Do Not Worry For Anything

Do Not Worry For Anything

As a Christian I am troubled by all the date-setters (not terribly surprised, but troubled).  Of late I have been seeing a great deal of increased emphasis placed upon the significance (in terms of New Testament prophecies of signs of Christ's return) of four blood-red moons. Emphasis suggesting that - "The Lord's return, *mark my words* could be within the next few days, certainly will be within the next few weeks, and will not be later than _____.  *Mark my words*" - And then guess what, when _______ date comes, and a new day dawns afterward, e're bawdy's all - "Oooo, umm, ah well ah... I am shocked..., oh well on to the next ‘date-setting’ scheme.” (well few folk openly concede it's a "date-setting scheme", but a spade is a spade).  These folk talk about how "shocked" they is that 'the Lord's return' did not happen as they predicted.

Why does this seem shocking?  The Bible is pretty clear about a few things.

A) Christ is coming back (we can count on that) – “…When everything is ready, then I will come and get you…” – Yochanan 14:3 (John 14:3) – TLB – See also Matthew 16:27; Zechariah 14:5; John 21:22-23; Acts 1:11; Jude 1:14; Revelation 22:12; John 14:28;

B) No one knows the day - “But of that [exact] day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” – Mattityahu 24:36 (Matthew 24:36) – AMP;

C) We are warned that if someone says "look over here, the Christ is here", that we ought to recognize that immediately as a lie. – Mattityahu 24:23 (Matthew 24:23) – paraphrased;

D) That we are to recognize, signs, seasons and times... but with caution, MUCH caution (many people regularly and repeatedly use the 'Recognize The Seasons' teachings as a means to sidestep the clear statements of Christ that “NO ONE knows the day or hour”, and of Paul’s “NO need to have anything written about dates & times” from 1 Thessalonians 5.  And they do so to the detriment of both themselves and the body of Christ.); – “But as to… times and the precise seasons and dates,… no necessity for anything being written to you.” – Consider first and foremost the simple exhortation found in Kehillah in Thessalonika I 5:1 (1 Thessalonians 5:1) – But as to the suitable Times and the precise Seasons and Dates, brethren, you have No Necessity for anything Being Written To You. – AMP – See also Matthew 24:36; Jeremiah 8:7; Zechariah 5:9; Matthew 24:8; Song of Solomon 2:12; Isaiah 1:3; Isaiah 27:11; and

E) That we are to NOT be worrying about setting dates! – “…Not to allow your minds to be quickly unsettled or disturbed or kept excited or alarmed…” – Kehillah in Thessalonika II 2:1-2 (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2) – AMP – See also 1 John 4:1; Proverbs 3:6; Matthew 6:25; Matthew 6:27; Matthew 6:28; Matthew 6:31; Matthew 6:34

I think there is sound Scriptural support for each of us to:

i) Expect and even look for His return, not just daily but even throughout each day

ii) Plan as though His return may very well take beyond our individual time on this earth

iii) Share what we know (including the truth that His return could be today, or might not be in our present lifespan), with those who know Him not and encourage all to read their Bibles, get to know God (Christ),  and other Christians

I am troubled by the constant date-setters...

“No Jesus, NO peace” and yet, “Know Jesus, KNOW peace”

How does one get to “know” Jesus?  Simple, invite Him into your heart, as Jesus says: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” [Revelation 3:20 NIV]  How can we be assured that this Jesus stuff means anything, well because the Bible tells us so, as the Apostle Paul wrote:

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” [Romans 10:9-10 NIV]

We can also be vividly assured of our standing with God (Christ), if we have have simply asked Him to be our Lord, as we are promised by John “…so that you may know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that you [already] have life, yes, eternal life.” [1 John 5:13 AMP] – See also John 20:31; 1 John 2:25

And for those of you who say to me, I can’t be bothered reading the Bible, “it’s confusing” or “it’s a waste of my time”, may I draw your attention to what the Bible says about wisdom: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” [Proverbs 9:10 NIV]

If nothing else, PLEASE read two chapters from the Bible – (don’t own one, sorry NO excuse, if you’re reading this, you can access this: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203:16&version=NIV) John 3 and John 14!

