GAMBLING - A GAME CHANGER

 

I am going to publish this though it is still a draft, a work in progress, but it has enough information in it that I believe you can follow, if interested.

GAMBLING - A GAME CHANGER

When I was young I asked my mother if there was anything in the Bible about gambling. She thought for a few seconds and said, "Well, there is the verse 'A fool and his money are soon parted.'" That was the end of the discussion, so I went years wondering if there was more, especially when gambling became legalized. It wasn't always legalized. I remember one state voting against it but it was allowed anyway with promises to help fund schools. To my knowledge, that has never happened.

Though the Bible doesn't specifcally mention gambling, other than casting lots, it does talk about wasting money as being done by fools. There are other Bible teachings that indirectly condemn gambling as something detrimental to family and society. Questions a person needs to ask himself or herself before gambling are:

Does it take time away from the family?

Does it take away resources needed for the family? I Timothy 5:8 - Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Does it take time away from God whether in thought or deed? Matthew 6:24 - “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Are you willing to take the risk of becoming addicted? It is a very difficult addiction to break. Any addiction goes against God's teachings. Genesis 4: 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.

Do you get a high over a small win even though you have spent six times more than the win? 2 Peter 2:19 - They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”

Do you have remorse after losing more than you gained?

Do the effects of gambling make you do things you wouldn't ordinarily do or to entertain thoughts you never would allow to enter your mind before gambling demanded your time and money? Just remember, the father of lies is behind this evil and all other addictions.

Is gambling ill-gotten gain? Proverbs 1:19 KJV - So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof. 

“‘They will throw their silver into the streets,

and their gold will be treated as a thing unclean.

Their silver and gold

will not be able to deliver them
in the day of the Lord’s wrath.
It will not satisfy their hunger
or fill their stomachs,
for it has caused them to stumble into sin.

Does it have the appearance of evil? 1 Thessalonians 5:22 - Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Do you encourage others to participate, even though they may not have the means or are weak-willed and prime for addiction? Romans 14:21 - "It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall." King James Version words the same verse a little differently: "It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak." I have known people who went gambling as a fun night out and were hooked right away into continuing until they lost their everything including home and family.

Are you setting a poor example for your children or others? Matthew 18:6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." NIV

Are you influenced by others also gambling, who are also drinking to excess and possibly philandering? 1 Corinthians 15:33 - Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

Proverbs 1:10, 13-16b,19:
My son, if sinful men entice you,
do not give in to them.
13 we will get all sorts of valuable things
and fill our houses with plunder;
14 cast lots with us;
we will all share the loot”—
15 my son, do not go along with them,
do not set foot on their paths;
16 for their feet rush into evil,
19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
it takes away the life of those who get it.

I Timothy 6: 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Luke 12: 14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

Luke 12: 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Colossians 3:5 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

Proverbs 13:11 - Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.

I Peter 5:2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;

Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

I Timothy 6:6-8 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

20 Proverbs 28:20 - A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

Mark 8:36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

Ezekiel 7:19 - “‘They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will be treated as a thing unclean. Their silver and gold will not be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath. It will not satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs, for it has caused them to stumble into sin.

(Copied from internet, source unknown):
Cognitive Distortions Gambling is an ineffective and unreliable way of acquiring money. For someone to become addicted to gambling, their cognitions or thought processes must become distorted to the point where this central truth eludes them.

Ten Types of Cognitive Distortion Many problem gamblers’ thoughts are distorted in the following ways: 

1. Attribution –- Problem gamblers may believe their winnings occur as a result of their efforts and not randomly. 
2. Magical thinking –- Problem gamblers may believe that thinking or hoping in a certain way will bring about a win or that random outcomes can be predicted. They may also believe they are special in some way and that their specialness will be rewarded with a win. 
3. Superstitions –- Problem gamblers may believe that lucky charms, certain articles of clothing, ways of sitting, etc., may cause a win or a loss. 
4. Systems –- Problem gamblers may believe that by learning or figuring out a certain system (a pattern of betting in a particular way), the house advantage can be overcome. Although professional gamblers were more able to predict payouts with earlier technologies, which relied on more predictable patterns of payouts, this required many hours of careful observation, and the machine always kept more than it paid out. The increased computerization of gambling machinery has ensured that wins are now truly random, so it is impossible to predict a payout, and, of course, it is still heavily stacked in favor of the “house.” 
5. Selective recall -– Problem gamblers tend to remember their wins and forget or gloss over their losses. 
6. Personification of a gambling device –- Problem gamblers sometimes attribute human characteristics to inanimate objects, which are part of the gambling process, thinking that a particular machine is punishing, rewarding or taunting them. 
7. Near miss beliefs –- Problem gamblers reduce the number of losing experiences in their minds by thinking they “almost” won. This justifies further attempts to win. Near misses can be as stimulating, or even more stimulating, than actual wins. 
8. Chasing losses –- Problem gamblers believe that they have not really lost...

