Today, thoughts are shared on
divine abundance and plenty as well as America’s annual harvest celebration,
Thanksgiving Day. One of the fighters at “Yahoo! Answers” who uses the ID
“Anonymous” (no profile information appears) posted the
following:
What are you doing to be thankful for Jesus
Christ and all the wonderful things he has done on this great day of
thankfulness?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: So they
read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused
them to understand the reading. And Nehemiah, which is the
Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the
people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when
they heard the words of the law. Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the
fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is
prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye
sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. So the
Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is
holy; neither be ye grieved. And all the people went their way to eat, and to
drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had
understood the words that were declared unto them. (Nehemiah 8: 8-12, King
James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: One Root,
One Harvest (11/12/2017); Gratitude Appears By Grace (09/11/2017); ...Gathered
In My Name (05/29/2017); About the Second Coming? (01/18/2014); Unprofitable
Servants? (01/19/2014); Are Holidays Bad? (11/16/2013); Denying GOD by Eating
Shrimp? (11/17/2013)
“Anonymous”, here are some thoughts I would like to
share: For many mature Christian believers abundance, plenty, and outpourings
to express gratitude are manifestations that make us aware of the unseen
active presence who is GOD. The imparted Spirit from GOD that appears
to reveal the fullness of divinity (we say, the Godhead) and establish rebirth
in water baptism also generates consciousness of healing, hope, joy, a lawful
reward for ones labor, and the return of Jesus Christ (we say, Advent, the
harvest, the Rapture, the Second Coming). In Bible days, the times of anointing
to sanctify and consecrate kings and priests, in-gathering and sheep-shearing
were experienced as days of harvest celebration and thanksgiving. Even so,
because harvest is a season, not merely a one-day event, those who labor receive
accord, cooperation and harmony (we say, fellowship, teamwork), resources for
the cancellation of debts, the dispelling of fear and uncertainty, times of rest
after reaping as well as refreshing, resolution of conflict and reuniting within
the family. Thanksgiving, therefore, is anticipated, occurs, and is
acknowledged throughout most of the entire world at the same (and overlapping)
time, and so is understood to be a season of Peace. Surely, as encouragement to
those who labor in the Lord, the following prophecies to comfort, edify, and exhort are
written:
(1.) Psalms 100: 4-5, King James Version (KJV):
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with
praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his
truth endureth to all generations.
(2.) 1st Chronicles 22: 14-16,
KJV: 14 Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand
talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in
abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto.
15 Moreover there are workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and
workers of stone and timber, and all manner of cunning men for every manner of
work. 16 Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there
is no number. Arise therefore, and be doing, and the LORD be with thee.
(3.) 1st Chronicles 29: 20-22, KJV: 20 And David
said to all the congregation, Now bless the LORD your God.
And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their
fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the LORD, and the king. 21 And they sacrificed sacrifices unto the
LORD, and offered burnt offerings unto the LORD, on the morrow after that day, even a thousand
bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink
offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel: 22 And did eat and drink
before the LORD on that day with great gladness. And they
made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto the
LORD to be the chief governor, and Zadok to
be priest.
There is far more from our Creator and Savior that
could be shared and shown acknowledging this day (for example, (4.) 2nd
Corinthians 4: 13-18, KJV: 13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as
it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and
therefore speak; 14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise
up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 15 For all things
are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the
thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 16 For which cause we faint
not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed
day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for
us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look
not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the
things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen
are eternal.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it
unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
Blessing, judgment, parables and proper stewardship are topics, today, along with more on the Second Coming. A writer at “Yahoo! Answers New Zealand” using the ID “Luv” (Level 2 with 502 points, a member since 24 November 2013) posted the following originally asked at Yahoo Answers United States:
Why do people say that God will only bless you with a lot if you can handle a little?
THE BATTLE AXE: About the Second Coming? (01/18/2014)—(5) After the completion of judgment, with the cleansing and purging of the earth through holy fire, Jesus and all those who have answered salvation throughout the ages, will return to live on the earth. The saved will have been thoroughly prepared to continue in the earth as the permanent home for mankind. They will all be immortal and incorruptible, and will have already lived together in the celestial presence (we say, heaven) for at least a millennium (1,000 years). Smart phones, TV, and present-day technology and tools may not exist, for the needs those devices are intended to meet, and the problems they solve, may never arise again. The blessings of health by balancing meaningful activity, work, rest, and proper diet will continue as the standard for physical distinction. Because many may still wish to develop and express themselves creatively, eventually, there may be various conveniences and machines to allow the work of cultivating and harvesting crops, preparing meals, and to make life enjoyable and fruitful. See Isaiah 65: 17-25, Revelation 22: 1-5 and Revelation 21: 1-27, King James Version.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. (Haggai 1: 5-7, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: On Being Good Stewards (12/17/2013); Traditional Marriage? (12/18/2013); God Bless America? (09/12/2013); Law, Slavery and Redemption (09/13/2013)
“Luv”, the various principles and rules for commitment, duty, service, sharing, stewardship, and trust among Christian believers are written throughout the Bible. These same rules apply to divine judgment (e.g., Luke 12: 48 and Luke 16: 10, KJV). Every believer is expected to serve and share in building up and maintaining their sacred congregation, and the worldwide community of believers. A person first must be born again in baptism (receive divine DNA, so to speak); their specific needs for information, sacred knowledge and skill must be determined and addressed; and they must be prepared through life experiences for the tasks they will perform as instruments of divine ministry.
