• Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory for ever, Amen.  
  

  Because we didn’t know what to pray for, here Jesus is trying to help us. So many corrupt things had been placed in prayers by the Jews and their numerous laws that Jesus saw it necessary to give a new instruction or directory for prayer. This is not the only way to pray, it was just an example. It explains how we should talk to God.

  Our Father who art in heaven

  • Our – He is everyone’s father. Not just the jews, nor just the gentiles, but everyone. This means black, white, red, ALL RACES. God made everyone, not just a select race. RACISM is wrong and God will judge the guilty.
  • Father – We are taught to pray to God only, not to saints or anyone else, only God. We only honor God in our prayers.
    He is a common Father to all mankind by creation.
    Christ, when he prayed, mostly called God Father.
    Since he is our Father, he will deny us nothing that is good for us..he will pity us in our weaknesses,, he will make the best of our performances.
  • In heaven – God is everywhere, but in heaven is where his throne is. Jesus, our intercessor, is also in heaven sitting on the right hand side of the father.
    Heaven: A place we can look forward to. Streets of Gold, no pain or suffering. Just permanent love and worship. A place of eternal satisfaction; happiness.

  Hallowed

  We must give glory to God, we are here showing adoration. We must begin our prayers with praising God if we are to expect to receive mercy and grace from Him.?

  be

  Not was, or has, but BE. Present tense. God is alive, here with us NOW. Do not think he is not here or far away, he is HERE.

  thy name

  Thy name: no one else’s. God is the only true, living God. There never has been another, nor ever will be. He is the ONLY one.

  Thy kingdom come

  Christ promised to return. We as Christians, should surely desire to live with God in heaven. What God has promised, we must pray for and truly desire.

  Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven

  We pray that earth may be made more like heaven by the observance of God’s will, and that we may be made more like holy angels in their devotion and obedience. Christ prayed “not my will, but thine be done.” Let God’s will be done, let earth appear as it is in heaven,,, peaceful, reverent, Holy..

  Give us this day our daily bread

  Because our bodies require food and nutrients to survive, in order to worship and serve God we must have food. We ask for bread, not riches. We must be humble and show temperance. Bread is wholesome, but it is not nice.

  We ask for daily bread, which teaches us to pray every day, and also not to worry about tomorrow.

• Matt 6:34 We must constantly depend upon God’s divine providence. We ask to give US, not me. This teaches us charity, concern for others, the poor and needy. It suggests also that we should pray with our families (US).

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors

Debts are sins. We must pray daily for the forgiveness of our sins because if we do not ask forgiveness of our sins, then we face the wrath of God. When we pray for forgiveness, then the punishment for the sin will be canceled.We must forgive others for their sins against us. This is mentioned time and time again by Jesus. This would include all types of sins.. if they hurt us,, if they owe us money and can not repay,,

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil

God never leads his people into temptation for the purpose of causing anyone to fall, but for the purpose of proving the sufficiency of his presence. When God is the One who leads His people into temptation, it is for the purpose of proving to His child that when God leads to temptation, He does not abandon him, but He is with him to give him the victory and to make him more experienced in warfare against the devil. However, when one allows Satan or his own lusts to tempt him, he should never say that he is tempted of God.

• James 1:13-14 Lord, do not leave us to ourselves. Do not let Satan loose against us. But deliver us from evil, the evil one. The tempter. From the evil sin.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, for ever, Amen

Meant to excite us in the faith. Make us think of God’s Glory and of heaven. Praises and gives thanksgiving. The best way of pleading with God is praising him. We give him praise and Glory not because he needs it, but deserves it!

A true saint never thinks he can speak honorably enough of God.

End with Amen. Amen has always been used to sum up a prayer or request of God. It is a good, warm way to sum up a prayer.

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  Bibliography:

  • Matthew Henry’s Commentary, Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody Massachusetts?
  • Spiros Zodhiates Hebrew-Greek Study Bible, World Bible Publishers, Inc., Iowa Falls, Iowa.

A Bible Study by Adam Osborne, Jr.

God says homosexuality is wrong

Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Man shall not have sex with another man, God says it is an abomination (detestable) and come judgment time, you will be put to death. You will not live with God forever in heaven.

1 Timothy 1:8-11 [8] But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; [9] Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, [10] For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; [11] According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

Notice here how the writings in the New Testament classifies homosexuals. In the same category as murderers, liars, perjured persons, profane, lawless and disobedient.
Homosexuality is a result of sexual perversions

Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

Romans 1:18-32 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; [19] Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shown it unto them. [20] For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: [21] Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. [22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, [23] And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. [24] Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: [25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. [26] For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: [27] And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. [28] And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; [29] Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, [30] Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, [31] Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: [32] Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Accepting homosexuality legitimizes other perversions:

Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Homosexuals bring penalities on themselves

Romans 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

Homosexuals bring penalities on society:

Leviticus 18:24-28 [24] Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: [25] And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants. [26] Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: [27] (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) [28] That the land spew not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spewed out the nations that were before you.

