“There exists a vanity that is carried out on the earth, that there exist righteous ones

to whom it is happening as if for the work of the wicked ones, and there exist wicked

ones to whom it is happening as if for the work of the righteous ones.

I said that this too is vanity.”

Ecclesiastes 8:14

Do Not Blame God_Trust Him In Everything

The righteous seem to receive all of the bad things, and the wicked
seem to go through life unscathed, untouched. They have the big
cars and the nice houses on the hill. They can take fancy vacations.
Nothing bad ever seems to happen to them.

A main reason that I Peter 2:18-24 was written is to warn us that
sometimes the innocent are caught in God’s justice. They will have
to suffer for something that they have not caused. The test for
us is whether we will be able to accept God’s justice, His judgment,
and take it in the same spirit that Christ did. If anyone could ever
cry out, “Unfair! Unfair!” Jesus Christ would have to be the One.

How about us? What trials have we gone through, in which we did
not cause the trial but became caught in somebody else’s sin?
It is very easy in such cases to cry out to God, “Unfair! Unfair!
God, why are You allowing this to happen to me?”
The implication of our complaint is, “After all the good things
that I’ve done for You, God, You treat me like this.”
We are, in effect, trying to vindicate ourselves.
We become frustrated and accusative, never even stopping to
think that, if we received truly fair treatment, we would get
what happened to Nadab and Abihu and Ananias and Sapphira!

Ω

Ω

[In regards to Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, please read Leviticus 10:1-3]

It would seem that God’s intent in the passage was not to draw
our attention to the exact violation itself but the attitude of the
men who violated God’s law.

They betrayed a carelessness, an irreverence, a want of faith,
most surprising and lamentable. A precedent of such evil tendency
was dangerous, and it was imperatively necessary, therefore,
as well for the priests themselves as for the sacred things, that
a marked expression of the divine displeasure should be given
for doing that which “God commanded them not.”

The hearts of Nadab and Abihu were that which really were
judged that day when God consumed them by fire. Their deeds
of recklessness and disobedience merely indicated the rebellion
of their own dark hearts.

{Death of Nadab and Abihu and its implications as explained by Jacob Allee}

Ω

Ω

[In regards to Ananias and Sapphira, please read Acts 5:1-11]

{Their brashness of offering false worship to God revealed their evil hearts}

♣

♠

Almighty God Yahweh/Jehovah wants to see if we have faith
in His judgment, in Him as an absolutely Perfect Judge.
Do we trust Him, or do we only trust Him when the going is good?

β

β

John W. Ritenbaugh
Excerpted from: Justice and Grace

Doesn’t this prick your conscience? Just imagine, when your everyday is rolling along with your worldly commitments and so pressed for time that you’re neglecting God, your first priority because He’s your Creator, and not even feeling remorseful about it; God just as so much lift His finger and “unhinged” the earth from its place and it loses all gravity, what do you think will happen to you? Your body floats soullessly and inanimately into the dark vacuum space of the universe but where is your soul? Will you be praying, crying and pleading then for God to keep your soul albeit knowing in your heart it’s a bit too late?

Yes, that’s a question we should be asking ourselves every moment of everyday.

Truthfully and honestly, contemplate and ponder the path of your life, discern your ways of living and consider it whether it’s right and worthy in the eyes of God.  Do remember, the narrow gate leads to heaven and the wide temptation gate of sin will set you onto a field of landmines that ultimately destroys your soul. Do not compromise your convictions, don’t desire nor seek momentary pleasures nor worldly profits which fades like the blades of grass. Those fame, fortune, prestige and accolades are here today but gone tomorrow, like the flower aptly named “morning glory” because they open and close the same day.

fleeting sun kissed beauty of the morning glory

Seek earnestly and honor the Will of God Yahweh/Jehovah for His reward for you is your “name” in the Book of Life and a place in His Heavenly Kingdom. Do not tarry,  guard your Heart and your Soul for His Eternal Son, our Messiah and Lord, Yeshua/Jesus is coming quickly!

