The World Is a Thorn- Part 1

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The World Is a Thorn- Part 1

The Bible often mentions the word “World” and it can be referring to different things. It can simply mean “World” as in; Land, country, earth or nations. Or it can mean worldliness/spirit of the age. Obviously when Jesus says;

If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

“Therefore the world hates you” here Christ is using the term “World” to mean spirit of the age. We know as Christians we are called to not be of “The World”, meaning we don’t get our identity, we don’t get our morals and understanding of what is true from what is culturally acceptable or culturally  not acceptable. We are shaped and defined by God and His word, which never changes. Because we submit ourselves to the authority of scripture over human logic and emotional whims we are going to be at odds with the culture I.E the world. The bible constantly affirms that we will be at odds with the majority, and most of us understand this, though it is hard to accept, because we don’t want to feel like an outcast, we want to be socially accepted and apart of the world/culture. So as a believer it becomes easy to adopt worldly standards and let the culture shape our world view, rather than letting scripture shape our world view, because if we let the bible shape our world view than the current culture will hate you just as Jesus said.

It is easy when the Spirit of the age or current culture happens to embrace biblical standards to live out our faith and proclaim Christ, but what happens when it doesn’t? The culture changes like the seasons, and what is right or wrong is based on human standards, not moral accountability to God. This can become frustrating, disheartening, overwhelming, even though we are warned that we are not of this world, even when we have scripture that confirms this is what it is going to be like. It is so easy to disengage from the world, to shut off, become bitter letting our differences cause us to become hateful. It causes us to build up our walls to become isolationists, and instead of showing what makes us different by our love we show what makes us different by our separation and judgment.

Do not get the wrong idea, we are suppose to stand firm on Gods word, and defend it at all cost, and we are suppose to be very different from the world, we are not to adopt their standards to be more acceptable by any means. However, if we let the bitterness of the way the world is divide to the point we stop living our Christian duty to serve, to the point where we isolate ourselves to only be with people that agree with us, Oh… than we have in the end let the world shape us, we have let the world deflate us, we have let it corrupt us, we have let the world rob us of hope of our Christian duty to be a witness. How are we a witness of light if we let the darkness over take us? Do not be fooled, Satan will get you off course by any means he can, and if he cant make you love the world and adopt its standards than he will make you become so bitter and full of anger that you start to loose your heart for the lost. This is exactly how you find out if you have become bitter… do you have a care and concern for the people who are of the world? Those who are so lost and deceived and far from God? Or do you look at them with anger, pride, and hate

Just begging for the wrath of God to come, that Jesus would return quickly because you can’t stand the decay and state of the world.

I know, that sounds ridiculous, who would think like that? But if we are honest with each other…haven’t a lot of us become like that? Its hard not to, when what we stand for has been so trampled over, when we feel so alone with our ideals and we see such moral decay. We can’t loose heart, no matter what, we can’t loose our identity as Christians, we can’t loose our heart to serve and our purpose of being a witness to the world, because if we become hateful and full of bitterness than we are no different than the world itself.

Why do you think Jesus said;

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

Do you think He said that so He can prepare us to hate back? Or do you think He said it so we are prepared for the response the world would have towards us? Obviously it is the latter and the reason for this is so that we do not become bitter, so that we do not loose hope In the response of the world to the gospel, for it is the natural response, and if it wasn’t for the grace of God we would still be responding as the world does. Jesus, before He makes the statement that the world will hate you, tells the disciples to love one another, that there is no greater love than to lay ones life down for his friends. We are called to live a life of sacrifice, a life of servitude, not just to those who agree, but to those who we don’t. I think of the martyrs who lived their faith in the opposition of it, the world hated them but they didn’t try to be accepted by the world, nor did they become bitter to the world and stop preaching the gospel because they were faced with opposition…they lived their faith to death.

This world is disheartening, to see how the culture is shaping our Christian faith, to see how some are letting it shape their faith…drives us to righteous anger, and in some aspects it should. To see what American Christianity has become is disgusting, and we need to speak against it, we need to stand against it and not be defined by it. The state of this world should break our hearts, to see what is accepted should cause us to be ashamed. What we can’t let it do is drive us to bitterness, The world is definitely a thorn and we can’t be shaped by it….but don’t let it cause you to loose hope, do not let it cause you to not pray, do not let it cause you to not weep for the lost and do not let it stop you from serving at all costs.

