Setting Godly Boundaries



1. Develop The Control of Your Self-Property:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love,joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:23-23
Being a pleaser is usually someone who is compliant on the outside and resentful on the inside and does not practice the spirit of self-control. Just like God doesn’t force anyone to change, you can’t force anyone to change either. However, you are in control of the property of you. As a protector of your heart and its’ treasures, you absolutely have the right to accept or not accept certain behavior on your emotional property. You can’t change anyone or force them to change, but you can maintain the boundaries of your self-property and let them know that their behavior is not acceptable with you.

2. Guard Your Heart.
Above all else, guard your heart, for from it flows the wellspring of life. –Proverbs 4:23
Although Jesus said that we should operate as a unified community, there are always separate properties in a community. When properties have fences, they are there to let the good in and keep the bad out. It is important to guard our well-being from intruders or clingers, but equally important to receive goodness, help and love by letting it in through opening the gate.
Jesus also says, “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” -Matthew 7:6. This means if you’re wisdom, advice and time are not appreciated and valued by someone, by all means stop wasting it because you will eventually be hurt and left broken.

3. Know the Difference Between A Boulder and a Load:
This is my favorite one. Carry each other’s burdens,” says Galatians 6:2, “and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” This verse shows our responsibility to one another. Verse 5 goes on to say, that “each one should carry his own load.” The greek words for “burden” and “load” gives us insight into how to apply this to setting Godly boundaries.The greek word for burden means, “excess burden” or burdens so heavy they weigh us down. This is when we are responsible to helping someone carry weight they can not carry on their own.
The greek word for “load” is “cargo” or burden of daily toil. These are the daily responsibilities that need to be carried out in order to function in life.In this scripture, Jesus is calling us to help people do what they can not do for themselves, because that is what he did for us. However, we are each responsible for doing what we are capable of doing.
A good deciphering rule of thumb is to ask yourself if you are being asked to do something they are not able to do or to do something they don’t want to doThere is danger in confusing helping someone with an excess burden and enabling a daily toil. Stepping in and not allowing someone to take responsibility for their self-property (self-control) takes away the natural opportunity to be empowered or sharpened in crisis.

4. Check Your Motives
If you are driven to do something out of any motive other than pure love and to bring glory to God… don’t do it at all.
Many of us know that we are being taken advantage of, even by the sweetest, most well-meaning people. Yet, we continue to drive ourselves crazy, dropping everything in order to come to their aid. Why do we do this? Some of us fear that if we stop helping, we will no longer be needed or will cause conflict and therefore will be discarded.
Here is a remedy for a fear of rejection or disrupted peace:“Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.” Matt 10:11-14.Jesus told his followers if a town rejects you, leave the town and shake the dust off your feet. He doesn’t tell them to stay and take abuse.Setting boundaries is not being mean, it’s having self-respect. You cannot effectively love if you do not sustain your mental, emotional and spiritual health. Be prepared that some people will not adapt to your new boundaries well, which is fine. If someone leaves you because of your boundaries, then that was not a healthy relationship in the first place and you need to let the “bad” out of your fence to make room for the good to come in.

Questions to reflect on

Bible study questions, from Elisabeth

  1. Why is knowing what you believe on the controversy issues important? Or are they?
  2. What is theology? Is it important in making any decisions of what you believe? John
  3. Father, son, holy Ghost. What’s the different beliefs, some explain a egg example. Leisa
  4. Is father, son, holy spirit 3 different people? Leisa
  5. What is a theological bible study?  John
  6. What exactly do you need to know/ belief so you can find a church that you agree with their beliefs/ teaching?  Leisa and John
  7. Does missionary groups follow a doctine/ denomination?  Yes – usually the church that is supporting them.  Varies widely.
  8. Question for study- how do we know we are learning wisdom?  If you are studying the Bible, praying, and Worshiping God – you are being trained by God and enabled by the Holy Spirit.

Our God is a Trinity. This means there are three persons in one God and not three Gods.The persons are known as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and they have all always existed as three distinct persons. The person of the Father is not the same person as the Son. The person of the Son is not the same person as the Holy Spirit. The person of the Holy Spirit is not the same person as the Father. If you take away any one, there is no God. God has always been a trinity from all eternity: “From everlasting to everlasting, You are God,” (Psalm 90:2).

What is a theological bible study? 
Theology – The study of the nature of God and religious truth; rational inquiry into religious questions.
What is theology? Is it important in making any decisions of what you believe?

