(11/29/2020) Our Correct Sacred Priorities?

Correctness of members judging the clergy and others within the church, and the priority for clergy preaching the gospel compared to performing “good works” are topics, today. While all believers are to demonstrate and display the love of GOD, all are not called to serve as pulpit preachers. Those who talk about you yet do not speak with you can never correctly know the full extent of what you suffer for Christ, or the specific works he has chosen and fitted you to fulfill. Many within the church mistakenly regard works that are priority among those in the world as somehow vital to redemption and salvation. Such believers focus heavily on the giving of alms, ministering to families, relieving others in their distress and suffering, and devoting oneself to programs for change and social justice. They neglect the preaching of the cross; the needs for rebirth, sanctification, and reconciliation; and the necessity that all members of the church are to resemble, reflect, and reveal the character and likeness of Jesus Christ within their own lifestyles and daily routines. It is written: 1^st Corinthians 1: 17-24, King James Version (KJV): 17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. The user in “Yahoo! Answers” Religion & Spirituality who uses the ID “Sparkles” (Level 1 with 204 points) posted the following:

Should a pastor spend more time helping the homeless on Sunday mornings rather than preaching inside the church?

My dad is a fundamental Baptist pastor, and recently he's been spending his sunday mornings helping the homelesss rather than preaching his sermons. Some members of our church committee have suggested that he should spend more time preaching and let the missionaries take care of the homeless.

Updated 20 mins ago:

My dad believes helping the homeless is more important since he is sharing the gospel with the unsaved, and most homeless people are willing to listen.

THE GOLDEN ARROW: Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. (2^nd Corinthians 11: 23-30, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Power We Receive (11/19/2020); Made Perfect By Divinity (11/10/2020); 22 Years Spent Preparing (05/20/2020); The Testimony From GOD (10/22/2019); How Can Christians Preach? (09/25/2019); Giving To The Homeless (03/13/2019); The Answer From GOD (05/19/2017)

“Sparkles”, Christian believers are to demand perfection from themselves before demanding perfection from the clergy or other members of the church. Because the workings of divinity are Spirit in process and substance, many in the church can become confounded and deceived by things that are human concerns and that do not express sacred law, divine prerogative, eternal purpose, and the sovereign will of GOD. There are those who mean well, yet, they continue to behave as instruments of the flesh (e.g., appetite, sensation (such as hearing, seeing, tasting, touching), and emotion/mental operations (e.g., anger, fear, imagination, recall) ). Putting aside the issue of whether you accept that your father has been ordained and is in a peculiar relationship with Jesus Christ as his head, your duty and responsibilities as a member in his flock do not include proclaiming his condemnation, performing judgment, or the posing of questions about his competence. Developing Christian believers must come to acknowledge that salvation is through acts of GOD such as baptism whereby a sinner’s inborn spirit dies, is buried, and is raised from the dead in rebirth and resurrection. Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible:

(1.) Romans 14: 4, King James Version (KJV): 4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

(2.) 2^nd Corinthians 10: 12, KJV: 12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

(3.) Luke 16: 10-15, KJV: 10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. 15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4.) Romans 14: 16-23, KJV: 16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. 21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. 22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. 23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.

Image downloaded 4:05 AM, November 29, 2020 @ https://i.pinimg.com/736x/f2/0a/a7/f20aa724ac0080b38b2850509d17a2b5.jpg

THE BLACK PHOENIX

Washington, DC

(03/13/2019) Giving To The Homeless

Today, reply is on giving while in the workplace. Giving without integrity is dead.  Correctly practiced, giving for Christian believers always will be marked by such elements as balance, accountability, cheerfulness, dutifulness, gratitude, humility, impartiality, lovingkindness, peace of mind, respect, and restraint. One of the fighters in the “Yahoo! Answers” public forum on Religion and Spirituality who uses the ID “Anonymous” (no profile is shared) posted the following:

Do you think it was wrong for my manager not to give the homeless man a meal?

A while ago a homeless guy stopped by the fast food place I worked at and asked for a meal. My manager said no and gave him the excuse that there are cameras watching our every move and he could get in trouble for giving away a meal.

All of the employees were talking about how he should’ve given the man some food because people still get away with doing things even though the cameras are watching. My manager told me that lately the management team has been getting in trouble for giving away too many free meals and he was afraid if getting in trouble.