It is so easy to lose hope, to become bitter, when what is in our face is opposition, when we see the state of this country and those who are running politically, when we see movements of racism (BLM), or movements of ridiculousness (Transgender rights) when we see heresy from those claiming to be Christians. We cannot lose hope, lose faith, do not let the world build in you a fearful bitter heart or you will ironically become what you’re suppose to be set apart from.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 1 John 2:15

Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher,

which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. 2 Timothy 1:8-12

Vote for the lesser of Evils?

**WARNING***

What you are about to read will offend,

and will upset your "apple cart".

I will get political while remaining biblical (imagine that)

I will call out falsehood

I will not allow "emotionalism" or "fear" to sway me. 

May the Holy spirit convict, and speak through this blog

and that goes for myself too.

***WARNING***

Yes, you will leave him too, 

with your hands on yours heads(in shame).

For Adonai rejects those in whom you trust;

from them you will gain nothing.

Jeremiah 2:37

Good Ol' Jeremiah, my favorite book of the bible. 

The time of Jeremiah and backsliding Israel,

reminds me of western christianity, specifically speaking

it reminds me of America, who considers itself a christian nation but is far from it. a verse that always is in the back of my mind is "They turned their backs to me but not their faces" that's Jeremiah, Jeremiah 2:27 and I think it's found elsewhere in Jeremiah too.

Tell me, have we as a country and culture stood by God and His principles? His commands? are we even seeking to? We've completely snubbed our noses at God, turned our backs to what He commands us to be, and at the same time have our hands out asking for His "blessing". It's abhorrible, we want God on our side but in no way shape or form want to live for Him.

I'm talking about "Christians", those who claim to follow, but have more concern for themselves and their lively hood than they do about God Himself, you know, those who refuse to die to themselves, but still want to claim to be united with Yeshua(Jesus). I'm not calling out unbelievers in America, that's not my job, after all unbelievers are just being what they are suppose to be. I'm calling out those who claim to be of the body of HaMashiach(The Messiah). Thought I'd clarify such before I get into this can of worms..

As we all know In America the elections are coming upon us, It's almost November already, and while some of us have lost hope and have chosen not to even vote, I've noticed an alarming trend amongst those who claim to be followers of Yeshua(Jesus). This trend I am speaking of is "FEAR", now obviously fear is nothing new, it's as old as creation, and political fear or the popular "Vote for the lesser of evils" is as old as politics. My question is, have we even really thought about "Vote for the lesser of evils"? 

(this is where the apple cart upsetting starts)

What do you think God thinks about your choice to "vote for the lesser of evils" do you think He thinks its noble? Let me answer that for you…NO! God looks at evil as…well...EVIL! there is no distinction between "evils", it's like saying you told a "white lie"..God still looks at it as a lie, and it's like saying being a homosexual is wrong and at the same time saying it's ok to heterosexually sleep outside of marriage, to God both are a sin and both are equally wrong.

But wait…wait…wait..this is politics..right? what does God have to do with politics? we are not voting for a rabbi/pastor we are voting for a president..

Woe to those who call evil good

and good evil,

who change darkness into light

and light into darkness,

who change bitter into sweet

and sweet into bitter!

Isaiah 5:20

We may not be voting for a rabbi/pastor but the fact of the matter is God isn't for evil(sin) He is abhorrently against it, the bible makes that crystal clear, The Son was crucified because of sin(our sinfulness), not to tolerate sin but to fundamentally ABOLISH IT! To answer the question of what does God have to do with politics? what doesn't He have to do with it? Is He not in control of all things? He's the one who puts people in positions of power, and we as a "free" country our privileged to be able to vote for the leader of the country.

Now some may say, if God's in control and puts people in power, then why even bother voting?

To me that's like saying "God's the one that heals and feeds the poor, why even bother trying to help?"