♠ ♥ ♠

*** Believe in Him; Trust in Him and Love Him Completely ***

♣ ♥ ♣

God is the Soul Provider and His Gift to you is *Life*

Ω Ω Ω

©  keziah boey © – November 21, 2011

Ω Ω Ω

Part One

Choosing A Godly Wife or Husband

♥

♥

♥

Part Two

Pursuing After Godliness

♥

♥

♥

*by aflame4God*

Be the Salt of the Earth

*Salt of the Earth*

♦

♠

Salt is not an expensive article of food, but a very important one.

When the Lord Jesus was here upon earth,

He said, “YOU are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its strength,

how will its saltness be restored? It is no longer usable for anything

but to be thrown outside to be trampled on by men.”

 *Matthew 5:13*

∞

All that salt is in the natural, the Lord Jesus wants the Christian to be

in a spiritual sense. Salt was a common product in the days when the

Lord Jesus walked the earth, as now, so that His disciples understood

what He meant when He said, “Ye are the salt of the earth.”

ô

Let us listen to the message of the fine grains of salt.

Salt is used to season food and make it palatable.

Think of a meal being served without salt.

So, think of a community without Christians.

The reason such terrible conditions exist in heathen lands,

is that the Lord Jesus is not known and the Bible not read.

People who do not know Him are SALTLESS.

There is no savor about their lives.

Salt permeates, or penetrates food very quickly.

Put a bit in a glass of water and soon the entire contents are affected by it.

It is not careful to hide its identity—it seems to be constantly saying,

“I am salt: I am salt.”

δ

Salt has healing properties, and is often used as an antiseptic or a purifier.

If Christian boys and girls are like salt, then they too, will lend a purifying

influence among their playmates and friends.

They will be able to HEAL many quarrels and misunderstandings.

Parents are always glad to have their children make friends with the

Christian boy or girl, for this very reason.

ζ

Salt is very powerful, too, as you shall see.

I have here a jar of water and an egg.

When I put the egg in the jar of water, notice what happens!

Why, the egg falls to the bottom of the jar.

It can only be lifted up by means of a spoon.

But suppose I add some salt, then what will happen?

See the egg come to the top!

Salt has lifting power, and is able not only to lift the egg,

but to keep it afloat on the water.

The world drags a man down in sin and would keep him down.

A Christian should, like the salt, lift men “up”—not in his own

strength, but by pointing him to the One, who alone can reach

down to the depths and lift a man up to the heights.

“Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else,

for there is not another name under heaven that has

been given among men by which we must get saved”

except the name of Jesus.

*Acts 4:12*

There is power in His name.

“Thou shalt call His name Jesus for He shall save

His people from their sins”

*Matthew 1:21*

♥

When one accepts the Lord Jesus as Saviour,

he becomes a “new creature in Christ Jesus.”

His life becomes powerful like the “salt.”

He has a savor about him that tells of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Are you like these little white grains of salt?

If not, the Lord Jesus wants you to be.

Hear His words,

“Ye are the salt of the earth.”

Ψ

“For everyone must be salted with fire.

Salt is fine; but if ever the salt loses its strength,

with what will YOU season it itself?

Have salt in yourselves, and keep peace between one another.”

*Mark 9:49-50*

Ψ

≈sermon illustration≈

*moreillustrations*

Ω  α  β

Ω  α  β

Let all malicious bitterness and anger and wrath and screaming

and abusive speech be taken away from YOU along with all badness.

Ephesians 4:31

Ω  α  β

Ω  α  β

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, and they are fornication,

uncleanness, loose conduct, 20 idolatry, practice of spiritism, enmities,

strife, jealousy, fits of anger, contentions, divisions, sects, 21 envies,

drunken bouts, revelries, and things like these. As to these things I am

forewarning YOU, the same way as I did forewarn YOU, that those who

practice such things will not inherit God’s kingdom.

