“First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made in behalf of all people, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” 1 Timothy 2:1-2 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/1ti.2.1-2.NASB2020
Brothers, thinking about Saint Valentine. A pastor martyred for his faith because he obeyed God and defied the state when Emperor Claudius II tried to encroach outside of the God ordained role for civil authority and tried to become authoritarian over the sphere of marriage and family. The battle is still raging today with IL HB2827 – Homeschool Authoritarianism bill. Sounds like our voices are being heard, but keep praying (1 Tim. 2:1-2) and keep respectfully and peacefully calling and writing your representatives. IFI, ICHE, and HSLDA are great organizations to join and follow. I pray, like Pastor Valentine, that we trust in God and in His plan and not in “a king to judge us like all the nations.” (1 Sam. 8)
“When governments extend themselves beyond this very narrow calling to which God has tasked them [Rom. 13:3-4]… then the church with its prophetic voice must call its own magistrate back from its desire to ever expand its influence. A good example would be the role of a ‘department of education.’ Is it the state’s responsibility to educate children and young adults? According to Romans 13, that does not seem to be included. Therefore, Christians should not be silent on such matters.” A Revolutionary Reading of Romans 13: A Biblical Case for Lawful Subjection to the Civil Magistrate and Dutiful Resistance to Tyrants” Timothy L. Decker, Founders Press 2023. https://press.founders.org/shop/a-revolutionary-reading-of-romans-13/ emphasis added
“and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint us a king to judge us like all the nations.”” 1 Samuel 8:5 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/1sa.8.5.NASB2020
“And the Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people regarding all that they say to you, because they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being King over them… And he said, “This will be the practice of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and put them in his chariots for himself and among his horsemen, and they will run before his chariots. He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to do his plowing and to gather in his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will also take your daughters and use them as perfumers, cooks, and bakers. He will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. And he will take a tenth of your seed and your vineyards and give it to his high officials and his servants. He will also take your male servants and your female servants, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and use them for his work. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants. Then you will cry out on that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you on that day.”” 1 Samuel 8:7, 11-18 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/1sa.8.7-18.NASB2020
THE GOOD NEWS
There is a God that created the heavens and the earth. We humans are created in His image.
We are sinners, we have rebelled against Him, our Creator. Our rebellion has brought “all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice… envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness” to the world. Romans 1:29-31 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.1.29-31.ESV
Therefore we justly deserve our due punishment of death and damnation, “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’” Romans 3:10-12 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.3.10-12.ESV
But good news! God is merciful and loving. Jesus is God the only begotten Son and He took our punishment upon Himself in our place. Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death and securing the hope of our salvation.
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.15.3-8.ESV
““Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”” Acts 2:36-38 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.2.36-38.ESV
We need only repent and believe it. Repent: turn away from our sins, proclaim Jesus is lord and savior, and we will be forgiven our sins and have life ever after! “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”” Romans 10:9-11 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.10.9-11.ESV
There is hope. Believe in Jesus! ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.3.16.ESV
It doesn’t matter who you’ve been or what you’ve done, God stands with arms wide open, ready to forgive you. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.1.9.ESV
”And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”“ Matthew 19:4-6 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/mat.19.4-6.LSB
Brothers, I’ve been thinking about and praying for all of the opportunities for instructing and discipling our families in February. From Saint Valentine’s example: Pray for our marriages and households and their part of the war for the cosmos (Eph. 5:22-6:17). Pray that we have wisdom to discern when to resist tyrants in obedience to God (Exodus 1:15-22, Acts 4:18-20). And I pray we love our wive’s as Christ loves the church (Eph. 5:25). These three things I will focus family devotional time on in February. I pray God grants faith, knowledge, and wisdom to our children.
”But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had spoken to them, but let the boys live… So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became very mighty. Now it happened that because the midwives feared God, He made households for them.“ Exodus 1:17, 20-21 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/exo.1.17-21.LSB
THE GOOD NEWS
There is a God that created the heavens and the earth. We humans are created in His image.
We are sinners, we have rebelled against Him, our Creator. Our rebellion has brought “all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice… envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness” to the world. Romans 1:29-31 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.1.29-31.ESV
Therefore we justly deserve our due punishment of death and damnation, “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’” Romans 3:10-12 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.3.10-12.ESV
But good news! God is merciful and loving. Jesus is God the only begotten Son and He took our punishment upon Himself in our place. Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death and securing the hope of our salvation.
