Thoughts on Romans/Romanos 12:15 - Bilingüe

Romans/Romanos 12:15 GWT/RVC

 

Many times when we are around someone who is experiencing difficutly through loss or some other pain, we tend to try and be "the strong one"; that is, we keep reminding the person that it will be okay, God is with them - and of course, this is all certainly true. But there is a nugget of counseling wisdom hidden here in this passage.

To be an effective communicator, in this instnace, a listner - we have do just that - listen. The person will want advice and comfort in time - but first, they need their emotions validated so that they can know they are healthy and move on.

Being sad with the sad is a comfort and counsel in itself. Validating and sharing a traumatizing experience lets the other know that they are worth enough to be joined in mourning, that their problem is legitimate and worthy of mourning, and that they are not alone.

After sympathy/empathy has run its course, you will find that the person is much more open to hear from you and be healed. Next time you want to advise, bite your tongue, join the person, listen and lament with them.

________________________________________________________________________________

Muchas veces cuando encontramos a un amigo pasando dificultad por pérdida o otra clase de dolor, tendemos a tratar de ser "el fuerte"; yo digo - tratamos de recordarle a la persona que todo resultará bien, que Dios está con ellos - y claro que sí, eso es ciertamente verdad.  Pero, hay un pedazo de sabiduría de consejería escondida aquí en el pasaje si tomamos el tiempo para entenderlo.

Para ser un comunicador efectivo, en este ejemplo, un oyente - tenemos que hacer exactamente eso - escuchar.  La persona querrá consejos y consuelo en tiempo - pero primeramente, la persona en sufrimento necesita que sus emociones sean validadas para saber que son sanos y para llegar a clausura.

Estar triste con el triste es consuelo y consejo en sí.  Validar y compartir una expereiencia traumática deja la persona entender que son valorosos, tanto para alguien unirse con ellos en la lamentación, que el problema es legítimo y digno de lamentación y que no está solo.

Después de que la simpatía/empatía ha corrido su curso, encontrarás que la persona está mucha más abierta para escucharte y recibir tu consejo - y ser sanada.  Así que la próxima vez que tu quieres aconsejar, hay que morderse la lengua, únete con la persona, escuche y lamenta con ella.

Thoughts on Deut.12:8/ Pensamientos sobre Deut. 12:8

Deuteronomy 12:8 GWT

^"8Never worship in the way that it’s being done here today, where everyone does whatever he considers right."

 

As a man thinks in his heart so shall he become. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its path leads down to death.

This is a doctrine that I see everywhere I look now a days. This doctrine doing it the way you want, or mixing and matching parts of other religions to create you own...now thats playing God.

This is one of the reasons that religion is dangerous in these days. Paul asks, who has known God's mind? Who has given Him counsel? We must be very careful to out confines and rules on who God is and how He is. But God is unfathomable and beyond comprehension. So yes, I may know things about God, but He is always surprising me. He reveals Himself to me in a unique way (never compromising or contradicting His word or character) and I know that He reveals Himself uniquely to others as well (never compromising or contradicting His word or character).

If we take a step back and look, the way we define God reflects greatly our own being. But make no doubt, He left us a very definite set of guidleines on what He expects of us and how to get a hold of Him

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Deuteronimo 12:8 RVC
^"8 No harán nada de lo que ahora hacemos aquí, donde cada uno hace lo que mejor le parece"

Como piensa uno en su corazón, así llegará a ser.  Hay caminos que el hombre considera rectos,
pero que al final conducen a la muerte.

Esta es una doctrina que veo en toda la cultura ahora.  Esta doctrina de hacer lo que quiera o mezclar partes de otras religiones para crear su propia...ahora bien, esto es jugar Dios.

Por esta razón, las religiones son peligroso en estos días.  Pablo pregunta, "quién conoce la mente de Dios? Quién le ha aconsejado?"  Tenemos que esta bien cuidadosos de nosotros mismos en ponerle reglas y cuadrados en quien es Dios y cómo es Dios.  Dios es insondable y más allá de la comprensión.  Así que, sí - conozco cosas de Dios, pero también siempre me soprende.  Me revela su modo de ser de una manera única (sin comprometer o contradecir Su palabra o cáracter) y yo sé que Él se revela sí mismo a otros también (sin comprometer o contradecir Su palabra o cáracter).

