Monthly Archives: May 2018

May 27, 2018 · 10:00

What Can I Give God?

For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. (Psalm 50:10)

I heard a story about two bills that were printed on the same day. One was a one-dollar bill, and the other was a twenty-dollar bill. They became good friends, but as things go with paper money, they were soon separated at the bank and went off in different directions. After many years apart, the two ended up in the same wallet. The one-dollar bill immediately recognized his long lost friend. “Andy! How have you been? What have you been up to?” The twenty-dollar bill responded enthusiastically, “Well, Georgie, let me tell you. I have just been having a grand old time. I have been on several cruises up and down both coasts of the good old USA. I’ve been to all kinds of concerts, and sports events. I have dined at the finest restaurants all over the country. I’ve been having a blast! How about you, Georgie? What have you been up to?” The one-dollar bill sheepishly answered, “Well, you know me, Andy … church, church, church.”

Giving to God is a struggle for many. I could spend a lot of ink offering many scenarios and excuses for why Christians have trouble giving to God, but the simple truth of it is lack of trust in God. Everyone has “X” amount of money coming in, and “X” amount going out and the two Xs have to balance. Unlike the government that makes its money by legalized theft, most people work for a paycheck which is limited by what the employer is willing to pay. That paycheck only goes so far, and it has to cover housing, food, transportation, medical expenses and so on. Unlike the government, real people get into real financial trouble when they spend more than they take in. Unlike the government, real people cannot print extra money when they run out of cash; that’s against the law.

After all of that, the Bible teaches that we should give to God. The Old Testament teaches the concept of tithing (giving 10%) of our income to God. The first example of this takes place early in the book of Genesis when Abram gives a tithe of all his spoils to Melchizedek (Genesis 14:17-20). Melchizedek was the pre-incarnate Christ.[1] Later the practice of tithing was codified in the Mosaic Law tithes were collected for three different occasions. They were the Levitical tithe (Numbers 18:21, 24), the tithe of the feasts (Deuteronomy 14:22-27) and the tithe for the poor (Deuteronomy 14:28-29).[2] In all, the Israelites were giving 30% not just 10%.

Why did God demand so much? The answer is that God wants His children to depend on Him for their provision. God proved Himself as Provider by giving them manna daily and water in the desert. In all their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, neither their clothes nor their shoes wore out (Deuteronomy 29:5). God took care of them even with all of their complaining. God showed that in spite of what they gave up in tithes, God abundantly provided for all of their needs.

Another purpose for the tithe was so that the people could participate in God’s work of provision. One of the tithes was for the maintenance of “the Church.” The Levites, the priestly tribe, were not allotted any land. They derived their sustenance from the tithes the people brought to the Tabernacle (later the Temple). It was also used for the maintenance of the facilities. The third tithe provided for the poor, and through it, the people participated with God in caring for those who could not care for themselves.

Doubtless, like in other aspects of their religion, the Jews were unfaithful in the giving of their tithes. God points this out through His prophet Malachi. “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings” (Malachi 3:8). Of course, we cannot rob God! As our lead verse affirms, God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. In another place God makes the claim, “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts” (Haggai 2:8). Every created thing belongs to God, even our very souls. “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4). If God owns it all, what then can I give Him?

God created us in His image (Genesis 1:27), and with that image came a free will to choose. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4), but sin is a choice every soul makes individually. Our soul, then, is the only thing over which we exercise a small measure of control, and therefore the only thing which we can give to God. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Psalm 51:17). The “sacrifice” is our offering or “gift” to God. A broken and contrite spirit and heart recognize God for who He is and submits to His ownership. It acknowledges our sinfulness before the Great and Holy God and our unworthiness of all His beneficence. By His grace, we receive what we do not deserve. By His mercy, we are spared what we do deserve. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).

