IS ISRAEL STILL GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE? AND, DO JEWS AUTOMATICALLY GO TO HEAVEN? (Response) Because Christianity has been so far removed from our Hebrew roots, due to Constantine a once pagan Emmperor of the Roman Empire upon converting himserlf along with the whole Roman empire to Christianity Constantine removed much of the Hebrew culture from the Faith in the Messiah to appease the people of rome he intermingled Christianity with several Roman pagan traditions which has caused us to become ignorant of the the vibrant history of the traditional Hebrew Holy Days the early Church Yeshua established to to which Yeshua Himself followed out of obedience to the Fathers will. what we have now is westernized Christianity. OK with that said… There are many misconceptions concerning Hebrews, Jews, Judaism and the nation of Israel. It is important to know Hebrew is an ethnicity, Jew\ Judaism is a religion which the term Judaism originated from where the Hebrew people settled, which was at the time called Judaea, now known as the nation of Israel. This brings us to the Reality not all practicing Jews are Hebrew and not all Hebrews practice Judaism. I do not subscribe to the word Messianic Jew because Hebrew people either follow Yeshua the Messiah or they practice Judaism and many Hebrews are atheist and some even practice Islam. The law (pentateuch)was written for the whole human race not just a single ethnic group or religion. And Yeshua is the fulfillment of the law (Matthew 5: 17-20) During the time of Yeshua anyone from Judea was called a Jew for that is the region in which the Hebrew people settled and to which most Hebrews of Biblical times were in fact Jews (unless they were from Samaria who were called Samaritans which many Sumerians practiced Judaism as well (Samaritans were part Hebrew and part gentile), Judaism follow the Hebraic books of the Law which was written by Moses (the five books of the Law, AKA the Pentateuch). It should also be mentioned there were Roman citizens, Greeks, Persians Arabs, ECT who were pagan hellenists who also inhabited Judaea during the time of Yeshua and the time before His birth. Before Judaism was ever an established religion and way before the Messiah established His Church. Yeshua is a Hebrew. Fully man and fully God. Today people from Israel are called Israelis which include people from all ethnicic backgrounds, and or “palestinians” who are Arabs (descendants from the line of Ishmael) in whom many practice Judaism, most are Muslim and a few are Christians. There are Hebrews who practice Islam and Hebrews who are Christians, and there are other ethnicities who also diverse in their religion and there are also agnostic and Atheist therefore Israel is a melting pot of diverse religions especially for the capital city of Jerusalem therefore it is safe to say Israel is not at all comprised only of Gods Chosen people. Which with this explanation brings all humankind to the reality that we must be grafted in to be a child of the most High by Faith in Yeshua, the finished work on the cross and repentance of our sins (Romans 11, study the whole Chapter). There is no other way Any person can be justified and sanctified than by the blood of Yeshua covering our sins, period. Therefore regardless of anyone's ethnicity heaven will be filled with every person who has accepted Yeshua as their Messiah (Acts 4:12). The Messiah has always been, and always will be, the only path to eternal life(John 3:36, John 14:6). We are not saved because of the ethnicity of our birth, but by our Spiritual rebirth in Yeshua the Messiah through Conviction of the Holy Spirit(John 3:3-15). To truthfully answer this question, we must understand what it means to be God’s chosen people. The Bible teaches, the Hebrew are His chosen people. Deuteronomy 7:6 tells us, “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.” however chosen as His people does not give the Hebrew a birthright to the kingdom of God, it means that God chose to reveal Himself, His purpose, and His plan to all the people who has ever inhabited earth by and through the Hebrew people all the way to the Death, burial and resurrection of our Messiah Yeshua. Yeshua will soon fulfill His promise of His second advent and the resurrection when the dead and alive in Christ will be changed in the twinkling of an eye, (1 Corinthians 15:51-55) And we will be received to himself, (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). It was through the line of Abraham that God chose Yeshua the Messiah to be born, which through the Messiah eternal life would be freely given to all who believe by faith that Yeshua came to redeem mankind from our sins through our spiritual rebirth (John 3:3,16). The moment the first sin was committed God Revealed His plan of reconciliation to re establish a personal relationship with anyone who chooses to know and follow The Trinity, (Genesis 3:15). I believe long before this world was created, the Trinity counseled together the plan of salvation to redeem mankind from sin and through the seed of Abraham Isaac Jacob (Israel) and Joseph that plan was fulfilled Through Yeshua HaMaciach. Wait

