A Writer's Journal of Biblical Truths

Comment

Comment by Gunnar Heiberg (Ariel) on May 5, 2011 at 11:39am

Welcome, Patricia. It's been pretty quiet here. I look forward to some fresh words.

Comment by Ze'ev Zikhruyah (T.K. Roberts) on April 22, 2009 at 11:06am

I have been doing a lot of research and contemplation on Spiritual Warfare and what it means to be a spiritual warrior [“Loxem Ruxani” in the Hebrew]. I spent many years in the military and knew what it meant to be a warrior in the worldly realm but wondered if there was anything I could pull from that experience to help me in the spiritual realm. I believe God allows us to go through certain experiences as part of the process of Him shaping us into a tool for Him to use in the spiritual war. So what is it that I have learned so far, what can I pull from one realm to help in the other realm?

1) Know your enemy and how he operates:
John 8:44 ... He [Satan] was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

John 10:10 "The thief [Satan] comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

1Peter 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Revelation 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.

Satan [“Satanas” in the Greek] literally translates out "Accuser". He stands as the one who accuses us of our sins. He tries to accuse us before God and He accuses us to our faces, so to speak, the later having the possibility of greatest effect. When God hears the accusations and looks our way, He sees the Blood of Christ on the doorposts of our hearts and declares, "Righteous in my Son"; but when Satan accuses us to our face and we listen ... therein lies the danger. Satan's Goal is to get us sidelined in the spiritual war, to make us ineffectual warriors. He does this by getting us in one or more of three states, Deceived, Discouraged or Distracted. Our Armor and weapons is in Christ alone.

2) We must prepare ourselves for the battle:
When we look at the armor of God in Ephesians 6 we see that each piece of arm is an attribute that is bestowed to us through our relationship with Christ. We need to “put on the Armor” by reckoning those attributes to ourselves through faith.
• We need to gird ourselves with Truth so that we cannot be deceived. We must reckon to our hearts that Christ, the Word of God is the ultimate source of truth.
• We must put on the breast plate of righteousness which protects our hearts. We must reckon to ourselves that we are righteous, not by our works but by Christ’s. We are good at heart because Christ is our righteousness. The Devil’s lie is that we are not because we are weak and fail. But we do not depend on our deeds but upon Christ’s Righteousness imparted to us through faith in the finished works of Christ at the cross; thus we again protect ourselves from being deceived and discouraged by the father of lies.
• We must shod our feet with the Gospel of peace, so that we may walk in it. We must not be just hearers of the word but effectual doers of the word. Our very life should be on big testimony of the grace and love of Christ. Francis of Assisi once said, “Preach the gospel always, and when necessary, use words.”
• We must take up the shield of faith. It is our faith in Christ that catches and quenches the fiery darts of the enemy, the arrows of accusation that he shoots our way. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Ro 10:17). We must also as men learn to lock our shields of faith together with other spiritual warriors, like the roman legions used to do, and thus create an impenetrable phalanx that protects our family and our community.
• We put on the helmet of salvation. It is interesting that Paul called it the helmet of salvation, why did he do this? It is with our hearts that we reckon that we are righteous in Christ, but it is with our hearts and minds that we “know” we are saved because Jesus loves us intensely and that we have been sanctified by Christ through faith in that love.
• We must take up the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Heb. 4:12). Just like a real sword we cannot just pick up the bible and expect to be able to use it in combat with any effectiveness. We must spend time with it; get the feel for it; sharpen our understanding of it; practice with it until it becomes a part of us. Then we can wield it effectively. Remember that when Satan tried to tempt Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus always parried the attacks using the scriptures.
• Lastly we must pray in the spirit with our ceasing. This helps us hear and be guided by the Holy Spirit, helps keeps us focused on Christ that we be not distracted. How many things has the devil busied our lives with so that we are so distracted that we do not pray, or read our bible, or help a friend in need.

3) We must choose our battlegrounds carefully:
We must remember that the people are not our enemy but the Spiritual evil that influences and persuades them. We must remember that they are lost and cannot see their way. We must try to be the light that shines the way to the love of Jesus. We must also know what battles we are prepared for and which we are not. Lord, grant me the courage to change the things I can, the serenity to accept the things I can’t and the wisdom to know the difference.