(Two missing)

SLAVES TO SIN OR SLAVES TO RIGHTEOUSNESS

SLAVES TO SIN or SLAVES TO RIGHTEOUSNESS?

John 8:34
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.

John 8:47
Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

Romans Ch. 5

John 8:42-47
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

Romans 6:5-7
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

Romans 6:15
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!

Romans 6:16
Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Romans 6:17
But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.

Romans 6:18
You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

Romans 6:19
I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.

Romans 6:20
When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.

Romans 6:22
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

Romans 7:14
We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.

Romans 7:25
Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

1 Corinthians 7:23
You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings.

1 Peter 2:16
Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.

2 Peter 2:19
They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”

1 John 4:4

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 

SCRIPTURES FOR OFFERING/TITHING WORSHIP TIME

SCRIPTURES FOR TITHING/OFFERING WORSHIP TIME

Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always. Deuteronomy 14:22-23 (By practicing good tithing habits, scripture tells us we are showing God our desire to put him first place in our lives. In Deuteronomy, Christians are directed to not only give ten percent of their income, but to give their first and their best. This means Christians should strive to not only pay or take out tithes upon receiving your paycheck, but to always put God above your bills and other responsibilities.)

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. Matt. 5:23

Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. I Cor. 16:1,2

"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. Malachi 3:8-10

" 'A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. Lev. 27:30

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. II Cor. 9:7

The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the Levites and say to them: 'When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the LORD's offering. Your offering will be reckoned to you as grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress. In this way you also will present an offering to the LORD from all the tithes you receive from the Israelites. From these tithes you must give the LORD's portion to Aaron the priest. You must present as the LORD's portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.' Numbers 18:25-29

But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. II Cor. 8:7

A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great. Prov. 18:16


According to their ability they gave to the treasury for this work… Ezra 2:69a

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Mark 8:36

Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?" Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored," says the LORD. "You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the LORD Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the oil and whatever the ground produces, on men and cattle, and on the labor of your hands." Haggai 1:3-11

Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. Give portions to seven, yes to eight, for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land. Eccl. 11:1,2

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. Psalm 96:8

" 'A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. Lev. 27:30

…and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments. Ex. 35:21

And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. II Cor. 8:1-7

SUPPLEMENTARY OFFERINGS (no longer necessary)
The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'After you enter the land I am giving you as a home and you present to the LORD offerings made by fire, from the herd or the flock, as an aroma pleasing to the LORD -whether burnt offerings or sacrifices, for special vows or freewill offerings or festival offerings- then the one who brings his offering shall present to the LORD a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of oil. With each lamb for the burnt offering or the sacrifice, prepare a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering. Numbers 15:1-5

The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites and say to them: 'If any of you—either an Israelite or an alien living in Israel—presents a gift for a burnt offering to the LORD, either to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering, you must present a male without defect from the cattle, sheep or goats in order that it may be accepted on your behalf. Do not bring anything with a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf. When anyone brings from the herd or flock a fellowship offering to the LORD to fulfill a special vow or as a freewill offering, it must be without defect or blemish to be acceptable. Do not offer to the LORD the blind, the injured or the maimed, or anything with warts or festering or running sores. Do not place any of these on the altar as an offering made to the LORD by fire. Leviticus 22:17-22

Love of Money
If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. I Tim. 6:3-10

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TENTH
And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. Gen. 14:20
“…and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth." Gen. 28:22

When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. Deut. 26:12

As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything. II Chron. 31:5

 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing…Prov. 3:9-10a

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And the people of any place where survivors may now be living are to provide him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.' "
Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem. All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings. Ezra 1:4-6 

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. Psalm 96:8

And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches 2Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. II Cor. 8:1-7

Mosaic laws instituting tithing: (Leviticus 27:30-33; Numbers 18:21-24; Deuteronomy 12:6,7,17-19;14:22+)

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UNSATISFACTORY OFFERINGS
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. Matt. 23:23

"Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. Luke 11:42

Cain’s offering
The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites and say to them: 'If any of you—either an Israelite or an alien living in Israel—presents a gift for a burnt offering to the LORD, either to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering, you must present a male without defect from the cattle, sheep or goats in order that it may be accepted on your behalf. Do not bring anything with a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf. When anyone brings from the herd or flock a fellowship offering to the LORD to fulfill a special vow or as a freewill offering, it must be without defect or blemish to be acceptable. Do not offer to the LORD the blind, the injured or the maimed, or anything with warts or festering or running sores. Do not place any of these on the altar as an offering made to the LORD by fire. Leviticus 22:17-22

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HOW TO DISPENSE THE OFFERING
“Right now you have plenty and can help those are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it,” 2 Corinthians 8:15

Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. I Timothy 5:3

HONESTY IN GIVING
Ananias and Sapphira
Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price." Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

GENEROUS TO THE POOR
Cornelius answered: "Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. Acts 10:30-31 

Good will come to him who is generous… Psalm 112:5a

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. Heb. 6:10,11

A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor. Prov. 22:9 

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. I Tim. 6:18 

SAYING
Some folks kill themselves trying to earn enough money to take it easy.

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Some may quote, "The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof," or, "Everything belongs to God." Yes, that is My father was a tenant farmer in Oklahoma; our land was rented from an old Indian. He said to my father: "You may live in that house. You may have what land you desire for gardens and things of that kind; you may use the barn, the pasture for your horses and cattle. But the major portion of the land I want planted in cotton and corn, and for the use of all this I want one-third of the corn and one-fourth of the cotton." That was the rent for the use of that particular farm. We called it "renting on the third and fourth." A third of all the corn and a fourth of all the cotton we raised belonged to the man who owned the land. It did not belong to my father. It is true he tended it, gathered it, and sold it. But unless the money was turned to the landlord, my father could have been brought into court, and judgment would have been found against him. true; but God has given man the earth to use, and the tithe is the rent He asks for the use of it. Jarrette Aycock 

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The story is told of a father who was trying to teach his little girl the tithing system. He had ten dimes with which to illustrate. He told her of the goodness of God and how He had created us. He told the child of Jesus and how He had given His life on the cross that we might be saved. Pushing one dime aside and leaving the nine stacked together, he said: "Now, Daughter, this belongs to God. These nine dimes belong to us. This is ours. This is His." The little girl began to cry and her father was astonished and asked her, "Why are you crying?" The little child replied in a broken voice, "Is that all God gets?" 

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Compiled by Brian Kluth, copied from the internet

• Gen 14:19 (Abraham’s gift of 10%)
• Gen 28:20-22 (Jacob decision to give 10% to God)
• Exod 35:4-29 (Moses and the people’s gifts to build the tabernacle)
• Lev 27:30 (Tithe of everything is the Lord’s)
• Lev 27:32 (Every tenth animal is the Lord’s)
• Num 18:21 (Tithes support ministers of God)
• Deut 12:5-7 (Tithes, special gifts, freewill offerings)
• Deut 14:22-29 (Set aside a tenth to learn to revere God)
• 2 Chr 31:2-12 (Hezekiah generosity & giving instructions)
• Neh 10:35-37 (Nehemiah’s giving instructions)
• Neh 12:43-47 (Faithful giving to God’s ministers)
• Neh 13:11-13 (Nehemiah’s rebuke & the results)
• Mal 3:7-12 (Holding back tithes & offerings is stealing from God)
• Matt 23:23 (Jesus’ affirmation of tithing)
• Luke 11:42 (Jesus’ affirmation of tithing)
• I Kings 17:8-16 (Elijah and the starving widow)
• Deut 8:18 (God gives people ability to produce wealth)
• Prov 3:9-10 (Honor the Lord with your wealth & firstfruits)
• Exod 36:3-6 (Moses restrains people from bringing offerings)
• Mal 1:6-14 (Malachi’s rebuke for bringing bad offerings)
• Hag 1:4-11 (Haggai’s giving challenge)
• 1 Chr 29:2-9 (David’s generous gift & giving challenge)
• 1 Chr 29:11-17 (Everything we have and gives comes from God)
• Luke 6:38 (Give and God will see others give to you)
• 2 Cor 8:2-21 (Rich generosity in the midst of extreme poverty)
• 2 Cor 9:5-15 (God loves a cheerful giver)
• Deut 28:12-13, 43-45 (Blessings & curses for obedience)
• Ps 50:9-12 (God owns everything)
• Prov 11:24-25 (Generosity is the pathway for more)
• Prov 18:9 (Slackness in giving is the same as destroying things)