Galatians 5:19-21

Ω  α  β

Ω  α  β

Do not show yourself heated up because of the evildoers.
Do not be envious of those doing unrighteousness.

Psalms 37:1

Ω  α  β

Ω  α  β

Let anger alone and leave rage;
Do not show yourself heated up only to do evil.

Psalms 37:8

Ω  α  β

Ω  α  β

♥   ♥   ♥

Galatians : 5:22-23

22 On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace,

long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 mildness, self-control.

♥   ♥   ♥

Ω

Israel’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Danny Ayalon explains the historical

facts relating to the Israeli Palestinian conflict. The video explains where the

terms “West Bank”, “occupied territories” and “67 Borders” originated and how

they are incorrectly used and applied.

Ω

Origin of the Name Palestine

♠

Where did the name Palestine come from?

♠

Photo by Jack Hazut

Seashore near Rosh Hanigra Northern Israel near the border with Lebanon

The name Palestine refers to a region of the eastern Mediterranean coast from the sea to the Jordan valley and from the southern Negev desert to the Galilee lake region in the north. The word itself derives from “Plesheth”, a name that appears frequently in the Bible and has come into English as “Philistine”. Plesheth, (root palash) was a general term meaning rolling or migratory. This referred to the Philistine’s invasion and conquest of the coast from the sea. The Philistines were not Arabs nor even Semites, they were most closely related to the Greeks originating from Asia Minor and Greek localities. They did not speak Arabic. They had no connection, ethnic, linguistic or historical with Arabia or Arabs.

The Philistines reached the southern coast of Israel in several waves. One group arrived in the pre-patriarchal period and settled south of Beersheba in Gerar where they came into conflict with Abraham, Isaac and Ishmael. Another group, coming from Crete after being repulsed from an attempted invasion of Egypt by Rameses III in 1194 BCE, seized the southern coastal area, where they founded five settlements (Gaza, Ascalon, Ashdod, Ekron and Gat). In the Persian and Greek periods, foreign settlers – chiefly from the Mediterranean islands – overran the Philistine districts.

From the fifth century BC, following the historian Herodotus, Greeks called the eastern coast of the Mediterranean “the Philistine Syria” using the Greek language form of the name. In AD 135, after putting down the Bar Kochba revolt, the second major Jewish revolt against Rome, the Emperor Hadrian wanted to blot out the name of the Roman “Provincia Judaea” and so renamed it “Provincia Syria Palaestina”, the Latin version of the Greek name and the first use of the name as an administrative unit. The name “Provincia Syria Palaestina” was later shortened to Palaestina, from which the modern, anglicized “Palestine” is derived.

This remained the situation until the end of the fourth century, when in the wake of a general imperial reorganization Palestine became three Palestines: First, Second, and Third. This configuration is believed to have persisted into the seventh century, the time of the Persian and Muslim conquests.

The Christian Crusaders employed the word Palestine to refer to the general region of the “three Palestines.” After the fall of the crusader kingdom, Palestine was no longer an official designation. The name, however, continued to be used informally for the lands on both sides of the Jordan River. The Ottoman Turks, who were non-Arabs but religious Muslims, ruled the area for 400 years (1517-1917). Under Ottoman rule, the Palestine region was attached administratively to the province of Damascus and ruled from Istanbul. The name Palestine was revived after the fall of the Ottoman Empire in World War I and applied to the territory in this region that was placed under the British Mandate for Palestine.

The name “Falastin” that Arabs today use for “Palestine” is not an Arabic name. It is the Arab pronunciation of the Roman “Palaestina”.

Quoting Golda Meir:

• The British chose to call the land they mandated Palestine, and the Arabs picked it up as their nation’s supposed ancient name, though they couldn’t even pronounce it correctly and turned it into Falastin a fictional entity. [In an article by Sarah Honig, Jerusalem Post, November 25, 1995]

Ω

♣

♣

2 Timothy 3:1-5

1 But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here.

2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty,

blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal,

3 having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without

self-control, fierce, without love of goodness,

4 betrayers, headstrong, puffed up [with pride], lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God,

5 having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power; and from these turn away!