  • What you believe about God defines many things,  especially about your self.
    • Origin meaning morality destiny
    • Apologist Ravi Zacharias offers what he calls the 3-4-5 method of analyzing worldviews.  I would like to share it with you because it will provide you a method with which to judge worldview options.
    • First, there are three tests that a worldview must pass.  It must be:
      • 1. logically consistent – Its teachings cannot be self-contradictory.
      • 2. empirically adequate – Its teachings must match what we see in reality.
      • 3. existentially relevant – Its teachings must speak directly to how we actually live our lives.
    •  Second, each worldview must address the following fourultimate questions:
      • 1. origin – Where do the universe and human beings come from?
      • 2. meaning – What is the meaning or purpose of life?
      • 3. morality – How do we know what is right and what is wrong?
      • 4. destiny – What happens to us after we die?
    •  Third, there are five academic disciplines that must be employed to study a worldview:
      • 1. theology – the study of God
      • 2. metaphysics – the study of what is ultimately real
      • 3. epistemology – the study of how we can know things
      • 4. ethics – the study of moral right and wrong
      • 5. anthropology – the study of what and who humans are
    • Why do I believe that the worldview of biblical Christianity is the best choice? 
      • Its teachings are logically consistent, they accurately describe reality as it is, and they speak directly to the human condition.
      • In addition, Christianity provides compelling and powerful answers to the questions of origin, meaning, morality, and destiny.
    • Finally, the theology, metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and anthropology of the Christian worldview are expansively rich and deeply profound – unsurpassed by any other worldview. 
    • If you are a Christian and you haven’t analyzed Christianity using the 3-4-5 method, you are truly missing out.  Read, and read some more.  Dig into your faith, as it provides comprehensive answers to life’s most important questions.
    • If you are not a Christian, I plead with you to open your heart and mind, and study the Christian worldview.  Apply the 3-4-5 method described above, but never forget that Christian doctrine always revolves around a person, Jesus Christ.  He is the embodiment of our faith, and it is to him that we look.
    • https://johnbuna.blog/2020/07/21/origin-meaning-morality-and-destiny/

Why is knowing what you believe on the controversy issues important? Or are they?

  • Depends on the issue
    • If the issue is about Jesus then we need to defend if important
    • If the issue is about salvation then we need to know how to explain and defend.

What exactly do you need to know/ belief so you can find a church that you agree with their beliefs/ teaching?

  • Do they teach the bible,  How do they View Jesus?  the Trinity?  What is their statement of faith or Doctrine?  Do they offer Bible Study and prayer group sessions?  To answer these questions you have to answer them first for yourself.

Origin Meaning Morality and Destiny

Origin meaning morality destiny

Apologist Ravi Zacharias offers what he calls the 3-4-5 method of analyzing worldviews.  I would like to share it with you because it will provide you a method with which to judge worldview options.
First, there are three tests that a worldview must pass.  It must be:
1. logically consistent – Its teachings cannot be self-contradictory.
2. empirically adequate – Its teachings must match what we see in reality.
3. existentially relevant – Its teachings must speak directly to how we actually live our lives.
 Second, each worldview must address the following fourultimate questions:
1. origin – Where do the universe and human beings come from?
2. meaning – What is the meaning or purpose of life?
3. morality – How do we know what is right and what is wrong?
4. destiny – What happens to us after we die?
 Third, there are five academic disciplines that must be employed to study a worldview:
1. theology – the study of God
2. metaphysics – the study of what is ultimately real
3. epistemology – the study of how we can know things
4. ethics – the study of moral right and wrong
5. anthropology – the study of what and who humans are
Why do I believe that the worldview of biblical Christianity is the best choice?  Its teachings are logically consistent, they accurately describe reality as it is, and they speak directly to the human condition.
In addition, Christianity provides compelling and powerful answers to the questions of origin, meaning, morality, and destiny.
Finally, the theology, metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and anthropology of the Christian worldview are expansively rich and deeply profound – unsurpassed by any other worldview. 
If you are a Christian and you haven’t analyzed Christianity using the 3-4-5 method, you are truly missing out.  Read, and read some more.  Dig into your faith, as it provides comprehensive answers to life’s most important questions.
If you are not a Christian, I plead with you to open your heart and mind, and study the Christian worldview.  Apply the 3-4-5 method described above, but never forget that Christian doctrine always revolves around a person, Jesus Christ.  He is the embodiment of our faith, and it is to him that we look.

Trinity, What is it?

Our God is a Trinity. This means there are three persons in one God and not three Gods.


The persons are known as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and they have all always existed as three distinct persons. The person of the Father is not the same person as the Son. The person of the Son is not the same person as the Holy Spirit. The person of the Holy Spirit is not the same person as the Father. If you take away any one, there is no God. God has always been a trinity from all eternity: “From everlasting to everlasting, You are God,” (Psalm 90:2).


God is not one person who took three forms, i.e., the Father who became the Son, who then became the Holy Spirit. This belief is known today as the “Jesus Only Movement” (also known as Oneness Pentecostalism). It is taught by the United Apostolic and United Pentecostal churches and is an incorrect teaching.
Nor is God only one person as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Way International, and the Christadelphians teach. (These groups are classified as non-Christian cults).

