Resisting the Desire to Fulfill Our Physical Pleasures??? – TEMPTATION [8]

November 12, 2015December 8, 2015buildafoundation 1 Comment

In this post, I will be building off of the verse 1 John 2:16 mentioned in my last post, What Is Driving Our Temptations?? – TEMPTATION – [7], http://wp.me/p5nZpi-yx …

For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.

John mentions three areas where, we as humans, crave, chase after, lust for, and take pride in…

Physical pleasure
Everything we see
Our achievements/possessions

Below is an example, from the Bible, to illustrate resisting temptation vs. giving into temptation.

***CRAVINGS/TEMPTATIONS FOR PHYSICAL PLEASURE***

We’ll look first at an example of someone who was tempted, but resisted —

Joseph and Potiphar’s wife —

Here’s a little background info explaining how Joseph found himself in this tempting situation.

Joseph, as you may recall was the favorite son of Jacob – Genesis 37:3

joseph

And because of Jacob’s over-the-top gift for Joseph, he was hated by his brothers – Genesis 37:4.

In fact, Joseph’s brothers hated him so much that they even considered killing him. However, with their brother, Reuben’s, urging, they decided to throw him instead into a cistern to die. AWWW!! – How thoughtful

joseph in well

Later, when slave traders passed by they decided instead to sell him into slavery. Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain by killing our brother? We’d have to cover up the crime. Instead of hurting him, let’s sell him to those Ishmaelite traders. After all, he is our brother—our own flesh and blood!” And his brothers agreed. – Genesis 37:26-27 WOW!! Brotherly love at its height

joseph sold

The brothers then went home. They lied to their father, leading Jacob to believe that Joseph was eaten by a wild animal. When in actuality, they sold him into slavery. – Genesis 37:31-33

joseph's_Coat_Brought_to_Jacob',_oil_on_canvas,_c._1640,_El_Paso_Museum_of_Art

A couple of chapters later in Genesis, we find that Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. – Genesis 39:1

The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. – Genesis 37:2,4

THIS IS WHEN THE TROUBLE STARTED — read Genesis 39:5-20

Joseph_and_Potiphar's_Wife

WHAT WAS JOSEPH’S RESPONSE TO POTIPHAR’S WIFE’S ADVANCES?

How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God? – Genesis 39:9

SIN AGAINST GOD?

WHY DIDN’T JOSEPH SAY, “I’D HURT POTIPHAR”, OR “YOU’RE MARRIED”, ETC.?

That’s a great question!! A great question because how many of us recognize that choosing to sin is not just between “two consenting” adults, as in this particular example, but rather SIN is a choice to disobey God. Because Joseph responded to Potiphar’s wife’s advances saying that he was sinning against God, he removed another potential temptation trap – rationalizing away his reasons for saying no. Saying instead, “yeah but…”, or “it’s just this once…” or “______…”

THE NEXT TIME YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A TEMPTING SITUATION, TRY JOSEPH’S STRATEGY —

joseph-8-638

IN THE NEXT POST —

We’ll look at a person in the Bible referred to by God as a man after His(God’s) own heart – Acts 13:22, yet falls in a major way to temptation, leaving a heap of carnage in his wake.

** FOR MORE ON TEMPTATION SEE MY OTHER POSTS BELOW **

What Is Driving Our Temptations?? – TEMPTATION – [7], http://wp.me/p5nZpi-yx

HEADLINES – Man Falls Head Over Heels… – TEMPTATION [9], http://wp.me/p5nZpi-zM

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A great resource for Bible verses, Bible Topics, Commentaries, etc. – http://www.BibleGateway.com

“I Just Wanna Be Happy!!!” – (Part 1 of 4)

April 8, 2015May 18, 2015buildafoundation 4 Comments

“I just wanna be happy!!”

After reading this post, I’m not so sure you’ll settle for just being “happy”.

“What? Of course, I want to be happy!! Who wouldn’t?”

HAPPINESS DEFINED:

Merriam Webster – the state of being happy, an experience that makes you happy.

Bible – a fleeting feeling that depends upon temporal factors, like circumstances or other people.

HAPPINESS EXAMPLES:

Everyday life – “I’m bummed out. I think some ice cream, with chocolate syrup, will be just the thing I need to make me happy!” – At least for the moment…

Bible – When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son. Then Leah said, “What good fortune!” So she named him Gad. Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. Then Leah said, “How happy I am! – Genesis 30:9-13

To read more about this intense “boy baby producing” competition between Rachel and her sister Leah read – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+30%3A1-13&version=NIV

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JOY DEFINED:

Merriam Webster – to feel great delight, to be glad

Bible – contentment that comes from internal factors, like our faith in the Lord. It is everlasting and not dependent upon circumstances.