Part of that “reasonable service” includes giving of tithes and offerings for the work of the Lord. I have heard Christians say that the New Testament does not mention tithing. This is true, but neither does it negate the practice. Jesus practiced Judaism perfectly and was therefore obligated to offer tithes. (He paid taxes also: Matthew 17:27; Mark 12:17.) Jesus expanded upon the law by going beyond the external practice to the very thoughts of man – “Ye have heard it said of old … but I say” (Matthew 5:21-46). By the same token, early Christians brought more than a tithe to the church; they sold all of their possessions and gave it to the church (Acts 2:44-45). Paul relates the attitude of the Macedonian church in their giving. He said, “And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God” (2 Corinthians 8:5, emphasis mine). There is the sacrifice!

Many Christians (80%) do not tithe for a variety of reasons, but most do not tithe because they fear they will not have enough to meet their financial obligations. This demonstrates a lack of faith in God’s provision. The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). It also demonstrates that they have not given themselves to the Lord completely; therefore they are relying on themselves for their provision. Other Christians do not tithe because they view their possessions as their own. They have not learned that God ultimately owns everything; we are merely stewards of the blessings He has placed in our possession.

Tithing is an act of faith. It is the sacrifice of ourselves to God through our lives and our possessions. Tithing is the only practice in which God challenges us to test Him. “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10 emphasis mine). Before you take up that challenge, be sure that you give yourself to Him first.

What can I give God? I can give Him all of my life and give back all that He has given to me.

 Notes:

[1]  “Is Salem Jerusalem?” – https://erniecarrasco.com/2015/08/16/is-salem-jerusalem/

[2]  “The Three Tithes of the Old Testament” – https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1958/09/the-three-tithes-of-the-old-testament

Comments Off on What Can I Give God?

Filed under Apologetics, Christianity, Religion, Thanksgiving, Theology, Worship

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

May 20, 2018 · 10:00

Come, Harvest Time!

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (Acts 2:1)

Today, May 20, 2018, celebrates 1988 years since the birth of the Church on Pentecost (provided the Church was born in 30 A.D.). Most modern Christians pay little attention to the day since it is mainly a Jewish observance, and it has never been incorporated into the Christian tradition. However, it might behoove us to give it closer attention. Some end-times prophecy watchers see this Pentecost as a “high watch” day for the Rapture of the Church. I thought the same thing last year and wrote about it, but I was obviously wrong.[1]

This year could be different, but before I continue, I must stress that neither I nor any of those whom I have resourced are setting a date for the Rapture of the Church. Jesus instructed us to “watch” and be ready, and He provided “signs” for which to look. It amazes me how many Christians I know seem to be indifferent about the imminent return of Christ – our “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13). Not me, every day I wake up I am hoping that this will be the day. Yet, while I anxiously await His return, my heart is burdened for those who are lost and will have to go through the horrible 7-year Tribulation that will follow the Rapture. If in that awful time of Tribulation they continue in their rejection of Christ, they will face an eternity in hell. My burden is a thousand times heavier because I have two sons and their wives and my grandchildren that are lost, and it is not as if they have not been taught these things; they simply refuse to believe. Still, I am looking for Jesus to come soon.

So, why this Pentecost? Pentecost is one of the seven Feasts of the Lord.[2] As I have written in the past (See Note 2 below), the Feasts of the Lord are divine appointments for God to keep, and they are prophetic. The first three feasts were fulfilled by Jesus’ first coming: Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits. The last three will be fulfilled at His second coming: Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Feast of Tabernacles. Both the spring and the fall feasts are closely tied together. Pentecost seems to be set apart from the rest. It comes 50 days (almost two months) after the Feast of First Fruits followed by a long space of almost four months before the fall feasts.

Pentecost celebrates the barley harvest (not wheat) which is representative of the Gentile nations. At Pentecost, the priest offers two loaves of leavened bread – again, leaven representing the Gentile nations. This Feast had a partial fulfillment when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in the upper room giving birth to the church. At that time, the Shekinah Glory of God came upon the disciples in the form of “cloven tongues like as of fire” (Acts 2:3) signifying that God’s presence now resided within His people rather than in the Temple. We are now “the temple of God” (1 Corinthians 3:16).

However, as with most prophecies, Pentecost may still have a second fulfillment yet to come. Just as Pentecost is set apart from the other feast days, so is the church set apart from the feasts that directly relate to the Jews. Furthermore, just as there is a long period between Pentecost and the Feast of Trumpets, so there has been a long period between the birth of the Church and the long-awaited “marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:6-10).

