Musing – How Tyrannical, Manipulative & Destructive is the BLM Religion?

Hebraic Musing – How Tyrannical, Manipulative & Destructive is the BLM Religion?

Here are the selections from the “BLACK LIVES MATTER – a NEW RELIGIOUS CULT” article I received from a Christian friend.  Last week we identified the religious nature of the movement; now let’s understand the Tyrannical, Manipulative and Destructive impact of the BLM as a Religion.  Then next week we’ll look at How are Churches & Christians to respond to BLM?  Here are the paragraphs most contrary to the Christian Faith, modified only for spell-checking, minor format changes and underscoring:

Scriptural support:    “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Gospel of Christ.” Galatians 1:6-7

A False Religion   (The challenge) - We are involved in a battle for hearts, minds and souls. This social justice revolution is changing the focus and content of the Gospel message. It is offering another gospel, a false gospel and a false mission, plainly derived from Liberation theology (which is nothing more than Marxism wrapped up in religious terminology), Black theology (which is also Marxism, with racism added in), along with Animism (which depersonalizes evil and sees evil in things and systems, rather than personal responsibility). None of this is Biblical Theology. Race politics is not Biblical. The problem is not skin, it is sin.  It is not race, but grace that is the solution.

BLM Supports Abortion – Not All Lives Matter to Them - Black Lives Matter do not really believe that black lives matter, because they support abortion.  Every day, an average of one thousand black babies are killed by abortion, just in the United States of America.  That is half of all black babies conceived in the United States are killed before they are born, through abortion.  Black Lives Matter went out of their way to support America’s biggest serial killer, Philadelphia’s Kermit Gosnell, whose abortuary was placed within poorer black communities.  Gosnell was convicted of infanticide, delivering live babies and killing them after birth.  If George Floyd had been killed in the womb, by abortion, before he was born, most of those protesting and rioting in his name, would have approved and applauded the use of their tax money to fund the abortion.  Nor do they seem to care about the thousands of black lives violently ended by gang violence and homicide at the hands of black criminals, which is the cause of death in the vast majority of cases.

War on the Family - The Black Lives Matter movement has declared war on the family, declaring that: “We are committed to disrupting the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure…”

Privileges for Perverts - Black Lives Matter also wants to dismantle “gender privilege” and is committed to working to promote “transgenderism.”  “We are committed to fostering a queer-affirming network.  When we gather, we do so with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking, or, rather, the belief that all in the world are heterosexual, unless s/he, or they, disclose otherwise.”

UnBiblical and Anti-Christian - Black Lives Matter is blatantly pro-abortion, pro-perversion, pro-pornography, pro-gender confusion, promotes transgenderism and is hostile to the family.  BLM is unBiblical and anti-Christian to the core.  Like the hypocritical Pharisee who went up to the Temple to pray, they confess other people’s sins (real, exaggerated, or imagined), but self-righteously fail to recognize and acknowledge their own personal sins and responsibility.
Solus Christus - It is important to remember that the early Christians in the Roman Empire were not persecuted for worshipping Jesus Christ, but for refusing to worship Caesar.  They would not burn incense before an idol, or declare “Caesar is Lord!” as required.  The earliest declaration of Christians was the counter-cultural “Jesus is Lord!” (Romans 10:9).  The Bible makes it clear that our Lord Jesus Christ is “the King of kings and Lord of lords.” (Revelation 17:14).

Anarchy Prepares the Way for Tyranny - Anarchy in the streets is often only a prelude for centralized, top-down imposed tyranny.  The global Lockdown, in the name of combatting a virus, has devastated many small businesses and bankrupted many families.  The wide-spread devastating riots, looting and arson led by groups like Black Lives Matter has cost Billions of Dollars in damage and looted merchandise.  Every great revolution, from the French Revolution of 1789 to the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia of 1917, was preceded by a bankrupt economy in recession.  As communist dictator, Vladimir Lenin declared: “Never underestimate the value of constructive chaos!”

Cannon Fodder Pawns for Communist Revolutionary Purposes - The vast majority of protestors, rioters, looters and arsonists may not understand the foundational role of Karl Marx.  They may not be consciously aware of how they are just cannon fodder for the communist revolution launched by Karl Marx and the Communist Manifesto of 1848. Even less may have heard of Antonio Gramsci, Herbert Marcuse, or György Lukács and the Frankfurt School of Cultural Marxism.  But the fact is that they are pawns in the Comintern (Communist International) strategy of destroying from within the cultural institutions of Western Christian civilization.