The Bible says that there is only one God. Yet, it says that Jesus is God (John 1:1, 14). It says that the Father is God (Phil. 1:2), and it says that the Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4). Since the Son speaks to the Father, they are distinct persons. Since the Holy Spirit speaks also (Acts 13:2), He is a distinct person. There is one God who exists in three persons.

Tuesday 5-26-2020 Revelation Study Chapters 16-18

https://biblehub.com/revelation/16-2.htmThe First Six Bowls of Wrath1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go, pour out on the earth the seven bowls of God’s wrath.” 2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and loathsome, malignant sores broke out on those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. 3 And the second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it turned to blood like that of the dead, and e… See More

Revelation 16:2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and loathsome, malignant sores broke out on those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

BIBLEHUB.COMRevelation 16:2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and loathsome, malignant sores broke out on those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.And the first went, and poured out his vial on the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore on the men which had the mark of the beast, and on them which worshipped his image.

Comments

  • John Hargrovebadge iconhttps://biblehub.com/revelation/17-3.htm 3And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten hornsRevelation 17:3 And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.BIBLEHUB.COMRevelation 17:3 And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.Revelation 17:3 And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.
  • John Hargrovebadge iconCross ReferencesMatthew 27:28They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.Revelation 1:10On the Lord’s day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,Revelation 12:3Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven royal crowns on his heads.
  • John Hargrovebadge iconhttps://biblehub.com/revelation/16-3.htmRevelation 16:3 And the second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it turned to blood like that of the dead, and every living thing in the sea died.BIBLEHUB.COMRevelation 16:3 And the second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it turned to blood like that of the dead, and every living thing in the sea died.Revelation 16:3 And the second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it turned to blood like that of the dead, and every living thing in the sea died.
  • John Hargrovebadge iconCross ReferencesExodus 7:17This is what the LORD says: By this you will know that I am the LORD. Behold, with the staff in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile, and it will turn to blood.Acts 2:41Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day.Revelation 8:8Then the second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned to blood,
  • John Hargrovebadge iconhttps://biblehub.com/revelation/16-4.htmRevelation 16:4 And the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they turned to blood.BIBLEHUB.COMRevelation 16:4 And the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they turned to blood.Revelation 16:4 And the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they turned to blood.
  • John Hargrovebadge iconPsalm 78:44He turned their rivers to blood, and from their streams they could not drink.Revelation 8:10Then the third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star burning like a torch fell from heaven and landed on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.
  • John Hargrovebadge iconhttps://biblehub.com/revelation/16-8.htm The First Six Bowls of Wrath…7And I heard the altar reply: “Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are Your judgments.” 8Next, the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was given power to scorch the people with fire. 9And the people were scorched by intense heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had authority over these plagues; yet they did not repent and give Him glory.…Revelation 16:8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was given power to scorch the people with fire.BIBLEHUB.COMRevelation 16:8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was given power to scorch the people with fire.Revelation 16:8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was given power to scorch the people with fire.
  • John Hargrovebadge iconCross ReferencesRevelation 6:12And when I saw the Lamb open the sixth seal, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black like sackcloth of goat hair, and the whole moon turned blood red,Revelation 14:18Still another angel, with authority over the fire, came from the altar and called out in a loud voice to the angel with the sharp sickle, “Swing your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the vine of the earth, because its grapes are ripe.”
  • John Hargrovebadge iconhttps://biblehub.com/revelation/16-10.htm 10 And the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness, and men began to gnaw their tongues in anguish 11 and curse the God of heaven for their pains and sores; yet they did not repent of their deeds.Revelation 16:10 And the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness, and men began to gnaw their tongues in anguishBIBLEHUB.COMRevelation 16:10 And the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness, and men began to gnaw their tongues in anguishRevelation 16:10 And the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness, and men began to gnaw their tongues in anguish
  • John Hargrovebadge iconCross ReferencesExodus 10:21Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that darkness will spread over the land of Egypt–a palpable darkness.”Exodus 10:22So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and total darkness covered all the land of Egypt for three days.Isaiah 8:22Then they will look to the earth and see only distress and darkness and the gloom of anguish. And they will be driven into utter darkness.Revelation 8:12Then the fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun and moon and stars were struck. A third of the stars were darkened, a third of the day was without light, and a third of the night as well.
  • John Hargrovebadge iconhttps://biblehub.com/revelation/16-17.htm 17Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came from the throne in the temple, saying, “It is done!” 18And there were flashes of lightning, and rumblings, and peals of thunder, and a great earthquake the likes of which had not occurred since men were upon the earth—so mighty was the great quake.…Revelation 16:17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came from the throne in the temple, saying, "It is done!"BIBLEHUB.COMRevelation 16:17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came from the throne in the temple, saying, “It is done!”Revelation 16:17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came from the throne in the temple, saying, “It is done!”
  • John Hargrovebadge iconCross ReferencesEphesians 2:2in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience.Revelation 10:6And he swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and everything in it, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it: “There will be no more delay!
  • John Hargrovebadge iconCross ReferencesIsaiah 29:6you will be visited by the LORD of Hosts with thunder and earthquake and loud noise, with windstorm and tempest and flame of consuming fire.Daniel 12:1At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress such as never has occurred from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people–everyone whose name is found written in the book–will be delivered.Matthew 24:21For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again.
  • John Hargrovebadge iconhttps://biblehub.com/revelation/17-1.htm The Woman on the Beast1Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and told me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. 2The kings of the earth were sexually immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.”…Revelation 17:1 Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and told me, "Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.BIBLEHUB.COMRevelation 17:1 Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and told me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.Revelation 17:1 Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and told me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.
  • John Hargrovebadge iconCross ReferencesIsaiah 1:21See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness resided within her, but now only murderers!Jeremiah 2:20″For long ago you broke your yoke and tore off your chains, saying, “I will not serve!” Indeed, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute.Jeremiah 51:13You who dwell by many waters, rich in treasures, your end has come, the thread of your life is cut.Ezekiel 31:4The waters made it grow; the deep springs made it tall, directing their streams all around its base and sending their channels to all the trees of the field.Nahum 3:4because of the many harlotries of the harlot, the seductive mistress of sorcery, who betrays nations by her prostitution and clans by her witchcraft.

