Proverbs Chapter 29 verse 25 says " Trembling at men is what lays a snare, but he that is trusting in Jehovah will be protected. "
With these words the ancient proverb alerts us to the kind of fear that is indeed a mental poison, the fear of man. It is likened to a snare. Why? Because a small animal, like a rabbit, is helpless when it is caught in a snare. It wants to run away, but the snare holds it relentlessly. The victim is, in effect, paralyzed.
If we are seized by the fear of man, we are a lot like that rabbit. We may know what we should do. We may even want to do it. But fear holds us in thrall. We are paralyzed and unable to act.
What can we do to change that kind of fear? How can we overcome it? By replacing it with a much more wholesome fear. The fear of God. What do I mean? Because fear of God is not the abject, paralyzing fear that grips people in some situations. It is the kind of fear that a child may feel for his father, even though he loves his father and knows that his father loves him.
Fear of God is really a profound reverence for the Creator that stems from the realization that he is the complete embodiment of righteousness, justice, wisdom, and love. It involves a healthy dread of displeasing God because he is the Supreme Judge with the power to reward and to punish.
God’s love is not something to be taken for granted, nor is his judgment something to be downplayed. We should remember, however, that while Jehovah has the power to punish those not obeying him—and has often done so—he is by no means bloodthirsty or cruel. He is really a God of love, even though he, like a loving parent, sometimes gets righteously angry. That is why fearing him is wholesome. It leads us to obey his laws, which are designed for our good. Obeying God’s laws brings happiness, while disobeying them always brings bad results.
How does the fear of God help us to overcome fear of man? Well, people may mock us or even persecute us for doing what is right, which puts pressure on us. But a respectful fear of God will put pressure on us to stick to a right course, since we do not want to displease him. Moreover, a love of God will urge us to do what brings pleasure to his heart. Additionally, we remember that God rewards us richly for doing what is right, which makes us love him all the more and makes us want to do his will. Hence, a balanced view of God helps us to overcome any fear we may have of men.
For example, many are pressured into doing what is wrong because of fear of what their peers think. Young people at school may smoke, use bad language, boast of sexual experience (real or imagined), and even experiment with alcohol or drugs. Not always because they want to, but because they are afraid of what their peers would say if they acted differently. To a teenager, mockery and ridicule may be as hard to endure as physical persecution.
An adult may also feel pressure to do wrong. Perhaps the boss at work will tell an employee to inflate a bill to a client or to fill out a company tax form dishonestly so as to reduce the tax liability. The Christian may feel that if he does not obey, he will lose his job. Thus, fear of man may pressure him to do what is wrong.
In both cases, a healthy fear of God and respect for his commands would prevent the Christian from being paralyzed by fear of man. And a love of God would restrain him from engaging in acts that God has forbidden. Moreover, his faith in God would assure him that if he acted according to his Bible-trained conscience, God would support him no matter what the outcome. The apostle Paul expressed his faith with these words: “For all things I have the strength by virtue of him who imparts power to me.”
Satan the Devil is doing all he can to pressure us into displeasing God. True Christians should therefore have the same determination as that expressed by the apostle Paul when he wrote: “We are not the sort that shrink back to destruction, but the sort that have faith to the preserving alive of the soul.” The fear of Jehovah is a real source of strength. With its help, may we “be of good courage and say: Jehovah is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’” found at Hebrews chapter 13 verse 6.
I recall that in the beginning, I was afraid to tell others that I was a witness. I felt as if my so-called friends would make fun of me. I was afraid to go door to door because I didn't know what was on the other side of the door or if my friends would see me. Fear of man. Towards the end of every year there is Thanksgiving and Christmas. In the beginning I was afraid to tell my boss that I was a witness but I did. I fumbled my words but I was able to explain to him why. I was very scared.
Today, although I do have fear at times which I don't believe will go away in this system. I don't have fear of man. I don't fear what they will do to me. I have more fear of displeasing Jehovah. I had to take a stand and I did. In the end it worked out. It always does and that's how I looked at things. When you do what is right and can say Jehovah is my helper. Then you can't go wrong. Never be afraid of what you can lose. Life is much more important than Material. Store up treasures in Heaven....
Monday, November 30, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Tuesday
As mentioned, I was able to record Jesse's talk as well as the counsel received. It was great and he did a great job. He thanked me for helping him with it. I told him that it was his. The way I looked at it was like this. Many have their speeches written for them but once the speaker says the talk it belongs to them. He made the talk his. It was great.