Expendable Rent-A-Mobs in a Radical Revolutionary Agenda - Few may understand how much the secular humanist agenda of state school activist John Dewey has molded and indoctrinated them to be receptive to the propaganda of BLM and Antifa, who are using them as expendable rent a mob in a radical Revolutionary agenda to undermine Christian civilization and remake it in a Marxist mold.  The fact is: most of the protestors and rioters are being manipulated by people who have lied to them in order to use them.

Stockholm Syndrome, Guilt Manipulation and Gaslighting - Few of the protestors, rioters, rock throwers, arsonists, looters, polluters, vandals, gangsters and cultural terrorists involved in the devastating riots and looting sprees of the last week, would understand the role that Stockholm Syndrome and guilt manipulation have played in mobilizing them to destroy their heritage that was so painstakingly built up by the sacrifices of their ancestors.  Most would not even understand the term ‘gas-lighted’, but they have certainly been ‘gaslighted’ and are being manipulated in a psychological warfare “psyops” Indoctrination and Intimidation Campaign that has them destroying their own communities, countries and future.

Targeting Fathers and Families - BLM and Antifa are involved in a war against Christian civilization.  In this war, they are targeting all whites and Christians, business owners and property owners, but in particular, they are targeting families and Fathers.  Straight, white men, who make up the backbone of many families are their hated target.  But they hate Black Christian conservatives and fathers even more.

Derailing Churches from Their Duty
The Black Lives Matter narrative has succeeded in derailing many local churches from the Gospel message and from the fulfilment of the Great Commission, into advancing communist revolutionary agenda, undermining the integrity of the Church. 
Hate Week - Anyone who has read George Orwell’s 1984 novel will recognize that what we have just witnessed is a “hate week” to focus anger and frustration away from those who are really destroying our finances and futures.  On the streets, we are witnessing the results of psychological warfare, which for years has been confusing, corrupting, dividing and conquering.

Who Determines What is Right or Essential?
Abortion clinics can be open!  Apparently, they are “an essential service”.  Liquor stores can be open, they are apparently “essential.”  However, most churches and most of the activities of church are considered “non-essential”!  You could be arrested for attending church in some states and yet no prosecution is planned for most of those who looted and burned down thousands of stores!

Socialism is Legalized Theft - The Bible is clear: “Do not steal… Do not covet…”  Socialism is legalized theft and institutionalized envy.  Socialism is the creed of failure and the gospel of envy.  It promises heaven and always, invariably, delivers hell on earth.  As seen in communist nations, which needed to build Iron Curtains to keep their people in and shot their own citizens in the back for trying to flee from their “workers’ paradise.”  Socialism promotes extortionist economics to tax the productive and subsidize the welfare junkies, pimps, rock throwers, gangsters, thugs, parasites, destroyers, polluters, vandals and cultural terrorists, who are dedicated to pulling down and destroying everything which generations of Christians have built up with much sacrifice.

How Can One Fight Racism by Promoting BLM Racism? - Yet, the moment you refuse to echo the mantra of BLM, “Black Lives Matter,” or if you respond, “All Lives Matter,” you will be accused of being “racist!”  Interesting, that refusing to repeat a racist statement can open you up to the accusation of being racist!  It turns out that the worst racists are those screaming “racist!” the loudest.  How can one fight racism by promoting racism?

The BLM Inquisition:  People who have tagged me in their Black Lives Matter posts and required my response were plainly angered by my comments, such as: “In the sight of God, all lives matter.”  Some of their responses: “You don’t understand!”;  “Do some research!”;  “You are the beneficiary of white privilege!”;  “What have you ever done to help poor blacks?”

·         “You Do Not Know What it is Like to be a Minority!” - Well, in response to such accusations, including “You don’t know what it is like to be a minority!” I can point out that, Yes, I do know what it is like to be a minority. I was born in Africa and have lived in Africa for the last 60 years, over 40 of those years in Missions. Most of my missionary work has been serving Black Christians in some of the most dangerous, difficult and inaccessible Restricted Access Areas throughout Africa, where Christians are suffering severe persecution for their Faith. I know what it is like to be hated, arrested, abused and imprisoned unjustly for my race.

·         “Do Some Research” - Actually, I have done some research. I have written the books: Holocaust in Rwanda; In the Killing Fields of Mozambique; Faith Under Fire in Sudan; and Slavery, Terrorism and Islam – The Historical Roots and Contemporary Threat.