https://biblehub.com/revelation/16-2.htmThe First Six Bowls of Wrath1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go, pour out on the earth the seven bowls of God’s wrath.” 2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and loathsome, malignant sores broke out on those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. 3 And the second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it turned to blood like that of the dead, and e… See More

Revelation 16:2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and loathsome, malignant sores broke out on those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

BIBLEHUB.COMRevelation 16:2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and loathsome, malignant sores broke out on those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.And the first went, and poured out his vial on the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore on the men which had the mark of the beast, and on them which worshipped his image.

Set your heart on things above Col 3:2

So simple and yet I do not do this very often. Today join me in seeking to do this each day, start each day setting my heart and mind on things above (do not skip starting with prayer, Bible reading, making my posts in social media focus on things above)I can do this and you can to by focusing your mind, where you steer the mind, thoughts and actions follow…just like driving a car.

The topic is a thread throughout the Bible on how to do this and it’s importance.

Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

1 Chronicles 22:19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 29:3 Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,

Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Psalm 49:11-17Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names…

Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

Revelation. Focus on chapter 13-16 May 19 2020

Review

AUTHOR: Revelation 1:1,4,9; 22:8 

specifically identifies the author of the book of Revelation as John, who is generally identified as the apostle John, the author of the Gospel of John. DATE: The book was likely written between AD 90 and 95.

Revelation presents a glorious, reigning Christ. 

The Gospels present Him as a Savior, One who came to take the curse of sin; but in this last book we see no humiliation. In one way Revelation is the most remarkable book in the whole sacred canon. Revelation tells us about the reign of Christ on this earth, which Satan wants to control. It tells of Christ’s complete and eternal victory over Satan. It describes Satan’s defeat and punishment, first for a thousand years and then for eternity.

Revelation was written using symbols. 

The hard of hearing have a sign language, each gesture of which is filled with meaning. So it is with every symbol in Revelation: Each of the 300 symbols in this book has a definite meaning and signifies a great truth. This book was sent and signified by the angel to John, but it is the revelation of Jesus Christ, not the revelation of John.

More than 25 times in it we find Christ’s sacrificial title “Lamb.”

 In addition, we see a vision of the future of the Church and the world in relation to Christ—events yet to be fulfilled. It has been said that the saving blood of Christ runs through the entire Bible like a red cord. It has also been said that the second coming of Christ runs through the Bible like a golden cord. We are saved and washed clean in His blood so that we may be ready and eager for His return.

In Genesis the heaven and earth were created—in Revelation we see a new heaven and a new earth. 

• In Genesis we see the sun and moon appear—in Revelation we read that there is no need of the sun or moon, for Christ is the light of the new heaven. 

• In Genesis there is a garden—in Revelation there is a holy city. 

• In Genesis there is the marriage of the first Adam—in Revelation there is the marriage supper of the second Adam, Jesus Christ. 

• In Genesis we see the beginning of sin—in Revelation sin is done away with. 

• In Genesis we see the appearance of the great adversary, Satan, and sorrow and pain and tears—in Revelation we see Satan, sorrow, pain and tears destroyed.

God had determined from the beginning that His Son would be the ruler of this universe (see Isaiah 9:6-7)

. Revelation is the greatest drama of all time. The plot is tense throughout; the final scene is glorious, for Christ comes into His own. The hero is our Lord Himself; the villain is the devil. The actors are the seven churches. The characters unloosed by the seals of chapters 6 and 7 are introduced by four different horsemen. Then those summoned by the trumpets in turn leave the scene of action; and we see the Antichrist, the world ruler, stalking across the stage (see Revelation 13). This incarnation of the devil himself is determined to set up his own kingdom and be worshiped by people. But Christ brings all of Satan’s plans to nothing.

