Happy November to you from Inspiration from a Blind brought to you monthly by www.ShirleyCheng.com!
Do you nourish the women in your life? Do you want to be more nourishing and learn how you can teach others to be so as well?
First, let us start by identifying what nourishment is. According to the Macmillan dictionary, "nourishment" means "food or the substances in food that are necessary for life, growth, and health" and "something that encourages the development of ideas, feelings, abilities, etc." To nourish someone is to "give a person, animal, or plant the food and care that they need to live, grow, and be healthy" and "to support or encourage the development of an idea, feeling, ability, etc." Thus put together, "nourishment" is something that fills you, meets your physical, emotional, psychological, or spiritual needs.
How Nourishment Can Be Nourishing
Whether the form of nourishment fulfills its task is dependent upon both the giver and the recipient. First, the giver of nourishment has to give it out of genuine love in order for nourishment to work powerfully and effectively, to achieve its maximum potential in every way possible. Nourishment given from true love will endure time and age and withstand the winds and storms of life. It is the light that will ultimately conquer the darkest corners of the world. The best source of nourishment is love because all other wonderful elements of life stem from love. If you don't have love, you have nothing else that is of real value. No matter how hard you may work, nothing will be profitable without love: "If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don't have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don't have love, I am nothing. If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don't have love, it profits me nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:1-3, WEB)
Second, the recipient of the nourishment needs to be content with what they are given. Even if someone offers you nourishment with genuine love, you won't be satisfied if you don't appreciate it. The recipient has to realize the worth of whatever nourishment is given, be content of its value, in order to feel they have received nourishment.
Take our life for an example. The life we each have is the most precious present from Yahweh God Almighty. It blesses sunshine upon everyone equally. It provides nourishment of every kind to satisfy our physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs. Simply put, our life is given to us by God in absolute love.
Thus, Yahweh is the ultimate Bestower of our nourishment. However, we feel blessed only when we appreciate His provisions. Not realizing the values of His gifts won't satisfy us, no matter how good or fulfilling they are. For example, the very first woman of our human race, Eve, focused on what little she could not have (the tree of the knowledge of good and evil) and ignored everything she did have (all other trees in the garden). Due to her discontentment, she rebelled against Yahweh's only law by eating from the forbidden tree. Thus, we can feel a lack of nourishment even though we have plenty.
On the other hand, we can feel quite nourished even when we don't have much. I'm both blind and disabled; yet, I am content with the nourishment that Yahweh has blessed me with. Therefore, one's attitude plays an important role in receiving the full benefit of nourishment.
Three Ways to Nourish The Women in Our Lives
I believe there are essentially three ways to effectively teach people how to nourish women better, and they are:
a) Teaching what true love entails
When all nourishment should be given in love, it therefore becomes necessary to know what true love is. To know love is to know how to nourish one another.
What is love? There are many varying views on what love actually is, or how it should be expressed. When we cannot pinpoint and understand the meaning of love, we encounter problems.
Often enough, women feel they have to measure up to certain standards set by our society to be lovable. They think that they may become lovable after conforming to these standards (I.e. Have a certain weight, a certain look, with certain amount in her bank account), but what they'll get is only what these standards can offer. So when she fails later in life, not being able to keep up with this mold, she may get rejected.
Nourishment, therefore, comes from a love that cannot change along with the conditions of life. It has to remain the same under any circumstance. What is this love? The Bible, God's Word, defines this love as a love that is "patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
Hence, true love is not just an emotion. It is not a warm, fuzzy feeling that isn't backed up with action. True love is all about action, of what you do for others in their best interest in mind. A proclamation of "I love you" does no one good when it's not expressed in deeds.
To know true love is to know Yahweh, for He is love: "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God, and knows God. He who doesn't love doesn't know God, for God is love. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him." (1 John 4:7-8, 16)
When Yahweh is love, it means all wonderful things come from Him. And if we replace "love" with "God" in the 1 Corinthians 13:8 verse, we see that "God never fails."
When we can fully grasp this godly love, and do our best to express and give this love, then and only then will nourishment be nourishing! Just imagine giving others even a fraction of the kind of nourishment Yahweh gives to us!
Once we have this love, we should use it from the bottom up, from inside out. This means that it should start from the smallest unit of society: the family. Nourished families make nourished societies. Even if a woman lives alone, she can first develop this love in herself for others around her, such as her neighbors. As she shares this love with others, she will set a loving example after which others can model. This then becomes a ripple effect.
Why start nourishment from the family? To answer this question, ask yourself: What would a house need in order to withstand weather, time, and age? Wouldn't the house need a strong foundation? It's the same with society--families are the foundation of society. Each family, or each individual for that matter, makes up the entire society. If each person fails, the entire society will fail. And if the foundation itself couldn't stand alone, it surely cannot support the superstructure. If a mother doesn't love her child, how could she truly love strangers?
This is why what I dubbed the "love commandment" in the Bible is the most important principle, upon which all other principles are built. Here's what the Son of God, Jesus our Messiah, said about the love commandment: "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. The second is like this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31)
However, before we can develop this love in us, we need to learn more about it. And to learn about it, we must learn about Yahweh. Remember, God is love, so when we know Him, we know love, and then we can become love ourselves as He develops this fruit of love in us. And the best place to get to know Yahweh is from His personal profile: the Bible. Yes, the Bible is the manual for true nourishment, for yourself, for the people around you, and for our environment.
b) Teaching the importance of women
Second, the other way to teach people how to nourish women is to inform them of the importance of women. When we realize and recognize the value of any given object, it is more likely for us to take good care of it. Likewise, when we realize and acknowledge the important roles of women, and the purpose for which they are created, we will be able to appreciate them more and, in turn, nourish them from our hearts.
The Bible tells us that Yahweh created women to be men's companions and helpers. When a man and a woman marry, they become one flesh. This oneness refers to a spiritual unity founded and rooted in deep, enduring love. The Union between men and women is symbolic of the relationship we should have with Yahweh and Jesus Christ. Therefore, this love relationship is based on eternity, not the temporal love that passes with time.
The Bible says that a virtuous woman is "far above rubies." (Proverbs 31:10) She is priceless, for she is a treasure in both her household and workplace: she is skilled in caring for her husband, her children, her house, and "works eagerly with her hands." (Proverbs 31:13) Her successes in life are due to her reverential fear of God: "Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised." (Proverbs 31:30) Truly, such a jewel should be nourished in return!
c) Following Biblical guidance and principles
Finally, the best way to teach people how to nourish women is by using biblical guidance. The Bible provides us with a few words of wisdom on how to nourish the women in our lives.
Husbands are told, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it. Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly." (Ephesians 5:25, 28-29) (The "assembly" means all the children of God through faith in Jesus.)
To children, the Bible says, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother,' which is the first commandment with a promise: 'that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.'" (Ephesians 6:1-3)
We are to treat "the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity" and we should "honor widows." (1 Timothy 5:2, 3) "But if anyone doesn't provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever." (1 Timothy 5:8)
Following these guidelines to educate one another on how to care for the gem of society--women--will guarantee success. The Word of God never fails; my life attests it!
~*~Q&A With Dr. Shirley~*~
Some very personal questions...
Question #1: Shirley, what is your definition of "happiness"?
Answer: Happiness is when you are still able to smile from the depth of your heart after all the materials you own are taken away from you and you are stripped naked. True happiness lives and thrives upon a person's spiritual wealth which no one can touch. The level of happiness is thus determined upon how much of your spiritual needs is fulfilled. The more spiritual needs fulfilled, the happier you are.
Some people equate earthly wealth with happiness. But I feel that the level of happiness concerning money and wealth a person experiences is primarily based on his or her spiritual beliefs and needs. A millionaire can still feel unhappy and empty when his or her spiritual needs are not met first. I feel that one has to have a balanced view of money in order to be happy about his or her monetary status. It is important that a person bases happiness on how much money he or she actually needs, not on desires for an extravagant lifestyle. One needs to keep in mind that earthly wealth will only bring passing happiness. Once a person has successfully established practical views on money, he or she will be happy. One who is spiritually happy (happiness that isn't dependent upon materials) can easily be happy about his or her wealth. One who is spiritually unhappy may never find complete happiness in wealth. It is important to find spiritual happiness before finding happiness in wealth.
Question #2: How do you find or achieve happiness in your life?
Answer: I achieve happiness by satisfying my spiritual needs. The cornerstone of my happiness lies in my knowing of Yahweh God Almighty through the Holy Scriptures, developing and maintaining a sacred relationship with Him, seeking His guidance through prayers, and serving Him through my online Christian ministry, www.Ultra-Ability.com Ministry. Whenever I pray to Him, I am unfailingly reminded of all of the blessings He has graciously bestowed upon me. Whenever I serve Him by teaching the Bible, I feel fulfilled, complete, and blissful. Knowing that I am able to share with others the joy I've received from my Heavenly Father brings me even greater joy.
Question #3: What has been the most happiest moment in your life?
Answer: Although I am extremely happy each time I have achieved a goal, I still find that my happiest moments are when I meditate about Yahweh and His Holy Word, the Bible; when I teach His Word to others; and whenever I talk about Yahweh with my mother. Nothing else I do can really measure up to the kind of happiness I experience when I talk about God with others, not even when I had achieved grade level after only about 180 days of school attendance in my lifetime nor my being able to calculate long chemistry equations in my head without Braille. Those achievements do make me happy, but it is still the passing kind of happiness that will not last forever, thus it is not as fulfilling as the happiness I have when satisfying my spiritual needs.
Question #4: How important is happiness?
Answer: Happiness is essential. Personally, spiritual happiness has allowed me to still be content and grateful for my life despite my multiple physical disabilities since infancy and blindness since age seventeen. God made us humans and created a most wonderful planet; why would He have done so if His purpose was not meant for us to be happy? Without happiness, life is empty. It does not matter how much you own--if you are not happy, then your belongings are worthless. No matter how little you own--if you are happy, then you are wealthy.
From my own experience, happiness enables you to be more successful in what you do. When your soul is uncontaminated by depression or sadness, it can be open to freely absorb or create knowledge, ideas, and dreams, just like crystal clear water could effortlessly flow through a mud-free river without any hindrance. Thus, such a blockage-free spirit will enable the person to achieve big in his or her life. I can personally testify to the powerful role happiness plays in one's life--I am a blind and physically disabled award-winning author (with twenty-seven book awards), author and contributor of thirty-five books by age twenty-seven, motivational speaker, poet, but above all, a passionate lover of life!
