If called to be on a jury duty

If called to be on a jury duty, I will pray about it and allow God to convict me to either accept the invitation or not unless I am forced by the judge to be on the jury. Faith and Prayer are the keys to making wise decisions according to my friends who were on the jury duty. I admire King Solomon who was considered the WISEST man in the world to this day. He was also a "judge" of his day as well. Remember two women and one baby? Ecclesiastes 7:19 Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a city. Proverbs 14:35 A king delights in a wise servant, but a shameful servant incurs his wrath. Proverbs 16:21 The wise in heart are called discerning Proverbs 18:15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out. Proverbs 20:26 A wise king winnows out the wicked; he drives the threshing wheel over them. Proverbs 24:5 A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength Proverbs 24:21-24 Fear the LORD and the king, my son, and do not join with the rebellious, for those two will send sudden destruction upon them, and who knows what calamities they can bring? Further Sayings of the Wise These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judging is not good: Whoever says to the guilty, "You are innocent"—peoples will curse him and nations denounce him.

More deep thoughts about Capital Punishment

My personal thought on this. In over-all, I support the death penalty if a person clearly did the crime of killing another person (without any reasonable doubt). Especially for those sexual predators. The only area I am against the death penalty is when the government justice system leave room for reasonable doubt, when that happens, should be life in prison without possibility of parole. Many times, I try to avoid what my thoughts are because as a Christian, I should abide in God's Word. The main theme of this issue at hand really turned out to be taking the life of someone else. Another issue have been brought up was that governments can become corrupt. Let me go through the list of different theories and reasonings. Social Argument: "Capital punishment does not restrain crime." Penal Argument: "Capital punishment does not rehabilitate the criminal." Moral Argument: "Capital punishment does not reflect love." Pacifist Argument: "Capital punishment does not rectify evil. Two wrongs don’t make a right." Christian Argument: "Capital punishment could snatch sinners out of heaven before salvation. Our efforts should be on salvation, not condemnation." Capital punishment is simply not very Christian. We humans don't exactly have a sterling record of being fair when it comes to the administration of justice, unlike God. God did say "thou shall not kill" so that means governments should not kill. Biblical Argument: Capital punishment as a fact of life, the consequences of a criminal act which is one of God's eternal laws that really there is no question about. "We reap what we sow" The scripture teaches, if nothing else, that we are all accountable for our own actions. Sow love, and love will be returned. If you want friendship, the bible says "show yourself friendly." Jesus told Peter that those who live by the sword will die by the sword. A man condemned to die on death row is there because of his own actions. He murdered and it is simply coming back to him. God told Moses, "I AM, that I AM." God said "Thou shall not MURDER". Exodus 20:13 NIV: You shall not murder. NLT: Do not murder. KJV: Thou shalt not kill (in hebrew "murder"). ESV: You shall not murder NKJV: You shall not murder Hebrew Word: Xcr Transliterated Word: ratsach The Hebrew word for MURDER covers causing human death through carelessness or negligence, to murder, slay. (Qal) to murder, slay, premeditated, accidental as avenger, slayer, kill (intentional) (participle) (Niphal) to be slain (Piel) to murder, assassinate murderer, assassin (participle)(subst) (Pual) to be killed Government is necessary and divinely ordained by God (Rom. 13:1–7). We are called to render service and obedience as to submit to civil authority (1 Pet. 2:13–17 ; Matt. 22:21). Romans 13:4 In KJV: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. NIV: For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Regarding the Gospel There is plenty of time for repentance between sentencing and execution. There is not proof that more time will cause man to be saved. We have to remember that it is the Holy Spirit's role to convict a person to be saved and we should trust God. Another thought: Should we just forgive and focus on rehab in prison? What should we do with the victims? What about them? Is life in prison enough of a deterrent to those that would kill knowing that they will not have to face the death penalty? We often forget the victims of the cimes. Especially children when sexual predators are out there abusing and killing kids for their sexual pleasures. Regarding to Christ fulfilling the law. The Book of Hebrews explains that Jesus is the mediator, the executor, of The New Covenant (The New Testament). The word mediator comes from the verb "to mediate" which means a mediator is one who stands between two parties or two factions needing to be reconciled eternally. Ceremonial is a law which was fulfilled by Christ, which Christ "took out of the way, nailing it to his cross." Col. 2:14. Paul calls it "the law of commandments contained in ordinances." Eph. 2:15. Ceremonial law, were given by God through Moses in the first 5 books of the Old Testament. Christ is the mediator of the covenant, that we receive the promised eternal inheritance.