4) We must maintain a place where we can go to find comfort, rest and refreshment, regroup, and re-equip ourselves:
Make the time each day that you can quietly spend time with Jesus. I also recommend a small group of friends that you can confide in, pray with, get advice from, and study the bible with.

This is what I have worked out so far, hope it is of some help. May God’s Blessings and Peace shower down on you.

In the Love or our Lord and Savior Yeshua Ha’Messiah Ben Elohim,

Comment by Gunnar Heiberg (Ariel) on April 20, 2009 at 9:35pm

1 Corinthians 10:1-11
1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea,
2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,
3 all ate the same spiritual food,
4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.
7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”
8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell;
9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents;
10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Although this passage refers specifically to events of the Exodus, the principle applies to every other story and historical narrative of the OT. It was the Bible of the early church.

Comment by Ze'ev Zikhruyah (T.K. Roberts) on April 20, 2009 at 4:53pm

Gunnar and Mark,
I would like to add my experience with the Old Testament as I think it is in the heart of your comments already made.

John 5:39 "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;

John 5:46 "For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me.

These two verses sent me on a journey that has brought the Old Testament alive and in living color for me. I love digging into the Old Testament. The Scriptures that Jesus spoke of was the Torah and Tanak, the Law and the Prophets. How did Moses write about Jesus? How did the scriptures testify of Jesus? What I discovered is that the Old Testament is a photo album of God's Son in word form, a book of illustrations that paint incredible Prophetic portraits of the Messiah and his character. The incredible depths that God has placed there are truly and breathe taking and awesome to behold once you start to see them.

When I first saw God's plan of salvation in the lamb sacrificed to make a covering for Adam and Eve ...

When I saw the foreshadowing of Yeshua's sacrifice in the story of Abraham and Isaac on Mount Moriah... How the Isaac, submitted to his father's will and carried the wood that he would be sacrificed upon....upon the very same Mount that Jesus would be Crucified on…..

When I saw the story Jesus and his character portrayed in the story of Joseph, from being the anointed son of the father, ...to him being betrayed by his brethren for silver, ...to Joseph's suffering according to God's plan to bring salvation to a gentile people and his own brethren, ...to be called Zaphenath-paneah, (Savior of the people), ... to how he took a gentile bride, ...to how He will forgive His brethren when He reveals Himself to them and they will weep in sorrow for what was done and in joy for the reuniting...

When I saw the picture of the first and second coming of Christ being painted in the story of Moses and the rock that brought forth living water twice, and that God was angry with Moses for marring this portrait in his anger when he struck the rock a the second time. The picture - The Rock was struck the first time and brought forth living water - to foreshadow the first coming of Jesus the rock, then Moses was to speak to the rock the second time and living water would poor forth to foreshadow the second coming of Christ, but in Moses’ anger at the people he struck the rock the second time ....

When in Numbers I discovered the Israelite camp was laid out in the form of a cross; the numbering of the tribes representing the length of each section of the cross, with the Tabernacle at its center...

Wow how I was awestruck!!

And the list of these incredible jewels of the Old Testament goes on and on. Gunnar used a favorite quote of mine, "In the Old Testament, the New Testament is concealed; in the New Testament the Old Testament is revealed."

To all, dig in and find the wonder of God's word, both in the Old and New Testaments!!!!

Comment by Buzz and Ruby on March 31, 2009 at 4:21pm

I found Romans 11:29-36
For God's gifts and His call are IRREVOCABLE!
For God has consigned all men to disobedience only that He may have mercy on all alike!
Romans 8:33-39
Who shall bring any charge against God's elect when it is God Himself who justifies?
Who will ever seperate us from God's love?
Not Death, nor suffering, nor affliction, nor trial, nor tribulation....
Yet AMID all these things we are more then conquerors and gain a surpassing victory thru Him who loved us. For I am persuaded.....
NOTHING will seperate us, not even death, from the Love of our God which is Christ Jesus!