The fact is I know whoever wins the election will win because God has a purpose and a plan in it(It could very well be to pour out His wrath), but that doesn't mean that I don't get involved and vote for someone who stands by God and His word. My conscious before God will be clean in who I vote for, because I sought to stand by His word and not compromise with evil out of fear of the other party.

Romney is considered the lesser of evils compared to the democrat runner Obama, I suppose I could see how some people could think that…but the truth is there isn't much difference between the two. Asking me to choose between Romney and Obama is like asking me to drink either cyanide or nuclear waste…

Which is why I find it alarming that Christians in this country are supporting Romney, mainly it is out of fear of having another four years of Obama. First of all, like I just said if you honestly look at Romney and Obama they are not that different, second why don't you go read your bible and see what happens when you put FEAR ahead of God. That's the problem with people now adays, they run around with chickens like their heads cut-off basing their whole life on FEAR and not the good kind of FEAR…like the FEAR OF THE LORD, that's the only FEAR you should have. If Christians aka followers of Yeshua(Jesus) in this country actually had a fear of the LORD then they certainly wouldn't be voting for a mormon, and they would also be seeking to stand by Gods commandments, but thats a whole other story. Or maybe come to think of it it's not another story at all, this country is going to get what it deserves for mocking God, for claiming to follow Him but ignoring His commands.

Romney puts on a front that he's pro-life but he's far from it, he's also for homosexual marriage and the very "god" he worships isn't the one true God of Abraham,Isaac, and Jacob. But yet, you'll vote for him because he's not Obama? because he's white and maybe a little less socialistic? What is with Christians who just vote Republican  and think they are doing God's will? they don't do their research…they don't check the fruit…they just vote R and think they are good christian Americans for doing so. I respect someone who chooses not to vote more so then one who just votes for one party because they put the party before the standards of God. Not that my respect means a thing, but seriously when are those who claim to be of  Meshiach(Christ) going to start living like it? When are you going to wake up from your westernized entertainment driven selfish mind-set….and….

DIE TO YOUR SELF!(Matthew 16:24,Mark 8:34, Galatians 2:20)

For my people have committed two evils:

they have abandoned me,

the fountain of living water,

and dug themselves cisterns, broken cisterns,

that can hold no water!

Jeremiah 2:13

Just like Israel at the time, I'm sure you will ask;

"How have we abandoned God?"

We are in a moral decline, God and His word is being mocked by those you support. Murder of babies has become just another "issue" same with gay marriage.

You sacrifice TRUTH for the sake of tolerance, because you think tolerance is love, wake up you have been infiltrated and you don't even realize it! 

You may claim politics is a useless issue, but sitting

back and doing nothing is condoning the evil you are suppose to abhor. You let the world shape your biblical view when it is suppose to be your biblical view shaping your world view! I expect such from those without GOD but if you proclaim to be apart of the body... then where is the biblical shaping!? where is the change?! where is the love for God and His word?! the love of His TORAH!

You want this country to be better, you cry about the economy, and your wealth & prosperity, and you will seek anyone and everything to better that for you, except GOD. Because God has standards, because GOD sent the Son Yeshua(Jesus) to die for sin and make us Holy, not out of pity, but to make us HOLY… but you westernized American Christian just want His death for forgiveness and prosperity! not for Holiness, because your god isn't the GOD of the bible! your god is success and wealth…your god is money…

So you ignore what He abhors, and live contrary to His word making for yourself broken cisterns, like in Jeremiah's time. you live like the whore that Ezekiel 16 talks about and yet... still claim to be on God's side,

you walk on the proverbial fence/line when God says choose a side!

Woe to you who settle for less then God's standards!

Woe to you who don't FEAR the LORD GOD!

God wont be mocked!

 I am voting independent. Tom Hoefling to be exact…I suggest you do your own research, instead of blindly following the media and wolves in sheep's clothing christian leaders.

Oh, and for the record…I don't HATE Obama or Romney, I abhor their policies yes, and the fact that people can't see through the bull, but I understand they don't have GOD so their actions don't surprise me, and all I can do is pray for GOD to open their eyes, before it's to late. God will have His way, His will… it will be done, all I can do is seek to stand by His word.

