Can We Live Sinless Lives?

When Jehovah made man, he made him in his image and his likeness, at the beginning of creation man was perfect in all of his ways. In other words Adam and Eve were perfect human. They were creatures that were created by a perfect God: Jehovah. They were created to Jehovah's precise plan, the last thread of their hear was where it was suppose to be; it was precise to the debt it was embedded into the skin as well as the length it extended above the scalp.

Adam and Eve were not only perfect in their appearance they were perfect in their purpose. But the celestial harmony was broken, with the entrance of sin. When man chooses to give up his perfection in beauty and purpose; he lost every thing:

1. They lost their perfection in statue and in purpose.
2. They lost the right to communicate with Jehovah directly on a daily basis.
   
3. They lost the privilege to dwell in the magnificence of Eden.
4. They lost the direct love they consistently experience with Jehovah
   
5. They lost the privilege of being in his presence
   
6. They also lost the privilege to be preserved in their perfect state forever among other things.
   

Man will no longer be considered sinless. For with the exception of one man: Jesus Christ the righteous, all else have sinned at some point and time of their life. But Jehovah in all of his mercies, grace, and love has made it so that; although we can never be declared sinless, we can all live sinless lives with the help and power of Jehovah and by the grace of Jesus Christ: the sinless son of Jehovah.

What does this mean?

It means that we can not say that we have never sin; however we can reach to a point in our spiritual life where we live sinless lives or live our lives without sinning. At this stage of our spiritual development we will discover that the sinful things that brought pleasure to us are despised and the activation of such pleasure sensors are triggered by holy stimulus such as our obedience to Jehovah, doing his will etc.

Unfortunately there are many followers of Jehovah and believers in Jesus Christ who do not believe that such spiritual state is attainable. They see everyone’s development through their own broken, rebellious and un-submissive life, their selfish desires and their unwillingness to let go of the pleasures of this world and to submit to Jehovah original intention for his human creation have hindered their spiritual development.

We are not without examples of people who have forsake all and submit to Jehovah power and the love and grace of Jesus Christ and have arrived to a point where they live sinless lives. Many Christian who are living defeated lives will want you to believe that the people who have surrendered to Jehovah life changing power and have been living sinless lives are special people. There is nothing that is far from the truth and this is one of the biggest lies that Satan has ever told. This is his way of having us call Jehovah and his son Jesus a liar and to ensure that we continue to live defeated lives.

Let us take a look at some men who have tapped into Jehovah life changing power and over came sin and lived sinless lives.

Most Christian, pastors, and other religious leaders will want us to believe that Job, Enoch and Elijah, were special people. There were nothing that was special about these men; they were ordinary men who relied totally on Jehovah for everything (great and small).

Job, Elijah, Enoch and the other patriots did not do anything that is impossible for us to do, neither were they given any special powers that is not available to us. It is by our chosing that we have not overcome sin and live sinless lives. We have exposed to us, the same power that took these ordinary men and inspired them to live extraordinary lives.

Jesus declared, be ye perfect even as your father is perfect. Jesus will never call us to accomplish a task that he knows is impossible; If Jesus said that we should be perfect then we can be. Job was an example that Jehovah nor his son Jesus is not requesting member of his human creation to do anything that is impossible. In Job 33:9, it is written, “I am clean, without transgression, I am innocent: neither is there any iniquity in me.”

Job did not have any problem in telling his friends of his spiritual status, it is important to note that this was not done boastfully but in the vindication of his character. If you are living a sinless or righteous life you will know that you are. You will know by your actions, the type of though you entertain, and foremost your relationship with Jehovah and his son Jesus Christ.

If Job can attain such spiritual high we can also. We should always remember that anything is worth having is worth going after and anything that is worth going after is worth all of our energies, dedication and focus.

Do you think the promise of living in eternal bliss in a perfect and serene place that was made by Jehovah to the human family and secured by Jesus Christ is worth having?

If your answer to the above question is yes; what are you willing to do to ensure that you are the bless beneficiary of such?

Rebellion to Tyrant is Obedience to God

“Rebellion to tyrant is obedience to God.” This quotation is very true. This serious and profound statement was coined by Benjamin Franklyn in 1776, and was to be the motto on the seal of the United States of America the greatest democracy that exists today. However this quote was later used by Thomas Jefferson on his personal seal.

“Rebellion to tyrant is obedient to God” can the truth in this statement be proven. Let us look to the bible, to see if this statement can be proven.