After all the struggle has ended and the beasts have been destroyed and the devil bound and “the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’” (Revelation 21:4-5). This book brings to a climax the great story commenced in Genesis, and as all good stories should, it ends “And they lived happily ever after.” Notice the sevens in this book: • Seven churches • Seven signs • Seven seals • Seven plagues • Seven trumpets • Seven dooms • Seven new things

The Seven Golden Bowls When the seven trumpets sound, Satan releases his power to accomplish his objectives. The seven bowls are God’s power released against Satan. Even though God has revealed Satan’s utter evil, people still blaspheme God and do not repent (see Revelation 16:9,11).

bowls are God’s answer to the devil, blasting his dominion with plagues such as those of Egypt—blood, hail, fire, locusts, darkness, famine, sores, earthquakes, war and death. Satan has dared to challenge God’s power. God is now answering the challenge, unleashing the seven dooms of His wrath on a Christ-rejecting world: 1. Ecclesiastical—Revelation 17 2. Commercial—Revelation 18 3. Political—Revelation 19:11-19 4. The beast and the false prophet—Revelation 19:20-21 5. The nations—Revelation 20:7-9 6. The devil—Revelation 20:10 7. The lost—Revelation 20:11-15 Satan is forced into action. His kingdom is shaken to its foundations and he is undone. This ends in the battle of Armageddon (see Revelation 16:13-16), with Christ taking the leadership of His armies. This battle is fully described in chapters 17–19.

May 3 2020 – Repentance

Repentance requires taking in a whole new point of view; looking at it God’s way. God simply asks us to turn. This is the way we accept His gift. When we do, certain outcomes are promised. If we don’t, or we “turn back”, alternate outcomes are promised.

Look And Live

Numbers 21:8-9 (NIV) The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” …Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.

John 6:40a (NIV) “For my father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life.”

John 6:29 (NIV) Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

Turn Or Burn – always a choice until you die

We all have been bitten, and sin is coursing through our veins. It will most certainly lead to death. There is only one solution, but it is an offense to our ability to save ourselves

Luke 13:3b (NIV) “But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

Matthew 4:17 (NIV) From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Matthew 3:2 (Phi) “You must change your hearts and minds, for the Kingdom of Heaven has arrived!”

Mark 6:12 (TEB) So they went out and preached that people should turn away from their sins.

Acts 2:38 (NIV) Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

The Two Ways

The Wrong Way——–

The “way” we are looking: 1) will make sense if we look long enough; 2) will create desire to move in that direction; and 3) will lead to something. First, we will look at how this applies to man’s way.Proverbs 14:12 (NIV) There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

If our line of sight is along our own way, or the way of the world, then this will begin to make sense to us as we continue to meditate on it, even if the way we are looking is really stupid. With this mind set, desire will spring up, which is the fuel that will lead us to destruction.

James 1:14-15 (NIV) But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Ezekiel 33:11 (NIV) … “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!…”

The Right Way<——————————–

Ephesians 4:17-24 (NIV) So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off the old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 2:1-3 (Phi) You were spiritually dead through your sins and failures, all the time you followed this world’s ideas of living, and obeyed the evil ruler of the spiritual realm, who is indeed fully operative today in those who disobey God. We all lived like that in the past, and followed the desires and imaginings of our lower natures, being, in fact, under the wrath of God by nature, like everyone else.

Galatians 5:16 (NIV) So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Ephesians 5:8-10 (NIV) For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.

The Gift Of God That Goes With Repentance: New Appetites

1 Peter 2:2 (NIV) Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Ps 119:104-105 (NIV) I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore, I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Ps 16:11 (NIV) You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Col 3:2 (NIV) Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Ps 101:3a (NIV) I will set before my eyes no vile thing.

Rom 13:14 (NIV) … clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of your sinful nature.

Ps 105:4 (NIV) Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.

Truth in a crisis

Sunday April 5 2020 Notes

Question from Elisabeth L on April 4 2020

Is fundamental truth I believe is what God’s word says

Practical truth- material – worldly stuff

And abstract truth what we imagine it to be?

Spurgeon threw me for a loop today on his take on Jeremiah 5  and I started asking what abstract, practical, and doctrinal truth is. I understand Jeremiah 5 and what was going on in that scripture. More like just looking at a simpler way to define abstract, practical and doctrinal truths.

Truth, what is it

Definition of truth (Entry 1 of 2)  https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/truth 

1a(1): the body of real things, events, and facts : ACTUALITY

(2): the state of being the case : FACT

(3)often capitalized : a transcendent fundamental or spiritual reality

b: a judgment, proposition, or idea that is true or accepted as true

truths of thermodynamics

c: the body of true statements and propositions

2a: the property (as of a statement) of being in accord with fact or reality

c chiefly British : TRUE sense 2

c: fidelity to an original or to a standard

3a: sincerity in action, character, and utterance

barchaic : FIDELITY, CONSTANCY

https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-truth/

https://biblehub.com/jeremiah/5-3.htm

O LORD, do not Your eyes look for truth?

