God wants to share with you His true nature through His Son, Jesus Christ.

The Whisper of the Dragon

 

SPEAKER: Shawn Boonstra

The Forbidden Word: SIN

The book of Leviticus, with its message about the severity of sin, is not politically correct in today's culture. We may see ourselves as making mistakes, committing errors or having a lapse of judgment, but few people envision themselves as sinners. Journalist Bryan Appleyard says, "Sin doesn't really exist as a serious idea in modern life."

In fact, we live in a blame-shifting culture; we tend to evade responsibility for our actions and point the finger at everyone else--especially society or early childhood trauma -- for our behavior. As one scholar notes, therapists "make it a point of professional honor never to express moral judgments, so the word 'fault' -- let alone the word 'sin' -- will never pass their lips." British theological consultant Alan Mann says that the phrase "It's not your fault" has become a major theme in the way we tell the contemporary story of human responsibility.

One of the problems with this kind of relativism (a theory that conceptions of truth and moral values are not absolute but are relative to the persons or groups holding them) is that it denies there's any moral standard to shoot for. Consequently, there's no failure in meeting that standard -- so then why would we need Jesus? Why would we need a savior? Why do we need rescuing? Why do we need redemption?

Despite many of our therapeutic attempts to deal with human nature, the problem of evil in the human heart is something that keeps making realists of us. G. K. Chesterton described sin as being a fact as practical as potatoes. He said the doctrine of original sin is the only Christian doctrine that can be empirically verified -- just look at the evening news on any given day. The Christian faith talks about human sinfulness and rebellion against God, which we readily see demonstrated throughout the world.

If you take the therapeutic approach, then you're going to treat the killings at Columbine or the 9/11 terrorist attacks as being perpetrated by those who are aberrations (a disorder or abnormal alteration in one's mental state). The killers failed to reach their full potential, which is why they were prompted to commit these atrocities. Some Eastern philosophies might say the problem is ignorance.

Yet those are hollow explanations for the depths of evil that exist around us. To simply gloss over these evil acts by using psychological categories is utterly inadequate to account for them. Sin is a better explanation: we are preoccupied with ourselves and do things the way we want rather than as God wants, which produces destructive results.

Until we bring sin back into our vocabulary, we're not going to take the depths of evil or our moral responsibilities -- or God -- seriously. We don't simply need more therapy to resolve our issues in this fallen world. We need to acknowldge our own guilt and humble ourselves in asking for forgiveness. Otherwise, the therapeutic mindset relives us from making any sort of moral judgments about others or ourselves. It relieves us of taking responsibility for our actions.

There is a moral gap -- an ideal we have fallen short of -- and we need outside assistance to bridge it. We need someone to break into our human situation, someone who can bring forgiveness, who can bring healing, and who can assist us in living the lives we ought to but can't on our own.

from: The Case for Christ Study Bible/the case for Faith

"When anyone is guilty in any of these ways, he must confess in what way he has sinned." Leviticus 5:5

A person cannot truly love others until he/she develops intense love for God. Until he/she truly knows God's heart and sees the world the way He sees it. Then a person would start seeing why God said that 'no one is good, everyone falls short in His glory.' Then a person will see that humans are all in the same SINKING boat, no exception, until Jesus Christ pull a person out of that sinking boat. Hard to fathom?

The Good News of Jesus Christ

Hebrews 10:14 "With one sacrifice He (Jesus) accomplished the work of setting them apart for God forever. (Good News for us because if we are in Christ, though we continually sin, because as we think and our hearts are deceitful, so are we and our actions; when we have Jesus as our Lord and Savior, Jesus continually cleanse us and pleads to God for our sins, Jesus doesn't give up <though this does not mean we have the license to sin> on those whose hearts are receptive to God's calling to be what He wants us to become-- holy in His eyes, not the world's eyes. as God is the One that see's the true condition of our hearts.)

In Deuteronomy 12:23 we discover that God considered blood to hold the very life of a creature. But by God's decree, instead of requiring the Israelites' lives as the price for their sins, animal sacrifices (such as those described in Leviticus 1) were to be offered as a replacement, and the blood of the animal atoned for their sins. This ritual needed to be repeated continually because the Israelites continually sinned (as do we) and the blood of a mere animal was not sufficient to take away sins (see Hebrews 10:3-4).

However, Jesus' blood covered all sins of all people of all times. His divine status enable Him to atone for all sins in one sacrificial act. This "lamb" that took away the sin of the world (see John 1:29) had been foretold for hundreds of years (see Isaiah 53:7-12) and replaced the temporary payment of animal sacrifice with a permanent payment that completely satisfied God's righteous wrath (see Hebrews 10:8-12).

from: The Case for Christ Study Bible

Turning from Doubting

You cannot perhaps hinder the suggestions of doubt from coming to you any more than you can hinder someone in the street from swearing as you go by; consequently you are not sinning in the one case any more than in the other. Just as you can refuse to listen to the doubts or join in with them. They are not your doubts until you consent to them and adopt them as true. When they come you must at once turn from them.