Si tomamos un paso atrás y miramos, vemos que la manera de lo cual definimos a Dios refleja grandemente nuestro propio ser y vida.  Pero, no se engañe, Él nos dejó un directriz definida sobre lo que Él espera de nosotros y cómo comunicarnos con Él.

Lectio Divina on Matthew 6:25-34

Matt 6:25-34

²⁵“So I tell you to stop worrying about what you will eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes?

 ²⁶“Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or gather the harvest into barns. Yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?

 ²⁷“Can any of you add a single hour to your life by worrying?

 ²⁸“And why worry about clothes? Notice how the flowers grow in the field. They never work or spin yarn for clothes. ²⁹But I say that not even Solomon in all his majesty was dressed like one of these flowers. ³⁰That’s the way God clothes the grass in the field. Today it’s alive, and tomorrow it’s thrown into an incinerator. So how much more will he clothe you people who have so little faith?

 ³¹“Don’t ever worry and say, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ ³²Everyone is concerned about these things, and your heavenly Father certainly knows you need all of them. ³³But first, be concerned about his kingdom and what has his approval. Then all these things will be provided for you.

 ³⁴“So don’t ever worry about tomorrow. After all, tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I’ve read many times Matthew 6:25-34.  For some reason, I am used to separating the verse into two distinct parts and taking them as such.  I usually break them down into verses 25-32 and verses 33-34.  So, I’d say that what is most striking to me today is the connection between the two.  I think this distinction comes because these are two verses independently and frequently quoted of each other.  The overall idea hear becomes clear when read together – place your trust and worries in the Lord’s hands and it will go well with you.

Here the speaker, Jesus, gives us an illustration of the actual affect that worrying has on a circumstance – nothing!  Basic human needs become objects of concern for us many times (for some of us, most of the time).  Now what immediately pops into my mind is starvation.  I think about third world countries and families who die because of lack of food and water.  For them it seems (from my point of view), that life is food and drink.  And also, does this mean that they lack the faith or direction to survive?  Implicitly, does it require faith and direction to survive?

Even birds with tiny brains can find food to eat. Even plants without a brain have food to eat.  What about inner-city poverty?  Do they lack brains, means or will?  These are questions on which I am not an expert.  I have never lived that life, nor do I know anyone who really has.  I’ve heard that in the case of the inner-city destitute, they dumpster dive – or search for food in the trash.  They do this because no shop owners or restaurants owners will give them any food.

Distrust and uncaring have become integral parts of American society.  A store owner won’t give out the day old bread or meat; rather, he’ll throw it away.  Why?  Liability (distrust).  If the unfortunate person gets sick off of the food given to him out of charity, that person can sue the owner who was only trying to help; and when his act of charity clashes with the destitute’s  desire for self-betterment (through the means of money), the result is a sown seed of distrust.   Then, as the news spreads around and we learn that we can sue people for spilling hot coffee on ourselves – we learn that we can take advantage of nearly anyone and those liable are taught that everyone is potentially the end of their livelihood.

What’s at play here is more than just faith + direction.  It now has become evident that it has to do with other factors.  So what can one do?  I posit the simple question: Isn’t God bigger than any situation?  It’s easier said than seen many times.  This indeed is where faith comes into play.  But I think I hear someone say in disgust: “So you’re blaming the starving children in Africa for their situation because they don’t have enough faith?”  Of course not!  That is ludicrous and foolish on my part to think that way. A part from that, who am I to judge what they do or do not correctly?

So, what then is the outcome?  There is not any one specific, over-arching answer to this question.  Each case is different.  I am of the opinion and belief that Jesus is the answer to all situations.  But then again, I understand Jesus seemingly very differently than people around me.  This does not put me in some higher rank or class, rather I see life and death in a different light than most – I trust in the old saying “Where there’s a will, there’s a way” and I have faith in Jesus Christ to get me out of any situation - and that faith is constantly tested – as well as it should be.  For who would I be to be sitting in my comfy chair, under my roofed home, with heat having the luxury of coffee in my belly and a computer with internet in front of me and writing about the redeeming works of Jesus Christ without fear of death and cast judgment and speak ignorantly about a third world living condition that I have never even seen apart from a few documentaries on NatGeo?

