This article is written to let you know, thinking has consequences. Most people know only that action has consequences. 

The greatest blunder and flaw of most American thinking is their belief America is an exceptional nation appointed by God to rule the world, this facetious and false thinking created the evil empire attempting to conquer the competitors and oppress many nations and peoples and makes America the most hated nation on earth and the inherent peril of practicing unilateralism and America First idiosyncrasy which is tantamount to America committing suicide.

The enemies of the truth deleted what I updated. May God delete their names from the Book of Life.

For years things have gone wrong with the United States because the US government spends more than it takes in through revenues, a debt default is not a game of chicken with the global economy; and the U.S. is heading for cliff again and again over the need for Congress to lift the ceiling on how much the US government can borrow. The time has come to stop all borrowing: the measures are painful but needful. Radical problems require radical solutions. It is high time for America to drain the swamp. THE DARKEST SIDE OF AMERICA IS THE FALSE AND WRONG ASSUMPTION AND PRESUMPTION THAT AMERICA IS ON THE SIDE OF GOD, ON THE SIDE OF TRUTH, ON THE SIDE OF LIGHT. THE FACT IS AMERICA IS ON THE SIDE OF THE DEVIL, ITS LEADERS AND POLITICIANS ARE DOING THE DESTRUCTIVE WORK OF THE EVIL ONE WHILE MOST AMERICANS ARE BLIND AND DREAMING THEY ARE RIGHT AND SPIRITUAL.

The fake claim and biggest black lie is black Jews. Abraham was not a Negro, the twelve tribes of Israel were not Negroes. David was not a Negro. Jesus was born a Jew, not a Negro. There are no black Jews. Merriam Webster defines Negro as a person of Black African ancestry. The Biblical Jews are neither black nor African.

The two-state proposal is not the two-state solution. For God gave the Promised Land to Abraham and his descendants some 4,000 years ago. The Chosen People rebelled against God and they were scattered all over the world. During the British colonial rule, the Holy Land was known as Palestine, illegal Arabs moved in to occupy the Holy Land without payment. The illegal Arabs were latter known as Palestinians. Palestinians, Arabs and Hamas have no claim to the Holy Land and no resettlement right in the Holy Land. The leaders of the United Kingdom could tell them so. Palestinians could never establish a Palestinian state in the Holy Land. The United Nations or any agency has no authority to give the Jewish land to Palestinians, Arabs and Hamas. Jerusalem is forever the capital of the great King David. It is high time for Palestinians, Arabs and Hamas to get out of the Holy Land in peace; or they will be evicted by force. God will fight for Jerusalem, for God is the Protector of Israel.  Palestine only existed in British colonial rule, so Palestinians are not free in Israel; they must be expelled from Jerusalem and the Jewish land, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. They are free to go to Arab nations. Palestinians and Hamas must withdraw from the Jewish land that God gave to Abraham and his descendants without delay. Any strategy to bargain away the Jewish land is wrong.

—-The greatest wrong thinking in the world today is the fallacy and folly of so-called Palestinians who claim to have the right of resettlement in the land of the Jews. There was Israel and Jewish people, there was no Palestine or Palestinian. God, the Ruler of the universe, some 4,000 years ago gave the Promised Land to Abraham and his descendants. The Jews rebelled against God and was scattered all over the world. The leaders of the United Kingdom failed to inform the Palestinians that Palestine was an illegal legacy created by the British empire. During the colonial rule, illegal Arabs moved in to occupy the Jewish land without payment. Since the Jews reestablished the State of Israel, all illegal Palestinians should be evicted long time ago. Palestinians are the illegal Arabs who occupied the Jewish land. Palestinians have no right to claim any portion or part of the Jewish land. No United Nations, or agency, or any country has authority to give the Land of the Jews to illegal Palestinians or any people. The two-states theory is the greatest error and injustice. Palestinians have no claim or right to establish the so-called state of Palestine in the Promised Land. Palestinians are Arabs who have a right to settle in Arab countries. The sooner they give up the false claim and wake up to the truth the better for world peace. 

Another terrible wrong thinking is the fallacy and folly of white and black supremacists who fancy they can continue to dictate and dominate the world. Europe and America have ruled the world for hundreds of years and committed the most genocide, war crimes and sins in the world. They claim and pretend to be Christians. There is no Christendom. There is no Christian nation on earth. There is no Christian nationalism. The sooner European and American leaders and politicians repent, reform, and recompense their victims the better, or the judgment of God they will not escape. They never practice democracy, freedom, human rights, justice and equality they pretend to have. They sooner they give up world dictatorship and domination, the better for world peace. 