John 3:16 says:  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

And John 14:6 says: “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Well that’s it, that’s Da Bauz’s take on, Do Not Worry For Anything, this 14th day of May, 2015 © 2015, All Rights Reserved. wr (Da Bauz, Christian Zionist “creationist” too!)

Cited or consulted sources and resources:

God’s (Christ’s) Holy Word, The Bible – most common citations from - Living Bible (TLB); Complete Jewish Bible (CJB); New Living Translation (NLT); Amplified Bible (AMP), New International Version (NIV); Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) and the Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)

http://bit.ly/1EI6WTs – “The Folly of Date Setting”

http://bit.ly/1EI7dWp – “66. The Second Coming of Christ”

http://bit.ly/1EI7l8n – “Second Coming of Jesus”

http://bit.ly/1EI7wQQ – “Jesus is Coming Soon!”

AM YISRAEL CHAI

Am Yisrael Chai

Please permit me to preface this with this key, vital, central and non-negotiable point: John 14:6 makes it vividly clear that there is NO Salvation, NONE, NOT for anyone, outside of one placing one’s life into the loving, caring, nurturing hands of Jesus Christ / Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Rabbi Yeshua bar Yosef), THE Jewish Messiah, by faith through the very grace of Christ.  With that said, from Genesis through Revelation, the Scriptures (that is God’s (Christ’s) Holy Word which is the Holy Bible) make it clear that the Jew is God’s (Christ’s) chosen people.  (***again*** NO ONE said the Jew is / Jews are saved, NO ONE).

Devarim 14:2 – “…Adonai your God has chosen you…” – CJB (Deuteronomy 14:2)
Tehillim 135:4 – “…the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself,and Israel for his peculiar treasure.” – KJV (Psalm 135:4)

Yeshayah 41:8 – “…“But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham…” – NIV (Isaiah 41:8)
Amos 3:1-2 ** – “…You only have I known (chosen, sympathized with, and loved) of all the families of the earth; therefore I will visit upon you all your wickedness and punish…” – AMP
Yochanan 4:22 – “…because salvation comes from the Jews.” – CJB (John 4:22)

Mattityahu 5:17 – “…I have come not to abolish but to complete.” – CJB (Matthew 5:17)

Kehillah in Rome 1:16 – “…It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes — The Jew First and also the Gentile.” – NLT (Romans 1:16)

Kehillah in Rome 3:1-2 – “…Much in every way! In the first place, the Jews were entrusted with the very words of God.” – CJB - THE JEWS WERE ENTRUSTED WITH THE VERY WORDS OF GOD (Romans 3:12)

Note even in Amos 3, where it is vividly clear that God (Christ) is indeed very angry with the Jews and the nation of Israel, does He ever say – “you have ceased to be MY chosen people”.  So what about the Jews in the 20^th and 21^st centuries, is there / are there sound biblical reasons to believe that God (Christ) is finished with them?  Any reason(s) to conclude that God (Christ) no longer deems the Jew – “His Chosen”?  How about dwelling where the Jews dwell today, in the ancient land of the Chosen people, promised to the Jews way back in Bereshis 12 (Genesis 12), do the modern day Jews have a right to dwell in their land?

Let’s deal with the first two (2) questions first, Is God (Christ) is finished with the Jews? And Are the Jews no longer “His Chosen”?  Let us consider some common misconceptions, shall we.  And begin by turning to the New Testament.

Peter preached – “22 “Men of Isra’el! Listen to this! Yeshua from Natzeret was a man demonstrated to you to have been from God by the powerful works, miracles and signs that God performed through him in your presence. You yourselves know this. 23 This man was arrested in accordance with God’s predetermined plan and foreknowledge; and, through the agency of persons not bound by the Torah, you nailed him up on a stake and killed him!” - Gevurot 2:22 - 23 (Acts 2:22 - 23) – CJB

There you have it, right?  Even Peter the Apostle very clearly stated, of Israel and the Jews, that they by their wicked hands crucified Jesus Christ / Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Rabbi bar Yosef).   Or is it really just that simple?  Throughout the past 2,000 years, wicked anti-Semitic men and women calling themselves ‘christian’ have used this passage, along with a few others, to call the Jews Christ-killers and to persecute the Jewish people.  SHAME ON YOU!