• In the book of Genesis, the tyrannical King of Egypt: Pharaoh, enslaved the Israelites and subjected them to much inhumane treatment. It was as a result of Moses obedience to Jehovah and his love for his people that caused Moses to lead a rebellion against Pharaoh in the name of his God: Jehovah and thus he secured the freedom of his people.
  

• In the four gospels of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John we saw John the Baptist rebelled against the hypocritical religious leaders and the immoral political leaders of his day; he also exposed their vile practices. This was done to their great disapproval; as a result, John was beheaded for his bold and courageous actions.
  

• In Daniel 3: The tyrannical Babylonian King: Neb-u-chad-nez-zar ordered the world to worship him; his likeness was superimposed in the golden statue, the three Hebrew boys servants of Jehovah rebel against the king by not complying with his orders; as a result the boys were thrown into a super heated fiery furnace.
  
  

• In Daniel 6: when King Darius forbid the worship of Jehovah and ordered that all recognition and worship be awarded only unto him. Here we saw Daniel rebelling against the king and his instruction. Daniel continued to file his petition with Jehovah his God and as a result of Daniel’s action, he was thrown into the lion’s den.
  
• Religious leader who hides behind the cliché, God’s will, will be done are nothing more than cowards. Jehovah bestowed the responsibility on us to ensure that his will is done on earth and when such is beyond human ability he assured us he will step in and take care of business.
  
  Now let us take a look at some example that most conscionable human were in supports of; examples which occurred in the distant and recent pass:

• The mothers and fathers of emancipation who rebelled against the wicked and the then legal system of slavery and secured the freedom of the black slaves. Their rebellion resulted in the lost of millions of life over hundreds of years
  

....Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: The Father of the United States of Anerica Civil Rights Movement

• Martin Luther King led a rebellion against the tyrannical system of segregation in America; a system which taught: black people are inferior and they were not human and members of the black race were treated as such. Dr. King’s actions were the catalyst that secured the rights of African American to live in America free and to be treated as a people who are equal. Martin Luther King paid the ultimate price for his people: death.
  
• Mahatma Gandhi: was one who recognized the tyranny of the colonial government that occupied his country; and his heart could not bore the exploitation of his people. Thus Gandhi the Indian “spiritual leader” rebelled and inspired his people to rebel against the colonial tyrant. Gandhi’s action was the vehicle that propelled India to secure her independence. Mahatma Gandhi also suffered the ultimate price for his people: death.
  

.............................. Nelson Mandella: the South African Liberator

• Nelson Mandela: the South African liberator who rebelled against the tyrannical system of apartheid and secured freedom for his people and ensured that his country became an unconditional self-governing nation, free of the prejudices that cause the exploitation and un-necessary death of millions of innocent black people. Nelson Mandela’s actions caused him to lost 27 youthful years of his life sitting in a prison cell for a cause he believed in; and a cause he knew was right.
  

One thing I know for sure and that is; if anyone asked these men if the suffering they undertook for their cause was worth it. They will answer with pride and let you know they will do it again if they are needed.

If from the examples provided above, we agree that rebellion to tyrant is indeed obedience to God, then obedience to tyrant is rebellion to God. It is time that people who have tyrant in their lives, such as a bosses, a political leader etc. to get up and rebel against any such tyrant that bully them. When we rebel we must expect retaliation from the tyrant in the same way John the Baptist, Daniel, the three Hebrew boys, Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela suffered; hence we must be prepare to suffer at the hand of a tyrant. But when all is said and done, we will experience a quality of life that will be better, richer and more rewarding; so much so, that we will ask ourselves why didn’t I rebelled sooner.

We must always remember that “a tyrant will always find pretext for his tyranny and it is useless for the innocent to try to reason to get justice when the oppressor intend to be unjust.”

All these men knew exactly what Jehovah expected of them and what was his desire for his people. They also knew that Jehovah has no hands or voice but there (our) hands and voices. What is Jehovah’s will for his people? The American Declaration of Independence out lined the answer to this question perfectly. “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” If there is a person or group who act against the principles out lined in the quote in any way may be a tyrant.

1. If you or another are treated by anyone or a group as if you or the other is not created equal to them.
   


2. If you or another are deprived of your rights to live.
   


3. If you or another had your liberty to express themselves freely etc. taken away.


4. Or who make living condition social and otherwise so unhealthy that it is almost impossible to enjoy even the pursuit of and attainment of happiness.
   

