Category: sin

A Family Enterprise #6

Friday, February 9, 2024

“The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger” (Jeremiah 7:18 KJV).

What is their family enterprise?

These sins of heathen idolatry were not accidental but deliberate, the result of several centuries of unbelief. Like today, it had been the family’s practice to ignore God’s prophets or preachers generation after generation.

Read what follows today’s Scripture: “[22] For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: [23] But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. [24] But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. [25] Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them: [26] Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers.

“[27] Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee. [28] But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth. [29] Cut off thine hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on high places; for the LORD hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath. [30] For the children of Judah have done evil in my sight, saith the LORD: they have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to pollute it.”

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

A Family Enterprise #5

Thursday, February 8, 2024

“The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger” (Jeremiah 7:18 KJV).

What is their family enterprise?

Generally, society looks down upon people who take their children with them during the commission of their crimes. They wag their fingers, shake their heads, and cry out, “Shame! Shame! Shame!” To see a son accompany his father in a theft, or a daughter go with her mother to commit a murder, is an extremely appalling situation to anyone who possesses integrity and seeks justice. Yet, and this is most (most! most!! most!!!) unfortunate, almost no one has any spiritual sense to recognize the eternal disgrace connected to parents taking their children to religious services that will damn their souls.

It is no secret that children copy their parents. When children in today’s Scripture collect wood, it is because their parents by example taught them to do it! For what purpose are these children gathering this wood? Why, their fathers will light a fire with those sticks. The mothers, their wives, are hard at work in the kitchen forming cakes to bake on that fire. What is their reason? The queen of heaven, the mother goddess, is to be worshipped with food and drink! A holy meal will be held in her honor, and she will be venerated because of all her goodness, power, and wisdom! Apparently, she deserves far more attention than JEHOVAH God! (While it is offensive, the fact of the matter is that this blasphemy is being committed all over the world this very moment, and the most obvious form is the Eucharist or the Mass of Roman Catholicism [wherein Mary is actually called “the queen of heaven!”]. Check the warning in 1 Corinthians 10:19-22, what the professing church has ignored for 20 centuries!)

The family enterprise, the family business, of today’s Scripture is nothing but devil worship. Yet, it has nothing to do with murder, stealing, adultery, gambling, smoking cigarettes, drunkenness, prostitution, gangbanging, drug-dealing, or any other sin of the flesh. It is the sin of the spirit, a transgression committed in works-religion… with children in tow….

A Family Enterprise #4

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

“The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger” (Jeremiah 7:18 KJV).

What is their family enterprise?

Mother-goddess worship can be traced back to the Tower of Babel 4,000 years ago. Her original name was Semiramis. When the LORD God scattered the nations from Babel (Babylon) because of their pagan idolatry (Genesis 11:1-9), they took with them worldwide that concept of a mother goddess.

Consequently, all peoples paid her homage, though under various names because of language differences: Nana (Sumerians), Indrani/Isi (Indians), Disa (Scandinavians), Venus/Fortuna (Romans), Nutria (Etruscans), Aphrodite/Ceres (Greeks), Shingmoo (Chinese), Hertha (Germans), Venus/Fortuna (Romans), Isis (Egyptians), Cybele (Asians in Turkey), Virgo/Patitura (Druids), Astarte/Ashtaroth (Phoenicians—see Judges 2:13, Judges 10:6, and 1 Samuel 7:3), and Diana/Artemis (Ephesians—see Acts 19:24,27-28,34-35). In fact, she is the Virgin Mary of Roman Catholicism, and Mother Earth or Mother Nature (also known as Gaia)!

The Jews during Jeremiah’s ministry (today’s Scripture) knew God’s attitude about pagan idolatry, especially mother-goddess worship, but they engaged in anyway. This resulted in their deportation to Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar. Even after the Babylonian exile was underway, they kept worshipping her. Jeremiah chapter 44: “[17] But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. [18] But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine. [19] And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?”

How sad it was that (in today’s Scripture) they even brought their children into this heathen darkness….

A Family Enterprise #3

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

“The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger” (Jeremiah 7:18 KJV).

What is their family enterprise?

Despite what natural-man thinking dictates, the biblical model is for the husband-father to be his family’s spiritual leader. God gave His Word to Adam first, for Eve was not yet in existence. Adam, apparently, had the responsibility of committing that Divine revelation to his wife when she came later. “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17).

“And if they [the women of verse 34] will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church” (1 Corinthians 14:35). “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety” (1 Timothy 2:11-15).

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing” (Ephesians 5:22-24). “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

In today’s Scripture, however, we find families in spiritual disarray, for they have strayed quite far from the Creator’s design. The men are leading their families—their wives and children—down the path of certain spiritual destruction….

A Family Enterprise #2

Monday, February 5, 2024

“The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger” (Jeremiah 7:18 KJV).

What is their family enterprise?

Consider the following passages that form part of the Law of Moses. “Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons; Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children” (Deuteronomy 4:9,10).

“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 6:5-7).

“Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; And then the LORD’S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you. Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 11:16-19).

Re-read today’s Scripture in light of these passages. Do you see any negligence on anyone’s part? You should….

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A Family Enterprise #1

Sunday, February 4, 2024

“The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger” (Jeremiah 7:18 KJV).

What is their family enterprise?

The most basic unit of human civilization is marriage (which results in family, the next unit). As Genesis chapter 1 reports, “[26] And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. [27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. [28] And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”

Indeed, God created us humans to be social beings: “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet [fit, suitable] for him…. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet [fit, suitable] for him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man” (Genesis 2:18,20-22).

Families come in all sizes, shapes, and colors. What binds them can be food, religion, language, geography, finances, education, hobbies. One clever axiom adequately captures this idea: “The family that prays together, stays together.” In this case, the reference is to religion. Let us exposit today’s Scripture so as to see how the families of Judah—Israel’s southern kingdom—found clever ways to start a certain enterprise and thus greatly enrage the LORD….

I Am Comfortable! #15

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:3,4 KJV).

Why are they comfortable? Why are we comfortable about their choice?

Doubtless, Satan’s evil world system utilizes a variety of distractions to blind the minds of those without the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour (see today’s Scripture). They lack spiritual understanding or judgment and therefore fail to see reality: they value and concentrate on worthless ideas and silly activities, they make an effort to pursue what does not matter, and so on. Actually, this could even be true of those who know Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour.

God is always willing to convey spiritual light if we so want it: “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (verse 6, following today’s Scripture). Whether lost people or carnal (fleshly, worldly, secular) Christians, they have not yielded to the Holy Spirit’s teaching ministry. They have invested too much time, energy, and money in nonsense to turn around or reform. “I will stay on my chosen path! I will not repudiate my preconceived notions! I love what I have and I will never give it up!”

Here is what we can say about non-Christians. If they could be comfortable in not having an eternal relationship with God through Jesus Christ alone, if God could be comfortable in turning them over to what they wanted (eternity without Him), then we should be comfortable with it also. The more I have seen antagonism toward the Scriptures throughout these many years, the more I am at peace with letting people have the ignorance they want. It is unfortunate, but that is their problem: “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant” (1 Corinthians 14:37,38).

-FINIS!-

I Am Comfortable! #14

Monday, January 29, 2024

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:3,4 KJV).

Why are they comfortable? Why are we comfortable about their choice?

Indeed, we should make every reasonable attempt to impart spiritual light to as many people as we can. Yet, dear friends, we must let them continue on their destructive path if they persist. “Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone” (Hosea 4:17). Once His longtime neighbors and acquaintances purposed to kill the Lord Jesus, He departed Nazareth (Luke 4:28-31)! When He was invited to leave, He went to the opposing shore of the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 8:33–9:1; Mark 5:15-21; Luke 8:35-40)! “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind…” (Matthew 15:14).

“A man that is an heretick [teacher or supporter of false doctrine, for purposes of dividing] after the first and second admonition [warning] reject [shun, refuse]; Knowing that he that is such is subverted [turned over, perverted], and sinneth, being condemned of himself” (Titus 3:10,11). The LORD thrice commanded the Prophet Jeremiah not to pray for his people (Jeremiah 7:16; Jeremiah 11:14; Jeremiah 14:11). Divine judgment against their habitual sin was on its way, and would not be avoided.

If they are comfortable—contented and free from fear—in being out of God’s will, we are comfortable with them. If they want to be lost people, we value their free will. If they wish to be ignorant Christians, we let them have their lack of knowledge. Just like King Saul’s appointment was no accident, no unbeliever goes to Hell accidentally and no Christian remains in spiritual kindergarten unwillingly. “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (John 7:17). In this world of technological advancements, the Scriptures are more accessible than ever. No one can legitimately complain, “I did not have a chance to know if there was a God or learn His will.” They are all without excuse.

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

I Am Comfortable! #13

Sunday, January 28, 2024

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:3,4 KJV).

Why are they comfortable? Why are we comfortable about their choice?

The LORD knew King Saul would ultimately be a disaster and disappointment, so He warned Israel of the hazards. Although the Jews expected Saul to conquer the oppressive Philistines (1 Samuel 8:20), the Philistines killed Saul in battle and left Israel without a king and still in captivity to the Philistines (see 1 Samuel 31:1-13)!

Likewise, Romans chapter 2 has warned those who lack perfect righteousness face a precarious future: “[5] But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; [6] Who will render to every man according to his deeds:…. [8] But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, [9] Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;….”

When people refuse to acknowledge their sin problem, they are telling God they are just as good as Jesus Christ is, that they can replace His life with their own efforts. If they want to depend on their self-righteousness (as in Romans 10:1-3), He will let them do so—but their fate will be indignation, wrath, tribulation, and anguish. His justice demands His righteousness be enforced, so those without His righteousness must suffer the punishment their own “goodness” and efforts produce.

Second Thessalonians chapter 1: “[7] And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, [8] In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: [9] Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;….”

It is therefore not (!) God’s (!) fault (!) when people choose to go to Hell….

I Am Comfortable! #12

Saturday, January 27, 2024

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:3,4 KJV).

Why are they comfortable? Why are we comfortable about their choice?

As Israel rejected the LORD in favor of a human king, the LORD had Samuel give them their way! “Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee…. Now therefore hearken unto their voice…” (1 Samuel 8:7,9). The LORD warned them about the ensuing dangers of their poor decision to have a king (verses 10-18), but they did not wish to listen to reason. God replied, “Samuel, let them have their way!”

“[18] And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day. [19] Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; [20] That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. [21] And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD. [22] And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.”

People today constantly commit ancient Israel’s sin. They ignore the LORD God and His Word. What they have determined to think and do, they will think and do… no matter what. They aim to create a mindset and a life apart from His will because rationalism—human intellect—is their god. It is no accident. They do not want to hear about the dangers or consequences of their sin, but God has already made it quite clear as to the fate of people who die without His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as personal Saviour….