Also compiled by Brian Kluth

• Gen 28:20-22 Jacob made a vow (to God), "If God will be with me and will watch over me…all that You give me I will give You a tenth.”
• Exodus 35:5 From what you have, take an offering for the LORD. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the LORD an offering.
• Exodus 35:21 Everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work.
• Gen 28:20-22 Jacob made a vow (to God), "If God will be with me and will watch over me…all that You give me I will give You a tenth.”
• Exodus 35:5 From what you have, take an offering for the LORD. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the LORD an offering.
• Exodus 35:21 Everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work.
• Exodus 35:22 All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds: brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments. They all presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD.
• Exodus 35:29 All the men and women who were willing brought to the LORD freewill offerings for all the work the LORD…had commanded them to do.
• Lev 27:30 A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.
• Lev 27:32 The entire tithe of the herd and flock-- every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd's rod-- will be holy to the LORD.
• Num 18:21 "I give to the Levites (ministers) all the tithes…in return for the work they do while serving (the Lord).
• Deut 12:6-7 Bring your offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings…because the Lord your God has blessed you.
• Deut 14:22-23 Be sure to set aside a tenth…so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always.
• Deut 14:27-29 Do not neglect the Levites (ministers) living in your towns…so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
• 2 Chr 31:5 The Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything.
• 2 Chr 31:6 The men…brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things dedicated to the LORD their God, and they piled them in heaps…When King Hezekiah and his officials came and saw the heaps, they praised the LORD and blessed God’s people.
• 2 Chronicles 31:12 God’s people faithfully brought in the contributions, tithes and dedicated gifts.
• Neh 10:35-37 "We assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the LORD each year the firstfruits of our crops… will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God…offerings…(and) tithes.
• Neh 12:43-44 (God’s people) offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing…could be heard far away. Men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, firstfruits and tithes.
• Neh 12:47 All (of God’s people) contributed the daily portions for the singers, gatekeepers…Levites (ministers).
• Neh 13:11-12 I rebuked the officials and asked them, "Why is the house of God neglected?" Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts. All (God’s people) brought the tithes…into the storerooms.
• Malachi 3:7-9 Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty. "But you ask, 'How are we to return?' "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse-- the whole nation of you-- because you are robbing me.
• Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
• Malachi 3:11,12 (God says to those who bring him tithes and offerings) “I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land.”
• Matt 23:23 "Woe to you, teachers of the law…You give a tenth…But you have neglected the more important matters-- justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
• I Kings 17:13 8-16 Elijah said to (the starving widow woman), "Don't be afraid…first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the LORD says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry’…She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.
• Deut 8:18 Remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.
• Prov 3:9-10 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
• Exodus 36:3-6 The people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work and said to Moses, "The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done." Then Moses gave an order…"No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary." And so the people were restrained from bringing more.
• Mal 1:8-10 (God’s ministers tell people) 'Lame animals are all right to offer on the altar of the Lord-- yes, even the sick and the blind ones.' And you claim this isn't evil? Try it on your governor sometime-- give him gifts like that-- and see how pleased he is!… I have no pleasure in you," says the Lord Almighty, "and I will not accept your offerings.”
• Malachi 1:11-14 “My name will be honored…from morning till night. All around the world people will offer…pure offerings in honor of my name. For my name shall be great among the nations," says the Lord Almighty. "You say, 'Oh, it's too difficult to serve the Lord and do what he asks.' And you turn up your noses at the rules he has given you to obey. Think of it! Stolen animals, lame and sick-- as offerings to God! Should I accept such offerings as these?" asks the Lord. “Cursed is that man who promises a fine ram from his flock and substitutes a sick one to sacrifice to God. For I am a Great King," says the Lord Almighty, "and my name is to be mightily revered among the people of the world."
• Hag 1:4-11 "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while (God’s) house remains a ruin?" This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways…build (My) house…so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored.” "You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the LORD Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the oil and whatever the ground produces, on men and cattle, and on the labor of your hands."
• 1 Chr 29:2-3 (King David said to God’s people) “With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God—gold…silver…bronze…iron…wood…onyx…turquoise…all kinds of fine stone and marble-- all of these in large quantities. In my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided.
• 1 Chr 29:5-8 (King David said to the leaders) “Who is willing to consecrate himself today to the LORD?" Then the leaders of families…officers…commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds…and the officials…gave willingly. They gave toward the work on the temple of God gold…silver…bronze…iron. Any who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the LORD.