You struck them, but they felt no pain.

You finished them off,

but they refused to accept discipline.

They have made their faces harder than stone

and refused to repent.

1 John 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

1 John 3:18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

1 Kings 17: 24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth.”

Eph 6:14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

John 1:14 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John Hargrove take on truth

  • Cannot separate world truth from God truth,  they have to cohere, make sense, God created and designed the world we live in,  broken as it is, we can discern reality and truth through the lens of the Word of God and that guides us on a true journey based on the path that God wants us on.

Bible Timelines

B.C.

2090   Abraham called by God

2067   Isaac born

2007   Jacob born

1992   Abraham dies

1944   Isaac dies

1877   Jacob arrives in Egypt

1860   Jacob dies in Egypt

1806   Joseph dies in Egypt

1730   Hyksos invasion of Egypt; Hebrews bondage begins.

1728   Hammurabi of Sumer born

1570   Hyksos expelled from Egypt; Amose I founds 18th dynasty

1548   Amenhotep I becomes pharaoh of Egypt

         Hebrew midwives ordered to destroy all Hebrew male children

1528   Thutmose I becomes pharaoh

         All newborn Hebrew males are to be cast into the Nile

1525   Moses born

1510   Thutmose II becomes pharaoh

1504   Hatshepsut becomes pharaoh

1487   Moses flees Egypt

1483   Thutmose III becomes pharaoh

         The great oppression of the Hebrews begins

1450   Amenhotep II becomes pharaoh

1447   The Exodus begins

1446   The Tabernacle constructed

1423   Thutmose IV becomes pharaoh

1410   Amenhotep III becomes pharaoh

1407    Moses dies; Joshua conquers Canaan    

1400    Conquest of Canaan completed    

1377    Akhnaton becomes pharaoh; inaugurates monotheistic reforms     

1375    Othniel becomes judge    

1319    Ehud becomes judge    

1318    Rameses I founds the 19th dynasty in Egypt    

1240    Deborah and Barak judge Israel    

1194    Gideon becomes judge    

1167    Eli born    

1155    Abimelech usurps power in Israel    

1152    Tola becomes judge    

1131    Jair becomes judge    

1109    Eli becomes priest

1105    Samuel born

1089    Jephthah becomes judge    

1083    Ibzan becomes judge    

1071    Elon becomes judge        

          Samson becomes judge         

1069    Samuel begins to minister   

1066    Abdon becomes judge         

1043    Saul becomes king        

1011    Saul and Jonathan slain         

          David becomes king of Judah   

1004    David becomes king over all Israel         

971    Solomon ascends the throne         

966    Solomon begins to build the Temple in Jerusalem         

945    Sheshhonk ( Shishak) becomes pharaoh of Egypt         

931    Rehoboam becomes king of Israel and Judah         

         Jeroboam rebels; sets Up a rival kingdom in the north    

913    Abijam becomes king of Judah    

911    Asa becomes king of Judah

910    Nadab becomes king of Israel    

909    Bausha becomes king of Israel

890    Benhadad becomes king of Syria

886    Elah becomes king of Israel

         Zimri becomes king of Israel     

885    Tibni becomes king of Israel

883    Ashurbanipal II becomes king of Assyria

880    Omri becomes king of Israel

874    Ahab becomes king of Israel

873    Jehoshaphat becomes king of Judah

859    Shalmaneser III becomes king of Assyria

858    Elijah begins to prophesy

853    Ahaziah becomes king of Israel

         Jehoram becomes king of Judah

852    Joram becomes king of Israel

         Elisha begins to prophesy

841    Jehu becomes king of Israel

         Ahaziah becomes king of Judah

         Athaliah seizes the throne of Judah

         Hazael becomes king of Syria

835    Joash becomes king of Judah

830    Joel prophecies

814    Jehoahaz becomes king of Israel

801    Benhadad II becomes king of Syria

798    Jehoash becomes king of Israel

796    Amaziah becomes king of Judah

790    Uzziah becomes co-regent of Judah

783    Shalmaneser IV becomes king of Assyria

783    Jonah begins his ministry

782    Jeroboam II becomes king of Israel

776    Olympic games begin in Greece

767    Uzziah becomes full king of Judah

764    Amos begins to prophesy

755    Hosea begins to prophesy

753    Rome founded

         Zechariah becomes king of Israel

752    Shallum becomes king of Israel

         Menahem becomes king of Israel

745    Tiglath-pileser III becomes king of Assyria

742    Pekahiah becomes king of Israel

740    Pekah becomes king of Israel

739    Uzziah dies; Isaiah begins to prophesy

         Jotham becomes king of Judah

736    Micah begins to prophesy

735    Ahaz becomes king of Judah

732    Hoshea becomes king of Israel