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.15.3-8.ESV
““Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”” Acts 2:36-38 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.2.36-38.ESV
We need only repent and believe it. Repent: turn away from our sins, proclaim Jesus is lord and savior, and we will be forgiven our sins and have life ever after! “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”” Romans 10:9-11 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.10.9-11.ESV
There is hope. Believe in Jesus! ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.3.16.ESV
It doesn’t matter who you’ve been or what you’ve done, God stands with arms wide open, ready to forgive you. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.1.9.ESV
”Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.“Matthew 1:24-25 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.1.24-25.NKJV
“… the sphere of the family is the foundation upon which God has chosen to flourish human societies. It is the sphere in which the image God has borne upon humans will reproduce and thrive.” The Creation of the 3 Spheres of Family, Church, and State, Timothy Decker, https://founders.org/articles/the-creation-of-the-3-spheres-of-family-church-and-state/
Brothers, one of my favorite images of Christmas is the Holy Family, Joseph, Mary, and the infant Lord Jesus. The family, from Adam to our families today are “the foundation upon which God has chosen to flourish human societies. It is the sphere in which the image God has borne upon humans will reproduce and thrive.” I pray for the sense of that duty to be our driving force. I pray for the faith and strength to stand firm in the coming days as secular authorities wish to exert control in the government of the family.
The family is God’s smallest battle formation
“The sphere of the family is perhaps the most important sphere of the three, anthropologically speaking. It was created before the fall, and thus it is a necessary component for humans to thrive in their creation mandate as well as to encourage proper roles in the other two spheres of church and state. In that way, we could say that the sphere of the family is the foundation upon which God has chosen to flourish human societies. It is the sphere in which the image God has borne upon humans will reproduce and thrive. Show me a collapsing society, and I will show you a crumbling institution of the family. We see God’s creation of the family most clearly in Genesis 1:27–28… The home is further set apart in Genesis 2.“ The Creation of the 3 Spheres of Family, Church, and State, Timothy Decker, https://founders.org/articles/the-creation-of-the-3-spheres-of-family-church-and-state/
Home Schooling Growth Draws New Attention, Concern From Establishment
“Those who demand their “secular” worldview be fully accepted by the next generation will exercise their demands and power through the media, entertainment, the economy, and politics in order to squelch a system of education and religious freedom. The battle for America’s children’s minds will be real, and it will be necessary for Christian parents to engage. The time to prepare is now.” Home Schooling Growth Draws New Attention, Concern From Establishment https://illinoisfamily.org/education/home-schooling-growth-draws-new-attention-concern-from-establishment/
“As homeschooling continues to grow, we can expect more resistance and criticism… In what might perhaps be a fourth wave of homeschool scrutiny post-COVID-19, we are beginning to see more negative portrayals of homeschooling—particularly Christian homeschooling—in well-written and highly produced popular publications… This new fourth wave scrutiny from the lofty heights of the popular culture compels homeschoolers to become better at telling our stories; to be more mature in how we tell our stories. The homeschooling community has grown… but our message will never change… That homeschool freedom is good, but not just for its own sake… “HSLDA believes that the homeschool[s]… are all playing a part in creating a vibrant society and an environment of freedom that promotes human flourishing.” To that end, it remains our mission to make homeschooling possible for every parent willing to take up the challenge and the great responsibility to faithfully teach their children.“ We’re Aware of Media Critics, and We’re Still Defending Homeschool Freedom https://go.hslda.org/webmail/795273/1283956902/7f7e315f1d472b5719ee62754370570dff6c6fb86a2a96cbbcbeb2e14dcf743b
”And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”“ Matthew 19:4-6 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.19.4-6.NKJV
Psalms 22:27-28 (NASB) [27] All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, And all the families of the nations will worship before You. [28] For the kingdom is the LORD’S And He rules over the nations.
Important resources
Really good conversation aboutA Revolutionary Reading of Romans 13: A Biblical Case for Lawful Subjection to the Civil Magistrate and Dutiful Resistance to Tyrants. We need to pray for our church leaders to re-learn these old and very costly won theologies. https://youtu.be/0cxGEjKbJn0?si=GDDORCCMkN6a7Yq_
The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates: A Proper Resistance to Tyranny and a Repudiation of Unlimited Obedience to Civil Government by Matthew J. Trewhella https://a.co/aVQzfiR
There is a God that created the heavens and the earth. We humans are created in His image.