Handling discouragement & doubt while abiding Christ in our Spirit-Filled lives

Faith in Jesus replaced our temporal doubts with eternal hope. When we struggle with our discouragement and doubt, we simply do not acknowledge the Word of God to understand from His perspective. When we take "the helmet of salvation" (see Eph. 6:17), discouragement and doubt are deflected (turned away, diverted, and shifted from). When we know we are secured in Christ through the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, we are abiding. If we don't keep (abide) our helmet on, that makes us vulnerable to discouragement and doubt in our lives. We should not and will not let our enemy rob us of the joy and assurance of knowing we belong to Christ, for through Christ, God will never let us go (see Heb 13:5). Abiding means to keep our helmet on. Who are we abiding to? Jesus Christ, through the Word of God. Through Christ, the Holy Spirit is our security for eternal inheritance. Through Christ, the Spirit of Promise who seals us until the day when our redemption will be "fully realized" (see Eph. 4:30). The Holy Spirit is our key to sealing for our eternal promise. Living in faith in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, true believers receive God's Word and not resenting His Word according to our will (desires) but rather God's will (desires). It is a delusion to think we can hear God's Word when we resent and disobey Him. Our true worth is based on the value of our soul, not on our eternal considerations. Remember, Jesus Christ is THE source of EVERY spiritual privilege. Don't let those who discourage us through their doctrines (teachings) when they consider (see, assume) our lack of faith. Jesus Christ is ALL we need.

Abiding in Faith

Abiding in Faith...... Abide: to endure without yielding, to accept without objection, to remain stable or fixed in a state, to continue in a place. The word "abide" basically means "to remain." A true Christian does abide. But, he doesn’t always abide. We depend on Him for grace and power to obey. We look obediently to His Word for instruction on how to live. We offer Him our deepest adoration and praise and we submit ourselves to His authority over our lives. Abiding in Christ evidences genuine salvation. The Bible provides a clear understanding of genuine saving faith-true faith produces good fruit. In His parable of the soils and the seed, the Lord Jesus taught that, while unbelievers are unfruitful, those who are saved would bear fruit. Fruit-bearing plants thrive in the good soil that pictures a redeemed heart. Jesus said, "But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty" (Matthew 13:23). All believers are fruitful, even though not equally fruitful. Faith comes to the believer as a gift from God. It is not something that individuals are capable of mustering up on their own as in human effor. Were faith a work of man's own doing, man would be in a position to take partial credit for his redemption. We don't trust our government the same way as we trust Jesus. FAITH "is the gift of God…that no one should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). Faith comes as a result of the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit-He quickens our hearts to believe. Apart from the new birth, there can be no true faith. Proverbs 15:31 The ear that hears the rebukes of life Will abide among the wise. John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 John 2:6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. 1 John 2:10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 1 John 2:14 I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one. 1 John 2:24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 1 John 2:27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. 1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 1 John 3:17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 1 John 3:24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. 1 John 4:12-14 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