Again, is this really a valid representation of teachings of the New Testament? No! While it is obviously true that Peter and other apostles did in fact hold the Jews responsible for their part in the crucifixion, it must also be recognized that the responsibility for Christ’s death rests with many others. Re-read the first part of Acts 2:23 again – “This man was arrested in accordance with God’s predetermined plan and foreknowledge...” – GOD’S PREDETERMINED PLAN AND FOREKNOWLEDGE

Under Romans law, the Jews could not have crucified Jesus themselves and this is not all. Check out the prayer of the apostles shortly after Peter’s above proclamation from Acts 2:22 – 23, in Acts 4:24 – 28.

The Apostles said: – “24 When they heard it, they raised their voices to God with singleness of heart. “Master,” they prayed, “You made heaven, earth, the sea and everything in them. 25 By the Ruach HaKodesh, through the mouth of our father David, your servant, you said,

‘Why did the nations rage

and the peoples devise useless plans?

26 The kings of the earth took their stand;

and the rulers assembled together

against Adonai

and against his Messiah.’

27 “This has come true in this city, since Herod and Pontius Pilate, with Goyim and the peoples of Isra’el, all assembled against your holy servant Yeshua, whom you made Messiah, 28 to do what your power and plan had already determined beforehand should happen.” – Gevurot 4:24 - 28 (Acts 4:24 – 28) – CJB – TO DO WHAT YOUR POWER AND PLAN HAD ALREADY DETERMINED BEFOREHAND SHOULD HAPPEN

Did you see that, I mean really SEE that? Sure yes the Jews, the people of Israel, were guilty.  But also were the Gentiles, Herod and even Pilate. The whole world is guilty of rejecting Christ Jesus.  Yes the world’s sin, your sin, my sin are all part of why Christ was obedient to His Father’s plan from before the very foundation of creation - Kehillah in Ephesus 1:4, Kefa I 1:20

So why then are so many ‘christians’ ready to dismiss Israel, worse condemn Israel even, as evil today? 

Next, let’s address the third question from above - Do the modern day Jews have a right to dwell in Yisrael (Israel)?

Pastor Ron Cantor states that – “Even among Christians who on the surface claim to reject Replacement Theology, many insist that God’s promise of this particular piece of land to the Children of Israel and their descendants as a perpetual inheritance is null and void…”

In fact many cite the very obvious fact that the New Testament never reaffirms the covenant between God (Christ) and the Jewish people, and the land of Yisrael as evidence in support of this idea. That is in and of itself and as Pastor Ron points out, really rather baseless –“… the New Testament never reaffirms the concept of tithing, but nearly all Christian pastors and ministers hold that it is still a valid and even necessary practice…”  Since when does the absence of a particular promise or concept render it invalid?

Let’s consider again Kehillah in Rome 3:1 & 2, 3 & 4 (Romans 3:1 & 2, 3 & 4) – “…what advantage has the Jew? What is the value of being circumcised? 2 Much in every way! In the first place, the Jews were entrusted with the very words of God… …Does their faithlessness cancel God’s faithfulness? 4 Heaven forbid! God would be true even if everyone were a liar!..” – CJB

what advantage has the Jew MUCH IN EVERY WAY, did you get that?  Much in every way!  Who is Paul speaking of?  The Jews! 

And - DOES THEIR FAITHLESSNESS CANCEL GOD’S FAITHFULNESS? 4 HEAVEN FORBID! What’s that O’ spirit of Anti-Christ, Anti-God, Anti-Semitic ‘christian’ and your rants about ‘God being *done* with the Jews, because they broke ranks’? - Heaven forbid!