♠

(Hatred, wars, rape, incest, violence, greed, love of money,
foul language, selfishness, divorce, homosexuality,
group sex, wife swapping, swinging, orgies,incest,
fornication, adultery, stealing, murder, lying,
mugging, kidnapping, prostitution, trafficking in
child slavery, worshipping “the son” only
instead of “the Father”, Christians celebrating pagan
holidays, Christians wearing pagan idols,
child abuse, parent abuse, grand-parent abuse,
spiritism, astrology, witchcraft, drug-abuse,
drunkeness, slander, haughtiness, arrogance,
lovers of pleasure, disobedient to parents,
disobedient to authority, ungrateful, unthankful,
not open to any agreement, puffed up with pride,
false witnesses, no self-control, fierce, headstrong,
and just plain mean.)

♠

♣

All the ABOVE brings people down and it starts with what’s in their minds,

it takes roots and it festers and soon the mind becomes a battlefield and leads

to internal spiritual warfare, the wrestle between doing good and bad,

these are the schemes and machinations of the Devil aka Satan aka Lucifer,

the fallen angel!

Time is short and running out for him, so he and his minions manipulates and

deceives mankind in every which way to deter them from worshipping

YAHWEH our God and YESHUA, our Messiah

♣

the whole world beguiled into Satan's hands

♠

14 But if YOU have bitter jealousy and contentiousness in YOUR hearts, do not be bragging and lying against the truth.

15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is [the] earthly, animal, demonic.

16 For where jealousy and contentiousness are, there disorder and every vile thing are.

James 3:14-16

♠

“Do not boast, lie or murmur sweet words to cover up the ugly truth in thine hearts

of arrogance, selfishness and bitter jealousy which is venom to thy souls”

It’s earthly and it’s the attitude of Satan, the father of all lies and deceit;

so purify yourselves with the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God Yahweh

so that you may stand blameless when our Messiah Yeshua comes back to reclaim

his rightful throne to rule.

♣ ♣ ♣

♣

Filed under: LIFE, Reflections, Religion, Thoughts, Words of Wisdom Tagged: 2 Timothy 3:1-5, bitter jealousy, contentiousness, demonic, Devil, earthly, fallen angel, James 3:14-16, lovers of pleasures, lucifer, One True Eternal God, Our Messiah, Satan, ungodliness, wisdom, Yahushua/Yeshua/Jesus, Yahuwah/Yahweh/Jehovah, Yeshua ]]> http://kezi.wordpress.com/2011/07/25/machinations-of-the-devil/feed/ 0 kez the whole world beguiled into Satan's hands http://kezi.wordpress.com/2011/07/25/rock-flowers/ http://kezi.wordpress.com/2011/07/25/rock-flowers/#comments Mon, 25 Jul 2011 11:00:06 +0000 keziah28 http://kezi.wordpress.com/?p=2416 ]]> Rock Flowers

♣

♥

♥ “Thou hast shewed thy people hard things” (Psalms 60:3). ♥

bloom of rock flowers

♣

I have always been glad that the Psalmist said to God that some things were hard.

There is no mistake about it; there are hard things in life.

Some beautiful pink flowers were given me this summer,

and as I took them I said, “What are they?”

And the answer came, “They are rock flowers; they grow and bloom

only on rocks where you can see no soil.”

Then  I thought of God’s flowers growing in hard places;

and I feel, somehow, that He may have a peculiar tenderness for

His “rock flowers” that He may not have for His lilies and roses.

♣ Margaret Bottome ♣

♣

rock flowers growing in "character" in hard places

Ω

The tests of life are to make, not break us.

Trouble may demolish a man’s business but build up his character.

The blow at the outward man may be the greatest blessing to the inner man.

If God, then, puts or permits anything hard in our lives,

be sure that the real peril, the real trouble, is what we shall lose if we flinch or rebel.

