When God talks to you does it freak you out?

I'm just curious.  When God talks to you does it freak you out?  Does it take you by surprise?  Is it unusual? 

The reason I ask is I had the pleasure of a Word from God yesterday.  A bit of revelation knowledge regarding our future if you will.  Cool stuff.  I love it when that happens.  I also find it very normal which is what led to the question.

If you don't find it normal, why not?  One of the coolest things about the God we serve is that we serve a living God who wants to have a relationship with us.  One of the hallmarks of a relationship is two way communication.  That means for example me talking to God…..and God talking to me.  All perfectly normal and a somewhat regular occurrence.

Do you talk to God and feel that He never answers?  Would you like to have God talk to you?  Then let me ask you the big question.  What are you doing to build your relationship with God?

Have you asked Jesus to lead your life yet?  That is the first step.  The Bible tells us no one comes to the father except through Jesus.  So if you really want to hear from God it is pretty easy.  The first step in building the relationship is asking Jesus to lead you. 

Just have a conversation with Jesus.  Tell Him where you are at in life and what He can help you with.  "Dear Jesus…."

So what is next?  Build the relationship with God.  Get into God's Word on a daily basis and start praying (talking to God) on a daily basis.  The more He recognizes your voice the more He will reveal Himself to you by talking to you directly.  Get ready to hear from God!  :) 

Can you rule with an iron fist and still be loving?

I only ask because this is what it says about Jesus in Revelation 12.  That he will rule with an iron fist.

Revelation 12:5(NKJV)

She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 

One of the things I write about a lot is what I believe is the incorrect portrayal of Jesus.  There seems to be a portrayal, even in some main stream churches, of Jesus as being so forgiving and full of love that in the end everyone goes to heaven whether they accepted Jesus or not because  Jesus would never actually send anyone to hell because he is too loving.  :)

That he is all "kumbaya" and no "fire and brimstone", if you will.

I don't think that view is supported by Scripture and that is why I keep pointing it out.  As I've said before, I think one of the biggest problems in the church today is the watering down of the message.  Kumbaya Jesus is a big part of what I am talking about. 

And once again what bothers me most about what is being done is it doesn't follow the ministry example that Jesus Himself set.  When people chose not to follow Jesus did you see Him following them around and trying to talk them in to it?  Did you see Him weakening the message?  Did Jesus say "Tell you what, you don't really have to accept me to get in to Heaven, just try to be a good person and we'll call it even and let you in anyway?"? 

No.  Jesus accepted their free will choice and moved on.  He left the door open for them to change their mind.  He didn't wish them any ill will but He didn't waste any more of his time on them. 

In fact if you take John 17:9-10 seriously it says that once they rejected Jesus and chose the world, Jesus doesn't even pray for them anymore.  Can you imagine that? 

John 17:9-10(NKJV)

“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 

And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 

So I went through all of that to bring you to this question.  Can Jesus rule with an iron fist and still be loving???   Or does one negate the other? 

Interesting question isn't it?  It is also an important question in my opinion.  Why?  Because in today's modern culture, any attempt to impose order and following of the law is described by some as acts of hate (the opposite of love).  And those who support the restoration of order are called hateful and unchristian.

So my question is, at the point that Jesus switches from loving to ruling with an iron fist, does he become hateful and unchristian too?   :)

God is…in you

God is so cool!  How many times have you heard me say that in the past?  I am down with the flu but the cool thing is that it gives me some extra time to devote to this blog post.   

I am continuing my word/phrase study on the character of God.  As you can see from the title the phrase is "in you" as in God is in you.  Now there are 137 uses of the word combination of "in you" in the Bible.  Many of them, like this one, have nothing to do with the subject at hand.

Genesis 42:16(NKJV)

Send one of you, and let him bring your brother; and you shall be kept in prison, that your words may be tested to see whether there is any truth in you; or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies!” 

On the other hand I found 17 Scriptures that are relevant.  What is even cooler is that they come from both the Old Testament and the New Testament.  As many of you know, one of my principals of Bible study is that I look for confirmation in both the OT and the NT.  In this case I got it.  :)

Ezekiel 37:14(NKJV)

I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’”

Daniel 4:8-9(NKJV)

But at last Daniel came before me (his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him, saying: 

“Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.

Daniel 4:18(NKJV)

        “This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for the Spirit of the Holy God is in you.”

Daniel 5:14(NKJV)

I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. 

These verses from Ezekiel and Daniel introduce the concept of the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) indwelling us.  In the OT not everybody gets this honor.  In fact in the Ezekiel passage where God is speaking, God says that He put His spirit in to someone.  That changes with the NT.  Starting with Jesus we get to ask for Jesus to come in to our lives and when we do we get the Holy Spirit in us as part of the deal.  Pretty cool!