I for one kind of agree with him. As an employee I don’t even get a free meal and I bend over backwards for this establishment. I don’t see why some random person off the street should get free food for doing nothing. He can take advantage of the local soup kitchen.

THE GOLDEN ARROW: Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (James 2: 18-19, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Use of Money? (01/07/2019); Commitment To The Brand? (06/07/2018); Giving, A Divine Discipline? (10/09/2017); The Answer From GOD (05/19/2017); It Comes With the Job? (01/11/2015); Religious Bosses? (07/08/2014); On Marketing Church, and Speaking by Occasion (09/26/2013); A Lid on Love? (09/27/2013)

“Anonymous”, there are correct and wrong places, times and ways of displaying ones faith, applying truth from the Bible, and of giving to the poor. Managers in the hospitality industry and those they supervise must discharge a broad range of duties regarding the inventory, the reputation of their firm, and the materials used to present their goods to the public for income. Without a full payment for the goods, a report of pilfering (petty theft by an employee; violation of the contract and job description) should be filed, rather than a report of charitable giving. Those who want to use the organization they work for to provide gifts and support to others should use the opportunities, policies and programs of their firm intended to express goodwill and support to the community-at-large. Where the manager, or a worker wanted to share with an individual homeless person who came into their store, they would have had to deposit payment from their own wallet into the corporate cash register, or surrender the meal(s) they were to receive as an employee (e.g., breakfast/dinner/lunch).

For most of us, the workplace is not a setting for the full expression of our spiritual beliefs; there is an unwritten accord that preaching, proselytizing, or religious ceremonies, practices and rites are not to be carried out in the workplace. Developing Christian believers are in a relationship with divinity where all they possess, all they share, and much of what they do is directed primarily to GOD for the fulfillment of sacred commitment, eternal purpose, and expressing the sovereign will of GOD. In a similar way, believers are encouraged to acknowledge their employers as covenant partners with whom they are bound through personal accountability, legal agreements, ethical process, promises, and shared financial interests. Sinners who become “born again” are cautioned to avoid taking on the task of judging others, particularly with regard to giving, service, and worship. In addition to the risk of “jumping to conclusions,” those who judge encounter many subtleties (i.e., barely visible differences; hidden shifts in meaning, quality and value) that must be assigned weight, and correctly examined for their influence and outcome.

Various unexpected events (e.g., transportation accidents, fires, flooding, mudslides, snow) may result in multiple deaths, and urgent demands for funding, gifts, medical supplies, and other support. Properly performed, giving to the church allows sharing through multiple carefully managed programs and mechanisms for distributing resources. Such giving should be regular and reliable; and, in the same way one disciplines, plans and uses restraint for their spending, giving also is best accomplished using a budget, formal order, and restraint. Here are further points believers reflect on that use language from the Bible:

1. Proverbs 16: 25, King James Version (KJV): 25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

2. Proverbs 20: 11, KJV: 11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

3. Proverbs 19: 17, KJV: 19 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

4. Proverbs 14: 31, KJV: 31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, 5. Proverbs 22: 1-2, KJV: 22 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. 2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX

Washington, DC

(05/19/2017) The Answer From GOD

Today, reply is made on why communities of faith must maintain endowments of money and property.  The church is in an hostile environment upon the earth, and must maintain a peculiar independence and separation not merely for her financial, material, and physical survival.  Other belief systems compete against and threaten Christian belief with destruction and violence including Atheism, Islam, Judaism, LGBTQ, occultism, those committed to sorcery and witchcraft, and even geo-political States (governments, nations).  Critical emotional, psychological, and spiritual growth within the church continually requires there be immediate access and availability of resources and tools for communication, instruction, practice, and worship.  The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers (UK & Ireland)” who uses the ID “James” (Level 2 with 433 points, a member since December 04, 2014) posted the following:


Why can't Christianity act like Jesus for once and turn ALL their churches into homeless shelters and give away ALL their BILLIONS of $$$?

Update:  Nightwolf replies with his usual personal abuse. He is NOTHING like Jesus.

Update 2:  Ruth replies with her Christian personal abuse. She is NOTHING like Jesus.

Update 3:  Nightwolf is a tool of Satan ....abusive, aggressive, violent, hateful. "Real" Christians out there, please pray for him, he needs your help.

