In the minds of some people, there is considerable doubt about God’s dealings with people in the Old Testament compared with the New Testament. They think God was angry and judgmental in the Old Testament but became loving and kind in the New Testament.
The reality is that God never changes. We clearly see both the wrath of God and the mercy of God displayed in the Old Testament. Both are clear realities. But since the New Testament begins with the ministry of Jesus, it highlights God’s grace in a tremendous way. The love of God is extended to people in quite a vivid way through the life, ministry and death of Jesus.
This huge focus of the New Testament in the early books highlight God’s love. But it is important to understand God’s love in the context of God’s wrath against sin and evil. That wrath of God still exists and is therefore the very reason that God’s grace is so amazing. His love for us is so great that he provides a way for us to escape that wrath.
This is clearly seen in Revelations chapter 16 where God’s wrath against evil is poured out. Several times, the statement is given: “And they did not repent.” God was looking for an opportunity to show mercy to people even in the very last days, in the midst of His wrath against evil.
So in the New as well as the Old Testament, God is exhibiting his wrath against evil and extending his mercy to all his creation.

Your Turn

Join the discussion and add your thoughts. What have you learned?

Please share briefly in the comments section on the website barnabas.in

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I am a pastor, teacher, and writer, devoted to helping people live their potential.

* If you enjoyed reading this post, please share it with others who may benefit from reading this.

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They are good people. But they talk constantly. They’re brilliant and knowledgeable about a vast array of matters.
But every conversion I’ve had with them were one way conversations. I listen and they talk. Rarely do I get a chance to speak. They do all the talking.
They get themselves into a mess, and they’re still talking. Talking themselves through the mess, and getting deeper into it. Never listening. They don’t need to listen since they’re brilliant.
One day, I hope they’ll listen to someone. 

When those you lead begin performing tasks with an inner drive, a change has come. Previously they only did what was required and when it was required. But now it is obvious that they have caught the vision. When this begins to happen, you must take some important steps.
Celebrate the fact that they are catching the vision and find unique ways to reward them. Rewards do not have to be monetary. Verbal acknowledgement and affirmation are sometimes the best. Then, continue to focus on the vision. Don’t let off or coast. Keep the vision before them and continue to value it. The momentum toward the vision must be maintained

God’s wrath against sin and rebellion is quite real. But while he remains angry at sin, his heart reaches out to those he created. With love he makes a way for redemption. And even today he continues to offer that redemption which was prompted by his love.

Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished. And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
“Great and amazing are your deeds,
O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations!
Who will not fear, O Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed” (Rev 15:1-4).

So the wrath of God is finished. The song of Moses and the song of the Lamb exalts God and expresses what he wants to do in caring for and guiding people. What joyous news for us to know. Jesus, the Lamb of God has taken away the sins of the world. He has taken away my sins. That is the ultimate of God’s righteous acts. Yes, the wrath of God is finished.
Now for the question above I would answer “…till God provides an opportunity for redemption. And he has already provided that opportunity through his Son Jesus. So he now waits with eager expectation. He is filled with mercy and compassion – much beyond our grasp.
We would be too impatient with those who constantly fall into sin. Our tolerance gets worn out too quickly as we reach out to those who are hurting. We expect a quick turn around where people turn from their sin quickly and without any delay. But God waits with eager expectation that all people would turn from their sinful ways and turn to him.
So the answer to the question above is that God is not angry with us. But in love, he has provided a way for us to be free from everything in life that binds and controls us. 
Your Turn
Join the discussion and add your thoughts. What have you learned?
Please share briefly in the comments section on the website barnabas.in
—————
I am a pastor, teacher, and writer, devoted to helping people live their potential.
* If you enjoyed reading this post, please share it with others who may benefit from reading this.
* For a list of books that I’ve recently read, here is my Reading List.

But if you wait till you produce the best work, you may never get started. The road to “The Best” is too long and even scary for many people. There has to be a better approach.
Maybe you just need to begin. Start small, be regular, and do your best. Your best may not be The Best, but at least you’ve begun. Now you can learn and grow as you produce your best work as of now.
There are too many who wait till they are good enough or till they become The Best. These people never even begin.
 

You create space by building an environment conducive to the task. Which talents do you wish to attract? Be accepting of such people. Express the need for people with those talents. Although you can’t be an expert in everything, be fairly knowledgeable.
Once they feel welcome, they will bloom in the environment you’ve created. Then others with similar talents will show up. But it begins with you creating space for what’s important. 

What kind of investment has Jesus made in your life? For some, he gave healing for their bodies, healing for mental disorders, peace in the midst of turmoil, or other vital things you needed. Because he is merciful, he continues to provide healing and continues to meet your needs.
For some people, Jesus was a friend who stayed close when everyone else walked away. He gave you the promise “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” He remained true to his word and stayed by your side.
In one way or another, Jesus has invested/sown good seeds into the lives of every human being on this planet (Matt 13:37-43). Now the question is, what return will Jesus get from his investments? Or what will Jesus reap as a result of what he has sown into the lives of people?
There is a time coming where Jesus will send out an angel with a sickle to reap the harvest of the final days.

Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put on your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped (Rev 14:14-16).

May we fix our eyes on Jesus in the way he wants so that we will be part of that end time harvest of Souls.
Your Turn
Join the discussion and add your thoughts. What have you learned?
Please share briefly in the comments section on the website barnabas.in
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I am a pastor, teacher, and writer, devoted to helping people live their potential.
* For a Malayalam video of this post, visit my YouTube channel.
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* For a list of books that I’ve recently read, here is my Reading List.

