Posts tagged ‘Repentance’

Bible Notes: The LORD Our GOD Truly Is A Merciful GOD

By LaVrai, 4 September, 2009, 4 Comments

Case in point: King Manasseh of Judah

I was reading Isaiah 35 (which prophecies about the healing ministry of our LORD and SAVIOR Jesus Christ, (as David Guzik explains here) and the next chapter involved King Hezekiah, the faithful king of Judah who turned the people back to the true worship of the LORD and away from idolatry. King Hezekiah fell deathly ill in the “prime of his life,” as the king himself put it (Isaiah 38) and the LORD granted him mercy and added 15 years to his life. According to the commentary in my study Bible, King Hezekiah was mostly mourning his death because he had no heir, no son to take his throne and carry on his name. Which makes sense since we don’t hear of the king having any other children in the accounts found in Isaiah 38, 2Isaiah 38, 2
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD,

WP-Bible plugin Kings and 2 Chronicles. Apparently three years after the LORD acted to extend his life, King Hezekiah had a son, Manasseh — who took over the throne at 12 when his father died.

Now the accounts in 2 Kings 21 and 2 Chronicles 33 both open with the fact that King Manasseh “reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem,” which I thought was an indicator of how well he must have ruled, that he had kept his father’s standard of holiness unto the LORD. But alas, the next verses reveal a very disgusting king unworthy of the throne.

2 But he did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. 3 For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; he raised up altars for the Baals, and made wooden images; and he worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. 4 He also built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, “In Jerusalem shall My name be forever.”

5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. 6 Also he caused his sons to pass through the fire in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom; he practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft and sorcery, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger. 7 He even set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever; …

In addition to sacrificing his children in fire and worshiping creation instead of the CREATOR and honoring all kinds of demons and setting up idols in the LORD’s temple and practicing black magic — King Manasseh also “shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another… (2 Kings 21:162 Kings 21:16
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
16 Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD. from...: Heb. from mouth to mouth

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Genuine Christians And The Work Of The Holy Spirit

By LaVrai, 2 July, 2009, 2 Comments

A visitor named Yos commented on this article on June 9, 2009ne 9, 2009
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV

WP-Bible plugin, and I’ve been taking my time in order to provide a genuine, Biblical response to the best of my ability. Here’s the question and my response follows after.

How are we to know if the Holy Spirit dwells within us and we’re not in some delusion? I re-call listening to some sermon by a preacher who said something similar to the effect of that it’s possible for someone to go to church, function within it, and believe they are saved, but find out otherwise. By what method can we be sure of of our state?

Another blogger whom I’ve asked about salvation itself told me that the metric isn’t clearly understood,thus leading me to get the idea that no one knows the right way ;we must just strive for it the best we can via what we’re given. At times, it makes me wonder if anyone has a true grounding in what they speak.

How are we to know that what ever impulse we are given that something is right or wrong is exactly so and from G-d? There’s countless people through the history of our religion that may have tarnished the name, but could probably claim some right in their actions.

My response to Yos (and all interested):

Photo: SUVs At Detroit Church Altar Over Auto Industry Bailout …Why?

By LaVrai, 7 December, 2008, 3 Comments

ec. 7, 2008ec. 7, 2008
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV

WP-Bible plugin. (Reuters/Carlos Barria)" width="150" height="150" />

First off, I am an American definitely not blind to the “desert” this nation is approaching (like how GOD had the spiritually-inept Hebrews wandering the back of the desert for 40 years to humble them). I have family members who have been laid off and I am definitely feeling the money pinch myself. I thank the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY that HE keeps me with a job, a roof over my head, food on my table and clothes on my back. Anything else is really extra — the LORD provides for my every need.

Now, looking around America’s economic landscape, being mindful that this nation is considered the wealthiest and that many other nations depend on our greed for unimportant things in order to survive, too — seeing that things appear to be falling apart and anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear is warning of impending hardship, a recession or depression.

Knowing this, that the LORD our GOD is pouring out judgment (the LORD is sovereign, and this surely isn’t a blessing coming our way) on this nation for straying from HIS WAYS (think gay “marriage” for one example, sweeping the courts coast to coast), the wisest thing for me to do is dedicate more time to prayer and to seek the LORD’s face faithfully. We are taught in the Holy Bible that when we face seemingly insurmountable situations, the LORD looks for us to make special sacrifice, like fasting. Sometimes prayer is not enough. The situation America (and perhaps the world) is getting into requires a bit more than big sermons, public announcements and anointing oil. The LORD seeks for repentant hearts — and remember, we may not have sinned individually, but this nation is a wreck — so we must beg for GOD’s mercy on our nation and that HE leads those whose hearts and minds are against HIM to repent — from the “king” to the smallest.

That leads me to the issue I have with this story and photo.

Video: Clergy, Congregants Pray For GOD To Pierce ‘Veil’ Of Paulson’s Heart

By LaVrai, 20 November, 2008, No Comment

A group of clergy and congregants from across the U.S. got together to pray for Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson (and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke) — the two men with all that bailout money who suddenly decided that they are no longer going to use the $700 billion like they originally said they would. You know, things change.

This is not the first time so-called Christians have gathered together in public to pray for GOD’s blessing on this nation. Just a few weeks ago, another “religious” group placed hands on the Wall Street bull without even mentioning sin or repentance. This group, I feel, has some merit…and make the appeal as we all are instructed to do (but some seem to neglect) — in Jesus’ name.

What do you think — do Christians need to be doing this en masse and more frequently? — Or are these folks going about it all wrong?

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So… John McCain Is Baptist & His Vice Presidential Running Mate Is Pentecostal?

By LaVrai, 30 August, 2008, No Comment

You learn something new everyday… Apparently Sen. John McCain is a Baptist, although he grew up Episcopalian… the interesting part is that, although the Republican Presidential nominee says he is a committed Christian, it appears he has only been baptized once — as a newborn baby.

I don’t know about you, but from what I understand of the Gospel of Salvation through Jesus Christ, one must confess one’s sins, repent of them and turn one’s life over to Christ. A baby should of course be christened (um, dedicated to the LORD), but babies don’t yet know good from evil, and therefore can’t choose to do anything. That’s the vital part of Salvation — you must choose Jesus Christ, confess HIM, embrace HIM, follow HIM.

Mr. McCain is 72-years-old. Shouldn’t someone tell him that he needs to be baptized to show outwardly (not just to the world, mind you) that he is a new man in Christ? Despite all their meaningless talk, Barack Obama at least has that over him. Not that I’ve seen or heard anything to believe that these two men are my brothers in Christ. And I pray that one day soon that becomes the case.

Reading this article (dated April 24) makes wonder if Mr. McCain even understands what he says he believes…or if it’s just more talk to please certain people. Interestingly enough, Mr. McCain has been ‘attending’ this church for about 20 years and to this day is still in discussions with the pastor about being baptized.