Why Is It So Hard To Pray? It is hard to pray due to the fall of man through the disobedience of Adam. humbling ourselves, getting over our stubborn, sinful nature, and coming to the end of our prideful trinity (me, myself and I). We should die to self when we pray but dieing to the flesh is painful. Therefore our flesh fights so hard against prayer. When we pray we are entering into spiritual warfare against our flesh and against the flaming arrows of our adversary. Although the enemy has no fear of man, they are terrified of the Holy Spirit who lives in every born again follower of The Holy Trinity Who has crushed our accuser and will destroy the enemy at Yeshua's second advent. Moreover we often find it difficult to pray for we are so focused on the prayer itself instead of the Holy One to whom the prayer is addressed to. We pray not to increase our facts and knowledge concerning prayer , but we should pray with all of our focus and attention solely on prayer to God The Father in the name of God the Son through the Holy Spirit who dwells in each and every born again believer. By the Sovereignty of the Fathers loving kindness, His grace and His mercy, through the Death,Burial and resurrection of Yeshua we have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to come right in the presence of the Holy of Holies to know He is ever present in our lives and He not only hears but He Listens; that He is not silent but He always answers our prayers and always acts in His perfect will for our ultimate good and for God's glory. When we recognize God's Sovereignty in prayer, we are also reminded of His Love, grace, holiness, and righteousness, and we are thereby confronted with the harsh reality of our own wretched sin that our self righteousness is as filthy rags in the light of His righteousness, His Justice His mercy and His grace and loving kindness for us that he be glorified by us through our acknowledgement to Him in our prayers. Thus it is not as much in the power of prayer moreover in the power of God which through our prayers God equips and empowers us through and by the power of the Holy Spirit living in the believer. So, when we pray... (Which we should pray continually For God's council and wisdom), we are reminded of who we are not. We are reminded that we are not God and that we are not in control. We are reminded that God is Sovereign and in complete control. We must recognize that prayer is our daily and continual surrender of our perceived control over our lives to the God who is in control of our lives, for God cares more for our lives than we care for ourselves. If I thought my feeble prayers changes the mind of God and his will, I should not even bother to pray. My nature is sinful, my wisdom is finite, my control and influence is limited. However God's omniscience and omnipotence and omnipotence has our ultimate good in mind, we can trust Him and Glorify Him for who He is in our prayers continually and always. When we pray God's answer may be no or Wait and sometimes Father says yes and sometimes a yes beyond our imaginable expectation. To a degree we all in our walk of faith with the Trinity will have difficulty praying but we must always continually be in prayer for God's guidance, wisdom and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit how and what to specifically pray for. We have to get away from using prayer as a grocery list for our wants and needs but use prayer to draw close to YHVH in love and giving thanks for every provision That has already been given to us because of his loving kindness to His Creation. Amen? Michael.

Are People Born Gay?

QUESTION:  ARE PEOPLE BORN GAY?

Got a great question we often hear discussed today!

(Response)  So often we see the phrase today, “born this way”, used as a calling card to tell us that homosexuality is not chosen, but a part of a person’s DNA at birth.  A slogan the homosexual community has made very popular within our society, to promote their cause, and seeking to make their viewpoint more acceptable.  But what our society and the homosexual community must come to understand, in the Lord’s eyes, the only way we must be born, is to be born again.

Most in our nation, and throughout this world, have come to believe that sexual orientation is genetic.  Something people have without choice, the same as would be the color of your hair or your eyes.  And most have come to believe that if people are born with a given sexual orientation, then homosexuality must be considered both normal, and morally acceptable.  And as we watch our televisions and the movie screens, we see Hollywood and the media constantly put forth this view.  But in looking at this view, we see two overwhelming problems.

First, billions have been spent by government and private companies to locate and identify this homosexual gene in recent years.  And with each dollar spent, the reality is, no such gene has ever been found.  Let me repeat that, no homosexual gene has ever been discovered.  Actually, what science has discovered in these studies would surprise many, as most of these studies have shown that homosecuality is a learned behavior.  Studies that have led the American Psychiatric Association, an organization that has been far from being biblically friendly, to state, “Some people believe that sexual orientation is innate and fixed; however, sexual orientation develops across a person’s lifetime.”

Second, if people are “born gay”, and all sexual orientation is a part of our genetics, then that would mean that all sexual tendencies due to orientation, must also be normal and morally accepted by all men.  Think about that for a second.  That would mean that polygamy must be an accepted part of our society.  That the women who wants to marry her dog, or the tree in her yard, could say this is a part of her genetic makeup.  It would also mean that the pedophile would have to be accepted as normal, as he could simply say he was “born this way”.

The truth is, science is showing us the wisdom that comes from God’s Word, as Scripture makes it very clear, homosexuality is a sin(Romans 1:26-28, Leviticus 18:22).  A sin, that is a choice, just like all other sin(James 1:14).  A sin the Word of God list right next to theft, greed, and drunkenness(1 Corinthians 6:9-10).  A choice that is made within someone’s environment and culture, the same as all other sin is.  A choice of sin that finds someone lured to by a sinful world(Romans 3:23).  And a choice, like all sin, that separates us from the Lord, not one He placed in us.

But just because homosexuality is a sin, does not mean that a homosexual is left without hope.  We serve a Lord who gave His life for all sinners, the homosexual, as well as the drunkard and the thief.  In Christ, all mankind finds the only source of forgiveness, healing, comfort, and restoration, this world will ever know.  And the love and mercy Christ brought to this world, reaches just as hard and far for the homosexual as it does for every other sinner.  Reaching just as far, as it once reached for you and me.

