As the economy declines… and the available ‘monies’ are in short supply, some criminals have taken to ‘Identity Theft’. When someone pretends to be you, ‘spending your monies and increasing you debt’… and you find out about it, what will you do? A friend of mine had their identity stolen and he racked up over $20,000 in debt in their name. Two years ago, with the use of a lawyer she settled that issue, only to have it return again. Stealing has become a life style for many without any remorse.
*** (Exodus 20:15) You = shall = ‘NOT’ = Steal.
Stealing has become commonplace… as may do ‘not’… believe GOD and His Word, the Bible. “With each commandment… comes Protection!” As a whole, society has forgotten those principles, upon which our country was founded. Yes, America… is ‘Not’ a Christian Nation… but one founded on Christian principles. Right away someone is saying… ‘Yes we are a Christian Nation!’ My response is… “Perhaps a Cultural One… ‘BUT’, Not in Practice!” What do I mean…? How could a Nation… that claims to be “Christian”… stand by in Silence, When = Over ‘50,000,000’ Million = Innocent Babies = are Killed = in their Mother’s Womb by… “Abortion?”
http://truth459.blogspot.com/2009/11/usa-final-solution-101blog.html
Ok, well then, how about Stealing…? During my working life time, there was always the ‘15-minute break’… decreed by OHSA, for employees, every four hours. Many times I would be back at my workplace when the 15 minutes were up. Several times employees would mention to me, “Why are you making me look bad?” My response, ‘What did I do…?’ They would just walk away, knowing that they ‘abused the break period’. That in itself is… ‘Stealing!’ Do the math, an extra 5 minutes one time a day, or at the lunch break would add up to “$2,500 a year” to the employer, for lost production time. How would you feel… If you were the ‘Employer?’
*** (Romans 13:9) For: = "Do ‘not’ commit adultery; = do ‘not’ murder; = do ‘not’ “steal”; = do ‘not’ bear false witness; = do ‘not’ covet;" = and if = there is any = ‘other commandment’, it is summed up = in this word, = "You shall love = your neighbor = as yourself."
Stealing is commonplace… here in America but especially by ‘Advertizing!’ How can that be…? Most of us drive our vehicle, ‘city miles’ and ‘not’ highway miles. Why then, do the car manufactures ‘Advertize Highway Gas Mileage?’ They will use their Deceptive Advertizing, “Lying”… to Steal your purchase of a vehicle, from another dealership. By the way, those are “Estimated ‘EPA’ Gas Mileage” figures and ‘not’ the real ones. Most of the time, more than one of God’s commandments will tie into another… to make anything… “Deceptive!”
*** (Isaiah 24:2) And = as it is = with the people, = so it shall be = with the priest [pastor]; = as with the servant, = so with the master; = as with the handmaid, = so it is with her mistress; = as with the ‘buyer’, = so with the ‘seller’; = as with the lender, = so with the borrower; = as with the creditor, = so with the debtor.
Recent federal legislation… has been enacted to protect creditors [you], from those hidden fees and increased lending rates, as the Banks and Lending institutions have done for so long. How many of us…‘read and understand’… those fees and interest rates, imposed, when we are late on our payments. With this failing economy and the high unemployment, many cannot pay their mortgages let alone their credit cards. The steamrolling debt and the decreased economic output… is surely crippling our nation.
*** (1Corinthians 14:40) Let = ‘all’ things = be done = decently = and = in order.
Stealing has become… so common place that most retailers add from “7 to 10%” to their retail costs, to recoup some of the stealing that takes place. It is not only stealing from the public, but by employees. Hollywood has helped many to Steal! How could that be? Movies like, “Gone in 60-Seconds” and TV Programs like, “Leverage”… simply change the ‘moral’ attitude of our country. Even literature such as, “Robin Hood” change our moral thinking too. IF the goods belonged to you… would you allow… “Stealing?”
*** (Ephesians 4:28) Let him = who = ‘stole’ = “steal = no more”, = but rather = let him labor, = working with his hands = the thing which is good, = so that he = may have something = to give to him = who needs.