Yes, my faith is tested; yes I am persecuted as a Christian.  No, I don’t for an instant pretend to face the same level of testing as my Christian brothers and sisters in other parts of the world, nor do I pretend to face death for my beliefs.  So, I have become quite aware that it is easy for me to say “look for God first in everything that you do and all the rest will follow”; but my ease of saying this scripture has nothing to do with the actual Truth of the scripture.  Whether it is easy for me to say or I am like Job and have literally lost everything – I know it is pure truth, tested truth, that when we seek God above all else, the details and the needs are provided to us.

Now, I would pray that I could put this into action through living out my trust - even taking it so far as to become unlike that store owner who has bread, and who will not throw it away, but rather bless those who need it - even if it means losing everything - that I would be able to say that I did my part.

Lectio Divina Notes on 2 Corinthians 10:5

2 Corinthians 10:5

⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

1.       Part that sticks out: “demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God”

a.       What is the knowledge of God?

                                                              i.      Gnosis

1.       Thayer Definition:

1) knowledge signifies in general intelligence, understanding

1a) the general knowledge of Christian religion

1b) the deeper more perfect and enlarged knowledge of this religion, such as belongs to the more advanced

1c) especially of things lawful and unlawful for Christians

1d) moral wisdom, such as is seen in right living

                                                            ii.      The phrase - the wisdom of God is foolishness to the non-people of God, however this word in Greek denotes a “common knowledge”

b.      The KJV says “every imagination” – something certainly false

2.       Thought on application with experience

a.       In the spiritual warfare that we find ourselves in, we find ourselves under a barrage of attack – one tactic, the “doctrine of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1), seeks to dissuade us from the knowledge of God and to knock us off course. 

                                                              i.      In effect, these doctrines set themselves up against the knowledge of God – what is understood, or let’s even go as far as to say, what should be understood about God.

1.       It is interesting to note here that common knowledge gets lost through time.  Once, I stumbled upon a passage in a book that said “it is common knowledge that vegetarians are more susceptible to spirits” (Larkin).  This caught me very off guard.  How was this common knowledge?  I had certainly never heard of this.

a.       1 Timothy 4:1-5 and Acts 10:9-16 assert (in some eyes) that vegetarians (I think they mean more specifically, those of the vegetarians that call meat evil or the consumption there of evil) are wrong because they call bad what God has called good.  I asked my dad about this and he seems to know exactly what was meant there – it was common knowledge to him. (I don’t quite agree or understand this point of view and logic)

b.      What else then has been lost?

c.       I must put in opposition what I think vs. what the knowledge of God is; therefore I am to also have the knowledge of God so that I can accurately place the two in comparative opposition.

b.      I will then take captive those thoughts and make them submit to Christ

                                                              i.      This goes for both acceptable and unacceptable thoughts

1.       For the acceptable ones, they are already in submission to Christ by being aligned with the Way

2.       For the unacceptable ones, I personally perform a mental exercise.

a.       I take the thought and put it into image form in my imagination and place it in a jail or some sort of container.  Then, I take the container or jail and imagine it being burned up.

b.      This is because I understand that imagination can be prayer.

                                                                                                                                      i.      Just as humans and animals communicate non-verbally, we also communicate with our Creator non-verbally.

                                                                                                                                    ii.      He speaks to us through nature, feeling, other people and more.

                                                                                                                                  iii.      We speak to him through our conduct, feelings and thoughts

1.       Through non-verbal communicative prayer, I can imagine and picture what I could put into words (if I chose to do so) and simply enact them in my thought life as a prayer before God

a.       Many call this meditation

2.       So, my imagining these unacceptable thoughts before God’s knowledge and putting them in a holding place and destroying them is in essence and active way of expressing wordlessly: “Lord, help me rid myself of these thoughts and have a clean thought life.”

3.       Conclusion

a.       Obtain knowledge of God and put is against your own precepts

b.      Make all of your thought life submissive to the Will of God

                                                              i.      90’s Question of Reflection: Would Jesus think that?

c.       Be mindful, conscious of your thoughts at all times (“every thought”)

Numbers 4:7 - Bread that is always in the Lord’s presence

Numbers 4:7 - Bread that is always in the Lord’s presence

Bread embodies a few ideals of the traditional Jewish culture.  One of those is fellowship.  It is worthy to note that in the Lord’s commandments (“this is to be a permanent practice for all the generations” – [Leviticus 23:41]), there are mandatory days of rest and celebration – in fellowship.