Additionally, happiness is a most wonderful ingredient for good spiritual health, which is as much important as physical health. It is scientifically proven that happiness (i.e., laughter) is good for one's heart, circulatory system, and one's overall health. Happy people will be less prone to contract stress-related health conditions and illnesses.
Question #5: What advice can you give to others to help them find true happiness?
Answer: To achieve the happiness that will never be gone with the wind, one has to cultivate the Biblical treasures of life--love, gratitude, faith, hope--and live on those gems daily for oneself and for those around him or her. Most importantly, one has to develop and maintain a sacred and intimate relationship with our Creator, Yahweh, who will bestow upon you happiness with no bound. My love for, faith in, gratitude toward, and hope in Yahweh is my secret to happiness.
~*~Dr. Shirley's Corner~*~
All of my books are now available on Amazon's Kindle! There's something for almost everyone: there's my inspirational autobiography, The Revelation of a Star's Endless Shine; a motivational memoir, The Adventures of a Blind & Disabled Award-Winning Author; spiritual poetry and prose in Waking Spirit; Dance with Your Heart, a collection of fables, fairy tales, and inspirational stories and poems for the heart from the heart; and Do You Love Jehovah (Christian theology and Biblical commentary), among others. Visit my Amazon's Author Central page to learn about my nine books: http://www.amazon.com/author/shirleycheng
To see all the Kindle editions of my books, just click on "Kindle Edition." For this holiday season, give a Kindle ebook as a gift to a book lover or two in your life!
May the grace and peace from Yahweh God and Jesus Christ be with you.!
Content Copyright by Dr. Shirley Cheng; All rights reserved
You are permitted to only give out or link to this website or post; all other distribution and copying is prohibited without the prior written permission of Dr. Shirley Cheng. Contact Shirley at www.shirleycheng.com
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Read previous issues of Inspiration from a Blind at blog.shirleycheng.com
Best regards,
Dr. Shirley Cheng
Award-Winning Author with 27 Book Awards
Founder of Ultra-Ability Ministry
Proclaimer of Yahweh God's Good News of Salvation through Jesus Christ
Author/Contributor/Editor of 35 books by age 27, Bible Teacher, Poet, Motivational Speaker, Self-Empowerment Expert, Advocate
Board member of World Positive Thinkers Club
http://www.shirleycheng.com
"Although I'm blind, I can see far and wide; even though I'm disabled, I can climb high mountains. Let the ropes of hope in Yahweh God haul you high!"
Please sign the Parental Rights in Children's Medical Care: Give Parents the Right to Say No Petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/parentr7/petition.html
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Monday, October 1, 2012
Inspiration from a Blind: How to Detect False Teachers and Their Falsehoods
October greetings from Inspiration from a Blind brought to you monthly by www.ShirleyCheng.com!
Beware of false teachers! Since nearly two thousand years ago, we have been warned of false teachers by Jesus Christ and His earliest apostles. False teachers had crept into the early church, misleading many Christians with untruths. Today, many false teachers are in our world, teaching others what should not be taught. As a result, many of those who heed their words are being led astray, believing in absolute falsehood.
Knowing the truths and nothing but the truths about Yahweh God, Jesus Christ, and God's Word, the Bible, is crucial to our salvation; our chance of receiving an everlasting life in the Kingdom of God is dependent on knowing God and the Christ accurately, for note what Jesus said in his prayer to God: "This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ." (John 17:3, WEB) Thus, we must identify the false teachers with their falsehood from true teachers.
How to Identify False Teachers
We can identify false teachers in mainly two ways:
1) By what they teach:
a) They teach that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is not the only way and path to eternal life. They say that there are many ways to receive eternal life, but the Bible specifically says, "There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved!" (Acts 4:12) Those who believe in Jesus will be saved (receive salvation and eternal life): "whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God didn't send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him." (John 3:15-17) Those who willfully reject Jesus will not receive eternal life: "He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn't believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God." (John 3:18)
b) They teach that we can earn eternal life by doing good works only when, in fact, we cannot; salvation is a free gift given by God--no one can be perfect enough to earn eternal life. Every person is unrighteous and a sinner:
- "There is no one righteous; no, not one. There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God. They have all turned aside. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not, so much as one." (Romans 3:10-12)
- "the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth" (Genesis 8:21)
c) Conversely, some false teachers teach that we can have eternal life just by believing in Jesus without obeying God's laws. While we can receive eternal life by trusting in Jesus alone, our trust in him has to be genuine trust, and only obedience to Yahweh's laws can prove whether or not our faith is genuine, as faith without works is dead (James 2:17). If a simple belief is all that's required for salvation, then Satan and the demons could be saved, too! (James 2:19) Doing the will of God is required for entrance into the Kingdom of God, for note what Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will tell me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?' Then I will tell them, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.'" (Matthew 7:21-23)
Thus, in order to enter the Kingdom of God, we must do the will of God, and the will of God is summed up in these two most important commandments: "you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. The second is like this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31)
Unrighteous people who rebel against Yahweh's moral ordinances will not enter God's heavenly Kingdom even if they believe in Jesus like the demons: "don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of God." (I Corinthians 6:9-10)
d) They distort various teachings of the Bible and misrepresent the Gospel (Good News of God's Kingdom and salvation through Jesus Christ). The apostle Paul warned, "But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any 'good news' other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed. As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any 'good news' other than that which you received, let him be cursed." (Galatians 1:8-9)
2) By how they live: Jesus said, "There is no good tree that brings forth rotten fruit; nor again a rotten tree that brings forth good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For people don't gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings out that which is evil" (Luke 6: 43, 44, 45) So we can tell whether a teacher is true or false by the life they live.
False teachers do not live according to God's will. Instead, they:
- "defile the flesh," by committing sexual immorality such as adultery and homosexuality (Jude 7, 8)
- "despise authority," by rebelling against the government and other officials (Jude 8)
- "slander celestial beings," by speaking falsehood against God's angels (Jude 8)
- "speak evil of whatever things they don't know" (Jude 10)
- murmur and complain against God (Jude 16)
- desire the approval of people instead of the approval of God (Jude 16)
- do whatever they desire and mislead others through their actions and bad examples
- do not exhibit the fruit of the Holy Spirit, which are Christ-like qualities: love, peace, joy, longsuffering (patient endurance), faithfulness, goodness, kindness, meekness, and self-control
The Judgment That Awaits False Teachers
Enoch prophesied that God will punish false teachers for their falsehood and unrighteousness: "Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him." (Jude 14-15) God had carried out such judgments in the past, such as in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, whose residents committed grave sins against others (Genesis 19). In the future, on the day of Yahweh, God will judge all unrighteous people, including the false teachers who are misleading people.
How to Combat False Teachers
The best way to combat false teachers and their falsehood is to know the truths. How can we determine what is true if we do not know what is the truth in the first place? To know the truths about Yahweh God and His Son, we must diligently study the Bible, for it is the only book that fully and accurately explains all we need to know about God and Jesus. The entire Bible is written by God through about forty men; God led the men what to write, and they wrote down His words. This is why the Bible is called the Word of God and why it is ideal for instruction and correction: "Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (II Timothy 3:16-17)
Once we have personally learned the truths straight from the Bible, we can rebuke and correct false teachers inn their falsehood, and also lead others back to the truths (Jude 22-23). Then and only then will we be able to combat false teachers and bring the Good News (Gospel) of salvation to others.
"If you instruct the brothers of these things, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which you have followed. Exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value in all things, having the promise of the life which is now, and of that which is to come. [And] be an example to those who believe, in word, in your way of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity." (I Timothy 4:6, 7, 8, 12) Amen! (So be it!)
Remember: "If anyone teaches a different doctrine, and doesn't consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions, constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such." (I Timothy 6:3-5)
~*~Q&A with Dr. Shirley~*~
Question #1: Yahweh operates on this principle in His justice system: "You must take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, and bruise for bruise." (Exodus 21:23-25). What does this principle mean?
Answer: This principle simply means that the punishment has to equal the sin or crime in degree of severity. A lesser sin should have a lesser punishment, while a greater sin requires a greater punishment. For example, murder is one of the greatest sins, so it requires the greatest punishment: the death penalty. On the other hand, injuring a person is a lesser sin than murder, so the punishment should be less severe.
The "an eye for an eye" principle in God's justice system prevents injustice. Specifically, it:
a) Prevents people from receiving greater punishment than necessary. For example, people who committed manslaughter (unintentional homicide) should not receive the death penalty.
b) Ensures that people receive the appropriate punishment for their sins. For example, murderers should be executed according to God's Law (Genesis 9:6).
Yahweh God gave the "an eye for an eye" principle to His people so they would know how to judge each unique case. This way, He did not have to list every possible way how a sin should be dealt with. If His people came across a situation that was not specifically named in the Mosaic Law, they would simply need to judge the severity of the sin and execute the appropriate punishment.
Question #2: But in Matthew 5:38-39, Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also." Was Jesus speaking against Yahweh's justice system? Is there a contradiction?
Answer: Jesus was not at all contradicting Yahweh's laws or speaking against them. This is how the difference is explained:
Yahweh's justice system ("an eye for an eye") was made to govern the nation's judicial system. It was a principle that the judges should operate on while deciding the appropriate punishment for various sins. It was the judges who worked on this principle in judicial matters, not anyone else.
However, the Jews by Jesus' day were abusing this principle. Instead of confining this law to their judicial system for the judges and magistrates, they were using it in their personal, private lives. They were misusing this law to take personal revenge on those who had wronged them. For example, if someone slapped them on the cheek, they would actually use this law to justify their action for slapping the other person back.
Thus, in Matthew 5:39, Jesus was telling them not to use this principle in their personal lives. People should not seek revenge for insults and other wrongs done to them that do not amount to actual crimes being committed. For example, Jesus was not saying that we should not do anything if a person tries to murder us or our family. Rather, we should not seek revenge when we have been insulted or wronged in other less serious ways. If we have been wronged by others in a serious way, such as if an actual crime was committed against us, then certainly we should bring our case to the judges. But in our daily life, we should live in peace, and not strike back when someone mistreats us, or mocks us, or insults us. Instead of slapping someone back for slapping us, we should even prepare ourselves to be slapped on the other cheek. Thus, we should submit to the little wrongs done to us, while taking the greater wrongs to the court and not try to handle such big cases on our own. It's only the judges and magistrates who should operate on the "an eye for an eye" principle.