First Highlight copy and paste into your address bar. Click on download file. Then enter the numbers you see in the box and click on get. It will play the talk for you.
http://www.wikiupload.com/download_page.php?id=195787&code=bhe7
First Highlight copy and paste into your address bar. Click on download file. Then enter the numbers you see in the box and click on get. It will play the talk for you.
http://www.wikiupload.com/download_page.php?id=195787&code=bhe7
Monday, November 23, 2009
Monday
Well tonight is Jesse's talk. I'm very excited and I'm sure I will get Audio this time. This is Jesse's talk:
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What Is the Scriptural Hope of the “Great Crowd”?
Imagine what the world would have been like if Adam & Eve never sinned. It’s hard to picture because this world is the only world we have known. The world that we are attempting to get to is the world that they lost but for a moment, just try and picture the kind of world it would have been today.
You can see children playing with the lion. You can see all united in love. There is united worship. There is no violence. No death. There is no one getting sick. Matter of fact, you don’t even know what the word sick is. What were Adam and Eve thinking? To say they had it all is an understatement.
Adam & Eve were required to show their love for God by Obeying a simple command. Please open your bibles to Romans chapter 5 and verse 12. That’s Romans chapter 5 and verse 12. And it reads: Through one man sin Entered into the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because all had sinned.
Because we are the descendants of Disobedient Adam, we share in his sin. Because of that Act in the Garden of Eden, the world we live in today is the world we have known, and it’s getting bad to worse as we move deeper into this system.
What kind of world do we have today? All you have to do is open a newspaper, turn on the tv, turn on the radio, go to school, go to work, or even walk outside, to hear, smell, see all the filth that goes on in our world today. Is this what Jehovah wanted for us? Is this what he created for us? No, what Jehovah wanted for us is completely different than what we have today. This was not his purpose for us or the Earth.
Open your Bibles to Genesis Chapter 1 verse 27 & 28. That’s Genesis chapter 1 verse 27 & 28. And it reads: And God Proceeded to create the man in his image, in God’s image he created him, male and female he created them. Further, God blessed them and God said to them: Be fruitful and become many and fill the Earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving upon the Earth.
As we can see from the account in Genesis, Jehovah has a purpose and thankfully this has not changed. He lovingly sent his only begotten son to die in our behalf so we can experience what was lost by Adam and Eve. Death-dealing scourges such as cancer, heart disease, and old age will vanish due to the application of Christ’s atoning sacrifice. We could be part of that Great Crowd mentioned in Revelation Chapter 7 verse 9 that no man is able to number.
But it requires that we maintain good spiritual habits such as meeting attendance, field service, regular study, personal study, home study, meditate and apply what is learned. Remember there are two roads. One that leads off to destruction and the other is the road to life. The road to life is cramped but it’s the road we want to be on. Psalms chapter 37 verse 34 says to Hope in Jehovah and keep his way and if we do so, we can have hope that we will be part of that Great Crowd.
.....................................................................................
We did add a scripture but this is about as close to the final version as it gets. Also my talk which is the week of Dec 7th, I found that our C/O will be there which makes me nervous because I have never given a talk in front of a circuit overseer. I don't get nervous until the day of the talk but as soon as I found out the C/O was going to be there, I started to look at my talk and made some edits and removed some and will add some. I got nervous.
I was given this talk so quickly based on the last talk I gave. I thanked all for thanking me but I reminded them that Jehovah really should get all the credit. I ask for his holy spirit so much during preparation and I think I pray about 10 to 15 times before I get on stage. I always ask that he give me the courage to deliver the talk in a way where it will encourage others to continue on the cramped road that we are on. Anyway, I hope to have audio of his talk and I'll find a way to upload it to here. Have a great day....
.......................................................................................
What Is the Scriptural Hope of the “Great Crowd”?
Imagine what the world would have been like if Adam & Eve never sinned. It’s hard to picture because this world is the only world we have known. The world that we are attempting to get to is the world that they lost but for a moment, just try and picture the kind of world it would have been today.
You can see children playing with the lion. You can see all united in love. There is united worship. There is no violence. No death. There is no one getting sick. Matter of fact, you don’t even know what the word sick is. What were Adam and Eve thinking? To say they had it all is an understatement.
Adam & Eve were required to show their love for God by Obeying a simple command. Please open your bibles to Romans chapter 5 and verse 12. That’s Romans chapter 5 and verse 12. And it reads: Through one man sin Entered into the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because all had sinned.
Because we are the descendants of Disobedient Adam, we share in his sin. Because of that Act in the Garden of Eden, the world we live in today is the world we have known, and it’s getting bad to worse as we move deeper into this system.
What kind of world do we have today? All you have to do is open a newspaper, turn on the tv, turn on the radio, go to school, go to work, or even walk outside, to hear, smell, see all the filth that goes on in our world today. Is this what Jehovah wanted for us? Is this what he created for us? No, what Jehovah wanted for us is completely different than what we have today. This was not his purpose for us or the Earth.