Jude 1:7-8 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. [8] Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

THE GOOD NEWS IS Homosexuals can be forgiven and changed

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 [9] Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, [10] Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. [11] And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Question: Should a Christian HATE someone who hates God?

As I read the below scripture in Psalms, I was puzzled by the word hate in the context it was used. I decided to look up the following scriptures and look in some study books to help me determine what the bible says about hate.

• Psalms 139:21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? [22] I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
  

  –Clarke’s Commentary = “Do not I hate them”… I hold their conduct in abomination. “With perfect hatred”…Their conduct, their motives, their opposition to thee, their perfidy and idolatrous purposes, I perfectly abhor. With them I have neither part, interest, nor affection.

  –Matthew Henry’s Commentary = He detests them (v.21,22): “do not I hate those that hate thee?”, and for that reason, because they hate thee? I hate them because I love thee, and hate to see such affronts and indignities put upon they blessed name. Note: Sin is hated, and sinners are lamented, by all that fear God.? “I hate them” (that is, I hate the work of them that turn aside, as he explains himself Psalms 101:3)

  2. Question: Will God punish you if you don’t HATE people that hate God?

• 2 Chronicles 19:1 And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem. [2] And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.
  

  –Clarke’s Commentary = “Therefore is wrath upon thee” … That is, Thou deservest to be punished. And who can doubt this, who knows that he did help the ungodly and did love them that hated Jehova? And is not the wrath of God upon all those alliances which his people form with the ungodly, whether they be social, matrimonial, commercial, or political?

  –Matthew Henry’s Commentary = (1)The prophet told him plainly that he had done very ill in joining with Ahab:? “Shouldst thou,” a godly man, “help the ungodly,” give them a hand of fellowship, and lend them a hand of assistance?” Or, “Shouldst thou love those that hate the Lord;” wilt thou lay those in thy bosom whom God beholds afar off? It is the black character of wicked people that they are haters of God. “Do I not hate those,” says David, “that hate thee?” Ps 139:21 Those whom the grace of God has dignified ought not to debase themselves. Let God’s people be of God’s mind. (2) That God was displeased with him for doing this; “There is wrath upon thee from before the Lord,” and thou must, by repentance, make thy peace with him, or it will be the worse for thee. He did so, and God’s anger was turned away.

  The Lord hates sin

• Zechariah 8:17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.
  

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  • After reviewing the above Commentaries and scriptures, I concluded that you should “hate” the sin, not the sinner, hate the act, the ways, but never the person.

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  At this point, I wanted to see what the New Testament had to say about “hate”.

  • Jesus taught us not to hate each other, but to love and forgive

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  • Matthew 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. [44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; [45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. [46] For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? [47] And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? [48] Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
  • Titus 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, [2] To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men. [3] For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
  • 1 John 2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. [10] He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. [11] But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
  • 1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. [15] Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. [16] Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

  We should HATE sin.

  • Psalms 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
  • Psalms 119:10? Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
  • Psalms 119:113 I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.
  • Psalms 119:128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.
  • Ecclesiastes?3:8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
  • Amos 5:15 Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.

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  Bibliography

  • Matthew Henry, “The Matthew Henry Study Bible, King James Version, World Bibles, 1994
  • Adam Clarke’s, “The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” Commentaries, Abingdon Press, Nashville, TN

The bible frequently and clearly states that Jesus is God.

JOHN 1:1-3,14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) The same was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made….(14)And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Jesus, who existed since the beginning of time, became flesh and dwelt with us. Here is positive proof of the deity of Jesus Christ.

Col 1:15-17 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

1 John 1:1-2 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

Psalms 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

Col 2:9 (NIV) For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form

Jesus, himself, stated that He was God.

John 10:30 I and my Father are one.

Now, if He wasn’t God, after his death would the apostles continued to work and DIE for the cause of Jesus?No way!!! They would have left, broken hearted and upset for being fooled by a mere mortal man. But NO, the apostles continued his work. They worked because they saw him resurrected after his death. They saw the nail scars in his hand. They saw him “appear” out of nowhere into the room where they were assembled. Before Jesus’ death on the cross the apostles were with Jesus day and night for 3 years. They saw his work, they saw his miracles. They witnessed his ascension to heaven!!! He was, IS, GOD incarnate!

• John 10:38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.”
• John 12:44-46 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
  46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
• John 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.”
• John 16:15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
• John 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
• John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
• John 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
• John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
• Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
  

  Below are a few additional scriptures that tells of Jesus’ deity.

• Hebrews 1:3 (NIV) The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.
• Revelation 19:16 (NIV) On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
• 1 Timothy 3:16 (NIV) Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.
• Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
• Colossians 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
• Hebrews 7:3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
• Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
• Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
• 1 Corinthians 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
• Ephephesians 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
• Romans 9:5 (NIV) Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all