Do you have Bible questions you'd like answered? Then by all means reply to this newsletter, and I'd be more than happy to do my best to answer them! Remember, no question about the Bible is ever too small or stupid.
May the grace and peace from Yahweh God and Jesus Christ be with you.!
Content Copyright by Dr. Shirley Cheng; All rights reserved
You are permitted to only give out or link to this website or post; all other distribution and copying is prohibited without the prior written permission of Dr. Shirley Cheng. Contact Shirley at www.shirleycheng.com
Did you get this from a friend's forward and would like to subscribe? Then send a blank e-mail to subscribe@shirleycheng.com from the e-mail address you'd like to sign up under.
Read previous issues of Inspiration from a Blind at blog.shirleycheng.com
Best regards,
Dr. Shirley Cheng
Award-Winning Author with 27 Book Awards
Founder of Ultra-Ability Ministry
Proclaimer of Yahweh God's Good News of Salvation through Jesus Christ
Author/Contributor/Editor of 35 books by age 27, Bible Teacher, Poet, Motivational Speaker, Self-Empowerment Expert, Advocate
Board member of World Positive Thinkers Club
http://www.shirleycheng.com
"Although I'm blind, I can see far and wide; even though I'm disabled, I can climb high mountains. Let the ropes of hope in Yahweh God haul you high!"
Sign up to Inspiration from a Blind newsletter by filling out the form at http://www.shirleycheng.com/contact.html
Please sign the Parental Rights in Children's Medical Care: Give Parents the Right to Say No Petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/parentr7/petition.html
Beware of false teachers! Since nearly two thousand years ago, we have been warned of false teachers by Jesus Christ and His earliest apostles. False teachers had crept into the early church, misleading many Christians with untruths. Today, many false teachers are in our world, teaching others what should not be taught. As a result, many of those who heed their words are being led astray, believing in absolute falsehood.
Knowing the truths and nothing but the truths about Yahweh God, Jesus Christ, and God's Word, the Bible, is crucial to our salvation; our chance of receiving an everlasting life in the Kingdom of God is dependent on knowing God and the Christ accurately, for note what Jesus said in his prayer to God: "This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ." (John 17:3, WEB) Thus, we must identify the false teachers with their falsehood from true teachers.
How to Identify False Teachers
We can identify false teachers in mainly two ways:
1) By what they teach:
a) They teach that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is not the only way and path to eternal life. They say that there are many ways to receive eternal life, but the Bible specifically says, "There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved!" (Acts 4:12) Those who believe in Jesus will be saved (receive salvation and eternal life): "whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God didn't send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him." (John 3:15-17) Those who willfully reject Jesus will not receive eternal life: "He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn't believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God." (John 3:18)
b) They teach that we can earn eternal life by doing good works only when, in fact, we cannot; salvation is a free gift given by God--no one can be perfect enough to earn eternal life. Every person is unrighteous and a sinner:
- "There is no one righteous; no, not one. There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God. They have all turned aside. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not, so much as one." (Romans 3:10-12)
- "the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth" (Genesis 8:21)
c) Conversely, some false teachers teach that we can have eternal life just by believing in Jesus without obeying God's laws. While we can receive eternal life by trusting in Jesus alone, our trust in him has to be genuine trust, and only obedience to Yahweh's laws can prove whether or not our faith is genuine, as faith without works is dead (James 2:17). If a simple belief is all that's required for salvation, then Satan and the demons could be saved, too! (James 2:19) Doing the will of God is required for entrance into the Kingdom of God, for note what Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will tell me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?' Then I will tell them, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.'" (Matthew 7:21-23)
Thus, in order to enter the Kingdom of God, we must do the will of God, and the will of God is summed up in these two most important commandments: "you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. The second is like this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31)
Unrighteous people who rebel against Yahweh's moral ordinances will not enter God's heavenly Kingdom even if they believe in Jesus like the demons: "don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of God." (I Corinthians 6:9-10)
d) They distort various teachings of the Bible and misrepresent the Gospel (Good News of God's Kingdom and salvation through Jesus Christ). The apostle Paul warned, "But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any 'good news' other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed. As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any 'good news' other than that which you received, let him be cursed." (Galatians 1:8-9)
2) By how they live: Jesus said, "There is no good tree that brings forth rotten fruit; nor again a rotten tree that brings forth good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For people don't gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings out that which is evil" (Luke 6: 43, 44, 45) So we can tell whether a teacher is true or false by the life they live.
False teachers do not live according to God's will. Instead, they:
- "defile the flesh," by committing sexual immorality such as adultery and homosexuality (Jude 7, 8)
- "despise authority," by rebelling against the government and other officials (Jude 8)
- "slander celestial beings," by speaking falsehood against God's angels (Jude 8)
- "speak evil of whatever things they don't know" (Jude 10)
- murmur and complain against God (Jude 16)
- desire the approval of people instead of the approval of God (Jude 16)
- do whatever they desire and mislead others through their actions and bad examples
- do not exhibit the fruit of the Holy Spirit, which are Christ-like qualities: love, peace, joy, longsuffering (patient endurance), faithfulness, goodness, kindness, meekness, and self-control
The Judgment That Awaits False Teachers
Enoch prophesied that God will punish false teachers for their falsehood and unrighteousness: "Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him." (Jude 14-15) God had carried out such judgments in the past, such as in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, whose residents committed grave sins against others (Genesis 19). In the future, on the day of Yahweh, God will judge all unrighteous people, including the false teachers who are misleading people.
How to Combat False Teachers
The best way to combat false teachers and their falsehood is to know the truths. How can we determine what is true if we do not know what is the truth in the first place? To know the truths about Yahweh God and His Son, we must diligently study the Bible, for it is the only book that fully and accurately explains all we need to know about God and Jesus. The entire Bible is written by God through about forty men; God led the men what to write, and they wrote down His words. This is why the Bible is called the Word of God and why it is ideal for instruction and correction: "Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (II Timothy 3:16-17)
Once we have personally learned the truths straight from the Bible, we can rebuke and correct false teachers inn their falsehood, and also lead others back to the truths (Jude 22-23). Then and only then will we be able to combat false teachers and bring the Good News (Gospel) of salvation to others.
"If you instruct the brothers of these things, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which you have followed. Exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value in all things, having the promise of the life which is now, and of that which is to come. [And] be an example to those who believe, in word, in your way of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity." (I Timothy 4:6, 7, 8, 12) Amen! (So be it!)
Remember: "If anyone teaches a different doctrine, and doesn't consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions, constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such." (I Timothy 6:3-5)
~*~Q&A with Dr. Shirley~*~
Question #1: Yahweh operates on this principle in His justice system: "You must take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, and bruise for bruise." (Exodus 21:23-25). What does this principle mean?
Answer: This principle simply means that the punishment has to equal the sin or crime in degree of severity. A lesser sin should have a lesser punishment, while a greater sin requires a greater punishment. For example, murder is one of the greatest sins, so it requires the greatest punishment: the death penalty. On the other hand, injuring a person is a lesser sin than murder, so the punishment should be less severe.
The "an eye for an eye" principle in God's justice system prevents injustice. Specifically, it:
a) Prevents people from receiving greater punishment than necessary. For example, people who committed manslaughter (unintentional homicide) should not receive the death penalty.
b) Ensures that people receive the appropriate punishment for their sins. For example, murderers should be executed according to God's Law (Genesis 9:6).
Yahweh God gave the "an eye for an eye" principle to His people so they would know how to judge each unique case. This way, He did not have to list every possible way how a sin should be dealt with. If His people came across a situation that was not specifically named in the Mosaic Law, they would simply need to judge the severity of the sin and execute the appropriate punishment.
Question #2: But in Matthew 5:38-39, Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also." Was Jesus speaking against Yahweh's justice system? Is there a contradiction?
Answer: Jesus was not at all contradicting Yahweh's laws or speaking against them. This is how the difference is explained:
Yahweh's justice system ("an eye for an eye") was made to govern the nation's judicial system. It was a principle that the judges should operate on while deciding the appropriate punishment for various sins. It was the judges who worked on this principle in judicial matters, not anyone else.
However, the Jews by Jesus' day were abusing this principle. Instead of confining this law to their judicial system for the judges and magistrates, they were using it in their personal, private lives. They were misusing this law to take personal revenge on those who had wronged them. For example, if someone slapped them on the cheek, they would actually use this law to justify their action for slapping the other person back.
Thus, in Matthew 5:39, Jesus was telling them not to use this principle in their personal lives. People should not seek revenge for insults and other wrongs done to them that do not amount to actual crimes being committed. For example, Jesus was not saying that we should not do anything if a person tries to murder us or our family. Rather, we should not seek revenge when we have been insulted or wronged in other less serious ways. If we have been wronged by others in a serious way, such as if an actual crime was committed against us, then certainly we should bring our case to the judges. But in our daily life, we should live in peace, and not strike back when someone mistreats us, or mocks us, or insults us. Instead of slapping someone back for slapping us, we should even prepare ourselves to be slapped on the other cheek. Thus, we should submit to the little wrongs done to us, while taking the greater wrongs to the court and not try to handle such big cases on our own. It's only the judges and magistrates who should operate on the "an eye for an eye" principle.
Do you have Bible questions you'd like answered? Then by all means reply to this newsletter, and I'd be more than happy to do my best to answer them! Remember, no question about the Bible is ever too small or stupid.
May the grace and peace from Yahweh God and Jesus Christ be with you.!
Content Copyright by Dr. Shirley Cheng; All rights reserved
You are permitted to only give out or link to this website or post; all other distribution and copying is prohibited without the prior written permission of Dr. Shirley Cheng. Contact Shirley at www.shirleycheng.com
Did you get this from a friend's forward and would like to subscribe? Then send a blank e-mail to subscribe@shirleycheng.com from the e-mail address you'd like to sign up under.
