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"If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalms 11:13) Destroyed!! By: Pastor L.R. Simas, Sr. 08-06-09 |
What is will the righteous do indeed! Maybe you didn't notice. It has been
the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman,
Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? If you
are a believer then you know that the above is true! Please keep this in
mind as we continue.
What is a foundation?? Something that is stable, strong, and secure. An
illustration of this would be, "For other foundation can no man lay than that
is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (I Corinthians 3:11) Paul says who are
Apollos and me (meaning nothing special just flesh and blood) except that
what we've preached (built) is a foundation made with hands with the
blessings of the Lord. However, the one built by Jesus is the one that is
firm, strong, and dependable! No one could out do the Lord's work.
Take a look around where you live and take notice of the things happening
where you live. They are no different than where I live. Taxes are rising,
crime is also rising, unemployment is increasing, and the morality of some
folks is almost nonexistent. The world (for the most part) has been
declining for years and what can the righteous do?? For the most part what
they have been doing, offering prayer to God for His intervention.
It is my opinion that the foundation and foundations are being destroyed
daily. The law of the land is being trampled more today than at any other
time I can remember. The law of the land is a foundation. The family is
another foundation that is being destroyed more and more everyday. Just
take a moment to reflect back to when you were a youngster and what the
world (your world) was like. What was a Sunday like?? What was the
neighborhood like then as opposed to today? Did you dare disrespect your
parents; did you dare speak then as people are speaking today?? Did we
dare to take the Lord's name in vain?
I think maybe you see where I'm going with this now. If the foundations be
destroyed all that we call good and or right will cease to be. What can
people of the book do about it?? Besides offering prayer, we can make
folks aware by sharing God's word with them. Because one of the
foundations is in disrepair already, it’s hard (almost impossible) to reach
folks and help them to restore the damaged or rebuild the already destroyed
foundation.
The obvious question is how?? How do we repair, rebuild, or replace the
foundation? One way is the way the world has been doing it. Remember
what I said above?? Let me repeat what was said. "Now the serpent was
more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.
And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every
tree of the garden?" (Genesis 3:1) Believe it or not this was the first strike
at tearing down the foundation. The words of the serpent as spoken were
in-fact true!! Surprised?? The thing that makes this true is he left out one
item (this is how lies are based). The serpent (forgot??) one thing or left it
out on purpose? The serpent left out the following, "And the LORD God
commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest
freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not
eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."
(Genesis 2:16-17) With this seemingly unimportant part left out, what
could the (righteous) woman do?? Like most of the folks today, they
depend on the pastor's, teachers, and those that are leading the way to
know what is right and (more importantly) what is not right!
You'll notice in the Bible Jesus calls people sheep, "I am the good
shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father
knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the
sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must
bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one
shepherd." (John 10:14-16) Two more times (at least) Jesus refers to
people as sheep. In John 21:15-17 Jesus says, "So when they had dined,
Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than
these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He
saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time,
Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou
knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto
him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved
because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto
him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus
saith unto him, Feed my sheep. One thing that is true of sheep (the animal)
is that they are not too smart. It is true of folks in spiritual and religious
matters too. This is one reason for the need of pastors.
We've seen examples of foundations and now of the folks without
knowledge of the destruction of these foundations. Also, we've seen the
words from the serpent, also known as “…a liar, and the father it.” (John 8:
44) Now turn with me (in your bible, you do have one I hope?) to
Galatians 3:1 where we will read, "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched
you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath
been evidently set forth, crucified among you?"
The question is what shall the righteous do?? Here is an example, read your
bible and spread the Word of God!! How? First by knowing you have the
firm foundation the real one. I know, I know you're saying not that old
argument again. Please understand the example of the sheep and you'll
understand why I am holding on to the truth, the way, and the life, as
complete and correct as Jesus is sinless and died for you and me. I shall
endeavor to convince you that the foundation has been destroyed and hope
we can and desire to rebuild it.