Because these blogs… are written to proclaim, the ‘Principles & Truths’ found in the Bible, they will always be of… ‘the right thing to do.’ If, I have stolen and no longer steal… because I am now a Christian… ‘what am I to do’… with the stolen goods or services I have taken…? Am I to keep them and just confess… the ‘Sin of Stealing’… or is there more required... by the Word of God? Surely God can forgive stealing… but does He address… what is stolen?
*** (Luke 19:8-9) And = Zacchaeus stood = and = said to the Lord [Jesus], = Behold, Lord, = I give half of my goods = to the poor. = And = in anything I accused anyone falsely, = I restore it = fourfold [4-x’s].
(Luke 19:9) And Jesus = said to him, = This day = salvation = has come to this house, = because he also = is a son of Abraham.
How ‘Hyperbole’, [an exaggeration] …? I am a Christian and work in an accounting firm. I have control of the … ‘Monies & Securities’… for that ‘Firm’. I get tempted and “Steal” some ‘Barer Bonds [Ten Thousand ‘US’ Dollars– 10K].’ Because of the nature of such securities, I get away with it. I am ‘convicted’ about the Theft… and… “Confess it to Jesus!” …I claim… “1John 1:9 – If we confess our sin, He is faithful to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Am I “Then” required to… “Give back the Monies or Securities”…? Please answer this question for yourself. …“Yes” = or = “No”…?
*** (Luke 3:8) Therefore = bring forth ‘fruits’ = “Worthy of Repentance”, = and = do not begin to say = within yourselves, = We have Abraham for our father [or I know Jesus]. = For I say to you = that God = is able to raise up = children = to Abraham = from these stones.
Perhaps you can see… where I am referencing the Word of God. Here in America and in other parts of the world… ‘MANY’… simply believe that “Confession”… is all that is needed! Sorry, “True Faith in God and in His Word”… are demonstrated by ‘Actions’, that follow that belief. Many say they believe in God, yet ‘never’ even read His Word, the Bible. True Christianity is an… ‘Obedience’ to the Word of God… not just a ‘Lip [speaking] Belief!’ “Right Actions… always follow… Right Obedience”.
*** (Matthew 7:21-22-23) Not ‘everyone’ = who says to Me [Jesus], = Lord! = Lord! = shall enter = the kingdom of Heaven, = but = he who = “does” = the will [word] of My Father = in Heaven.
(Matt 7:22) “MANY” = will say to Me = in that day, = Lord! = Lord! = Did we ‘not’ = ‘prophesy’ in Your Name, = and = ‘through’ Your Name = throw ‘out’ demons, = and = ‘through’ Your Name = do ‘many’ = wonderful works?
(Matt 7:23) And then I = will say = to them = I [Jesus] = “never” = knew you! = Depart from Me, = those working = “Lawlessness!”
The “Many”… that Christ Jesus spoke about today and then… professed that they ‘knew’ Him. Their mouth ‘only’ professed Him… yet in ‘Practice’… “They Never Did!” IF, I steal… then perhaps [for sure]… I never really knew Him! How can one say… Christ Jesus died for my Sin/Sins… and then commit more sin? Will an Orange tree… bear Grapes? Will an Apple tree… bear Cantaloupe? Obviously, one does ‘not’ drive a car on water, ‘nor’ a boat on land!
*** (Matthew 13:19) When “anyone” = hears = the Word of the kingdom = and = does ‘not’ understand it, = then = the wicked one [Satan] = comes and catches away = that which was sown = in his heart. = This is the seed [Word of God] = sown by the wayside.
“Stealing” is even done by Satan…! In this parable, Christ Jesus was expounding to those… who only have and only want… a cursory knowledge about “Him and His Fathers Word”. The thought here is… “IF”… You Don’t Believe the Word of God… “THEN”… Satan can then ‘take’ the Word… out of your heart! True Belief is always followed by actions. These are based on not only the law of God… but based on the Holy Spirit… that indwells… All True Believes. The motivation is Love ‘for’ God and Obedience ‘to’ God… from the inside ‘You’… and ‘not only’, an outside compliance.
