Meeting someone: Is getting together with a friend and going out Dutch, to a function.
Dating: Dating is having a companion to do things with, occasionally or as often as asked. The male pays for the enjoyment of the female company.
The are usually in the same place at the same time, otherwise why would they date?
Going Steady: liken onto high school. The male gives the girl his class ring, to say they are a team and date no one else. They may be at the same game but not always in the same place.
It can be a temporary situation for usually live carries them in different directions after graduation. People, can become intimate like petting, in cars. And they have their first taste of ‘puppy love.’
Promise Rings: are given out for a variety of reasons, such as promising fathers to wait for marriage, promising this relationship is stepping up to a further commitment to each other like a pre-engagement ring.
It is not binding, just a outward show of making a promise.
Engaged Ring: Being engage is now committing to one day having a future together and they are now officially a couple and not window-shopping.
It is during this time the ‘kinks’ get ironed out and a lot of decision making is done together as to what each one wants in a marriage, what their needs are and how they can be meet. Couples talk about sex, children, houses, money management, honeymoons, and vacations – everything under the sun.
Intimacies grow strong during this time for they are getting to truly know one another, and are willing to please one another.
In a relationship each one what’s or should want to do for the other. Men like to help women in mechanical things around the house, shoveling snow, cutting grass, fixing or maintain cars, help work the land, such as gardening.
Women like to cook their man’s favorite foods to show love, shop for him, for they know what would be most flattering on him, they wear what is attractive to their man that they would be proud to show her off. “Trophy on his arm.:
Intimacy grows to full knowledge as to what would please the other, for they are planning on a live time ‘closeness’.
Marriage: Is a FULL commitment to their spouse, and according to the Father’s plan the spouse is to be number one, before anything else.
The order of priorities is the Father is you’re all in all! Spouse #1, Children #2, Work #3, others #4, placing yourself last. Bottom line you are die to self and live for others and G-d will take care of you, the last shall be first and the first last.
Unfortunate the order gets out of place and work takes top priority, then what ever they can fit into a day falls next. Satan has changed the original plan and has deceived many, the world has adopted it.
Intimacy should be at its peak! The Scripture says ‘do not abstain unless BOTH agree, then come back together quickly so Satan can not attracts you!” That means not when one feels like it and the other does not, for it also says “your body belongs to him and his body belongs to you.”
Bottom line: Even if the plumbing does not work on one, but it does on the other, one’s obligation is to fulfill their partner with joy for in giving you will receive. To get what you want, you must give what the partner wants.
This all will bring about a long happy marriage, one that was truly made in heaven.
Word of advice: ‘DO NOT LET THE SUN GO DOWN UPON YOUR WRATH!’
Eph. 4:26-47 “Neither give place to the devil.”
When anger is allowed to linger, it often eventuates in "wrath" and wrath can result in "malice" (Col. 3: 8). G-d's word teaches that even the circumstance for such conditions as malice are to be eliminated, to make both parties happy.
When we start to fight out of our frustration and say or play stupid games, one just can not think straight, for any differences among them, do furnish some token of reconciliation must be made before the sun set. It is better to settle the dispute right then that tomorrow will bring a good day in understanding of another’s needs.
The making up or settling out one’s mind can be grand and it loosens the hand of Satan on your mate.
Most important:In any stage of life you are in you must allow quality time for your mate. Set a certain time at night to stop whatever you are doing to spend quaility time with your mate. Remember forplay is a all day thing, the time coming together is the climax. Start early enough so you can get quality sleep in sweet bliss.
Buying Berries
When you get your berries home, prepare a mixture of one part vinegar (white or apple cider probably work best) and ten parts water.
Dump the berries into the mixture and swirl around.
Drain, rinse if you want (though the mixture is so diluted you can't taste the vinegar,) and pop in the fridge.
The vinegar kills any mold spores and other bacteria that might be on the surface of the fruit, and voila!
Raspberries will last a week or more, and strawberries go almost two weeks without getting moldy and soft.
So go forth and stock up on those pricey little gems, knowing they'll stay fresh as long as it takes you to eat them.
Dump the berries into the mixture and swirl around.
Drain, rinse if you want (though the mixture is so diluted you can't taste the vinegar,) and pop in the fridge.
The vinegar kills any mold spores and other bacteria that might be on the surface of the fruit, and voila!
Raspberries will last a week or more, and strawberries go almost two weeks without getting moldy and soft.
So go forth and stock up on those pricey little gems, knowing they'll stay fresh as long as it takes you to eat them.
Shema Allegiance
Observant Believers consider the Shema (a liturgical prayer to listen, hear and do), to be the most important part of the prayer service.
Deut. 6:5-9; Mark 12:29-30
The Shema, which begins with the famous verse Listen Israel,The L-rd is G-d, the
L-rd is One! is not a prayer. It is the Believers Pledge of Allegiance, a testimony to His Oneness. Knowing that G-d is One is of primary importance, since the entire religion is based on this principle.
The Shema is a declaration that all the events that happen to us are from the One, the only One. At the and of days we will come to understood how even how the "bad times" was actually for the "good," even though now it is hard to tell.