·         “What Have You Done to Help Black People?” - What have I done to help black people in Africa? Well, for over 40 years, I have been dedicated to missionary work, evangelism, discipleship and practical help, primarily to black Christians throughout Africa. During this time, I have helped establish and equip over 100 schools, several clinics and hospitals, delivered tons of medicines, an ambulance to Christians in South Sudan, provided wells and water pumps to Christians under fire in Sudan, conducted thousands of services and hundreds of seminars and training courses throughout Africa, training pastors, teachers, evangelists, chaplains and medics and delivered hundreds of thousands of Bibles and books to some of the most needy and neglected Christians suffering in Africa.  I worked steadfastly for the freedom and independence of South Sudan, Mozambique, Angola and Zimbabwe, despite arrests, imprisonments, abuse, torture, ambushes, aerial and artillery bombardments.

·         “You Are the Beneficiary of White Privilege!” - In my experience, my “white privilege” included being caned at school, conscripted into the Army, put in harm’s way, required to pay exorbitant taxes for other people’s benefit and working my way through college.  Even under apartheid, in South Africa, in the early 1980’s, I was “too male and too pale” for a scholarship and had to work in the Fire Brigade, eight hours a night, six days a week, to put myself through Theological Seminary, while Black and Colored students received bursaries and financial assistance.  Not that I complained about any of that, but to rewrite history and deny reality is neither honest, nor just.

Black Privilege and The Race Card - From my observation, the “previously disadvantaged” always had the advantage of mostly free, or subsidized, housing, free medical, free schooling, (BBBEE) Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Affirmative Action and preferential treatment for jobs, scholarships and assistance. Other “black privileges” that we notice are those who play the race card enjoy being able to loot, riot, steal, embezzle and defraud tax payers of billions and still stay in position and power.

(2^nd of 3 parts.  I know this was long, that’s the point!  I am not apologizing. Next week – “How to respond”)

Points to ponder   or   RSVP

Are we at war?   How many battles are we losing, or have lost?

How many churches, or Christians, have stopped fighting?

How many churches have been derailed?

To whom else does this need to be shared?
(Next week – How to Respond?)

 “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”1 John 8:32

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                     June 30, 2020

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Credits:  Dr. Peter Hammond   Frontline Fellowship, P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725, Cape Town South Africa
mission@frontline.org.za      www.FrontlineMissionSA.org      www.ReformationSA.org    

Note – The entire 6 page article is available on email request.

Musing - Is “BLACK LIVES MATTER” the New ‘Religious Cult’?

Hebraic Musing - Is “BLACK LIVES MATTER” the New ‘Religious Cult’?

I received a well written and researched article from a Christian friend entitled “BLACK LIVES MATTER – a NEW RELIGIOUS CULT”  and he commented “Cuts to the heart of the matter.”  Let me preface this with my opinion – Black lives matter is clearly a true statement, however the movement using that title has been hi-jacked with motivations, implications and financing that are very concerning. 

Here are those paragraphs from the article that deal with the creed or beliefs of the BLM as a Religion.  Next week let’s look paragraphs dealing with “How Tyrannical, Manipulative and Destructive is the BLM Religion” and then we’ll look at “How are Churches and Christians to Respond to BLM.”   Following are the “Religious” paragraphs, modified only for spell-checking, minor format changes and underscoring:

Scriptural support:  “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from Heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 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 1:6-10

A False Religion - We are involved in a battle for hearts, minds and souls.  This social justice revolution is changing the focus and content of the Gospel message.  It is offering another gospel, a false gospel and a false mission, plainly derived from Liberation theology (which is nothing more than Marxism wrapped up in religious terminology), Black theology (which is also Marxism, with racism added in), along with Animism (which depersonalizes evil and sees evil in things and systems, rather than personal responsibility).  None of this is Biblical Theology. Race politics is not Biblical.  The problem is not skin, it is sin. It is not race, but grace that is the solution.

Victimization, Resentment, Riot and Revolution - Yet, Black Lives Matter teaches Cultural Marxism’s Critical Race Theory, which denies personal responsibility and teaches that some races are good and others evil.  They teach a false gospel of victimization, resentment, riot and revolution.  Black Lives Matter is a new religious cult, supported by many in the Main Stream Media and many politicians, who see them as a useful tool to bring about the New World Order of Globalization.