It'$ all about the Benjamin$

I'm sure everyone, including those who don't read

the bible, has heard

"Money is the root of all evil"

which comes from 1 Timothy chapter 6.

Now I don't ever really talk about money

in my blogs or on my website,

but what I talk about isn't important per say.

What is important is Gods word, and what

he has to say about money, and money

is mentioned more then a few times

in the bible.

I've mentioned giving and what not,

and probably Matthew 6:21 and Matthew 6:24

"For where your treasure is, there your

heart will be also."

"No one can serve two masters.

Either he will hate one and love

the other, or he will be devoted

to the one and despise the other.

You cannot serve both God and money."

Thats kind of a given right?

I mean you can't put money first,

you can't make it your whole life

and just throw God in on occasion.

The truth is you can't put anything above God,

as i've said before, because whatever you put first

is essentially your god(your idol).

"A faithful man will be richly blessed,

but one eager to get rich will not go

unpunished."

Proverbs 28:20

The fact of the matter is money shouldn't be a worry,

getting rich not a priority. God wants you to be happy,

and he will always provide for you if you

just have F.A.I.T.H. Sure, easier said then done..right?

specially in this day and age, and right now with the whole

"economy thing" where we are told to do nothing but

worry. Isn't the creator of all things more important

then a piece of paper? Not to mention he created

this whole universe correct? and everything in it?

and you are worried about money?

worried about if he will provide enough for you?

and let us remember what Jesus said to the rich man

"How hard it is for the rich to enter

the kingdom of heaven"

Mark 10:23

For the rich man was asking how

he can inherit eternal life,

and Jesus told him you know the commandments,

and the man replied that he has kept them

since he was a boy. Jesus then said

the man lacked one thing, and he told him

to go sell everything he has and give it to the poor,

and the man went away sad.

Is Jesus saying everyone has to

live in rags and have no money,

give all we have away? No...

the point was Jesus knew the man

was putting money before God,

and he proved it when he asked the man

to give up everything, and he didn't want to.

I think we all should think about that,

would we be willing to give up all we have

to follow Jesus Christ? and ask yourself that

question, and reply seriously, for sure it would be

easy to say "Hell YES!" but saying and doing are

two different things are they not?

I'd struggle at first to be honest, if one day

I woke up and the roof over my head was gone,

and I had nothing but the clothes on my back,

but I know I'd come around and put my life

in His hands knowing full well he doesn't want

me to suffer and he will provide my true needs.

If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not

agree to the sound instruction of our Lord

Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,

he is conceited and understand nothing.

He has an unhealthy interest in controversies

and quarrels about words that result in envy,

strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction

between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed

of the truth and who think that godliness is a means

to financial gain.

1 Timothy 6:3-5

Something that gets under my skin, is

people that use God for a profit.

"I'll heal you....just give me money"

and the ever so popular

"Do what God says and follow his word, so

he will bless you with riches"

I don't seek God to get "blessings"...

God is not a get rich quick scheme,

and don't get it twisted...I'm not saying

God won't look out for his flock, that

he wont provide for us.

I'm saying if you are only seeking God

because what you really want is money and "blessings"

then you are a fool, yes YOU ARE A FOOL.

First of all, God judges the heart,

so it's not like he can't see what you

really want, and once again

deep down you are putting money above God,

and hence you are breaking the number one commandment...

"Do not worship any other god"

but lets continue with 1 Timothy chapter 6

before I go off into a rant about false teachers.

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

For we brought nothing into the world,

and we can take nothing out of it. But

if we have food and clothing, we will be

content with that. People who want to get rich

fall into temptation and a trap and into many

foolish and harmful desires that plunge men

into ruin and destruction. For the love of money

is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people,

eager for money, have wandered from the faith

and pierced themselves with many griefs.

But you, man of God, flee from all this,

and pursue righteousness, godliness,

faith,love, endurance and gentleness. Fight

the good fight of the faith.

1 Timothy 6:6-12

For we brought nothing into the world,

and we can take nothing out of it.