The chance to say the Shema twice a day, once in the morning prayers and once in the evening prayers, is a way for us to engrain this belief upon us, to keep this idea, so to speak, on our fingertips. Having this belief readily at hand helps a person fulfill another verse from the Shema: And you shall LOVE the Lord your G-d, with all YOUR HEART, with all YOUR SOUL, and with all your resources. What does it mean to love him with all your heart? The Talmud explains that the word "heart" is metaphorical for "desires." Your desires for necessities like bread, water, clothing, and shelter, to make your body stronger to learn and do G-d's Torah!
Love G-d with all your soul, what the Sages did have in mind was that one should love G-d so much, that he would even be willing to give up his life for G-d.
And I will teach them diligently unto my children, and will talk of them when I sit in my house, and when I walk by the way, and when I lie down, and when I rise up.
Whoever fears G-d will endeavor to bring up his children in the way of righteousness, that they also may fear G-d, and that pure and undefiled religion may be preserved in his family through all its generations, not only in word, but in practice also.
You shall begin and end the day with G-d, and thus religion will be the great business of your life. O how good are these sayings, but how little regarded!
You shall bind them for a sign upon your hand
When a person wishes to remember a thing of importance, and is afraid to trust to the common operations of memory, he ties a cord on his hand or finger, or places something out of its usual order, and in view, that his memory may be brought to recollection and his eye affect his heart. G-d, who knows how slow of heart we are to understand, graciously orders us to make use of every help, and through the means of things sensible, to rise to things spiritual.
And I will write them upon the posts of my house, and on my gates.
Always before my eyes, in my coming and going.
I will fear the L-rd my G-d, and serve Him and will swear by His name. I will diligently keep the commandments of the L-rd my G-d, and His testimonies, and His statutes, which He has commanded me. And I will do that which is right and good in the sight of the L-rd: that it may be well with me.
The blessing that follows begins with the declaration "True, firm, established, obligatory, proper, lasting, satisfactory, favored, agreeable, pleasing, respected, revered, fit, accepted, good, and valid is this word" (this obligation that we have just recited). Many of the adjectives in this declaration are legal terms used in validating legal agreements. We give the recitation of the Shema the force of an oath, meaning: We solemnly affirm that the obligation we have just recited is valid and binding on us in every way. This makes of the Shema a daily affirmation of allegiance to G-d and to the covenant obligations that allegiance entails.
6:10 …to give you great and goodly cities, which you build not
6:11 ….And houses full of all good things, which you filled not, and wells dig, which you dig not, vineyards and olive trees, which you planted not; when you shall have eaten and be full
6:18 And you shall do that which is right and good in the sight of the L-RD: that it may be well with you, and that you may go in and possess the good land which the L-RD sward unto your fathers
6:19 To cast out all your enemies from before you…
Isa. 54: 17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper
Deut. 6:22 And the L-rd showed signs and wonders….before our eyes.
We usually fail to appreciate the danger of success and prosperity; we agree there is a theoretical danger in those things, but rarely think it applies to us. In a day of prosperity, we are in great danger of forgetting G-d, our dependence upon Him, our need of Him, and our obligations to Him. When the world smiles we are apt to make our court to it, and expect our happiness in it, and so we forget Him that He is our only portion and rest. When your latter end has greatly increased, remember the smallness of your beginnings. No change of condition will cure a disposition of murmur and fret.
Would you not like to have cities, you did not built to proclaim for the L-rd?
Houses filled with good things that you did not buy?
Water supplied that you did not have to work for?
Food you did not have to plant, yet you have eaten and are full?
Are you ready to possess a good land for the glory of His Kingdom?
Would you not want to see signs and wonders preformed before your own eyes?
When we obey, we will be blessed; when we disobey, we will be cursed. There are the natural consequences of our disobedience, which G-d has not promised to shield us from.
Deut. 6:5-9; Mark 12:29-30
The Shema, which begins with the famous verse Listen Israel,The L-rd is G-d, the
L-rd is One! is not a prayer. It is the Believers Pledge of Allegiance, a testimony to His Oneness. Knowing that G-d is One is of primary importance, since the entire religion is based on this principle.
The Shema is a declaration that all the events that happen to us are from the One, the only One. At the and of days we will come to understood how even how the "bad times" was actually for the "good," even though now it is hard to tell.
The chance to say the Shema twice a day, once in the morning prayers and once in the evening prayers, is a way for us to engrain this belief upon us, to keep this idea, so to speak, on our fingertips. Having this belief readily at hand helps a person fulfill another verse from the Shema: And you shall LOVE the Lord your G-d, with all YOUR HEART, with all YOUR SOUL, and with all your resources. What does it mean to love him with all your heart? The Talmud explains that the word "heart" is metaphorical for "desires." Your desires for necessities like bread, water, clothing, and shelter, to make your body stronger to learn and do G-d's Torah!
Love G-d with all your soul, what the Sages did have in mind was that one should love G-d so much, that he would even be willing to give up his life for G-d.
And I will teach them diligently unto my children, and will talk of them when I sit in my house, and when I walk by the way, and when I lie down, and when I rise up.