• 1 Chronicles 29:9 The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly.
• 1 Chr 29:11-12 Everything in heaven and earth is Yours, O LORD. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.
• 1 Chron 29:13-14 (David prayed to God) “God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”
• 1 Chron 29:16 LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.
• I Chron 29:17 (David prayed to God) “I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these (offerings) I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.”
• Ezra 2:68,69 Families gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God. According to their ability they gave to the treasury for this work.
• Luke 6:38 TLB If you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give-- large or small-- will be used to measure what is given back to you.
• Luke 6:38 NIV Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
• 2 Cor 8:2,3 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.
• 2 Cor 8:5 They gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.
• 2 Cor 8:7 Just as you excel in everything-- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-- see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
• 2 Cor 8:9-12 You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. If the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
• 2 Cor 8:20,21 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.
• 2 Cor 9:5 I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
• 2 Cor 9:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
• 2 Cor 9:7-8 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
• 2 Cor 9:10-13 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
• Deut 28:12-13 The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.
• Ps 50:10 Every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills…the creatures of the field are mine… the world is mine, and all that is in it.
• Prov 11:24-25 One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
• Prov 22:9 A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
• Prov 28:27 He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.
• Matt 6:25-27 (Jesus said) "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
• Matt 6:33,34 Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things (food, clothing, drink) will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
• Mark 12:41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury.
• Matt 12:41-44 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything-- all she had to live on."
• Deut 16:10 Celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God by giving a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the LORD your God has given you.
• Deut 16:16-17 No man should appear before the LORD empty-handed: Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the LORD your God has blessed you.
• 1 Cor 16:2 On every Lord's Day each of you should put aside something from what you have earned during the week, and use it for this offering. The amount depends on how much the Lord has helped you earn.
• 1 Tim 6:6-8 Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
• 1 Tim 6:9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
• 1 Tim 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
• 1 Tim 6:17-19 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
• 1 Sam 30:24 The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.
• Matt 6:19-21 (Jesus said) "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
• Heb 6:10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
• Acts 2:44-45 All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
• Acts 4:34-36 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.
• Rom 12:13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
• Heb 13:16 Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
• I Jn 3:17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
• Luke 18:22-25 When Jesus heard this, he said to the rich young ruler, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
• Gal 6:6 TLB Those who are taught the Word of God should help their teachers by paying them.
• Gal 6:6 NIV Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.
• Matt 25:35-40 I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?’…"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
• Acts 20:35 “It is more blessed to give than to receive.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Here is a list of Bible verses from the Old and New Testaments about tithing. (from the internet)
• Genesis 14:20 – Melchizedek comes out to meet Abraham, as Abraham gives him a tithe of the spoils of his victory.
• Genesis 28:20-22 – After the vision of God’s renewed covenant, Jacob initiates a covenant with God vowing to give him a tithe of what he receives from the promised land.
• Leviticus 27:30-32 – The specifications of the tithe is introduced into the law of Moses.
• Numbers 18:21 – The tithe is dedicated the Levites for the work in the tabernacle.
• Deuteronomy 12:5-11 – God gives instructions for what to do with the tithe once Israel crosses the Jordan.
• Deuteronomy 14:22-29 – God gives instructions on how to disperse and exchange the tithe.
• Deuteronomy 26:12-15 – God gives instructions on how Israel should sanctify the tithe before they can ask for a blessing.
• 2 Chronicles 31:5-12 – The children of Israel do what’s right under the reign of Hezekiah, and bring the tithes to the designated places.
• Nehemiah 10:37-38 – Israel obeys God and brings the tithes to the storehouse.
• Nehemiah 12:44 – Officers were appointed to watch over the tithes in the storehouse.
• Nehemiah 13:5-12 – Nehemiah cleanses the storehouse and kicks Tobiah out of the room that was designated to store the tithe. He then restores order.
• Amos 4:4 – God commands Israel to bring back the tithe and reiterates the curse that is upon them if they don’t.
• Malachi 3:8-10 – God reprimands Israel for not delivering the tithe, and reiterates the blessings and curse that would be in result of whatever decision they chose.
• Matthew 23:23 – Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for not obeying the weightier matters of the law along with tithing.
• Luke 11:42 – A parallel passage of Matthew 23:23 as Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for not obeying the weightier matters of the law along with tithing.
• Luke 18:12 – A Pharisee brags about his obedience to the law and tithing.
• Hebrews 7:5-9 – Abraham’s tithe is used to illustrate a change concerning the priesthood.