The entire community of Israel was to participate in these ritual celebrations.  Left to their own devices, they would most likely have chosen to work or spend their time focused on other things; but as their God so wisely noted, it was important for them to be in fellowship.  Fellowship brings forth unity and if we have ever learned anything from Animal Planet, it should be that when one gazelle/ fish/wildebeest/human is alone, they are easy prey for a hunter.  On the converse, when the gazelles/fish/wildebeest/humans are united, the hunter has a terribly difficult time getting one, as he often becomes confused and frustrated; it appears as if the only way to really get one of them and devour them is to separate them from the pack.

The community of Israel was not so different from this idea.  With enemies all around, seeking to sack their riches and plunder their possessions; with the Adversary always thwarting the people of God throughout history (sin entering the world, trying to kill off the blessed offspring, the Great Flood, Tower of Babel, etc.), it becomes vastly imperative that these people remain united – which comes through fellowship.

Also, breaking bread was a means of blessing and giving thanks (1 Corinthians 11:24). The phrase “baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha'olam, hamotzi lechem, min ha aretz” or “blessed are you God, O, our God.  King of the universe who produces our bread of the Earth” was the common thing to say among the Jewish people as they said this while breaking the bread in order to give thanks and proclaim blessing over the people (Congregation Rodef Shalom).

Now, having looked at the superficial meaning of bread in Jewish ancient custom, we begin to see its importance.  More important than the bread we eat every day at least.  But to add another candy to bag, we look at this: this bread was always in the presence of God.  What does that mean?  This is significant in understand how God would have us relate to each other and to Him.  In His presence, He would invite us to fellowship and be in harmony and unity with each other, the body of Christ (Romans 12:16, Romans 12:5) as well as have us give thanks and bless one another (1 Thessalonians 5:18, Matthew 5:44*).

* You might think “that was a weird verse to choose”, but like Jesus might phrase it “if you are to bless your enemies and those who curse you, how much more blessings ought you to pronounce over those who are your friends and family?”

La existencia de Satanás pt. 2

Look for: The Existence of Satan pt. 2

I.                    Su reino

a.       Satanás es un Rey y tiene un reino

                                                              i.      Mateo 12:24-30

1.       Jesús dice Todo reino dividido contra sí mismo quedará asolado, y toda ciudad o familia dividida contra sí misma no se mantendrá en pie.²⁶ Si Satanás expulsa a Satanás, está dividido contra sí mismo. ¿Cómo puede, entonces, mantenerse en pie su reino?

                                                            ii.      También hemos leído

1.       Efesios 6:12

a.       ¹² Porque nuestra lucha no es contra *seres humanos, sino contra poderes, contra autoridades, contra potestades que dominan este mundo de tinieblas, contra fuerzas espirituales malignas en las regiones celestiales.

2.       Juan 12:31

a.       El juicio de este mundo ha llegado ya, y el príncipe de este mundo va a ser expulsado.

II.                  Sus métodos

a.       El engañador del mundo

                                                              i.      1 Juan 5:19

1.       ¹⁹ Sabemos que somos hijos de Dios, y que el mundo entero está bajo el control del maligno

a.       Nosotros somos diferentes y separados en el hecho de que no estamos controlado por el maligno y Satanás

b.      Como dice Romanos 6:6-9

                                                                                                                                      i.      Sabemos que nuestra vieja naturaleza fue crucificada con él para que nuestro cuerpo pecaminoso perdiera su poder, de modo que ya no siguiéramos siendo esclavos del pecado; ⁷ porque el que muere queda liberado del pecado. ⁸ Ahora bien, si hemos muerto con Cristo, confiamos que también viviremos con él.⁹ Pues sabemos que Cristo, por haber sido *levantado de entre los muertos, ya no puede volver a morir; la muerte ya no tiene dominio sobre él.

                                                            ii.      Satanás decepciona por cegar a los ojos del mundo

1.       2 Corintios 4:3-4

a.       ³ Pero si nuestro *evangelio está encubierto, lo está para los que se pierden.⁴ El dios de este mundo ha cegado la mente de estos incrédulos, para que no vean la luz del glorioso evangelio de Cristo, el cual es la imagen de Dios.