Read previous issues of Inspiration from a Blind at blog.shirleycheng.com
Best regards,
Dr. Shirley Cheng
Award-Winning Author with 27 Book Awards
Founder of Ultra-Ability Ministry
Proclaimer of Yahweh God's Good News of Salvation through Jesus Christ
Author/Contributor/Editor of 35 books by age 27, Bible Teacher, Poet, Motivational Speaker, Self-Empowerment Expert, Advocate
Board member of World Positive Thinkers Club
http://www.shirleycheng.com
"Although I'm blind, I can see far and wide; even though I'm disabled, I can climb high mountains. Let the ropes of hope in Yahweh God haul you high!"
Sign up to Inspiration from a Blind newsletter by filling out the form at http://www.shirleycheng.com/contact.html
Please sign the Parental Rights in Children's Medical Care: Give Parents the Right to Say No Petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/parentr7/petition.html
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Inspiration from a Blind: Are You Responding to God's Footprints?
A beautiful September to you from Inspiration from a Blind brought to you monthly by www.ShirleyCheng.com!
Do you know God? If so, do you know Him intimately? And how should you respond to your knowledge of Him?
We can know someone in two ways: impersonal knowledge and personal knowledge. To know someone impersonally is to know of the person's existence, their name, what they do, where they live, or perhaps even what they look like. For example, we know the president of the United States. We know his name, what he does, and we know what he looks like (well, except yours truly). Apart from this general knowledge of ours, we do not know President Obama personally or intimately as a friend.
So what kind of knowledge do you have of God? Let's begin with the impersonal kind of knowledge. How do you know of someone's existence when they and others who knew them are no longer around? Well, you would know them by the "footprints" they left behind: their pictures, their writings, or anything they created.
What "footprints" has God left for us to know of His existence and powers? His handiworks:
"The heavens declare the glory of God.
The expanse shows his handiwork.
Day after day they pour forth speech,
and night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech nor language,
where their voice is not heard.
Their voice has gone out through all the earth,
their words to the end of the world." (Psalm 19:1-4, WEB)
Yes, God's creation, which can be seen, felt, tasted, heard, and smelled, openly witnesses to everyone on Earth of God's glory, creative powers, intelligence, and love. His handiworks are evidences of His existence, just as the houses on your street prove of the existence of their builders.
Since "the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity," no one with average mental capacity has the excuse to deny God's existence (Romans 1:20). Thus, if we deny Him despite His "footprints," we are foolishly lying to ourselves.
After we know someone impersonally, we have the option to know them more intimately. Whether we choose to get to know the person more depends on how much desire we have in pursuing further knowledge about them. This holds true in knowing God.
After you have come to the impersonal knowledge of God, do you want to know Him better? If you do, God has personally provided the avenue that will lead you to an intimate knowledge of Him: His words in the Bible, a book He wrote through His human secretaries who recorded down His words under divine empowerment.
The original manuscripts of the Bible are called "autographs." Think of the Bible as God's "autographed autobiography." While the autographs are no longer in existence, we have thousands of manuscript copies of the originals whose doctrinal content has been divinely preserved through the centuries; thus they are an accurate and the primary source in obtaining intimate knowledge of God.
In His Word, God introduces to us His personal name, as intimate knowledge of a person should always start with a name. His name is "Yahweh" from YHWH in Hebrew, transliterated as "Jehovah" in English. His name means "He who causes to be" or "He who chooses to become,"--a perfect name for this awesome Creator!
From His Word, you will learn of Yahweh's plans He has for humanity, of His likes and dislikes, of His Son Jesus, of His precepts and principles for righteous living, and of how we can have fellowship with Him. Additionally, the Bible answers life's colossal questions: What's our origin? What's our purpose? Where will we go? As the Bible has been proven to be prophetically accurate, we can know what it prophesies about our future will come to pass.
After you have read the Bible, the question to ask yourself is: Do I want to have companionship with God? Do I want to be God's friend? The answer to this question will help you properly respond to Yahweh's words as He desires, because only when we want to be someone's friend will we have the desire to please them. What pleases Yahweh is living by His laws and commandments which are for our own benefits. After all, God wrote the Bible for a reason: to be lived by. If you want to please Him, you would live according to His laws.
Do you want to please Yahweh your Creator? This is entirely up to you. No one can make the decision for you, not even God, because Yahweh does not force people to love Him. If he did, He would have created us as robots, where we would have given Him our undivided attention and devotion without hesitation. But He didn't, as He wants us to love Him willingly.
But understand that living in contrary to God's moral laws will yield negative consequences, just as living in contrary to God's laws of nature will have negative consequences. We cannot expect to come out in the end happy and well after we have willfully rejected God's precepts and principles, just as we cannot expect to be unscathed after jumping out a plane without a parachute.
Thus, to choose to live according to Yahweh's moral laws is only for your benefit. It makes no difference to God whether we obey or disobey Him in the sense that He is not dependant upon us one bit. Our sins do not physically harm God, nor do our righteous deeds bring Him benefits:
"Look to the heavens, and see.
See the skies, which are higher than you.
If you have sinned, what effect do you have against him?
If your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?
If you are righteous, what do you give him?
Or what does he receive from your hand?
Your wickedness may hurt a man as you are,
and your righteousness may profit a son of man." (Job 35:5-8)
So we're not doing Yahweh a "favor" when we obey Him. When we obey Him, we are doing ourselves a favor. And when we obey Him, that pleases Him, because He only wants the best for His creation.
How will you respond to God's footprints? In other words, how will you proceed after you know Yahweh through His handiworks? Will you seek after an intimate knowledge of Him? After knowing Him intimately, will you respond to His fellowship invitation?
If you need help in understanding God's Word, please by all means contact me, and I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you may have! Today is the day to start knowing our awesome Creator--don't delay!
~*~Q&A with Dr. Shirley~*~
Question: Did God create evil?
Answer: No, Yahweh did not create evil. Evil is simply the result of disobedience to His moral laws. Where there is no light, there is darkness. Likewise, where God's principles and precepts are not kept, there is evil.
Some people point to the King James Version translation of Isaiah 45:7 to say that God did create evil. The verse says, "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things." However, this verse does not indicate that God creates moral evil.
First, the word "evil" is translated from the Hebrew word "rah," which speaks of anything unpleasant. It can mean anything from "bad," as a bad land, to "rotten," as a rotten fruit, and any adversities or hardships we may face, from natural disasters to divine punishments from God. Yes, "rah" can also mean moral evil or wickedness. Thus, depending on the verse and context, "rah" has been translated into various words, such as trouble, affliction, bad, wickedness, ill, evil, calamity, sad, harm, adversity, grievous, mischief, and hurt. Below are a few verses where "rah" is present:
a) "Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan didn't please ["rah"] Isaac, his father." (Genesis 28:8)
b) "Why do you look so sad ["rah"] today?" (Genesis 40:7)
c) "See what kind of land they live in. Is it good or bad ["rah"]?" (Numbers 13:19, NLT)
Second, Isaiah 45:7 is contrasting opposites: light and darkness, peace and disturbance. "Moral evil" is not the exact opposite of "peace," so a better translation is, "I form the light, and create darkness. I make peace, and create calamity. I am Yahweh, who does all these things." (Isaiah 45:7, WEB) The "calamity" Yahweh creates can be in the form of judgments.
Third, the entire Bible does not support the idea of God creating evil. We're told that Yahweh is the only Being who is purely good, and that everything He created is very good (Matthew 19:17; Genesis 1:31).
However, Yahweh does indirectly cause moral evil to exist. When He establishes moral laws and those laws are not followed by others, then evil is the outcome of that disobedience and rebellion.
~*~Dr. Shirley's Corner~*~
My book "Do You Love Jehovah?" is now available on Apple's iTunes for your iPod, iPad, and iPhone, as well as on Barnes and Noble Nook!
iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn9781257305049
Nook:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/do-you-love-jehovah-god-almightys-infinite-love-wisdom-to-propel-you-to-greatness-shirley-cheng/1112404316?ean=9781257305049
Are you interested in obtaining in-depth knowledge of God's Word to help you deepen your understanding of God and His plans and develop a sacred relationship with your Heavenly Father? If so, you are more than welcome to sign up for the In-Depth Ultra-Ability Bible Virtual Class via e-mail.
· You will study the Bible in depth from Genesis to Revelation in order.
· The study will progress in your own pace.
· You will work one-on-one with me via e-mail only.
· Your personal Bible-related questions will be answered.
· Although the virtual class has no financial cost, it will require your dedication and diligence. There will be lessons to complete and tests to take
for all Bible chapters. All assignments are in short question and answer format.
· The only textbook for this program is the Bible. If you do not have a copy of the Bible, you can read it online for free at www.BibleGateway.com.
· The class is non-denominational and is not affiliated with any church or ministry.
· You have no obligations; you may pause or stop anytime, though you are strongly encouraged to complete the study.
Interested? Then fill out the form at www.ultra-ability.com, and we'll get started. I look forward to our study time together!
May the grace and peace from Yahweh God and Jesus Christ be with you.!
Content Copyright by Dr. Shirley Cheng; All rights reserved
You are permitted to only give out or link to this website or post; all other distribution and copying is prohibited without the prior written permission of Dr. Shirley Cheng. Contact Shirley at www.shirleycheng.com
Did you get this from a friend's forward and would like to subscribe? Then sign up at http://www.shirleycheng.com/contact.html
Read previous issues of Inspiration from a Blind at blog.shirleycheng.com
Best regards,
Dr. Shirley Cheng
Award-Winning Author with 27 Book Awards
Founder of Ultra-Ability Ministry
Proclaimer of Yahweh God's Good News of Salvation through Jesus Christ
Author/Contributor/Editor of 35 books by age 27, Bible Teacher, Poet, Motivational Speaker, Self-Empowerment Expert, Advocate
Board member of World Positive Thinkers Club
http://www.shirleycheng.com
"Although I'm blind, I can see far and wide; even though I'm disabled, I can climb high mountains. Let the ropes of hope in Yahweh God haul you high!"
Sign up to Inspiration from a Blind newsletter by sending an e-mail to: subscribe@shirleycheng.com
Please sign the Parental Rights in Children's Medical Care: Give Parents the Right to Say No Petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/parentr7/petition.html
Do you know God? If so, do you know Him intimately? And how should you respond to your knowledge of Him?