We are sinners, we have rebelled against Him, our Creator. Our rebellion has brought “all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice… envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness” to the world. Romans 1:29-31 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.1.29-31.ESV
Therefore we justly deserve our due punishment of death and damnation, “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’” Romans 3:10-12 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.3.10-12.ESV
But good news! God is merciful and loving. Jesus is God the only begotten Son and He took our punishment upon Himself in our place. Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death and securing the hope of our salvation.
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.15.3-8.ESV
““Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”” Acts 2:36-38 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.2.36-38.ESV
We need only repent and believe it. Repent: turn away from our sins, proclaim Jesus is lord and savior, and we will be forgiven our sins and have life ever after! “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”” Romans 10:9-11 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.10.9-11.ESV
There is hope. Believe in Jesus! ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.3.16.ESV
It doesn’t matter who you’ve been or what you’ve done, God stands with arms wide open, ready to forgive you. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.1.9.ESV
“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”” Genesis 1:27-28 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/gen.1.28.NKJV
Brothers, today I am praying for our marriages. God ordained marriage (Gen. 1:27-28). His creation started with a marriage (Gen. 2:18, 21-25) and its redemption is a model of marriage (Eph. 5:22-33) and culminates in a marriage (Rev. 19:6-16). The first attack of Satan was to divide the husband and wife (Gen. 3:1-3, 5-20). And today in America the State has pretended to take authority over marriage from God. We need to pray for our marriages, our spouses, and for the building up and encouraging of one another for the good of our marriages in our CC community and churches. I pray for courage and joy as God’s ordained marriages come under attack (Matt. 19:4-9, 13-15, Jude 1:4, 7). I pray we disciple our children, by instruction and witness, what marriage is and where it comes from to have no doubt, and may God bless our marriages and our children’s marriages and may they “be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; [and] have dominion” for God’s glory! Amen!
“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”” Genesis 1:27-28 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/gen.1.28.NKJV
“And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” Genesis 2:18, 21-25 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/gen.2.18-25.NKJV
“Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said…?” … Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”” Genesis 3:1-3, 5-20 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/gen.3.1-20.NKJV
“And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate… And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”” Matthew 19:4-9 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.19.4-9.NKJV
“Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.” Matthew 19:13-15 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.19.14.NKJV
“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” Ephesians 5:22-33 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/eph.5.25-33.NKJV
“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… as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” Jude 1:4, 7 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/jud.1.4-7.NKJV
“But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality… Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.” Revelation 2:14, 16 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/rev.2.14-16.NKJV
Doctrine of Balaam, Numbers 22-24. “Balaam was a gifted and eloquent prophet. Balac was the king of Moab. Balac feared the Israelites, who were about to cross the Jordon River into the promised land… Three times, he tried to curse Israel, but God restrained him. When Balaam concluded that he could not curse them, he proposed to corrupt them. He suggested that the Moabite girls should seduce the men of Israel by inviting them to participate in their idolatrous and immoral feasts… The church that is popular with the world today is not the spiritually strong church; rather, it is the church that mixes with the world and which welcomes the unconverted worldling into its fold.” https://www.choctawnation.com/biskinik/doctrine-of-balaam/
““I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts… And I will give to each one of you according to your works. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—” Revelation 2:19-23, 26 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/rev.2.26.NKJV
“And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 19:6-16 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/rev.19.6-16.NKJV
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.” Jude 1:24-25 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/jud.1.24-25.NKJV
There is a God that created the heavens and the earth. We humans are created in His image.
We are sinners, we have rebelled against Him, our Creator. Our rebellion has brought “all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice… envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness” to the world. Romans 1:29-31 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.1.29-31.ESV
Therefore we justly deserve our due punishment of death and damnation, “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’” Romans 3:10-12 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.3.10-12.ESV
But good news! God is merciful and loving. Jesus is God the only begotten Son and He took our punishment upon Himself in our place. Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death and securing the hope of our salvation.
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.15.3-8.ESV
““Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”” Acts 2:36-38 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.2.36-38.ESV
We need only repent and believe it. Repent: turn away from our sins, proclaim Jesus is lord and savior, and we will be forgiven our sins and have life ever after! “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”” Romans 10:9-11 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.10.9-11.ESV
There is hope. Believe in Jesus! ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.3.16.ESV
It doesn’t matter who you’ve been or what you’ve done, God stands with arms wide open, ready to forgive you. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.1.9.ESV
“You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart.” Psalm 104:14-15 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.104.14-15.ESV
How to be of service to the world for God: Obey His commends for how to lead and order your family!