JOY EXAMPLES:

Everyday Life – When life gives you lemons…

Bible – Paul says, I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:12- 13, 19

SO MAYBE YOU’RE THINKING…

“I like this concept of joy. I can be content with my life, I can appreciate the ‘present’, I don’t have to allow circumstances to dictate how I’m feeling, and it lasts forever. Wow!! Seems good to be true? Seems like I’m on a seesaw. Some days up, some days down.”

IS HAVING “TRUE JOY” IN MY LIFE REALLY POSSIBLE?

FOR THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION, KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR “I JUST WANNA BE HAPPY!!!” (PART 2), http://wp.me/p5nZpi-kY

SEE ALSO:

(PART 3), http://wp.me/p5nZpi-kn,

(PART 4), http://wp.me/p5nZpi-lH

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The Return of the Nephilim – Dun, Dun, Dun, Dun… – NUMBERS 13 – (Part 2 of 2)

March 27, 2015March 27, 2015buildafoundation 8 Comments

In Part 1 – The Return of the Nephilim – Dun, Dun, Dun, Dun… – http://wp.me/p5nZpi-iT – we were left with the following question:

WHY DID THE SCOUTS REFER TO THE PEOPLE THEY SAW IN CANAAN AS NEPHILIM?

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THE SCOUTING REPORT FROM THE 12 SPIES EXPLORING CANAAN:
They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. BUT the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.” Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”

BUT the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.” – Numbers 13:26-33

A “BAD REPORT” – AN EXAGGERATION OF THE TRUTH?

At first reading, the above scouting report may seem like a factual account, but when looking closely we can see that part of the report was false. “There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim)… – Number 13:33

For significance of this claim read answer to question – WERE THESE THE SAME NEPHILIM WE READ ABOUT IN GENESIS 6? – http://wp.me/p5nZpi-iT

Reminds me of Eve’s response to the serpent’s question – “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” – Genesis 3:1, to which Eve replied, “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’” – Genesis 3:1-3

“You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, (NOT TOUCH IT AS EVE SAID – emphasis mine), you are sure to die.” – Genesis 2:16-17

A subtle “untruth”, but still an untruth.

THE RESULT OF THE SCOUTS “BAD REPORT” –

So the men Moses had sent to explore the land, who returned and made the whole community grumble against him by spreading a BAD REPORT about it— these men who were responsible for spreading the bad report about the land were struck down and died of a plague before the Lord. Of the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived. – Numbers 14:36-38

Of the 12 scouts, only Joshua and Caleb, trusting God, were allowed to enter and take possession of the land. The other 10 scouts through fear, and a false report, were killed. But, unfortunately, not before ensuing panic through the entire nation.

IN CONCLUSION:

The Nephilim mentioned in Numbers 13:33 were not the Pre-Flood Nephilim of Genesis 6:4. Nephilim was simply a term the fearful scouts used to describe the powerful-looking people they saw in Canaan. I would compare it to people now-a-days saying, “I was shaking in my boots”. We know that does not mean I was literally shaking, or that I was literally wearing boots. However, it does paint a clear mental image that I was very afraid.

Choose your words wisely. Words are powerful. Words paint images in our minds. Words can kill or nourish life. – Proverbs 18:21

Selected information adapted from: http://creation.com/the-return-of-the-nephilim

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The Return of the Nephilim – Dun, Dun Dun, Dun… – NUMBERS 13 – (Part 1of 2)

March 25, 2015March 27, 2015buildafoundation 1 Comment

Recently, I received a thought-provoking, and challenging comment from the post, Names and Roles of Angels (Part 2). Original post link – http://wp.me/p5nZpi-gA, to which I replied in the post, Female Angels?? Giants?? – Replying to a Reader’s Comment – ANGELS [6], http://wp.me/p5nZpi-h7.

Since that post a follow-up question was asked about the reappearance of the Pre-Flood Nephilim mentioned in Numbers 13:33. I was puzzled and intrigued by this question, and thought…

IF ALL THE NEPHILIM DIED DURING THE FLOOD, HOW IS IT THAT THEY SHOWED UP 1,000+ YEARS LATER IN CANAAN??

PRE-FLOOD

POST-FLOOD

The Hebrew word used to describe the Nephilim occurs in only two verses of the Old Testament,

Genesis 6:4 – The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.
Numbers 13:33 – “We even saw giants, Nephilim, there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!”

From the book of Numbers, we find that the descendants of Anak are part of the Nephilim. Ummm!!

What’s interesting is that there is no description of the Nephilim other than what the scouts, the men sent to explore the land of Canaan – Numbers 13:1-2, reported back to Moses in Numbers 13:30-32.

The scouts described the people they saw as strong and huge…

³⁰But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!”

³¹BUT the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!” ³²So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge.

SO WERE THESE THE SAME NEPHILIM WE READ ABOUT IN GENESIS 6?

The word Nephilim does not describe a race of people. In the Bible, races of people were classified by their founding male ancestor. So, the Anakim, not the Nephilim, were descendents of Anak.

Also the term Nephilim (giants) in Gen.6:4 has an interesting history. Nephil means fallen one, (im at the end of any Hebrew word changes it to a plural, nephillim-fallen ones.) This does not mean giant, or monstrous in size but someone who possesses super human ability in strength and intelligence, not stature. This word is taken from its root word of nephal and nephel which means to fall. In 250 BC. the Rabbis that wrote the Septuagint, which is a Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures, changed the word Nephillim to giant. This is the word most translations currently have (giant in Greek gigentes implies earth born men of great stature Num.13:33 ). This was a significant change which has obscured the meaning even to today. While some contend the Nephilim were still around in the time of Numbers, the giants were not the same species of the Nephilim of Genesis 6. Since the Nephils recorded in Genesis were not Giant in size, but were “giant” in strength, intelligence and ability. – http://www.letusreason.org/Doct11.htm

A CONTRADICTION OF SCRIPTURE?

Since the Old Testament describes Nephilim both before and after the flood, if the Nephilim were a race, this would contradict the rest of Scripture. However, the Bible clearly says that there were only eight survivors of the flood. That very day Noah had gone into the boat with his wife and his sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—and their wives. With them in the boat were pairs of every kind of animal—domestic and wild, large and small—along with birds of every kind. Two by two they came into the boat, representing every living thing that breathes. A male and female of each kind entered, just as God had commanded Noah. Then the Lord closed the door behind them. – Genesis 7:13-16

All the living things on earth died—birds, domestic animals, wild animals, small animals that scurry along the ground, and all the people. Everything that breathed and lived on dry land died. God wiped out every living thing on the earth—people, livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and the birds of the sky. All were destroyed. The only people who survived were Noah and those with him in the boat. – Genesis 7:21-23

Also if you look at Genesis 10, which records the descendants of Japheth, Ham, and Shem – Noah’s sons, and there is no mention the Nephilim, post-Flood. – Genesis chapter 10 link – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2010

SO WHY DID THE SCOUTS REFER TO THE PEOPLE THEY SAW IN CANAAN AS NEPHILIM?

<Look for Part 2 – The Return of Nephilim – Dun, Dun, Dun, Dun… coming soon>

The LORD our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions. – Deuteronomy 29:29

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Female Angels?? Giants?? – Replying to a Reader’s Comment – ANGELS [6]

March 9, 2015March 25, 2015buildafoundation 2 Comments

…When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” – Mark 19:25-26

In this post I will be replying to a comment made on my post Names and Roles of Angels (Part 2). Original post link – http://wp.me/p5nZpi-gA

I’m replying as a post rather that replying directly to the comment on the initial post, for 2 reasons:

The question/comment posted was very challenging and thought-provoking. It was something I hadn’t thought of, and I would like to learn more about.
I wanted my readers to know that there is a section below every post where you can leave comments, suggestions, questions, etc. All are welcome!! 🙂

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Here is the reader’s comment/question:

There is no mention of female angels anywhere in Scripture. Jesus said, “…in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven” (Mt. 22:30). Do you think the absence of females in heaven was one reason the sons of God married the daughters of men, giving birth to the ancient giants called the ‘Nephilim’?

Gen 6:4 “The Nephilim were on the earth in those days … when the sons of God were having sexual relations with the daughters of humankind, who gave birth to their children. They were the mighty heroes of old, the famous men.”

If this is true, then it is possible for angels to sin. But most theologians say that the angels who did not fall with Satan are sealed by God and cannot sin. What do you think?

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The word angel appears over 175 times in the New Testament and over 200 times in the Old Testament. And you are correct, that there is no mention of female angels anywhere in Scripture.

The Greek word for “angel” in the New Testament, angelos, (messenger) is in the masculine noun form. In the Old Testament, the word used for angel (messenger) is malak. It is also used in the masculine noun form. In fact, a feminine form of angelos or malak does not exist in the Bible.

I believe it would be impossible for angels to reproduce with people because it goes against the physical laws God established in “the beginning”, at creation. God said that species would reproduce after their own kind, Genesis:1:11-12, 21-25). Angels are one “kind”, and people are another kind.

I DON’T THINK THAT THE ABSENCE OF FEMALES IN HEAVEN HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE SONS OF GOD MARRYING THE DAUGHTERS OF MEN, AND HERE’S WHY:

It would seem more likely to me that the “sons of God” referenced in Genesis 6:1 were the descendents of Seth, who worshiped God – Genesis 4:26, and intermarried with Cain’s descendents, those who did not worship God. It is assumed that Cain had no post-Flood descendants. All his descendents were destroyed in the Flood, and that Noah and his sons were descendants of Adam’s son Seth.

Because of these “unequally yoked” marriages – 2 Corinthians 6:14, godly influence was weakened, while depravity increased. A result was similar to Solomon’s intermarrying, 1 Kings 11:2 – The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, “You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.” Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway.

AS FOR THE NEPHILIM:

The Nephilim were not a result of the intermarrying, but were present prior to the intermarrying.

The Nephilim were on the earth in those days–AND also afterward–when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown. – Genesis 6:4

IS IT POSSIBLE FOR ANGELS TO SIN?

I believe that when God created the angels He gave them free will. I believe this because when I read the story of creation, Genesis 1:1-31, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1, I read that everything God created was good – Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! – Genesis 1:31. I believe that He also created the angels “good”. As angels were created before the creation of earth based on Job 38:4-7, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+38%3A4-7&version=NLT

Therefore, if the angels did not have free will they would not have been able, as Satan and his followers did, to choose to rebel against God. Without free will they would have essentially been robots created by God to “fan” and “worship” Him.

ARE THE ANGELS, THAT DID NOT FALL WITH SATAN, SEALED BY GOD?

I believe the answer to this question in yes. I think we can compare the angels to people in this respect. While we are still on planet earth it is possible for us to repent of our sins and “choose” to follow God. – (For more on choosing to follow God, see my tab in the menu – The Cornerstone) However, once we have “passed” from our earthly lives we will move on to one of two destinations – eternal separation from God – Hell = each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment – Hebrews 9:27,or eternally present with God – Heaven.

In the book of Genesis the Garden of Eden is synonymous to heaven. Because Adam and Eve disobeyed God, God drove out the man and the woman, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. – Genesis 3:24 If they would have stayed in the garden and eaten from the Tree of Life, they would have lived forever. Forever, though, in a sinful/separated from God state.

The angels that rebelled against God were forever banished from Heaven -…the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels. – Revelation 12:9 Whereas, the angels who “choose” to stay and obey God were sealed by God, and will eternally remain in His presence.

Hope this answered your questions 🙂 Thanks again for reading my blog 🙂 Keep those questions coming!! 🙂

Some of the above material was adapted from : gotquestions.org, and Strong’s Concordance, and wordwise-bible-studies.com

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Angels ??? – ANGELS [1]

February 25, 2015March 6, 2015buildafoundation Leave a comment

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the fortress of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? – Psalm 27:1

Some time ago I asked my children, “What would you like to learn more about from the Bible?” My son answered, “angels”.

As a result of his request, angels will be the topic of my next few posts.

When you think of angels, does this painting from the famous Italian painter Raphael come to mind?

A bit of trivia – These two angels, we typically see alone, however, they are actually part of the painting, Sistine Madonna. Raphael was commissioned by Pope Julius II, in 1512, to create an altarpiece of the Virgin Mary and Christ Child for the newly built Benedictine Monastery of San Sisto in Piacenza, Italy. It was the last painting he did in his own hand before his death in 1520.

Or, do you think of Jacob’s Ladder, from the vision Jacob had in Genesis 28:12?

…and as he (Jacob) slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway.

(I was unable to determine the artist of this painting. If anyone knows, could you please write it in the comments section? Thanks 🙂 )

Or, do you think of angels as great warriors?

Or, ever-present protectors?

Or, perhaps guardian angels?

Or, maybe as your conscience?

Or, cupid?

When it comes to the depiction of angels, you can see that there are a variety of interpretations.

Let’s dive into the Word of God together, and see what God tells us about angels.

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Teamwork?? – ZEPHANIAH – Chapter 3d – [12]

December 4, 2014December 14, 2014buildafoundation Leave a comment

Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. – John 15:5

In the account of the The Tower of Babel from Genesis 11:1-9, http://wp.me/p5nZpi-2d, we were left to answer 3 questions,

What did the people come together to build?
What was the reason the people wanted to build ______, and
What was God’s reaction/response to their plan?

Reading this passage you would have discovered that the people came together to build a great city with a tower that reaches the sky (v.4).

The reason they wanted to build the city and tower was that they believed it would make them famous and keep them from being scattered all over the world. (v.4)

Lastly, seeing what the people are doing, God’s reaction/response is, “the people are united, they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them! Let us go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won’t be able to understand each other.” (v.6-7)

God’s reaction/response may seem a bit puzzling. You might be thinking, what is the harm of people coming together, working as a team, and having a common goal? Good question!! Working in harmony with others would seem to be a something God would encourage, not sabotage. So what’s going on here?

Before answering this question, let’s look next at Zephaniah 3:9-13, and see if those verses can give us additional insight.