                                                          iii.      Él tiene ellos que predican otro evangelio

1.       Ref. Gálatas 1:9

2.       Ref. 1 Timoteo 4:1

3.       2 Pedro 2:1-2

                                                           iv.      Doctrinas que niegan

1.       El nacimiento de la virgen

2.       Deidad

3.       La resurrección

4.       El regreso pre-milenio

                                                             v.      Sus doctrinas reveladas

1.       Para quitarnos la bendita esperanza

a.       Inventó a Millerismo, Adventismo del Séptimo Día, Darvinismo Milenio

2.       Para quitarnos la sanidad inventó a

a.       Ciencia Cristiana y pensamiento nuevo

3.       Para saciar falsamente el deseo de los humanos saber del mundo espiritual inventó a

a.       Espiritismo y Wicca

III.                El adversario

a.       Una historia breve pero reveladora de los esfuerzos del adversario:

                                                              i.      Satanás tienta a Eva

                                                            ii.      Eva y Adán comen la fruta

1.       Resulta en la caída

                                                          iii.      Satanás trata de prevenir el nacimiento de la semilla prometida y causa que Caín mate a Abel

                                                           iv.      Para destruir la raza de hombres, él persuade a los Hijos de Dios tener relaciones con las Hijas de Hombres

1.       Resulta en el Gran Diluvio

                                                             v.      Para destruir la unidad de la raza humana, el diablo sugiere La Torre de Babel

1.       Resulta en la confusión de las lenguas y aislamiento del hombre

                                                           vi.      Por todo el Antiguo Testamento, vemos el adversario tratar de prevenir y tardar le reconciliación de la raza humana a Dios

                                                         vii.      Cuando Cristo viene, Satanás influenció a Herodías matar a todos los bebes varones en Belén

                                                       viii.      Cuando Cristo era débil en el desierto, él vino para tentarlo

                                                           ix.      La influencia sobre los fariseos  fue por Belcebú

                                                             x.      Convenció a Judas traicionarle a Jesús

                                                           xi.      Antes de llegar a la cruz, él trata de persuadir a los soldados y fariseos en Getsemaní

                                                         xii.      Cuando Jesús murió en le cruz – Satanás pensó que él había ganado

1.       Pero cuando Jesús se levantó de la muerte, tomó las llaves del infierno, Satanás se volvió loco, rabio de ira

                                                       xiii.      Es posible también que no está recordado pero que Satanás y sus ángeles contestó contra la ascensión de Jesús

1.       Pero como sabemos – ¡a Jesús la victoria y a su pueblo también!

                                                       xiv.      Pero siempre ve la resistencia y los planes del diablo por la historia

1.       Es un estudio importante y revelador como el diablo se manifieste en la historia – otro día

IV.                Su futuro

a.       Apocalipsis 12:9-12

                                                              i.      Así fue expulsado el gran dragón, aquella serpiente antigua que se llama Diablo y Satanás, y que engaña al mundo entero. Junto con sus ángeles, fue arrojado a la tierra.

b.      Por medio de la Bestia, el anticristo, él se dará cuenta de que no tiene mucho tiempo – solamente 3 años y medio (según este autor)

                                                              i.      Entonces serán arrojados la bestia y anticristo al lago de fuego y encadenado y Satanás arrojado al abismo por mil años

1.       (Ref. Apo. 20:1-3)

a.       ¹ Vi además a un ángel que bajaba del cielo con la llave del *abismo y una gran cadena en la mano.² Sujetó al dragón, a aquella serpiente antigua que es el diablo y Satanás, y lo encadenó por mil años.³ Lo arrojó al abismo, lo encerró y tapó la salida para que no engañara más a las *naciones, hasta que se cumplieran los mil años. Después habrá de ser soltado por algún tiempo.

2.       Después, será liberado por un tiempo más y entonces él y todos los ángeles arrojados en el lago de fuego

a.       (Ref. Apo. 20:7-10)

b.      ⁷ Cuando se cumplan los mil años, Satanás será liberado de su prisión,⁸ y saldrá para engañar a las *naciones que están en los cuatro ángulos de la tierra —a Gog y a Magog—, a fin de reunirlas para la batalla. Su número será como el de las arenas del mar.⁹ Marcharán a lo largo y a lo ancho de la tierra, y rodearán el campamento del *pueblo de Dios, la ciudad que él ama. Pero caerá fuego del cielo y los consumirá por completo.¹⁰ El diablo, que los había engañado, será arrojado al lago de fuego y azufre, donde también habrán sido arrojados la bestia y el falso profeta. Allí serán atormentados día y noche por los siglos de los siglos.