As I’ve stated before, if it weren’t for God establishing in every person’s heart a sense of right and wrong there would be no morality in the earth. In order for humankind to have this sense of good vs. bad and right vs. wrong, universal standards had to be set by someone higher and much more powerful than man or any other force in the universe who would have to meet those standards and set the example of what we should aim for in our conduct and character.
Whether we know it or not, this is why it’s so important for God’s word to be proclaimed throughout the whole world. I think Isaiah was spot on when he said,
“…for when thy [God’s] judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness,” Isaiah 26:9.
God’s judgments include his word, his name above all names, his rewarding good, his punishing evil, and everything else he does, has done, or will do. All his works are done in truth (Psalm 33:4), which is why all inhabitants of the world learn righteousness when they pay attention to his judgments. This is also one of the reasons why those of us who share the genuine gospel are led to do so. We know God’s judgments, even when they unfold in messy or severe ways, will serve to improve the total state of man–spiritually, physically, mentally.
But, of course, God has supplied man with a free will and most humans choose to use their will to override God’s influence in their lives, sometimes with criminal intent, even if they live in a society that upholds God’s judgments as ideal. Isaiah, in the verse following the one quoted above, acknowledged this unfortunate caveat:
“Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the Lord.” Isaiah 26:10
Several other prophets also acknowledged this dire state of those hellbent on evil (Proverbs 17:10), including the Lord Jesus who rebuked the leaders of his day for “making the word of God of none effect” so they could uphold their own traditions as most important (Mark 7:6-13) and when he told Nicodemus that the general state of man was that they love darkness (John 3:19-21).
Those were statements to help us understand humans in general and what we’re up against as we share God’s word. We have this promise from the Lord about the importance and effectiveness of his word:
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11
Harry A. Gaylord
sunandshield.wordpress.com 
Hellov Harry how is everything going. What would you say to an atheist that calls you delusional because you believe in god. It’s like the only insult they have.
God Bless
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Nick,
You can approach a response to their accusations of being delusional in several ways. For example, you can ask why things predicted in Revelation, such as the prediction that everyone would one day be tagged with a mark & monitored by a world government, has now proven to be possible by modern technology.
Many atheists believe the universe has always existed even though science has debunked this idea with the laws of thermodynamics which point out that everything in the universe is winding down and running out. It is scientific fact that time, space, matter, and energy all came into being out of nothing. Therefore, an intelligent being who isn’t limited by time, space, matter, and energy had to create it since they can’t create themselves out of nothing. He would, by default, have to be more powerful than anything in the universe, including gravity, comets, stars, radiation, supernovas, orbits, black holes, weather, etc. all put together.
You can also point out that miracles exist where people came out of situations that should have ended them–situations that defy logic or science. In order for their situations to defy logic or science, there would have to be someone much more powerful than science. Otherwise, how could people be cured of terminal cancer when they stop cancer treatment or come back from the dead? Atheists also say that once you die, you cease to exist. If that were true, then how is it possible for someone to come back from the dead and get healthy even if they’ve been dead longer than the time it takes for brain damage to occur? This proves that belief in God isn’t delusional but that denying his existence is what’s delusional.
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Hello again Harry just wanted to tell you I’ve been seeing a lot of atheists saying the old testament supported slavery and tortured people it also involved cannibalism and god allowed incest it pains me to write these things but your the only person who can explain this to me
Exodus 21:3-4 Says that if a male slave is given a wife by his master (regardless of how long they are wed, how much they love each other or if they have kids) he can not leave servanthood with his wife or children. The woman and children are merely property of the master and their personal happiness or sanctity of family doesn’t matter.
Exodus 21:7 God not only sanctions selling ones daughter into slavery, but he also gives out laws on how it should be done.
Exodus 21:10 God ordains men taking several wives and even sets up laws as to how multiple wives should be handled.
god bless
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Nick,
People who criticize the slavery issue in the Bible aren’t getting their facts straight. It actually wasn’t slavery, it was a form of indentured servitude where they would be hired out or hire themselves out temporarily for a specific period of time. They were servants, not slaves as we understand slavery to be. Critics omit this passage from Leviticus 25 that was the law that governed servanthood:
“39 And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel [force] him to serve as a bondservant: 40 But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubile. 41 And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return.”