Update 4:  Fireball too replies with personal abuse. Where are the "real" Christians out there ..... the ones who follow the example of Jesus, the ones who don't hate? There must be some left.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;  Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.  And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.  (1st Peter 5:  2-4, King James Version, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  The Quality of Life? (03/29/2017); Church Attendance and Inheritance (09/11/2016); Money Is No Object? (10/14/2015); Holy Garments? (09/24/2015); The Rich in Divine Relationship? (11/29/2013); We Are Still Sinning? (11/30/2013); Prosperity Destroys Fools (09/25/2012); Life and Death (09/26/2012)


“James”, the church is an expression of the sovereign will of our Creator; and is both “one of a kind,” and irreplaceable.  The “good works” we see through the church go beyond charitable-giving, philanthropy, and social work.  Correctly understood, the works that are to be performed by Christian assemblies and congregations convey and transmit spirit substance from the makeup of divinity, and do not center simply upon carnal, material, and social things.  Sinners who submit to the discipline and instruction shared among believers become immersed within a lifestyle, sacred practices, and daily routines that display the spirit substance we acknowledge as being from GOD.  Included are faith, forbearance, forgiveness, holiness, hope, joy, longsuffering, lovingkindness, meekness, wisdom, and wrath against sin.

On the earth, the church typically exists within communities that promote competition, elitism, and the distribution of resources in accordance with processes and standards that are political.  The processes of “the flesh,” “the world,” and “the devil” continually generate meanings and values that undermine the integrity of the church.  Secular knowledge and information are exalted in such a way that many are unable to acquire the sacred knowledge needed to experience the lasting relationship with GOD that we speak of as “eternal life.”  Such work as pastoral counseling, evangelism, and missionary outreach only go forward as effective and fruitful where there are operations of the Holy Spirit to establish commitment, exclusive devotion to GOD, maturity, divine promise, prophecy, stability, and higher vision.  Communities of faith must be financially independent and solvent in order to operate with a minimum of contradiction, disruption, interference, opposition, reversal, and the ungodliness that exists outside the body, and often also exists among believers while they are in the process of permanent change and growth to serve as “born again” believers who must “grow up again” and become perfected

Those within the church are continuing as men, women and children having intimate relationship with GOD through Jesus Christ.  The church is to be received as an answer from GOD where believers are described as being in dependent relationships as adopted sons and daughters, covenant partners, heirs, and spouses, yet, not as beggars, debtors, and the homeless.  Consider again the following:

(1.)  Isaiah 54:  4-10, King James Version (KJV):  4 Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed:  neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame:  for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.  5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.  6 For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.  7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.  8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.  9 For this is as the waters of Noah unto me:  for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.  10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

(2.)  2nd Corinthians 8:  9, KJV:  9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

(3.)  2nd Corinthians 8:  20-21, KJV:  20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:  21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.) 

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (4.)  Romans 8:  5-9, KJV:  5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God:  for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(07/26/2015) Going Under, Rising Up

Today, I share the following poem written as a response to the blog published by Dennis Cardiff at WordPress.com, GOTTA FIND A HOME:  Conversations with Street People.  We are not human before GOD because of error, poverty, sin and wickedness.  It is not that we eat, drink, crave sex, or sleep to excess.  Nor are we recognized to be human because we are seen as infirm, soft, and weak.  Our existence as human is a divine endowment, a breath, a word, a strength that defies all suffering.  Yes, our humanness appears as need for divine love, sacred knowledge, and eternal transformation; yet, our humanity is best displayed in compassion, determination, integrity, and insistence upon righteousness.  None may claim to be human merely by habitually breaking their word, exaggerated anger (we say, rage), lying, and presumption.  We are known by divinity to be human where we will continually persevere as Spirit.  GOD has many sons and daughters who will endure pain, rejection, and death; yet, only one son born without sin, Jesus Christ.  Be encouraged! 

GOING UNDER, RISING UP

A POEM FOR CHUCK, JOE, AND THE HOMELESS ANGEL

Christians are those commanded to believe
To endure suffering with
GOD who dies through his mortal son
Accomplishing all their pain
Their shame
Their weakness
Their betrayal
Their having no place to go

These refuse to live in the cardboard box
Or sleep on a grate of steel
Yet, come under blood from a cross
The ones so lost from longing to be free
From life
From challenge
Obligation, duty
Dues, pain, fear
Pain, fear
Pain, fear
Pain, fear
Pain, fear

They commit themselves
To changing
Breaking bread
Breaking off shame-sex relationship
The politics of buy and sell
The futility of alcohol
Going under in waters of rebirth
Growing
Learning
Knowing
Giving
Singing
Not quitting, not dying, not being overcome