Thinking is of great importance because thinking influences your perception, your perception influences your action. For example, a warmonger thinks his status in the world by domination is not safe and secure, and he sees some other nations as rivals or competitors, real or imaginary, and so he acts out in attacking and sanctioning other states without cause or reason. This is a classic example how thinking influences the perception of a warmonger, and how he irrationally justifies his action of aggression.  Most people know that action has consequences. This article is written to let you know that thinking (thought) has dire consequences also. As a man thinks, so is he.  What is thinking? Basically thinking is the action of using one’s mind to produce thoughts. What is thought? Thought is an individual act or result of thinking. What is the mind? The Bible uses heart as the mind of man. Sometimes the Bible uses hearts and minds interchangeably or relatively or synonymously. The Bible does not provide precise terms which are meant to describe mental operations because the Bible is not a scientific textbook. The central message of the Bible is Jesus Christ, not the mind or any other subject. Jesus Christ came to reveal God and the way of salvation. So the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord is of the highest and greatest importance to mankind.  

In the Scriptures, the words “soul”, “mind”, “heart”, “spirit”, “understanding”, “reflection”, etc. are often rendered as related in meanings and employed in functional relationship which we are not wise enough to know the depth of them. They are not axiomatic. For example, I believe the most profound three words expressed by Jesus Christ in the Word of God is: God is Spirit. No secularists, theologians, scientists or philosophers can explain fully this three words. Given the fact that God is the greatest mystery in the universe, we fail miserably to know what is visible, how can we expect to expound the invisible. This is the failure and limitation of the human mind. By faith our duty is to hear, believe, receive, honor, preach, and observe the Word of God. If anyone thinks he is so intelligent, smart and wise; think again. For all human knowledge will pass away; but the Word of God will not pass away. 

Jer 17:10,“I, the LORD, search the heart,  I test the mind,
Even to give to each man according to his ways,
According to the results of his deeds.” 

Psa 26:2, “Examine me, O LORD, and try me;Test my mind and my heart.”  Note: Heart in Hebrew is leb which means understanding; mind; inner man; will; inner part; soul; thinking; reflection; meditation; inclination; determination; resolution; conscience; seat of emotions and passions; the intellect; – which occurs 591 times in the Old Testament. Heart is used in the Scripture does not refer to the physical organ that maintains circulation of the blood. What is the mind? Mind in Hebrew is kilyah which means the seat of emotion and passion; the seat of the desires and affections; the instrument of reasoning; the seat of mental activity; – which occurs 34 times in the Old Testament. The Lord searches the heart and tests the mind of man. The Lord knows the ways and deeds of man. Examine in Hebrew is bachan which means to try; to prove; to scrutinize; to test; to investigate; to search out; to look out; to watch; – which occurs 28 times in the Old Testament. Man examines himself is not the same way God examines him. The Lord can examine man better than a doctor can examine a patient. Try in Hebrew is nacah which means to prove; to tempt; to assay; to put to the proof; to put to the test; – which occurs 40 times in the Old Testament. Test in Hebrew is tsaraph which means to smelt; to refine; to purge; to examine; – which occurs 33 times in the Old Testament. God tests man’s heart and mind.

1Sa 15:29, “Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind.”

Note: Change mind in Hebrew is nacham which means to repent; to be sorry; to regret; to sigh; to breathe strongly; to groan; to lament; to grieve; – which occurs 128 times. God is not a man that He should change His mind. The reason a man changes his mind is because he is not sure of himself, not sure of his knowledge, understanding, not sure of outcome, and not sure of everything. A man does not know the end from the beginning. God knows everything and is able to do anything, so God does not have to change His mind. God is perfect, perfect in knowledge, perfect in power, perfect in righteousness, and perfect in everything and so God does not change His mind. Man, on the contrary, is imperfect in everything; therefore if he is wise he would make changes to correct himself.

Rom 8:27, “and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

Note: Mind in Greek is phronēma which means the thoughts and purposes; the instrument of reasoning; the seat of mental activity;  – which occurs 7 times in the New Testament. I believe the mind is used as a comprehensive and systematic body of thoughts such as the mind of Christ. Intercede in Greek is entygchanō which means to make intercession; to pray; to entreat; to confer with; to deal with; to supplicate; – which occurs 6 times in the New Testament. The Holy Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. The Holy Spirit knows the will of God. Carnal mind does not know the will of God.