And they overlook the fact that servants were only supposed to serve under 6 year contracts, then they were free to go (Exodus 21:2).
In Exodus 21:10, men taking multiple wives wasn’t “ordained” by God, it was a simple acknowledgement of a cultural norm that was accepted at that time. Moses was simply saying something like, “if you men choose to have more than one wife, then do so under these parameters.” In the beginning, it was God’s intent for one man to be married to one woman when he established his “leave and cleave” law in Genesis 2:24. By the time Moses came along multiple spouses and divorces were commonplace, so God allowed Moses to set parameters for them although they were not God’s ideal situation. That’s why Jesus told the Jewish leaders it was Moses who allowed bills of divorcement in Matthew 19:6-8.
God never was in favor of cannibalism and never condoned it.
When it comes to the early years of mankind on Earth, he had to populate by marrying family since those were the only people around. There weren’t millions or billions of people around like there are today. And they were genetically superior to those of us who exist today. Remember, God created Adam and Eve as perfect human beings without genetic defects. It was only many centuries later that Moses had to outlaw what became known as incest because the human gene pool had become so defective by that time that it had to be outlawed.
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Also they talk about the seduction of job supposedly involved incest and also David and Bathsheba
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David and Bathsheba weren’t family, they committed adultery and I don’t know what the seduction of Job is.
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Hello again Harry, how can we justify people that are born with disabilities such as down syndrome etc. so why does god allow these things to happen
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God isn’t responsible for people being born with down syndrome, humans are. In the beginning, God created perfect humans, then they messed it up when they chose to disobey God and the quality of human genes was ruined as a result. Genetic defects came because of man’s sin. God is not obligated to override everything man causes and atheists tend to blame him for things to avoid accepting personal responsibility for the bad consequences that come from bad human decisions.
But here’s the irony. There are people with down syndrome who become believers in Jesus Christ and will be in heaven, but atheists who pride themselves in who they are and how they think and what they look like, will burn in hell. So who’s really better off?
People love to ask, “Why does God allow suffering?” I think the better question is, “Why are humans so dumb that they keep doing things that bring suffering to themselves and others?” For example, in the 1920s-1930s there were severe dust storms through the United States that killed livestock, people, and destroyed farmland. It was eventually discovered that it was all because the farmers were abusing the land and not being wise about their agricultural methods.
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Hello Harry thanks a lot for taking your time to respond. I appreciate it very much
God bless you and keep you safe
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Hello Harry. Hope everything is going well for you. Don’t know if you’ve noticed but I’m Greek and I there’s this lady In Greece who is possesed because her mother had 6 abortions and her father was cheating on her mother and one day he told her to go to hell when she was young so 7 demons possesed her 6 because of the abortions and 1 because of the dad cheating. Anyway this lady is normal and actually religious, the only way to make the demon come out is to confront him he tries to hide but eventually he gets so angry he has no choice. funny thing is though when he reveals himself he begins to mock you and make jokes about your sins. obviously the demons know all the people’s sins. the demon spoke about the blasphemous movie that was made about jesus he said katorthosa to xhristo sas which means the demons mocked jesus. the most strangest thing is that you’re actually talking to someone who was in heaven when lucifer was in heaven and he talks about the archangel Michael and Gabriel and he called them smart because they chose to stay with god. the demon said I regret going with lucifer. then like atheists do he tried to blame it on god for not showing him what he is doing is wrong. I thought you might find this interesting anyway
God bless you and keep you safe brother
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Hi, Nick.
Yeah, I did notice your name was Greek & when you told me in a previous comment that you weren’t from America, I figured it out.
Personally, when it comes to devils possessing people, I wouldn’t want to engage them in conversation. Although some of what they say has a grain of truth, it’s usually just enough truth to draw you in so they can then give you deceptive information. I imagine that’s one of the reasons why Paul cast the evil spirit of divination out of the woman in the book of Acts and why the Lord Jesus commanded them to be silent before he cast them out.