Victimization Degrades and Destroys Those Who Accept It - Black Americans such as Dr. Ben Carson, Walter Williams and Thomas Sowell have warned that the Cultural Marxism Critical Race Theory narrative of victimhood is destructive to those who believe it. It becomes an insidious snare that steals hope and replaces it with hopelessness.  It takes away vision and replaces it with victimhood.  It discourages repentance and incites resentment.  It degrades a person’s psychology and gives them a sense of helplessness, instead of hope and healing.  It leads to tragedy, rather than triumph.  It takes away the will of those who would break out of their drug addiction, or alcohol habit, providing those who see themselves as victims with excuses not to repent and reform, but to rather riot and resent.

God Resists the Proud but He Gives Grace to the Humble - Our Lord Jesus Christ was merciful to the repentant sinner, but condemned the self-righteous hypocrites.  The worst thing you can possibly do to anyone is to give them a sense of victimhood, to take away their sense of personal responsibility and get them to play the blame game where nothing is their fault, but always the fault of someone else.  The false gospel of victimization cripples the heart, mind and soul of those who accept and believe it.  One of the greatest truths any one of us can learn is that we are our own worst enemy.  Blaming others will not help us improve our life. The issue is not race; it is grace.

Kneel and Mouth their Mantra - The radical social justice agenda of Black Lives Matter (BLM) is a direct challenge to the Christian Church.  In the name of Black Lives Matter a new religious cult is being mobilized.  It is based on a blatantly false narrative.  It requires all to repent and kneel down before it and chant, mantra-like: “Black Lives Matter,” much like the Roman Empire required all its citizens and subjects to declare: “Caesar is Lord!” and burn incense before an image of their emperor/god.  They require confessions to their activists.  They threaten Excommunication by shaming and shunning those who fail to comply with their demands.

Works Based Salvation through Revolution - Black Lives Matter offers a works-based salvation.  Although there is no atonement, blood is shed, windows are smashed, shops looted, monuments defaced and desecrated, defiled, or preferably destroyed and removed altogether. In place of Christ, they offer BLM martyrs and BLM saints.  BLM is organizing public rituals, where whites on their knees, wash the feet of BLM activists.  They are then expected to join in the BLM revolutionary agenda in perpetual repentance for perpetual revolution.  White/male/straight privilege is Original Sin to them.  Their law is “political correctness.”  Their Sacraments: protests, riots, looting & arson.  They zealously seek converts whom they call allies, who need to help evangelize by “raising awareness.”

We are to Bow to God Alone - Black Lives Matter are demanding that whites kneel and apologize to them for being white and declare: “Black Lives Matter!”  However, in Proverbs 25:26, we read: “A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain and a corrupt spring.”  It is before Jesus Christ that every knee must bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Confusion, Compromise and Cowardice - Truth matters.  We need to expose the Marxist deception operation and the communist revolutionary tactics.  All too many congregations have been cowered.  Many pastors have panicked. All too many churches are compromising.  At the very moment that Christians need to stand up for Jesus and fight the good fight of Faith.  We are seeing all too many Christian “conscientious objectors” and deserters going on AWOL, fleeing from the fight.  Or even worse, joining the enemies of God, giving in to intimidation and mob rule, allowing Marxist revolutionaries to use and abuse the church.

(First of three parts. Next is the tyranny, manipulation and destruction; then how to respond.)

My short response, “Wake up America!  We are at war!” 

Points to ponder   or   RSVP

Thank you for reading, reviewing and/or pondering this topic?

Are we in a religious war?   Which war is worse?

How many churches, or Christians, have stopped fighting or are asleep?

“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ.” Gal.1:6

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                     June 23, 2020

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Credits:  Dr. Peter Hammond   Frontline Fellowship, P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725, Cape Town South Africa
mission@frontline.org.za      www.FrontlineMissionSA.org      www.ReformationSA.org    
www.HMSSchoolofChristianJournalism.org

Note – The entire 6 page article is available on email request.

Musing – Should We be Preparing for Our Wedding?

Hebraic Musing – Should We be Preparing for Our Wedding?

I know most of you are thinking, “I’m already married” so what’s the purpose of this discussion?  Well, we who have accepted Christ as our LORD have another wedding pending; that’s what my Bible tells me.  “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!  For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.  Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.”  Rev.19:7-8 NIV  And we know that we are the Bride, His Church, those of us who have made Jesus, the Lamb, our Lord. 