That says it all right there, those who have

there eyes on money and being rich...

better enjoy this short life while they can,

because the next will be far from enjoyable.

May God bless you and keep you...

and your eyes be opened to see,

and your ears to hear.

Ecclesiastes 2:1

In these times of struggle

with the economy and people losing jobs

depression and suicide rates increase

that may be a given to most of us,

obviously when we are struggling with bills,

and just living in general, then depression and suicide will

rear their heads. However even in times of plenty

they will appear as well.

I'm sure everyone has heard the expression

"Money doesn't buy you happiness"

and to be honest when I hear that

I just think:" I dunno...I think it would make me pretty happy

if I were to get a million bucks"

but you see that is not the point,

sure you would be happy with a big paycheck

or if you just won millions of dollars

but the thing is, life isn't about things

you'll only be happy for so long.

Once you become so use to having a lot of money

you'll only want more and more and for what?

a bigger house? bigger tv? bigger boat? new cars?

they're just things...things we can't take with us

The problem is in todays media

and just the worlds mindset in general

we are raised to think life is about money...

it's about you and what makes YOU happy.

Don't get me wrong...i'm not saying if I won the lotto

or a crap load of money fell into my lap

I wouldn't be happy, what I am saying

is if I let it consume me and I put money above God..

it's only going to become a burden to me.

Lets take someone like Kurt Cobain for an example,

people look at him and wonder why he killed himself,

I mean he had it all right? he had people

eating up anything he said...he had money...he had fame..

and while there was obviously drugs and others things involved

the main thing is... money couldn't buy him happiness,

and neither could fame. The fact is Kurt Cobain

didn't even want the fame in the end or so he claimed,

Cobain reached the top he crafted something new in music.

Cobain was searching for the point of it all,

what is life about? Once he made the top. he probably thought

is this all there is? I'm suppose to be happy right?

but he wasn't happy. because what does a man gain

from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?

as it says in Ecclesiastes.

When people make there life about wealth and success..

what happens when they reach that goal of theirs? what happens

when they become so huge it was beyond

what they even thought they could be?

When they truly ask "Is this all there is? and what's the point"

all you've earned all you work hard for it's all just going

to get passed down as you are forgotten.

If we don't put God first nothing and I mean nothing

in this world will ever make us happy.

Am I saying people who don't put God first

can never smile or feel happiness?

no..I'm saying they will never be truly happy

they will never be fulfilled.

They will just keep searching for the next big thing.

We were created in Gods image right?

and what is Gods image?

who is God?

what is he like?

Will to be short and sweet about it God is LOVE,

God wants to give love freely but at the same time

also receive love. Don't all of us in the end

want love? Can you love money?

sure you can but can it love you back?

Who or what is the only thing that can Love

you more then you could ever imagine,

more then the sand on the sea shore?

I believe thats God right?

God is the one in the end who allows happiness right?

money..pleasure happiness it's all meaningless

unless we know the giver.

Through trusting God and putting your faith in him

all things are possible.

God will never let you down...never leave you...never forsake you

never say "I don't even want to talk to you"

God is always there for YOU!

us as... human nature screw up...

we let each-other down we fight with eachother

but God is always just plain and simple...

LOVE

Take a look at what Ecclesiastes says about

wealth and accomplishments and putting

them above God...

I thought in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with

pleasure to find out what is good." but that also

proved to be meaningless. "laughter," I said, "is

foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?"

I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly

my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to

see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven

during the few days of their lives.

I undertook great projects: I built houses

for myself and planted vineyards. I made

gardens and parks and planted all kinds

of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs

to water groves of flourishing trees.

I bought male and female slaves

and had other slaves who were born in my house.

I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone

in jerusalem before me. I amassed silver and gold

for myself. and the treasure of kings and

provinces. I acquired men and women singers,

and a harem as well-the delights of the heart of man.

I became greater by far than anyone in jerusalem

before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;

I refused my heart no pleasure.

My heart took delight in all my work,

and this was the reward for all my labor.

Yet when I surveyed all that my hands

had done and what I had toiled to achieve,

everything was meaningless, a chasing

after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11