Sun Stood Still

2 Replies

So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies. Is it not written in the book of Jashar? And the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. Joshua 10:13

The day the Earth stood still! One of the most amazing and controversial events in the Bible is when Joshua declares God stopped the Sun from setting so he could finish off his enemies. Skeptics will often attack this text, as saying “The Sun doesn’t move”. First off we need to understand that the Bible is not a science book, the Bible is the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Many things in the Bible are poetic or idioms not always literal.

Why is this story so hard to believe? If we believe the first scripture in the Bible In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1) then all things are possible. If God can create the universe from nothing, he can easily stop the Earth from spinning for a day! God can also easily raise Jesus from the dead and defeat Sin and Death!

There was no day like that before it or after it, when the LORD listened to the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel. Joshua 10:14

The Bible tells us there was never a day like this before and never will be! God loved Joshua and the Israelites enough to stop the Sun! God loves you enough to send Jesus Christ to the cross to die for your Sins! What is impossible for God?

Don’t limit God, don’t put God in a box! Be in awe and wonder for your Heavenly Father Amen!

Defiled

2 Replies

there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man. Mark 7:15

I heard some “Christians” today say we must follow a Kosher diet otherwise we are “sinning against God” Jesus himself said “Its what comes from within us that defiles us, not what comes from the outside” What is Jesus talking about?

Sin is a heart issue and not a legal issue. Before you sin, your intentions come from your heart, this is what defiles you, YOURSELF! As Jesus taught anyone who lusts after a women in his heart has already committed adultery (Matthew 5:28), why? Because Sin is a heart issue. Anyone who hates his brother has already committed murder, (Matthew 5:21) why? Because Sin is a heart issue!

And He said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” (Thus He declared all foods clean.) Mark 7:18-19

Yet people still today want to argue that eating pork has defiled us, as Jesus said “Are you so dull or lack understanding to believe this?” The New Covenant is about circumcision of the heart (Jeremiah 4:4, Ezekiel 36:26) we are not under the Law but under Grace

And He was saying, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. Mark 7:20-22

The legalist will say “ How can I live under Grace without the Law?” Because if you a truly Born Again (John 3) then you have been baptized by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives inside you and has written the Law on your heart (Jeremiah 31:33, Romans 2:15)

The Holy Spirit cant live in you if you continue to defile yourself with Sin, these are not the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5) Your evil heart is what defiles you, not what you eat! Amen!

Rise Up!

10 Replies

So the LORD said to Joshua, “Rise up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face? Joshua 7:10

When the Israelites went into the city of Ai , it should have been an easy battle. So the Israelites only sent a couple thousands troops and they were utterly destroyed. This defeat had Joshua perplexed, why wasn’t God with the Israelites?

So Joshua wept and mourned to God and questioned why God even sent them this far in the wilderness. But notice Gods response, he told Joshua “Rise Up”!

“Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. And they have even taken some of the things under the ban and have both stolen and deceived. Moreover, they have also put them among their own things. Joshua 7:11

God told Joshua exactly what Israel’s problem is, they have a sin problem! Israel expected to live in sin and also receive Gods blessings, this cant happen! God will not be mocked! You cant walk with God and hold hands with Satan!

Once Israel repented and removed their sin problems, God was with them and allowed them to move into their Promised Land (Israel)

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Today we are still like the Israelites, we have a sin problem! God has sent our Lord Jesus to lead us into the Promise Land (Heaven) however many have ruined their blessing because of sin

Repent of your Sins, and Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ! Rise Up! Jesus has already defeated Sin and Death at the Cross! Amen!

Traditions of Men

Leave a reply

The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?” Mark 7:5

Jesus was eating with his disciples when the Pharisees were quick to condemn them because some of them were eating with dirty hands. The Pharisees were probably waiting for this moment, to find something to condemn “the Christians” for, however Jesus is going to turn this into a teaching moment for them

And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’  Mark 7:6-7

Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah, to show these guys God already foretold about them. While these men believed they were in the “God club” , God was not impressed with them at all. Why? Because their hearts were not pure.

Instead of Loving God and Love Your Neighbor as God commanded us, they tried to earn their salvation by works. This was a moral issue and not a legal issue, like they believed

“Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.” Mark 7:8

The Pharisees neglected the basic laws of God, they elevated themselves through traditions. Jesus used the example of “Honor your Mother and Father” (Mark 7:10) The Pharisees claim to be righteous yet don’t even care for their own parents, even though the Mosaic Law says they should be put to death for disobeying this Law (Leviticus 20:9)

The Pharisees created a tradition called “Corban” ( Mark 7:11) which they believed vainly overrode Gods Law. The Pharisees would keep money for themselves , which they labeled “Corban, instead of providing for their elderly parents because they wanted a greater status among men.

Jesus is telling them their tradition doesn’t honor God, in fact it breaks Gods Law. So before we go around condemning people, what are our intentions? Are we just trying to be legalist or is there a moral issue going on here?

Remember Jesus commanded us to Love God with all our mind, hearts, and soul and to Love our Neighbor as ourselves, this fulfills all the Laws of God Amen!