Give up your liberty to doubt forever. Put your will in this matter over on the Lord's side and trust Him to keep you from falling. Tell Him all about your weakness and your-encouraged habits of doubt and how helpless you are before them. Then commit the whole battle to Him. Tell Him you will not doubt again, putting forth all your will power on His side and against His enemy(the devil) and yours. Then "keep your eyes on Jesus" (Hebrews 12:2), looking away from yourself and away from your doubts, holding fast the profession of your faith without wavering, because He who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23). (One specific Promise of God is the Promise of Salvation through Jesus Christ alone, that though we will die, our eternal soul will live forever spending eternity in heaven with God and His Son) Rely on His faithfulness, not on your own. You have committed the keeping of your soul to Him as the faithful Creator, and you must never again admit the possibility of His being unfaithful. (How can you not love God in return?)

Cultivate a continuous habit of believing, and sooner or later all of your doubts will vanish in the glory of the absolute faithfulness of God. (How can you not love God in return, when His PROMISES are TRUE, and nothing is impossible to Him. Know God's unbroken Promises in the Old and New Testaments and be secure and confident that with God on our side, who can be against us? but our own selves who doubt in His Promises.)

from: Women's Devotional Bible  

Hebrews 10:14 (The Messsage) Every priest goes to work at the altar each day, offers the same old sacrifices year in, year out, and never makes a dent in the sin problem. As a priest, Christ made a single sacrifice for sins, and that was it! Then he sat down right beside God and waited for his enemies (as children of God's wrath, we were His enemies) to cave in. It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people. By that single offering, he did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in the purifying process. The Holy Spirit confirms this:

   This new plan I'm making with Israel
      isn't going to be written on paper,
      isn't going to be chiseled in stone;
   This time "I'm writing out the plan in them,
      carving it on the lining of their hearts."
He concludes, 
I'll forever wipe the slate clean of their sins.
Once sins are taken care of for good, there's no longer any need to offer sacrifices for them.

The Radiant Face of Moses

Moses was God's chosen spokesperson. In fact, Moses had an intimate relationship with God. "The Lord woud speak to Moses face to face, as a man speak with his friend" (Exodus 33:11); see also Deuteronomy 34:10). And these verses in Exodus state that God entrusted Moses to record the Ten commandments. Although it's clear that Moses recorded the covenant, how do we know he wrote the first five books of the Bible?

One answer is the unequivocal consensus throughout the Bible of Moses' authorship. The first five books of the Bible are often called the Law of Moses and clearly credit Moses with authorship. Ezra 7:6 confirms Moses as the author when it refers to "the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given." God's people were often commanded to obey the Law of Moses so that they would prosper (see, for example, 1 Kings 2:3). Even Jesus confirmed Moses as the Pentateuch's author when He said, "Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms" (Luke 24:44). Because of 2 Timothy 3:16 - "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness"- we can be confident that Moses' contributions to the Bible express the truth.

Although thousands of years have passed since Moses lived, the Bible and the consensus of the Jewish and Christian communitites verify that the great prophet Moses was indeed the author of these books, as God intended.

Excerpts from: The Case for the Bible/The Case for CHRIST Study Bible/Lee Strobel, General Editor

A Treasure to Protect

The Jewish people held Song of Songs in high esteem and considered it among their holiest books. This book honors conjugal love, including its most romantic expression. One finds there a theology of sexuality, which, as designed by God, offers unfailing beauty and incomparable worth. The Creator designed this most intimate union to reveal knowledge on the ultimate level (Genesis 4:1), to demonstrate the most absolute unity (Genesis 2:24), to unleash the deepest comfort (Genesis 24:67; 2 Samuel 12:24), to continue the generations through procreation (Genesis 1:28), to guard against temptation (1 Corinthians 7:2-5), and even to provide relaxation and play (Song of Songs 2:8-17; 4:1-16). If used in the proper place and time (one man and one woman, within the God-blessed union of marriage), sexual intimacy is good, powerful, life-giving and unifying in a unique and meaningful way. For a woman it is the key to her unique task--conceiving and nurturing in the womb new life, producing hand-in-hand with the Creator God the next generation.

Outside of marriage, sex is a counterfeit relationship in which abiding satisfaction is exchanged for immediate gratification and something of great value is forfeited for a transient pleasure. The beauty and lasting worth of a God-designed intimacy is sacrificed for an unseemly and fleeting encounter that perverts the perfect plan of God.

The phrase "Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires" (Song of Songs 2:7) may be interpreted as a warning against the arousal of sexual passion before marriage. The young bride is pleading with the women of the court not to be promiscuous--not to deny them earthly secual pleasure but to protect for them the divinely designed treasure of sexual intimacy within marriage.

The mutual love between Solomon and the Shulammite is a beautiful example of marital bliss in physical intimacy. Nowhere else in Scripture is the physical beauty of womanhood more effectively portrayed. Yet in the midst of the pleasure and beauty found in sexual intimacy is always the duty to follow the needs of the other and for exclusivity as each protects the treasured "one flesh" relationship (Genesis 2:24-25). This intimacy may then be fully enjoyed and the purpose of the Creator fulfilled. We dare not prostitute through our own selfishness and unbridled desires the unique intimacy that is God's glorious seal of unity on the marriage.

Dorothy Patterson/Women's Devotional Bible