Whoever fears G-d will endeavor to bring up his children in the way of righteousness, that they also may fear G-d, and that pure and undefiled religion may be preserved in his family through all its generations, not only in word, but in practice also.
You shall begin and end the day with G-d, and thus religion will be the great business of your life. O how good are these sayings, but how little regarded!
You shall bind them for a sign upon your hand
When a person wishes to remember a thing of importance, and is afraid to trust to the common operations of memory, he ties a cord on his hand or finger, or places something out of its usual order, and in view, that his memory may be brought to recollection and his eye affect his heart. G-d, who knows how slow of heart we are to understand, graciously orders us to make use of every help, and through the means of things sensible, to rise to things spiritual.
And I will write them upon the posts of my house, and on my gates.
Always before my eyes, in my coming and going.
I will fear the L-rd my G-d, and serve Him and will swear by His name. I will diligently keep the commandments of the L-rd my G-d, and His testimonies, and His statutes, which He has commanded me. And I will do that which is right and good in the sight of the L-rd: that it may be well with me.
The blessing that follows begins with the declaration "True, firm, established, obligatory, proper, lasting, satisfactory, favored, agreeable, pleasing, respected, revered, fit, accepted, good, and valid is this word" (this obligation that we have just recited). Many of the adjectives in this declaration are legal terms used in validating legal agreements. We give the recitation of the Shema the force of an oath, meaning: We solemnly affirm that the obligation we have just recited is valid and binding on us in every way. This makes of the Shema a daily affirmation of allegiance to G-d and to the covenant obligations that allegiance entails.
6:10 …to give you great and goodly cities, which you build not
6:11 ….And houses full of all good things, which you filled not, and wells dig, which you dig not, vineyards and olive trees, which you planted not; when you shall have eaten and be full
6:18 And you shall do that which is right and good in the sight of the L-RD: that it may be well with you, and that you may go in and possess the good land which the L-RD sward unto your fathers
6:19 To cast out all your enemies from before you…
Isa. 54: 17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper
Deut. 6:22 And the L-rd showed signs and wonders….before our eyes.
We usually fail to appreciate the danger of success and prosperity; we agree there is a theoretical danger in those things, but rarely think it applies to us. In a day of prosperity, we are in great danger of forgetting G-d, our dependence upon Him, our need of Him, and our obligations to Him. When the world smiles we are apt to make our court to it, and expect our happiness in it, and so we forget Him that He is our only portion and rest. When your latter end has greatly increased, remember the smallness of your beginnings. No change of condition will cure a disposition of murmur and fret.
Would you not like to have cities, you did not built to proclaim for the L-rd?
Houses filled with good things that you did not buy?
Water supplied that you did not have to work for?
Food you did not have to plant, yet you have eaten and are full?
Are you ready to possess a good land for the glory of His Kingdom?
Would you not want to see signs and wonders preformed before your own eyes?
When we obey, we will be blessed; when we disobey, we will be cursed. There are the natural consequences of our disobedience, which G-d has not promised to shield us from.
Adult Wipes
1 Bounty paper towel roll cut in half, save the other half of the roll for next time.
Place ½ roll in a round plastic container with the cut side facing downward.
Mix: 1 c. H20
1 Tbls. baby shampoo or soap shaving
½ tsp. baby oil or olive oil
1 tsp. of rubbing alcohol to the mix
Secure lid tightly and allow to sit for 10 min. until all liquid is absorbed into the paper.
Turn the container upside-down and allow to sit for another 10 minutes.
Open the container and remove the cardboard, ‘starting’ the roll by pulling a towel from the inside of the roll.
Make sure the container is closed tightly after each use to prevent drying out.
Place ½ roll in a round plastic container with the cut side facing downward.
Mix: 1 c. H20
1 Tbls. baby shampoo or soap shaving
½ tsp. baby oil or olive oil
1 tsp. of rubbing alcohol to the mix
Secure lid tightly and allow to sit for 10 min. until all liquid is absorbed into the paper.
Turn the container upside-down and allow to sit for another 10 minutes.
Open the container and remove the cardboard, ‘starting’ the roll by pulling a towel from the inside of the roll.
Make sure the container is closed tightly after each use to prevent drying out.
All about Prayer
Seven steps of prayer:
1. Confession of your faults or sins.
2. Supplication means formally request
3. Adoration means love
4. Intimacy means building a close relationship
5. Intercession being a mediator and standing in the gap for another
6. Thanksgiving means praising the Father for all He has done.
7. Praise means giving the Father all the praise!
Eight things that will stop prayer:
1. (Ps. 66:18) Secret sins
2. (Matt. 21:22) No faith
3. (James 4:2-3) Selfishness
4. (Prov. 21:13) No Compassion
5. (1 Pet. 3:7) No understanding
6. (Job 35:12-13) Full of pride
7. (1 Jn. 5:14) Contrary to G-d’s Word
8. (1 Jn. 3:22) Lack of obedience
Nine types of prayer:
1. Petition (asking for something)
2. Intercession (standing in the gap)
3. Supplication (urgency)
4. Confession (acknowledging of sin)
5. Thanksgiving (praising the L-rd)
6. Meditation (speaking the word out loud)
7. Agreement (uniting your faith as one)
8. Faith (for one who can’t believe for themselves)
9. Adoration (stand in awe)
Three answered prayers:
1. (Jer. 33:3) Believe it
2. (Matt. 7:7; John 15:7) Desire it
3. (Phil. 4:6; Heb. 4:16) Declare it
Pray unceasingly means in everything you do and anywhere you are during the day.