While created beings and living creatures all contain endowments of divine substance, they vary in their levels of balance, maturity (i.e., perfection), readiness, receptivity, and stability. Through the operations of sin upon their awareness and self-will, many have been rendered useless to GOD because of such features as defiance, disobedience, ignorance, ingratitude, malice, rebellion, stubbornness, and untrustworthiness.
To caution and encourage those who would commit themselves as his disciples, Jesus shared a parable (object lesson) where a nobleman, going out of town to receive appointment over a new kingdom, entrusts different amounts of money to three of his servants. Upon his return he requires that they account for the money. Two have invested and doubled the amount they received, while the third returns what he was given explaining his fear of losing the money was due to cruelty and greediness of the master. The nobleman replied, unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him (see Luke 19: 12-27, KJV).
There is far more to be said, properly shared, and spiritually understood. (For example, in a second parable, Jesus describes the kingdom of heaven using the figure of a man traveling into a far country who entrusts his three servants with different amounts measured as “talents”. Again, two prosper, and the third declares only fear, doubt, and disrespect to his master, who replies, “For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.” (see Matthew 25: 14-30, KJV)) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. (Mark 6: 4, KJV)
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
Celebrations and popular holidays are the topic, today; also, there is more on the benefit of divine law. A writer at “Yahoo! Answers Canada” using the ID “i love jerseylicious ©” (Level 1 with 231 points, a member since June 13, 2010) posted the following originally asked at Yahoo Answers United States:
Is celebrating christmas a sin? why? what about thanksgiving? Easter?
my brother used to be catholic, and my family is currently catholic. my brother found this new religion that believes every holiday is worshipping the devil, and that they're not real holidays. he believes catholics are going to hell & the pope is the devil. I just wanna know if this is true? where does it say in the bible that christmas, Easter, thanksgiving and Halloween is worshipping satan? I love celebrating the holidays as everyone in my family is happy and joyful and my brother is just putting a damper on everything.
THE BATTLE AXE: The Benefit of Law? (11/15/2013)—The mistaken idea that all men are not bound to divine law from GOD may have arisen through language used by the Apostle Paul (see Romans 3: 19 and 6: 14, KJV). Acknowledging a difference between those “under the law” (i.e., in the covenant of Moses as Jews) and those coming to Jesus as new believers or as Gentiles, Paul declared the dispensation of grace that, at first, seemed to annul and conflict with all sacred law. Paul goes on to clarify the New Testament blessing affirming its benefit as both grace and law (see Romans 7, 8 and 11; 1st Timothy 5-11, Philippians 3: 7-14 and 2nd Timothy 1: 8-10, KJV).
THE GOLDEN ARROW: And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD. And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. (Exodus 32: 1-8, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Jesus Lives! (05/04/2013); Jesus, A Party Animal? (05/03/2013); The True Miracle (12/23/2012); About the Star (12/24/2012); Without the Noise of Battle (12/25/2012); Knowing Who Your Real Friends Are (12/11/2012); Suffering for Suicide? (12/12/2012); Holiday Displays (12/07/2012); An Attack Upon Creation (12/08/2012)
Christian believers, particularly children and young people, are hurt and shocked when they first hear teachings against celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, and the traditions of Christmas, Easter and other holidays (e.g., Halloween, July 4th, Kwanzaa, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving). Many are convinced that such talk is from the Devil, and is motivated by destructiveness, envy, malice and wickedness. However, there are some important points of truth that believers must be careful to embrace:
(1.) Believers are all called to a work of spreading the Gospel as a seed, tending the growth of faith implanted within themselves and others, and preparing the earth for the time when Jesus will come to receive the harvest of the faithful. In the Bible, harvest and sheep-shearing celebrations only follow hard work, and long seasons of expectation, tarrying and waiting. Gratitude, humility and joy always mark such seasons for they manifest the active presence of GOD through abundance and plenty as well as conquest, healing by rest, ownership, prosperity, release from fear, triumph, and victory.
(2.) Jesus has commanded his servants to “watch and pray.” All are to maintain alertness, meekness, sobriety and vigilance. We do not know the exact day or time of his second coming; and we are to live as if it would be any minute now. When celebrations, family gatherings, and holiday excitement promote questionable amusements, exaggerations and excess, hilarity and silliness, our fun becomes a weapon the Adversary uses against the health of our bodies and spirit. Holidays can be used as a distraction, or a snare to entrap the imagination and the intellect. The work of truth is then neglected.
(3.) Disciples and followers of Jesus are cautioned to grasp that GOD is a spirit whom we must worship in spirit and in truth even though we continue upon the earth as carnal, material, and social beings. All our personal expressions of commitment, love, respect, and trust also are to make visible the Person and Spirit of Christ. Our words and deeds are as godly seed that should be put forth with balance, compassion, humility, maturity, and a correct vision of the growth that will occur. Observance of celebrations, holidays, and revels are not automatically condemned as sin that is punishable by death, yet, wrongly taken to be acceptable acknowledgement and worship of GOD, such practices are no more than idolatry, pride, selfishness and the spiritual confusion that results in death.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually understood. (For example, (4.) Secular bargain-hunting, capitalism, consumerism, and discount shopping are now threatening to replace the sacred experiences of the holiday season. As surely as frugality, good sense, and thrift are to be fully employed, believers are to be armed with discernment.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith. Jesus is coming soon. Grow in grace.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