1Co 2:16, “For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.”

Note: Mind in Greek is nous which means the faculties of perceiving and understanding and those of feeling, judging, determining; the intellectual faculty; the power of considering and judging soberly, calmly and impartially; the intellect; reason; – which occurs 24 times in the New Testament. The mind of the Lord is the same the mind of Christ. Christians because of indwelling Holy Spirit have the mind of Christ.  Human standards of justice or goodness are not capable of knowing the mind of the Lord.

Mat 9:4, “And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?”

Note: Thought in Greek is enthymēsis which means thinking; consideration; deliberation; a result of thinking; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. Thinking in Greek is enthymeomai which means to bring to mind; to ponder; to meditate; to deliberate; to revolve in mind; to exercise the mind; to weigh in the mind; to form something in the mind; to reflect on; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Jesus knows the thoughts of men. The awful truth is the fact that man can think evil in his heart. Why are you thinking evil in your hearts, Western leaders and warmongers, imperialists and capitalists, supremacists and militarists and terrorists? People who are thinking evil in their hearts can also do evil. People who think evil in their hearts will usually do evil.

Psa 92:5, “How great are Your works, O LORD!
Your thoughts are very deep.”

Note: Work in Hebrew is ma`aseh which means acts; doing; deed;  undertaking; enterprise; activity; work of Jehovah; – which occurs 231 times in the Old Testament. God’s works are great. Jesus says, Jhn 5:17, “But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.” We know what God had done in creation and redemption as it is written in the Bible and displayed before our eyes. No one knows what God is working now.

Psa 19:1, “For the director of music. A psalm of David. The Heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.”

Psa 97:6, “The Heavens declare His righteousness,
And all the peoples have seen His glory.”

Note: The Heavens declare the glory of God. Declare in Hebrew is caphar which means to tell with praise; to proclaim; to speak; to show forth; to talk; to communicate; to relate; to enumerate; to celebrate; to narrate; – which occurs 161 times in the Old Testament. Proclaim in Hebrew is nagad which means to declare; to tell; to show forth; to expound; to report; to make known; to publish; to acknowledge; to announce; to manifest; to explain; to praise; to bring to light; – which occurs 377 times in the Old Testament.

The Heavens declare the glory and righteousness of God and the skies proclaim the work of God’s hands.

Isa 55:7-9, “Let the wicked forsake his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the LORD,
And He will have compassion on him,
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the Heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

What God is working now, we do not know. What God is working now is beyond human knowledge and understanding. No one knows how the Omnipotent and Omniscient and Omnipresent God is working. God is not working behind the scene. God is ruling and controlling the whole universe although humans may be unaware. Since God is working, we Christians do not need to worry. The works of God are great. Great in Hebrew is gadal which means magnified; rich and powerful; mighty; advanced; excellent; huge; tremendous; lifted up; towering; greatly and highly valued; celebrated with praise; – which occurs 144 times in the Old Testament. Thought in Hebrew is machashabah which means purpose; intention; device; plan; invention; counsel; project; meditation; – which occurs 56 times in the Old Testament. No one knows how God thinks and what God is thinking. We can only know God through His Word enlightened by the Holy Spirit.

According to the Word of God, at least one thing we know God is thinking: Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts. God does not approve the way of the wicked nor the thoughts of the unrighteous. It is clear that a man’s way is related to his thoughts. God wants the wicked and the unrighteous to repent and return to the Lord. God clears the difference between His thoughts and man’s thoughts. One thing is clear: the thoughts of God are not the thoughts of man. The ways of God are not the ways of man. The thoughts of God are higher than human thoughts as the Heavens are higher than the earth. The thoughts of God are not only so high that man cannot reach, the thoughts of God are very deep that man cannot fathom. Deep in Hebrew is`amaq which means profound; deep literally and figuratively; unsearchable; – which occurs 13 times in the Old Testament. This Scriptures cited above are a parallelism; works are compared with thoughts, great is compared with deep; thoughts are also compared to ways. 

Man’s thoughts are limited, restricted, shortsighted and powerless. Man may think of Heaven but he cannot reach it. Man may think of something great, but he cannot do it. Man may think of the sufferings of other human beings, but he is powerless to help. Man may think of stone, but he cannot turn it into bread. Even so, thought has consequences for man.