1. Confession of your faults or sins.
2. Supplication means formally request
3. Adoration means love
4. Intimacy means building a close relationship
5. Intercession being a mediator and standing in the gap for another
6. Thanksgiving means praising the Father for all He has done.
7. Praise means giving the Father all the praise!
Eight things that will stop prayer:
1. (Ps. 66:18) Secret sins
2. (Matt. 21:22) No faith
3. (James 4:2-3) Selfishness
4. (Prov. 21:13) No Compassion
5. (1 Pet. 3:7) No understanding
6. (Job 35:12-13) Full of pride
7. (1 Jn. 5:14) Contrary to G-d’s Word
8. (1 Jn. 3:22) Lack of obedience
Nine types of prayer:
1. Petition (asking for something)
2. Intercession (standing in the gap)
3. Supplication (urgency)
4. Confession (acknowledging of sin)
5. Thanksgiving (praising the L-rd)
6. Meditation (speaking the word out loud)
7. Agreement (uniting your faith as one)
8. Faith (for one who can’t believe for themselves)
9. Adoration (stand in awe)
Three answered prayers:
1. (Jer. 33:3) Believe it
2. (Matt. 7:7; John 15:7) Desire it
3. (Phil. 4:6; Heb. 4:16) Declare it
Pray unceasingly means in everything you do and anywhere you are during the day.
Voice Of G-d
Who will G-d talk to?
Gen. 3:8 And they heard the voice of the L-RD G-d walking in the garden in the cool of the day:
G-d talked to male and female alike.
Deut. 4:33, 35 Did ever people hear the voice of G-d speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?
V. 35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the L-RD he is
G-d; there is none else beside him.
G-d choose to speak to everyone:
5:24-26 And ye said, Behold, the L-RD our G-d hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that G-d doth talk with man, and he liveth.
V. 25 Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of the L-RD our G-d any more, then we shall die.
V. 26 For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living
G-d speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?
Due to fear, people choose not to hear from G-d directly themselves:
Deut. 18:16 According to all that thou desiredst of the L-RD thy G-d in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the L-RD my G-d, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.
People wanted a mediator to speak for G-d:
Deut. 18:18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
A prophet is to only speak what G-d tells him, not add his own:
V. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
V. 20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
True or false prophets?
V. 21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the
L-RD hath not spoken?
V. 22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the L-RD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the L-RD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
Does G-d hear when we talk to Him?
26:7 And when we cried unto the L-RD G-d of our fathers, the L-RD heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression:
Ps. 18:6 In my distress I called upon the L-RD, and cried unto my G-d: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
66:19 But verily G-d hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
Where can you hear G-d talk?
29:3 The voice of the L-RD is upon the waters: the G-d of glory thundereth: the L-RD is upon many waters.
V. 4 The voice of the L-RD is powerful; the voice of the L-RD is full of majesty.
V. 5 The voice of the L-RD breaketh the cedars;
V. 7 The voice of the L-RD divideth the flames of fire.
V. 8 The voice of the L-RD shaketh the wilderness;
V. 9 The voice of the L-RD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.
When hearing G-d speaks to us it should do what for us?
V. 11 The L-RD will give strength unto his people; the L-RD will bless his people with peace.
Who is build us up?
42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in G-d: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
V. 11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in G-d: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my G-d.
Bottom line:
Ps. 95:7 For he is our G-d; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice
The Bible was given to us in nine ways:
1. Ex. 19: 9 In a auditable voice.
2. Acts 7: 38 and Heb. 2:2; through angels.
3. Heb. 1:1; and Rev. 1:1 through Y’Shua.
4. Acts 3:21 through Prophets.
5. Acts 1:2; and Eph. 4 through Apostles.
6. Isa. 6; and Dan. 7 through visions.
7. Dan. 2; and Matt. 1:20 through dreams.
8. Gal. 2:2 through revelation.
9. 2 Tim. 3:16 through inspiration.
Gen. 3:8 And they heard the voice of the L-RD G-d walking in the garden in the cool of the day:
G-d talked to male and female alike.
Deut. 4:33, 35 Did ever people hear the voice of G-d speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?
V. 35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the L-RD he is
G-d; there is none else beside him.
G-d choose to speak to everyone:
5:24-26 And ye said, Behold, the L-RD our G-d hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that G-d doth talk with man, and he liveth.
V. 25 Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of the L-RD our G-d any more, then we shall die.
V. 26 For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living
G-d speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?
Due to fear, people choose not to hear from G-d directly themselves:
Deut. 18:16 According to all that thou desiredst of the L-RD thy G-d in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the L-RD my G-d, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.