WHO'S RESPONSIBLE?

 

WHO’S RESPONSIBLE?

When leadership is needed,

To bring issues to the table,

When the church is spiritually weak,

Who’s responsible?

When teachers are also needed –

Ones who are capable,

Who is able to fill this need?

Who’s responsible?

When elders and deacons are chosen –

Godly men who are eligible,

Whose lives are lived above reproach,

Who’s responsible?

When the church’s funds are low,

And its state is formidable,

When generous, cheerful givers are needed,

Who’s responsible?

Who can fill these roles,

While being sensible?

Who can keep the church on track?

Who’s responsible?

If spiritual gifts are not used in church,

Its demise is inevitable.

Who is then to blame?

Who’s responsible?

Becky Wall

beckyowall.blogspot.com

7/18/2025

THE POTTER AND THE CLAY

 

THE POTTER AND THE CLAY

I am a piece of clay,

Still fresh and easily pliable.

And the work of those who shape me,

Will be judged and they will be liable.

For on a person’s potting wheel,

I can be punched and pounded.

My being may become distorted,

And I will not be well rounded.

I can be molded beautifully when,

On the Master’s wheel I am poured.

A flaw may appear or a total collapse,

But I can be restored.

Over time a pattern is formed,

It is never just a straight line.

Each person I’ve ever known,

Will add to the design.

Each acquaintance will add a mark.

Motive will inspire each spot.

Let’s just hope the ones who destroy,

Will only leave a dot.

All are owned by the Master Potter;

We are dust formed into clay.

Each us has his own potter’s wheel,

And our work will be judged someday.

Pressure must be applied in the process,

And “the pot” will be tested by fire.

But for those who spent time in the Master’s hands,

A true work of art will transpire.

Becky Wall

YOU MOVE HEAVEN & EARTH FOR ME

 

YOU MOVE

HEAVEN & EARTH

FOR ME

You created for six long days.

To move heaven and earth for me.

You wanted my companionship,

Though my future was yet to be.

When my days are finished and trials are over,

And my mansion is prepared by Thee,

Old things will pass, and once again,

You'll move heaven and earth for me.

For a new heaven and earth will come,

When the first heaven and earth pass away,

There will no longer be any sea.

We saints so await that great day.

Revelation 21:1- Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.


beckyowall.blogspot.com
7/12/2025

ARE TODAY'S HEALERS FROM GOD?

ARE TODAY'S HEALERS FROM GOD?

Can people still be healed by today’s “healers?” You decide. Whether or not spontaneous healing by a healer still exists has been a touchy subject as long as I can remember. I only know what I have gleaned from the Bible. I put no stock in what I see on television.

I'll start with an explanation as to who are the Apostles. They are the ones given the power of healing by Jesus himself. There were originally twelve of them who followed Jesus. Judas committed suicide from the guilt he was left with after Satan’s demons left him. He had served their purpose of betraying Jesus which would result in his beating and death. A man named Matthias took Judas's place as a disciple. Paul was later grafted in when he was specially chosen by Jesus to spread the gospel and start churches. The Apostles were also called Disciples. They were the chosen ones who were students and friends of Jesus who left everything for him. They failed their lessons many times but Jesus never gave up on them and they never gave up on Jesus – except Judas, of course. We true Christians are now called disciples or saints.

When the Apostles were given the gift of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, they were also given the gifts of healing, casting out demons, speaking in tongues or foreign languages (in order to spread the gospel to other lands) and so on. They were able to pass the gift of healing on to others, such as Barnabas. Barnabas played a key role in starting churches and spreading the gospel. He was a companion of Paul on Paul’s first missionary journey. Silas was another “disciple” who helped start churches and spread the gospel but he was never given the gift of healing. The whole purpose of healing was to prove to others that Jesus was and is who he said he is.

The signs and wonders performed by the Apostles were necessary to start churches. People would have been slow to believe without them. In this new beginning, there was no New Testament, no record of prophecies fulfilled or of Jesus’s life, teachings and miracles. It was up to the Apostles and followers (disciples) to start churches. There is no record of the gift of performing miracles being passed on after the ones given this power through an Apostle.

There is a record of aprons and handkerchiefs which touched Paul being taken to sick and demon-possessed people. (A former healer, Oral Roberts, turned this idea into a money-making scheme.) Some Jews, including seven sons of a Jewish priest (did not believe in Jesus), capitalized on this response by people wanting to be healed. The Jews used the name of Jesus to try to summon his spirit in order to cast out demons. They were false disciples or prophets and they were beaten for their fraudulent actions. The bad was turned to good when many Jews became afraid because of what the man who had the evil spirit did to the seven sons. Those Jews converted to Christianity and the gospel message grew in power. 

See Acts 19:11-20: "11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. 13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. 17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power."