We can know someone in two ways: impersonal knowledge and personal knowledge. To know someone impersonally is to know of the person's existence, their name, what they do, where they live, or perhaps even what they look like. For example, we know the president of the United States. We know his name, what he does, and we know what he looks like (well, except yours truly). Apart from this general knowledge of ours, we do not know President Obama personally or intimately as a friend.
So what kind of knowledge do you have of God? Let's begin with the impersonal kind of knowledge. How do you know of someone's existence when they and others who knew them are no longer around? Well, you would know them by the "footprints" they left behind: their pictures, their writings, or anything they created.
What "footprints" has God left for us to know of His existence and powers? His handiworks:
"The heavens declare the glory of God.
The expanse shows his handiwork.
Day after day they pour forth speech,
and night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech nor language,
where their voice is not heard.
Their voice has gone out through all the earth,
their words to the end of the world." (Psalm 19:1-4, WEB)
Yes, God's creation, which can be seen, felt, tasted, heard, and smelled, openly witnesses to everyone on Earth of God's glory, creative powers, intelligence, and love. His handiworks are evidences of His existence, just as the houses on your street prove of the existence of their builders.
Since "the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity," no one with average mental capacity has the excuse to deny God's existence (Romans 1:20). Thus, if we deny Him despite His "footprints," we are foolishly lying to ourselves.
After we know someone impersonally, we have the option to know them more intimately. Whether we choose to get to know the person more depends on how much desire we have in pursuing further knowledge about them. This holds true in knowing God.
After you have come to the impersonal knowledge of God, do you want to know Him better? If you do, God has personally provided the avenue that will lead you to an intimate knowledge of Him: His words in the Bible, a book He wrote through His human secretaries who recorded down His words under divine empowerment.
The original manuscripts of the Bible are called "autographs." Think of the Bible as God's "autographed autobiography." While the autographs are no longer in existence, we have thousands of manuscript copies of the originals whose doctrinal content has been divinely preserved through the centuries; thus they are an accurate and the primary source in obtaining intimate knowledge of God.
In His Word, God introduces to us His personal name, as intimate knowledge of a person should always start with a name. His name is "Yahweh" from YHWH in Hebrew, transliterated as "Jehovah" in English. His name means "He who causes to be" or "He who chooses to become,"--a perfect name for this awesome Creator!
From His Word, you will learn of Yahweh's plans He has for humanity, of His likes and dislikes, of His Son Jesus, of His precepts and principles for righteous living, and of how we can have fellowship with Him. Additionally, the Bible answers life's colossal questions: What's our origin? What's our purpose? Where will we go? As the Bible has been proven to be prophetically accurate, we can know what it prophesies about our future will come to pass.
After you have read the Bible, the question to ask yourself is: Do I want to have companionship with God? Do I want to be God's friend? The answer to this question will help you properly respond to Yahweh's words as He desires, because only when we want to be someone's friend will we have the desire to please them. What pleases Yahweh is living by His laws and commandments which are for our own benefits. After all, God wrote the Bible for a reason: to be lived by. If you want to please Him, you would live according to His laws.
Do you want to please Yahweh your Creator? This is entirely up to you. No one can make the decision for you, not even God, because Yahweh does not force people to love Him. If he did, He would have created us as robots, where we would have given Him our undivided attention and devotion without hesitation. But He didn't, as He wants us to love Him willingly.
But understand that living in contrary to God's moral laws will yield negative consequences, just as living in contrary to God's laws of nature will have negative consequences. We cannot expect to come out in the end happy and well after we have willfully rejected God's precepts and principles, just as we cannot expect to be unscathed after jumping out a plane without a parachute.
Thus, to choose to live according to Yahweh's moral laws is only for your benefit. It makes no difference to God whether we obey or disobey Him in the sense that He is not dependant upon us one bit. Our sins do not physically harm God, nor do our righteous deeds bring Him benefits:
"Look to the heavens, and see.
See the skies, which are higher than you.
If you have sinned, what effect do you have against him?
If your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?
If you are righteous, what do you give him?
Or what does he receive from your hand?
Your wickedness may hurt a man as you are,
and your righteousness may profit a son of man." (Job 35:5-8)
So we're not doing Yahweh a "favor" when we obey Him. When we obey Him, we are doing ourselves a favor. And when we obey Him, that pleases Him, because He only wants the best for His creation.
How will you respond to God's footprints? In other words, how will you proceed after you know Yahweh through His handiworks? Will you seek after an intimate knowledge of Him? After knowing Him intimately, will you respond to His fellowship invitation?
If you need help in understanding God's Word, please by all means contact me, and I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you may have! Today is the day to start knowing our awesome Creator--don't delay!
~*~Q&A with Dr. Shirley~*~
Question: Did God create evil?
Answer: No, Yahweh did not create evil. Evil is simply the result of disobedience to His moral laws. Where there is no light, there is darkness. Likewise, where God's principles and precepts are not kept, there is evil.
Some people point to the King James Version translation of Isaiah 45:7 to say that God did create evil. The verse says, "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things." However, this verse does not indicate that God creates moral evil.
First, the word "evil" is translated from the Hebrew word "rah," which speaks of anything unpleasant. It can mean anything from "bad," as a bad land, to "rotten," as a rotten fruit, and any adversities or hardships we may face, from natural disasters to divine punishments from God. Yes, "rah" can also mean moral evil or wickedness. Thus, depending on the verse and context, "rah" has been translated into various words, such as trouble, affliction, bad, wickedness, ill, evil, calamity, sad, harm, adversity, grievous, mischief, and hurt. Below are a few verses where "rah" is present:
a) "Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan didn't please ["rah"] Isaac, his father." (Genesis 28:8)
b) "Why do you look so sad ["rah"] today?" (Genesis 40:7)
c) "See what kind of land they live in. Is it good or bad ["rah"]?" (Numbers 13:19, NLT)
Second, Isaiah 45:7 is contrasting opposites: light and darkness, peace and disturbance. "Moral evil" is not the exact opposite of "peace," so a better translation is, "I form the light, and create darkness. I make peace, and create calamity. I am Yahweh, who does all these things." (Isaiah 45:7, WEB) The "calamity" Yahweh creates can be in the form of judgments.
Third, the entire Bible does not support the idea of God creating evil. We're told that Yahweh is the only Being who is purely good, and that everything He created is very good (Matthew 19:17; Genesis 1:31).
However, Yahweh does indirectly cause moral evil to exist. When He establishes moral laws and those laws are not followed by others, then evil is the outcome of that disobedience and rebellion.
~*~Dr. Shirley's Corner~*~
My book "Do You Love Jehovah?" is now available on Apple's iTunes for your iPod, iPad, and iPhone, as well as on Barnes and Noble Nook!
iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn9781257305049
Nook:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/do-you-love-jehovah-god-almightys-infinite-love-wisdom-to-propel-you-to-greatness-shirley-cheng/1112404316?ean=9781257305049
Are you interested in obtaining in-depth knowledge of God's Word to help you deepen your understanding of God and His plans and develop a sacred relationship with your Heavenly Father? If so, you are more than welcome to sign up for the In-Depth Ultra-Ability Bible Virtual Class via e-mail.
· You will study the Bible in depth from Genesis to Revelation in order.
· The study will progress in your own pace.
· You will work one-on-one with me via e-mail only.
· Your personal Bible-related questions will be answered.
· Although the virtual class has no financial cost, it will require your dedication and diligence. There will be lessons to complete and tests to take
for all Bible chapters. All assignments are in short question and answer format.
· The only textbook for this program is the Bible. If you do not have a copy of the Bible, you can read it online for free at www.BibleGateway.com.
· The class is non-denominational and is not affiliated with any church or ministry.
· You have no obligations; you may pause or stop anytime, though you are strongly encouraged to complete the study.
Interested? Then fill out the form at www.ultra-ability.com, and we'll get started. I look forward to our study time together!
May the grace and peace from Yahweh God and Jesus Christ be with you.!
Content Copyright by Dr. Shirley Cheng; All rights reserved
You are permitted to only give out or link to this website or post; all other distribution and copying is prohibited without the prior written permission of Dr. Shirley Cheng. Contact Shirley at www.shirleycheng.com
Did you get this from a friend's forward and would like to subscribe? Then sign up at http://www.shirleycheng.com/contact.html
Read previous issues of Inspiration from a Blind at blog.shirleycheng.com
Best regards,
Dr. Shirley Cheng
Award-Winning Author with 27 Book Awards
Founder of Ultra-Ability Ministry
Proclaimer of Yahweh God's Good News of Salvation through Jesus Christ
Author/Contributor/Editor of 35 books by age 27, Bible Teacher, Poet, Motivational Speaker, Self-Empowerment Expert, Advocate
Board member of World Positive Thinkers Club
http://www.shirleycheng.com
"Although I'm blind, I can see far and wide; even though I'm disabled, I can climb high mountains. Let the ropes of hope in Yahweh God haul you high!"
Sign up to Inspiration from a Blind newsletter by sending an e-mail to: subscribe@shirleycheng.com
Please sign the Parental Rights in Children's Medical Care: Give Parents the Right to Say No Petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/parentr7/petition.html
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Inspiration from a Blind: Warring Within Your Body?
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Sunday, July 1, 2012
Inspiration from a Blind: Are You Your Father's Child?
July greetings from Inspiration from a Blind brought to you monthly by www.ShirleyCheng.com!
They say, "Like father, like son" or "like mother, like daughter." If you are a child of God, can you say that about your relationship with your Heavenly Father? Do your spiritual qualities illustrate that you are your Father's child?
Yahweh God's Word informs us that whoever "doesn't do righteousness is not of God" because God is righteous (1 John 3:10, WEB). All "unrighteousness is sin," and one who is born of God does not and cannot commit sin because God's seed "remains in him." (1 John 5:17, 3:9) This means that a true child of God does not live a lifestyle of sin. Instead, through the help of divine power implanted in them, God's child lives righteously by mirroring the spiritual qualities of their Father in heaven.
Does your righteousness reflect the righteousness of your Father? Let us see some of the traits of Yahweh's righteousness and a few of their associated commandments:
Justice
Yahweh loves righteousness and justice, which are the foundation of His throne (Psalm 33:5, 89:14). Justice is fairness, and the truthful administration of what each person deserves without partiality or prejudice, whether it be at one's home, workplace, or at the court of law.