Let us take a look at another part of the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America “whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive to these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government.” In other words any time a government is corrupt, and or is unable to provide the rights as outlined above, in such cases, it is the rights of the people to alter or abolish that government and institute new government. This is very powerful counsel coming from the fathers of democracy.

Unfortunately many Caribbean leaders after they have been duly elected to lead the counties of their birth, normally adopt a tyrannical character, becoming enemies of the people, and voluntarily indulge in their own selfish gratification while the people suffer.

I will end with these two un-dissected quotation: Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God."
The United States of America Declaration of Independence:
"We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. . . whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive to these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

Abortion A Moral Issue

The Christian community is faced with many moral predicaments, which the bible did not address directly: predicaments that the unchristian world is fighting hard to sanitize. One such topic is the issue of abortion. What is abortion? Abortion is the premeditated or the conscious planning and the execution of that plan to terminate a pregnancy; and as we know a pregnancy is a process where a female egg is fertilized by the male sperm cell in the womb of a female to create a human life.

In speaking of the unborn human child Jehovah declared in Jeremiah 1:5; before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. This statement tells me, that Jehovah; the awesome creator of the universe and all that is in it, knows every child even before conception, he has ordained a plan for that unborn child and it matters not, at what stage of development the unborn is; be it, the Zygote, Embryo, Fetus etc. Jehovah has a plan for that child.

In the recent pass fornication, adultery, homosexuality, divorce, abortion and even bringing disrepute to the family name were scorned and frond at by all; while respect for all life, ones community, the elderly, etc. were held in high esteem. Unfortunately today members of the community even some members of the Christian community wears the above negatives (fornication, adultery, homosexuality, etc.) as a badge of honor while we are forced to feel ashamed to celebrate the above positives (respect for the elderly etc.).

The bible has detailed the consequences for the accidental termination of a pregnancy, so it is a sign that the accidental termination of an unborn life is serious business. If Jehovah prescribed or instituted a system of punishment for the accidental termination of a pregnancy how much more serious is the willful termination of a pregnancy. The fact that the bible did not address the topic of abortion directly; only means that Jehovah’s people will have to tap into the abundance of wisdom that Jehovah has given to us in dealing with this and other issues that were not directly addressed in the bible.

The None-Christian community is convinced that abortion is morally wrong, and for many years the legislature have ensure that the necessary laws were enacted to protect the unborn life that flourishes in the womb. Unfortunately today the fight for the right to perform indiscriminate abortions without any lawful consequences; is in full motion and such liberty has a fancy name or term, which is: “The Right to Choose.” This means that the pregnant female has a right to choose whether they should carry a pregnancy to full term and give birth or whether to terminate that pregnancy at any stage.

In order to gain acceptance for abortion, many people try to confused the issue and develop argument such as: when or at what stage does life began? But when does life truly begin. Let us take a close look at this very controversial question.

The abortionist, the right to choose organizations and their followers argues that their inability to recognize certain organs and other human characteristics in the zygote etc. is clear indication that such beings (the life that occupies the womb) are not human. It is important to note that just because the technology is unable to distinguish or recognize particular essential human features and or characteristics in the unborn child automatically mean that these features and characteristics are not there or they do not exist. We all know how primitive modern sciences and technologies are.

We have seen how primitive modern sciences and the technologies are. This is exhibited in the thousand of retraction of findings and theories that were declared to be truthful and factual. The new discoveries that brought to naught the many scientific beliefs that have been propagated as facts for many years. But more so the high level of ignorance that still exist in the field of science such as anatomy and physiology.

The female egg (s) is a living part of the mature female; however when that egg dies the body systematically expels it during menstruation. It is important to understand that female eggs or ovaries do not have the potential intelligent that is required to mature into an adult human. There is also the sperm cell which is the reproductive factor of the male. The Sperm cell is capable of living and functioning independently of its life source although not for long. Like the ovaries, the sperm cell independently do not possess the potential intelligence to mature into an adult human; however the merging or the coming together of the two cells; the sex cell of the male and the sex cell of the female has the potential intelligence that can and have been facilitating the maturity of the cellular union into a mature human. As a matter of fact such cellular being like the zygotes are human (possesses the forty six (46) chromosomes or the two pairs of twenty three (23) chromosomes that represents human life); however they have only attained the first stage of the process, in a long journey that will see the zygote eventually develop into a mature human.