♠ Maltbie D. Babcock ♠

Ω

♣

  “Heroes are forged on anvils hot with pain,

And splendid courage comes but with the test.

Some natures ripen and some natures bloom

Only on blood-wet soil, some souls prove great

Only in moments dark with death or doom.”

♣

by Mrs. Charles Cowman – Streams in the Desert

♠

“God gets his best soldiers out of the highlands of affliction.”

“Children, obey your parents in the Master: for this is right. Honor thy father and thy mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the [new] earth.” (Ephesians 6:1). Children who dishonor their parents, and disobey them, and disregard their advice and instructions, can have no part in the earth made new. The purified new earth will be no place for the rebellious, the disobedient, the unthankful, ungrateful son or daughter. Unless such learn obedience and submission here, they will never learn the lesson hereafter; and the peace of the ransomed will never be marred by the disobedient, unruly, unsubmissive children. No commandment-breaker can inherit the kingdom of heaven. Will all the youth please read the fifth commandment spoken by Jehovah from Sinai, and engraven with his own finger upon tables of stone. “Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Master thy Yahuwah giveth thee.” (Exodus 20:12). “Children, obey your parents in all things; for this is well-pleasing unto the Master.”

There are many passages of Scripture that are plain, instructing the young, showing them clearly the will of Yahuwah concerning them. These plain teachings they must meet in the Judgment. Yet there is not one young man or woman in twenty who professes the present truth, who heeds these Bible teachings. They do not read the word of Yahuwah enough to know its claims upon them, and yet these truths will judge them in the great day of Yahuwah, when young and old will be judged according to the deeds done in the body.

Says John, “I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of Yahuwah abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of Yahuwah abideth forever.”  (1 John 2:14-17).

This exhortation to young men extends also to young women. Their youth does not excuse them from the responsibilities resting upon them. The youth are strong. They are not worn down with the weight of years, and with cares. Their affections are ardent, and if they are withdrawn from the world, and placed upon Yahushua and heaven, doing the will of Yahuwah, they will have a hope of the better life that is enduring, and they will abide forever, being crowned with glory, honor, immortality, eternal life. If the youth live to gratify the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, they are seeking for the things of the world, are pleasing their great adversary, and separating themselves from the Father. And when these things that are sought after pass away, their hopes are blighted and their expectations perish. Separated from Yahuwah, then they will bitterly repent their folly of serving their own pleasure, of gratifying their own desires, and for a few frivolous enjoyments, of selling a life of immortal bliss that they might have enjoyed forevermore. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world,” says the inspired apostle. Then the warning, “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” It is an alarming fact that the love of the world predominates in the minds of the young. They decidedly love the world and the things that are in the world, and for this very reason the love of Yahuwah finds no room in their hearts. Their pleasures are found in the world, and in the things of the world, and they are strangers to the Father and the graces of his Spirit. Frivolity and fashion, and empty, vain talking and laughing, characterize the life of the youth generally, and Yahuwah is dishonored. Paul exhorts the youth to sobriety: “Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.”  (Titus 2:6-8).

I entreat the youth for their souls’ sake to heed the exhortation of the inspired apostle. All these gracious instructions, warnings, and reproofs, will be either a savor of life unto life or of death unto death. Many of the young are reckless in their conversation. They choose to forget that by their words they shall be justified, or by their words be condemned. Take heed to the words of our Saviour: “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things; and an evil man out the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of Judgment; for by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” (Matthew 12:35-36). How little regard is paid even to the instructions of the heavenly Teacher! The word of Yahuwah is either not studied at all, or if it is, its solemn truths are not heeded, and these plain truths will rise up in Judgment and condemn them.

