Kol ha'Mashiach | The Voice Of The Messiah | Page 2

- Are You Ready To Meet Yeshua and The Rapture?
  
  Posted at 7:36 pm by Rev. Joseph Geiser, on January 14, 2019
  Are we in the “last days”? I believe we are closer than anyone thinks.
  
  But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 3:1-7, ESV)
  
  This was the apostle Paul telling Timothy, about the coming end times – prophecy as to when Yeshua ha’Mashiach – Jesus, the Messiah – will come again!
  
  Look around you people! It’s all over the place!
  - People love themselves more than others (proud, boastful, idol worship)
  - People definitely love money (idol worship, covetousness)
  - Thinking better of yourself than of others (pride)
  - Being arrogant (thinking yourself to be better than others)
  - Abusive
  - Disobedient to Parents
  - Ungrateful
  - Unholy (a big one these days – how much has God been removed from the public?)
  - Heartless
  - Unappeasable
  - Slanderous (speaking lies about others)
  - Without self-control
  - Brutal
  - Not loving good
  - Treacherous (lying to get something that one doesn’t deserve)
  - Reckless
  - Swollen with Conceit
  - Lovers of pleasure, rather than lovers of God.
  - Having the appearance of godliness but denying its power.
  That’s quite the long list – but again, look around you, look on the news, look at the anchors of CNN, MSNBC and even Fox News, and you see many of these, if not all of them.
  
  I sat in a church service a few weeks ago, and listened as the pastor talked about having a Christian worldview. If we’re truly Christians, we have a truly Christian worldview and don’t deal with the sins associated with this list. The last part of verse 5 states that we are to “avoid such people” – why? Verse 6 gives us the answer – because they creep into our lives, burdened with their sin, and attempt to sway us into that sin, leading us astray.
  
  One thing I noticed as I listened to this message, was that for every sin mentioned, not once was it called out vehemently as sin. The pastor danced around it so as not to offend anyone.
  
  For example, when it came to Marriage – between a man and woman – He didn’t come out and say that it was:
  - For one man and one woman
  - Not for two people of the same gender
  - That two people should be married, not living together in sexual sin
  Let’s get real here:
  
  Marriage was ordained by God: Any other cohabitation is sin. Genesis 2:22-24 makes it very clear. It states:
  
  And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said,
  
  “This at last is bone of my bones
  and flesh of my flesh;
  she shall be called Woman,
  because she was taken out of Man.”
  
  Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
  
  Does this say that another man was made from Adam? No! The Hebrew used here is clear. The Hebrew word for woman is ishshah – and the word for man is ish. THe Orthodox Jewish Bible is translates the Hebrew as follows: “And the adam said, This is now etzem (bone) of my etzem, and basar (flesh, skin) of my basar; she shall be called Ishshah (woman), because she was taken out of Ish (man).”
  
  It goes on to say in verse 24, again, translated from the Hebrew: “Therefore shall an ish leave his av (father) and his em (mother), and shall cleave unto his ishshah: and they shall be basar echad (one skin or flesh).”
  
  I’m not a “King James Only” devotee – and given that the Hebrew Bible – the Old Testament – was written in Hebrew. I will always go back to Biblical Hebrew to see God’s true Word. Moses wrote these words as the Holy Spirit directed. Moses spoke Hebrew, and these words were written in Hebrew. The OJB – Orthodox Jewish Bible is one of the foremost authorities on Biblical Hebrew Translation.
  
  Homosexuality is sin: To say otherwise is to deny scripture. Given that “they shall be ‘besar echad’ – one skin” mean a man (ish) is to come together with a woman (ishshah) in a sexual union for the purposes of procreation, and the enjoyment of each other in love and bonds of matrimony – it is not biblical to declare that two women, or two men can come together in any kind of sexual union.
  
  The bible specifically calls it out!
  
  Leviticus 18:22:
  
  You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. (ESV)
  
  Thou shalt not lie with zachar (male), as with ishshah: it is to’evah (abomination, detestable) (OJB)
  
  This was written to the men – yes, but it was just as applicable to women, as we see in Deuteronomy 22:5:
  
  “A woman shall not wear a man’s garment, nor shall a man put on a woman’s cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God.” (ESV)
  
  “The isha shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a gever (man) neither shall a gever put on simlat isha (garment of a woman); for all that do so are to’avat (abomination, detestable) unto Hashem Eloheicha.” (OJB)
  
  Sounds like homosexuality – and transviteism to me. They are detestable to God – and thus sin.
  
  Pastors – we need to stop trying to not offend anyone. Our job is to give the truth – and this is the truth. Tap-dancing around sin isn’t going to bring people to repentance – and that’s our job! To bring people to repentance, and the loving salvation of Yeshua ha’Mashiach – Jesus, the Messiah – the King of all kings, the Lord of all lords.
  
  Pastors, the Rapture is close at hand. All of the prophetic signs are in place.
  
  Israel has become a nation again, and the people are returning to the Land again.
  
  Yerushalaim (Jerusalem) has again been taken under control of Israel – and is now being recognized as its capital! As of this writing, the United States, Guatemala and Brazil have made this recognition, and other nations have it under consideration.
  
  Prophecies in Ezekiel 38 & 39 are starting to form, with Russia, China, Iran and Turkey becoming major players in the area, and all have an eye on Israel. Armageddon is the war played out in the Tribulation by these major powers.
  
  Earthquakes, pestilences, floods, rumors of wars – all have been on the increase (Luke 21:10-11).
  
  Look at the list from 2 Timothy at the beginning of this post – tell me pastor, have you called this out publicly – from the pulpit? Probably not – because we don’t want to offend anyone.
  
  Again pastors – our job is to preach the truth, in season and out of season. Jesus wasn’t afraid to overturn a few tables to show that what was being done in the temple was wrong. Jesus offended people, especially the pharisees, all the time – and for good reason. When the teacher is doing wrong, the teacher should be called on the carpet. Jesus did this a lot – and he was hated for it. That didn’t bother him – discipline was needed, and he was going to administer it. Do out kids like it when we discipline them? Of course not. We do it because we love them, and we want them to do the right thing. Jesus wanted the pharisees and rabbis to teach properly
  
  He also called out sin when he saw it in the people. He never condemned, but he called it out. There were numerous examples of it in the Bible.
  
  One of the most famous was in John 4 – the woman at the well, who was married five times, and giving potential #6 a test ride while shacking up with him. He told her everything she’d ever done – she was amazed and became the town evangelist, “come, and see a man who told me all that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (v. 29). Jesus treated her with respect, but told her all about her sin. She knew, that He knew.
  
  The other is in John 8 – the woman caught in adultery. Yes, it was a set-up to catch Jesus blaspheming the Law, but he knew that. Did he berate or condemn this woman? He did however, tell her to “Go, and sin no more.” (v. 11).
  