727    Shalmaneser IV becomes king of Assyria

722    Sargon II becomes king of Assyria Samaria falls; the ten tribes go into captivity

715    Hezekiah becomes king of Judah

705    Sennacherib becomes king of Assyria

701    Judah invaded by the Assyrians

686    Manasseh becomes king of Judah

681    Esarhaddon becomes king of Assyria

669    Ashurbanipal becomes king of Assyria

660    Zoroaster born

648    Nahum predicts the fall of Nineveh

642    Amon becomes king of Judah

640    Josiah becomes king of Judah

634    Zephaniah begins to prophesy

627    Jeremiah begins to prophesy

626    Nabopolasser becomes king of Babylon

622    Revival in Judah

619    Habakkuk begins to prophesy

612    Nineveh falls

609    Neco II becomes pharaoh of Egypt

         Jehoahaz becomes king of Judah

         Jehoiakim becomes king of Judah

605    Nebuchadnezzar becomes king of Babylon

         The Babylonians invade Judah Daniel begins to prophesy

597    Jehoachin becomes king of Judah

         Zedekiah becomes king of Judah

593    Ezekiel begins to prophesy

586    The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and the Temple

         The Jews deported to Babylon Gedaliah becomes governor of Jerusalem

         The rabbis preempt the priests as the chief custodians of divine truth

563    Buddhism founded by Siddhartha

553    Belshazzar becomes regent in Babylon

550    Cyrus becomes king of Persia

         The temple of Artemis erected at Ephesus

550    Confucius begins to teach

539    Babylon falls to the Medes and Persians          

         Darius the Mede rules in Babylon         

538    Zerubbabel and Joshua lead a small party of Jewish repatriates back to Palestine  

536    The Temple started in Jerusalem         

530    Cambyses becomes king of Persia         

521    Smerdis becomes king of Persia         

         Darius I Hystapses becomes king of Persia         

520    Zechariah begins to prophesy         

         Haggai begins to prophesy         

         Construction of the Jerusalem Temple resumed    

516    The Temple completed    

509    The Roman Republic founded    

486    Xerxes becomes king of Persia

484    Herodotus the historian born

480    The Greeks defeat Xerxes at Salamis    

479    The Greeks defeat Xerxes at Thermopalye    

478    Esther becomes queen of Persia and later saves the Jews of the empire from             extermination

473    The Feast of Purim started

469    Socrates born        

464    Artaxerxes Longimanus becomes king of Persia         

458    Ezra takes a small contingent of Jews back to Palestine         

447    The building of the Parthenon commenced

445    Nehemiah takes a small contingent of Jews back to Palestine

443    Nehemiah and Ezra read the Scriptures to the Jews and help them understand

         the first roots of the Midrash begin to sprout; the Sopherim (Scribes) flourish

436    Malachi begins to prophesy    

423    Darius II becomes king of Persia         

404    Artaxerxes II becomes king of Persia    

400    The Midrash begins to develop    

399    Socrates condemned to death    

359    Artaxerxes III becomes king of Persia         

         Philip becomes king of Macedonia     

342    Epicurius teaches his philosophy

336    Darius III Codomannus becomes king of Persia

         Alexander the Great becomes king of Greece

335    Aristotle teaches at Athens

333    The Battle of Issus fought; Alexander defeats the Persians

         Alexander takes Egypt

332    Alexander destroys Tyre

331    Alexander seizes Babylon

330    Darius III of Persia slain

329    Alexander marries Roxana in a symbolic gesture of uniting East and West

327    Alexander invades India

323    Alexander claims to be the son of Zeus

         Alexander dies

         Alexander’s empire divided between his four chief generals

         Ptolemy I Soter takes Egypt

320    Ptolemy I seizes Palestine

311    Seleucus I Nicator takes Babylon

300    Rome becomes a major world power in the western Mediterranean

         Seleucus I adds Syria to his realm

285    Ptolemy II Philadelphius becomes king of Egypt

         Between 285 and 130 the Septuagint translated

280    Antiochus I Soter becomes king of Syria

276    The first Syro-Egyptian war begins

275    Ptolemy of Egypt invades Syria

274    Hinduism codified in India

264    Rome’s first Punic war against Carthage begins

261    Antiochus II Theos (the God) becomes king of Syria

260    The second Syro-Egyptian war begins

252    Antiochus II marries Bernice, daughter of Ptolemy II

250    The Parthian kingdom founded

246    Seleucus II Callinicus becomes king of Syria

         Ptolemy III Euergetes becomes king of Egypt

         The third Syro-Egyptian war begins

245    Ptolemy invades Syria

240    Seleucus invades Egypt