The signs indicating our Lord’s soon return are many.[3] Israel just celebrated the 70th anniversary of their rebirth as a nation fulfilling the “dry bones” prophecy of Ezekiel 37.  This is also the 70th Year of Jubilee since the Law was given to Moses. Furthermore, if you can believe biblical chronology, it is the 120th Jubilee from the time of creation (Genesis 6:3) – 120 x 50 = 6000. Put that together with the Revelation 12 sign[4] that appeared on September 23, 2017, the alignment of nations against Israel in preparation for the Ezekiel 38-39 war, the increased violence all over the world, seismic and catastrophic weather activity, and an increase in demonic activity; it becomes very apparent that something big is about to happen.

Could this Sunday, Pentecost be the day that Jesus comes for His Bride? I do not know, nor does anyone else, but the signs make for a good possibility! I am ready! How about you? If the prospect scares you, then perhaps it’s time that you make things right with your Creator. See my page on “Heaven” for help with that.

Here are some good YouTube videos to learn more about the possible Pentecost Rapture:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxMj20tU_HQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVhOm9E1bjw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig7LXnYOLhc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CJJYIXAVwA

Notes:

[1]  “Pentecost” – https://erniecarrasco.com/2017/05/28/pentecost/

[2]  “Rosh HaShanah” – https://erniecarrasco.com/2016/10/03/rosh-hashanah/

[3]  “Now’s A Good Time!” – https://erniecarrasco.com/2017/09/17/nows-a-good-time/

[4]  “Coming Soon!” — https://erniecarrasco.com/2017/07/09/coming-soon/

3 Comments

Filed under Apologetics, Christianity, Current Events, End Times, Evangelism, Gospel, Hell, Religion, Salvation, Second Coming of Christ, Theology

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

May 13, 2018 · 10:00

Anytime Now!

(180429) — DAMASCUS, April 29, 2018 (Xinhua) — Photo taken on April 29, 2018 shows destruction in the parts that have recently been captured from the Islamic State militants in the al-Qadam neighbourhood, south of Damascus, Syria. The Syrian army captured the IS-controlled areas in al-Qadam on Saturday, according to the state news agency SANA. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani) (lrz)

The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. (Isaiah 17:1)

Much to the chagrin of the Iranian leadership, President Donald Trump announced on May 8, 2018, that he is pulling the US out of the controversial Iranian nuclear deal. In their indignation, Iran lashed out at Israel in a midnight attack sending 20 rockets aimed at Israeli military targets in the Golan Heights on May 10, 2018.[1] Israel’s Iron Dome air defense intercepted four of the 20 rockets into Israeli territory. The remaining rockets fell harmlessly in Syrian territory displaying the “iron dome” of God.

In keeping with their warning of retaliation against Iran for any attacks on Israel from Syria, the IDF responded immediately with a counter-attack on 50 Iranian military installations in Syria.[2] The attack destroyed most of Iran’s military infrastructure preventing retaliation in the very near future. However, Iran will not be deterred from her obsession to obliterate Israel from the Middle East. That obsession brings Iran into direct conflict with “he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:4). Israel’s security remains tenuous. They rest secure in their military capabilities knowing they can respond to any threat. However, for the most part, their trust remains in their capabilities and those of their allies. “To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord GOD” (Ezekiel 13:16).

I enjoy the ministry of Amir Tsarfati, Behold Israel,[3] and watch his YouTube updates of current events in Israel. With all that is going on in and around Israel, Amir frequently points out that Israelis dwell in “peace and security;” that is the perception of those living in Israel which does not necessarily reflect reality. The time of the end approaches rapidly, and Amir knows this very well. We need to be ready.

Tomorrow, Monday, May 14, 2018, Israel celebrates 70 years of the rebirth of the nation. The “dry bones” of Ezekiel 37 came alive and “and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army” (Ezekiel 37:10). No record in history exists where a people dispersed among the nations of the earth retained their language, their religion, their traditions, and  their national identity. In 70 A.D., Israel was disseminated, Jerusalem was razed, and the land became a desolate wasteland. Then, 1878 years later, the “dry bones” miraculously came to life once more. Do you need evidence to believe in God? Look at Israel! “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children” (Isaiah 66:8, emphasis mine).