The so-called reasons these devils are possessing this woman may not be because of the abortions and adultery. Wouldn’t it be better to cast these devils out in the name of Jesus as opposed to watching this woman suffer under their bondage?
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Well I forgot to add the mother confessed and six of the seven demons left her the one remains. The demon also says that god forces me to stay In the woman’s body or else why would he want to expose his secrets. atheist people who have met this woman have begun to believe in god because of her and it may seem unfair for her to suffer but in the end she will win paradise because she has saved many people
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Nick,
This whole scenario you’ve explained doesn’t hold true to what God’s word says. So are you telling me you’re going to take a devil’s word over God’s? I would suggest that instead of focusing your fascination on atheists and other devils, maybe you should spend more time in God’s word to tear down these false ideas that attempt to exalt themselves against the knowledge of God.
Whether or not the mother confessed to anything is irrelevant to the possession by the devils. Atheists already have the inherent knowledge that God exists so this woman and her devil(s) have nothing to do with it. God never forces devils to stay inside people. Jesus, who was/is God, cast them out regularly and still does today when the saints of God rebuke them using the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Your account reminds me of when the Pharisees told Jesus that he cast out devils by Beelzebub, the prince of devils, to which Jesus responded:
“…if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
27 No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.” Mark 3
Satan’s kingdom isn’t divided. There aren’t any devils working on God’s behalf to get atheists to believe in God. God frees people from the spiritual bondage of atheism and devil possession by binding the strong man known as the devil, then takes away the strong man’s possessions–a lost person’s soul–for that person’s salvation.
The other misconception you have is that people “win paradise” by saving people. Only God through Jesus Christ saves people. People can only be saved by their faith in Jesus, not by their works. Jesus plainly said in Matthew 7,
“21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
And doing the will of the Father is simply to believe on his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as Jesus said in John 6:40. “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil,” 1 John 3:8. But your comment is saying the very opposite of what Jesus and his true disciples stand for.
Nick, I’m really starting to wonder about you, dude. Why is it that you seem to assume that atheists are telling the truth and that now you’re assuming devils are telling the truth? Who are you really following?
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I believe in the father the son and the holy spirit I am on gods side. This women as I said in the previous comment is very religious what I’m trying to say is that even though she suffers on this earth she will win paradise not only because of her deed but also because she is a believer in Jesus Christ. I ask for your forgiveness if there’s something wrong I said and I thank you for correcting me. It’s true I don’t spend enough time praying and I feel guilty I am plagued by many sins and it’s hard to spend time with god when you have so much to do there is no excuse I understand that but I believe it is time I stop concerning myself with atheists and their lies thanks for helping me out
God bless you and keep you safe
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Ok, Nick. Just thought I would check on where you stand. But if someone is possessed by a devil, they may be “religious” and follow certain rituals or routines, but that does not mean they have a relationship with Jesus Christ. If she’s possessed, she’s not a Christian. Devils can quote scripture too and sound truthful when, in fact, they are liars and deceivers. If this woman or her devil claims God made the devil stay inside of her as you mentioned in your previous comment, that’s an outright lie. That’s what I was pointing out in my last comment.
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Hello Harry,
I’m new to Christianity, and must say your site has been very helpful in the growing of my spiritual faith. But I have but one confusion. In order to feel Gods true presence in ones life, (as in the great love we so confidently believe in.) Must we leave all of are sins behind?(As in the ones we can choose to leave or stay.)
I’ve heard many different opinions on this. Some say that we must repent, and accept Jesus as our Savior, and then we can Sin, (almost like a license to Sin) but we must believe the evil we are doing is indeed evil.
Others say that in order to truly feel Gods presence, we have to completely abandon are Sins, and do the other stuff.
In my own life I’d say the second one has taken more of an effect on me. Call me crazy. But the longer I go without Sinning, the better my life gets. I don’t just feel cleaner or something. Things that seem less likely to occur in my own reality, actually happen. Kind of like blessings I guess.
And then when I Sin again, its almost like the timer gets reset. Hopefully you’ll be able to understand my question. It may seem kind’ve confusing.
Thanks
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It’s great that you’ve chosen to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. In spite of the fact we as Christians have God’s Holy Spirit in us to help us in life, we still have the nature inside of us we were born with. And it wars against our new nature in Christ. Paul expressed this ongoing battle in Romans 7:15-25. As Christians we still sin even when we don’t want to. The major difference is our response to it. We have a great desire in us to avoid it, rid ourselves of it, and apologize for it when we realize where we fail–all of it done out of love and concern for being in good fellowship with our heavenly Father.
Even Peter sinned after many years as an apostle, struggling with prejudice towards Gentiles. Paul confronted Peter about it, telling about the incident in Galatians 2:11-14. But Peter was still a great man of God in spite of those failings. I think it’s good to keep 1 John 1 in mind:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. [This includes past, present, & future sins]
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Jesus died for all sins we commit during our whole lives. They are all forgiven the moment we repent and believe in Jesus. But we apologize for our sins regularly because they can hinder our blessings if we don’t. This is why many times in the New Testament letters, Paul and other writers (including Jesus through the apostle John in Revelation) confront Christian churches about their sin and tell them to repent. When we sin we are still saved, but how we address our sin will also affect rewards we get after this life (see 1 Corinthians 3:10-15).
I hope this helps your understanding.
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In regards to this article and belief in God, many people do not realize that politicians, including U.S. presidents, take an oath and swear on a Bible to uphold this nation’s principles. Some people like to bash God, the Bible, and the Holy Scriptures, however, God’s judgment is mentioned in the Bible and there is no way around it. Roman 14:11 states: For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. Therefore, even the government had to bow to the Word of God whether in truth, lies, or hypocrisy the declaration was made to fulfill prophecy.
Many people do not know that Congress declares the Bible “The Word of God” via Public Law 97-280, 96 Stat 1211 October 4, 1982 & Executive Order 6100 of September 22, 1990? Public Law 97-280 was introduced as Senate Joint Resolution 165, with thirty-three co-sponsors, and as House Joint Resolution 487 with 219 co-sponsors, a request was delivered before Congress to honor the Bible as Holy Scripture. The resolution suffered no amendments, no exclusions, no demands that it be stricken of religious references. It became law.
The 97th Congress of the United States publicly declared 1983 the national “Year of the Bible”. The bipartisan document known as Public Law 97-280, was signed on October 4, 1982 by Speaker of the House Thomas P. O’Neill, President of the Senate – Pro Tempore Strom Thurmond, and President of the United States Ronald Reagan.
It reads as follows: WHEREAS the Bible, the Word of God, has made a unique contribution in shaping the United States as a distinctive and blessed nation and people;
WHEREAS deeply held religious convictions springing from the Holy Scriptures led to the early settlement of our Nation;
WHEREAS Biblical teachings inspired concepts of civil government that are contained in our Declaration of Independence and Constitution of the United States;
WHEREAS many of our great national leaders–among them Presidents Washington, Jackson, Lincoln, and Wilson–paid tribute to the surpassing influence of the Bible in our country’s development, as in the words of President Jackson that the Bible is “the Rock on which our Republic rests”;
WHEREAS the history of our Nation clearly illustrates the value of voluntarily applying the teachings of the Scriptures in the lives of individuals, families, and societies;
WHEREAS this Nation now faces great challenges that will test this Nation as it has never been tested before;
and WHEREAS that renewing our knowledge of and faith in God through Holy Scripture can strengthen us as a nation and a people: NOW, THEREFORE, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President is authorized and requested to designate 1983 as a national “Year of the Bible” in recognition of both the formative influence the Bible has been for our Nation, and our national need to study and apply the teachings of the Holy Scriptures.
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Tessa,
Thanks for drawing attention to this. I had no idea this existed.
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Harry A. Gaylord,
No problem. You are welcome. Folks would be surprised at what exists and is “hidden in plain sight” that they don’t know about.
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