Living by the discipline
Of an already made up mind
Craving and receiving a taste of what’s to be
Heirs of exodus and eternal ecstasy
Who know
The problems do not disappear
They fade like street noise
There unheard
It’s what you have to do with sonic booms
Sinister voices inside your own head
The so-called issues of today,
Right-now that comes tomorrow

Love everlasting
A choice that can not be undone
to face the day pursuing
Always only Light, life agreeing
the darkness, death
And sorrow
Have all been kicked to the curb
Showing the world’s blind eye
The power in I yet love
All the gift shared by
I AM
The extra quarter, the extra blanket of his blood
 
 

©Michael Andrew Williams, 2015.  All rights reserved.





THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(12/03/2012) On Seeing Jesus Serve the Poor

      Focus, today, is upon poverty, and recognizing Jesus through the service of others. Also, there is more on the need for fear of the Lord. A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “Joshua the Tree” (Level 2 with 393 points, a member since November 28, 2012) posted the following:


Why don't we ever see Jesus in the Peace Corp feeding the starving children?

We never see Jesus doing anything useful. Why?


THE BATTLE AXE: A Need to Fear? (12/02/2012)—For a lasting bond to exist between two independent persons there must be peculiar acknowledgements through the tone and texture of their shared contact. Because “fear” as respect, reverence and willing acknowledgment of divinity derive from the person and substance of GOD, fear buttresses and supports right relationship with GOD. By the provision of GOD incarnate, appearing as Jesus Christ, mankind is made able to experience a full acceptance of GOD in spite of the great gulf between finite creatures and their eternal Creator. The imparted, indwelling Spirit prepares ones inner nature for its transformation into that that is immortal and incorruptible. Confidence, courage, holy boldness and trust both emerge from and nourish the divine spirit, and are increasingly built up and made visible through sacred fellowship, practice, prayer, study and worship. Only those indispensable, nonnegotiable elements such as closure, finality, permanence and resolution foster and continue belief that GOD is cold, indifferent, inflexible, and unloving.


THE GOLDEN ARROW: Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty. There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up. There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men. (Proverbs 30: 8-14, King James Version)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER: How To Have Conviction (11/24/2012); Attending Church? (11/12/2012); Why “Mysterious” (11/11/2012); To See With New Eyes (11/06/2012); Love in Christ (10/23/2012); Escape from Racism (10/24/2012); Prosperity Destroys Fools (09/25/2012); Yet, If I Judge (09/05/2012)


      “That part is yours to do.” You deserve a better answer than that; so I ask you to consider the following as advice from a mature Christian believer:

      “Seeing Jesus” or the ability to recognize spirit persons and spirit things requires what is called “discernment.” Discernment is a special consciousness established by the endowment of divinity that was deposited within all created beings and living creatures at the Creation. Through the operation of sin, the divine nature within the living has become corrupted and diminished. Sin weakens what we call “will power,” “self-will,” “volition,” and “free choice.” More than this, sin confuses divine processes that establish being, relationship and value for the created.

      The viral photograph that has been displayed showing “a random act of kindness” (a NYC police officer aiding a homeless man after purchasing shoes and sox for him), in fact, depicts many of the important aspects of service to GOD, and what it means to manifest Christ. However, unless the imparted Spirit from GOD (also called the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of Prophecy) opens ones heart and mind establishing comprehension, many important spiritual truths are missed. For example, the photograph is a rebuke to all those believers who insist that destruction, warfare and violence are the highest good out of the Qur’an. The photo is a perfect illustration of what Muhammad taught regarding jihad-al-akbar, the Greater Jihad.

      Jesus taught that “the poor are always with us.” As a divine tool to shape the hearts and minds of men, mendicancy and poverty generate humility before GOD. Poverty also permits a further revelation of divine person (e.g., compassion, goodness, love, pity). Given that poverty is also the result of addiction, dishonesty, ignorance, lack of industry, pride, self-destructiveness, and sin, the poor are also an admonition and warning to mankind. Believers are to seek the triumph of divine spirit above physical circumstances, emotions, finances, and politics. Consider again the weathering of storm Sandy.

      There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, in the Bible we learn that “evil” is sudden and widespread change or upheaval, not sin and wickedness. GOD proclaims the divine prerogative to create evil (i.e., calamity, catastrophe, disaster). However, GOD has not created sin, and does not generate sin.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC