Author name: godlybro

Genesis 1:11, 21, 24-25, 28-29 (ESV),  11 “And God said, ‘Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.’ … 21 So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. … 24 And God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds–livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.’ … 25 And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. … 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them (Adam and Eve), ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’ 29 And God said, ‘Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.’” In Genesis, God designed all living organisms (plants and animals) to reproduce according to their “kind.” The Bible does not define the word “kind” in a classification system. However, organisms can be interbred and reproduce according to their “kind” if they are biologically related through a common ancestor. God seems to approve of interbreeding within kinds. How do we know? Wheat was not in the Garden of Eden. Man selectively interbred primitive wheat to promote specific traits and to make wheat useful for food. Jesus gave us the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares. Wheat symbolizes true Christians. Dogs were not in Eden. Man again selectively interbred canines to create large numbers of dog breeds. The unique dog breeds can successfully reproduce dogs according to their kinds. However, when a horse and a donkey breed, the resulting offspring, the mule, is sterile. Thus, God has put a natural limit on what traits mankind may select for. But, this is not genetic engineering. Since the Bible does not directly address your question, let us reason on the topic. The increase of knowledge (Daniel 12:4) brought people information about genes and genetic engineering. This can create problems. When genes are changed, we do not know all the unintended impacts the changes will have on the living plant or animal. Genetic codes which scientists once thought were unimportant seem to have distinct purposes. We believe mankind does not yet have enough knowledge to tinker with God’s design on the genetic level.

Actually, for the Christian, the thought is in the Bible. 1 Corinthians 10:13: (NET) “No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.” God permits Christians to be tried in order to promote the fruits of righteousness. The Apostle James wrote, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4 (NKJV) God is always with you. “The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.” (Psalm 34:7 NKJV) Let this knowledge enlarge our confidence and faith. We realize that earthly powers may oppose us. While in our own strength, we may be truly powerless to resist our adversaries. And in addition to human adversaries, Christians battle with spiritual wickedness in exalted places – against Satan and his minions of darkness (Ephesians 6:12). However, on the other hand, “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)  All the heavenly hosts obey the divine will and may be employed according to divine wisdom. Hebrews 13:5-6: (NKJV) “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’”   We offer a free PDF of scriptural promises with comments.  There are thousands of precious promises in the Bible that provide “how to” lessons on real joy, unbreakable peace, lasting fellowship, transformative patience, clear guidance and ever-depending trust.

It’s the ability to control one’s emotions and desires, especially in difficult or tempting situations. For example, it’s almost dinner time but you’re thinking about cookies. Eating a lot of cookies now will spoil your meal, as well as give you a stomachache. Someone with self-control would not eat the cookies and instead wait for their healthy dinner. Exercising self-control helps our Christian characters. Our first emotion might be anger if someone does something wrong, but with self-control, we might pause and consider being more kind and understanding – because all of us make mistakes. Proverbs (16:32, NKJ) says, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty. And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” Christians also use self-control to manage their time, possibly giving up things that might bring temporary enjoyment, in exchange for activities that are much more rewarding in the long run. Examples could be spending less time on social media and more time in prayer…less time playing video games and more time reading the Bible and memorizing scriptures. In biblical times, cities defended themselves from outside attacks by building strong, high walls. Proverbs (25:28, NLT) says, “A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.” This means that without self-control, our defenses are down, leaving openings for Satan’s attacks. Those attacks certainly did not work on Jesus and his superior self-control when he was tempted by Satan three times in the wilderness. (See Matthew 4:1-11) Jesus combated every one of Satan’s statements with the scriptures and his strength of character. He is such an excellent example to us! So, what is self-control? It’s the ability to control our emotions and desires, especially in difficult or tempting situations. Negative emotions can overtake us – like jealousy, impatience and selfishness. We can also be robbed of our time if we fill our days with empty activities that don’t strengthen our relationship with God and Jesus. Let’s ask God to help us build up our self-control – our imaginary city walls – so that we can remain strong in our devotion to living godly lives.