223    Antiochus III (the Great) becomes king of Syria

221    Ptolemy IV Philopater becomes king of Egypt

         The fourth Syro-Egyptian war begins

219    Antiochus the Great invades Egypt

218    Rome’s second Punic war against Carthage begins

217    Hannibal invades Italy Ptolemy IV invades Syria; Battle of Raphia

215    Rome’s first Macedonian war begins

206    Rome drives Carthage out of Spain

203    Ptolemy V ( Epiphanes ) becomes king of Egypt

201    The fifth Syro-Egyptian war begins Carthage surrenders to Rome

200    Rome’s second Macedonian war begins

200    The Mishna begins to appear among the Jews

193    Ptolemy V marries Cleopatra, daughter of Antiochus III

190    Antiochus III defeated by Romans at Magnesia

187    Seleucus IV Philopator becomes king of Syria

181    Ptolemy VI Philomater becomes king of Egypt

175    Antiochus IV Epiphanes becomes king of Syria

171    Ptolemy VII becomes co-regent of Egypt with Ptolemy VI

         Rome’s third Macedonian war begins

         Mithridates I begins the conquest of Babylonia and Media, adding those countries to            Elam, Persia, and Bactra to form the Parthian Empire

169    Antiochus Epiphanes captures Jerusalem

168    The Romans interfere in Antiochus’s war with Egypt and prevent his capturing

         Alexandria

         Antiochus pollutes the Temple in Jerusalem and suspends the sacrifices of the Jews

166    Matthias leads the Jews in revolt against Antiochus Epiphanes

165    The Jerusalem Temple repaired and cleansed

164    Antiochus Epiphanes dies

154    The Jews in Egypt build a temple at Leontopolis

149    Rome’s third Punic war against Carthage begins Rome’s fourth Macedonian war                    begins

146    The Romans destroy Carthage

135    John Hyrcanus becomes high priest in Jerusalem

133    Rome begins to expand her empire eastward

130    The Pharisees begin to emerge as a sect

124    Mithridates II (the Great) conquers Scythia, adds it to the Parthian Empire, and                  makes a treaty with Rome

120    Hyrcanus repudiates the Pharisees and declares himself a Sadducee

106    Cicero born

88      Rome’s first Mithridatic war begins

83      Rome’s second Mithridatic war begins

74      Rome’s third Mithridatic war begins

64      Pompey captures Jerusalem; leaves the Maccabean high priest Hyrcanus in power             with Antipater as civil adviser

60      The first Triumvirate at Rome (Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey )

59      Julius Caesar becomes proconsul; Pompey marries Julia, daughter of Caesar

58      Caesar conquers Gaul

54      Caesar invades Britain

49      Caesar crosses the Rubicon

48      Pompey slain in Egypt

         Caesar makes Cleopatra queen of Egypt

44      Caesar becomes dictator of Rome for life

         Caesar assassinated

43      The second Triumvirate at Rome (Anthony, Lepidus, and Octavian )

40      Herod appointed king

37      Herod captures Jerusalem

31      Battle of Actium, Anthony slain, Octavian becomes master of the Roman world, the             final triumph of Empire

30      Egypt becomes a Roman province

30      Shammai

         Hillel 

         Philo of Alexandria

21      Octavian assumed the title of Augustus

20      Herod begins to rebuild the Jerusalem Temple

4       Herod dies

4       THE BIRTH OF JESUS

A.D.

14    Augustus dies

       Tiberius becomes Roman emperor

26    Jesus begins to teach; He characterizes rabbinic teaching (the Mishna) as “vain                  tradition’

30    Jesus crucified and raised from the dead

       Pentecost; the Christian church is born

37    Caligula becomes Roman emperor

40    Gentiles are added to the church with the conversion of Cornelius

41    Claudius becomes Roman emperor

       Antioch becomes the new center of church activity

43    Theudas claims to be Messiah and is executed

54    Nero becomes Roman emperor

59    The apostle Paul is imprisoned at Caesarea

60    Paul appears before Agrippa

61    Paul a prisoner at Rome

66    The Jews of Judea revolt against Rome

68    Paul martyred at Rome

69    Jerusalem beseiged by the Romans

       Jochanan ben Zakkai seeks an audience with Vespasian

       Vespasian becomes Roman emperor

70    Jerusalem falls; the Temple burned; the Jews deported

73    The last stand of the Jewish rebels at Masada

79    Titus becomes Roman emperor

81    Domitian becomes Roman emperor

96    Nerva becomes Roman emperor

98    Trajan becomes Roman emperor

113    Rome goes to war with Parthia

116    A further Jewish revolt against Rome is suppressed with great severity

117    Hadrian becomes Roman emperor

132    Bar Kochba claims to be Messiah and leads a revolt against Rome

         Judea depopulated and the Jews denationalized by the Romans

138    Antoninus Pius becomes Roman emperor

150    Tertullian born