People wanted a mediator to speak for G-d:
Deut. 18:18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
A prophet is to only speak what G-d tells him, not add his own:
V. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
V. 20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
True or false prophets?
V. 21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the
L-RD hath not spoken?
V. 22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the L-RD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the L-RD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
Does G-d hear when we talk to Him?
26:7 And when we cried unto the L-RD G-d of our fathers, the L-RD heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression:
Ps. 18:6 In my distress I called upon the L-RD, and cried unto my G-d: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
66:19 But verily G-d hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
Where can you hear G-d talk?
29:3 The voice of the L-RD is upon the waters: the G-d of glory thundereth: the L-RD is upon many waters.
V. 4 The voice of the L-RD is powerful; the voice of the L-RD is full of majesty.
V. 5 The voice of the L-RD breaketh the cedars;
V. 7 The voice of the L-RD divideth the flames of fire.
V. 8 The voice of the L-RD shaketh the wilderness;
V. 9 The voice of the L-RD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.
When hearing G-d speaks to us it should do what for us?
V. 11 The L-RD will give strength unto his people; the L-RD will bless his people with peace.
Who is build us up?
42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in G-d: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
V. 11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in G-d: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my G-d.
Bottom line:
Ps. 95:7 For he is our G-d; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice
The Bible was given to us in nine ways:
1. Ex. 19: 9 In a auditable voice.
2. Acts 7: 38 and Heb. 2:2; through angels.
3. Heb. 1:1; and Rev. 1:1 through Y’Shua.
4. Acts 3:21 through Prophets.
5. Acts 1:2; and Eph. 4 through Apostles.
6. Isa. 6; and Dan. 7 through visions.
7. Dan. 2; and Matt. 1:20 through dreams.
8. Gal. 2:2 through revelation.
9. 2 Tim. 3:16 through inspiration.
Willingly Ignorant
[3 Peter 3:4-5] Where is the promise of his coming? For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of G-d….
Many of the most important doctrines respecting the kingdom of the Messiah are stated as clearly in the Old Testament as in the New, (comp. Isaiah 53.) The prophecies therefore deserve to be studied as an important part of Divine revelation, the canon of the New Testament was not then completed, and he could not make his appeal to that. The ignorance has usually more to do in the denial and rejection of the doctrines of the Bible than the understanding has.
That there were no signs or indications that those events were to take place; that there were no natural causes in operation which could lead to such results; and that the fact of the stability of the earth since the time of the creation, demonstrated that the predicted destruction of the world could not occur.
By which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word are reserved for fire until the Day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men. The Bible clearly teaches that the active agent in creation was G-d's Word - He spoke, and creation came into being.
The scoffers presume upon the mercy and longsuffering of G-d, insisting that because they have never seen a widespread judgment of G-d, that there will never be one. But they willfully forget G-d's creation and the judgment G-d poured out on the earth in the days of Noah. With just as much plausibility, it might have been urged then that-the earth had stood for thousands of years, and that there were no natural causes at work to produce that change.
Every objection which could be urged to the destruction of the world by fire, could have been urged to its destruction by water; and as, in fact, those objections, as the event showed, would have had no real force, so they should be regarded as having no real force now.
No argument against this predicted event can be derived from the fact that hundreds and thousands of years are suffered to elapse before the fulfillment of the predictions. What seems long to men is not long to G-d. A thousand years with Him, in reference to this point, are as one day. He does not measure time as men do.
The L-rd is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the L-rd will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
The day of the L-rd is, the day in which He will be manifested. It is called His day, because He will then be the grand and prominent object as the Judge of all.
Heavens pass away - as things appear to us; and the fair interpretation of the passage would demand only such a change as would occur by the destruction of this world by fire. If a conflagration should take place, embracing the earth and its surrounding atmosphere, all the phenomena would occur which are here described; and, if this would be so, then this is all that can be proved to be meant by the passage. Such a destruction of the elements could not occur without "a great noise."
Burn up - science has shown that all are capable of combustion. Water, in its component parts, is inflammable in a high degree; and even the diamond has been shown to be combustible. The idea contained in the word "dissolved," is, properly, only the change which heat produces. Heat changes the forms of things; dissolves them into their elements; dissipates those which were solid by driving them off into gases, and produces new compounds, but it annihilates nothing. It could not be demonstrated from this phrase that the world would be annihilated by fire; it could be proved only that it will undergo important changes. So far as the action of fire is concerned, the form of the earth may pass away, and its aspect be changed; but unless the direct power which created it interposes to annihilate it, the matter which now composes it will still be in existence.
Because of which the heavens will be dissolved: Peter tells us that the very elements of this world order will be dissolved.
The true Believer does not dread the coming of that day. He looks forward to it as the period of his redemption, and would welcome, at any time, the return of his L-rd and Savior.
A new earth in which righteousness dwells: The most glorious characteristic of this new heaven and new earth is that it is a place in which righteousness dwells. In G-d's plan of the ages, this happens after the millennial earth ruled by Y’Shua HaMashiach. It is the re-creation of this world order as described in Revelation 21:1: Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.