The unborn must develop and mature in the same way an infant has the potential intelligence to be an adolescent but have to develop biologically and mentally in order to reach that stage. Bearing this concept in mind, we must therefore conclude that life began at conception. The fusion of the two cells, each carrying twenty three chromosomes has the potential intelligence or all that is needed to be a human. So at conception we have a human child. The different names (zygote, fetus Blastocyst etc.) that is attributed to the unborn child is just to aid us in understanding the stages of development the unborn child have attain at a given period before birth.

So there should not be any confusion or unanswered question as to when life begins, it is clear that life begins at conception. It is not important whether science and its accompanying technologies are incapable of recognizing the characteristics, that in their small mind, will make the unborn a human.

There are exceptional cases where in my opinion, abortion may be deemed as justify; however, in general I deem such procedure to be morally wrong. But morality no longer holds any real influence in today’s community. I can lend sanction to such case where the life of the mother is at serious risk if she continue the pregnancy or attempt to give birth (whether surgical or natural) to the child.

It is unfortunate, but in my opinion, a pregnancy which occurs as a result of rape is not one that justifies having an abortion. From the honest and sincere confession of the people who have had abortions, the mental pain of such procedure leaves emotional scars that never heals and the trauma that is associated with abortion are the type of trauma that affect the one who consent to such for the rest of their life. It is also important to know that having an abortion in no way, reduces the devastating and traumatizing effect of being raped. Although to carry a child that one unwillingly share with a man, who viciously violate the body of the victim may be hard, it will not impact as much as if a new trauma is added to an already traumatized life in the same way the consequences of having an abortion does.

I will terminate this discourse by making the following clear: I am not a woman, I have never been pregnant, I have never been raped and I have never have an abortion, I therefore wrote this article from the prospective of an empathetic adult male and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I pray that this article may give someone the convicting strength to better understand life and abortion.

Acquiring Strength Of Faith: Being like the three Hebrew Boys

In today’s discourse, we are going to examine the Strength Of Faith. What is faith? Faith is that overwhelming belief in someone or something that moves the believer to take action, believing that the action is worth the consequences or that someone or thing is able to cause us to avoid such consequences.

Each time we read the awesome, powerful, and courageous story about the three Hebrews boys that is recorded in Daniel 3: we are torpedoed through a series of emotions. All of which contributed to a personal longing to represent Jehovah in such an awesome manner and have Jehovah step up to the plate for us as he did for these three young men.

Will you still want to be an ambassador for Jehovah and Jesus Christ if you are going to suffer the pain or the consequences of your love for Jehovah, in the same or similar manner Peter did?

Let us take a little condense peep into the story:

Daniel told of a Mighty, but heathen King who was appointed by Jehovah to rule over the entire world; Unfortunately Jehovah’s chosen people had strayed so far from him that they forfeited the rights to be in charged of their own affairs. So the Mighty Heathen King Neb-u-chad-nez-zah was appointed into this awesome position with such a tremendous responsibility. Although Neb-u-chad-nez-zar was a heathen he had a heart that was open to the things that was good and true. However the teaching he was exposed to as a child: the teaching of his culture, the teachings of his parent and his religion, made it difficult for him to totally surrender to the will and expectations of Jehovah.

Like most of us today, King Neb-u- chad-nez-zar was overly occupied with his immortality. He wanted to live forever; and like most of us who understand that it is physically impossible to possess life forever, we gravitate to the next best thing. If we cannot live forever, we will settle for the ability and the privilege to be remembered forever.

Earlier in this story Jehovah gave Daniel the interpretation of a mysterious dream King Neb-u-chad-nez-zar had, which out lined the transition of the world's power from King Neb-u-chad-nez-zar’s reign to the end of the world. Jehovah revealed to Daniel, who in turn revealed to King Neb-u-chad-nez-zar, that there will never be a kingdom that is as awesome as his kingdom. This futuristic information left King Neb-u-chad-nez-zar with a sense of pride that turned him silly. Their will never be another king as mighty and as powerful as I.

It was a privilege to have such a declaration to be made by and to any person; but to have such esteem declaration about oneself, from the lips of the most holy God Jehovah, was overwhelming. The devil saw an opportunity to cause Neb-u-chad-nez-zar’s to become engulfed with pride.

As a result the King got a bright idea, I am going to build a statue of myself, this statue must be made of and from the finest gold, it must be greater than any thing that exist. My Statue must represent me and my majesty. Once the majestic statue was built, then came the time for the big and grandiose unveiling of the statue. How can I make this ceremony spectacular and memorable? Then there came the spectacular idea: why not gather every official member of my kingdom to the awesome ceremony, we will have the best music, the best food and of course the best entertainment. The statue will be unvailed and presented with its elegant and majestic beauty, this will happen while the national anthem of Babylon is being played then everyone will bow down and worship the statue; Oooh such a brilliant idea the King said to himself.