It is possible for false “prophets” to reproduce some miracles through trickery or with Satan’s help. Consider the ten plagues that occurred in Egypt when Moses tried to lead the people out of slavery in that country. Before the plagues began, Pharoah asked Moses to perform a miracle, Moses told his brother, Aaron to throw down his staff and it would become a snake. Here is what followed, found in Exodus 7:

"11 Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: 12 Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs." The first plague happened when the drinking water of the Nile turned to blood. The second was the plague of frogs everywhere in Egypt. The magicians were able to use their secret arts to reproduce both plagues, but with the third plague, gnats, the magicians could not repeat it. They had to admit to Pharoah, "This is the finger of God." 

So, this shows you that miracles can be reproduced through fakery of different sorts. It has happened in the past, it is happening in the present, and it will happen again in the future. See Revelation 13:

"11 Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 13 And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. 14 Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16 It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18 This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666."

See also Revelation 16. Demonic spirits performed signs: "12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. 13 Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty." "16 Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon."

Back a few chapters to Revelation 11. Two witnesses perform miracles demonstrating God’s power: "3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want."

My summation is to judge "healers" and others according to their fruits, be discerning, be wise. Be true to God. Too often people see only the display, the performance, and they hear only the persuasive speech and get caught up in their excitement. One of my now deceased sisters gave a lot of her assets to such a preacher. When I asked if he ever presented members of the church with a financial statement of income and expenses, she said “No, but he showed videos of where he had traveled on mission trips."

Without any Biblical proof, I would venture to say that the devil sends his most powerful demons to work on preachers, evangelists, and anyone else in a successful ministry, or with a popular talent. This also includes those who live lives dedicated to the Lord. They live the Bible and are messengers and examples to others.

The devil doesn’t have to bother with people outside of the church or even lukewarm Christians. Those in the present day and in the future who don’t know the Bible and who don't have the gift of the Holy Spirit given to us when we are baptized are in big trouble when it comes to making choices as to who and what to believe. Don't just live for the day. Live as if your eternity depends on it, because it does.

Becky Wall
beckyowall.blogspot.com

7/9/2025

Key words: #healing #healers #miracle #demons #thebeast #falseprophets

A TOUR OF HEAVEN

A TOUR OF HEAVEN

My own idea of heaven,

May not be your version.

But let me take you on my trip;

We'll go on a mental excursion.

We won't even need transportation,

When we flash to unknown highs.

We will travel at the speed of lightning,

Or dance with it across the skies.

Through pearly gates we'll enter,

Our heavenly Father we'll meet.

In an emerald mansion we'll stay,

At the end of a clear, golden street.

We will chat with all the creatures,

In a crystal sea we'll swim.

We'll visit with loved ones gone on before,

And we will marvel at them.

The food will be just "heavenly,"

And no creature will have to die.

The wonders we'll see I cannot describe.

No matter how hard I try.

Then on our trip back home,

From star to star we'll skip.

Or we can float upon a cloud,

And from its dew we'll sip.

My best days here on earth,

Cannot compare to such glory.

And if I persevere here on earth,

I'll have an even better story.

Becky Wall

beckyowall.blogspot.com

1997

MY MEMORY OF BLIND MOLLY

MY MEMORY OF BLIND MOLLY

Somewhere in West Frankfort a couple of blocks north of the little, green house where we lived was a white house. I was little, so I can’t tell you for sure. The lady in the house had a granddaughter named Molly. Molly was blind, but you would never know it except to look at her eyes. Her hearing was so good that it substituted for the lack of sight. My one memory of her was her chasing me around her grandma’s yard and gravel driveway while she was riding a tricycle, pedaling every bit as fast as I was running. No matter what direction I ran, she was never far from my heels – and I was a fast runner. I was terrified because I didn’t know if she could or would stop if I did. Fortunately, I never found out. I ran up the stairs and into the house to be safe. I would love to meet Molly again. Someone with that much spunk and capabilities would be worth knowing. I just hope she’s not driving a car using her hearing in place of sight.

Becky Wall

beckowall.blogspot.com

UNDERSTANDING THE RUIN CAUSED BY PORNOGRAPHY

UNDERSTANDING THE RUIN CAUSED BY PORNOGRAPHY

Pornography viewing is addictive and progressive. Participation in pornography use in one of any of its forms -- magazines, videos, movies -- may start out innocently but the end is ruin. It could branch out into phone sex, sex with prostitutes, a sexual perversion, window peeping, etc. It dominates a person's thoughts once they are hooked, and becoming hooked is quick and insidious. Use of pornography takes a regular guy and turns him into the shell of a man, empty of his once wonderful, normal, happy self. That's not to say women can't be hooked on pornography also.