Matthew 10:19-20(NKJV)

But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 

for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

John 5:38(NKJV)

But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 

(this one is the opposite showing that those who don't accept Jesus don't have God in them.)

John 6:53(NKJV)

Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 

(another way of saying without Jesus, no God in you)

John 14:17(NKJV)

the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 

John 14:20(NKJV)

At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 

Romans 8:9-11(NKJV)

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 

And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

1 Corinthians 3:16(NKJV)

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 

1 Corinthians 6:19(NKJV)

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 

2 Corinthians 13:5(NKJV)

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. 

Galatians 4:19(NKJV)

My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, 

Ephesians 4:4-6(NKJV)

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 

one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 

one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Colossians 1:27(NKJV)

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 

1 John 4:4(NKJV)

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 

Now some might say "so what?".   

Here is why I think it is important. 

There are way too many Christians who feel unworthy or walk around feeling defeated.  Why is that?  I'm sure there are many reasons but I bet one of them is that people don't take this concept of God in us seriously enough.  They view it as a cool rhetorical device but they don't take it literally which I think is a mistake. 

I think it should be taken literally.  I think having God in us provides us with a tremendous advantage.  Look at the OT examples.  Did God put His Spirit in people so they could accomplish piddly little things or did God give them the ability to achieve great things? 

God has a plan for each and every one of our lives.  A great plan, not a piddly little plan.  Scripture tells us that God will give us all we need to fulfill His plan if we actually go out and do the work. 

Why don't more go out and do the work?  I believe for many they simply don't believe that they can.  They don't have the confidence.  That is where I believe taking "God in you" literally can make the difference.  With God in you, you can rely on God's confidence until you have enough of your own.    Does that make sense? 

Whatever it is you need to do to accomplish God's plan in your life, would you have more confidence if God was standing right there beside you as you did it?  Would you really be afraid to ask someone for something or propose something to somebody if God was standing right there with you? 

Well guess what, Scripture tells us that God is actually right there with us!  Physically right there in our bodies with us.  So since God is putting in all this time hanging out with us, let's make it worth His time by going out and accomplishing great things for God!

How many of us are really prepared to do this?

How many of us are really prepared to do this?

1 Peter 3:15(NKJV)

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 

How many of us are really "ready to give a defense" of why we believe in Jesus? 

As I have said before, Bible is a book of balance, etc.  This verse is a good example when compared to other verses like this one. 

Mark 13:11(NKJV)

But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 

Those two seem to be contradictory don't they?  I have always leaned to the Mark verses in this regard.  I figured God would put the words in my mouth as He saw fit.  But as I look at the Mark verse in view of the 1st Peter verse I can see that I need to modify that a bit.

1st Peter says "be ready".  Another way to day that would be "be prepared".  If we are prepared then aren't we premeditating?  Yes we are to a certain extent.  I think the way to balance this out is being prepared means having a general idea of what you would say to "give a defense". 

Here is what I mean.  I have written before that I think the single best way to witness is to share what God has actually done in our own personal lives.  I just don't think being "Billy Bible" and beating people over the head with Scriptures is an effective way to witness.  Scripture obviously has to be part of it but I think the personal witness is the most persuasive. 

With that in mind I know that when I need to "give a defense" it will tend to be through personal witness.  In other words I have an idea of the direction I will take.  But I don't have it planned out word for word like a script.  I leave it to God to pick and choose which personal experiences I share because only He knows which ones will be most effective in any given situation.

Make sense? 

Why do we neglect our gifts?

 

1 Timothy 4:14(NKJV)

Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. 

Why do we neglect our gifts?  I think more than anything else because it takes time and effort to not do so.  I really think it falls to the 80-20 rule like everything else.  20% of the people make the world happen while the other 80% watch the world happen.

Only 20% have the discipline and drive necessary to make things happen.  It's not that the others can't, it's that they don't bother. 

So how do we make sure we are in the 20%?  I would say first and foremost be in God's Word and actually put it to work in your life.  Then the second thing is make a decision to make it so.  Thirdly, continually thank God in your prayer life for making it so. 

Now let's go exercise those gifts! 

The measure of Christ's gift.

I've written a lot about how our rewards in Heaven are based on our service to God and I have supplied multiple Scriptures to support that.  I have also repeatedly made the distinction between salvation which is free and our rewards which are earned.  I ran across a Scripture today that I think illustrates this nicely.