Divine thoughts are very deep, for God is infinite. Man who was created in the image of God is awarded with the faculty of thinking. We do not know whether animals can think, whether they can reason or reflect. That is besides the subject of this article.

Psa 40:5, “Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done,
And Your thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with You.
If I would declare and speak of them,
They would be too numerous to count.”

Note: Wonder in Hebrew is pala’ which means wondrous things; extraordinary things; marvelous things; things too high; distinguished things; great things; things done wonderfully; miracles; – which occurs 102 times in the Old Testament. Compare in Hebrew is `arak which means to set in array; to arrange; to estimate; to put in order; to value; to place together for comparison; to view in relation to; – which occurs 96 times in the Old Testament. There is none to compare with God, for God is singularly incomparable. God is beyond the grasp of human thought or human reason. Declare in Hebrew is nagad which means to tell; to show forth; to expound; to make known; to inform of; to publish; to proclaim; to acknowledge; to confess; to report; to announce; to expose; to explain; to profess; – which occurs 377 times in the Old Testament. The wonders of God are too numerous to count. The thoughts of God toward His children are too precious to consider.

Pro 20:5, “A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding draws it out.” 

Note: It is wonderful that a man can think. It is not clear whether animal and plant can think or not. It is clear animal and plant cannot think as a man thinks. A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water. Plan in Hebrew is `etsah which means counsel; purpose; prudence; the faculty of forming plans; a program of action; design; – which occurs 88 times in the Old Testament. Heart in Hebrew is lebwhich means mind; understanding; inner man; will; thinking; soul; reflection; memory; conscience; seat of emotions and passions; the intellect; – which occurs 591 times in the Old Testament. The heart used in this article does not mean the physical organ for maintaining the circulation of the blood. A man makes plan in his heart. A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of understanding draws it out. Understanding in Hebrew is tabuwn which means discretion; reasons; intelligence; skillfulness; insight; the object of knowledge; prudence; – which occurs 42 times in the Old Testament. Without understanding a man cannot make a plan and cannot draw his plan out. Words draw out what is in the heart. However, words can be deceptive and misleading. Some people express his words to disclose his thought. Some people use words to cover up his thought. Some people use words to deceive people like Western leaders and media habitually do. Ordinary people use words to speak about his intention or purpose.

I.  WHAT IS THINKING.

1.  Thinking in the “HEART” or the “BRAIN”.

Why people think in his heart and not in his brain?

You may not know, the word “brain” does not exist in the Bible. In ancient times, people did not know anything about the brain. If suddenly the Bible mentions about the brain, that will be astonishing and shocking. Ancient people used a variation of words instead to describe the inside of the head or inside within. The matter will be dealt with later in more details.

It is reported that there are as many neurons in the brain as there are stars in the Milky Way galaxy. The statement cannot be correct. In the first place, stars are innumerable and cannot be counted. No one knows exactly how many stars out there in the space. Only God knows how many stars because He names everyone of them. Psa 147:4-5, “He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them. Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite.” Only the infinite God can count the number of the stars and gives names to all of them. Now who is counting the neurons in the brain?

Jer 17:9, “The heart is more deceitful than all else
And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?”

Note: The heart is more deceitful that all else and desperately sick. This is an exact description of Western leaders who want to dictate and dominate the world. They are more deceitful than all else and desperately sick. This is very real, just watch your TV and see a Western leader when he speaks, how deceitful and how desperately sick he is! Deceitful in Hebrew is `aqob which means crooked; polluted; deceptive; sly; insidious; swelling up in the brain; fraudulent; full of bloody footprints; – which occurs 4 times in the Old Testament. Western leaders are most deceitful and full of bloody footprints all over the world. Desperately sick in Hebrew is ‘anash which means incurable; desperately wicked; woeful; very ill; – which occurs 10 times in the Old Testament. Do you see Western warmongers, Japanese resurgent militarists, and Islamic terrorists are more deceitful than all else and desperately sick and incurable? 

It is clear thinking is related to words, symbolized by the lips and the mouth of man. Words strongly reflect the heart. The heart is the seat of thinking, feeling, and deciding.

Pro 10:32, “The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable,
But the mouth of the wicked what is perverted.”

The verse cited above reminds me of Western leaders and politicians whose mouths are so perverted that make even the devil, the father of lies, to blush. How true it is, in an age of lies, falsehoods, deceits, disinformation, misinformation, fake news, fake reports, fake analysis, fake views by leaders and politicians, and Western mainstream media.