The effect of such hopes and prospects should be to lead us to an earnest inquiry whether we are prepared to dwell in a holy world, and to make us diligent in performing the duties, and patient in bearing the trials of life. He who is so soon to come to an end of all weary toil, should be willing to labor diligently and faithfully while life lasts. He who is so soon to be relieved from all temptation and trial, should be willing to bear a little longer the sorrows of the present world. What are all these compared with the glory that awaits us?
It should be an object of earnest effort with us to have the last stain of sin and pollution removed from our souls. A deep feeling that we are soon to stand in the presence of a holy G-d, our final Judge, cannot but have a happy influence in making us pure.
Sadly, today it is many Believers who willfully ignorant of these things, putting themselves in the place of scoffers.
Men should read the Bible with the feeling that it is possible that they may fall into error, and be deceived at last. This apprehension will do much to make them diligent, and candid, and prayerful, in studying the word of G-d.
We should feel that there is nothing permanent on the earth; that this is not our abiding home; and that our great interests are in another world.
Many of the most important doctrines respecting the kingdom of the Messiah are stated as clearly in the Old Testament as in the New, (comp. Isaiah 53.) The prophecies therefore deserve to be studied as an important part of Divine revelation, the canon of the New Testament was not then completed, and he could not make his appeal to that. The ignorance has usually more to do in the denial and rejection of the doctrines of the Bible than the understanding has.
That there were no signs or indications that those events were to take place; that there were no natural causes in operation which could lead to such results; and that the fact of the stability of the earth since the time of the creation, demonstrated that the predicted destruction of the world could not occur.
By which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word are reserved for fire until the Day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men. The Bible clearly teaches that the active agent in creation was G-d's Word - He spoke, and creation came into being.
The scoffers presume upon the mercy and longsuffering of G-d, insisting that because they have never seen a widespread judgment of G-d, that there will never be one. But they willfully forget G-d's creation and the judgment G-d poured out on the earth in the days of Noah. With just as much plausibility, it might have been urged then that-the earth had stood for thousands of years, and that there were no natural causes at work to produce that change.
Every objection which could be urged to the destruction of the world by fire, could have been urged to its destruction by water; and as, in fact, those objections, as the event showed, would have had no real force, so they should be regarded as having no real force now.
No argument against this predicted event can be derived from the fact that hundreds and thousands of years are suffered to elapse before the fulfillment of the predictions. What seems long to men is not long to G-d. A thousand years with Him, in reference to this point, are as one day. He does not measure time as men do.
The L-rd is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the L-rd will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
The day of the L-rd is, the day in which He will be manifested. It is called His day, because He will then be the grand and prominent object as the Judge of all.
Heavens pass away - as things appear to us; and the fair interpretation of the passage would demand only such a change as would occur by the destruction of this world by fire. If a conflagration should take place, embracing the earth and its surrounding atmosphere, all the phenomena would occur which are here described; and, if this would be so, then this is all that can be proved to be meant by the passage. Such a destruction of the elements could not occur without "a great noise."
Burn up - science has shown that all are capable of combustion. Water, in its component parts, is inflammable in a high degree; and even the diamond has been shown to be combustible. The idea contained in the word "dissolved," is, properly, only the change which heat produces. Heat changes the forms of things; dissolves them into their elements; dissipates those which were solid by driving them off into gases, and produces new compounds, but it annihilates nothing. It could not be demonstrated from this phrase that the world would be annihilated by fire; it could be proved only that it will undergo important changes. So far as the action of fire is concerned, the form of the earth may pass away, and its aspect be changed; but unless the direct power which created it interposes to annihilate it, the matter which now composes it will still be in existence.
Because of which the heavens will be dissolved: Peter tells us that the very elements of this world order will be dissolved.
The true Believer does not dread the coming of that day. He looks forward to it as the period of his redemption, and would welcome, at any time, the return of his L-rd and Savior.
A new earth in which righteousness dwells: The most glorious characteristic of this new heaven and new earth is that it is a place in which righteousness dwells. In G-d's plan of the ages, this happens after the millennial earth ruled by Y’Shua HaMashiach. It is the re-creation of this world order as described in Revelation 21:1: Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.
The effect of such hopes and prospects should be to lead us to an earnest inquiry whether we are prepared to dwell in a holy world, and to make us diligent in performing the duties, and patient in bearing the trials of life. He who is so soon to come to an end of all weary toil, should be willing to labor diligently and faithfully while life lasts. He who is so soon to be relieved from all temptation and trial, should be willing to bear a little longer the sorrows of the present world. What are all these compared with the glory that awaits us?
It should be an object of earnest effort with us to have the last stain of sin and pollution removed from our souls. A deep feeling that we are soon to stand in the presence of a holy G-d, our final Judge, cannot but have a happy influence in making us pure.
Sadly, today it is many Believers who willfully ignorant of these things, putting themselves in the place of scoffers.
Men should read the Bible with the feeling that it is possible that they may fall into error, and be deceived at last. This apprehension will do much to make them diligent, and candid, and prayerful, in studying the word of G-d.
We should feel that there is nothing permanent on the earth; that this is not our abiding home; and that our great interests are in another world.
