Tuesday 30 December 2014

JESUS IS--'GOD THE FATHER'

 JESUS IS -- ‘GOD THE FATHER’
BY DR. MERVYN ABREO
          First, we have to understand the Trinity.
 WHY IS THE TRINITY A MYSTERY?
          On one hand, we have the Biblical truth proclaimed by the Church, that there is only one God! While on the other hand, in the Bible, on a number of occasions, we come across, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, being mentioned individually, or in twos and even   threes, conversing with Each other.
The Christian and three gods:
           However the greatest danger is to the Christian himself, who uses the term Father, Son and Holy Spirit as though there are three gods. When questioned, he quickly goes on the defense, saying that he actually believes in one God, and that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit actually are three Persons in one God.



              But when asked as to how he visualizes God, he describes God the Father as an old man with white hair and a long white beard, God the Son as a young man, with a trimmed beard and shoulder length hair, and the Holy Spirit as a dove, hovering in the air.  
GOD THE FATHER: Right from the beginning God revealed Himself to man as one God: ‘Hear, Oh Israel the Lord thy God is one God (the only God)’. (Deuteronomy 6:4).
 JESUS CHRIST IS GOD: There was absolutely no doubt that Jesus claimed to be God and was therefore crucified for it.
 (The term: ‘Son of God’ will be better understood after reading “Scientifically modernizing Biblical language,” which is in this blog).
THE HOLY SPIRIT AS GOD: is described as the mysterious power or presence of God.
 BASIC ISSUE ABOUT THE TRINITY: Is Jesus Christ God? Is He really and fully God? The core of the doctrine of the Trinity was and is the divinity of Jesus Christ, as well as that of the Holy Spirit!
THE TRINITY EXPLAINED BY TIME-SPACE-MATTER:
 The rules of time-space-matter can be applied to Jesus Christ, while He was on earth, because He was a man like you and me. But these rules cannot in anyway be applied to the Father and the Holy Spirit because They are essentially Spirit Beings.
THE WORLD OF GOD THE FATHER: God told Moses His name,’’ I am who I am. (Exodus 3: 13). An Omnipresent God!
THE WORLD OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: He is the Spirit of Jesus - or Jesus in the Spirit form, outside the confines of our world, so that He can be at all places at all times(Omnipresent), ministering to everybody, simultaneously, an attribute/ characteristic the human Jesus did not possess.
 USING TIME-SPACE-MATTER TO STUDY THE ‘THREE GODS’ OF THE TRINITY:
GOD (God the Father) - the one true living God (Jehovah, Yahweh):
He created the earth (matter).
In a time/space environment.
 Time: made up of- yesterday, today and tomorrow.
 Space: made up of- length, breadth and height.
He created man: matter in time and space.
Man sinned- God lost His kingdom to Satan.
God communicated with man (Israel) - people terrified.
God decided to become man (matter) in time/space dimension.
And communicate with man on a one to one basis.
JESUS (GOD THE SON)
God became man, and was named Jesus.
Got the title of Christ (Greek), Messiah (Hebrew) -- Anointed One.
In the Gospel of John:
 In the beginning was the Word (Jesus).
And the Word (Jesus) was with God (the Father).
And the Word (Jesus) was God (the Father).
He (Jesus) was with God (the Father) in the beginning.
Through Him (Jesus) all things were made. (John 1:1-3).

Jesus came down on earth to reestablish His kingdom.
Crucifixion, resurrection & ascension: Jesus ceased to be human (matter) and ceased to be bound on earth (by time & space).
THE HOLY SPIRIT (Advocate, Councilor)
          Presence of God (Lord Jesus Christ) continues on earth in the Spirit form as:
                          The Holy Spirit, of Lord Jesus Christ, the Jehovah, (Who is God the Father).
  A CHILD LIKE EXPLANATION FOR THE HOLY TRINITY
          When my son was nine and daughter six years old, I explained to them about the Trinity by giving them my personal example.
          I told them that I was their dad, a doctor in the clinic and a preacher in the Church. Was I three different persons? Definitely not!
          If you had to ask my son who I was, his answer, ‘My dad, Dr. Mervyn, is a preacher in the Church!’
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Dear friend,
          I look forward to getting your feedback. Do write in to me at:
                                        drmervynabreo@gmail.com
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Friday 26 December 2014

A TRUE FRIEND INDEED

 A TRUE FRIEND INDEED
BY DR. MERVYN ABREO
          In school I was a thin skinny kid who nobody wanted to be with. And as a result I spent most of the time by myself.