  Jesus loved the sinner – he hated the sin – and called it out. We too, as Christians – are to love the sinner, but hate – and call out – the sin. We don’t condemn anyone – because we too, were once condemned. Our job is to lead people to repentance and salvation.
  
  Pastors – our job is to not only to call out sin, but we’re to do it boldly, without fear of whatever someone may think of us. If a member of our congregation disagrees with the biblical stance on sin – challenge them to come up with rebuttal scripture.
  
  Also pastor, Jesus wasn’t a Democrat or a Republican. He wasn’t a Christian either. He was – and is – God. As such, it’s His way, or the highway – there’s no gray area here. His Word is clear – sin is sin, and it’s not to be tolerated.
  
  That means that unmarried couples in the church are to be counseled to get married, live apart until such time that they do – giving them the supporting scripture. If they are true believers, they should do the right thing. If not, then they should find a new church.
  
  That means we don’t permit homosexuals to serve in any capacity in our church. That’s just inviting the devil into our church and into our church life. We work with those who are battling this issue, teaching them the Word of God, but we don’t compromise. If the person repents – wonderful, but if not, they you must seriously question whether it’s best to have his person in your midst.
  
  This means that we pull those persons we find in sinful situations aside, and privately confront them, with the result being restoration to the body of Christ.
  
  Heck, we all sin – going back to John chapter 8, wasn’t it Jesus who told the pharisees, ready to stone the woman, “let he who is without sin, cast the first stone.” (v. 7). Romans 3:23, Paul said “for all have sinned and have fallen short of God’s glory.” What’s required? We all must repent – and the unsaved, must be called to repentance and salvation. It’s our job to bring them there!
  
  Dancing around the topic of sin is called compromise – and that’s one thing that we are to never do – we never compromise our faith. If telling someone that homosexuality is a sin, and that makes me a bigot – then I’m a bigot – for the name of Christ! Let the LGBTQ community picket my church.
  
  A pastor recently lost his job for standing up for this biblical belief. He posted this sign at his church. You can read all about it here.
  
  This church has problems – and is in need of discipline.
  
  Of course in this case, the church elders were facing an exodus of members from the church. So, we have to be politically correct – to keep butts in seats? Absolutely not! Who is the shepherd of the church? The Pastor shepherds the church under the authority of Jesus Christ – not some elected board. Elders advise the pastor in spiritual issues, and Deacons assist the pastor in administration of church functions, but ultimate responsibility rests with the pastor – and in this case the Elders were absolutely in the wrong!
  
  I hope that this hit home with some pastors, leaders and teachers. If it convicted you, then it did.
  
  What to do now? I think you already know. Go – and preach the gospel!
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  Posted in ministry, salvation | 0 Comments | Tagged Church, hypocrisy, salvation, Sin
- Is the Church Becoming an Irrelevant Corporation?
  
  Posted at 8:29 pm by Rev. Joseph Geiser, on December 9, 2018
  Most of you – and I would say that 99.9% of all of you who attend a church, attend one that has as part of its structure, a set of corporate by-laws, a corporate name and a corporate filing.
  
  It also has as part of its filings, a tax-exempt certificate that allows them to not pay taxes such as sales taxes on items it purchases, taxes on its income such as donations or interest on any funds that it might be holding such as savings. It also permits you to deduct any donations you make to the church from your income, thus excluding these donations from taxation on your part.
  
  In other words, your church is for all intents and purposes, a not-for-profit corporation under the laws of the United States Internal Revenue Service Code.
  
  What does a church have to give up in exchange for this favorable financial treatment? Its very freedom. Its freedom of speech, its freedom of religion.
  
  Let me ask you, when was the last time you heard your pastor – or any preacher – stand up and rail against a political party platform, officeholder or candidate for their stance on, oh say, abortion, or homosexuality and same-gender marriage, or so-called “transgender rights”?
  
  I would say that most of you never have. Oh, they preach against it in general – but to call out a political party, officeholder or candidate? That’s off-limits. Ask your pastor – if they’re honest, they won’t beat around the bush – they’ll be straight-up honest and tell you that they can’t.
  
  But why not – why can’t they do this? God commands us to call out sin! The prophets did it all the time!
  
  Well here in the USA, back in 1954, then Senator Lyndon Johnson (yes, the former president was a senator) – did a little fancy footwork, that only can be done in the Washington swamp.
  
  He made an amendment to a bill in the 83rd Congress, H.R. 8300, which was enacted into law as the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 – as part of Section 501, Paragraph C, Subsection 3 – known affectionately as 501(c)(3) – or the “not-for-profit” exemption. The amendment was agreed to without any discussion or debate and was included in Internal Revenue Code of 1954. The provision was considered uncontroversial at the time, and continued to be included when the 1954 Code was re-named as the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 during the Ronald Reagan administration.
  
  Again, what this section does is to allow donors to these “tax exempt” organizations. to deduct their donations from their federal income tax returns. This supposedly gives donors the incentive to donate by deducting the donation from taxable income. It also treated the donations – and all income to the organization – as tax free.
  
  In return for this favorable treatment, the “tax-exempt” organization may not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.
  
  Violating this rule could cause the organization to lose their tax-exempt status, and as such, all donations could then be considered taxable – and donors would not be permitted to deduct these donations from their federal tax returns.
  
  Are you beginning to see why many of our churches are becoming dry today? Without the almighty dollar, they feel that they cannot operate. Like any other corporation – there’s an profit/loss (or in this case, a reserve/deficit) statement. The reserves have to outweigh the deficits. People have to be encouraged to give – and if that means selling their soul to the government, so be it.
  
  Last month, I called out a candidate for state representative on my blog. You can read it here. If I were a non-profit corporation, I couldn’t have said anything of the sort. Saying this from the pulpit would cause me to lose my tax exempt status. Being independent however, I can say whatever I want – as long as I can back it up biblically – which I did.
  
  Our churches have become lukewarm! Even most of the television evangelists – either they’re spouting off the latest feel-good message fit for Oprah, or they’re doing the beg-a-thon “prosperity” gospel – you know, “sow $100 and God will return so much more” – there’s only one who has the guts to call out sin and preach the gospel correctly – and that’s Jack Van Impe Ministries. At least with them, they’re not buying multi-million dollar mansions and private jets – they use it all for the work of the Lord. They live off, and pay their people, from the proceeds of their books and recorded material only – all donations to the ministry are used solely for airtime and ministry projects.
  
  I did an informal survey – I asked, “If you could no longer deduct your tithes, offerings and donations to your church or other ministries, would you still give?”
  
  What do you think the overwhelming response was? Pastors, hold on to your socks! 99.7% said that they would still give!
  
  This lines up scripturally. The New Testament church didn’t have a tax-exempt status – everyone was taxed – and people still gave.
  
  And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)
  
  This, was the Acts church – people gave of themselves, expecting nothing in return. That’s the way it should be!
  