“Families are the nurseries of all societies; and the first combinations of mankind. Well-ordered families naturally produce a good order in other societies… Every serious Christian is concerned, that he may be serviceable in the world… but are you not a member of some family? If that family may be your means, O Christian, become a well-regulated family, in that point you will become serviceable; I had almost said, incomprehensibly serviceable.” A Family Well Ordered by Cotton Mather (1699) modern English translation by Patrick Doucette
“For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” Genesis 18:19 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/gen.18.19.KJV
“You May here observe a most comfortable connection, between, He will, and they shall. Says the Lord, He will Command his children, and they shall keep the way of the Lord. It seems, if every one that is owner of a family, would faithfully command, and manage those that belong unto him, through the blessing of God; they would generally keep His way, and His law… ‘If parents did their duties as they ought, the Word publically preached would not be the ordinary means of regeneration in the Church, but only without the Church, among infidels: God would so pour out His grace upon the children of His people, and hear prayers for them, and bless endeavors for their holy education, that we should see the promises made good unto our seed.’” A Family Well Ordered by Cotton Mather (1699) modern English translation by Patrick Doucette
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, and He created the first man out of the dust of the ground and formed the first woman from that man’s side. And God brought them together, and they became husband and wife, one flesh, and were given the blessing of a mission to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. And all of this goes together. There is a God and He made all things, and therefore He knows all things. He knows what all things are for. And He designed the world to be fruitful by the labors of man with a woman at his side, in the covenant of marriage, bearing children. This is the foundation of civilization. This is the foundation of all economics, all politics, all culture. This is like gravity, logic, math – this is reality, and every attempt to ignore this, deny this, subvert this, or openly destroy this is war with the world as it really is and therefore war with the One who made it all.” https://www.tobyjsumpter.com/the-politics-of-the-apostles-creed/
# Work and Keep “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” Genesis 2:15 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.2.15.ESV
“Real Wealth: Proponents of industrialism will no doubt point to the “hockey stick of human prosperity” beginning in the nineteenth century. For centuries, per-capita GDP held steady at less than $ 2 per day. By 1900, that figure rose fivefold to $ 11 per day. The problem with this statistic, however, is that self-sufficiency doesn’t require money. Milk from the cow, eggs from the chicken, pork from the hog, fresh fruits and vegetables from the orchard and garden, wide open spaces and fresh country air—such amenities would demand a high income today… Families who lived on farms during the Great Depression would often relate that they never knew they were in a depression. Their pantries were stocked, their homes were heated, they still had jobs. Their wealth was standing in the barn, in the fields, and in the accumulated knowledge of generations. Irresponsible speculation in the markets did not collapse their stock.” Durable Trades: Family-Centered Economies That Have Stood the Test of Time by Rory Groves https://a.co/6EHcXWf | https://a.co/6rtuhwY
A Biblical outline to think about Illegal Immigration: Private Property, Boundary Markers, Sojourners, and Self Defense
Private property is God’s design.
The bible speaks of boundary stones, the markers that indicate the boundary of private property. Proverbs warns, “Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your forefathers.” Proverbs 22:28.
The law of Moses says, “Cursed is the man who moves his neighbor’s boundary stone.” Deuteronomy 27:17. “This scripture was a command by God not to encroach on another’s property, as it would be in fact stealing land from their neighbor.” https://www.ccgf.org/do-not-move-the-ancient-boundary-stone/
8. You must not steal. (Exodus 20:15) Do not take what is not yours. According to Martin Luther, “We must fear and love God, so that we will neither take our neighbor’s money or property, nor acquire it by fraud or by selling him poorly made products, but will help him improve and protect his property and career.”
10. You must not covet or desire your neighbor’s belongings. (Exodus 20:17) Be happy with what God has provided for you and never want what belongs to others out of envy. “Have I looked with envy, jealousy or hatred toward the possessions, talents or achievements of others? Have I desired the downfall or loss of others out of evil intent that I might benefit? Have I grieved that God has bestowed greater blessings on others than on me?
Believers are to obey civil laws and authorities unless they violate God’s law
That includes immigration laws!
“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Romans 13:1 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.13.1.ESV
Nations, boundaries and dwelling places are the providence of God
“And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,” Acts 17:26 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.17.26.ESV
God’s compassion for the sojourner
“He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.” Deuteronomy 10:18-19 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/deu.10.18-19.ESV
““‘Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’” Deuteronomy 27:19 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/deu.27.19.ESV
So yes, when in your midst witness to them, care for them, show them Christ’s love. But…
Be wise, be just, be compassionate, but be lawful and be safe!
