Today's Teachings

It is Written by Part 1 by Stephen Simpson

2/19/2019

It Is Written
Dear Friend in Christ:
In these beginning weeks of 2019, the Lord has reminded me of the power of His Word. We hear a lot today about “Fake News”, and there certainly is a lot of that coming at us non-stop from so many different directions. However, my focus is on the Good News given to us in God’s Word, the Holy Bible.

The Bible is our compass, which we are able to read through the grace and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. God’s Word shows us the target and keeps our aim true. When I was a little boy, my mother taught me a short song based on Psalm 119:11, which says: “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”

The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 12:1 that we are not to be conformed to the world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. The Word of God transforms us as we read it, meditate upon it, memorize it, pray it, sing it, share it, and fellowship with the One Who wrote it. Our minds are renewed, our hearts are strengthened, and our behavior is changed; not by external force, but by internal transformation.

LIVING BY THE WORD
Luke 3 shows us Jesus, Who, had just enjoyed an amazing experience being baptized in the Jordan River by his cousin John the Baptist. John prophesied over Jesus and recognized Him as the Messiah. Father God filled Jesus with the Holy Spirit and declared: “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased.”

Life doesn’t get any better than that—to receive your identification and approval directly from the Father! The anointing of the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus like a dove. It was a truly glorious moment!
Out of this wonderful experience recorded in Luke 3, we move into chapter 4:

“Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God’” (Luke 4:1-4).

Jesus was filled with the Spirit and led by the Spirit. So far, so good. He was led by the Spirit … into the wilderness. Wait. What? He was led where? Surely not! The Holy Spirit wouldn’t lead Jesus into the wilderness. Would He? Would the Spirit ever lead me into the wilderness? Or you?

The wilderness is a hostile and barren place. In that vast wilderness where Jesus was, there is no food or water or trees. Temperatures can soar to 120 degrees. There are scorpions there. There’s not a Holiday Inn for miles!

GOS-PILL'S PART 9 BY GENE NORMAN

2/18/2019

GOS-PILLS PART NINE

John 15:1-2 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine dresser. "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
(Father is the caretaker; Jesus is the trunk;we are the branches; Holy Spirit is the sap)
There is only one fruitful life (vine), that is Jesus. I was grafted into that life (vine) and this is called the NEW BIRTH, I received that life that I did not possess before.
NOT CHANGE BUT EXCHANGE = ANOTHER LIFE 2 Corinthians 5:17

John 15:26 "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds (out) from the Father,He will testify of Me.John 17:8 "For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely thatI came forth (out) from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.
John 16:27-30 "for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that
I came forth (out) from God."I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father." His disciples said to Him, "See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! "Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe thatYou came forth (out) from God."
John 17:3 "And this is eternal life, that they may knowYou, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (the word know speaks of intimacy.....into me see)Genesis 4:1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived
John 17:9-10 "I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours."And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them.
John 6:44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him;
John 6:65 And He said, "Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father."
Acts 13:48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
John 19:34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. (out of Jesus' side, the church was born)
Just as God opened Adam's side and from the rib He gave him a wife.
John 20:16-17 Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'"(He had to go up to present His blood as payment for sin, then He returned and appeared to the disciples and others)
John 20:27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing."
(seeing is not believing – believing is seeing)

Immigration Policy

2/17/2019

Good Morning !!!   "Heaven has a wall, a gate and a strict immigration policy.
Hell has open borders. Let that sink in." (Mac's Weekly Quote; Reggy McDaniel)...

Love U !!!               Be the Gospel !!!

GOS-PILL'S PART 7 BY GENE NORMAN

2/15/2019

GOS-PILL PART SEVEN

John 10:10 "The thief (Satan) does not come except to steal (the seed of the word sown in you) , and to kill (the vision you have received), and to destroy (the harvest you might obtain). (But) I (Jesus) have come that they may have life (not just meagerly), and that they may have it more abundantly (and satisfying).

John 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
2It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.
John 14:2 "In My Father's house are many mansions; (the actual word is rooms or dwellings) if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place (make room) for you.