*** (2Corinthians 5:14-15) For = the ‘love’ of Christ = constrains us, = judging this, = that if “One” = died for all, = then all died [thorough sin];
(2Cor 5:15) and = He died for all, = that = the ‘living ones’ = may live = no more = to themselves, = but to Him [Jesus] = Who = died for them = and = having been raised.
The ‘motivation’ of the True Christian… is not to keep the Law [Word] of God… only… because it is the Word [Law] of God! But that… “LOVE [agape] of God”… through His Holy Spirit, that Indwells All True Believers… will have us… “Obey by Love!” Stealing is only ‘one’ of the “Sin/Sins”… that nailed Christ Jesus to the Cross! If we truly are ‘new creations’ of God, living in this ‘flesh & blood’ body… are we not to live… “Up To”… our Position in Christ Jesus…?
*** (Romans 8:9-10-11) But you = are not in the flesh, = but = in the Spirit, = “if” = the Spirit of God = dwells in you. = But if = anyone = has = ‘not’ = the Spirit of Christ, = he is = ‘none’ = of His.
(Rom 8:10) And = if Christ is in you, = indeed = the body is dead = because of sin, = but = the Spirit is life = because of righteousness.
(Rom 8:11) But if = the Spirit of the One = Who raised up Jesus = from the dead = ‘dwells in you’, = the One = Who raised up Christ = from the dead = shall ‘also’ = make your mortal bodies = “alive” = by His Spirit = Who dwells in you.
How then, can you ‘Steal’… when the “Spirit of Christ”, lives in you…? How can you, who is freed from not only the “Power of Sin/Sins”… but from the “Penalty of Sin/Sins”… anymore live in those Sins…? Have you become a new creation in Christ Jesus…? If so, are you living out that ‘new creation status’… in obedience to His Word…?
*** (Romans 6:1) What shall we say = then? = Shall we continue = in sin = so that [God’s] grace = may abound? [God Forbid!]
*** (Romans 6:16) Do you = not know = that to whom = you = yield yourselves = as slaves = for obedience, = you are = slaves = to him = whom you ‘obey’; = whether = it is of ‘sin’ = to Death, = or of = “Obedience” = to “Righteousness”.
*** (Proverbs 5:22) His = own iniquities = shall take = the wicked himself, = and = he shall = ‘be held’ = with = the “cords” = of his sin.
Those of you who are married… “Are you faithful to your Mate?” Well, how much more of us, who have been “Redeemed by Christ Jesus”… to ‘Live in Obedience’… unto Him and His Word…? “Disobedience is the Root… Stealing is the Fruit!” In each and every command of God… there is protection… from Sin and its Power. Surely you have heard someone say… “I can quite anytime I want to, but I just don’t want to Quit!” That is simply, the power of sin… that the ‘un-redeemed’… are “Unable to Break!”
*** (John 8:34-35-36) Jesus = answered them, = Truly, = truly, = I say = to you, = “Whoever” = practices sin = is the = “slave of sin”.
(John 8:35) And = the slave = does not abide in the house forever, = but the Son = abides forever.
(John 8:36) Therefore = “if” = the Son [Christ Jesus] = shall make you = “free”, = you shall be = free indeed.
*** (Romans 12:1-2) I beseech you therefore, = brothers, = by = the ‘mercies’ of God = to present = your ‘bodies’ = a living sacrifice, = holy, = pleasing to God, = which is = your reasonable service.
(Rom 12:2) And = ‘do not’ = be conformed = to this world, = but = be transformed = by the renewing = of your mind, = in order = to ‘prove’ = by you = what is that = good = and pleasing = and perfect = will of God.
*** (Psalms 119:18) Open my eyes, = so that I = may behold = wonderful things = out of = Your Law [Word].
Thank you for Your EAR! [Job 12:11] Roger //Email// atruth459@yahoo.com
Home Page: http://truth459.blogspot.com/
Ende…!