Open your Bibles to Genesis Chapter 1 verse 27 & 28. That’s Genesis chapter 1 verse 27 & 28. And it reads: And God Proceeded to create the man in his image, in God’s image he created him, male and female he created them. Further, God blessed them and God said to them: Be fruitful and become many and fill the Earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving upon the Earth.
As we can see from the account in Genesis, Jehovah has a purpose and thankfully this has not changed. He lovingly sent his only begotten son to die in our behalf so we can experience what was lost by Adam and Eve. Death-dealing scourges such as cancer, heart disease, and old age will vanish due to the application of Christ’s atoning sacrifice. We could be part of that Great Crowd mentioned in Revelation Chapter 7 verse 9 that no man is able to number.
But it requires that we maintain good spiritual habits such as meeting attendance, field service, regular study, personal study, home study, meditate and apply what is learned. Remember there are two roads. One that leads off to destruction and the other is the road to life. The road to life is cramped but it’s the road we want to be on. Psalms chapter 37 verse 34 says to Hope in Jehovah and keep his way and if we do so, we can have hope that we will be part of that Great Crowd.
.....................................................................................
We did add a scripture but this is about as close to the final version as it gets. Also my talk which is the week of Dec 7th, I found that our C/O will be there which makes me nervous because I have never given a talk in front of a circuit overseer. I don't get nervous until the day of the talk but as soon as I found out the C/O was going to be there, I started to look at my talk and made some edits and removed some and will add some. I got nervous.
I was given this talk so quickly based on the last talk I gave. I thanked all for thanking me but I reminded them that Jehovah really should get all the credit. I ask for his holy spirit so much during preparation and I think I pray about 10 to 15 times before I get on stage. I always ask that he give me the courage to deliver the talk in a way where it will encourage others to continue on the cramped road that we are on. Anyway, I hope to have audio of his talk and I'll find a way to upload it to here. Have a great day....
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Wednesday Part 2
I do believe that there are many questions that we cannot be answered at this moment in time. Other questions that wouldn't even make sense to ask. One question that I would ask Jehovah is Where was he before all was created? Maybe that kind of question would be to hard for someone like me to understand.
Faith does indeed play a role in every single religion but scripture does have answers to get us to the next level of life meaning the life we lost and are trying to gain. There really is no contradictions if you understand what is in the bible. For example HellFire and it's meaning but yet how can you call God, a God of love if people are burned forever? Simple, people don't but yet that's what is taught.
Which means not all roads lead to God. I once posted this illustration about telling the difference between real money and fake money. Would you study all the fake money in the world in order to find out if it's fake or study the real money in order to tell whatever is fake. You would study the real so not all religions lead to God. Jesus even said this.
Life can be a big wonder if you allow it to be without searching for the answers and when you don't then you leave yourself wondering. Like 2012, is it real or is it fake? If all prediction given by man came true, the world wouldn't be here today. Everyone has predicted the end and there is a reason for that. The bible clearly states that No man knows when the end of this system will be.
But scripture does tell us what will happen to the wicked and it tells us what we need to do in order to survive what is coming. How can I believe in something that I don't see. Did you know that in scripture backed up by history things that were predicted came true? The prediction of Jesus coming to Earth and what he would do and how he would die. The prediction of World Powers from Rome all the way to our World Power as mentioned in the book of Revelation. From the death of Alexander the Great and those who would take his place. All found in the bible and backed up by History Books. All predictions in the bible has been proven true so there really is no reason to doubt what else it mentions.
I don't believe in evolution. Things are just to perfect. The sun, the moon, the earth, it's distance, our seasons, our speed, our days and hours, our intelligence, our cells, all perfect. There are many so say how we got here but God already told us how we got here.
In terms of prediction. Think of it this way and I gave this example as well. If I came to you one day and said I had a dream about Lotto numbers to win the jackpot and I begged you to play and you did with the numbers I gave and you won. I'm sure you would be shocked and maybe even question how I knew.
I then would reply that it came to me in a dream and that I had to tell you. You would call me crazy but every single week there is Lotto and every single week I'm giving you numbers and every single week you are winning. Two things
1. I'm cheating somehow
2. I can tell the future
The bible with it's prophecy told the future and most predictions backed up by History has already come true. Like the guy who dreamed the numbers and was correct every single week, God told future events and have been proven correct. There are only a handful of prophecy left that has yet to take place. Many completed in our time. You won't know that unless you study and connect the dots.
It does indeed come down faith. I have looked at all sides and look at many religions. The ones that taught hellfire, I refused to believe that was true. The ones who taught we all die and go to Heaven, I refused to believe that was true. The ones who saw our soul is trapped on Earth till Heaven is ready to take us, I refused to believe that is true. The ones who say aliens are the real Gods and they are coming back to show us the way, I refuse the believe that is true.