    Words and acts testify plainly what is in the heart. If vanity and pride, love of self and love of dress, fill the heart, the conversation will be upon the fashions, the dress, and the appearance, but not upon Yahushua or the kingdom of heaven. If envious feelings dwell in the heart, the same will be manifested in words and acts. Those who measure themselves by others, and do as others do, and make no higher attainments, and excuse themselves over the wrongs and faults of others, are feeding on husks, and will remain spiritual dwarfs as long as they gratify the Devil by thus indulging their own unconsecrated feelings. Some dwell upon what they shall eat and drink and wherewithal they shall be clothed. Their hearts are filled with these thoughts, and they flow out from the abundance of the heart, as though these things were their grand aim in life, their highest attainment. They forget the words of Yahushua,”Seek ye first the kingdom of Yahuwah and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”  (Matthew 6:33).

Satan is gratified to have the attention of youth attracted by anything to divert their minds from Yahuwah, so that the deceiver can steal a march upon them, and they, unprepared for his attacks, be ensnared. They are not aware that the heavenly Artist is taking cognizance of every act, every word, and their deportment; and that even the thoughts and intents of the heart stand faithfully delineated. Every defect in the moral character stands forth revealed to the gaze of angels, and they will have the faithful picture presented to them in all its deformity at the execution of the Judgment. Those vain, frivolous words are all written in the book. Those false words are written. Those deceptive acts, with the motives concealed from human eyes, but discerned by the all-seeing eye of Jehovah, are all written in living characters. Every selfish act is exposed. The young generally conduct themselves as though the precious hours of probation, while mercy lingers, were one grand holiday, and that they are placed in this world simply for their own amusement, to be gratified by a continued round of excitement.

Satan has been making special efforts to lead the youth to find happiness in worldly amusements, and to justify themselves in thus doing, by endeavoring to show that these amusements are harmless, innocent, and even important to health. The impression has been given by some physicians that spirituality and devotion to Yahuwah are detrimental to health. This suits the adversary of souls well. There are persons with diseased imaginations who do not rightly represent the religion of Yahushua; such have not the pure religion of the Bible. Some are scourging themselves all through their life because of their sins; all they can see is an offended Yahuwah of justice. Yahushua and his redeeming power, through the merits of his blood, they fail to see. Such have not faith. This class are generally those who have not well-balanced minds. Through disease transmitted to them from their parents, and an erroneous education in youth, they have imbibed wrong habits, injuring the constitution, affecting the brain causing the moral organs to be diseased, and making it impossible for them upon all points to think and act rationally. They have not well-balanced minds. Yahuwahliness and righteousness are not destructive to health, but are health to the body and strength to the soul. Says Peter: “He that will love life, and see good days, . . . let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it: for the eyes of the Master are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers; but the face of the Master is against them that do evil.” (1 Peter 3:10) “But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye; and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled.”  (1 Peter 3:14).

The consciousness of right doing is the best medicine for diseased bodies and minds. The special blessing of Yahuwah resting upon the receiver is health and strength. A person whose mind is quiet and satisfied in Yahuwah is in the pathway to health. To have a consciousness that the eyes of the Master are upon us, and his ears open to hear our prayers, is a satisfaction indeed. To know that we have a never-failing Friend in whom we can confide all the secrets of the soul, is a privilege which words can never express. Those whose moral faculties are beclouded by disease, are not the ones to rightly represent the life of Yahushua, or the beauties of holiness. They are often in the fire of fanaticism, or the water of cold indifference or stolid gloom.

The words of Yahushua are of more worth than the opinions of all the physicians in the universe. “Seek ye first the kingdom of Yahuwah and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” This is the first great object–the kingdom of Heaven, the righteousness of Yahushua.  Other objects to be attained should be secondary to these.

By: Ellen White
Review & Herald
March 30, 1886

We have taken out from the original article all pagan names and titles of the Father and Son, and have replaced them with the original given names. Furthermore, we have restored in the Scriptures quoted the original names of the Father and Son, as they were originally written by the inspired writers of the Bible.

-WLC Team

ω

Objects:

1. A Magnet.

2. Young Children of the Nail Family—small, bright, shiny Nails.

3. Mr. Nail (father), large nail, a bit rusty—invisible string attached, concealing

large bottle under the table.

4. Mrs. Nail (mother) middle-size nail; invisible string attached concealing

deck of cards.