Ephesians 4:7(NKJV)

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 

I believe the system of rewards in Heaven applies to Jesus as it does to the rest of us.  The reason I believe that is that God is a God of justice.  It would not be just to give someone preferential treatment. 

So let's look at the highlighted part above.  "The measure of Christ's gift".  Christ's gift to whom?    I would suggest it is referring to Christ's gift to God.  That gift in a way is the same as our gift to God.  A heartfelt and sincere desire to do the will of God in our lives, and the action to go with the desire to make it happen.   

Jesus did that by being obedient all the way to the cross.  Jesus willingly sacrificed His life in the service of God and God's plan.  Jesus did it to an extent that no other human being had done before or has done since.  And so consequently Jesus has gotten the biggest reward in Heaven.  He gets to sit at the right hand of God! 

Another part of the reward is that Jesus now gets to decide who's names get entered in the Book of eternal life.  He can offer that grace to any and all who want it.  The measure of Christ's gift is that He is the only one in the whole universe who can offer the grace of eternal life. 

And that is how each one of us came to receive salvation even though we don't deserve it.  It is the grace that Jesus can offer because of the measure of the Gift He gave to God. 

But once saved God will base our rewards in Heaven on our service to Him just as He based Jesus' rewards on the service Jesus provided to God because God is a God of justice. 

I just love the symmetry of the whole thing!

What does it mean to be sealed?

I'm not sure exactly but it seems to be some sort of honor as far as I can tell.  I think this is another set of verses that confirms my belief that we are not all treated equally in Heaven.  Take a look and then as usual I will give my take. 

Revelation 7:4-12(NKJV)

And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:

    of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed;      of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed;     of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed;

    of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed;     of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed;     of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed;

    of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed;     of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed;     of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed;

    of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed;     of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed;      of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 

and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 

All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 

saying:      “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,     Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,     Be to our God forever and ever.     Amen.”

First let me set the stage.  John is being shown visions of Heaven by Jesus and is told to record them.  This results in the book of Revelation.  In Heaven you see God and Jesus.  Then you have the 144,000 who are "sealed" which seems to be some type of honor.  I then highlighted in green the next group that is there in Heaven with them.  "A great multitude".  Who are the great multitude? 

Revelation 7:13-17(NKJV)

Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”

And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 

Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 

They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 

for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

The great multitude are those who have accepted Jesus and have come out of the Tribulation.
 

Now as to my original point, this Scripture once again points to a hierarchical setup up in Heaven where not everyone is treated the same.  Why is that important?  In my opinion it is important because it goes to counter those who believe God and Jesus operate under a "socialist" system.  I believe Scripture proves otherwise. 
 

Now should we as Christians use this as an excuse to be mean to people?  Of course not.  But I do think it gives the stamp of morality to a system that mimics God's system by rewarding imitative and punishing laziness and conformity.  "On earth as it is in Heaven" as they say! 

Guess who won't be in a panic?!

As it says in the title, guess who won't be in a panic.  Read these verses and see if you know the answer. 

Revelation 6:15-17(NKJV)

And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 

and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 

For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

Those who have already accepted Jesus, that is who!  Have you done that yet?  Have you asked Jesus to guide your life yet?  Why not ask Him right now? 

Just have a talk with Jesus.  Let Him know where you are at and what you are looking for.  "Dear Jesus….".

Did you know Jesus said He doesn't pray for everyone?

Here is a verse that few seem to want to comment on.  This is Jesus speaking and he very clearly says that He doesn't "pray for the world but for those you have given me, …". 

What do you think that means?  The modern view seems to be that Jesus loves everybody and prays for everybody.  Jesus himself says nope, He doesn't pray for everybody.  Read the actual Scripture and then I'll give my take.

John 17:9-10(NKJV)

“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 

And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 

OK, this goes back to my belief that the modern church doesn't practice ministry the way Jesus intended.  I think the church today spends way too much time watering down the message and trying to "appeal to more people". 

If you look at the way Jesus did ministry He gave the message.  He didn't water it down.  You were free to believe or not believe.  When skeptics tried to trap Jesus with insincere questions you'll notice that Jesus didn't play their game.  He didn't try to convince them or talk them in to believing.  

Here is how I see it.  I think Jesus prays that all get to hear the message and get a chance to make the choice to follow Jesus or not to follow Jesus.  As I have said before, once someone rejects Jesus I believe they have declared themselves an enemy of God.  In other words they remain "of the world".

If you look at what Jesus says from that frame of reference I think it makes perfect sense.  Jesus is simply saying he doesn't waste His prayers on those who have rejected Him.  They are free to come back to Jesus and He will take them back if they do but until then they have made a choice and Jesus isn't going to waste His prayers on them. 