  So to pastors, I say this: Are you doing your job and shepherding Jesus’ flock? If so – then you are in charge of the local church, reporting to Jesus Christ Himself. Time to tell the “church board” that there’s a new sheriff in town, that you’ll preach the true gospel, Heaven, Hell, Sin and Repentance. Time to give up your 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and set yourself free.
  
  But will you? Probably not. And that’s unfortunate because you can be so much more effective for the Kingdom by freeing yourself of the government plantation.
  
  Yes, there, I said it – by being a mediocre non-profit corporation, you’re a slave to your government masters – and you cannot serve God and Money – you cannot serve two masters. That’s what you’re doing – violating scripture (Matthew 6:24) and becoming the lukewarm Church of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22) in the process.
  
  Next time – I’ll convict you all about “being inclusive” – I’ll be calling out a few pastors, and denominations, by name.
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- You Cannot Serve Two Masters – Pastors and Politics
  
  Posted at 5:32 pm by Rev. Joseph Geiser, on October 9, 2018
  Lately, I found a local pastor who decided to run for State Legislature here in Pennsylvania in the Democrat party.
  
  I’ve always told people to look into candidates in terms of their policies – and how they line up with Scripture – and I did that here.
  
  This candidate – Dan Williams, Senior Pastor of New Life Church In Christ – has a website that details his policies. I looked at two areas: Abortion and Same-Sex Marriage.
  
  From the Website on Abortion:
  
  “As most of us, Dan is not a proponent of abortion. He has always counseled any women who consult with him to try to find another way. However, he firmly believes that such a choice is one to be made by a woman and her doctor consulting with her family and the father of the baby. The State has no place in the middle of this discussion, and Dan will support legislation that keeps Choice the priority and stand against any laws that try to encumber this right. Dan also supports state funding for Planned Parenthood and any organizations that provide women’s reproductive healthcare, family planning and other such critical health and community services.” (Emphasis, mine)
  
  This is about the most wishy-washy statement made by a pastor on the subject, that I’ve ever seen! Try to find another way? The choice is between a woman and her doctor? Is he kidding? What is this man preaching to his congregation?
  
  God’s Word is clear:
  
  David writes in Psalm 139, verses 13-16:
  
  For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works;
  my soul knows it very well.
  My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret,
  intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
  Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
  
  God sees life from the time of conception! This means that there is a separate person growing in that woman’s body! A life, separate and apart from the mother, that God sees, and is knitting together – and He knows the days of that baby’s life!
  
  When God Almighty called Jeremiah to be a prophet to the nations, he said in chapter 1, verse 5:
  
  “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
  and before you were born I consecrated you;
  I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
  
  That’s God talking! He knew Jeremiah while still in-utero! And God already had a job for him to do when he grew up!
  
  So don’t tell me that a fetus isn’t a child – or that it’s just a bunch of cells – it’s either a baby’s life, or it’s not. And if this is a baby’s life, then the sixth commandment, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13) – makes abortion, murder. The taking of a human life without justification.
  
  So Pastor Williams – what are you preaching?
  
  And no – you cannot “separate church and state” here – you either serve God, or serve man. What did Jesus say in Matthew 6:24?
  
  “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
  
  And that’s what it gets down to, isn’t it Pastor – money?
  
  For if a church goes against the local, state or federal government – they could lose that precious 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, allowing your church to not pay taxes on your income as well as most other taxes (including sales tax) – and permit your flock to write off their contributions on their federal (and in some cases, state) income taxes. Yep, lose that – and you will be paying taxes, and your people may stop giving – heck, why give when they can’t deduct – and the well runs dry.
  
  The Acts church didn’t have a tax exemption – and the people gave freely without regard as to whether it was tax-deductible or not. But here in the US, we have this pesky Johnson Amendment which prohibits pastors from speaking out, lest they lose their coveted tax exemption.
  
  This means that you are serving man (government), not God.
  
  I guess this goes for your stance on Same-Sex Marriage? Again, from your website:
  
  “No one should be denied the right to marry who they love, and any marriage between two people, regardless of gender, should carry the same rights and privileges.”
  
  So pastor, does this mean that you support same-gender marriage? Would you officiate such a marriage? From this quote on your website, it sounds as you would.
  
  To remind you from your days in Sunday School – and maybe even seminary:
  
  Genesis 1:27 – “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
  
  Genesis 2:24 – “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
  
  Biblical marriage is between a man (husband) and a woman (wife) – and anything other than that is heresy.
  
  Again, to go with the flow of modern day thinking is to jettison the Bible – and serve man. That’s what you are doing here pastor!
  
  You cannot serve two masters! You either serve the Lord, or serve man – but you cannot do both. You, as a pastor, will be judged more harshly if you are leading your flock astray – which by these heresies, you are.
  
  Romans 14:11-12 – “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
  and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
  
  And verse 13 tells us that we’re not to place a stumbling block in the way of his brother – which is what you are doing when you advocate these positions!
  
  So what’s it going to be pastor? Will you change your positions? Drop out of the race?
  
  One cannot call themselves a Christian and promote Planned Parenthood – and the wholesale murder of the unborn.
  
  One cannot call themselves a Christian and agree with any form of same-sex union – marriage or otherwise – or any other form of homosexuality.
  
  Every Christian pastor must call you out on this Pastor Williams, from the pulpit! Your congregation must confront you on these issues, and you must repent of your support for these policies!
  
  But they won’t.
  
  You see, other pastors are too afraid of losing their tax exemption as well. God forbid that the money stops flowing!
  
  It’s all about the Benjamin’s, isn’t it? If it isn’t then you, then do the right thing, and drop out now, repent, and start preaching right.
  
  And to his endorsing pastors (again, from his website):
  - James Smith, Second Baptist, Coatesville
  - Rick Wilson, C. F. Fellowship, Downingtown
  - Michael Boyd, Mt. Zion Baptist, Coatesville
  If you hold these same positons, then you too, must repent for these views – and stop endorsing this candidate.
  
  As someone who still holds his ordination and credentials – but is not subject to the Johnson Amendment – I’m not a “non-profit” – I have no problem calling this candidate, and his endorsers out on biblical grounds.
  
  So should every other Christian pastor!
  
  Research candidates. Do your homework. Read your Bible. Pray for guidance from Almighty God – and Vote your Faith!
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  Posted in election, ministry, Politics, salvation, spiritual warfare | 1 Comment | Tagged election, hypocrisy, ministry
- Shall We Bring Up Your Past Sins?
  
  Posted at 11:25 am by Rev. Joseph Geiser, on October 5, 2018
  To those (supposed “Christians”) who love shoving a person’s past down their throats, please allow me to give this reminder from A. W. Tozer:
  
  “Now, on the basis of grace as taught in the Word of God, when God forgives a man, He trusts him as though he had never sinned. God did not have mental reservations about any of us when we became His children by faith. When God forgives a man, He doesn’t think, ‘I will have to watch this fellow because he has a bad record.’ No, He starts with him again as though he had just been created and as if there had been no past at all! That is the basis of our Christian assurance—and God wants us to be happy in it.”
  