5. Big Brother Nail, tall, bright nail; invisible string attached, concealing

a filthy rag.

6. Bent, rusty Nail (Grandpa Nail).

♣ ♣ ♣

We have the NAIL family before us this morning, boys and girls.

See them here on the table!

They picture a good many families living all about us today.

And what is this? (Exhibit magnet.)

Someone says, “a MAGNET.”

Ω

Yes, this is a magnet. It has drawing power. In John 12:32 the Lord Jesus said,

“And I, if I be lifted up will draw all men unto Me.” He was speaking of His death

on the cross, which would enable Him to draw men and women from sin unto

Himself as Saviour.

We will let the MAGNET picture the Lord Jesus/Yeshua.

Ω

Lord & Savior Jesus/Yeshua_little children drawn to Him

Let us put the magnet in among the Nail family. See the bright, shiny nails fly

to it? These are the small children in the Nail family. Like many other small

children, they are eager to accept the Lord Jesus in their youth. (Eccl. 12:1.)

They gladly accept His loving invitation to the children, “Suffer the little children

to come unto Me and forbid them not.” — Luke 18:16.

Ω

But what about the other members of the Nail family? Some seem unmoved,

while others make an attempt to come, but something seems to hold them back.

Ω

father_an alcoholic

Let us look at each one separately. This tall, strong looking nail, is Mr. Nail,

the father of the household. Surely, Mr. Nail, as the head of the house, should

accept the Lord Jesus as His Saviour. But no, he refuses to come, though he

does seem moved as the story of God’s love is presented to him. Something

seems to hold him back. Let us see what it is. (Beer Bottle in hand)

Ah—this tells the story.

Mr. Nail is bound down by a habit which seems to have the better of him.

This bottle tells not only of a habit, but of worldly friends and pleasures,

which are keeping him away from the church and the Lord.

Is there no hope for Mr. Nail?

Oh, yes, the Lord Jesus is able to break every fetter. He says, “Him that

cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” — John 6:37.

Now, see Mr. Nail cling to the magnet! Hear him sing:

“Other refuge have I none, Hangs my helpless soul on Thee.”

♣

mother_addictive gambling vice

With Mr. Nail a Christian, he is anxious for Mrs. Nail and the other members

of the family to accept the Lord Jesus as Saviour. Mrs. Nail has surely seen

a change in Mr. Nail since he became a Christian, she would like to come to

the Lord Jesus, but something seems to be exerting an influence over her.

Let us see what it is … Why, attached to Mrs. Nail is a deck of cards.

So this is the reason Mrs. Nail will not put her trust in the Lord as her

Saviour — she loves the world and the pleasures of the world.

Finally she too, accepts the invitation of the Lord Jesus. She hears him say,

“Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”

— Matt. 11:28.

What rest and peace she found in Christ—a peace that the world never knew

or offered.

♣

grandpa_grumpy and bitter in sin

Another member of the Nail family is Grandpa.

This bent, rusty nail is Grandpa Nail. He is getting old, all of his life has been

lived for self, with practically no thought of God. He hears of the Lord Jesus

from his son and daughter-in-law, but it doesn’t seem to be for him.

He feels he has lived in sin too long. Again and again they tell him of Jesus’

love. His heart seems changing—he listens with more interest. Finally one

day as Mr. Nail repeated Romans 5:8, “For God commended His love toward

us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” — a joy filled his heart

and life as he exclaimed, “He died for me! He died for me!”

Ω

With Grandpa Nail in the fold, there was only one other member of the family

left untouched by the Gospel. This was Big Brother Nail. Big Brother was a

Senior in college. He couldn’t understand what was happening to the family.

His mother and father tried to tell him, but he was always too busy, besides,

he said such things were “old fashioned.” How they all yearned over Big

Brother and longed to see him come to the Lord Jesus and accept Him as

Saviour.