Among many other signs, concerning Israel and the nations for the end times is the destruction of Damascus. Damascus is undoubtedly the oldest consistently inhabited city in history. We first read of it in Genesis 14:15 when four marauding kings from the area that we now know as Syria attacked the kings around Sodom and Gomorrah. They spoiled the cities and took away captives including Abram’s nephew, Lot. You can read the complete account in Genesis 14, but the point being is that Damascus was a well-established city at the time.

Just as God promised that the dry bones of Israel would be reconstituted, He also promised that Damascus would be a “ruinous heap” (Isaiah 17:1, our starting verse). “And behold at eveningtide trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us” (Isaiah 17:14). Iran has amassed a cache of war implements around Damascus as targets for Israeli warplanes. At the same time, rebels against the Assad regime have pummeled Damascus with their own arsenal of mortars, rockets, and explosives. Damascus is quickly becoming a “ruinous heap.”

The convergence of many happenings indicates that Christ’s return is very near. He is the Peace of Jerusalem for which we pray (Psalm 122:6). Indeed, He is the only hope for peace in this world. Before He returns to set things right, He will take away His Bride, the Church, from the wrath to come. “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9). So, as we witness prophecy fulfilled before our eyes – and this is only apparent if you are paying attention – we anxiously anticipate His call to “Come up hither” (Revelation 4:1) at any moment.

I don’t know about you, but I long with an aching in my heart to see my Savior face to face. How about you? Are you ready and waiting to meet Jesus?

Notes:

[1]  “Iran Attacks Israel. Israel Shoots Down all the Iranian Rockets” – https://israelunwired.com/iran-attacks-israel-israel-shoots-down-all-the-iranian-rockets/

[2]  “Israel Unleashes Stunning Strike Capabilities On Iranian Forces In Syria” – http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=2253

[3]  Behold Israel Ministry YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/beholdisrael/featured

2 Comments

Filed under Apologetics, Christianity, Current Events, End Times, Evangelism, Gospel, Religion, Second Coming of Christ, Theology

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

May 6, 2018 · 10:00

Spiritual Contortions

And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. (Luke 16:15)

Have you ever patted yourself on the back? I mean, have you literally reached around behind your neck and patted yourself on the back? I have, and I can honestly say it’s not so easy nor is it very rewarding. It feels better when someone else comes behind you with a solid pat on the back and a heartfelt, “Good job!” In comparison, self-approval always rings rather hollow.

These days the media are full of the “rich and famous” who take any opportunity “toot their own horns” from the highest levels of our government to the lowest levels of the entertainment industry. This is nothing new; it has been around from the beginning of time. Remember Cain? He thought so highly of himself that brought God an offering that he determined was good enough by his estimate. Then, when God rejected his offering, his jealousy, and anger toward his brother. Abel, who offered a proper offering, drove him to commit the first murder.[1] However, such arrogance started even before that. It was Lucifer that started it all when he said, “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:13-14).

Paul encourages us “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think” (Romans 12:3). Jesus provides the insight for this axiom: “God knoweth your hearts;” and furthermore, “that which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God” (Luke 16:15). Instead, what God esteems is an abomination to men; that is, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (James 4:10). God’s pat on the back exceeds any spiritual contortion I can make to pat my own back. How I long to hear the words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21)!

However, the Preacher reminds us, “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14). The Apostle Paul admonishes, “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is” (1 Corinthians 3:12-13). The final test of our work will reveal its true value. Nothing we have done on our own will earn God’s “Atta boy!” Therefore, the Preacher concludes, “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

Rather than follow the world’s example of self-aggrandizement (and risk pulling a muscle by patting ourselves on the back), let us faithfully serve the Lord with humility. He will say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23) in due time.

[1]  See Genesis 4:3-16.

1 Comment

Filed under Christianity, Religion, Satan, Theology

Tagged as , , , , , , ,