Yes, you can come back and choose Jesus later in life. But during the other choices you make, you’ll add on some extra unwanted baggage as well. Unfortunately, that extra baggage can stick to you throughout your life. Sure, you can unload that luggage when you’re fed up with it. Bu its not as easy as it sounds.
There’s also no guarantee that you’ll have another day to for another choice. Oh, there’s no pressure. It’s your choice.
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There has been lots of posts and messages circulating for several years now regarding the modern translations of the Bible. I’ve seen people become confused and disillusioned as a result of reading those messages. Some have tried to revert to the old, KJV in response to what they have read. Below this post I have included a sample of such a message.
Now, here is my response to such messages:

1. Problem with publisher of NIV. International Bible Society was the original publisher of the NIV. Later, Zondervan, and now that company is owned by another company (Harper Collins) which publishes many types of books. But the publishing of the NIV and its editors have stayed separate. Harper Collins has a Christian division which publishes Christian books. It is this division that handles Bible publishing.
2. Some words were removed. Actually, these words were not simply removed. More accurate words were put in its place. The aim is to bring it closer to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek languages in which the Bible was written.
3. NIV has removed 45 verses. The Bible comes to us with many translations and copying (by hand) throughout its history. The verses that were removed were the ones that are not in the oldest and most reliable copies available to us. None of these verses create any doctrinal issues and there is nothing to fear. In fact, the removal of those verses only moves us closer to a genuine and more accurate text of the Bible.
4. Problem with mobile Apps. These mobile apps keep up with the updates as the publishers update them. But we must understand that these updates are not working against the Bible. Rather, there are hundreds of Bible scholars who spend their entire lives studying the ancient texts, versions, and translations of the Bible to ensure its accuracy and move us toward the best understanding of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts of the Bible.
5. My conclusion is that there is nothing to fear in using the NIV, ESV or other modern versions of the Bible. There is no clever conspiracy in these translations. These translations and revisions were done by reliable Bible scholars who are working for the accuracy of the text. If there is a problem, there are many others scholars all over the world who handle the original languages who can and do respond. Both the NIV and ESV are reliable translations and we can use them with confidence.

~Alexi George
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Here is one of the many messages I’ve seen circulating the Internet:
VERY CRITICAL ALERT!!!
Hello beloved saints,
I’m sure you know that new international
version (NIV) was published by Zondervan but is now OWNED by Harper Collins, who also publishes the Satanic Bible and The Joy of Gay Sex.
The NIV and English Standard Version (ESV) has now removed 64,575 words from the Bible Including Jehovah, Calvary, Holy Ghost and Omnipotent to name but a few…
The NIV and ESV has also now removed 45 complete verses. Most of us have the Bible on our devices and phones especially OLIVE TREE BIBLE STUDY APP.
Try and find these scriptures in NIV and ESV on your computer, phone or device right now if you are in doubt: Matthew 17:21, 18:11, 23:14; Mark 7:16, 9:44, 9:46; Luke 17:36, 23:17; John 5:4; Acts 8:37 …you will not believe your eyes.
Refuse to be blinded by Satan, and do not act like you just don’t care. Let’s not forget what the Lord Jesus said in John 10:10 (King James Version)
THE SOLUTION
If you must use the NIV and ESV, BUY and KEEP AN EARLIER VERSION OF the BIBLE. A Hard Copy cannot be updated. All these changes occur when they ask you to update the app. On your phone or laptop etc.
Buy and KEEP EARLIER VERSIONS AND STORE THEM.
There is a crusade geared towards altering the Bible as we know it; NIV, ESV and many more versions are affected.
We are living in the last days And Jesus is soon to come The Gospel has been preached almost everywhere, all the prophecies have been fulfilled. The devil is working very hard to occupy Christians with the things of this world so that the day will catch them unaware.
Please be prepared, there is no more time, Use the advantage of sms, WhatsApp, BBM, Facebook, twitter etc to send this message to All your contact. Do not ignore. This is also a source of evangelism, souls are dying. God bless you!
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The book of Revelation clearly talks about the “mark of the beast” where no one can buy or sell without that mark. This future event will be mandatory for everyone to have this mark of the beast on their right hand or on the forehead (Rev 13:15-17).
The Israelites were instructed to have God’s laws in their hearts. And that was to be evidenced by their thoughts and actions. As an imagery of this, they were to “bind” them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes (Dut 6:8).
The mark of the beast will be mandatory one day and will be used to control people and force them to worship the “image of the beast.” But God’s words are to be voluntarily placed in our minds and hearts and we are to live according to them. Without force, as a response to our love, we worship God as our savior and creator of all things.
Many live in fear of that upcoming time where everyone will be forced to have the mark of the beast on their right hand and on their foreheads. At that time people will be forced to worship the image of the beast.
But today, we have a choice to worship the living God and to live according to his desires. His laws are to be placed in our hearts and minds. That is to be evidenced by our actions. This is the imagery in Deuteronomy 6:8, where they were instructed to bind them as a sign on their hand (their actions) and as frontlets between their eyes (their thoughts).
There is no need to fear the mark of the Beast as long as we live for God!
Your Turn
Join the discussion and add your thoughts. What have you learned?
Please share briefly in the comments section on the website barnabas.in
—————
I am a pastor, teacher, and writer, devoted to helping people live their potential.
* If you enjoyed reading this post, please share it with others who may benefit from reading this.
* For a list of books that I’ve recently read, here is my Reading List.