God's commandments on justice: "Keep far from a false charge, and don't kill the innocent and righteous: for I will not justify the wicked." (Exodus 23:7)
"You shall not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits." (Exodus 23:6)
"You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; neither shall you testify in court to side with a multitude to pervert justice." (Exodus 23:2)
Loving Kindness
Yahweh shows "loving kindness to thousands of those who love [Him] and keep [His] commandments." (Exodus 20:6) He "doesn't retain his anger forever, because he delights in loving kindness." (Micah 7:18) "Loving kindness" is translated from the Hebrew word "chesed," which has no equivalent English translation. Chesed means love, kindness, grace, goodness, and mercy, all wrapped in one.
To know Yahweh is to know love, for "God is love." (1 John 4:8). The children of God are to "love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God, and knows God. He who doesn't love doesn't know God, for God is love. By this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, if God loved us in this way, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love has been perfected in us." (1 John 4:7-12)
God's commandments on love, kindness, and mercy: "He who shows mercy, [let him do so] with cheerfulness." (Romans 12:8)
"Let love be without hypocrisy. In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate one to another; in honor preferring one another." (Romans 12:9-10)
"Repay no one evil for evil. Don't seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, 'Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.' Therefore 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.' Don't be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:17, 19-21)
"Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not give false testimony,' 'You shall not covet,' and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Love doesn't harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law." (Romans 13:8-10)
"As you would like people to do to you, do exactly so to them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive back as much. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful." (Luke 6:31-36)
"Finally, be all like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous, not rendering evil for evil, or insult for insult; but instead blessing; knowing that to this were you called, that you may inherit a blessing." (1 Peter 3:8-9)
Truthfulness
As a "God of truth," it is impossible for Yahweh to tell lies (Isaiah 65:16; Titus 1:2). Truthfulness should be expressed in both words and deeds, not simply in the avoidance of speaking lies.
God's commandments on truthfulness: "Therefore putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor." (Ephesians 4:25)
"Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need." (Ephesians 4:28)
"Never carry two sets of weights, a heavier one and a lighter one. Never have two kinds of measures in your house, a larger one and a smaller one. Use accurate and honest weights and measures. Then you will live for a long time in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. Everyone who uses dishonest weights and measures is disgusting to the Lord." (Deuteronomy 25:13-16, GW)
"[Put away] all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking." (1 Peter 2:1, WEB)
Diligence
As Yahweh never gets tired or needs to rest, He is constantly working, even on the Sabbath, His sanctified day of rest (John 5:17). While humans are designed to rest, we are to work with diligence whenever we do labor.
God's commandments on diligence: "Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn't need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)
"I command you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom: preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching. [Be] sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry." (2 Timothy 4:1-2, 5)
"If anyone will not work, neither let him eat. For we hear of some who walk among you in rebellion, who don't work at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are that way, we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread." (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12)
"If anyone serves, let it be as of the strength which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 4:11)
Faithfulness
Yahweh does all of His works in faithfulness; His faithfulness "reaches to the skies" and "endures forever." (Psalm 33:4, 36:4, 117:2) Faithfulness is loyalty and reliability. One who is faithful can be trusted and depended upon by others.
God's commandments on faithfulness: "You shall not commit adultery." (Exodus 20:14)
"[It] is required of stewards, that they be found faithful." (1 Corinthians 4:2)
"If anyone doesn't take care of his own relatives, especially his immediate family, he has denied the Christian faith and is worse than an unbeliever." (1 Timothy 5:8, GW)
Peace
Those who love Yahweh's law "have great peace. Nothing causes them to stumble" because Yahweh is a "God of peace." (Psalm 119:165; Romans 15:33, WEB) Godly peace is translated from the Hebrew word "shalom," which also does not have an equivalent English translation. Shalom is a rich word that encompasses tranquility, wellness, favor, completeness, soundness, and harmony. Essentially, it describes a state of complete serene wellbeing that can only be granted by Yahweh and experienced by His children who live by His laws and who have been justified through faith in Christ (Romans 5:1).
God's commandments on peace: "Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7, GW)
"Depart from evil, and do good. seek peace, and pursue it." (Psalm 34:14, WEB)
"If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men." (Romans 12:18)
Self-Control, Gentleness, and Patience
Yahweh is "a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth, keeping loving kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and disobedience and sin; and that will by no means clear the guilty." (Exodus 34:6-7) To be patient toward others, one needs to be self-controlled and gentle, mild and meek.
God's commandments on self-control, gentleness, and patience: "[The] end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer." (1 Peter 4:7)
"The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but be gentle towards all, able to teach, patient, in gentleness correcting those who oppose him: perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth, and they may recover themselves out of the devil’s snare, having been taken captive by him to his will." (2 Timothy 2:24-26)
"We exhort you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient toward all." (1 Thessalonians 5:14)
My friends, God our Father has shown us what is good. Now the question is: "What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8) Do you meet the requirements of God, and thereby can be called a child of God?
If not, then study Yahweh's qualities in the Bible, ask Him to conform you to His glorious image, and cultivate the virtues He bestows upon you, so you can be the child He intends you to be!
As the apostle Peter said, "Make every effort to add integrity to your faith; and to integrity add knowledge; to knowledge add self-control; to self-control add endurance; to endurance add godliness; to godliness add Christian affection; and to Christian affection add love. If you have these qualities and they are increasing, it demonstrates that your knowledge about our Lord Jesus Christ is living and productive. If these qualities aren't present in your life, you’re shortsighted and have forgotten that you were cleansed from your past sins. Therefore, brothers and sisters, use more effort to make God’s calling and choosing of you secure.
"If you keep doing this, you will never fall away. Then you will also be given the wealth of entering into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:5-11, GW) Amen!
~*~Q&A with Dr. Shirley~*~
Question: Jesus told his disciples, "Seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things [food and clothing] will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33, WEB) How can we seek God's Kingdom and His righteousness first?
Answer: To seek Yahweh's Kingdom above everything else, we must live by His will, principles and precepts in both attitude and actions. Specifically, here's how:
a) First, one has to receive Jesus as their personal Savior and Master. This is the ultimate will of God for everyone, as He "desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:4) When one accepts the Gospel of Christ, one spiritually enters the Kingdom of God, wherein they will physically reside after humanity's future resurrection of the righteous.
The Gospel message is quite simple:
Yahweh God Almighty our Creator and Life-Giver hates all sins, and every person is a sinner with no exception, so all deserve God's eternal wrath and condemnation. We all are hopelessly doomed. But wait, this is where God's pure grace kicks in: He has made provision for everyone's forgiveness through His Son Jesus Christ. Once a person comes to trust in Jesus alone as their Lord and Savior for their salvation, believing that he is the Son of God who came to Earth, died for our sins, was buried, resurrected on the third day, and ascended back to heaven, God will forgive that person of all their sins, impute Jesus' righteousness on them, and give them the Holy Spirit that helps them live a whole new life that's pleasing to God. Then in the future, all True Christians will be resurrected whereupon they will live forever with God and Jesus. On the other hand, those who willfully reject Jesus as their Lord and Savior will also be resurrected, but they will be judged and then sentenced to eternal death, with no chance of a resurrection ever again. Without accepting Jesus when given the opportunity, every person is lost, helpless, hopeless, and destined to eternal death.
Believing in Yahweh and His Son Jesus Christ and walking according to Yahweh’s will is the only way to salvation (eternal life) for anyone who believes. Each person's eternal destiny is up to that person. Each of us has one decision to make: eternal life or eternal death? This decision is the most important decision we'll ever make, as it determines our eternal destiny. We mustn't delay in deciding, for upon our passing or when Jesus returns (whichever comes first), the door of opportunity for us to decide and repent will close.
However, believing in God is the easy part; loving Him is the hard part. Only when we love God will we have the desire to live according to His will. The Demons believe in God and they shudder (James 2:19), but are they going to receive eternal life? No, unless they sincerely repent. Regardless of the sins we have ever committed, if we repent and believe, we will all be saved.
b) Once a person has accepted the Gospel, they will need to live by Yahweh's principles and precepts. Simply believing in Jesus is not enough; one will not enter God's Kingdom with the faith of demons. Note what Jesus said: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21)
When God's Kingdom is our number one priority, we ought to do our best to live according to Kingdom principles taught by Jesus Christ, who will be God's appointed King for 1000 years. For instance, when Jesus Christ told us to forgive others, we should obey. When He commanded us to honor our father and mother, we should do according to His commandment, which is Yahweh's commandment. When we break any of God's laws, we must quickly confess to God of our sin and ask for His forgiveness.
c) Living by God's Kingdom principles and precepts includes fulfilling the Great Commission to spread the Gospel to the uttermost parts of Earth. We need to take up the Great Commission as part of the duties of Kingdom residency. We can and should spread God's Gospel through both active and silent witnessing, such as exhibiting a Kingdom attitude. Such an attitude is mild, gentle, meek, and loving. In other words, we are to aim to have the humble attitude of Christ. This development of Christ-like nature is done by God, so we need to constantly ask God to bear this fruit in us.
d) Finally, we must make God's Kingdom our main prayer focus. Jesus taught us to pray, "Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth." (Matthew 6:10) This should be our main concern for not only ourselves but all of humanity, past, present and future, for it's only when God's Kingdom comes will all darkness, suffering, and evil end, forever.
In doing these four steps, we will be actively seeking God's Kingdom and righteousness first. Then in the future, all of our needs and godly desires, and beyond, will be met by Yahweh and Jesus.
If you'd like to know God's Kingdom principles, by all means e-mail me and we'll discover them together!
May the grace and peace from Yahweh God and Jesus Christ be with you.!
Content Copyright by Dr. Shirley Cheng; All rights reserved
You are permitted to only give out or link to this website or post; all other distribution and copying is prohibited without the prior written permission of Dr. Shirley Cheng. Contact Shirley at www.shirleycheng.com
Did you get this from a friend's forward and would like to subscribe? Then send a blank e-mail to subscribe@shirleycheng.com from the e-mail address you'd like to sign up under.
