The Golden Pot of Manna

Quoted from "Made According to Pattern" Chapter 18 The Golden Pot of Manna by C W Slemming:
QUOTE
Jesus said that He was the "Bread of Life." He also said: "I am the true bread which came down from heaven" The world still looks on, and of Christ and the Word of God they are saying, "What is it?"
The true believer is he that can use the word in the Chaldean sense and say, concerning the Word of God: "It is a portion," and concerning Christ Himself, "He is a portion."
What kind of portion was the manna to this army of pilgrims?
It was a:
Sufficient Portion. There was enough for all and no lack.
Suitable Portion. It suited every palate, young and old alike, also the weak and the strong. The Jews say, "It tasted to every man as he pleased."
Satisfying Portion. No man ever went hungry. "The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger; but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing."
Strengthening Portion. It made strong men of them. They were able to journey in a desert, to work, and to fight.
Sustaining Portion. On it they lived for forty years. It must have been very nutritious.
Sure Portion. It never failed.
Cannot all this be said of Christ Jesus our Lord? He suits all classes, all nationalities, all ages, yea, all men everywhere. He certainly satisfies those who trust Him. "All that I want is in Jesus, he satisfies, joy He supplies. Life would be worthless without Him. All things in Jesus I find." He also strengthens His followers for life and service. He will sustain us all through life's journey and will never fail. Joshua tells us that there was an overlap in the supply of manna." And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land" (Joshua 5:12). Christ is not only our supply in life but He will take us through until we get right into the heavenly land to feast upon "hidden manna" (Revelation 2:17a).
UNQUOTE

My sins are more than the hairs of my head, but where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more

For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me (Psalm 40:12 KJV). Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: (Romans 5:20 KJV) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows (Luke 12:7). The wonderful grace of Jesus is sufficient for me, even though my sins are more than the hairs of my head. He has ordered my path. Even the very hairs of my head are all numbered.

Famine in the Promised Land

When famine hits the Promised Land, we start to wonder if we had followed the will of God wrongly and our faith is sorely tested. And the many ways that God may ask us to response makes discerning God's will even more difficult.
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went out to a place he was going to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was going (Hebrews 11:8) and when he arrived at Shechem, at the oak of Moreh, when the Canaanites were still in the land, the LORD appeared to Abram and told him that this was the land He promised (Genesis 12:6-7).
Then famine came upon the land, "That fruitful land was turned into barrenness, not only to punish the iniquity of the Canaanites who dwelt therein, but to exercise the faith of Abram who sojourned therein; and a very sore trial it was (Matthew Henry)."
The famine was grievous and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there (Genesis 12:10). The Bible did not record of any instructions from God. Probably, Abraham used his discretion.
Famine hits the Promised Land again in the time of Isaac, but this time, the LORD appeared to him and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you" (Genesis 26:2).
Famine hits the Promised Land again in the time of Jacob and this time the Lord said to Jacob, "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation." (Genesis 46:3).

Men Who Claimed To Be Somebody

Many men claim to be somebody. Some claimed to be gods, like Alexander, some claim to be buddha, like Siddhārtha Gautama and of course we have Jesus, who claimed to be God (Son of God).
Whoever who claim to be somebody other than mere human, we can ask them two questions and we can prove if they are men or not.
1. Are you born of a father and a mother?
2. Did you die?
If the answer is "Yes" to both questions, then he is a man, like you and me.

In the case of Jesus, the answer to question 1 is "No", because He was born of a virgin. The answer to question 2 is "Yes", but He was resurrected again.

To quote Peter Larson: "Despite our efforts to keep Him out, God intrudes. The life of Jesus is bracketed by two impossibilities: a virgin’s womb and an empty tomb. Jesus entered our world through a door marked ‘No Entrance’ and left through a door marked ‘No Exit.’"

And you can read about the test for gods in the world who seek to be worshiped here.

How Do I Know The Bible Is True?

How Do I Know The Bible Is True?

Approach 1: (The intrinsic properties of the Bible)
1. The verifiability of the Bible, e.g. The resurrection of Christ is verifiable;
2. The unity of the Bible (The Bible is a collection of 66 books which were written over 1500 years);
3. The consistency of the Bible (Many books and authors, one message);
4. The integrity of the Bible (Historical, Scientific, Prophetic Accuracy);
5. The antiquity of the Bible (Textual Preservation).