Comment by Mark A. Fox on March 31, 2009 at 3:23am

Buzz & Ruby -
What does God say... about anything? A Christian's greatest resource into the heart of God is His Holy Word, the Bible - and in what God reveals to you as you study His Word. An excellent resource for discovering specific passages and insights for a given question is www.gotquestions.org. Concerning your question, you might find help in seeking your answer here:
http://www.gotquestions.org/suicide-Bible-Christian.html
http://www.gotquestions.org/why-not-commit-suicide.html
http://www.gotquestions.org/depression-Christian.html
May God bless you and the family and friends of this young man during your time of grief and struggle to understand.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Mt 5:4

Comment by Buzz and Ruby on March 30, 2009 at 3:46pm

What does God say about a christian committing suicide?
I used to think that to God it is murder and a sin therefore, if we die in the course of committing that sin, we lose our eternal salvation.
I recently had a friend whose teen aged grandson died this way. He loved God and served God and never forsook God but he had a brief moment of hopelessness and in that quick few hours he shot himself.
I have come to believe now that just like any of us, not taking control of our thoughts and contemplating hopelessness, he may have sinned in his unbelief and doubts but I do not believe he negated his entire life of service by that one sin.
What comments would you reply on this?

Comment by Gunnar Heiberg (Ariel) on March 12, 2009 at 3:05am

I've got a few things simmering on the back burner. Life's been pretty hectic, so I haven't had time to write much out.

soon.... ... .. .?

Comment by John Rose on March 11, 2009 at 11:30pm

Man, this place is awefully quiet. Has all the ramifications of a ghost town. Where's everyone gone to? HEL-LO! Hm. The rapture didn't happen did it? HEL-LO! [whistling...] Lord, why is such a good place so hollow?

Comment by Buzz and Ruby on January 12, 2009 at 5:45pm

Proverbs 31 HOW TO FIND A WIFE AND HOW TO KEEP HER
Did you always think this was a chapter comparing the perfect woman with all the rest of us and showing our inadequacies so that we would have our noses rubbed in that we would never measure up, so why even try? Did you always wonder, so who is this perfect woman anyway?
That is the way Satan wants us to read into this chapter. But if you study every foot note, study every meaning of important descriptions you will get a whole different picture.

Let’s begin with who was speaking and what was the intended message?
• Vs 1 (NOTICE) this is the mother of a king, teaching her son what she wants most importantly to impart to his life
• Vs2 she says she vowed to God to raise him up right, so what are the Most Important issues for his life?
(OVER VIEW OF THE REST OF THE CHAPTER HERE:
• VS 4-9 will go into how to be a ruler (good king, victorious )
• Vs 10-12 choosing the Queen ( the helper, the ultimate partner in life, the co-ruler) Vs13-27 What is her purpose and how will it be applied to your lives (victorious living and reigning together)
• Vs 28-31 How to have a relationship that lasts forever


1st issue Important impartation for the King-to-be
• Vs 4 -9 be just and kind, generous and wise
• Esther was a co-ruler with a non-Isrealite, maybe even non-believer but she won his favor and heart by being loving and wise beyond all others
• Justinian, the Just Emperor the most powerful of All Byzantinium rulers co-ruled with his wife Theodora who is noted in history as a brilliant, energetic woman who helped him make decisions
• Kingdoms rise and fall according to the victory of the ruler and the ability to have successors ( are not wives and offspring important to build beyond just a temporary, short lived, victory)



2nd issue: Why Have a Queen, Why not Rule alone? Vs 10
• Look for valued treasure, desired more then wealth (far above diamonds, rubies and pearls)
• An earnest wife, strong in character is a crowning joy to her husband, but she who makes him ashamed is as rottenness to his bones (Prv 12:4)
Earnest: ardent in pursuit of being
We all know examples of wives who shame their husbands with dishonor and kill his spirit
• He who finds a true wife, finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord (Prv 18:22)
True: genuine, pure, real, faithful, steady, loyal
• Riches and houses are inherited from fathers, but a wise and prudent wife is from the LORD (Prv 19:14)
The only real wisdom comes from above (Prov ??)
Prudent: applying wisdom in practical ways
• A man is the glory and image of God the Father and God the Ruler, reflecting the Divine Rule of Love; the woman is the expression of man’s preeminence and majesty ( 1 Cor 11:7)
Preeminence: superior in excellence; distinguishable above others for something commendable or good
Expression: the act of forcing out by pressure!