Have a look at the list below. The verses below are taken from various
versions of the bible and are delivered to us as accurate, easy to
understand, better than the older versions, clearer, from older/newer more
reliable manuscripts and so it goes. I offer a list from some of these
versions and ask you dear reader to see for yourself which is the most
accurate, correct, and right.
1 Galatians 3:1 (1611 King James Version)
Galatians 3:1 O Foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that you
should not obey the trueth, before whose eyes Iesus Christ hath been
eudiently set forth, crucified among you?
2 Galatians 3:1 (King James Version)
Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should
not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set
forth, crucified among you?
3 Galatians 3:1 (Revised Standard Version)
Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose
eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
4 Galatians 3:1 (New Revised Standard Version)
Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before
your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly exhibited as crucified!
5 Galatians 3:1 (The New Testament J.B. Phillips)
Galatians 3:1 O you dear idiots of Galatia, Who saw Jesus Christ the
crucified so plainly, who has been casting a spell over you? I shall ask one
simple question: Did you receive the Spirit by trying to keep the Law or by
believing the message of the gospel? Surely you can't be so idiotic as to
think that a man begins his spiritual life in the Spirit and then completes it
by reverting to outward observances? Has all your painful experience
brought you nowhere? I simply cannot believe it of you! Does God, who
gives you his Spirit and works miracles among you, do these things because
you have obeyed the Law or because you have believed the gospel? Ask
yourselves that.
6 Galatians 3:1 (New Century Version)
Galatians 3:1 You people in Galatia were told very clearly about the death
of Jesus Christ on the cross. But you were foolish; you let someone trick
you.
7 Galatians 3:1 (English Standard Version)
Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before
your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.
8 Galatians 3:1 (Amplified Bible)
Galatians 3:1 O YOU poor and silly and thoughtless and unreflecting and
senseless Galatians! Who has fascinated or bewitched or cast a spell over
you, unto whom--right before your very eyes--Jesus Christ (the Messiah)
was openly and graphically set forth and portrayed as crucified?
9 Galatians 3:1 (New Living Translation)
Galatians 3:1 Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you?
For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you
had seen a picture of his death on the cross.
10 Galatians 3:1 (New International Version/TNIV)
Galatians 3:1 1You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before
your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
11 Galatians 3:1 (Today's New International Version)
Galatians 3:1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before
your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
12 Galatians 3:1 (American Standard Version (also 1901))
Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who did bewitch you, before whose
eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth crucified?
13 Galatians 3:1 (New American Standard Bible/NASB Updated
version)
Galatians 3:1 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before
whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
14 Galatians 3:1 (The Message)
Galatians 3:1 You crazy Galatians! Did someone put a hex on you? Have
you taken leave of your senses? Something crazy has happened, for it's
obvious that you no longer have the crucified Jesus in clear focus in your
lives. His sacrifice on the cross was certainly set before you clearly enough.
15 Galatians 3:1 (Contemporary English Version)
Galatians 3:1 You stupid Galatians! I told you exactly how Jesus Christ
was nailed to a cross. Has someone now put an evil spell on you?
16 Galatians 3:1 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Galatians 3:1 You foolish Galatians! Who has hypnotized you, before
whose eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed as crucified?
17 Galatians 3:1 (New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures)
Galatians 3:1 O senseless Ga•la´tians, who is it that brought YOU under
evil influence, YOU before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly portrayed
impaled?
18 Galatians 3:1 (The New Catholic Edition of the Holy Bible
(Translated from the Latin Vulgate) DouayVersion )
Galatians 3:1 O Foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose
eyes Jesus Christ has been depicted crucified?
19 Galatians 3:1 (The Jerusalem Bible)
Galatians 3:1 Are you people in Galatia mad? Has someone put a spell on
you, in spite of the plain explanation you have had of the crucifixion of
Jesus Christ?
20 Galatians 3:1 (The Clear Word Bible)
Galatians 3:1 How foolish can you Galatians be! who bewitched you into
believing you could carry out certain rituals in order to be put right with
God? Didn't we describe the death of Jesus Christ on Calvary so clearly
that you could see it as if you had been there?