Beguiling Unstable Souls
2 Peter 13-22
These ungodly false teachers are a dangerous and corrupting presence in the body of the Messiah, not only deceiving others but deceiving themselves. Their heart is set on the flesh, and their eyes on adultery, both spiritual and sexual. They prey on the unstable to join them in their ways (enticing unstable souls).
They have a heart trained in covetous practices: They are equipped, but not for ministry, only for selfish gain - they are truly accursed, skilled in the arts which covetous men adopt in order to cheat others out of their property. A leading purpose which influenced these men was to obtain money. One of the most certain ways for dishonest men to do this is to make use of the religious principle; to corrupt and control the conscience; to make others believe that they are eminently holy, or that they are the special favorites of heaven; and when they can do this, they have the purses of others at command. For the religious principle is the most powerful of all principles; and he who can control that, can control all that a man possesses. The idea here is that these persons had made this their study, and had learned the ways in which men could be induced to part with their money under religious pretences. We should always be on our guard when professedly religious teachers propose to have much to do with money matters. While we should always be ready to aid every good cause, yet we should remember that unprincipled and laid-back men often assume the mask of religion that they may practice their arts on the credulity of others, and that their real aim is to obtain their property, not to save their souls.
We all train our hearts in something, training them either in covetousness and lust, or in godliness.
Does this explain why so many ministers fall? I have personally been to places were they drum up the offering for one and a half hours, until the people were ready to give all they had. No wonder G-d has called us sheep, willing to follow an enticing pastor using religious principles on giving.
They have forsaken the right way, the straight path of honesty and integrity for religion is often represented as a straight path, and to do wrong is to go out of that path in a crooked way.
The particular point to which Peter refers in which they imitated Balaam, seems to have been the love of gain, or covetousness, in being professed religious teachers, or the servants of G-d in inducing others to sin, referring to the same kind of sins in both cases.
These are wells without water: These ungodly false teachers are empty - useless as wells without water - and like clouds that bring only darkness, and no nourishing rain. It only aggravated the trials of the thirsty and weary traveler, they would only grievously disappoint the expectations of all those who were seeking for the refreshing influences of the truths of the gospel. There are many such teachers in the world.
When they make pretensions to wisdom and learning, or seem to attach great importance to what they say, and urge it in a pompous and positive manner. Truth is simple, and delights in simple statements. It expects to make its way by its own inherent force, and is willing to pass for what it is worth. Error is noisy and theatrical, and hopes to succeed by substituting sound for sense, and by such tones and arts as shall induce men to believe that what is said is true, when it is known by the speaker to be false. They allure through the lusts of the flesh - This has been quite a common method in the world, of inducing men to embrace false doctrines. Their allure is to the lusts of the flesh in their audience - just as the crowds who wanted bread from Y’Shua, but didn't want Y’Shua Himself (John 6:25-27, 47-66).
Through much wantonness - The meaning here is, that they made use of every variety of lascivious arts to beguile others under religious pretences. This has been often done in the world; for religion has been abused to give seducers access to the confidence of the innocent, only that they might betray and ruin them.
Those that were clean escaped from them who live in error - In the case referred to here it was by professedly religious teachers--and is this never done now? Are there none, for example, who have been addicted to habits of overindulgence, who had been almost reformed, but who are led back again by the influence of religious teachers? Not directly and openly, indeed, would they lead them into habits of intemperance. But, when their reformation is begun, its success and its completion depend on total abstinence from all that intoxicates. In this condition, nothing more is necessary to secure their entire reformation and safety than mere abstinence and nothing more may be necessary to lead them into their former practices than the example of others who indulge moderately.
They are themselves the slaves of appetite, or of the rules of fashionable life, or of the laws of honor, or of vicious indulgences.
Under all the appearances of reformation, still their evil nature remained, as really as that of the dog or the swine, and that nature finally prevailed. There was no thorough internal change, any more than there is in the swine when it is washed, or in the dog, This passage, therefore, would seem to demonstrate that there never had been any real change of heart, and of course there had been no falling away from true religion. It should not, therefore, be quoted to prove that true Believers may fall from grace and perish. The dog and the swine had never been anything else than the dog and the swine, and these persons had never been anything else than sinners.
And the sow that was washed - This proverb is not found in the Old Testament, but it was common in the Rabbinical writings, and is found in the Greek classics. Its meaning is plain, and of the truth of what is affirmed no one can have any doubt. No matter how clean the swine is made by washing, thin would not prevent it, in the slightest degree, from rolling in filth again. It will act out its real nature. So it is with the sinner. No external reformation will certainly prevent his returning to his former habits; and when he does return, we can only say that he is acting according to his real nature--a nature which has never been changed, any more than the nature of the dog or the swine.
The true point of this passage is to show that the persons referred to never were changed; that whatever external reformation might have occurred, their nature remained the same; and that when they apostatized from their outward profession, they merely acted out their nature, and showed that in fact there had been no real change. It will also prove that we should rely on no mere external reformation, no outward cleansing, as certain evidence of piety. G-d looks upon the heart; and it is only the religion that has its seat there, that can secure our final salvation.