(the wife/husband relationship is the pressure, the forging and the purifying that mines the treasures in life forming the superior excellence, distinguishable above others for good)


3rd issue: Ok then, What will the Right Queen look like?
• VS 11 Her husband trusts in her with all his heart
• Relies on her confidently
• Believes in her securely
• So he has no lack of gain or need of dishonesty
• VS 12 she comforts him
• She encourages him
• She does him ONLY good, as long as she lives



4th issue: Her Purpose and How She can Apply it Practically, Daily:
If we know the purpose of a tool, we do not misuse or devalue it. If we know how to use a hammer to make our work smarter and more productive, we will not waste it on other purposes or leave it out to rust
VS 13-27
• She seeks out most essential material of clothing and fine fibers that will be separated into threads that will be spun as finest silk and works with willing hands to develop it. (this is saying tome that she seeks out opportunities, searches for the hidden treasures in the small opportunities to build and create what needs to be done not only for warmth and covering but even for finery and royalty and she finds willing hands, finds passionate partners to produce exponentially to develop for others not just for her family and herself)
• She is like the ship that comes in ( I will do my dream as soon as my ship comes in) loaded with provision, she brings forth the ability to provide from afar off the horizon
• She gets up before the day begins to get busy and makes seeking God for her daily bread her spiritual priority (number 1 above all else)
• And assigns her maids their tasks (mentoring and partnering and delegating; many hands produce more then one set of hands can)
• She carefully considers any new opportunities BEFORE SHE ACCEPTS IT. Expanding prudently (applying wisdom in practical ways) and not courting neglect of her current projects by assuming too much, staying focused on her vision and purposes.
• She saves time and energy (not just her own, I bet)
• She plants FRUITFUL vines in her vineyard
Song of Sol 8:12 ( Help? I don’t get this one)
• She girds herself with spiritual strength: spiritual fitness, mental fitness and physical fitness. (That says to me SHE TAKES CARE OF HERSELF so that she can remain strong and firm for her God given purposes to be fulfilled, not allowing herself to be depleted or overwhelmed).
• She sees her worth, values her self. She knows God made her and that it is good, how He created her. She knows her strengths and her weaknesses. She uses her strengths for good and uses her weaknesses as an opportunity to partner with those who are strong in her area of weakness.
• She shines brightly through the night, she sees her work for God illuminating others to Him, reflecting Him. She is a bright, warm light during times of trouble, sorrow or privation.
Privation: deprived of necessities for comfort; degrading or removing from rank or office
• She warns away fear and doubting. She knows Jonah 2:8 says staying on thoughts that produce fear and doubting will forfeit the grace of God that could be hers so she focuses her self and those around her on the Truth, not the circumstances.
• She lays her hand to the spindle ( the pin used in the spinning wheel to twist together threads, this speaks to me of binding together where 3 or more are gathered for more strength against adversity) and her hands hold the distaff ( the spinning wheels staff to which flax,( fine fibers that will be separated into threads that will be spun as finest) is tied (this speaks again of the tapestry of our lives entwined with others for beauty and strength as masterpieces woven by God but the staff, the practical application is in our hands)
• She opens her hand- generous to the poor, reaches out her filled hand (a picture of generosity and prosperity) to those needy in body, mind and spirit (not just generous with money and goods but spiritual food, humor to heal the mind, etc)
• She fears not the snow (freezing seasons, bitter winter) for her family is DOUBLY clothed (doubly anointed) in scarlet
(Josh 2:18) bind scarlet cords for Rahab’s whole house for salvation (whole mind and body and soul to be restored to the original creation)
(Heb 9:19-22) scarlet wool sprinkled with blood sealing that God will deliver
Sprinkled on the tabernacle and all the vessels and all the appliances used in Divine Worship
(Heb 9:23) by such means earthly copies of heavenly things required far better sacrifices—Christ!
(Heb 9:28) Now He will appear to us not to carry our burden of sin but to bring fullness, whole salvation to those who are eagerly expecting Him to.
• She makes for herself coverlets, cushions and rugs of tapestry, pure and fine such as the clothing o
Coverlets: the cover of a bed
Cushions: soft pillows for seats
Tapestry rugs: woven hangings of wool and silk finery
(what does picture does this give you? It makes me think of rest and hospitality, of a palace and luxurious place to retreat. A bedroom that is fine and gives healing rest and a honeymoon suite of the finest hotel imaginable) She does not adorn herself or her family or her abode with poverty or cheap surroundings.
(Is 61:10-11) I will rejoice in God, my soul exalts Him for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, covered me with robes of right standing with Him….as a bride is crowned with jewels. (Through the self fulfilling prophecy of His Word what is sown is what springs forth and grows)