  Or from The Bible, by the apostle Paul:
  
  “From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:16-17)
  
  So, may I suggest that you all reflect on your nasty words about our president and the Supreme Court nominee – both of whom profess to be Christians, and kindly shut up and repent of your sin. By saying what you are, about these and others – you are doing the work of the devil, and are, in essence, the mouthpiece of Satan himself.
  
  Everyone has a past – you have one, we all have one. We all have something in our pasts that would disqualify us from something. Would you like someone to dredge up your past and put it on display for the entire world to see? I think not.
  
  So, bow your heads – not in shame, but in prayer and repentance. And if you’re not saved, in repentance and ask Jesus for salvation – so that the you too, can have your past – as well as your present and future – forgiven, and remembered by God no more!
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- What Does Yom Kippur Mean To The Believer?
  
  Posted at 11:28 am by Rev. Joseph Geiser, on September 19, 2018
  Last evening, at sunset, Jews around the world started observing Yom Kippur – the day of Atonement – the Holiest day of the year for Jews. It is the day commanded by God, for the High Priest to go into the Holy of Holies, and repent for the sins of Israel.
  
  In essence, it remembers judgement. The judgement of God for the sins of the people.
  
  Messianic Jews – we Jews who believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Yeshua – Jesus Christ – also observe this day, but in a different way. You see, traditional Jews will greet each other with “may you be sealed for another year,” but we know that we born-again believers, we have been “sealed” forever. We are promised this – Ephesians 1:13-14, Paul writes:
  
  “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”
  
  You see, we don’t have to “renew our membership” year after year, it’s a lifetime membership – once you’re in, you’re in. Jews go back year after year, hoping not to be “written out” of the Book of Life, using the days between Rosh ha’Sahana and Yom Kippur, to make amends with those they’ve harmed – and yes, we’re to do that – but it’s not a requirement to be written in The Lamb’s Book of Life.
  
  Note the difference – the Jews’ Book of Life … There’s no “Lamb” … They don’t know the blood atonement of Jesus – or refuse to believe. We, as true believers, are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, sealed forever.
  
  So we Messianic Jews remember Yom Kippur as a day of Judgement – the Bemah Seat of Christ – where believers are judged for how they used their talents and abilities to further the Gospel. We’re not judged for our sins – they were paid for at the cross by the final sacrifice – Yeshua himself.
  
  But we do remember one other Judgement – the Great White Throne Judgement – where those who die as unbelievers, will be thrown into the Lake of Fire for eternity. As believers, we don’t want this for anyone, which is why we are to use our talents and abilities to evangelize and spread the Gospel.
  
  So, on this Yom Kippur, I emplore those who have not truly turned your life over to Yeshua – Jesus Christ – to be saved today. And to the believers, to do our jobs and spread the Gospel to the lost. The final and greatest command of Christ can be found in Matthew 28:19-20:
  
  “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
  
  That’s our job – and a great way to remember Yom Kippur.
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- Are You Feeling Offended?
  
  Posted at 1:38 pm by Rev. Joseph Geiser, on May 22, 2018
  Someone told me the other day that something I wrote offended them. I’m sorry that it offended, but what I wrote was from the Word of God.
  
  I will not sugar coat scripture. My devotional today from A. W. Tozer on preaching drives this home:
  
  For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.—Galatians 1:10
  
  This is one of the marks of our modern time—that many are guilty of merely “nibbling” at the truth of the Christian gospel.
  
  I wonder if you realize that in many ways the preaching of the Word of God is being pulled down to the level of the ignorant and spiritually obtuse; that we must tell stories and jokes and entertain and amuse in order to have a few people in the audience? We do these things that we may have some reputation and that there may be money in the treasury to meet the church bills….
  
  In many churches Christianity has been watered down until the solution is so weak that if it were poison it would not hurt anyone, and if it were medicine it would not cure anyone! (I Talk Back To The Devil, pp. 30-31)
  
  “Lord, don’t ever let me be guilty of watering down the truth or playing to the crowds, concerned about my ‘reputation’ or ‘money in the treasury.’ Amen.”
  
  Too many pastors are to worried about being liked, and putting “butts in seats” (and dollars in the collection plate). To many others don’t want to offend.
  
  Well, when it comes to me, I will tell you the truth, and give it to you straight, straight from the Word of God. If it offends you, take it up with God, because it’s your soul He’s trying to save, through seeds planted by me, and others, such as my wife Jeannie.
  
  I’m not here to make anyone feel good. If I preach or write something that makes you uncomfortable, well that’s God probably trying to tell you that you need to get something right – maybe like your relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ.
  
  So get it right, if it’s a sin, make it right… If it’s your salvation, get it right and get saved. You’re not promised tomorrow.
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- Election Day is Coming – What Kind of Government Do You Want?
  
  Posted at 3:26 pm by Rev. Joseph Geiser, on April 29, 2018
  Another election day is coming upon us – a primary election for most of the US citizens – but this year’s primaries and general election this fall, are vitally important to local, state and federal governments.
  
  As Christians – what kind of government does God want for us? Think of it a bit – God established civil government – and He set some ground rules for it. So let’s dive in and study it a bit.
  
  God established civil government for our good. Paul wrote:
  
  Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. (Romans 13:1-4, ESV)
  
  Paul was writing that God established an authority, when it comes to government. Those in authority, have a responsibility to judge right from wrong – and good from evil. Good should be rewarded, and evil should be punished.
  
  This also means that authority and power shouldn’t be used in ways to serve their own personal interests or advantage.
  
  And – that those who are not in authority, are to be subject to those who are.
  
  Let’s face it – this nation is so divided today. It’s been this way for many years – but it seems more so today. What people – both believers and non-believers alike – don’t realize, is that God is sovereign over both evil governments, and good governments!
  
  YES, GOD IS SOVEREIGN!
  
  Job 12:23 says:
  
  He makes nations great, and he destroys them;
  he enlarges nations, and leads them away.
  
  He raises great nations up – and He brings evil ones down. In fact, He may even use one nation to bring another one down!
  
  Jeremiah prophesied the exile of Judah for 70 years:
  
  Yet you have not listened to me, declares the Lord, that you might provoke me to anger with the work of your hands to your own harm. “Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: Because you have not obeyed my words, behold, I will send for all the tribes of the north, declares the Lord, and for Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants, and against all these surrounding nations. I will devote them to destruction, and make them a horror, a hissing, and an everlasting desolation. Moreover, I will banish from them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the grinding of the millstones and the light of the lamp. This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. Then after seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their iniquity, declares the Lord, making the land an everlasting waste. I will bring upon that land all the words that I have uttered against it, everything written in this book, which Jeremiah prophesied against all the nations. For many nations and great kings shall make slaves even of them, and I will recompense them according to their deeds and the work of their hands.” (Jeremiah 25:7-14, ESV)
  
  The tenth chapter of Isaiah says that God raised up Assyria, to judge all of the surrounding nations, but then He judged Assyria as well – at the appropriate time – using another nation.
  
