Revelations 12:10-11 "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven. 'Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ; for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.' And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death."
This verse has always struck a cord in me. It shows what is really going on. God is not our enemy. God is not some 3-0 monster, rather, our accuser is the monster. God loves us but hates our sin. Satan hates us but loves our sin and throws it in God's face. After all, the word devil can be translated "accuser". I believe the term is "narc" or "weasel" or "tattletale". Na, that's an insult to "narcs", "weasels" and "tattletales".
So what to do with the accusations? If God is just he must deal justly with such wrongdoing, no? But wait, he love us and, therefore, God does not want to deal harshly with those that he loves despite their wrongdoing. So what is a God to do? I will give you a hint, his middle initial is "H". That's right, in comes Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for our sins. Take that you little @@#&##**# and that and that you little $^&#*&#&!!!!!! But what about sympathy for the devil you may ask? I only feel sorry for over the hill rock'in rollers that continue to sing songs about sympathy for him. Call me cold hearted, just as long as you conceede I have some sensibility and perception of good taste.
So what about the rest of the verse? We have covered the part in the verse about Satan being our accuser and the blood of Christ being God's answer to such accusations. So what about the rest of the verse? What is this really saying? Could it really be that simple? Perhaps I should look at some other Aramatic/Greek/Hebrewonic translation to the third power? Na, I really don't have the time nor do I need the headache. It about their TESTIMONY. But why you ask? It is EVEIDENCE for the power of the blood. So what's my testimony? How has the blood changed me? I have no dramatic Paris Hilton to Mother Theresa convertion (not that that is humanly possible). No, I would compare it to a Jerry Fawell to Billy Graham convertion (come to think of it I'm not sure that is humanly possible either. Oh well, lets continue on any way shall we?). So I suppose if you hate both of them my testimony is "screwed", so to speak? Oh well. Perhaps it is all ruined. That is, of coarse, unless, one considers the life of Billy Graham. Who can say a bad word about him other than saying that they hate his God? This is not a Billy Graham love fest, rather, it is testimony regarding how one can live their life in the image of Christ. It can be done!!! I could tell you about my story, but would you believe me? Would you believe how Christ has turned my self-righteousness into self awareness of my own wretchedness? Would you believe me if I told you how Christ has turned my judgementalism into a realization that I am no better than those I stood in judgement over without the blood of Christ over me? Probably not, so that is why I give you Billy. His testimony has been lived to be viewed by all and his testimony points to the one that is lived after Christ's example. I am not attempting to show Billy to be sinless, rather, I attempt only to show that one need not wallow in such sin. Christ can set us free from sin not only in the life to come but the one in which we live today.
In short he can take you from 😠or :'( to 😵
Edit: Is this long enough? Have I gone five minutes yet? .......................................................................................................Ok, how about now?
Originally posted by kirksey957Someone's salvation may be at stake.
I am currently working out a system of rotating guest judges. I have asked a real hard core sinner to sit in on this first round, so these sermons better be good. Someone's salvation may be at stake. Naw it ain't Shavixmir.
Do you honestly believe that? Do you honestly care?
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/__PVE.HTM
Matthew, chapter 5
1 1 When he saw the crowds, 2 he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
2 He began to teach them, saying:
3 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, 4 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 5 Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 6 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
6 Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 7 for they will be satisfied.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 8 Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, 9 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me.
12 10 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13 11 12 "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.
16 Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
17 13 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
18 Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.
19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 14
20 I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
21 15 16 "You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.'
22 17 But I say to you, whoever is angry 18 with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, 'Raqa,' will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
23 Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you,
24 leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
25 Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison.
26 Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.
27 19 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.'
28 But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29 20 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.
30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.
31 21 "It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.'
32 But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33 22 "Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow.'
34 But I say to you, do not swear at all; 23 not by heaven, for it is God's throne;
35 nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
36 Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
37 24 Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.' Anything more is from the evil one.
38 25 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
39 But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on (your) right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.
40 If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well.
41 Should anyone press you into service for one mile, 26 go with him for two miles.
42 Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.
43 27 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you,
45 that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
46 For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors 28 do the same?
47 And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? 29
48 So be perfect, 30 just as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Originally posted by ivanhoeYou are disqualified from the first round for the agregious sin of plagerizing Jesus. Any fool could tell that was Jesus.
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/__PVE.HTM
Matthew, chapter 5
1 1 When he saw the crowds, 2 he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
2 He began to teach them, saying:
3 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, 4 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 5 Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comfo ...[text shortened]...
48 So be perfect, 30 just as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Originally posted by ivanhoeWeren't the Greeks blessed as well? I'm sure I read that somewhere.
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/__PVE.HTM
Matthew, chapter 5
1 1 When he saw the crowds, 2 he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
2 He began to teach them, saying:
3 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, 4 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 5 Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comfo ...[text shortened]... lt you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me.
Originally posted by josephwWe did not give a specific time for a specific reason. You must live with your anxiety the same way a sinner must live with his anxiety about not knowing if there will be a tomorrow. The Kingdom is at hand so says Jesus.
I have a question, your honorable judgeship sirs, is the deadline at midnight saturday? I'm a terrible procrastinator, and I will probably get my "sermon" in at the last minute.