Why Believe at all? We are here for a reason and there is meaning to life. To live each day without wondering about that is like a person who sits and watches tv all day or surf the internet which is the new way of watching tv. Matter of fact, people may not think that way because their minds are to busy with today and what the day has to offer.
I'll use an example: Let's say the world did come to an end in 2012. How many people knew that it would based on the maya prediciton? Many I'm sure. How many did anything about it? Very Little
We preach what is coming. We preach what is going to take place. We preach how to survive it. How many people know? Many know that we preach and what we do. We are made fun of all the time. How many did anything about it? Very few as compared to the population on the planet. Very few took the time to at least learn what we preach. Why do we preach? Because we are told to.
The answers I give isn't my own. It's in scripture. Is God real? Yes he is...Very real and all you need to do is look around and look at his creation.
Faith does indeed play a role in every single religion but scripture does have answers to get us to the next level of life meaning the life we lost and are trying to gain. There really is no contradictions if you understand what is in the bible. For example HellFire and it's meaning but yet how can you call God, a God of love if people are burned forever? Simple, people don't but yet that's what is taught.
Which means not all roads lead to God. I once posted this illustration about telling the difference between real money and fake money. Would you study all the fake money in the world in order to find out if it's fake or study the real money in order to tell whatever is fake. You would study the real so not all religions lead to God. Jesus even said this.
Life can be a big wonder if you allow it to be without searching for the answers and when you don't then you leave yourself wondering. Like 2012, is it real or is it fake? If all prediction given by man came true, the world wouldn't be here today. Everyone has predicted the end and there is a reason for that. The bible clearly states that No man knows when the end of this system will be.
But scripture does tell us what will happen to the wicked and it tells us what we need to do in order to survive what is coming. How can I believe in something that I don't see. Did you know that in scripture backed up by history things that were predicted came true? The prediction of Jesus coming to Earth and what he would do and how he would die. The prediction of World Powers from Rome all the way to our World Power as mentioned in the book of Revelation. From the death of Alexander the Great and those who would take his place. All found in the bible and backed up by History Books. All predictions in the bible has been proven true so there really is no reason to doubt what else it mentions.
I don't believe in evolution. Things are just to perfect. The sun, the moon, the earth, it's distance, our seasons, our speed, our days and hours, our intelligence, our cells, all perfect. There are many so say how we got here but God already told us how we got here.
In terms of prediction. Think of it this way and I gave this example as well. If I came to you one day and said I had a dream about Lotto numbers to win the jackpot and I begged you to play and you did with the numbers I gave and you won. I'm sure you would be shocked and maybe even question how I knew.
I then would reply that it came to me in a dream and that I had to tell you. You would call me crazy but every single week there is Lotto and every single week I'm giving you numbers and every single week you are winning. Two things
1. I'm cheating somehow
2. I can tell the future
The bible with it's prophecy told the future and most predictions backed up by History has already come true. Like the guy who dreamed the numbers and was correct every single week, God told future events and have been proven correct. There are only a handful of prophecy left that has yet to take place. Many completed in our time. You won't know that unless you study and connect the dots.
It does indeed come down faith. I have looked at all sides and look at many religions. The ones that taught hellfire, I refused to believe that was true. The ones who taught we all die and go to Heaven, I refused to believe that was true. The ones who saw our soul is trapped on Earth till Heaven is ready to take us, I refused to believe that is true. The ones who say aliens are the real Gods and they are coming back to show us the way, I refuse the believe that is true.
Why Believe at all? We are here for a reason and there is meaning to life. To live each day without wondering about that is like a person who sits and watches tv all day or surf the internet which is the new way of watching tv. Matter of fact, people may not think that way because their minds are to busy with today and what the day has to offer.
I'll use an example: Let's say the world did come to an end in 2012. How many people knew that it would based on the maya prediciton? Many I'm sure. How many did anything about it? Very Little
We preach what is coming. We preach what is going to take place. We preach how to survive it. How many people know? Many know that we preach and what we do. We are made fun of all the time. How many did anything about it? Very few as compared to the population on the planet. Very few took the time to at least learn what we preach. Why do we preach? Because we are told to.
The answers I give isn't my own. It's in scripture. Is God real? Yes he is...Very real and all you need to do is look around and look at his creation.
Wednesday
I've been sick since Sunday, in and out of bed. There are moments when I feel fine but then others where I feel terrible but today I'm much better besides a headache that doesn't seem to go away.
Most of the family has been fine. Gabriel was a little sick but not much. So I will update tomorrow. Have a great day.
Most of the family has been fine. Gabriel was a little sick but not much. So I will update tomorrow. Have a great day.
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