  When God allows an evil government to exist – even for a little while – it may seem unfair to those of us who are believers. Believers are suffering greatly in nations ruled by evil people and governments, but these believers are also glorifying God through their courage and their faithfulness. We see examples of believers suffering in the Bible, and how God is glorified – and how it was credited to them. Let’s look at a few:
  
  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are a perfect example.
  
  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics,[b] their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. Because the king’s order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. (Daniel 3:16-23, ESV)
  
  Then the apostles, who were brought before the Sanhedrin for preaching the Gospel:
  
  And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
  
  When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. (Acts 5:27-42, ESV)
  
  Everyone needs to obey the law – there are exceptions, which I’ll get into. Romans 13:2 says that if we resist the authorities, resists what God has appointed and should incur judgement. In other words, resist the law, you are resisting God, it’s as simple as that.
  
  Now, Romans 13 also exists for the purpose of restraining evil and to punish those who do wrong. This includes everyone – rich or poor, the connected or not–so-well connected, the elite or the common person. God is no respecter of any particular person. There is no difference between me, you, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama or Donald Trump. We either do what’s right or wrong – and if we do wrong, we’re punished the same – and if we do what’s right, we’re commended the same.
  
  Peter wrote something similar:
  
  Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. (1 Peter 2:13-17, ESV)
  
  As Christians, we’re to honor and respect those in authority – and as Paul writes in 1 Timothy 2:1-3 – pray for them!
  
  As Christians, we’re to have influence in government. Yes – we are!
  
  I can hear the ACLU and the Liberals howling now – “SEPARATION BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE!” Let’s dispel the myth that faithful people must separate their faith from their politics.
  
  The portion of the First Amendment that addresses this reads as follows: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
  
  The framers were mostly Christian, and had at their disposal – a Bible. We just freed ourselves from England, who had an “official church” – the Church of England. Our framers declared that there would be no “official church” of the United States – but nowhere in the founding document does it state that there was to be a total separation between the two.
  
  In fact, moral standards of the Bible come from the God of all creation – and all people in all societies are held accountable to God. Our laws come from these moral standards – and Christians should act on opportunities to influence government, to make laws consistent with the Bible’s moral standards. Daniel wrote:
  
  Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.” (Daniel 4:27)
  
  Influencing a government – your local town council, state or federal legislature – to make good laws is one way of obeying the command to “love your neighbor as yourself.”
  
  Governments shouldn’t make laws enforcing allegiance to, or prohibiting the practice of, any particular religion – for Jesus divided the realms of responsibilities between things that “are Caesar’s” and the things that “are God’s” – establishing two distinct areas of authority.
  
  So, when it it necessary to disobey civil law? Simple – when obeying that law would mean disobeying God’s law. We saw earlier that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego disobeyed civil law, because it violated God’s commands. The Apostles also did so, when commanded not to preach in the name of Jesus.
  
  Other examples include Esther (Esther 4:16), Daniel (Daniel 6:10) and the Wise Men at the birth of Jesus (Matthew 2:8, 12).
  
  So, as we go to the ballot box this spring and fall – remember your faith, look at what the candidates stand for, and remember that your vote DOES indicate your belief:
  - You cannot call yourself a Christian, and support ANY candidate that approves of abortion
  - You cannot call yourself a Christian, and support ANY candidate that approves of homosexuality
  - You cannot call yourself a Christian, and support ANY candidate that approves of same-sex marriage
  - You cannot call yourself a Christian, and support ANY candidate that approves of gender fluidity
  Think about it – pray on it.
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- God Doesn’t Wink At Sin!
  
  Posted at 12:37 am by Rev. Joseph Geiser, on December 5, 2017
  At our Friday evening Bible Studies here at my home, we’ve been studying the Book of Zechariah. It’s a very uplifting book – the first verses give the keys to the entire book:
  
  In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, saying… (Zechariah 1:1 ESV)
  
  The English translations of the names of Zechariah, his father and grandfather, say it all.
  - Zechariah means “whom the Lord remembers”
  - Berechiah means “the Lord blesses”
  - Iddo means “at the appointed time”
  God raised up His chosen people by Zechariah – He remembered them – and will bless them. at His appointed time.
  
  This also goes for His protection of His chosen people – and His judgment of those of their enemies! It all boils down to this: God is in ultimate control – and will always have His will, regardless of what we might want to do to speed things up.
  
  The first six chapters contain what are called the “eight night visions” which were given to Zechariah. The first five are very uplifting – bringing God’s people to do His work – getting the Temple rebuilt. We won’t cover these here.
  
  Chapter 5 is where we are in our study, and because of the Thanksgiving holiday, and my health issues the following week, we couldn’t hold our study – but given the current climate in the world – and yes, here in the USA as well, I felt it appropriate to blog the study.
  
  You see, chapters 5 and 6 are the last three night visions – and they have to do with – sin – and how God feels about it.
  
  Former US President Calvin Coolidge was not known for his talkativeness. A story says that one Sunday he attended a worship service without his wife. When he returned home, she asked him what the minister had talked about. “Sin,” replied “silent Cal” (as he is affectionately known). “What did the preacher say about sin?” his wife persisted. Coolidge replied, “He was against it.”
  
  That pretty much sums it up. God’s against it.
  
  Chapter 5 covers two of the three visions – and we’ll stick with one of these two tonight. The central theme is that God will be relentless in judging all sin.
  
  You see, there are quite a few people who consider themselves godly – many in the ministry – who look at their work for God – as a purchase of indulgence against sin. That our work somehow builds holiness credit against the sins we might commit.
  
  “I mean – just look at all of the work I do for the Lord! He’ll overlook the [insert sin here].”
  
  Guess what – God doesn’t overlook any sin. He don’t wink at sin. God is holy, and He cannot be anywhere there is unholiness. As soon as we all learn that – that God is holy – and he expects all of us – and especially those of us in ministry – to lead holy lives.
  
  Yes, it’s true that we are fallen beings – which is why we need to be seeking God’s forgiveness – always. Our “bank of sins” should be kept as empty as possible, by asking for God’s forgiveness – early and often!
  
  Your bank of sins is not a good investment account – the interest it earns is God’s increasing judgment to repent – and He can be relentless!
  
  So let’s get started.
  
  The first vision – “The Flying Scroll”
  
  Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a flying scroll! And he said to me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a flying scroll. Its length is twenty cubits, and its width ten cubits.” Then he said to me, “This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole land. For everyone who steals shall be cleaned out according to what is on one side, and everyone who swears falsely shall be cleaned out according to what is on the other side. I will send it out, declares the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter the house of the thief, and the house of him who swears falsely by my name. And it shall remain in his house and consume it, both timber and stones.” (Zechariah 5;1-4 ESV)
  
  In this vision, God shows Zechariah a flying scroll measuring about 30 feet (20 cubits) long and 15 feet (10 cubits) wide. It had writing on both sides.
  