Approach 2: (External and internal proof)
Internal proof
1. Contains verifiable historical and geographical facts;
2. Contains prophecies of future events - Messianic Prophecies, Fulfilled Prophecies dealing with nations;
3. Consistent message and unity.
External proof
1. Scientific evidence;
2. Textual evidence;
3. Historical and archaelogical evidence.

Approach 3 (Compare to other religions):
1. Buddhism - cannot be audited, not verifiable
2. Islam - failed audit; not logical, therefore not true

Approach 4 (Impact on the world)
1. The world - politics, economics
2. The 7-day week, the calendar
3. Social Impact
4. Personal Impact

Approach 5: (The 2 witnesses - The Bible, Israel)
1. Cannot be duplicated / falsified;
2. Cannot be humanly produced.

Approach 6: (Message of salvation)
1. Unique;
2. Verifiable;
3. Legal;
4. Guaranteed.

Quoted from Got Our Tract - Good Messengers Ministries
QUOTE
Salvation
The salvation of man as presented in the Bible differs vastly from the cruel and inhumane views of the world’s religions. Hindus, for example, often involve themselves in agonizing acts to merit God’s favor. Buddhists follow an eightfold discipline of self denial. Muslims engage in a strict regimen of fasting and prayer to earn God’s approval. The Bible, however, offers man salvation in the God-man, Jesus Christ. It is not a salvation by works, but by grace through faith.
Truth
While other religious books are filled with unconfirmed claims and philosophies, the Bible supports its claims with historical and geographical facts. This is why the first-century Christians gave so much emphasis to the good news of the resurrected Christ. Their message was to be accepted not merely on the authority of their words but on verifiable evidence.
UNQUOTE

Musical Instruments are Invented by Descendants of Cain

Musical instrument and music are used in the worship of God. But the Bible tells us that musical instruments are invented by Jubal, a descendant of Cain (Genesis 4:21).

House on the Rock

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. (Matthew 7:24-27 KJV)

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:11-15 KJV)

Those who heed Christ’s message built their houses on the rock. But what do they build their houses with? Some build with gold, silver and precious stones. Others build with wood, hay and stubble. When the floods come, their house stayed. But when fire comes, those houses built with wood, hay and stubble are burnt.

Conservative religious values versus secular values

In an article by Kishore Mahbubani, "The virtues of secularism" which appeared in The Straits Times Page A22, 20 May 2009, he argues that "Logic travels well across culture and languages."

"Imagine that there is a religious organisation in Singapore which believes that it is immoral for teenage girls to be forced to expose their arms, legs and faces when they go to school. They say: 'There's a line that God has drawn for us, and we don't want our nation crossing that line.' Hence, since the teachers of Singapore are enforcing the rule, this religious organisation marshals its members, takes over the Singapore Teachers' Union and uses it to advocate the argument that female teenagers should be 'free' to choose whatever dress they want to wear to school. They argue that it is wrong to impose the corrupt Western school uniforms on young women of their religion.

Please note that the above is not a hypothetical example. This argument over school uniforms has been played out in France. Should we allow this to happen in Singapore too?"

Everyone loves to be righteousness

For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. (Romans 10:3 ESV)

Everyone loves to be righteousness. Even wicked men love to be righteousness. But all seek to define their own righteousness. They do not want to recognise God or acknowledge His standards. Because everyone loves to be righteousness, some people thought that men are born good.

Pet topics of human rights activist

The pet topics of human rights activist in Europe and America are these:

1. Gay rights
2. Euthanasia
3. Legalisation of abortion
4. Abolishment of capital punishment
5. Abolishment of corporal punishment for kids
6. Animals rights

Gay today, euthanasia tomorrow

Of all the Ten Commandments, six of them (the fifth to tenth) regulate human behaviour. The seventh commandment "Thou shalt not commit adultery (Exodus 20:14, Deuteronomy 5:18)." covers all sexual sin (Matthew 5:27-28). It is also the only sin that can be victimless, unlike murder or theft. Plain adultery has a victim, the spouse of the adulterer. But fornication between consensual adults has no victim. It is just pleasure for two persons. Likewise for other consensual sexual activities, gay or straight. This is the reason why people who do not consider the Ten Commandments may support these activities; after all, it harms nobody. It is only sin in God's eyes, and they do not bother about Him anyway. They are talking about freedom, inclusiveness and tolerance, not holy living. Of course they support holy living (being inclusive), as long as you do not impose it on them.