Jesus is instead going to focus His prayers on those who follow Him.  They are heirs in Christ.  To me that makes total sense.  Why would anyone think it odd that those who rejected Christ don't get the same benefits as those who have chosen Christ and are heirs with him?   To me that is just simple common sense. 

I love when Scripture ties things together!

As many of you know I have been doing a word study on the characteristics of God.  The last word was "light" and now I am working on "in you".  Ran across a Scripture today that tied the two together.  Pretty cool!

Daniel 5:14(NKJV)

I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. 

"…for they are worthy."

More Scripture to back up the view that we all can get salvation but our rewards in Heaven are based on our service to God. 

Here we have Jesus talking to John.  He is dictating the message to each of the seven churches in Asia.  Here is His message to Sardis.

Revelation 3:1-5(NKJV)

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 

Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 

Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 

You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Here is my take on this.  You have the church in Sardis which is a saved church.  They have accepted Jesus.  But they have backsliders among them.  No surprise.  Even Paul battled this and warned us that "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak". 

Notice that Jesus makes the distinction between the backsliders and those who stay true to the faith.  Jesus indicates that He holds those who fight the good fight in higher esteem than those who backslide. 

Now just to be clear, my point here is to once again dispel this myth that we will all be treated equally in Heaven.  That just isn't true based on what I read in Scripture.  Jesus tells us in the Gospel that there will be places of honor in Heaven.  That means that people will not all be treated the same does it not? 

So how do we make sure we "get good seats"?  :)

Keep your heart focused on Jesus and do everything in your power to follow God's will in your life.  Jesus tells us repeatedly in the Gospels that to Him it is a heart issue so keep your heart focused on Jesus.

Now how do you know what God's will is in your life?  I would say the first step is to accept Jesus because once you accept Jesus you get the Holy Spirit to guide you.  Have you accepted Jesus yet?  Why not do it right now.  Just have a conversation with Jesus.  Let Him know where you are at in life and how He can help.

 "Dear Jesus…."

Does Jesus hate?

There are many who say Jesus is all love and doesn't hate anything.  Let's see if we can find any Scripture on the subject. 

Here we go.  The letters are in read indicating it is Jesus speaking.  In fact it is Jesus telling John what to put in Revelation.  Look at the last line.

Revelation 2:1-6(NKJV)

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 

“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 

and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 

But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Now don't misunderstand.  I'm not suggesting that we use this verse to justify running around hating.  I am merely pointing out that once again people like to ignore Scripture that doesn't back up their view of Jesus. 

Seeing this Scripture about Jesus hating also verifies another part of Scripture.  That would be Ecclesiastes.   Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a time for everything under the sun.  A time for war and a time for peace for example.  So logic would dictate that for Ecclesiastes to be true then Jesus would have to both hate and love.  If Jesus was all love and no hate it would make God a liar in Ecclesiastes.  And as you know, one of my beliefs is to always look for verification of a view or principal in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.  In this case I believe we have it.  Make sense? 

I knew we were heirs, but kings and priests too???

Once again here is why I love studying god's Word.  The Holy Spirit is always bringing something to my attention that I have read many times before but had never noticed.  This is especially true in Revelation because it is so cryptic.  Here is one from today.  

Revelation 1:5-6(NKJV)

and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 

and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

I think we are all familiar with the references in the New Testament that we are heirs with Christ.  I had never noticed this Scripture before.  It says that Jesus has made us "kings and priests to His God and Father".  That's pretty cool!

A great word picture to remind us that as Christians we don't need to walk around felling defeated.  We are kings (queens) and priests of God's! 

Why do I keep pounding away at certain themes?

I'm sure some of you wonder why I keep pounding away at certain themes.  I guess there are a couple of reasons.  The first is that I am told to do so by Scripture.

Jude 1:3-4(NKJV)

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 

For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

What does contend earnestly for the faith mean?  To me it means continually correcting misconceptions about what the Bible instructs us regarding Jesus and the Christian faith.  Scripture tells us the truth will set you free but I find too many times today Christians are more concerned with not hurting feelings than they are with telling the truth. 

While it may "feel like the Christian thing to do", I don't believe it is.  