  On one side, it stated that the curse would track down every violator who steals, and on the other side, it state that the curse would track down every violator who swears falsely by God’s name and would remain in the house, and ultimately consume it.
  
  This scroll has two important lessons for us.
  
  First – The Standard for God’s judgment is God’s Word.
  
  The scroll symbolizes God’s Word, and especially the Ten Commandments. Just as God wrote on both sides of the tablets, so both sides of the scroll contains writing.
  
  On one side mentions stealing – the middle commandment of he second table of the law – which deals with our relationships with each other.
  
  The other side of the scroll mentions swearing falsely by God’s name – the middle commandment of the first table of the law, which deals with our relationship with God.
  
  Jesus pointed out in Matthew 22:37-39:
  
  And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
  
  Zechariah was being shown the same thing – that this summed up the entire law. The size of the scroll was large, and the fact that it was flying through the air meant that everyone could see it – and read it. Its warnings were proclaimed to all – and none would be without excuse.
  
  In addition, the dimensions were identical to the size of the Most Holy Place in the Temple – the holiest place in the Temple – where the Spirit of God resided. It was also identical to the size of the porch of Solomon’s Temple, where the Law was read aloud to the people.
  
  What we take away from this is that not the imagery – but the fact that we need to judge our lives by God’s Holy Word. Our culture drifts morally with the times – but God’s Word is absolute and an unchanging, moral standard.
  
  Second, The extent of God’s judgment is relentless and thorough.
  
  If we think we can secretly sin and get away with it – we are deceiving ourselves. I’ve been saying on Facebook and Twitter a lot lately – the following scripture:
  
  Numbers 32:23 – “… you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out“.
  
  Verse 4 of our text in Zechariah shows us that our sin is never private. It pictures homes leveled and destroyed.God is committed to the holiness of His people – beginning with the thought level.
  
  “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. (Matthew 5:27-30 ESV)
  
  Paul mentions that in Corinth, some were sick and others were dying because they weren’t judging their own sins before coming to the Lord’s Table.
  
  For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. (1 Corinthians 11:29-31 ESV)
  
  You know, you can fake it and put on your church face when around the holy crowd – but God knows your every thought and deed.
  
  If we call ourselves by His holy name, then we have business to do with Him – starting on the heart level. God is committed to our holiness – so we must commit to growing in holiness according to His Word.
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- What does God say about Firearms and Self-Defense?
  
  Posted at 3:28 am by Rev. Joseph Geiser, on November 7, 2017
  Yesterday, I wrote on Facebook and Twitter, that I felt that every church should have at least two trained, armed ushers at each service. I wrote this after hearing about the horrific shooting at a church service in Texas, taking the lives of at least 25 and injuring 20.
  
  I’m sure that many were taken aback by my statement. I also said that the pastor should also be packing as well. I’m sure that this really sent people into crazy-mode.
  
  There are sound reasons for my statements,which I’ll get into in a bit – but first, what does God and the Bible have to say on the subject? As Christians – we believe that we should always defer to the Word of God – correct?
  
  So, let’s start there.
  
  As a Messianic Jew myself, I always look at the Tanakh – the Old Testament – first. It’s the only Bible that Jesus had to work from in His day. Not to worry, New Testament purists – I’ll go there too, but I like to see things as Jesus Himself would have seen things – there was, after all, no Brit Hadasha (בריטית הדשה) – Hebrew for “New Covenant” – or New Testament – in Jesus’ day.
  
  Question: Is it a duty for a Christian to defend himself (and his family)?
  
  Let’s see, it it God’s duty to protect what’s His? The Bible says that it is.
  
  In the third chapter of Genesis, we see a fallen Adam and Eve. The Garden of Eden is perfect, but man has now sinned.
  
  Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever–” therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:22-24 ESV)
  
  God saw that the man now knew the difference between good and evil – by eating of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil – the very tree they were command to not eat from – God had to make sure that the Tree of Life was also protected. Adam and Eve weren’t going to live forever anymore – so that Tree – His creation – needed to be protected.
  
  Verse 24 shows how God did this – He placed Cherubim (guards) and a flaming sword (a “fire arm”) – to “guard the way to the Tree of Life.”
  
  Another example of God protecting what is His – the Israelites, were (and still are) – His.
  
  In Exodus 32, we see His people defiling themselves – and His good name, through idol worship. They were worshiping a golden calf. Again – God protects what is His. In this case, His good name and holy stature – and to save His people from themselves. God tells Moses to tell the Men of Levi:
  
  And he said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Put your sword on your side each of you, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill his brother and his companion and his neighbor.’” (Exodus 32:27 ESV)
  
  God had to purify the camp – and instructed the men to don a sword – a weapon, and defend God’s holiness.
  
  In the nation of Switzerland – the law of the land is that every home must have a rifle and a handgun – in working order. It’s funny how so many see this country as a “pacifist” and a “neutral” country, when in actuality, it has the lowest crime rates in the world – and no nation will go to war with it.
  
  God said that every man should have a sword – and in Switzerland, everyone has a weapon. No one messes with Switzerland – even Hitler and Nazi Germany – went around it, and didn’t attack it – they knew that they would be slaughtered by the armed population.
  
  So, if God has a duty to protect what’s His, so we, as created in God’s image and likeness (Genesis 1:26) – also have a duty to protect what is ours.
  
  Have you ever heard of the “Stand Your Ground” laws, in states like Florida and Texas?This law (sometimes called “line in the sand” or “no duty to retreat” law) is a justification in a criminal case, whereby defendants can “stand their ground” and use force without retreating, in order to protect and defend themselves or others against threats or perceived threats.
  
  Where does this come from?
  
  And next to him was Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the men fled from the Philistines. But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines, and the Lord worked a great victory. (2 Samuel 23:11-12 ESV)
  
  Shammah – one of David’s mighty men, stood his ground against the Philistines – and God brought a great victory.
  
  We too, are to stand our ground – our home, our family, what God has provided to us – and protect it! We see this in Exodus 22 as well:
  
  If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. (Exodus 22:2-3 ESV)
  
  In other words, if a thief if breaking in – and you kill him to protect your family – you’re “standing your ground” – and you’re absolved of the killing, it’s not murder (the 6th commandment – which says “you shall not murder”) – doesn’t apply.
  
  In other words, God’s Word says that you are permitted, biblically, to protect and defend – what’s yours – your family, your home, your possessions.
  
  (It also says that if they get away, and they’re caught – that you can’t kill them for that – that they have to repay what they took, or be sold into servitude to repay the debt. In other words, you have to defer to the police and the law of the land.)
  
  These check this map to see if your state has a “Stand Your Ground” law.
  
  Most liberal states like California, Colorado, New York and New Jersey don’t permit you to protect your family and home – most states have this protection however.
  
  (The leadership in these states are mostly heathens anyway, and could care less what God has to say anyway – to their detrement).
  