3....that where I AM (present tense), there you may be also.
John 3:13 "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. John 17:24 "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me Ephesians 2:6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, John 7:34 "You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come."
35.. the Jews said..., "Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him?
36 "What is this that He said, 'You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come'?"
(even though He was walking on earth He spoke of Himself as being in heaven)

John 14:15-17 "If you love Me, keep My commandments. "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- "the Spirit of truth,. whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you (now) and will be in you (later).John 15:26 "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me
John 16:13 "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come,

John 14:21 "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."
(The ability to know and obey His word is born out of Love for Him. Loving Jesus is connected to being loved by Father. Out of that comes a revealing of who He truly is. I AM

John 14:22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?"
(eyes to see are given to those who have ears to hear)
2 Kings 6:17 And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
John 14:30 "I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. (there was no lust in Jesus....but we cannot say that)
James 1:14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires (lust.

GOS-PILLS PART 6 BY GENE NORMAN

2/14/2019

GOS-PILLS PART SIX
John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
LIFE is the sum of activity that resists death (which is coming to the point that one can be no weaker)
LIGHT is the entity that makes vision possible.

Verses 6-34 Are the phases of spiritual growth: Each one take time.
1 INFORMATION; 5-10, ILLUMINATION; 11-13 INSPIRATION; 14-18 REVELATION;
24-27 REALIZATION; 29 TRANSFORMATION; 33-34 MANIFESTATION

John 3:1-5... Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews... came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, ..You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."
Jesus said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see (perceive, know, understand) the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water (baptism as a result of salvation) and the (Baptism in the Holy) Spirit, he cannot enter (be a part of) the kingdom of God.

6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh (natural), and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (supernatural)

John 3:16 &18 Jesus is the ONLY BEGOTTEN SON of Father, we who are born again are ADOPTED SONS AND DAUGHTERS by the process of the new birth.

John 6:19-21 After feeding the 5000 Jesus sent the disciples in a boat to Capernaum. There was a storm on the sea and they had only rowed about 3 or 4 miles. Then Jesus came walking on the water and they were afraid. He said, 'Do not be afraid, I AM' he used the name of God. Then something quite interesting happened. IMMEDIATELY the boat was at the land where they were going. Remember the sea is about 10 miles across and they had only rowed about 4 miles, a miracle right?
John 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.(Jesus Words are Spirit Words and Life Words)
Psalm 119:50..... For Your word has given me life.

John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide (live or dwell) in My word, you are My disciples indeed (this is an action word).
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth (that you really know because you live in it) shall make you free.”

John 8:44 ... the devil,....was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. Hate is the seed of murder.

Gos-pills Part 5 by Gene Norman

2/13/2019

GOS-PILLS PART FIVE

Luke 9:10-17 The disciples were concerned about the people getting home to eat but Jesus said to them, in verse 13, 'You give them something to eat.' Why did he say this? Verses 1-6 gives us the answer. He had sent them out preaching the kingdom with power and authority to heal and cast out demons, so in this instance he expected them to use that same power to feed these people, but their faith failed.
The second interesting note is after Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish and fed the people he told the disciples to take up the fragments and they gathered 12 baskets full. Question, where did the baskets come from, I doubt that these people were carrying empty baskets with them. This too was a miracle.

Luke 11:9-10 An acronym: Ask Seek Knock = ASK
Luke 11:20 "if I cast out demons with the finger of God, sure the kingdom of God has come upon you. Exodus 8:19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God. "Ex. 31:18 And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.
Luke 12:31 "But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,
and all these things shall be added to you.