♣

big brother_insufferable conceited self-righteousness

This tall, bright looking nail is Big Brother. Let us see if we can find out why

he refuses to come to the Lord Jesus. Something seems to be preventing him

from even listening to the “Good News.”

Ah, see what is attached to Big Brother — a filthy rag!

What can this mean?

God’s Word says that self-righteousness is in His sight as “filthy rags,”

(Isa. 64:6). Big Brother feels that he has a righteousness of his own, and so

does not need a Saviour. But the prayers of the Nail family are not to go

unanswered. At last Big Brother is brought to realize that, “All have sinned

and come short of the glory of God.”— Romans 3:23.

He turns his back on his own righteousness, takes his place as a sinner in

need of  a Saviour. What rejoicing there was in the Nail household the day

that Big Brother came to the Lord. “Praise God from whom all blessings flow,”

they all sang that night as they gathered around the family altar.

♣

What happened in the Nail family can happen in your family too, boys and girls.

The Lord Jesus longs to DRAW unto Himself those who know Him not.

“The Son of Man is come to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10),

and “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.”—John 6:37.

Ω

♥ ♣ ♥ ♣

Ω

excerpted from “www.moreillustrations.com”

 Sermon Illustrations

anger spreads and roots wherever

Sometimes you see a boy or a girl who has a very bad temper which

he does not try very hard to control. At such times, when things do

not go just as he wants them to and he goes into a rage, a rush of

words pours from his mouth, words that he would ordinarily be

ashamed of and ones that he will wish with all his heart he might

recall.

I know a girl who got terribly angry one time and she began to say

very naughty words about her little friend. Her father heard the loud

talk that was going on outside and went to the door and called his

young daughter to him. He saw a dandelion in full seed—its big tall

stem rose high above the grass around it and on top of that stem

was that ball of pure whiteness almost ready to blow away with its

hundreds of tiny seeds. The girl’s father told her to pick off all that

white fluffy top. Then as she brought it to him he told her to go out

and throw the whole handful up in the air as far as she could.

Of course the wind caught each little seed with its white wing, and

how they scattered in every direction. After the last one had settled

to the ground and most of them gone from sight and ready now to

take root and grow,—her father told his little girl to try to pick them

all up and put them back on the stem again.

Words are just like that. How fast they scatter the moment you let

them out of your mouth—and somewhere they take root too so that

others think they can do it if you can.

But, oh, how much you would give to be able to collect some of those

words back again.

♣

Ω Ω Ω

♣

Moses …

A great man injured by anger was Moses. When the people murmured

and asked for water, Moses was commanded to strike the rock at Horeb.

Out of all patience with the people and their waywardness, Moses struck

the rock twice, as if the rock had been the head of the people, crying out

as he did so, “Hear, ye rebels!” This burst of rage cost Moses the Promised

Land, because it was for this transgression that Moses —in spite of his

grand service and his pathetic pleading at the end of Israel’s long wandering

—was not permitted to go into the land of Canaan. That was not the first nor

the last time that a land of promise and of happiness was lost through anger.

Moses was not as patient as God.

♣

♣

Jonah …

Jonah is an example of how the character of a good and a great man can

be marred by anger, and his usefulness impaired. His story suggests the

folly, the danger, and the injury of anger. Unfortunately, when a man feels

anger and gives unrestrained expression to it, as Jonah did, his fellowman

is not as patient and long suffering as God was and does not always return

the soft answer which God returned to the angry and petulant Jonah.

♠

Anger is one of the most common sins, yet one of the most dangerous and

injurious to the peace and well-being of man. More than any other sin,

it blasts the flower of friendship, turns men out of Eden, destroys peace

and concord in the home, incites to crime and violence, and turns love and

affection into hatred.

♣

Ω Ω Ω Ω Ω Ω Ω Ω Ω

An answer, when mild, turns away rage,

but a word causing pain makes anger to come up.

Proverbs : 15 : 1

Ω Ω Ω Ω Ω Ω Ω Ω Ω

♣

So, Control Thy Temper!

THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE ETERNAL ALMIGHTY GOD?