What is the next item on their agenda? The sixth commandment, "Thou shalt not kill (Exodus 20:13, Deuteronomy 5:17)." There is a campaign to get euthanasia legalised. After all, if there is someone who wants to die, and another wants to provide a painless death service, there is no victim, it is just a business transaction.

Gays, Paedophiles and others

Do you consider gays as:

1. People who engaged in sinful practices and perversions and they must repent of their sin;
2. People who are sick, like AIDS or leprosy, who needs treatment, but we should not discriminate against them;
3. Normal people, but are discriminated against because of some differences, much like the Rohingyas or Dalits (or even left-handed).

Then what do you think of the paedophiles. Are they 1, 2 or 3?
What about adulterers and fornicators?
What about those who engaged in other sexual perversions, such as fetish sadism and masochism?
What about beasitility?

I consider those who opt for option 3 as pro-gays. A pro-gay person need not be a homosexual. He or she just have to consider homosexual acts as a normal activity.

So for those who think that gay is option 3, do you think that paedophiles is also option 3? Paedophiles are the bad guys in the world of sexual perversion. Those who engaged in it are named and shamed. Even sinners and perverts want to feel righteous. They must have a bad guy to reflect their righteousness. And paedophiles have victims. These victims are usually young children. But what if it is consensual? Would you think that consensual paedophiles are also normal (option 3), just like the gays? Or is your inclusion not inclusive enough to accept those who prefer sex partners of certain age, but can accept sex partner that prefer the same sex? Can you accept people who prefer non-human sex partners? Are they also normal, if the animal is a mammal?

Cain and Abel - 1

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. (Hebrews 11:4 KJV)

Abel had offered a blood sacrifice and gave of his best (Genesis 4:4). But many have offered blood sacrifice, but are not accepted. Many have offered their best, but for the wrong causes.

Abel was accepted, not because he offered a blood sacrifice, nor because he offered his best, but because it was offered by faith to God, for without faith no one can please God, for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and He rewards those who seek Him diligently (Hebrews 11:6).

Inclusion and separation

My church is a fundamentalist church, and emphasize on Biblical Separation based on 2 Corinthians 6:17. But there is also Biblical Inclusion (Acts 10) where we should bring the Gospel to all. However, we have to obey God's timing and direction. The Holy Spirit directed Paul to turn from Asia to Macedonia (Acts 16:6-9). Thus the Gospel went to the Roman Empire and later to Europe.

Values, Sex and Death

Chua Mui Hoong, senior writer of Straits Times wrote in today's (1st May 2009) edition of the paper that "There is no such thing as a value-free sex education." The same Straits Times also reports that the Singapore Police ban talks by Dr Philip Nitschke of Exit International, an Australian-based pro-euthanasia group.
Indeed everything has value. When I decide the colour of my shirt, I have personal values. When an architect designs a building, he may have cultural values, ecological values and engineering values.
Sex and death definitely have moral values. It is not possible to have sex education and not talk of morality. It is not possible to teach children the technical details on sex, without touching on the morality of sex. Apparently, inclusive groups like AWARE Singapore thinks that sex can be educated technically so that morality needs not to be pushed down the throat of people.
Death also have moral values, which is why the police banned Exit International from speaking. What Exit International wanted to do is to give you some technical tips on how to die. On learning that suicide is illegal in Singapore, Dr Nitschke decide to change his talk to discuss about changing euthanasia laws world-wide.
Singapore has come to cross roads for sex and death. Our decoupling of sex from moral values is more advanced that death, with many advocates for gay rights openly campaigning for the decriminalization of homosexual sex. However, if the current trend persists, it would be a matter of time that Exit International can speak in Singapore. Let us all be aware.