The one, the very same evil, spiteful, lying, hateful spirit behind Eve’s temptation is the one and the very same spirit behind all this Anti-Christ / Anti-Semitic “Replacement Theology” garbage.  So what covenant might it be that Paul is speaking of, as being unbroken?  Well as this piece was opened with - John 14:6 -, and as that is the central theme of Christianity that – there is NO Salvation, NONE, NOT for anyone, outside of one placing one’s life into the loving, caring, nurturing hands of Jesus Christ; and as this is a Blood covenant for Salvation made with Christ’s own Blood, well then it should seem obvious that this unbroken covenant is not about salvation or being saved.  So what is it about then?

It would seem clear that this unbroken promise, is in fact about the people of Yisrael remaining God’s (Christ’s) chosen, and their promised right to dwell very land of Israel itself.  Look up Romans 9:4 “…Israelites, to whom belongs …” - NASB or “…they are Israelites, and to them belong God’s …” AMP.  It is interesting that Paul does not write, “belonged” (past tense), but that these promises & covenants belong (present tense) to…  To whom?  To Israel and the Jews.  See also Romans 11:1 and 11:11, Paul here very clearly asks:  “…I ask then, has God rejected and deserted his people the Jews? Oh no, not at all…” - Romans 11:1 – TLB, and “…So I ask, Have they stumbled so as to fall [to their utter spiritual ruin, irretrievably]? By no means!..” – AMP –  Romans 11:11.  According to Romans 11:29 “…the matnat Hashem and the kri’at Hashem are irrevocable.” OJB (“…the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” – KJV or “…God’s free gifts and his calling are irrevocable.” – CJB)

Consider this, oh yee “Replacement Theology” Anti-Semites, in Acts 1:6 the Disciples asked God (Christ) – “… “Lord, are you at this time going to restore self-rule to Isra’el?”…” – CJB, and Christ answered them by saying – “…It is not for you to become acquainted with and know what time brings [the things and events of time and their definite periods] or fixed years and seasons (their critical niche in time), which the Father has appointed (fixed and reserved) by His own choice and authority…” – AMP again, “…It Is Not For You To Become Acquainted With And Know … The Father Has Appointed (Fixed And Reserved) By His Own Choice And Authority…”  Seems pretty clear that God (Christ) did not say, “nah, done with them!”  No, He replied when asked about Christ setting up the new Kingdom and other promises of TaNaKh (the Old Testament), the Father’s *promises* STAND!

Continuing on, Zechariah tells us that Christ will come to Jerusalem when the nation of Yisrael is under attack, how does that work, if there’s no Israel?  So… Is there a place in the Middle East in the 21^st century for the Jews, and the land of Yisrael, based upon both the Old and New Testaments?  YES says the Lord, and it’s in His Word.  Let that sink in.

“No Jesus, NO peace” and yet, “Know Jesus, KNOW peace”

How does one get to “know” Jesus?  Simple, invite Him into your heart, as Jesus says: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” [Revelation 3:20 NIV]  How can we be assured that this Jesus stuff means anything, well because the Bible tells us so, as the Apostle Paul wrote:

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” [Romans 10:9-10 NIV]

And for those of you who say to me, I can’t be bothered reading the Bible, “it’s confusing” or “it’s a waste of my time”, may I draw your attention to what the Bible says about wisdom: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” [Proverbs 9:10 NIV]

If nothing else, PLEASE read two chapters from the Bible – (don’t own one, sorry NO excuse, if you’re reading this, you can access this: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203:16&version=NIV) John 3 and John 14!

John 3:16 says:  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

And John 14:6 says: “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Well that’s it, that’s Da Bauz’s take on, Am Yisrael Chai, this 13th day of May, 2015 © 2015, All Rights Reserved. wr (Da Bauz, Christian Zionist “creationist” too!)

Cited or consulted sources and resources:

http://bit.ly/1IBqAGb - What the New Testament Says about the Jew

http://bit.ly/1IBrpih - Does New Testament Back Israel's Claim to the Land