To King Neb-u-chad-nez-zar this seems like a wonderful idea but the servant of the most highest God: Jehovah; saw the violation of Jehovah Ten Commandments. Although the three Hebrew boys knew immediately what must be done, it was not an easy decision. Here is a mighty king and a good man, who have given us some wonderful privileges, no other Hebrew was given the privileges that this good king give to us. Although the king has extended great favor to the three Hebrew boys, their privileges were all favor from Jehovah and not of King Neb-u-chad-nez-zar.

Then the appointed time for the unveiling of the golden statue had arrived, the order of the ceremony was known by all, which was: during the playing of the national anthem of Babylon everyone present will fall to their knees, bow to and worship the golden status of the King.

The request or the command of King Neb-u-chad-nez-zar was in direct disregard for the command or laws of Jehovah.

Exodus 20: 3; thou shall not have no other gods before (but) me.

Exodus 20: 4; thou shall not make unto thee any graven image or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth.

Exodus 20: 5; thou shall not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I am the lord thy God I am a jealous God.

Sha-drach, Me’shack, and A-bed-ne-go knew who Jehovah is, they knew what he can do but most of all they knew the rewards of their faithfulness. After a brief personal introspection, each of the boys knew for himself what he was going to do and although they were very concerned about each other what matted most was what they were going to do as individuals.

At the signal of the king, the musicians break into an awe-inspiring rendition of the national anthem of Babylon, everyone on the plane of Dura fell on their face and worship the majestic image of Neb-u-chad-nez-zar. The king was happy, the historians have penned the record, the king’s seal has validated the authenticity of the records and history will forever show that all had bowed down and worshipped the statue; the unveiling was a success.

Then King neb-u-chad-nez-zar saw a contingent of his faithful servants approaching him, the King was ready to accept their praise; however instead of congratulatory remarks they bore remarks of defiant. The king was informed that the three Hebrew boys had failed to comply with his command to bow down to and worship his Statue.

The pride observed king could not believe what he was hearing. Sha-drach, Me’shack, and A-bed-ne-go were ushered into the presence of King Neb-u-chad-nez-zar at his command. The accusation was made known to the three boys, then the king awaits their reply. But before they reply the king speak; he said, You refused to worshiped my gods; the gods of my fathers and my people, I permitted that, now you refused to worship me and my Golden image.

By this time Sha-drach, Me’shack, and A-bed-ne-go, were totally disgusted at and with this whole affair and so in their replied they refused to give the king the respect that is normally awarded to him and others in his position. It is customary for the subject to use the title of their superiors when addressing such person especially in an official forum; however the three Hebrew boys did not give the king such an honor. They said “O Neb-u-chad-nez-zar we are not careful to answer thee in this matter”. If you noticed that the boys have drop the title of Neb-u-chad-nez-zar, after all he was king. What the boys were saying here was: King you know that we are faithful and loyal subject, you know that our allegiance is to Jehovah, you also know what Jehovah expects of us, as a result we are not going to provide you with an excuse neither are we going to justify our actions to you. "If it be so, our God who we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us our of thine hands O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king that we will not serve thy gods or worship the image which thou have set up."

The reply of Jehovah’s faithful servants cause a fit of anger to engulfed the king who ordered the boys be bound hand and feet and be cast into the furnace immediately. The furnace was heated seven times hotter than it was previously; it was so hot that the heat that was emanating from it, immediately killed the men who throw the Hebrew boys into the furnace. Yet not even the smell of smoke was detected on Sha-drach, Me’shack, or A-bed-ne-go. Jehovah protected and saved their life as a reward for their faithfulness, but more so, it was for a bold display of his awesome power and to once again remind Neb-u-chad-nez-zar who Jehovah is.

Many of us will like to represent Jehovah on such grandiose stage, but such an important assignment took years of preparation, the young men had to purposely followed Jehovah’s leading in all matters; even the small tasks and even when no one is watching.

If we have the desire of becoming such an ambassador for Jehovah and Jesus; we have to go into intense training now, we have to be obedient to Jehovah words and allow the Holy Spirit to train us as required. It is only then, that we will walk into the fires that separates us from Jehovah; not caring if we live or die. This is the strength of faith we all must aspire too.