These ungodly false teachers are a dangerous and corrupting presence in the body of the Messiah, not only deceiving others but deceiving themselves. Their heart is set on the flesh, and their eyes on adultery, both spiritual and sexual. They prey on the unstable to join them in their ways (enticing unstable souls).
They have a heart trained in covetous practices: They are equipped, but not for ministry, only for selfish gain - they are truly accursed, skilled in the arts which covetous men adopt in order to cheat others out of their property. A leading purpose which influenced these men was to obtain money. One of the most certain ways for dishonest men to do this is to make use of the religious principle; to corrupt and control the conscience; to make others believe that they are eminently holy, or that they are the special favorites of heaven; and when they can do this, they have the purses of others at command. For the religious principle is the most powerful of all principles; and he who can control that, can control all that a man possesses. The idea here is that these persons had made this their study, and had learned the ways in which men could be induced to part with their money under religious pretences. We should always be on our guard when professedly religious teachers propose to have much to do with money matters. While we should always be ready to aid every good cause, yet we should remember that unprincipled and laid-back men often assume the mask of religion that they may practice their arts on the credulity of others, and that their real aim is to obtain their property, not to save their souls.
We all train our hearts in something, training them either in covetousness and lust, or in godliness.
Does this explain why so many ministers fall? I have personally been to places were they drum up the offering for one and a half hours, until the people were ready to give all they had. No wonder G-d has called us sheep, willing to follow an enticing pastor using religious principles on giving.
They have forsaken the right way, the straight path of honesty and integrity for religion is often represented as a straight path, and to do wrong is to go out of that path in a crooked way.
The particular point to which Peter refers in which they imitated Balaam, seems to have been the love of gain, or covetousness, in being professed religious teachers, or the servants of G-d in inducing others to sin, referring to the same kind of sins in both cases.
These are wells without water: These ungodly false teachers are empty - useless as wells without water - and like clouds that bring only darkness, and no nourishing rain. It only aggravated the trials of the thirsty and weary traveler, they would only grievously disappoint the expectations of all those who were seeking for the refreshing influences of the truths of the gospel. There are many such teachers in the world.
When they make pretensions to wisdom and learning, or seem to attach great importance to what they say, and urge it in a pompous and positive manner. Truth is simple, and delights in simple statements. It expects to make its way by its own inherent force, and is willing to pass for what it is worth. Error is noisy and theatrical, and hopes to succeed by substituting sound for sense, and by such tones and arts as shall induce men to believe that what is said is true, when it is known by the speaker to be false. They allure through the lusts of the flesh - This has been quite a common method in the world, of inducing men to embrace false doctrines. Their allure is to the lusts of the flesh in their audience - just as the crowds who wanted bread from Y’Shua, but didn't want Y’Shua Himself (John 6:25-27, 47-66).
Through much wantonness - The meaning here is, that they made use of every variety of lascivious arts to beguile others under religious pretences. This has been often done in the world; for religion has been abused to give seducers access to the confidence of the innocent, only that they might betray and ruin them.
Those that were clean escaped from them who live in error - In the case referred to here it was by professedly religious teachers--and is this never done now? Are there none, for example, who have been addicted to habits of overindulgence, who had been almost reformed, but who are led back again by the influence of religious teachers? Not directly and openly, indeed, would they lead them into habits of intemperance. But, when their reformation is begun, its success and its completion depend on total abstinence from all that intoxicates. In this condition, nothing more is necessary to secure their entire reformation and safety than mere abstinence and nothing more may be necessary to lead them into their former practices than the example of others who indulge moderately.
They are themselves the slaves of appetite, or of the rules of fashionable life, or of the laws of honor, or of vicious indulgences.
Under all the appearances of reformation, still their evil nature remained, as really as that of the dog or the swine, and that nature finally prevailed. There was no thorough internal change, any more than there is in the swine when it is washed, or in the dog, This passage, therefore, would seem to demonstrate that there never had been any real change of heart, and of course there had been no falling away from true religion. It should not, therefore, be quoted to prove that true Believers may fall from grace and perish. The dog and the swine had never been anything else than the dog and the swine, and these persons had never been anything else than sinners.
And the sow that was washed - This proverb is not found in the Old Testament, but it was common in the Rabbinical writings, and is found in the Greek classics. Its meaning is plain, and of the truth of what is affirmed no one can have any doubt. No matter how clean the swine is made by washing, thin would not prevent it, in the slightest degree, from rolling in filth again. It will act out its real nature. So it is with the sinner. No external reformation will certainly prevent his returning to his former habits; and when he does return, we can only say that he is acting according to his real nature--a nature which has never been changed, any more than the nature of the dog or the swine.
The true point of this passage is to show that the persons referred to never were changed; that whatever external reformation might have occurred, their nature remained the same; and that when they apostatized from their outward profession, they merely acted out their nature, and showed that in fact there had been no real change. It will also prove that we should rely on no mere external reformation, no outward cleansing, as certain evidence of piety. G-d looks upon the heart; and it is only the religion that has its seat there, that can secure our final salvation.
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