My Weblog: The Gospel Preacher.

In Ecclesiastes 9:2, it is written, " 2 ^aAll things ¹come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that ²sweareth, as he that feareth an oath. "  In Hebrews 9:27, it is written, " 27 ^aAnd as it is appointed unto men once to die, ^bbut after this the judgment. "  We will all be judged based on how we lived on this earth.  In Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14, it is written, " 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: ^aFear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.  14 For ^aGod shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. "  God has commanded us, as Christians, to live for His Son Jesus Christ ( see Matthew 16:13-20 ( especially verses 16-18, for example ) and 2 Corinthians, chapter 5 ( especially verses 14 and 15, for example ), for example ).  Since Jesus is the truth ( see John 14:6, for example ), and God's word ( the Holy Bible ) is the truth, then the Bible is Jesus in written form ( that is, what can be known of Jesus in this life — see Deuteronomy 29:29 and 1 John 3:2, for example ).  The Bible makes reference to women of high social status, for in Acts 17:4, it is written, " 4 ^aAnd some of them ¹believed, and ²consorted with Paul and ^bSilas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few " ( Emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).  However, the Bible also teaches that God has reserved the top job for a man — not a woman.  We read of how Athaliah was put to death once Joash reached the age where he could assume the role of king of the southern kingdom of Judah ( see 2 Kings, chapter 11 and Romans 6:23, for example ).  It is a sin ( see 1 John 3:4, for example ) for a woman to be enthroned as king.  It is imperative, then, that the Oval Office, the office of Vice President of the United States, and the office of Speaker of the United States House of Reprensentitives be occupied by men — not women.  In 1 Timothy 2:5, it is written, " 5 ^aFor there is one God, and ^bone mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. "  What is another thing that the Bible teaches that it means to be a man?  In 1 Timothy 5:8, it is written, " 8 But if any provide not for his own, ^aand specially for those of his own ¹house, ^bhe hath denied the faith, ^cand is worse than an ²infidel. "  God says that a man will hold down a job, and work to support himself and his family.  In Ephesians 4:28, it is written, " 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather ^alet him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give ^bto him that needeth. "  God says that one reason a man does honest work is so that he can give to the needy.

God says that His Son Jesus Christ ( see also Matthew 1:16, for example ) is the man.  The Man Christ Jesus is the Mediator, who was crucified on the cross of Calvary for the sins of all those who will keep His commandments ( see also John 14:15, for example ).  In John 21:22, it is written, " 22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he ¹tarry ^atill I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. "  Jesus commands us, as His slaves ( see Leviticus 25:35-46 ( especially verses 44 and 45, for example ) and 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 ( especially verses 22 and 23, for example ), for example ) to follow Him.  In 1 Peter 2:21-24, it is written, " 21 For ^aeven hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, ^bleaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 ^aWHO DID NO SIN, NEITHER WAS ¹GUILE FOUND IN HIS MOUTH: 23 ^awho, when he was reviled, reviled not ¹again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but ^bcommitted himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 ^awho his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, ^bthat we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: ^cby whose ¹stripes ye were healed. "  The Man Christ Jesus did this for the church.

If we want to be happy, then we must not render evil for evil, for example.  In 1 Peter 3:9-12, it is written, " 9 ^aNot rendering evil for evil, or ¹railing for ¹railing: but contrariwise ^bblessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, ^cthat ye should inherit a blessing.  10 For ^aHE THAT WILL LOVE LIFE, AND SEE GOOD DAYS, ^bLET HIM REFRAIN HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL, AND HIS LIPS THAT THEY SPEAK NO ¹GUILE: 11 LET HIM ^aESCHEW¹ EVIL, AND DO GOOD; ^bLET HIM SEEK PEACE, AND ²ENSUE IT.  12 FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE OVER THE RIGHTEOUS, ^aAND HIS EARS ARE OPEN UNTO THEIR PRAYERS: BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THEM THAT DO EVIL. "  Rendering evil for evil, for example, is not eschewing evil.  Rendering railing for railing is not refraining one's tongue from evil.  In Proverbs 18:6, it is written, " 6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for ¹strokes. "  We observe this sin committed frequently on television, among politicians and celebrities.  In these situations, the politicians and celebrities are quick to respond to whatever is said to them, primarily for the purpose of looking good in the eyes of this world.  This is one example of the sin of being contentious.  As Christians, when we manifest our wisdom, based on God's word ( see Proverbs 2:6, for example ), so that we avoid the sin of contentiousness, there will be negative consequences.  One such consequence would apply to an evangelist who has a private e-mail server, for example.  As a general expectation, when someone has a private e-mail server, he or she is expected to be contentious, as explained above because, in the eyes of this world, the sin of contentiousness is wrongly considered to be leadership, and having a private e-mail server is generally associated with wordly leadership ( though not always ).  Failing to be contentious ( i.e., not " looking " like a leader ), will usually result in the private e-mail server company placing a hold on the mailing list feature of your private e-mail server ( there ought to be a way to call or e-mail the company to ask them to free the mailing list for you, in this situation ).  Thankfully ( see Colossians 3:15, for example ), not all private e-mail server companies or organizations expect contentious behavior out of their users.  As a full-time evangelist ( see 2 Timothy 4:1-5, for example ), I am grateful that I have one such private e-mail server that I can use to glorify God ( see 1 Corinthians 10:31, for example ).  God says that we do not have to respond to everything that is said to us.  In Proverbs 20:3 ( NKJV; with center-column references ), it is written, " 3 ^aIt is honorable for a man to stop striving, since any fool can start a quarrel " ( Emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).  Again, in Ecclesiastes 7:21, 22, it is written, " 21 Also ¹take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: 22 for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others. "  And again, in Proverbs 18:21, it is written, " 21 ^aDeath and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. "  We must determine to live according to God's will ( see Matthew 7:21-27 and James 1:22, for example ).  Please search the scriptures daily ( see Acts 17:10, 11, for example ). 🕮