Homosexuality does not call on us to accept faulty science, but shows us the wisdom and trustworthiness of His Word.  Homosexuality shows us that we must reach out to those caught up in and being deceived by the sin of the homosexual lifestyle.  Leading us to reach out to them with the truth, a truth filled with the compassion, wisdom, and reality of God’s Word. A truth that seeks to offer us a new nature in Christ(2 Corinthians 5:17), as He destroys the power and the hold that sin has on us(Romans 6:1-7).

The Word of God makes it very clear to us, we are all born with a sinful nature(Romans 5:12).  Teaching us, that being born a sinner, can never make sin right.  And showing us, whether we are born a thief, a drunkard, a liar, an addict, or a homosexual, we must be born again.  Because being born again, is the only way, we can truly be born.

Is It OK for the church to have trunk or treat events during Haloween?

What caused me to write a blog concerning whether the Church should or should not host these events originated from a Religious meme which I saw on a social media site that condemned any Christ Centered Bible believing Church for hosting such events which really nabbed my goat to the point I believe a little admonishment is in order.

First and foremost unless parents are prepared to lock their children in a padded cell until they reach the age of accountability children will be exposed to the world and the dangers in it.
YES It is our duty as parents to protect our children from harm however to completely shield our children in with a hedge of thorns from the secular world that they have no understanding in which it operates is a very unhealthy and spiritually dangerous environment for them due to when they are older and out from under parental guidance they will run amuck. I have been an eye witness to this well known phenomenon to occur too numerous times to count with usually Pastors, deacons and clergy's children due to an over bearing stronghold that their children cannot breathe . If our children do not understand how the world operates it will eat them alive. This would be no different restricting them from attending such an event as a Church sponsored trunk or treat.

I would much rather have my child in a safe environment  where I know my child would be cared for by people in whom I trust and call my brethren in Christ Jesus which is not what really got my dander up as much as these religious zealots meme stating that the Church glorifies Satan by hosting such events which could not be further from the truth if you had a pumpkin chunkin machine to hurl it miles.  I don't think I can make a valid point without backing it up with scripture so let's just go there…

Matthew 5:13-16 English Standard Version (ESV)
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

John 3:17 (ESV)

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

John 12:46-50 (KJV)

46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

I could go on and on with scripture reference but I believe this edifies the point I am making which no one who profess the name of Yeshua as their Messiah should not condemn The Church and the body of Christ for hosting these trunk or treat events but otherwise these events should be looked upon  as an opportunity to minister to children and parents that they may be presented the good news of redemption through the death ,Burial and resurrection of our precious Messiah who came not as our Judge but our sacrificial Lamb that we can be delivered from death And eternal separation from the Father to Life abundant and over flowing.

I will end by saying I am thankful to my heavenly Father that I am a member of the body of Christ who has passion to inconspicuously present the gospel and take pride in knowing that a multitude of children and their parents have become new creatures in Christ because we were bold enough to step up and proclaim All Hallows Eve Another Day Which The Lord Has Made Which We All Who Are Called By His Name Should Rejoice and Glorify Him In It!

To the participating Churches holding these events...
Have A Happy, Safe Trunk Or Treat And An AWESOME Time in The Lord!

You Shall Know The Truth And The Truth Shall Set You Free

You Shall Know the Truth and the truth shall set you free.

The purpose of Yeshua coming as God in the flesh is so we can know what true freedom is in His Righteousness that we can be free from the consequences of sin. Life is filled with decisions we must make however we have a sure road map in the life journey we take. Jeremiah 6:16 is clear there are two paths which we can choose. We can either choose our own selfish and prideful path. “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end leads to death.” ( Proverbs 14:12, Proverbs 16:25) or we can choose the path the Trinity laid out  from before the earth was formed. Yeshua answered “ I Am the way, the Truth and the life no man comes to the Father but by me.” (John 14:6). We all make daily life decisions which at the time may sound good in our mind but in reality can harm us physically, mentally and spiritually. The truth is the determining factor whether we make the right life choices.

Truth is consistent, unchanging. The Word of God provides us with a working knowledge of the truth and how we are free by walking in the Truth which ultimately gives a clear path for our life.

As we walk in our Journey of this mortal life we need to recognize the the truth that we have the ability to understand and reason clearly that we may know and walk in that path which the Father has laid out for us through the knowledge of the law Sin and death and Yeshua the Messiah paid the penalty for our sin. “ but

God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet still sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).

(Read Romans chapter5)

Are You Sure? You Can know for sure!  

What our Heavenly Father has openly intended for us all to receive whether through the Church, a loved one or friends which is often not received or presented in a simple manner, because of this is why He has given us His word so we can read and know for sure that the Trinity invites us to hear fresh the Word of God,(Yeshua) gives all an invitation from His Heart to ours.

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb…” (Jeremiah 1:5)

“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you.”  (Jeremiah 31:3