Luke 14:11 " whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Luke 15:11-32 The prodigal or lost son: His first attitude was 'GIVE ME' then after he lost all that he had 'HE CAME TO HIMSELF' and his attitude changed to 'MAKE ME'

Luke 16:19-31 This is not a parable because Jesus gave the name of the beggar, Lazarus. The rich man died and went to Hades/Hell but the beggar died and went to Abraham's bosom which was Paradise.
Ephesians 4:8-10 Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men." (Now this, "He ascended" --what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
1Peter 3:19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison,
1Peter 4:6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

Luke 17:5-6 And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith. "So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Mark 11:22 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. (The God kind of Faith)
Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."
(To forgive is to give up my right to hurt/harm the one who hurt/harm me)

Luke 24:36-49 As Jesus appeared to the disciples in the room, they thought Him to be a spirit/ghost.
He said to them, Why are you troubled or fearful? Look at my hands and my feet, it is Me, Jesus.
Touch my hands and you will see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have. He did not mention blood because the blood is the life of the flesh. But this was a glorified body. He could eat and drink, yet move through doors without opening them. As He shared the scriptures with them He opened their understanding so they could comprehend.

Luke 24:49 Then He said, "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." (The Holy Spirit)
Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

God-Pills Part 2 by Gene Norman

2/12/2019

GOS-PILLS PART TWO

All the parables that Jesus spoke were about the kingdom

Matthew 13:11 He told his disciples and it extends to us as well, 'it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven...'
Mystery comes from the Greek word Musterion which speaks of groups, orginazations or clubs in which the rules and happenings within are known only to the members.
The Kingdom of Heaven is a Musterion according to Jesus' words in John 3:3-5...
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Matthew 13:12-15 "For whoever has (ears to hear), to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have (ears to hear), even what he (thinks he) has will be taken away from him. "Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. (none is so blind as he who will not see) "And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: 'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.'
(these folks in the O.T., had a disease known as, 'stubborn refusal to hear'

13:18-23 the four soils are: Turn Row = a hard heart; Stoney Ground = hurtful words, memories;
Thorny Ground = distractions, lust for things; Good Soil = a broken and contrite heart, humble

16:6 The leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducee's was Hyprocy / they did not live what they taught.
Pharisees believed in spiritual beings and resurrection...while Sadducees did not.
Luke 12:1, He began to say, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
1Corinthians 5:6 Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
17:5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"
(this is the Shekinah Glory
Acts 5:15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. (Shekinah)
19:28 So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Revelation 4:10 the 24 elders...casting their crowns....would seem to be 12 for Jews; 12 for gentiles

23:23 Justice = to discern the matter fairly; Mercy = to relieve from punishment through forgiveness;
Faith = trust in God by relationship, to believe what you cannot see will come to pass

24:2 This scripture fulfilled in AD 70, by the Roman General Titus

GOS-PILLS PART 1 BY GENE NORMAN

2/11/2019

GOS-PILLS PART ONE

Matthew 1:3-6 Four questionable women found in the linage of Jesus.
Tamar, the daughter in law of Judah, whose great, great, great, great, great grandson was SalmonSalmon marriedRahab, the harlot of Jericho who protected the spy's and their son was BoazBoaz marriedRutha Moabite, the daughter in law of Naomi and their son was Obed
Obed was the father of Jesse who was the father of David the beloved king of Judah/Israel.
David seducedBathshebathe wife of Uriah whom he had killed in battle, then married Bathsheba
Their son was Solomon;
22 births later came Joseph who would marry Mary the mother of Jesus
Matthew 1:17 So all the generations from Abraham to David arefourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon arefourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ arefourteen generations. 14 x 3 = 42 (a total of 560 years) a generation = 40 years, 40 x 42 = 1680 years
From Adam to the Flood = 2000 years; Flood to Abram = 290; Abram to Christ = 1680; Jesus life = 30;
Jesus until now 2000 years; a total of 6000 years.

Matthew 2:1-12 The wise men or Magi were not at the stable or cave when Jesus was born. As they followed the Star, they came to Herod first then traveled to Nazareth where they found living in a house, verse 11, some two years later, see verse 16. Luke does not mention them in his account.

Chapter 3:2 John the Baptist began his ministry saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand'
Chapter 4:17 Jesus began his ministry saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand'
Jesus only preached the kingdom in all he said for three years.

Chapter 4:1-11 Jesus in the wilderness was tempted with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life; just as Eve was tempted with these same three things. Also, you and I are tempted with these same things according to 1John 2:15-16.

Chapter 5:12 ...for great is your reward in heaven... Five Crowns as rewards:
1Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, orcrown of rejoicing?2Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me thecrown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive thecrown of lifewhich the Lord has promised to those who love Him.1Peter 5:4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive thecrown of glorythat does not fade away.Revelation 2:0 "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you thecrown of life.
A Series of Two's in Matthew:
5:13 Two realms of reality = Light and Darkness
5:43 Two responses to your enemies = Love and Hate
6:5-6 Two kinds of prayer: the ones heard by others or the ones heard by God
6:14-15 Two results: if you forgive others Father will forgive you or if you don't forgive Father will not
6:19-21 Two locations for your treasures: in heaven or on earth
6:22-23 Two views of life: God's view with understanding or a human view through ignorance
6:25-30 Two models of life: worry = fear or trust = faith
6:31-34 Two types of people: unbelievers who seek after worldly things or believers seeking God
7:13-14 Two gates: the broad gate for the many who go in by it or the narrow for the few that find it
7:18-19 Two trees: the good that bears good fruit or the bad that bears bad fruit
7:21-23 Two relationships: those known by the Lord or those He never knew
7:24-27 Two foundations: on the rock – wise or one the sand – foolish
13:18-23 Two kinds of soil: unprepared – turn row, rocks and clods, filled with thorns or good soil

Only two people did Jesus attribute Great Faith to:
8:5-13 The Centurion a man both in authority and under authority, who asked for healing for his servant. He faith statement was, 'Only speak a word and my servant will be healed.' Jesus replied, 'I not found suchgreat faith, not even in Israel.'The Centurion was a gentile.15:21-28 The woman from Canaan,also a gentile,asked for crumbs when Jesus put her off, the he healed her saying, 'O woman,great is your faith.
10:7-8 Four facets of the Kingdom of God: Heal the sick; cleanse the lepers; raise the dead; cast out demons.

11:21 Three cities that Jesus cursed because they did not repent: Chorazin; Bethsaaida; Capernaum.

11:25 Worldly wise verses Childlike faith

12:28-30 Deliverance: By the Spirit of God; Mark 3:27; Luke 11:22; 1John 4:4

12:31-32 The Unpardonable Sin: Mark 3:28-30; Luke 12:10; 1John 5:16
Blasphemy is to criticize and malign the Holy Spirit and he workings

12:33-37 Our lives, just like a tree, will be known by the fruit that we bear.
Out of the abundance of the heart/soul the mouth speaks – James 3:6; Proverbs 16:23
For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

"The Blessing of Accountability" Part 3 by Charles Simpson

2/10/2019

The Blessings of Accountability

REIGNING IN LIFE
How can we restore order to our own world and influence the world around us? How did we lose order? We lost order and peace when we lost our sense of accountability. Adam and Eve’s decision to be “as god” did not prevent a visit from the true God who asked, “Adam, where are you?” He didn’t ask because He didn’t know where Adam was. He asked because Adam didn’t know.

We can regain order by regaining our sense of accountability to God. Of course, we must deal with our sin and past failure to be accountable. Thank God, He sent His Son to be our offering for sin and to reconcile us to Himself.
Romans 5:17 tells us that Adam lost his ability to rule because of disobedience, but through Christ’s obedience, we have received His righteousness by faith, and that through Him we will reign in life. We can still rule our lives and God’s gifts to us, if we are reconciled to the true owner. We can even increase our resources if we are diligent to obey and understand that we must give an account.

His government produces righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. It puts things right, brings peace, and allows us to enter His joy by being productive. His government allows us to avoid the trouble caused by our own ways, and focus on the productivity of His ways.

Accountability is not a bad thing to be feared, unless of course you despise the true owner. It is a good thing. It is a good thing for children to be accountable to parents, for Christians to be accountable to leaders, for business and professional people to be accountable, and for political leaders as well. I believe that even the media ought to be accountable to some judgement.

PRINCE OF PEACE
Jesus is the Prince of Peace (see Isaiah 9:6; John 14:27; John 16:33; Acts 10:36). His government in our lives brings us peace – peace with God and the peace of God. The apostle Paul states, “Let the peace of God reign in your hearts.” Inner peace is a major evidence of our peace with Him and our willingness, even gladness, to be accountable.
God is good and His mercy is everlasting. Failing is not fatal if we take it to Him. Failing to acknowledge Him will be fatal, ultimately. A wrong attitude toward God – thinking that He is “a hard master” – is the beginning of trouble. Believing that He loves us and is there to help us is the beginning of progress.

So, what is the greatest gift that He has given? Without a doubt, it is the gift of eternal life and the ability to share it with someone else. And how are we doing with that stewardship? He will ask us that one day. I hope it will be a joyful experience. Anti-God people are active; we cannot afford to be asleep.

In Christ,

Charles Simpson

"The Blessing of Accountability" Part 2 by Charles Simpson

2/9/2019

The Blessings of Accountability

ANTI-GOD
The “accountability avoidance syndrome” began in heaven of all places. Lucifer was lifted up in pride. He was one of three archangels. He decided to lead a coup in heaven. He had not created – he was only a “manager” – but he sought to replace the Creator. He lost. (See Isaiah 14:9-15; Ezekiel 28:11-17; Revelation 20:1-3).

When Lucifer was cast out of heaven, he continued his mutinous crusade on earth and suggested that humanity could be god. He successfully planted his seed in the hearts of our earliest parents. Ironically, many people who deny the biblical account nevertheless prove its point; we as humans want to be “god.”

The war against God is a cosmic struggle which we find ourselves born into and dying because of. Between birth and death, this war has devastated untold lives. Why are so many people so determined to replace God? No doubt many are simply ignorant and blind to the consequences. Others do so because they refuse to be accountable. They want to take the gifts of God and use them however they choose. They “stomp” on them.

In the beginning, God created everything – then created mankind to manage what He had made (see Genesis 1:26-28; Psalm 8:6). The problem that many of us have is that when we discover or receive something, we act as though we created it. In order to deny our accountability, we deny the true Owner, deny that it was a gift, and then misuse it.
We have received much, both from God and the faithful stewards who preceded us. Jesus said, “Unto whom much is given, much is required” (Luke 12:48). He reinforced this reality through direct teaching and numerous parables. Americans in particular have a tremendous responsibility to God, the Owner, and to our forefathers.

The Bible begins with Creation and delegation, and ends with accountability. This is an amazing sequence as we realize many different people wrote the Bible over a period of approximately 1500 years. They all upheld the principles of God’s ownership and man’s stewardship accountability.

It is significant that France gave us Great Reformers such as Calvin and the Huguenots, and also the so-called “Enlightenment.” It is also significant that the Reformers had to leave France and many were killed. The leaders of the Enlightenment, who denied God and accountability, were idolized. Both streams – Reformation and the Enlightenment – run through American history as well. Fortunately, up until now, the Reformation has had the greatest influence.
When it comes to recognizing God, there is no difference between Communism and the Enlightenment. In fact, the Enlightenment created the environment for Communism. They both deny God and enthrone humanity.

My wife and I were recently the guests of Paul Petrie, a close friend. With his help, we were able to meet with the leader of a European nation that had been under Soviet control. He told us that one-third of his nation had been lost; one-fourth had died, due to Communist brutality, and the rest had fled.

Estimates of lives lost worldwide due to Communism run from 50-100 million, far more than those lost to the evils of Nazism.

The evidence is overwhelming that efforts to run society without God, and without accountability, are worse than futile; they are brutal. This is true of nations and individuals. But from the Garden of Eden to the great Judgement Day, accountability is an inescapable principle.

What has the “You can be a god” idea cost us? Consider the lawbreaker, the corporate thief, the tyrant who tortures his own people, and their enablers who advocate “no sin, no fault” philosophies. Consider the broken families and casualties of them. What has the loss of accountability cost us?

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