Turn to our loving Heavenly Father for comfort. For “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (NIV) God loves you tenderly. He is always there for you. The World of Mankind Every single human being suffers with trials and tribulations. For the majority of the world, these painful experiences are teaching man the consequences of disobeying God – the results of sin. But this does NOT necessarily mean that a grievous experience is the result of our own sins. God is permitting evil to abound now, so that in the Kingdom, people will be glad to experience the peaceable, love, and blessings of God’s righteous will. Adam and Eve did not appreciate the horrors of sin. But in the Kingdom, everyone will have directly experienced the awful results and no one will need to convince them that sin brings sorrow. However, for the consecrated Christian, suffering transforms our characters into Christ-likeness. The Apostle James wrote that Christians should be glad to receive these trials. James 1:2-4 (NKJV), 2 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” Finally, we embrace these two wonderful promise, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him …”2 Timothy 2:12 (KJV). [Rom 8:17 KJV] 17 “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Romans 8:17 (KJV) How can I find meaning or purpose for my life? The highest eternal purpose in life is to live for God. Footstep followers of Jesus would have the same purpose Jesus had. “For this purpose I was born, and for this purpose I have come into the world–to give testimony for the truth…”  John 18:37 (Weymouth) Jesus summed up every intelligent beings’ purpose when He said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27 (KJV)

Yes, this is the time when all that was lost through Adam’s sin will have been fully restored to holy perfection. Then Christ will have completed the work of atonement. He will have accomplished the following: The New Covenant will have been sealed with Jesus’s precious blood opening redemption to all. The Little Flock of saints will have become joint-heirs with Christ and will be resurrected with the divine nature. (2 Peter 2:9,10; Titus 2:14; Romans 8:29) The reconciliation, the full restoration (Acts 3:20-22), of an earth full of perfect, happy human beings will be complete. This restitution will be on God’s terms: humanity will be fully instructed (Isaiah 11:9) in righteousness and self-control, and completely loyal to God. They will have the spirit of holiness and possess it’s blessed fruits – meekness, patience, kindness, godliness – love. All opposing God’s righteous, those whose influence would not be beneficial to others nor a glory to God, will have been judged unworthy of life. They will die the second death, meaning non-existence. Thus the world will be fully restored to God’s favor (as was Adam before he sinned), but they will have had a most valuable experience with evil. They will have learned a lesson on the sinfulness of sin (Romans 7:13), and the wisdom, profit and desirableness of righteousness. People will possess greater knowledge and a wider development of their abilities than had Adam. This lesson will also profit the holy angels, who will have witnessed God’s Justice, Love, Wisdom, and Power in a way which they could not have conceived possible. Finally, this lesson will stand eternally and will be applicable to other races yet uncreated on other planets of the wide universe. What will be the center of the story as it shall be told throughout all eternity?  It will be the story of the great ransom finished at Calvary and of the atonement based upon Jesus’s sacrifice. This will forever demonstrate God’s Love and Justice are exactly equal

The binding of Satan is a process. Consider Revelation 20:1-2, “And I saw an angel (Jesus) come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,…” Verse 2 shows there are different dimensions to Satan’s evil control. Presently, the Lord is working to destroy (bind) the unjust governments, blasphemous church systems, unequal social systems, and greedy economic powers. How does this process work? When Jesus returned He brought a great increase of knowledge (Daniel 12:4) and these truths are opening men’s eyes to liberty, equality, righteousness, justice, and love which is God’s plan for all mankind. This knowledge (along with Christ fighting and binding Satan in spiritual dimensions) is causing people to clamor for their rights. As is evident, discontent, wars, and even anarchy are spreading around the world. This will grow until Satan’s old order destroys itself. Satan will be completely bound at the end of Armageddon. What acts need to be accomplished before Satan is fully bound? Israel must be reestablished as a nation. Jesus gave the Parable of the Fig Tree in Luke 22:29-32. The fig tree (Israel) and all the trees (dependent colonies of powerful nations) must shoot forth leaves (begin to show life as independent countries) before the full summer of Christ’s kingdom reign is operational. The seven last symbolic plagues of Revelation 16 occur over a period of time. The glorified Christ (Jesus having returned to Earth with His Bride) brings about the final destruction of Babylon in Armageddon. Again, when Satan’s order is destroyed, Satan is bound. Revelation 19:11, 14, 19 (NKJV), 11 “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He (Jesus) judges and makes war. … 14 And the armies (the glorified saints) in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. … 19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.” At Jesus’s return, Satan’s evil kingdom battles our Lord until Christ overcomes Satan (Satan is bound). Then Christ fully establishes God’s kingdom. “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set (a process) up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed…” Daniel 2:44.