We also see that Jesus has provided us with our wedding gown – “Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.”  Sounds like the ultimate wedding gown – the white robe of righteousness described in Isaiah 61:10 “I delight greatly in the LORD; …  For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest…”

I was married to my first wife, Peggy, for 52 years before she left me for the perfect Husband, Jesus Christ.  Irene and I are in our 8^th year of marriage.  So, I’ve been the groom in two weddings and I’ve seen first-hand the process my two brides went through.  They planned months ahead with location, invitations, apparel, brides’ maid selections, etc. etc.  I watched them putting forth a mammoth amount of effort in planning and preparing for “The Big Day”.  I can assure you that neither of my wives woke up on the wedding day, took an every-day shower and threw on every-day clothes and dashed off to church!

No!  They prepared themselves meticulously for “The Big Day”.  Let me assure you that as the groom, I really appreciated the way my brides went to all that extra effort to prepare themselves to be presented to me, with that big smile as they came up the aisle to meet me.  They both made every effort to look and be their best for me.  Imagine how I felt!

Each of us still have our “Big Day” coming, the day when Jesus calls us HOME so that our wedding and marriage to Him can be consummated?  Now read the personal, testimonial example above but consider how it might apply to our “Big Day” when we go up for our Marriage to the Lamb. Are you ready, ♫ ready for that Judgement Day?  That reminds me of another song.  ♫ Lord prepare me To be a sanctuary, Pure and holy, Tried and true. And with thanksgiving I'll be a living Sanctuary, oh for You. ♫

What preparation efforts might our Eternal-Husband-to-be appreciate?

·         Waking up from Spiritual slumber or comfortable routine.

·         Listening to God’s Word, His Word, by reading/studying the Bible.

·         Praying and actively communicating with Him; at least daily, or more often.
      (While you were engaged, how much communication did you desire with each other?)

·         Trusting Him and relying on Him in good times and in bad.

·         Loving and forgiving your neighbor.

·         Serving as a priest - “you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood…” 1 Peter 2:9

·         Going about the Father’s business – “Go into all the world and preach the good news…” Mk.16:15

“Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” Rev.19:9

Points to ponder   or   RSVP

Either grade ourselves on each of those preparation efforts,
or wait until “Judgement Day.”  Your choice!  (>:

Will Jesus look at us on that day and say “You have made yourself ready”?

In the business world, if a person focuses only on the perks
and not the job, he gets fired!

♫  There's a great day coming… Are you ready?  Are you ready?  Ready for the Judgement Day… ♫ 

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                  June 16, 2020

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Musing – Which of Your Two Citizenships is Most Important?

Hebraic Musing – Which of Your Two Citizenships is Most Important?

I remember working in Hong Kong and meeting many folks with dual citizenships. When asked why, the answer boiled down to “I need a passport from a safe country to fall back on if/when the Hong Kong government fails.  Does that sound like our situation today?  We are living on this earth but (hopefully) we also have citizenship in the Kingdom of God as our eventual eternal residence. 

Americans have been blessed with life in the greatest nation on earth, founded on God’s principles of freedom, morality, law and order.  America was founded based on God as our King, and the laws written on our hearts.

So does our nation need a fix?  Do we need restoration of God’s constitution for His people?  How well is our nation abiding by the Ten Commandments (or Words) God gave us in Exodus 20’s verses?

1.      Vs.2-3  “I am the LORD your God,… You shall have no other gods before me.”  Pledge allegiance to God; but some Churches are only preaching sermonettes to Christian-ettes, avoiding God’s full counsel (in order not to offend).  What’s the most important thing in your life?  That’s your god!  Jesus is LORD of ALL.

2.      4-5  “You shall not make for yourself an idol You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I am a jealous God, punishing the children …”  People today worship idols – Physical objects, Sci-fi, earth, Self or Earth, games, pets, celebs,…   These are not to be worshipped.  Uh Oh, remember, we serve a Jealous God!

3.      7   “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, …”  Entertainment media went from no profanity when I was growing up, to steady stream of profanity in all programs & advertisements.  When do political leaders stand up to it?  We have made heroes of our actors/actresses who portray filthy morality and disdain marital and family fidelity.  We’ve developed a vocabulary of profanity.

4.      8-11 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”  Back in WWII days everything closed on Sunday.  Now, every store is open except Chick-fil-A and Hobby Lobby.  Can’t we give God at least one day?!

5.      12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long…”  Daddies do not stick around to be real fathers; not raising the child and marrying the girl!  So now we have multiple generations of broken homes raising more broken homes.  I don’t know of a wholesome family program on TV anymore.
Are the younger generations still taught to honor their elders?