Read previous issues of Inspiration from a Blind at blog.shirleycheng.com
Best regards,
Dr. Shirley Cheng
Award-Winning Author with 27 Book Awards
Founder of Ultra-Ability Ministry
Proclaimer of Yahweh God's Good News of Salvation through Jesus Christ
Author/Contributor/Editor of 35 books by age 27, Bible Teacher, Poet, Motivational Speaker, Self-Empowerment Expert, Advocate
Board member of World Positive Thinkers Club
http://www.shirleycheng.com
"Although I'm blind, I can see far and wide; even though I'm disabled, I can climb high mountains. Let the ropes of hope in Yahweh God haul you high!"
Sign up to Inspiration from a Blind newsletter by sending an e-mail to: subscribe@shirleycheng.com
Please sign the Parental Rights in Children's Medical Care: Give Parents the Right to Say No Petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/parentr7/petition.html
Friday, June 1, 2012
Inspiration from a Blind: Do You Care for "the Least" Most?
A sunny June to you from Inspiration from a Blind brought to you monthly by www.ShirleyCheng.com!
Do you love and care for "the least" in your community? Who are "the least"? Jesus answered this question in his parable in Matthew 25:31-46 (WEB):
When the Son of Man [Jesus Christ] comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. Before him all the nations will be gathered [on Judgment Day], and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will tell those on his right hand, "Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me." Then the righteous will answer him, saying, "Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?" The King will answer them, "Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." Then he will say also to those on the left hand, "Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire [eternal destruction] which is prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you didn't give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and you didn't take me in; naked, and you didn't clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn't visit me." Then they will also answer, saying, "Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn't help you?" Then he will answer them, saying, "Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you didn't do it to one of the least of these, you didn't do it to me." These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
Thus, "the least" are the most vulnerable in our community, the most in need of our love and care.
Throughout the Bible, Yahweh God Almighty emphasized the importance of ministry to “the least” and commanded people to love their neighbors as they love themselves (Leviticus 19:18).
In the Old Testament, Yahweh laid out specific laws that governed how people should look after the poor, the widows, and the orphans; some of the decrees include:
1) We should not take advantage of the poor and cheat them of their wages: "You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he be of your brothers, or of your foreigners who are in your land within your gates: in his day you shall give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down on it; for he is poor, and sets his heart on it: lest he cry against you to Yahweh, and it be sin to you." (Deuteronomy 24:14-15)
2) We should not mistreat the widows and the fatherless: "You shall not take advantage of any widow or fatherless child. If you take advantage of them at all, and they cry at all to me, I will surely hear their cry; and my wrath will grow hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless." (Exodus 22:22-24)
3) We should not look down upon or oppress The physically weak or those who are at a disadvantage, as the deaf and the blind: "You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind; but you shall fear your God. I am Yahweh." (Leviticus 19:14)
The word "curse" here is translated from the Hebrew word "qalal," which refers to treating someone with disrespect, contempt, or disdain. "Qalal" is belittling someone or looking down upon them, as if they are of little importance. We should never take advantage of the weak. We should never think in our hearts, "They're an easy target," or make fun of them. Every person is a creation of God. To mock the weak is to insult God, whom we must fear.
The theme of ministry to “the least” continues in the New Testament. Jesus Christ, our greatest model of a Servant Leader, commanded us to minister to the most vulnerable of our society in both speech and deed. He spent much of his precious time on Earth with the outcasts of society, people whom many shunned and detested. He stayed at their homes, dined with them, and warmly welcomed them into His heart and to receiving the gift of salvation. For instance, the Gospel of Luke tells us that while Jesus was eating at a house of a Pharisee by the name of Simon, a woman “brought an alabaster jar of ointment [which was very expensive]. Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.” (Luke 7:37-38) Seeing this, Simon said to himself, “This man [Jesus], if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner.” (Luke 7:39) Thus, Jesus gratefully accepted this woman while the self-righteous Pharisee frowned upon her, forgetting that he, too, was a sinner.
Besides setting physical examples after which we should model, Jesus pointedly told us to minister to the broken. He said, “When you make a feast, ask the poor, the maimed, the lame, or the blind; and you will be blessed, because they don't have the resources to repay you. For you will be repaid in the resurrection of the righteous.” (Luke 14:13-14) When we honor the indigent and love them as we love ourselves, we will not only be loving them but Jesus Himself: “Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40)
In the apostolic letters, we are exhorted to minister to our brothers. Our “brothers” are whoever need our help, and whomever we can help. The apostle John said:
"Whoever doesn't do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesn't love his brother. If a man says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn't love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother. But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart of compassion against him, how does the love of God remain in him?" (1 John 3:10; 1 John 4:20-21; 1 John 3:17)
Thus, if we see our brothers in need, we should not “love in word only, neither with the tongue only, but in deed and truth.” (1 John 3:18) Our deeds should include ministry to the fatherless and widows, as the apostle James said, “Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” (James 1:27)
We should never treat the poor less favorably than we treat the wealthy:
"My brothers, don't hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with partiality. For if a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your synagogue, and a poor man in filthy clothing also comes in; and you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing, and say, 'Sit here in a good place'; and you tell the poor man, 'Stand there,' or 'Sit by my footstool'; haven't you shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn't God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him?" (James 2:1-5)
In the parable of the separation of the sheep and the goats on Judgment Day Jesus told in Matthew 25, it is clear that whether the needy are sent to us or we go to them directly, we are expected to offer our hearts to them, to bring to them the love and the peace of Christ, and most importantly, the Good News of salvation through Christ.
If tomorrow were Judgment Day, would Jesus say to you, “Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me”? If not, start showing the love of Christ to the least of your community, today!
~*~Q&A with Dr. Shirley~*~
Question: In Ephesians, the apostle Paul wrote: "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in us all." (Ephesians 4:4-6, WEB) Could you please identify each of the seven "one" components Paul mentioned?
Answer: Here, Paul listed seven "one" components that are most important and fundamental to Christians.
a) One body refers to the church, the body of Christ (all believers as a unit)
b) One Spirit refers to the Holy Spirit, which is God's active creative force that dwells in each believer to help them live according to God's will
c) One hope refers to Christians' eternal hope for their future resurrection and everlasting life with Yahweh God and Jesus Christ in God's Kingdom
d) One Lord is our Lord Jesus Christ
e) One faith is Christians' faith in Jesus for salvation
f) One God and Father of all Christians is obviously Yahweh God Almighty
But what is our "one baptism"?
Whenever we come to the word "baptism" and its related forms in the Bible, we need to realize that it doesn't refer to water baptism every single time. As a matter of fact, the New Testament describes three main baptisms:
a) John the Baptizer performed water baptism for people
b) Before his ascension back to heaven, Jesus promised his disciples, "For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now." (Acts 1:5) This is the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
c) Before his execution, Jesus said, "But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!" (Luke 12:50) This is the baptism of suffering for the world that only Jesus was baptized in.
So we have at least three baptisms in the New Testament. Which baptism was Paul referring to when he said "one baptism"? All the seven "one" components he listed are vital to Christians, so the one baptism must be required for any Christian in regards to their salvation. Paul spoke about this baptism in his other letters. Let's read a few verses:
"For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:13)
Here, Paul tells us that the baptism of the Holy Spirit puts all Christians into one body of Christ. All true Christians have "drunk" the Holy Spirit like water. This was what Jesus was referring to when he said, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water." (John 7:37-38) This is referring to "the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive." (John 7:40).
God saves Christians "through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior." (Titus 3:5, 6)
"...you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of his glory." (Ephesians 1:13, 14)
"Don't grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:30)
"Now he who establishes us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God; who also sealed us, and gave us the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts." (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
Baptism in the Holy Spirit is not only very important, but as you can see, it is essential for salvation. Note that the Holy Spirit is given to each Christian as a "pledge." This means that God gives each Christian the Holy Spirit as a down payment or deposit that he or she will be glorified, which is the final stage of salvation. The Spirit "seals" God's promise to Christians.
Only the baptism in the Holy Spirit seals Christians with a pledge. Since this spiritual baptism is essential to salvation, Paul, I feel, was referring to this baptism when he wrote "one baptism" in Ephesians.
May the grace and peace from Yahweh God and Jesus Christ be with you.!
Content Copyright by Dr. Shirley Cheng; All rights reserved
You are permitted to only give out or link to this website or post; all other distribution and copying is prohibited without the prior written permission of Dr. Shirley Cheng. Contact Shirley at www.shirleycheng.com
Did you get this from a friend's forward and would like to subscribe? Then send a blank e-mail to subscribe@shirleycheng.com from the e-mail address you'd like to sign up under.
Read previous issues of Inspiration from a Blind at blog.shirleycheng.com
Best regards,
Dr. Shirley Cheng
Award-Winning Author with 27 Book Awards
Founder of Ultra-Ability Ministry
Proclaimer of Yahweh God's Good News of Salvation through Jesus Christ
Author/Contributor/Editor of 35 books by age 27, Bible Teacher, Poet, Motivational Speaker, Self-Empowerment Expert, Advocate
Board member of World Positive Thinkers Club
http://www.shirleycheng.com
"Although I'm blind, I can see far and wide; even though I'm disabled, I can climb high mountains. Let the ropes of hope in Yahweh God haul you high!"
Sign up to Inspiration from a Blind newsletter by sending an e-mail to: subscribe@shirleycheng.com
Please sign the Parental Rights in Children's Medical Care: Give Parents the Right to Say No Petition:
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Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Inspiration from a Blind: Be Part of the Blaze!
A beautiful May to you from Inspiration from a Blind brought to you monthly by www.ShirleyCheng.com!
The Gospel of Jesus Christ started out as a small spark in the Galilean hillsides nearly two thousand years ago, but rapidly blazed across all geographical barriers to become the world's most well-known Good News in the history of humanity. A brief overview of how the Gospel spread will not only empower us to be a part of its spread but will help us see that the Gospel is propelled by divine power.
The spread of the Gospel began with the Great Commission Jesus Christ gave His disciples prior to his ascension back to his Father's side in heaven: “Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19, 20, WEB) Since the spreading of the Gospel was a great responsibility the disciples had to fulfill, it required the power from the Holy Spirit. Thus, Jesus told His body of believers to “wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49) With this power, they would be witnesses to Christ in "Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
The Spread of the Gospel in Jerusalem
Following their Master's instruction, the disciples waited in Jerusalem for the gift of the Holy Spirit. When the day of Pentecost came, “they were all with one accord in one place. Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages,” so non-Hebrew speaking Jews from various parts of the Roman Empire could understand them in their own languages (Acts 2:1-4).