Persecution is grievous and painful. Persecution comes from those who do not love righteousness. In fact, the persecutors hate righteousness. They walk in darkness. 1 John 2:11 (NKJV), “But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” What should a Christian’s attitude be when persecuted? Matthew 5:11-12 (NKJV), “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” When we are persecuted, it is an evidence that we are living to honor God and His righteous principles. Then take comfort knowing that God will reward you in heaven for your righteous obedience to His will. Matthew 5:44-45 (NKJV), “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” It is very hard to love (agapé) people who are hurting you. This love is not a tender, sweet love. Agapé love is a decision to do good to someone no matter what this person does. Romans 12:14, 17 (NKJV), 14 “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. … 17 Repay no one evil for evil…” Christians are not to seek vengeance. We are to submit to the persecution and run to God for comfort, wisdom, and strength. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NKJV), “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” We always remember to “…count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4 (NKJV)

John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin. John’s mission was to prepare the hearts of the Jewish people to turn toward Jesus and his teachings. He did this by urging them to repent, (meaning, feel sincere regret) for their sins, to change, and to return to their nation’s special relationship with God. Baptism is a symbolic act, where a person is gently lowered backward into water and then quickly raised out of it. Being baptized by John was an outward symbol that showed a person felt sincerely sorry for their sins. It publicly showed a turning away from sin, and the return to a state of holiness and devotion to God. But Jesus was not a sinner. Hebrews says he is (7:26, Good News Translation) “…holy; he has no fault or sin in him; he has been set apart from sinners…” A baptism of repentance for sins would not have been appropriate in his case. Jesus was baptized to symbolize his willingness to die as a ransom for Adam, so that all people may have an opportunity to live again in God’s future kingdom. In addition, he gave an example for us to follow – we are to turn away from the world’s sinful ways and begin a new spiritual life with a full devotion to doing God’s will until death. Matthew (3:16, 17 English Standard Version) says, “And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and…the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and…a voice from heaven said, ‘This is My beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.’” When it says “the heavens were opened to him,” we understand it to mean Jesus received a new, spiritual understanding or awareness. He would need this information in order to carry out his ministry exactly as God wanted. So, why was Jesus baptized? To symbolize his willingness to die for the sins of the world as a ransom for Adam, as well as to give us an example to follow – we are to turn away from sin and devote our lives to doing the will of God. This video is from Christian Questions Podcast. For more information please go to https://christianquestions.com

Summary: “For still the vision (of Christ’s kingdom) awaits its time; it hastens to the end–it will not lie. If it seem slow, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay.” Habakkuk 2:3 (RSV) Discussion: The work of God is not suffering or failing. God’s work is succeeding! Isaiah 55:9, 11 (NIV), 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. … 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Right now God is working to complete the Bride of Christ. And after almost 2,000 years, the Church is almost complete! Another aspect of God’s work is demolishing the present unjust, unrighteous world systems. Christ is in charge of destroying the old order so that He can establish God’s loving, righteous and just kingdom on Earth. Remember the Lord’s prayer? “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven.” These evil systems, run by unseen evil demons, are fighting to stay in power. They are fighting against Christ and His Church. That is why we see so much trouble. Revelation 19:11, 14, 19 (NKJV), 11 “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. … 14 And the armies (saints) in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. … 19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.” However, the Bible assures us that Christ will be victorious. Psalm 46:10 (NKJV), “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” This is when the vision of Habakkuk 2:3 will be fulfilled! Soon, Christ will bring the times of restoration (Acts 3:20-21). He will give everyone the opportunity to be restored to sonship with God and to live in perfection, righteousness, and everlasting joy (Isaiah 35). Psalms 67:2,4, 6-7 (NKJV), 2 “That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. … 4 Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You shall judge the people righteously, And govern the nations on earth… 6 Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, our own God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us, And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.”

Matthew 13:55, 56, “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? So, Jesus had four half-brothers and at least two half-sisters. These children were the fruitage of Joseph’s and Mary’s marriage.