  OK – you say that the Old Testament is full of war and fighting anyway – why go there? We’re not “under the law” anymore. So why do I go there?
  
  First – as Christians, we believe that there are 66 Books of the Bible – not 27! We believe that the entire Bible is inerrant scripture.
  
  Second, it’s not full of war – it’s rich with rules for wise living,
  
  Third. and most important – yes, Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection fulfilled the Law – the Sacrificial Law.
  
  Jews no longer make sacrifices at the Temple – Jesus’ death is the fulfillment of that in that He died for our sins – we no longer need to make a blood sacrifice for sin – Jesus did that for us.
  
  The Moral Law, however – that’s a different story.
  
  God laid down a moral law in the Torah – the first five books of the Tanakh , The Hebrew Bible, the Christian Old Testament – and it’s the basis of most of the laws here in the United States of America and many other nations.
  
  But, OK, – for you folks who want me to point to the Brit Hadasha (pronounced in Hebrew, the “BREET ha-da-SHAH, meaning “New Covenant”) – the New Testament, let’s start here, with the words of Jesus Himself:
  
  “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.” (Luke 22:35-38 ESV)
  
  Jesus was telling the disciples that after He was gone – that they would be persecuted. He was preparing them for what was to come.
  
  The Greek word for “sword” in this verse is “μάχαιραν” (machiarian). This type of sword was used for “self defense” while travelling, against robbers as well as threats against ones life, including assassins and wild animals.
  
  The New Testament writers use the word “sword” as well – in a spiritual sense. The Greek word used there is “ῥομφαία” (rhomphaia) – a weapon used in battle – a battle sword. This is used to describe how we fight “spiritual warfare” – also in self-defense.
  
  But Jesus commanded the disciples to buy a sword – a weapon – for self-defense! They were to sell a cloak to do so if needed!
  
  So why did Christ say that two swords “were enough” – it’s simple – the disciples weren’t a militia. Two swords were enough to protect twelve of them. They were to be able to defend themselves, not take over entire cities.
  
  We have a God-given right to defend ourselves, to protect ourselves, our families, and what’s ours.
  
  It’s not wrong to own a gun!
  
  Now, let’s get back to arming the church – Why should there be armed ushers? Because a good guy with a gun, can stop a bad guy with a gun. We have seen quite a few examples of people entering churches, hell-bent on taking lives.
  
  Look at this list – how may of these could have had different outcomes, if there was one or two “good guys with guns” – who knows? But God allows us to defend ourselves!
  - First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Tex., on Sunday, in which at least 26 people died, was the latest and by far the most deadly shooting at a church in recent years. Here are some notable previous fatal shootings at churches.
  - Sept. 24, 2017 – Antioch, Tenn. A gunman carrying two pistols opened fire as Sunday services were ending at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ, killing one person and wounding seven others; he also pistol-whipped a church usher who confronted him. The gunman, identified as Emanuel K. Samson, shot and wounded himself, the police said; he was taken into custody.
  - June 17, 2015 – Charleston, S.C. Nine people who had gathered for Bible study at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, a landmark black church in Charleston, were shot and killed by a white gunman, identified by the police as Dylann Storm Roof, who was arrested the next day. A 10th person was wounded. The dead included the Rev. Clementa C. Pinckney, the church’s pastor and a prominent state senator.
  - February 14, 2010 – Richmond, California – Three hooded men walk into Gethsemane Church of God in Christ and opened fire and then fled the scene, as the singing of the choir was replaced by frightened screams. The two victims, a 14-
    year-old boy and a 19-year-old man, were hospitalized.
  - March 8, 2009 – Maryville, Illinois – Terry Joe Sedlacek, 27, of Troy, walks into the First Baptist Church, and shoots pastor Fred Winters dead, point blank. Several church members are injured by a knife in the struggle to capture after the attack, The suspect also had stabbed himself, but survived, when his gun jams.
  - July 27, 2008 – Knoxville, Tennessee – A gunman opens fire in a church during a youth performance, killing two people and injuring seven.
  - Dec. 9, 2007 – Colorado – Three people are killed and five wounded in two shooting rampages, one at a missionary school in suburban Denver and one at a church in Colorado Springs. The gunman in the second incident is killed by a guard.
  - May 20, 2007 – Moscow, Idaho – A standoff between police and a suspect in the shootings of three people in a Presbyterian Church ended with three dead, including one police officer.
  - Aug. 12, 2007 – Neosho, Missouri – First Congregational Church – 3 killed – Eiken Elam Saimon shot and killed the pastor and two deacons and wounded five others.
  - May 21, 2006 – Baton Rouge, Louisiana – The Ministry of Jesus Christ Church – 4 killed – The four at the church who were shot were members of Erica Bell’s family; she was abducted and murdered elsewhere; Bell’s mother, church pastor Claudia Brown, was seriously wounded – Anthony Bell, 25, was the shooter.
  - Feb. 26, 2006 – Detroit, Michigan – Zion Hope Missionary Baptist Church – 2 killed + shooter – Kevin L. Collins, who reportedly went to the church looking for his girlfriend, later killed himself.
  - March 12, 2005 – Brookfield, Wisconsin – Living Church of God – 7 killed + shooter – Terry Ratzmann opened fire on the congregation, killing seven and wounding four before taking his own life.
  - July 30, 2005 – College Park, Georgia – World Changers Church International – shooter killed – Air Force Staff Sgt. John Givens was shot five times by a police officer after charging the officer, following violent behavior.
  - Oct. 5, 2003 – Atlanta, Georgia – Turner Monumental AME Church – 2 killed + shooter – Shelia Wilson walked into the church while preparations are being made for service and shot the pastor, her mother and then herself.
  - June 10, 2002 – Conception, Missouri – Benedictine monastery – 2 killed + shooter – Lloyd Robert Jeffress shot four monks in the monastery killing two and wounding two, before killing himself.
  - March 12, 2002 – Lynbrook, New York – Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church – 2 killed – Peter Troy, a former mental patient, opens fire during Mass, killing the priest and a parishioner. He later receives a life sentence.
  - May 18, 2001 – Hopkinsville, Kentucky – Greater Oak Missionary Baptist Church – 2 killed – Frederick Radford stood up in the middle of a revival service and began
    shooting at his estranged wife, Nicole Radford, killing her and a woman trying to help her.
  - Sept. 15, 1999 – Fort Worth, Texas – Wedgewood Baptist Church – 7 killed + shooter – Larry Gene Ashbrook shot dead seven people and injured a further seven at a concert by Christian rock group Forty Days in Fort Worth, Texas beforekilling himself.
  These are perilous times – what did the Apostle Paul write to Timothy about such times?
  
  But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty [perilous times]. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. (2 Timothy 3:1-9 ESV)
  
  We are to protect against all dangers that may creep into our homes – including God’s house.
  
