Today’s Devotional – October 20th (“Social-Justice Warriors For The Church”)

By admin On February 7th, 2021

.

.

Today’s Devotional – October 20th

.

.

.

.

“Social-Justice Warriors For The Church”

.

.

.

.

.

.

Through the ages, there have always been those who try to promote some church doctrine, baseG. Dore Wikipedia Public Domaind on a literal interpretation of a Bible allegory.

.

For example, such misinterpretations gave rise to the impossible idea that God has some nether-world torture-chamber, in which all Christless unbelievers will be tormented eternally by literal fire!

(see Job 3:11-19) (you may also read the article“Planet of Rest: Doctrine of Eternal Torment”)

.

Hell – Gustave Dore – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

.

LIGHTING CANDLES

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Creation_Candle_Light.jpg

.

And there have been other similar wrestlings with Scripture, such as the lighting of candles in religious ceremonies, thus misconstruing the allegory regarding the candlesticks in the sanctuary.

.

Yes, this too resulted in people taking literally, something which was only meant to be taken allegorically!

.

But the candlesticks in the Old Testament sanctuary service actually symbolized the New Testament Church being illuminated by the Holy Spirit. (see Revelation 1:20)

 

.

Creation candlelight Church Service – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike

.

.

.

.

.

HOLY KISS

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ABible-Study-Group.jpg

.

Another similar misinterpretation was the idea of a “holy kiss”, taking it literally.

.

But the “holy kiss” was merely referring to the refreshing experience that Christians should feel, when in the presence of the holiness exuded from other true worshippers of God. (see Song of Songs 1:2)

.

Bible Study Group – cropped image – wikimedia – share-alike-license

.

.

.

.

.

A SOUL IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE!

.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TV_highquality.jpg

About every 30 minutes or so, there is a humanitarian advertisement on television, concerning the physical and social needs of humanity.

.

And so, because we Americans have grown up in front of the television, we are thoroughly conditioned to only think in terms of physical and social needs. 

.

But never do we hear the government producing TV ads, stressing the importance of the needs of the soul! And yet, the soul is infinitely more important than one’s physical needs!

.

TV highquality – cropped image – wikimedia – creatrive commons license

.

.

.

.

.

HUMANITARIANISM

.

And even in the Christian community, there is emerging the same kind of confusion regarding humanitarian social justice. Just like these already mentioned examples of trying to take spiritual metaphors, and twist and wrest them back into literal worldly concepts.

.http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Free_Food_Distribution_-_Gangasagar_Fair_Transit_Camp_-_Kolkata_2012-01-14_0691.JPG

Yes, there is an emerging effort to turn Christianity into some sort of giant humanitarian project.

.

And this has an especially great appeal to younger people, who have been thoroughly indoctrinated by society to think only of the physical and social needs of humanity.

.

Free_Food_Distribution Kolkataw – cropped image – Wikimedia – Free Documentation License

.

.

.

.

.

WHY SHOULD THE DEVIL CARE?

.

Now make no mistake! Lucifer couldn’t care less about whether a man goes to Hell with a full stomach or an empty one!

.

As a matter of fact, because Lucifer is “the god of this world”, he is happy to see his loyal citizens of this selfish world, performing good deeds! It only makes his secular world-system that much more deceiving!

.

Listen… For men shall be lovers of their own selves…having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2nd Timothy 3:2, 5.

.

Yes, Satan loves his world to have a form of godliness. It just confuses people, as to the true nature of this planet, Lucifer’s selfish, evil, antichrist world-system!

.

ABOVE PICTURE: The False Prophet – signsofheaven.org – not for commercial uses

.

.

.

.

.

.

EMERGING HUMANISM

.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Free_Food_Distribution_-_Gangasagar_Fair_Transit_Camp_-_Kolkata_2012-01-14_0691.JPG

While the Bible certainly promotes the idea of having compassion on the poor, never should that eclipse the getting-out-the-Gospel!

.

But here is where people get into trouble when reading the Bible. Take for instance, the following passage…

“For I was an hungered, and ye gave Me meat:

I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink: 

I was a stranger, and ye took Me in:

Naked, and ye clothed Me:

I was sick, and ye visited Me:

I was in prison, and ye came unto Me.”

Matthew 25:35, 36

.

Now at first glance, this passage seems to be saying that Christians should be engaging in some sort of crusade for social justice.

.

But as with any thing in Scripture, we are not to take any passage out of context, but we are to compare “spiritual things with spiritual”.

.

Free_Food_Distribution Kolkataw – cropped image – Wikimedia – Free Documentation License

.

.

.

.

.

BREAD OF LIFE

http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-photo/jeastty/3/1303829593/mall-witnessing.jpg/tpod.html.

And as we search out what all this means, we find that feeding the hungry is actually all about sharing the “bread of Life”: sharing Jesus with the world. (see John 6:35)

.

Mall witnessing, Panama City, Panama

.

.

.

.

.

.

CHRIST’S ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

.

And covering the naked actually has to do with covering the spiritually naked with the “garments of Salvation”. (see Isaiah 61:10)

.

Baptized in the Jordan – cropped image – Wikimedia – Licensed

.

.

.

.

.

.

SATAN’S PRISON-HOUSE OF SIN

.

And even though God desires for the Gospel to be preached to those locked up in the world’s prisons, there are multitudes walking about in society who are prisoners of Satan. 

.

.

.

.

.

FOLLOWING PAUL’S GODLY EXAMPLE

.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PaulT.jpg

Take note of Paul’s ministry! Paul’s main focus was on the care of the spiritual needs of the churches. Oh yes, the churches helped out their own, who were poor and weak. 

.

But even more than working for others, Paul knew that the first and foremost ministry was that of his own transformation. Yes, in his own words, Paul exhorts us…

“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss

for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord:

for whom I have suffered the loss of all things,

and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,”

Philippians 3:8

.

Now Paul realized that God had raised him up to be a spiritual role-model. This is why he encouraged Christians thus… “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” 1st Corinthians 1:11

.

Paul the Apostle-Artist-Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier- circa 1500s wikipedia public domain

.

.

.

.

.

“WHO IS ‘THE LEAST OF THESE MY BRETHREN?”

.

And if we really want to get down to the bottom line, the primary objective for the Christian is to loose his (or her) own bands of sin!

.

And yet, there are many who unknowingly place more importance on the physically hungry, and upon the physically thirsty.

.

These have just not sat down and considered how infinitely greater is the gift of eternal life, than any earthly consideration! 

.

This old painting is a very nice attempt to show what all Believers will one day experience when on resurrection morning, they leave this dark world, and enter into life-everlasting!

.

Because if we only give some earthly food and water, that person will eventually die. But if we share the bread of Heaven, and the water of eternal life, as Jesus says… “I am the bread of life: he that comes to Me shall never hunger; and he that believes on Me shall never thirst.” John 6:35

.

ThomasCole-Pilgrim of the Cross at the End of His Journey – wikimedia – US public domain

.

.

.

.

.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prayer_Mother_and_Daughter.jpgTODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Open my eyes to behold wondrous things out of Thy Word. Let my see the spiritual nature of the Bible…

Prayer – Mother and Daughter – Wikipedia – (cropped image) the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

.

.

.

.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svgREAD MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Parable of the Sheep & Goats: The Greatest Gift”, or you can read this shorter version…December 24th (THE GREATEST GIFT!)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

.

.

.

.

 

THE END

.Soldiers of the Cross - Armor-Up!

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

 

.

.

.

.

7 MAJOR STARS OF ORION…

.

Orion Constellation can best be seen all winter (but even in August in the pre-http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:25_Orionis_location.pngdawn hours of morning in eastern skies) traveling east to west through the night, in mid-sky. To find the seven major stars of Orion (one star on each shoulder and one star on each foot, plus the three stars which make his belt), you can locate on just about any clear night regardless of the blackness of the night. To find Orion’s other stars, you need more star-visibility…a darker, moonless night, and possibly away from city lights.

.

Orion – wikimedia – share-alike license

.

.

.

.

.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Orion the Soldier: The Armor of God”

.

.

.

.

.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:6tag_250316-124351.jpgTOMORROW:

“October 21st (‘7 Stars’ Imitate ‘The Cross of Orion’)”

Cross of Jesus Christ – cropped photo – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

.

.

.

.

.

20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

.

ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. 

.

THIS IS STUDY #291 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

.

Harold Camping Jeremiah Series #291

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

.

 

Comments are closed.





Discover more from Signs Of Heaven

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading