Category: Word of God

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Conflict between the worldly religious and the spiritually faithful

According to social norm and practice, as well as political common sense and the art of war, this post that I write today might suggest to some that I am vulnerable to criticism. That opinion would be very wrong; however, concern for that opinion forming almost caused me not to write about a topic that I have considered all week. My fear of misjudgment by silly people is non-existent because I am very confident that the LORD God has caused me to consider these things, and moved me to share them with my Christian brothers and sisters.

Every post and every opinion I share with others on the Internet is signed by me. I don’t hide behind the name “anonymous” and I don’t waffle back and forth between popular ideas and the Word of God. Every study that Becker Bible Studies teachers and authors have ever written is supported by Bible verse for each point. Every blog written by me may well expose a candor, urgency, timeliness, pithiness, controversy; but it also is my thoughts shared as truthfully as I can with as much explanation as can be offered.

One thing is certain in the world of blogging and in the practice of religion. Some will be offended. The sharing of belief often challenges others to defend their own. Sometimes this challenge is too difficult to undertake. Those who have difficulty in rationally thinking about their stand, those who base their spiritual beliefs on social and popular worldly opinion, those who hide behind the signature of “Anonymous”, those who strive to force all people to believe and practice their religion as “one world,” those are the people who are going to BE IN CONFLICT with both me and the Word of God.

Every spiritually Faithful Christian is as different from every worldly religious Person, as the Word of God is as different to a “Movie of the Week.” One is real, and one is pretend.

The spiritually Faithful strive daily to get it right and to walk the walk with Jesus Christ, according to the Word of God. They form opinion and ideas based on that Word and boldly declare the Word of God as He moves them to share. The spiritually Faithful support their opinions with His Word, and maintain a public and open accountability for all to see.

The worldly Religious strive to conform daily to worldly ways. They walk the walk of the carnal, and project an openness and acceptance with all popular ideas and mediums. They form opinion on things they have been told by others and viciously attack those who do not conform to their ways. Their opinions are spoken with practiced speech with their worldly peers. Worldly Religious often maintain an “Anonymous” presence, so they can attack again and again without accountability for their own actions.

How easy it must be to be a worldly Christian in secret! How uncomplicated it would be for all believers to believe the same things! Where accountablity was never needed, where thoughts and ideas were formed by some religious leadership, and dictated through popular beliefs of the time!

This week, a worldly Religious Annonymous wrote me a letter. The writer had been offended by one of my blog posts, and proceeded to viciously attack my ministry, my spirit and my beliefs. As all who write things on the Internet every day know, the attack was not a big deal; it is a product of the outspoken worldly, who want their beliefs to take precedence over all others, who want their actions to control those who dare to stand above them.

But this writer did something that I had never seen done before. “Annonymous” attacked every work that we had done for the LORD God, judged us guilty of heresy, and promised to pray for us that night which takes me to the point of this whole discourse.

We strive daily to do the Works the LORD God would have us to do. Every spiritually Faithful Christian does the same thing as we do and try to accomplish those things that He Wills. Our focus is always on His Way, and we try to produce great works that will survive the test of fire, and in the end, glorify Him.

What happens when a worldly religious person prays against a spiritually faithful person? Certainly, the LORD God is not going to punish the Faithful who are doing His Works according to His Will, that brings anger to the worldly religious. I am also certain that He is not going to change the Faithful’s beliefs to match that of the worldly Religious. Would my Father God or Lord Jesus Christ get angry at the presumption of the prayers of condemnation by the Religious? Would my Father punish them for their attacks against His Works? Would my Father even hear their feeble prayers?

I don’t know.

But this I know for certain…When we pray to the Omnipotent, Omniscient, Holy and Powerful LORD God, it is probably wise of each of us to make sure we know what we are praying for and focused on His Will and Ways. I have a feeling deep inside my soul, that to attack the good Things that He has established with the venom filled outrage of the worldly religious, will not bode well.

So, to display the love that Christ demands from me, I am not going to publish the foolish and ugly Anonymous letter. I am hoping that the writer was merely using practiced speech in an attempt to gain control, and was not seriously contemplating attacking the works of our ministry to the LORD God

I don’t know exactly how my Father would respond, but I am confident of this: He is very proud of me and every spiritually Faithful Christian who walks the walk of Jesus Christ every day in full view of the world, and if I were advising Anonymous, I’d tell him to sit back down and hide.

Kathy L. McFarland, MDiv.

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Soldier in the Army of God (Unknown Author)

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me. Isaiah 6:8

I am a soldier in the army of my God. The Lord Jesus Christ is my commanding officer. The Holy Bible is my code of conduct. Faith, prayer, and the Word are my weapons of warfare.

I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity, and tested by fire.

I am a volunteer in this army, and I am enlisted for eternity.

I will either retire in this army at the rapture or die in this army; but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out. I am faithful, reliable, capable and dependable.

If my God needs me, I am there. If He needs me in Sunday school, to teach the children, work with the youth, help adults or just sit and learn He can use me because I am there!

I am a soldier; I am not a baby. I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up, picked up or pepped up. I am a soldier. No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me, or lure me. I am a soldier. I am not a wimp.

I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name, and building His kingdom! No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy or give me handouts. I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for or catered to. I am committed. I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around. I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside. I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.

When Jesus called me into this army, I had nothing. If I end up with nothing, I will still come out ahead. I will win. My God has and will continue to supply all of my needs. I am more than a conqueror. I will always triumph. I can do all things through Christ. Devils cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me. Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop me. Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me.

Governments cannot silence me and hell cannot handle me. I am a soldier. Even death cannot destroy me. For when my commander calls me from this battlefield, He will promote me to Captain and then allow me to rule with Him.

I am a soldier in the army, and I am marching claiming victory. I will not give up. I will not turn around. I am a soldier, marching heaven bound. Here I stand! I will not turn around.

Will you stand with me?

Kathy L. McFarland, MDiv.

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What will they think of us on the New Earth?

As all of you dedicated Bible students know, at some point in the LORD God’s Timing and Will, the old earth and old Heaven will come to an end, and a New Earth established under the rule of Jesus Christ. Oh what a glorious life that will be when every law and judgment is righteous, and our neighbors are loving Him as much as we do!

It will be an exciting time, when all of the people who are judged worthy to continue life, began to occupy the new Earth. Sometimes, when the burdens of this life seem especially heavy, I think about that new life, when faithful people from all time periods on this earth will gather together and began forming that new and different life in the presence of the One we love.

How cool will that be? Imagine what it will be like when different century people come together and share perspectives from their place of life and growth. When the strong, 19th century frontier men and women, share their steadfast courage and adventurous nature with the 20th century manager of machines and goals…..When the 17th century founders of theological thought mix with the 20th century feel good practitioners of religious abandonment….When the Apostles who walked with Christ live next to those who barely survived the tumultuous times of the End Days…When all the different time periods of God’s people gather together to worship and praise His Grace, and to establish cities and towns, and to make ways of life and patterns of developing according to the Truths they know.

I wonder if there will be different cities for the 14th century explorers and artists, and others for the 20th century advanced race. Will some gatherings of people have a slower life pacing, than others? Common sense suggests that groups will gather among like kinds, and known by the traits that differ from other groups; that’s human nature, isn’t it?

What will our 20th century End Times people be known for? Will they marvel at our intelligence, and our mechanical skills, our abilities to multi-task, to drive at speeds unknown by most of the human race until now? Will the people of old seek us out to learn new things, or will they kindly walk past us in search of slower and more predictable people? Will they find our learned actions vulgar in spite of our righteousness? Will they try to emulate us, or try to teach us their ways of life?

What habits have we formed as a result of living today, that will one day identify us to others. Will our men be thought effeminate, and our women aggressive and unbecomingly bold? Will our animated actions picked up from our televisions and the jerks and poses of our hip hop culture, translate to be tagged a people with exaggerated and untrustworthy affects?

Will we slow down to the pace of most other century people, or will they strive to speed up and learn the things of technology and knowledge? Will they share their skills of plowing with us, as we share our language of computers with them? Will they stick with riding the horse, as we zip around in the newest developments, or will we all choose to walk where we have to go?

Will our contact with the people of God from all times, stir us to greater heights of worship and praise? Will our lives have more even more meaning when the rich tapestry of His Creation gathers together in His Presence and shares the things each knows?

I don’t know.

But I do know one thing. The day when the New Earth is established and the New Jerusalem with Jesus Christ on His Throne governs with righteousness for all to see, will be one of the most glorious and hoped for events I have ever thought about in anticipation. As I am meeting my brothers and sisters in Christ from all times and places, I am certain that we all will play an important role in each of our lives, as we began our new life walking in the Way and Will of the LORD God. I can hardly wait!

Kathy L. McFarland, MDiv

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:1-8 AV)

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Heaven will Dissolve with Fire!

One of the biggest tricks that Satan has established in the world is to confuse the Word of God, and allow the common men of the the world to define Heaven. Satan did this in an effort to prevent people from ever feeling the need to walk toward the LORD God, bow their knee, accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, or be baptized in Christ and the Holy Spirit

The trick is perpetuated on unsuspecting worldly people, by making them believe that Heaven is for everyone that is good, and that it will be the dwelling place of all good people for eternty. Heaven is falsely purported to be the final place where all of your wishes are granted to you, and Christianity is defined as one who is “good enough to get to Heaven”.

Heaven nor Christianity is not what the world believes it to be.

Heaven is the current home to the LORD God and all of His Spirits, Jesus Christ, the resurrected faithful Christians, and angels. Heaven is not going to last forever. There is going to be a new Heaven established when the New Earth is established. The current Heaven will dissolve with fire and come to an end, as things are reordered and renewed, and those who oppose the LORD God’s rule are brought to justice.

Faithful Christians that have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, and have been baptized in the Baptism of Redemption, and have received of the Holy Spirit, and faithfully Walk the walk of Christ, are promised to NEVER DIE again! For this specific group of believers, and because of the resurrection of our Christ, our souls leave our body upon our death, and are immediately transported to Heaven, where new bodies are given us. We are in Heaven for one purpose…to rest for a while….to recuperate and prepare for our new lives on the New Earth, that will be ruled by our Christ.

Not all Christians even get the opportunity to go to Heaven for this rest. If a Christian has not walked the specific walk layed out in God’s Word, and has not received the Baptism of Redemption, then he will not go to Heaven temporarily, but will sleep in his grave for a while. When the Lord Jesus Christ resurrects all of the dead in their grave on the Day of Rapture, just before the raising of the live Christians to Him. These Christians will receive salvation because of their belief, and join the other faithful Christians in Heaven, to later go on and assume their positions on the New Earth.

I would garner a guess, however, that those Christians who had the opportunity to follow the Word of God while alive, but made no effort to comply completely, will be likely destined to more lowly positions upon the New Earth.

To be a Chrisitian and elgible for a time in Heaven requires a strict and narrow walk in accordance with the Word of God, and with Jesus Christ as your Master and King. Anything less will lead you to your grave for awhile, with promise of facing Jesus Christ on Judgment Day and explaining why you called Him Savior, but failed to honor the Word of God.

Kathy L. McFarland, MDiv.

“9 ¶ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. “11 ¶ [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” (2 Peter 3:9-14 KJV)

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.” (Revelation 21:1 KJV)

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Why are you against self-improvement through self-focus?

The churches of today are filled with corruptions and hypocrisies and are becoming exactly as the Word of God warns us.

We abhor the focus of self, and favor the focus on our walk with Jesus Christ, and our works for God.

Popular movements of today encourage self focus and improvement, and in fact, we have seen many people improve their lot in life by participating in evaluating themselves, and changing the things that are causing them to not grow.

But that has nothing to do with the walk that Jesus Christ as expressed in his Word of God. Churches have become so dirtied by focusing on making money and conducting self improvement projects for their congregations. They may well be entertaining and profitable for their church, but they are NOT worshiping God.

On a personal note, the more closely I focus on the things of God, the more self-confident I become. This self-confidence is not a sin, but a declaration of faith. While I may well mess things up bad on my own, I am confident that if I let the Holy Spirit lead me, everything works out perfectly.

Is it me that is doing the works of God? No; the Holy Spirit is.

Is it me that is preparing my mind, body and soul with study and prayer to God to give Him access? YES; and I am very proud of the efforts I have made, and strive every day to do better.

Does God look upon me as a sinner because I am proud that I strive every day to become a better tool for Him, than I did before? NO! He wants everyone of His People to strive to their highest spiritual places, so more of His Works can be accomplished.

If I could not experience the feeling of pride, then I would have no measure or motivation to move to the next higher level. It is not a sin, but rather a desirable condition if God is given His due.

The Word of God is not perverted! The things man has done with the Bible is. It is imperative in these days that Christian men with strong faith and conviction open the Bible up and study and learn the things of God, rather than sitting around like stupid beasts and be led by the nose by false teachers.

One day, on the New Earth, there will be a great need of leaders who are able to translate the Word and Will of God to bring justice and truth to lives who have been tricked in this lifetime.

GOD DOES NOT WANT WIMPS!

And that is the challenge for every Christian man and woman, trying to grow spiritually in these confusing times. You must pick your teacher well.

If you go to the churches that teach self improvement, then you will be deluded into learning things that does not concern God at all.

If you are taught the things of God, through His Word, your life will begin to conform to His Way, and He will begin to use you.

And brothers and sisters; if you don’t experience an immense pride from being chosen by Him, then you are insulting His love for you!

That’s the way I see it, and that’s the way I teach it.

Kathy L McFarland

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Why should Christians focus on Word of God, rather than being led solely by the Holy Spirit?

As all things are among Christian brothers and sisters, I was dealing with this exact topic recently in a very painful way. We were forced to meet once again with some people who spitefully use us, who desire our downfall at the least, and admittedly plan for the news of our death gleefully. Needless to say, this meeting is not one we cherish in our walk with Christ, and not one we would even wish on our worst enemies. But yet, we go, over and over, because our precious Jesus Christ has instructed us to do just that.

We talked about if we could ever stop this torturous meeting arranged by people who have such a hatred of us because we love Jesus Christ. We concluded that our actions and our walk identify us as Christians. If we did not live Christ’s Word in the rough times, as well as the easy times, then we would become worse than the most worldly wicked, and betraying our dedication to our Lord.

Your point of Christians quoting the Word of God, but living the ways of darkness was right on. So many Christians are thumping their Bibles, and walking the way of the world. So many know the words, but don’t have the Spirit to guide them. Many gain their stature and their strength from the Word to implement their own agendas.

In fact, every Christian I have ever met has fallen short of Christ’s teachings.

We believe that the Word of God is the Words to us from Jesus Christ. When we hold the Word of God, when we read His Words, it is as True as if Jesus Christ was speaking the Words directly to us.

We have seen these Words twisted and wrongly used by pretend Christians. We have seen pure Christian souls dirtied with the leaven of greed and false teachings.

If we know the Word of God, but fail to embrace and live the Spirit, then our walk with Christ is a lie.

Your stance, however, that studying the Word of God is causing unfavorable eternal consequences for those who study their Bibles, or your suggestion to focus study of the four Gospels only, without regard to the complete Word of God, is wrong.

Please consider this. If you had not known the Word of God, if you had not had access to the Word of God, then you might not have found the Truth of living and walking in the Spirit. Certainly God would have sent His Spirit to guide you toward Him, but so would have the demons of wickedness to guide you away.

I truly do not know how one can know who to listen to with confidence about Jesus Christ today. And if you can’t listen about Jesus Christ from anyone, and it is wrong as you suggest to study the Bible, then I fear you are preventing many people from considering a spiritual life led by Him.

I understand the spirit of your point, because we have the same point.

Every study we have ever done displays the Scripture, and allows the students to know and discern the Truth as led by the Spirit. That’s our whole point, and why we struggle daily to get people to open their Bibles.

Many of our confused brothers and sisters in Christ have been so brainwashed and so tricked by false teachers and false prophets, by greed and power, by laziness and educational arrogance, that they are going to be lost. If the foundation of Jesus Christ is not built on the Truth of His Word, then it is going to fall.

Please remember that young Christians do not have that basic knowledge, because of the ways of the world today, and they have no way of knowing, unless someone leads them in the name of Christ. If they have studied the Word of God, they’re gonna know who to listen to, and how they should really act, to bring glory to His Name.

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Christians often make the Word of God Irrelevant

Christians are the laziest group of spiritual believers I have ever observed. Jewish children and adults study their Torah daily, and practice their prayers and traditions religiously. Muslim servants of God pray seven times a day as ordered by their prophet, and memorize by heart their designated holy book, the Koran.

Christians, on the other hand, most often rely on their thoughts and feelings to establish their faith walk, and depend heavily on the Holy Spirit inside them to give them the answers when they are needed. Our Christian faith is the only faith that I know of that allows new converts and mere children of faith to speak doctrine and establish practices unquestioned. Because a new Christian feels such an empowerment when receiving the Holy Spirit, and because Christian leaders forgot a long time ago how to lead, many of the faithful Christians are being led by the nose by a Christian child that has little knowledge of the Word of God.

Many Christians refuse to open the Word of God and study it diligently, and will defend that neglect by citing their worth in His Kingdom as evidenced by the Holy Spirit that dwells in them. Simply speaking, they feel holy, so why do more than is necessary?

Christians are Christians because they declare Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ IS the Word of God. Jesus Christ began as a result of the LORD God speaking His Word. Every Word contained within the Holy Bible is the LORD God’s Word; thus, the Word of God IS Jesus Christ. When you study and read the Word of God, you are communing with Jesus Christ. When you understand deeply the messages in the Word of God, you are understanding deeply the things of your Jesus Christ. A Christian that fails to constantly turn to the Word of God, and rely instead on the powerful feelings of the Holy Spirit alone, is like a child leaving his fathers wisdom and teachings yet still demanding that the father provide the feel good and protective things in life.

The Holy Spirit is critical to the study of God’s Word, and the Word cannot be known completely without the Spirit revealing the things God wants you to know. However, you have to open God’s Word, and study God’s Word, if you expect to receive growth in the spiritual realm. It is as simple as that.

Now secular fools, and stuffy shirt pharisees will often pronounce the love of God’s Word as the “worship of the Bible” to the exclusion of God. They do this in an attempt to make the Word of God irrelevant, and to gain control over the faithful of Jesus Christ.

The true fact is that the Word of God empowers and makes a Christian perfect. The more the Christian knows the Word of God, the more perfect a Christian he is.

Psalm 119 was written by David (according to most scholars). It is one of the longest psalms, and one of the most beautiful. David’s soul is exclaiming with every breath the magnificence and glory of the Word of God. To read this psalm with purpose and meditation causes believers to be highly elevated because of the love expressed repeatedly by David to His LORD God. The reader of Psalm 119 almost feels like he is intruding on the revealing of David’s soul to God. That is how impassioned and giving David is when he declares his beliefs in His Word.

Yet, many stuffy shirts today accuse him of the same thing that many Christians on forums are being accused of often: “Worshiping the WORD OF GOD to the exclusion of God Himself”. Then to add to the confusion and mistrust of the young, the secular points out the different Bibles and the different translations and pronounces them all false because of this.

This is wrong! Christian brothers and sisters, please don’t fall for this attempt to make the Word of God irrelevant! You owe them no explanation, but most certainly, you do not owe them an ear! The secular and the pious fools want you to be weak and ineffective….their worst fears is that you will break free of their control and become perfect in God’s Word. Do not let this argument dissuade you from study of the Word of God. You owe it to the Savior that you have been chosen to follow and learn as much of Him as you are graced to receive!

“16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV)