The identity of the Angel of the LORD in the Old Testament has been intriguing for many Bible students. The reference that it is an Angel of the LORD causes some to quickly conclude that it is just any other angel. But a closer study of all incidences involving the Angel of the LORD starts revealing that we are not dealing with any ordinary angel.
Genesis 2:5 seems to give a contradicting account of creation. It seems to suggest that after God created the world, vegetation took time to sprout. Yet Genesis 1:11-12 tells us that at God’s word vegetation appeared instantly. From Genesis 2:15 we get the clarity that your best job or career or field of study or choice of business, is not the one with quick employment or high income, but one that gives you the pleasure of service provision. If you do not enjoy your field of study, you are in a field that God did not design for you.
Have you ever heard the lie that God doesn’t care about Religion because He cares only about the heart and/or spirituality? Have you ever heard the ignorant notion that Religion is of human origin? Have you ever heard the misinformed declaring that true believers should have nothing to do with Religion? Yet the Bible tells us today that there is a religion that God loves and approves of. God loves this particular Religion!
Anyone who stays close to God may have enemies but is safe. Anyone who stays close to God will be protected from enemies. Anyone who stays close to God will eventually defeat all enemies and have them under his or her feet. In a boxing or wrestling game, when your opponent is lying at your feet while you are standing, you are the winner. Anyone who hides in God is safe and may have struggles now, but will eventually defeat all enemies.
Those opposing the church from within were in categories. First, those who opposed the teachings. Secondly, those who opposed the leadership. Thirdly, those who just opposed anything and everything because they thrive in anarchy. Paul insisted that they must be dealt with firmly or else the church will never progress.
No Bible teachings should only be explainable using a certain Bible translation, version, paraphrase or language. Sound Bible teachings should make sense whichever Bible is used. If you must insist on everyone having a specific Bible, then the teachings are suspect.
Prayer cannot substitute what must be done. If they can’t do what they must. If they refuse to do what they must – do not pray for these people
This is not a call for us to go and provoke people and situations to bring us suffering so that we claim to be really expressing love and commitment. This is suffering that is inevitable and not invited suffering. It is foolish to invite suffering. Not all love is worth suffering for. Teenage love affairs are not the stuff worth suffering for. Dating and courtship love affairs are not worth suffering for. If you suffer before marriage you will suffer excessively in marriage. Do not suffer, instead, you should quit that affair with immediate effect. Suffering in marriage as a victim of domestic violence is not the stuff being promoted here. Domestic violence is destructive to the victim and even fatal, in the name of Jesus, do not suffer, run out of that trap, run for your life. Not all suffering should be condoned and commended.
The concept of predestination in scripture raises several genuine concerns. Has God predestined all of us? Has God already determined whether I am ending up in hell or heaven? If we are predestined, are we free to make any choice? Do we need the power of choice if we are predestined? The key questions are two, (1) has God already determined where all of us will end up, whether heaven or hell? (2) Do human beings have a power of choice and how does it relate to divine predestination?