The 2nd reason is that I am compelled to do so by the spiritual gifts God has given me.  My 3rd and 4th strongest spiritual gifts are teaching and perceiving.  This comes from an analysis I did through our church a couple of years ago.  It is called the GiftQuest Report.  If you have interest you can get more info here.  http://giftquestinc.com/wordpress/

Here is the description of my third and fourth gifts from the report.  I think after reading it you will see why I say I feel "compelled".  It's not like I have a choice.  It's ingrained in me.  It's like God gave me a perfect role to fill based on the gifts He gave me.  Imagine that!!!  :)

"Your third gift is teaching.  You possess a significant motivation to  study matters out-to-do research.  It is natural for you to evaluate, to probe,  to look up facts, background information, details, or whatever is necessary to research the matter thoroughly. You want to establish what is correct,  accurate-to arrive at the truth. You are willing to study, to look up  information, to read directions, to do word studies, to gather books and related  research materials, to be meticulous-tedious in your approach, to investigate  thoroughly until convinced-sure that your conclusions, observations, and/or  facts are accurate. As you mature in your walk in Christ, the scriptures and  their accurate interpretation will be of supreme importance to you. You are  prone to think and say things like: "Who said that"; "Where is it found?"; "How  do you know that?"; "On what basis to you say that?"; "I need to look that up myself!" You prefer logical, systematic study and presentation of information.  You may or may not enjoy or participate in teaching others. You tend to be an  unresponsive listener, remaining silent and uncommitted until prepared to speak. 

Your fourth spiritual motivation is that of prophecy, or more descriptively known as the gift of perception.  You have an inner prompting and ability to perceive what is right versus wrong, good versus evil, or true versus false.  You are somewhat gifted to perceive, proclaim, promote, and pray about the will of God.  You process a desire to correct what you see as wrong.  You fairly quickly come to and express your perceptions, thoughts, and ideas verbally.  You tend to desire to bring others to a point of accountability and conviction.  You tend to be wholehearted in your involvements.  You are willing to suffer for what you perceive as right.  You have an intense desire that justice be done.  You are willing to terminate existing relationships to be loyal to the truth." 

God is…Light

For the most part light seems to be used as a metaphor for enlightenment.  Light and good are paired and darkness and evil are paired.  It's hard to find our way in life in the dark.  God illuminates our way with His enlightenment.  Make sense?  I have provided a few example Scriptures below. 

Nehemiah 9:12(NKJV)

    Moreover You led them by day with a cloudy pillar,     And by night with a pillar of fire,     To give them light on the road     Which they should travel.

-God has always provided light to guide our path.  Jesus is that light!

Isaiah 5:20(NKJV)

    Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;      Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;     Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

-To me this is a perfect description of Liberal Christians but I'm pretty sure most Liberal Christians would say this is a perfect description of Conservative Christians.  No wonder we can't agree on anything.  We can't even agree on what is light and what is dark, what is good and what is evil!  :)

Romans 13:12(NKJV)

The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 

-I found this Scripture interesting because is refers to light as armor.  It always amazes me how many people believe that God/Jesus are pacifists.  There are so many examples in the Bible using military imagery in a positive light.   Seems odd that pacifists would do so.  :)

1 John 1:5(NKJV)

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 

So there you have it.  Next word for the study is "in you".

For those who cherry pick Scripture to support bringing in all of the refugees.

I can do that too!  I've got two parts to comment on here.

2 John 1:7-11(NKJV)

For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 

Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.

Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 

for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

The first part again points out the need to believe that Jesus came in the flesh.  The big problem here is that we are starting to see some of the big, more Liberal churches actually starting to question and in some case reject that belief. 

Heck at an Episcopal Church Synod about a decade ago they couldn't even get support for a motion from the floor to reaffirm that the Bible is the inspired word of God!

Now to my second point.  It is always funny to me to see people who are normally hostile to religion suddenly try to use Scripture to support one of their own points.  As I have said many times the Bible is a book of balance and needs to be interpreted in its entirety. 

But I can play the cherry picking game like anybody else if I want to so let's take a look at the second highlighted part above.

This passage was written by the Apostle John.  John flat out says that if they don't believe the doctrine of Christ then not only shouldn't we let them in to our house (or country as the case may be), we shouldn't even greet them.  Now there is no doubt that Muslims do not abide in the Doctrine of Christ.  If they did they would be Christians, not Muslims.  :)  Therefore this Scripture is talking about them as well as others.

Now do I really think that this is the ultimate Scripture on the subject?  Nope.  As I said before you have to take the whole Bible in context.  But I do think that this Scripture is strong enough to refute the charge that in all cases it is "unChristian" to exclude the refugees.  We have a Scripture here that tells us that in some cases at least, it is the "Christian" thing to do.

Saying other religions are from Satan isn't very tolerant is it? :)

Well maybe tolerance is a bit over rated.  Let's take a look at how tolerant Jesus says we should be about worshipping other gods. 

Luke 4:8(NKJV)

And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”

Nope, don't see a lot of Kumbaya there.  :)