They violated the law to get here and there will be criminals, wolves, among the sheep… terrorists, sexual predators, human traffickers, cartel gang members. You must protect your family, your neighbor, and your community from wickedness.
“If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him,” Exodus 22:2 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/exo.22.2.ESV
“For the first time since 2019, the Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day, or I-GOLD, took place in Springfield. The event, which draws hundreds if not thousands of gun owners a year to the capitol to lobby lawmakers, was canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of the prohibition of the public entering the capitol during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several hundred showed up in Springfield Wednesday… gun owners are still awaiting the outcome of litigation challenging the constitutionality of requiring a state-issued Firearm Owner Identification Card to keep a gun in your home. ‘If we get an unfavorable ruling, we’re going to go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court,’ Pearson said… Elik said the gun laws the Democratic majority passes don’t make law-abiding citizens safer. She said they only make ‘criminals stronger and bolder.’”
“For the last few years, T.Rex folks have been working in local Tennessee politics on increasing gun freedom. It’s a long process, in which some bills live, and some bills die, but everyone can actually be a part of the process to move the needle in the right direction. Sign up for our political newsletter here: https://www.trex-arms.com/newsletter/ “
Forward Observer: CRACKDOWN: ‘GHOST GUNS’ BANNED: The Daily SA for Tuesday, 12 April 2022https://youtu.be/-6STX9UeNTY
“CRACKDOWN: ‘GHOST GUNS’ BANNED: Department of Justice announced that it will submit to the Federal Register the “Frame or Receiver” Final Rule, updating the definition of a firearm. Under the new rules, 3-D printed firearms, partially complete receivers, and other “ghost guns” will be required to have serial numbers. Dealers must engrave un-serialized weapons and keep transaction records to retain their license instead of the prior 20-year requirement. Parts kits to assemble firearms will now require a background check.”
“Amendment 2 – Right to Bear Arms. A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Declaration Of Independence, Constitution Of The United States Of America, Bill Of Rights And Constitutional Amendments by Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, et al. https://a.co/iWDt9C3https://ministry.family.blog/america/second-amendment/
# Tyranny, crime, and other evils “The kings of the earth set themselves… against the Lord and against his Anointed… He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.” Psalm 2:1-4 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.2.1-4.ESV
“DEL RIO, Texas—As the Biden administration prepares to drop the Title 42 public health provision on May 23, Border Patrol agents and local officials along the border are bracing for an even greater influx of illegal immigrants. “They’re preparing for us to start apprehending over 500,000 a month,” a Border Patrol agent, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of repercussions, told The Epoch Times on April 4… “So really what Border Patrol is now becoming is essentially just a greeter.””
“Your government, without the consent of the people, is literally transforming the population of America right in front of our eyes. The Biden Administration is working with drug cartels to import millions of people who will forever change our country… If any enemy of the United States had secretly compromised a president so that he was working for them instead of us, that traitorous president’s immigration policy would look exactly like what Biden is doing right now. Erase our border, and let the world walk in. They’re applauding this chaos in Beijing and Moscow. To restore common sense to our immigration policy, we must elect conservatives to take back Congress. Then we must impeach Joe Biden and restore our borders before we lose our country.”
“Drug Enforcement Administration chief Anne Milgram… said: ‘What we know is that China is providing chemicals to Mexico, to the criminal drug networks that are then mass-producing these fake prescription pills. . . But there’s no Xanax, no Oxy, no Percocet in them. They’re fentanyl. . . Right now, this is the leading cause of death. Overdoses are the leading cause of death for men between the age of 18 and 45. There are more overdose deaths than car accidents and [shootings].’ … Border security is national security. The drug cartels should immediately be put on the list of terrorist organizations, and the border must be secured… there are violations of international law killing Americans every day right here in the United States! Communist China is complicit in them. The drug cartels are complicit in them. And the Biden Administration is complicit in the deaths of our sons and daughters!”
“When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he assembled his 318 trained men, born in his household, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.”Genesis 14:14 CSB
“The right to life is a good example of what legal historians refer to as an objective right: it is objective in the sense that it exists outside ourselves and is unalienable… The right to life imposes obligations: you must do everything in your power to preserve it.” #SlayingLeviathan https://canonpress.com/products/slaying-leviathan/
Dobra Family Ministry 