6.      13 “You shall not murder.”  A current murder has become the excuse for mayhem.  Is Abortion a right?!?

7.      14 “You shall not commit adultery.”  Means do not commit adultery.  Stay married.  Fight for it.

8.      15 “You shall not steal.” Don’t break the store window, don’t steal TVs.  (They weighed 200+lbs years ago!)

9.      16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. i.e. Don’t lie!  The media and half of Congress leaders lied to get their way; and when proven they lied, they tell another to cover.  No accountability, consequences or prison time?!?!   Let yea be yea, and nay be nay.  Founders of our country would not have tolerated the current lack of integrity.  Billionaires are hiring the media “liars”, with no consequences. Who is their lord?  (Maybe W.H.O. is their boss!  Or a billionaire!?!?)

10.  17 “You shall not covet your neighbor's house….Wife…Donkey…anything that belongs to your neighbor.”  Not “entitled”!  Breaking & stealing using excuse of protests; who’s raising those thugs? (See #5&#7) 

When will God say to America “enough is enough”?  Ezek.12:28  ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign LORD.'”

ACTION - We need to pray, take a stand, witness and evangelize to bring in the Third Great Awakening? 

Points to ponder   or   RSVP

Are you “Saved” if your citizenship in the kingdom of the earth
is the most important than citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven?

Take a stand!   If we shrug our shoulders, assuming we are in “the Last Days”,
how will we feel talking to the LORD on Judgement Day? 

Is this a good time to use our freedom to spread the Gospel to a needy world?

♫ God bless America, land that I love.  Stand beside her and guide her, Through the night with the light from above. ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          June 9, 2020

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Inspired and excerpted from Dr. Tom Hatley’s Sunday message, June 7, 2020.

Musing – Why Did God Give Us So Many Signs in the Bible?

Hebraic Musing – Why Did God Give Us So Many Signs in the Bible?

A concordance search in NIV reveals 41 plural and 16 singular “Miraculous Sign(s)”!  Why did God feel the need to provide “Miraculous Signs”?  Or why are sign(s) (in NIV, sign 82 x; signs 80 x) so important in Scripture?  What is their purpose?  Do they provide Direction?  Warnings?  Explanations?  Revelations?  

The primary reason for Miraculous signs (acts of God) are first to proclaim his sovereign power over creation, and secondly to confirm His commitment to the good of his people.  Miracles are often significant because they serve a larger purpose in God’s redemptive plan, testifying to the authenticity of God’s messengers who bring his revelation to humanity, to us.

First mention of “Sign” is in Gen.9:12-13 “And God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth….’”  A sign of an unconditional covenant!

Another example, God provides a sign to identify His people in Gen. 17:11 “You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.”  Then in the NT, that sign becomes a circumcised hearts!!!  Rom.2:29  “No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit,…”

In the NT when Jesus performed His first miracle, what was the purpose?   “This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee.  He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.” John 2:11 (NIV)  That verse reveals two distinct purposes achieved by the miraculous sign.  (1) revealed his glory and (2) disciples put their faith in him. 

The world wants to see signs; maybe we are all from Missouri, the “Show Me” state.  “Then the Jews demanded of him, ‘What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?’  Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.’” John 2:18-19   The world needs signs in order to believe.  (His resurrection was a big sign designed to confirm our belief in Jesus.)

Many ask why we don’t see Miraculous Signs like what God did in the OT; or like Jesus did; or like those we read in the book of Acts?  Those signs did and do still occur.  Example - Acts 15:12 “The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.”  Miraculous signs are reported to occur in the mission field, where God gets the Glory; and the result is that unbelievers become believers. 

In my opinion, we Christians and our Christian church do not need nor should we need “Miraculous Signs”.  We already have testimonies of our salvation as Miraculous Signs. PTL!  We need to let the Holy Spirit and God’s Word build our faith. 

BTW, I can testify of a Miraculous Sign that occurred in my life which confirmed by newfound belief that Jesus is my Lord.  Did you experience that sign also?

Points to ponder   or   RSVP

What Miraculous Signs from God do we see today?  Creation!!!   Sight, we “SEE”!!!

If a miracle occurred in our church today, who would get the credit?

Have you ever experienced a Miraculous Sign from the Lord?
What did it do to your faith, or someone else’s faith?

♫  But of all God's miracles large and small, The most miraculous one of all
      Is that out of a worthless lump of clay God has made a man today…♫ (Fiddler on the Roof)

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          June 2, 2020

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”