21 Galatians 3:1 (New King James Version)
Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you
should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly
portrayed among you as crucified?
What's the difference you say; they all say the same thing! Oh, but do
they?? Look closely and you'll notice that there is one difference. Yes it is
subtle however; nevertheless it is there for anyone to see. Again, I want to
point out what we read in Genesis 3:1 remember it said, "...Yea, hath God
said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" Remember I said that
we'd come back to it ?? Good! Now I'll explain why. The Devil, Satan, and
the serpent are one in the same and his mission is to confuse, deceive, and
destroy! That being said you'll see that the New King James Version has
the part that is missing from the rest. However, don't be lured into a false
version as it is not the true Word of God! The right, correct, and true
version (Foundation) is the King James Version, in that it says what the
others leave out (except the N.K.J.V.). "ye should not obey the truth",
"Ye" meaning more then one person where as the N.K.J.V. states "you"
usually taken to mean one person. There are many other reasons why the
N.K.J.V. is incorrect. Another matter for another day.
If the bibles (see above and more) are adding, subtracting, missing, or just
omitting on purpose, words and in some cases, whole verses they think,
feel, or maybe just couldn't care-less about, how then can they (or should
they) be trusted or relied upon? Remember the N.K.J.V. and the others are
just wolves in sheep’s clothing and have made changes that are subtle.
They may look good on the surface. They are just (in type) what Jesus told
His disciples and we should listen as well!
There are many that write books, some of which use one of the above
bibles. They then are forced in to writing around the bible they choose.
They base their subject in what is called the truth (the truth that bible used)
not on the truth which is the only truth of God's Word. When I look or
read the flaps or back cover of these books, I wonder why it says words of
praise to the author and not to God?? Why then say something to the
effect, ...The bible. Then I ask which one?? Only to see what it’s not
based on or about. Right, not on the K.J.V.!! Is it any wonder that the
foundation is being destroyed daily?? Of course, it only matters if one
really cares enough to care and love God's Word, as given to mankind by a
caring and wonderful God!!
So, what can the righteous do?? I pray that we will want to be reading,
using, and knowing that what we are holding on to is the foundation that is
built on God's true Word. The foundation as set forth by Jesus and the
foundation that is often imitated but never replaced!
God is love and as such, He gave us His words, not some of them, all of
them!! The bibles being produced today are (for the most part) trying to tell
God He couldn't write a book! Sure, He could create the world and
everything on it and in it. But a book? Of His words? No, no He couldn't
do that! He needs our help to produce that. NOT!! I'd like to see you or I
create out of nothing, using your voice only, an eye, an ear, how about a
toe? Or a single blade of grass. Since we can't, then it follows that we
should trust God (who has done that and everything else) and His done,
finished, and completed Word. See Psalms 12:6-7 just to begin with. Don't
let the foundation be destroyed. Do what God says OBEY THE TRUTH,
who is that? Why it’s, Jesus of course, (see John 14:6) the one and only
that died for you and me, so that we have the choices we do today.
What will you say to Jesus, when one day you are faced with Him asking
you, why did you not obey the word I gave you? Will you respond with,”
Gee, my pastor didn't like the K.J.V. or I couldn't understand those old and
archaic words in that bible. Maybe you'll say, "I like this one (whichever
one you name) better because it ...". I wonder what Jesus will say to that??
Let me close with the following. None of us have been given an endless
supply of tomorrows. One day, we'll be called to give an account (Romans
14:12) of our life. What will you say to the one that made all things,
including you?? I believe that God has the last word and remember, Jesus
died for you, will you live for Him?? With love in Christ, I am His servant
and yours,
Please feel free to e-mail or write at the address below.
Pastor Popeye,
pastorsimas@hyannisbaptistchurch.org
Or write snail mail at:
Hyannis Baptist Church
Po Box 34
West Hyannisport, Ma.
02672-0034
Psalms 12:6-7 and Ephesians 3:8
Join us now on the web!!
http//:www.hyannisbaptistchurch.org
Where The Truth Shall Make You Free!!
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