          One day a new kid joined our school. There was something special about him and so everybody wanted to be with him. Me too, but I knew that I didn’t stand a chance. So I didn’t even bother trying.
          That evening, after classes, as I trudged home all alone, I heard my name being called. I turned, and to my surprise saw the new kid, with a big smile on his face, walking quickly to catch up with me. Will wonders never cease, I thought. The kid even knows my name.


          He said that he wanted to be my friend. I shrugged. He probably didn’t know who I was. Tomorrow, when he would come to know better, he would shun me like the rest of the kids. No big deal. I didn’t think it was worth asking him his name.
          But the next morning, the very first thing he did was to seek me out. And having found me, announced loudly that he wanted to be my best friend, that’s if I would have him.
          We became the best of friends. We were inseparables.
          He even told me his name. I had never heard of such a name before. He told me that, his name, unlike the names of the other kids, had a meaning. His name meant, ‘God saves’, and that His name was ‘Jesus’.
          It was o.k. with me. All that mattered was that I now had a friend.


          One day, after a swim in the river, after we had finished devouring our sandwiches, He turned to me and said, “There is something important that I need to speak to you about.”
          “What’s it?” I asked him.
          “I am the Son of God!” He solemnly replied.
          I was too stunned to speak. Normally I would have laughed, but the look on his face told me he was dead serious. As I looked into his eyes I saw something which I had only glimpsed before: love and grace emitted so strongly that I just believed him.
          “That’s great! Now heaven is no more a problem. We can both go there”
          “Well yes, it’s no problem for Me. But for you……” He just let the words hang in the air.
          I was irritated. “Are you telling me that You are God, and that You can, and will be going to heaven, and that You’re not going to take me, Your best friend, with You?” I challenged.
          He ignored the question. And in a gentle voice asked me, “Do you trust Me?”
          “Of course I do!” I countered. And added, “With all my heart!” I was in two minds, but even if there was the slightest chance of going the heaven with Him, I didn’t want to lose the opportunity.
          “Very well then,” he replied. “I will take you to heaven.” And then He added. “But first I must die!”
          “No bloody way!!” I countered.


          “Good choice of words. I will die and it will be bloody!” And then He added, “Don’t worry. I’ll come back for you!”
          Soon they came for Him. I ran away and hid myself. They beat Him to death. Later soon good folks came and buried Him.
          Early next morning, taking some flowers, I visited His grave.
          Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder. I jumped. But when I saw Who it was, I was even more disturbed. He seemed absolutely unharmed.
          “I thought You were dead!” I exclaimed.
          “I was! But I have risen from the dead. And I told you that I’ll come back for you”
          I should have been afraid. But I wasn’t. His very presence had a calming and reassuring effect on me.


          “I must go now.” He said. And then to reassure me, He added, “You will never be alone. Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” And with that he was gone.
          Now, I never feel alone or insecure, because I know that He’s with me.  
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Dear friend,
          I look forward to getting your feedback. Do write in to me at:
                                        drmervynabreo@gmail.com
………………………………………………………………….


   



    




Wednesday 24 December 2014

PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

 PEARL OF GREAT PRICE
BY DR. MERVYN  ABREO

          “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” (Mathew 13:45).

Me: Dear God, is the kingdom of heaven really that valuable?
God: Yes it is!
Me: Can I afford it?
God: Yes, you definitely can!
Me: Well if You say so, then I’m going to give you all my money for it.

God: I accept.
Me: (muttering to myself) Of course I need to earn a livelihood. But no problem, because I have my clinics that generate money.





God: I accept your clinics.
Me: What?! Then how will I practice medicine?
God: I accept your degrees.
 Me: I’ll have to sell the house and live in the car to generate funds.
God: I accept the house and your car. 








Me: How am I going to support my wife and kids?
God: I accept them too.
Me: Lord, I know that the kingdom is worth it all. But I am left without anything, and all alone.

God: I accept you too! But now, since everything is Mine, I give them back to you. You are now only a caretaker. The kingdom of heaven is yours, but be very careful how you manage your household, as well as your life. At the end you will have to give Me a careful account of everything.
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Dear friend,
          I look forward to getting your feedback. Do write in to me at:
                                        drmervynabreo@gmail.com
………………………………………………………………….


Friday 19 December 2014

DO TO THE LEAST OF MY BRETHREN

  DO TO THE LEAST OF MY BRETHREN
BY DR. MERVYN ABREO


Whatever you do to the least of My brethren,
That you do unto Me!
When I was hungry you gave Me to eat,
When I was thirsty you gave Me to drink.
Now come into the house of My Father.

          
        And good hearted folks go and perform good deeds hoping to attain salvation.
          They contribute heavily to different charities, build orphanages, old age homes, and do just about anything in order to worm their way into heaven. But to no avail!
          The Bible is full of allegories.








          And what the good Lord is saying, when He talks about food and drink, is to give the people, is nourishment for their spirits.


           He is the bread of life and He is the wine at the Last Supper, and every supper for that matter.
          And He is talking essentially about…….. EVANGELISM!!!


          So go ahead and evangelize!
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Dear friend,
          I look forward to getting your feedback. Do write in to me at:
                                        drmervynabreo@gmail.com
………………………………………………………………….







Wednesday 17 December 2014

WOMEN OUT OF GOD'S WILL

 WOMEN OUT OF GOD’S WILL
BY DR. MERVYN ABREO

           Different women related to God differently – with varying results.
Eve tried to become like God:


           Tempted by Satan, she scrumbled to his lies and ate the forbidden fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And also gave some to her husband, Adam.
          The results were disastrous! And we her children are still paying for it.
Sarah tried to help God:

           Impatient that she had not conceived a son and heir from her husband Abraham, although promised by God, she sent her slave girl Hagar into his bed, resulting in the birth of Ishmael.
          The enmity between Isaac and Ishmael, which had its roots then, is still continued by their descendants till the present day.

Rebekah tried to fool God:
  
          When her old and dying husband Isaac requested his elder son Esau to hunt game, cook it and bring it to him, so that he could bless him with an inheritance, Rebekah quickly prepared a meal and made Jacob, Esau’s younger brother to impersonate him and steal his elder brother’s birthright.
          The results were disastrous for both Jacob as well as for Rebecca. Jacob had to flee after the death of Isaac as Esau had vowed to kill him. And Jacob spent more than fourteen years in exile, during which period Rebekah died never once seeing her favorite son after the death of her husband.
Michal scorned God:
 







          When David danced in Jehovah’s sight as the Tabernacle was being brought into the Temple, his wife Michal laughed at him, not realizing that God had forgiven him and now accepted his praise and worship.
          Michal did not realize that her laughter, though directed at David, became a personal insult to God, Who showed His displeasure by keeping her barren all the days of her life, although David forgave her and slept with her. For her own sake, I hope that she had made up with her husband as well as with God before she died.

  






WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?
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Dear friend,
          I look forward to getting your feedback. Do write in to me at:
                                        drmervynabreo@gmail.com
………………………………………………………………….


Friday 12 December 2014

MEN OUT OF GOD'S WILL

 MEN OUT OF GOD’S WILL
BY DR. MERVYN ABREO       
          Men, who could have been in God’s will, lost this opportunity by taking a very wrong decision, and unfortunately continued in this unrepentant position till the very end.
CAIN: Adam’s first born, killed his brother Abel. Why? Because God accepted Abel’s animal sacrifice (a ‘type’ of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross), while rejecting his meaningless sacrifice of a part of his crops.












          His disobedience stemmed from his egoistic need to offer what he had himself grown and thereby obtain salvation by works rather than by the loving grace of the crucified Lord!
KING SAUL: Who had been chosen and anointed by God to become king over His people, not only upsurges the authority of the Levites (the priests who conducted the animal sacrifices), by performing the sacrifice himself, but disobeyed God, Who had instructed him to destroy all the animals.











          His excuse, that he had saved some of the animals which could be used for sacrifice. And God tells him that…. “obedience is better than sacrifice”. (1Samuel 15:22).
ESAU: He sold his birthright. One day Esau comes home famished, and just then, Jacob is cooking a stew. Jacob is willing to give it to him in exchange for Esau’s birthright. Esau, despising his birth right, swears an oath selling his birthright to Jacob. (Genesis 25: 29-34).
          For him his god was his belly.



          Also, he married a Canaanite woman. He did this especially because he knew how displeasing Canaanite women were to his father, Isaac. (Genesis 28: 6-9).
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Dear friend,
          I look forward to getting your feedback. Do write in to me at:
                                        drmervynabreo@gmail.com
………………………………………………………………….
         




Monday 24 November 2014

CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR

CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR
DR. DR. MERVYN ABREO
          We have this funny kind of idea, that only if we ask God for something good and sensible, then there is probably a good chance of getting it. And inversely, if we ask for something evil, there is absolutely no chance of God ever granting our desire.



          Sorry folks, it doesn't work like that!
          God will sometimes grant you the desires of your heart, however evil and horrendous the consequences! Why? Because He doesn’t interfere with your free will!!
          Here is a wonderful example from the Bible.
King Hezekiah was unwell and the prophet Isaiah told him that he would die. However he wept and begged of God to heal him. And God granted a further fifteen years to his life. (2Kings 20).

                











          Three years later a son, Manasseh, was born to him, who turned out to be one of the most idolatrous of men to have walked on this earth. He led the entire country into idol worship to such an extent that God was so angry that He vowed to wipe out Jerusalem and forsake the remnant of His people. (2Kings 21).
Praying: Ask, seek, knock!
          The Lord has promised that if one boldly, “asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
                                                                                                ( Luke 11: 10).
The lesson: Only praying for what we need, and what we think is good for us, is an incomplete prayer.
           We need to ask God to guide us in prayer. And trust, and leave it to Him, to give us what He knows is best for us!
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Dear friend,
          I look forward to getting your feedback. Do write in to me at:
                                        drmervynabreo@gmail.com
………………………………………………………………….



Thursday 20 November 2014

GENEALOGY OF GOD

 GENEALOGY OF GOD
BY DR. MERVYN ABREO
          Animals are valued by their ancestry. The linage of a horse or the pedigree of a dog is very important when evaluating the worth of the animal.
          In human beings it’s even more so, especially when it comes to marriage.
          With respect to God, the Bible carefully records the royal linage of Jesus, and that He came from the house of Judah.
          But what I want to emphasize is the linage of Jesus as God, and not as man, (which is clearly mentioned in the Book of Matthew.
          The Bible mentions that God is one!! Yet three Persons are clearly and separately mentioned: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit!
          Therefore, to understand where Jesus as God (the spiritual and not the natural Being) ‘came from’, let us trace Jesus’ ancestry downwards from God the Father.

GOD (God the Father) - the one true living God (Jehovah, Yahweh):
He created the earth (matter).
In a time/space environment.
Time: made up of- yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Space: made up of- length, breadth and height.
He created man: matter in time and space.
Man sinned- God lost His kingdom to Satan.
God communicated with man (Israel) - people terrified.
God decided to become man (matter) in time/space dimension.
And communicate with man on a one to one basis, by becoming Jesus.
JESUS (GOD THE SON)
God became man, and was named Jesus.
Got the title of Christ (Greek), Messiah (Hebrew) -- Anointed One.
In the Gospel of John:
 In the beginning was the Word (Jesus).
And the Word (Jesus) was with God (the Father).
And the Word (Jesus) was God (the Father).
He (Jesus) was with God (the Father) in the beginning.
Through Him (Jesus) all things were made. (John 1:1-3).
Jesus came down on earth to reestablish His kingdom.
Crucifixion, resurrection & ascension: Jesus ceased to be human (matter) and ceased to be bound on earth (by time & space).
THE HOLY SPIRIT (Advocate, Councilor)
          Presence of God (Lord Jesus Christ) continues on earth in the Spirit form as: The Holy Spirit of Lord Jesus Christ the Jehovah.
          Now we can see a clear linage from God the Father, down to Jesus Who is God the Son, and ultimately down to God the Holy Spirit!
          This helps us to understand that there is only ONE God!!
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Dear friend,
          I look forward to getting your feedback. Do write in to me at:
                                        drmervynabreo@gmail.com
………………………………………………………………….