  People usually enter the sanctuary from the rear, and when seated, face forward. Ushers are usually in the rear of the sanctuary and can protect against an evil-doer coming into the church.
  
  But in the event that this defense is breached, who is facing to the rear of the sanctuary? The Pastor! This is why I say that the pastor too, should be trained and armed to respond to these emergencies. The Pastor is the Shepherd of the Flock – and protects the sheep.
  
  Train and arm him and his assistants. To do otherwise, is to go against scripture – and what church wants to do that?
  
  The Bible clearly tells us that it’s biblical to (1) own a firearm/weapon, (2) protect and defend ourselves and our families and possessions, and (3) protect and defend God’s house and His people.
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- Don’t Keep God Out of the Voting Booth!
  
  Posted at 8:30 am by Rev. Joseph Geiser, on October 30, 2017
  Election Day in the USA is next Tuesday, November 7th, and although it’s not an election for “national” offices, you’ll be electing local leaders – many, no doubt, will aspire for higher, national office some day.
  
  Now is the time to “separate the wheat from the chaff,” so to speak.
  
  This means that it’s time to look at these local candidates – and decide on who God would want to see there, and not what your conscience says. As a believer in Christ – you are to do what God would want done, not what you feel is right – you should KNOW what’s right and pleasing in God’s eyes!
  
  And for those heathens out there reading this who are now boiling at the thought that I would bring God into an election – know this:
  1. God is in every election – He orders everything that happens on this earth. Do you REALLY think that the Russians had the upper hand in the election of Donald Trump and Mike Pence? No! They’re God’s anointed – an answer to the many prayers of many faithful, believing Americans who asked God to “heal our land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
  2. God allows bad things to happen as well. We believers had to endure eight years of tyranny and corruption under Barrack Hussein Obama and the cronies in his administration, in order for God to show us that we had to have faith in Him to see us through, and to bring a bunch of people to repentance. (And they are now being brought to account – many kicking and screaming – but they are being brought to justice, and hopefully, repentance in Jesus Christ)
  3. I am not a non-profit corporation as defined by the Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3), and therefore not under its satanic requirements to not preach the truth. Therefore, I am not afraid of the big, bad, government “thought” and “speech” police. I am free to speak my mind and preach the truth.
  Your church and/or pastor may be checking his tongue at the door of his study – I am not. God woke me up at 2:08 this morning to put this online for you – and by golly, I do what God tells me to do!
  
  So – here goes:
  
  Issue One- Abortion
  
  If a candidate in a local race supports the the murder of the unborn – it’s your duty, as a believer in Christ, not to vote for that candidate. The sixth commandment given in Exodus 20:13 and again in Deuteronomy 5:17 is plain and simple:
  
  “You shall not murder.”
  
  The Hebrew used is לֹ֥֖א תִּֿרְצָֽ֖ח׃ – which is transliterated as lo traSACK – it is literally translated as “not do murder”.
  
  To the King James purists, it does NOT say “do not KILL” – there are many times that justifiable killing is necessary. IF someone tried to break into my home, they will find that out the hard way – I will protect my family at all costs, even if it means taking the life of an attacker.
  
  Murder us completely different – Murder is defined by the Merriam-Webster Legal Dictionary as:
  
  The crime of unlawfully and unjustifiably killing another; such a crime committed purposely, knowingly, and recklessly with extreme indifference to human life or during the course of a serious felony.
  
  Abortion fits this definition! As a believer in Christ, you must accept the fact that an unborn child is a human being – and that purposely killing that human being, with reckless disregard, and without justification – is murder.
  
  Yet, the US Supreme Court saw it fit to usurp Article 1 Constitutional powers, rewrite law – and legislate from the bench – in 1973, in the landmark Roe v. Wade case, which legalized the lawful, and state-sanctioned execution of millions – almost 70,000,000 (that’s 70 MILLION) children – from then until now. If that doesn’t turn your stomach, maybe this does: Hitler exterminated 6 MILLION Jews during the Holocaust – the US government has allowed OVER 10 TIMES that number to be exterminated!
  
  “But. it’s the woman’s right to choose!” – they say! A woman may have the right to choose whether to seek care – but she does not have the right to choose to murder her unborn child. Does the child get a say in that choice?
  
  When does the government confer rights to an unborn child – the weakest among us? Heck – they’re conferring rights on non-citizens and illegal aliens – but not on the unborn citizen? Think about the logic – or lack of logic here.
  
  And you are thinking of voting for this candidate?
  
  Bring God into the Voting Booth – vote for the candidate who supports the right to life of the unborn child, and supports the rollback of Roe v. Wade. That’s what God would want – that’s following HIS commandments! You will answer eventually, for doing otherwise.
  
  Issue 2 – Sexual Sin
  
  If a candidate in a local race supports same-sex marriage, rights afforded to same-sex couples, transgenderism, or anything else that requires one to believe differently than male-female relationships and marriage – then it’s your duty, as a believer in Christ, not to vote for that candidate.
  
  Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him;
  male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:26-27 ESV)
  
  Note that God made man (male) – and woman (female). He didn’t create any other gender.
  
  Facebook, hardly a conservative lot – and a bunch that goes along with pretty much anything liberals come up with – currently lists 71 different genders from which users can choose. Seventy -One! Is there not a Bible-believing person employed there?
  
  There are men’s bathrooms, and women’s bathrooms – two genders, two bathrooms! Now there are “Unisex” bathrooms – which anyone can use. And of course, if you identify as one gender (different than your own), you can use that bathroom!
  
  Ludicrous! Ridiculous! But it’s becoming law – thanks to liberals in government! It’s up to we believers in Christ – to reverse this trend. and to restore natural law and order to society.
  
  Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.
  
  Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”
  
  Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. (Genesis 2:18-25 ESV)
  
  This is the first God-ordained wedding – Note that the helper isn’t a male – but a female, made from the rib of the male. And as verse 24 says: Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. His wife – not Her wife – or His husband.
  
  Two (man and woman) become one flesh – to procreate – that is, to reproduce, to have children! It’s created, and ordained, by God for man and woman, in marriage, to come together.
  
  All throughout the Bible, there are references to men and women procreating – not men with men, or women with women – unless referring directly to sexual sin.
  
  Yet in 2015, in Obergefell v. Hodges – the US Supreme Court again legislated from the bench, again – usurping the Article 1 Constitutional powers of Congress to write laws – and made the practice of same-sex marriage legal in the USA.
  
  And you are thinking of voting for this candidate?
  
  Bring God into the Voting Booth – vote for the candidate who supports marriage as being between a man and a woman, and supports the rollback of Obergefell v. Hodges. That’s what God would want! You will answer eventually, for doing otherwise.
  
  God’s starting to bring godly people into government again.
  
  Judge Roy Moore of Alabama is one – and I believe that he’ll win – because God wants to see His good name restored on our nation once again.
  
  I believe that there are others out there too – and it’s your duty – as a believer in the one, true God, and your Savior Jesus Christ, to vote them in.
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