What begins as viewing magazine pages of naked women could eventually lead to acting out with real women. The viewing continues in his mind's eye until it is constant and obsessive. The addict can't wait for his next fix. He may want to control himself but can't seem to do it. In the meantime, he has to lie in certain situations lest he be found out. He eventually becomes a compulsive liar. He has to hide his double life from loved ones. His behavior becomes suspicious to some. He may lose his job if he is caught viewing pornography at work. His mind works in abnormal ways until he may become mentally ill or mentally disturbed. His bizarre behavior may lead to divorce and separation from his children. He may live out his last days alone.

In the beginning, the addict worries about his relationship with God, rightfully so. But in time, he is no longer concerned with what God thinks. He just needs another high. That is the pattern of other addictions also.

A man who looks at pornography can easily be hooked; it is highly addictive. He may have control over it in the beginning, but it will eventually take over his mind, holding captive every thought, creating mental illness. It will become his master. He will live in a fantasy world, and will eventually be unable to distinguish between reality and the fantasy. Because his focus is elsewhere, he will let many other things slide. His work habits will suffer, as will his family relationships. His view of women will be abnormal. His relationship with God will eventually be cast to the wind. When he is no longer able to process thoughts properly, when his logic is warped, when he cannot control his own actions, and when he is unable to focus on what is important, he will be mentally ill and spiritually dead.

Are you storing away information that is trashy or wholesome? Does your mental library need a good cleaning? If one who has spent the majority of his/her time focusing on unwholesome thoughts and decides to “clean house,” that person should take care to fill the house with wholesome thoughts or the end result could be worse. Luke 11:24 says, "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first." What person wants an evil spirit taking up residence in his brain, little own seven of them. What a pitiable existence when the choices one makes are controlled by an evil spirit and the person cannot make healthy decisions without a major battle going on in his/her brain. I Peter 4:7a says, “Therefore be clear-minded and self-controlled…”

Those caught in the throes of any sin can develop mental illness. Sin leads to guilt and depression. Depression causes a loss of interest in things that were once important. It produces an excessive amount of negative thoughts. Thinking becomes distorted. It can even lead to suicide.

Here’s the Good News 

Fortunately for all of us, true repentance can set us free. Baptism can wash our sins away. We can start new again. We are offered a fresh slate on which to write our thoughts. I don’t mean to make starting new sound easy because often it is not. But it is an opportunity made available to us by Christ’s death on the cross, an opportunity that gives us hope and joy once again. It brings peace that passes understanding. So, be transformed by the renewing of your minds, give up the insanity.

Job 31:

“I made a covenant with my eyes
not to look lustfully at a young woman.
2 For what is our lot from God above,
our heritage from the Almighty on high?
3 Is it not ruin for the wicked,
disaster for those who do wrong?
4 Does he not see my ways
and count my every step?
5 “If I have walked with falsehood
or my foot has hurried after deceit—
6 let God weigh me in honest scales
and he will know that I am blameless—
7 if my steps have turned from the path,
if my heart has been led by my eyes,
or if my hands have been defiled,
8 then may others eat what I have sown,
and may my crops be uprooted.
9 “If my heart has been enticed by a woman,
or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door,
10 then may my wife grind another man’s grain,
and may other men sleep with her.
11 For that would have been wicked,
a sin to be judged.
12 It is a fire that burns to Destruction;
it would have uprooted my harvest.

Psalm 101:3-4
I will not look with approval on anything that is vile. I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it. 4 The perverse of heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with what is evil.

Prov. 2:12-14
Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse,
13 who have left the straight paths to walk in dark ways, 14 who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil, 15 whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways.

Prov. 3:32
For the LORD detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence.

Proverbs 28:6
Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

Proverbs 28:18
Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.

Romans 6:11-14
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

II Cor. 10:1-5
By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! 2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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.

I Thess. 4:3-5
It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body[a] in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God…

I Thess. 4:7-8
For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

Jude 1:7
In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.

These verses can weigh heavy on the heart of one who has this addiction or any other. But keep in mind God forgives. He wants you to belong to Him and not some demon. He wants you to be free to be who you are with your own clean thoughts and actions. He wants you to live in harmony with members of your family. He wants to greet you in heaven where He will see your name written in His book of the redeemed. Philippians 4:8 says "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Re-train your brain and maintain purity. Seek help. It's difficult to recover without help. Join a group of those who are also recovering unless they do more to lead you astray again than to help. Anyone like that is not your friend.