(1 Tim 2:9-10) men should pray without anger, resentment, quarreling or doubt in their mind: lifting up holy hands…women should adorn themselves modestly (not for the purposes of gaining fleshly attention) but for the good of those them come in contact with as befits women who profess to be royal bride. Lovingly devoted to God
(Rev 3:4-5) They should walk with Me in white (fine brilliant linen) because they are worthy and deserving. Thus they who are victorious shall be clad in white, brilliant, illuminating garments and I will not erase their name nor blot it out of the Book of Life. I will acknowledge them as Mine before My Father and the Angels. (If He is proud to parade us in front of the host of heaven whom has lightning and stars as their garments, why would He want His earthly reflection to be clothed in plain and ugly fashions?)
(Dan 12:3) the teachers and those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament (galaxies, is not our God extravagant, abundant and exciting? Would He ask us to tone ourselves down to brown and grey or is He the HD TECHNICOLOR ORGINIAL?) and those who turn many to right standing with God shall give forth light like the stars forever and ever. (after a star dies out we see it’s light for thousands of years) Ponder all of this awhile!
(Matt 13:43) then those in right standing with God will shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father
• Vs 23 her husband is honored (known) in the city gates (government, authority) where he sits among the elders of the land
• She makes dazzling white linen garments and leads others to wear them, she delivers sashes to free up merchants (market place ministries) for service (investing their time and energy to do God’s work)
• Strength and dignity are her clothing (disciple with dignity, parenting with dignity, reigning with dignity, hospitality with dignity…)
• Her position is strong and secure (she is self confident because she knows what her position of anointing and who she is in God)
• She laughs with out fear of the future (she values humor and not taking things too seriously)
• She rejoices knowing her family is ready for it (Can we not withstand all adversity with humor and the confidence we have in trusting God in all things)
• She opens her mouth with skillful and Godly wisdom and on her tongue is the law of kindness, giving wise instruction ( applying scriptures all throughout the bible on the power of the spoken word and practically applying it to every situation and every area of life)
• She looks well to her household (she knows the state of her flocks and vineyards)
• The bread of idle gossip , discontent or self pity she will not eat (she knows that thoughts will come but you do not have to let them live in your head, do not feed them; starve them and they will die! Change your thoughts and change your life. Change your focus and every thing changes)
(1 Tim 5:14) It is better for our energy to be raising our children and guiding a household w/ maids (mentoring and discipling and coaching) then to be bored (gossiping, busy bodies) saying words we should not- giving opponents of the gospel occasion to reproach Christianity
(Titus 2:3-5) bid older women to be reverent and devout in their deportment as becomes those engaged in sacred service, not slanderers or slaves to drink. They are to give good counsel and be teachers of what is right and what is noble. So they will wisely train the young women to be:
Sober of mind
Sane
Self controlled
Chaste
Good Natured
Kind Hearted
Home makers
Adapting themselves to their husbands so that the Word of God will not be discredited.
(this reminds me that we do not find the perfect mate but rather if we are both willing and pliable God uses life to help us grow into and become perfect partners for one another and for fulfilling His plans for us)
• How does she excel above all the women in recorded history? In her spiritual and practical devotion to God, which permeates every area and relationship of her life. All seven of the Christian virtues (11 Peter 1:5) are there, like threads woven into the tapestry of her life
1) adding diligence to the divine Promises of God
2) exercising faith diligently
3) exercising energy to develop knowledge
4) developing self control
5) passionate patience to endure
6) steadfast faithfulness to develop
7) brotherly affection (generous love)

4th issue: How to Reign Together Forever
Or The Perfect Lasting Partner
VS 28-31
• Her children rise up and say she is to be envied!
• Her husband boasts of her, saying” YOU EXCEL ABOVE ALL OTHER WOMEN!”
• Charm and beauty on the outside are fleeting vanity but she is praised that her value grows with her maturity
• Give her the fruit of her hands (find references in the bible that we are to enjoy the fruit of our labors)
• Let her be praised in the city gates (government, authority, public praise and acknowledgement)---(find references to give honor where honor is due)
• Phil 4:8
Whatever is true
Whatever is worthy
Whatever is honorable
Whatever is just
Whatever is pure
Whatever is loveable
Whatever is lovely
Whatever is kind and winsome and gracious
Where ever there is virtue and excellence
If there is any thing worthy of praise
Take account of these things and fix your mind them and tell them to her daily!

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page