Archive for November, 2009

Prayers answered

November 19, 2009

Recently I prayed and got some results. Aboutsix months ago I received a “red light  camera”ticket. I guess I wasn’t paying attention and ran the yellow light which turned into red. I saw the big flash as I proceeded through the light. I thought “oh no, I’m busted”. Then about 1 week later (they are fast aren’t they,lol) I received in the mail my “bail” for the ticket. I opened it up and WOW! I did a double take –$450.00 I thought “this isn’t right!”  afterall I have been an excellent driver with NO tickets in over 5 years.

I decided to fight it. If nothing else just because I thought it was outrageous. I postponed it as long as I could. But I had to face the music soon. About two months ago I had to appear to let the judge know what I wanted to do about it. I said I’ll go to trial(by judge). So the day came about a month ago.

 That morning of the trial I kneeled down in my room and prayed. I started out telling God I would like Him to help me on this ticket (meaning get me OFF this thing!) but as I prayed I was led to make another prayer. I said ” Lord I will accept ANY decision you make, YOU do the right thing” I was content to live by our Lord’s will.

Then I went to court. There was about 25 people like me waiting in the court to have their cases heard. The judge called about 10 people to start off. ALL were dismissed! Then he calls me. Mine would be first tobe heard. I thought “oh boy this doesn’t look good” I was already thinking I would ask for traffic school to save on my drving record (not money). The cop was there too.

 The Judge asked the cop for the evidence. He proceeded to pull out his laptop complete with all my photos, face picture, truck license, etc. The judge strolled over to the cop’s laptop and watched  the video. Yep, I’m busted I thought. Then the judge walks back to the bench. He says to me “Mr. Peralta look up at me for a minute” I looked up and he looked at me intently. Then he looks at his papers. “I cannot say with 100% certainty that this is Mr. peralta in the pictures, CASE DISMISSED”  Wow!  I was amazed.

It was indeed a divine work of the Lord. I understand normally all the judge has to ask was “was that you driving this vehicle at that time Mr. peralta?” And I would have had to say “yes”. The Lord had set the judge’s mind to dismiss no matter what! I walked out of there 10 feet off the ground. But as I got in my truck I remembered my prayer (the holy spirit reminded me) of my prayer. IT WAS ANSWERED!

 And here is why. it was revealed to me. The 8th commandment says “thou shall not steal”. The city was trying to “steal” from me by way-overcharging for that ticket. It was not right and the Lord knew it. The key I believe is that I prayed correctly by saying YOU do the right thing. His righteousness prevailed. Not my will be done but Yours.Amen!

The second prayer answered was more like an admonishment from  the Lord. I am an avid chess player and I used to play sometimes 10 games a day, every day of the week. it had become like a God to me. The second commandment is “Thou shall have no God’s before me”  After I became a Christian it was slowly being revealed to me about this problem.

So about three weeks ago, I prayed to the Lord and promised Him I would only play two days a week (Sundays and wednesdays) Last Saturday night I was bored, so I thought maybe I could just slip in a few games. I knew before about my promise but I tried to ignore it. I went to the computer. I had about 8 sites up and running. One of them was the Christian station WWW.3abn.com I proceed to pull up the chess site. As I brought it up, IT DISAPPEARED! And the Christian station appeared instead. Wow! I was instantly reminded by our Lord of my promise. I looked up and said “your right Lord, I am sorry” I was thankful the Lord cared so much to show me.   Praise God through our watchful Lord!

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Are we not under Law but under grace?

November 14, 2009

We often encounter this argument “Well, since we are not under Law but under grace, we do not need to keep the Ten Commandments any longer” Is this a valid point? The Bible clearly does say that we are not under the law, but does that imply that we are free from the obligation to obey it? Notice (Romans 6:14-15) ” For sin shall not have dominion over you:for ye are not under the Law, but under grace, what then? shall we sin, because we are not under the Law but under grace?”God Forbid!” Easily we could prevent confusion if we would accept bible statements as they are. After stating that we are not under the Law, but grace, he asks, “What then?” which means “how are we to understand this?” Then notice his profound answer “Shall we sin(break the Law) because we are not under the Law but under grace? GOD FORBID.” In his strongest language he states that being under grace does not give us a license to break the Law. Yet this is EXACTLY what millions believe today, completely ignoring Paul’s specific warning and strong admonishment.  It is particularly surprising because “Paul’s” writings are quoted so often as why the Law is no longer needed. Consider (Romans 3:31) “Do we then make void the Law through faith? God Forbid,on the contrary we establish the Law”” Here is a very clear passage. Paul asks if the Law is nullified for us just because we have faith in Christ’s saving grace. His answer is that the Law is established and reinforced in the life of a grace saved Christian. The truth of this reasoning is so obvious, but the false reasoning of those who wish to avoid obedinence is indeed sadly prevalent today among “professing Christians” .

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Is Obedience legalism?

November 14, 2009

One of the most contentious debates among Christians today

Unfortunately, the popular thinking and beliefs among Christians today is to “obey” laws  in the bible is “outdated” and not necessary. But we can look at scripture for a clear view.

One of the strongest and direct text found is (1 John 2:4)) “He that says ‘I know Him’ and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him”. What we find here is that original greek word for commandment here is “entole”. And once you study other scripture you find the word “entole” means the 10 commandments (or moral law). So John is plainly saying we MUST keep His commandments to KNOW Him. You see to know Christ is to love Him and to love Him is to OBEY Him. Look at the original sin of the world. Did it not come from disobedience?  God in His infinite wisdom placed the tree of Knowledge as a “test” of our obedience. He needed something to point to, to see if Man could “prove” his love of God by OBEYING God’s command. God, our Lord, and the Holy Spirit DO NOT CHANGE. The real test of ‘love” is whether we are willing to “obey” Him. But as His word says “the commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3) The Master Himself gave us direct words on “how” to love Him (John 14;15) “If you love me keep my commandments”. Now there is NO confusion “what” commandments He is talking about. It is again the word “entole”.

Here is where the problem comes in. Most people are happy to go to church on Sunday and profess to be a “Christian” but if they have to  CHANGE their lifestyle, then that’s a different story. Unfortunately most people today are not looking for the truth. They are looking for a smooth, comfortable religion which requires not much “obedience”. If they work their religion around “their” schedule they are happy to have such lifestyle. But ask them to obey His moral law (ten commandments) like devote an entire 24 hour period to the Lord (Sabbath) and they bring up 1000 excuses. “Oh done away with”   “oh I do my own 24 hour period when I can” “oh the Lord doesn’t really mean the seventh day, he means the first(sunday)  I ask them give me a direct commandment from the scripture where it says “Thou shall keep the FIRST day of the week holy”

To sum  up let us never think to obey is to do outdated or foolishness. Let us do as James points out in scripture (james 1:22)” Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, lest you deceive your own selves”

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