The Spirit-empowered disciples immediately began working to fulfill the Great Commission. The apostle Peter was first to add new members to the church of Christ; the Holy Spirit enabled this uneducated fisherman to deliver an impromptu preaching so powerful and convicting that it converted three thousand people to Christianity on the same day (Acts 2:41).
In Jerusalem, new believers were constantly being added to the church of Christ, as Yahweh God enabled the apostles to perform many miracles, including the instantaneous healing of a man who was crippled since birth (Acts 3). The increase that the church experienced was so rapid that the Bible soon used “multiplying” to describe the growth: “the number of the disciples was multiplying.” (Acts 6:1)
The Spread of the Gospel to Samaria
Great persecution soon rose against the body of Christ, and consequently, the believers were scattered “abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.” (Acts 8:1) Those who left Jerusalem took with them the Good News of Christ, spreading the Gospel outside their circle to Samaria for the first time. One such believer who spread the Gospel to Samaria was Philip, a deacon who was assigned to serve tables for widows (Acts 6:5).
In Samaria, Philip healed the paralyzed and the lame, and drove out demons from the possessed, all the while proclaiming to the Samaritans the Christ, whom the Samaritans joyously accepted (Acts 8:5-8). When the apostles in Jerusalem "heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit." (Acts 8:14-15)
While Philip was still ministering in Samaria, an angel from God said to him, “Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (Acts 8:26) God had a greater mission for Philip: to minister to one individual, an Ethiopian eunuch, the secretary of the treasury for the queen of the Ethiopians (Acts 8:27). Unhesitatingly,Philip obeyed and on his way, met the eunuch, who was traveling home on his chariot from Jerusalem where he went to worship. Commanded by the Holy Spirit, Philip ran toward the chariot, and once he heard the Ethiopian official reading aloud from the book of Isaiah, he asked him, “Do you understand what you are reading?” (Acts 8:30) The official admitted that he needed help understanding the Scriptures and asked Philip to “come up and sit with him.” (Acts 8:31) Sitting next to the Ethiopian in his chariot, Philip promptly preached about Jesus Christ, starting from the passage the man was reading: Isaiah 53:7-8:
He was led as a sheep to the slaughter.
As a lamb before his shearer is silent,
so he doesn't open his mouth.
In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away.
Who will declare His generation?
For his life is taken from the earth.
As they traveled, they came upon some water, and the official said, “Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?” (Acts 8:36) Once confirming the man's new faith in Christ, Philip baptized him in the water. Upon the completion of Philip's ministry to the official, the “Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn't see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing.” (Acts 8:39)
The Spread of the Gospel to the “Uttermost Parts of the Earth”
Following the spread of Christianity throughout Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, Jesus' Good News of universal salvation had to spread outward; no geographical barrier, either imaginary or real, could possibly hold it back. The spread of the Gospel to the gentiles had a modest start, but rapidly grew like a small amount of leaven in a lump of dough. Cross-cultural ministry officially began with the apostle Peter.
As a Jew, Peter was at first hesitant to preach the Gospel of Christ to non-Jews, as Jews at that time saw gentiles as unclean (ritually polluting). However, after a vision from the Christ, Peter accepted his mission to the gentiles. Immediately following the vision, three men were asking for Peter, and upon the Holy Spirit's prompting, Peter went to meet them. The men explained to Peter, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say.” (Acts 10:22)
Once arriving at Cornelius' home, Peter introduced Jesus as the Savior of the world. While he spoke, the Holy Spirit came upon the gentiles and, as a result, they spoke in tongues, amazing all the witnesses (Acts 10:44-46). Then Peter had them baptized in water (Acts 10:48).
The spread of the Gospel to the gentiles continued following Peter's first cross-cultural ministry. Some of those who were persecuted preached the Word at faraway places, including Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, where the term “Christian” was first used to describe a follower of Christ (Acts 11:19, 21, 26).
Cross-cultural ministry flourished under Paul of Tarsus. On the day of his miraculous conversion from a devoted Pharisee who was vehemently persecuting Christians to a devout apostle who would become the pioneer of church planting, the Master said to him, “Arise, and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you a servant and a witness both of the things which you have seen, and of the things which I will reveal to you; delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom I send you, to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” (Acts 26:16-18)
Paul was "not disobedient to the heavenly vision.” (Acts 26:19) In his three Spirit-guided missionary trips throughout the Roman Empire, Paul won lives for Christ from many gentile worlds, including Malta, Cyprus, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, Crete, and Rome, where his ministry ended due to execution and where the book of Acts of the Bible closes to open the door for further spread of the Gospel.
The Spread of the Gospel After the Book of Acts
After the close of Acts, the Gospel continued to spread despite great persecution. By the second century, it spread to nearly all of the Roman Empire, and in the fourth century, persecution ceased and Christianity became the dominant religion of the empire after Roman Emperor Constantine was converted to Christianity, and issued an edict of toleration in 313. Then through missionary work and colonization, Christianity spread throughout the western world in the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, thousands of Christians spoke against the Roman Catholic Church for deviating from Biblical doctrines, for moral corruption, and for power abuse. Some of these reformers began making the Bible accessible to the common people by translating it into languages other than Latin, to which the sacred text was then confined. During such reformation, many reformers were persecuted and executed, including William Tyndale, who was burned at the stake in 1536 for smuggling copies of his English translation of the Bible into England after illegally printing them in Germany. Their efforts and sacrifice enabled many lay people to personally read and study the Bible on their own for the first time. The reformation was aided by the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg, which allowed for mass production of the Bible.
In the eighteenth century, Christians sailed to the New World to seek religious freedom, bringing with them the Gospel to America. From that time onward to the 1900s, several revivalists rose up to radically evangelized the world; among them was William Booth, who founded the Salvation Army and established “Armies” in fifty-eight countries; James Hudson Taylor, the first missionary to inland China who converted tens of thousands of Chinese to Christianity; and John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist church who spread the Gospel throughout the United Kingdom.
Today, despite centuries of mass persecution, the burning of the Bible, and clergy power abuse, the Gospel continues to spread and penetrate geographical lines, fueled by technological advances. And when the “Good News of the Kingdom [is] preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations...the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14) Amen!
~*~Q&A with Dr. Shirley~*~
Question: What should motivate and propel us to spread the Gospel?
Answer: Most of us fail to share the Gospel with others because we do not realize the extent of God's wrath against sinners or of His future judgment on them. If we do not spread the Gospel, we are in turn allowing many to perish eternally. Is that what we really want? Do we want our loved ones to die forever without taking part in the future resurrection?
Thus, what we decide to do--whether to tell the Good News to others--is based on our love for fellow humanity or lack of it. In fact, our action reflects our heart attitude toward Yahweh God, Jesus Christ, and our fellow human beings. If we put God and Christ in the number one spot in our hearts, our love for them will motivate and propel us to spread the Gospel so people can be added to God's Kingdom. Remember, how we treat others show how we feel toward Yahweh and Jesus.
Let's not keep God's blessings all to ourselves. Just as receiving the gift of salvation is a personal choice, deciding to take an active part in God's mission is a personal choice we all have.
Question: How can we spread the Gospel? How should we prepare?
Answer: We should spread the Gospel by both our words and deeds. Jesus taught His disciples God's principles not only through words but more so through his works. Like our Master, when we evangelize, we should live in accordance with what we teach, and our Christ-like lifestyle will speak for us and convince non-believers the benefits of Christian living. Simply put, we should live what we preach. If we say, "Don't steal," and yet commit theft ourselves, what kind of message would that convey to non-Christians?
Jesus and the early apostles took the Good News wherever they went to whomever they met. Likewise, we should be ready to share the Gospel anytime, anywhere, to anyone. God will always provide us with the opportunities; we just have to seize every chance we get. In our modern world with its technological advances, we should use every avenue possible to spread the Gospel. Such avenues include television and radio broadcasts; Christian books, CDs, audio and video recordings; and Christian websites and Internet groups.
But before we began spreading the Gospel, we must prepare for it by first studying the Bible. How can we preach what we don't first understand ourselves? Thus, a decent understanding of Biblical truths is fundamental in evangelism. We have to understand the Gospel message backward and forward, specifically why faith in Jesus is the only way to salvation, why we need salvation in the first place, and what is the consequence of refusing salvation through Jesus Christ.
Most Christians cannot explain why they are Christians, why they believe what they believe, why the Bible is true and entirely trustworthy, and why faith in Christ is the only way to salvation. If you need help in understanding all this and more, I'll be more than happy to explore the Bible with you to obtain the answers! Just reply to this newsletter, and we'll get started!
When we have fulfilled our evangelistic duties out of love for God and humankind, our Master will say to us, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord." (Matthew 25:21) Amen!
May the grace and peace from Yahweh God and Jesus Christ be with you.!
Content Copyright by Dr. Shirley Cheng; All rights reserved
You are permitted to only give out or link to this website or post; all other distribution and copying is prohibited without the prior written permission of Dr. Shirley Cheng. Contact Shirley at www.shirleycheng.com
Did you get this from a friend's forward and would like to subscribe? Then send a blank e-mail to subscribe@shirleycheng.com from the e-mail address you'd like to sign up under.
Read previous issues of Inspiration from a Blind at blog.shirleycheng.com
Best regards,
Dr. Shirley Cheng
Award-Winning Author with 27 Book Awards
Founder of Ultra-Ability Ministry
Proclaimer of Yahweh God's Good News of Salvation through Jesus Christ
Author/Contributor/Editor of 35 books by age 27, Bible Teacher, Poet, Motivational Speaker, Self-Empowerment Expert, Advocate
Board member of World Positive Thinkers Club
http://www.shirleycheng.com
"Although I'm blind, I can see far and wide; even though I'm disabled, I can climb high mountains. Let the ropes of hope in Yahweh God haul you high!"
Sign up to Inspiration from a Blind newsletter by sending an e-mail to: subscribe@shirleycheng.com
Please sign the Parental Rights in Children's Medical Care: Give Parents the Right to Say No Petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/parentr7/petition.html
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