Our Hearts and Submission to Government

Personally, I am against death penalty, biblically, I support the death penalty if a person clearly did the crime of killing another person (without any reasonable doubt). Studying government biblically for many years, I have learned so much in each topic in the bible. Romans 13:4 In KJV: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. NIV: For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. In humanism term, death penalty is wrong. In Christian reasoning, death penalty is wrong. The Bible says differently. I do believe very much in being a responsible Christian citizen. But that responsibility is defined for the Christian by the Bible but no humanism reasoning. Christ have not given us a political agenda, but a spiritual mandate to proclaim the Gospel and disciple the nations (Matthew 28:19-20). Christians can work with non-Christians (& government) in attempting to promote justice and civic peace because it is good for all people, not just Christians (Galatians 6:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:15). As I said earlier, as Christians, we are to focus on the social and punishment system when we seem fit. Christ taught us to love our enemies. We all can think of helping the criminals to avoid harsh punishment like death penalty. We often forget the victims of the cimes. The victims are aways invisibile in this situation. No one speaks for them. Especially children when sexual predators are out there abusing and killing kids for their sexual pleasures. So, I am sitting here seeing so much advocacy for the criminals and little advocacy for the victims. Our laws are so relaxed that they do not cause fear in the criminals' minds. Criminals usually do not have a conscience to respect other human beings. Romans 13:1-7 In verse 3 says: "Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you." Verse 4 says: "if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." Verse 5 says: Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 1 Peter 2:13-17 Verse 14 says: "submit to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right." Verse 15-16 says: "For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God." There is a balance view of respecting God's creation and how we ought to protect the innocents who would be a victim of future crimes that may kill them. If God says: "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man." I will abide His law. I have not seen on clear passage from the New Testament that He removed this law. I may be harsh but I am looking at the victims more than I am looking at the criminals. This is why we have victims ministry as well as prision ministry. There are more prision ministries than there are victims ministries. We are to bear one another (victimes) as Galatians 6:2 says "Bear one another's burdens" This goes back to biblical foundation of Christ's intentions for His death on the Cross. Christ have not given us a political agenda, but a spiritual mandate to proclaim the Gospel and disciple the nations (Matthew 28:19-20). God never commanded the governments to "spread the Gospels" because God dictated governments to "govern" the people and live in a civilized world. In 2 Corinthians 5:20 where the Christian is referred to as an ambassador - "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ" which means God dictated to CHRISTIANS to spread the gospel. God's clear message (without even trying to interpret to our own human reasoning) that He ordained capital punishment. There is a balance view of respecting God's creation and how we ought to protect the innocents who would be a victim of future crimes that may kill them. If God says: "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man." I will abide His law. I have not seen on clear passage from the New Testament that He removed this law. Christ came to FULFILL the law, not destroy the law. Moral laws are God's laws for His followers while Civil laws are for His followers that Governments are ordained by Him. Jesus said "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence" (John 18:36). After Christ died on the Cross, many many Christians were sentenced to death for petty crimes such as "disobeying" the government or simply just being a "Christian". We are not here to preach the gospel to save people from temporal death but rather from eternal death and give them opportunity to have eternal life where God in heaven will pardon their crimes through Jesus Christ. Regarding God's laws in the Bible, you have to ask God because its in the Bible. What I normally do is study each law from God's perspectives as moral sin of serious nature from HIS VIEW. Reading Psalms 119 helps alot. Psalms revealed by the structure of the psalm itself as the importance of God’s Word for life and godliness. LAW is the primary word used in this psalm to refer to God’s Word. In a sense, “law” refers to any instruction revealed by God as the basis for life and action. In its more narrow sense “law” can refer to the Mosaic Law, the Pentateuch, or the Deuteronomic Law. Psalm 119 presents the Law of God as His overall instruction and direction whereby His people may find life, blessing, and success. Statutes speaks to the permanence and the binding nature of God’s Word. God’s statutes have been written down and preserved because God’s desires His people to obey them always and without exception. God’s words are always valid. God’s statutes are binding because they are His commandments and as such, are backed by His authority as the supreme, sovereign, and moral Law-giver. We need to look at things from God's perspective rather than our hearts.