Note: Acceptable in Hebrew is ratsown which means desirable; favorable; satisfactory; delightful; approved; worthy of being accepted; – which occurs 58 times in the Old Testament. Perverted in Hebrew is tahpukah which means froward; adverse; fraudulent; deceitful; corrupt; – which occurs 14 times in the Old Testament. The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable because his heart is right. The mouth of the wicked brings out what is perverted because his heart is deceitful.

Pro 19:28, “A rascally witness makes a mockery of justice,
And the mouth of the wicked spreads iniquity.”

Note: Rascally in Hebrew is bĕliya`al which means wicked; ungodly; evil; naughty; worthless; good for nothing; base; unprofitable; destructive; useless; vile; – which occurs 28 times in the Old Testament. Mockery in Hebrew is luwts which means scorn; mock; derision; scoff; – which occurs 30 times in the Old Testament. Iniquity in Hebrew is ‘aven which means wickedness; vanity; trouble; nothingness; mischief; sorrow; emptiness; falsehood; fraud; calamity; – which occurs 77 times in the Old Testament. Western media are rascals that intentionally manufacture lies, fake news and fake reports and biased views that make a mockery of justice. Western leaders are workers of iniquity and the mouth of Western leaders spread iniquity. Western leaders lie, lie, and lie; kill, kill and kill; rob, rob, and rob; destroy, destroy, and destroy without shame to spread death, miseries and injustice in the world.

Pro 22:14, “The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit;
He who is cursed of the LORD will fall into it.”

Note: The mouth of adulteress and prostitutes is a deep pit to seduce the foolish and undisciplined men fall into it.

Pro 23:27, “For a harlot is a deep pit
And an adulterous woman is a narrow well.”

A harlot or a prostitute is a deep pit because all your money cannot fill it. Sex cannot satisfy you, the more you have the more you want like a drug addiction. And once you fall into the pit, it is hard to climb out of it. You will sink deeper and deeper. An adulterous woman is a narrow well because once her husband discovers the affair, you may narrowly and hardly escape. In addition, you may not escape VD or AIDS.

Pro 10:6, “Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.”

Note: The verse cited above reminds me whenever I watch Western supremacists open their mouths.  The sons of Belial would hypocritically and high-mindedly  say you have to be careful about China … When and where and what country and people that China attacks, occupies, kills, lies, and robs? It sounds like China is the dictator and dominator of the world today! You are no fool, so you know who is the dictator of the world, what countries and peoples are the troubles and problems of the world.

The mouth of the wicked conceals violence. Western leaders employ vast and powerful machine of propaganda to cover up their aggression, expansion, oppression, sanction, exploitation, domination and destruction under the slogans of democracy, freedom, civil rights, human rights, humanity, justice, etc. to fool the simple-minded.

Jhn 4:11, “She said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water?”

Note: The thinking well is like Jacob Well which is deep. Simple-minded people do simple thinking because they have nothing to draw with, or they do not have the thinking tools. To think deep you need tools. For example, the tool of cost and benefit analysis aids you to see two sides of the problem, cost and benefits, and helps you make a good decision. 

2.  JESUS teaches mankind a great lesson: COUNTING THE COST.

Luk 14:28-33, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”

Note: Count in Greek is psēphizō which means to calculate; to compute; to reckon; to enumerate; to tally; to add; to total; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Cost in Greek is dapanē which means expense; price; expenditure; – which occurs only 1 time in the New Testament.

The costs of American empire are too much and too heavy. No to mention the evil of an empire. Jesus is primarily speaking with the purpose of highlighting the cost of discipleship. Whoever of you does not forsake all that you have cannot be Jesus’ disciple. A laughing matter is the preachers and followers of prosperity gospel, by becoming Christians they want to get rich in this world. 

No matter what you do, there is a cost. Usually, we think in terms of financial cost or monetary cost, there is also other costs. The cost of building is simpler. In modern time you can borrow from the bank. Most of the tycoons in Hong Kong made their wealth on real estates. Many rich men in China also made their riches in real estate business. 

The cost of wars is quite different, not only in money, but also in lives, in destruction, misery, hardship and poverty. Unfortunately, the United States has bad and wrong and irresponsible presidents and Congressional leaders who do not know how to count the cost of wars. Since the end of World War II American leaders have instigated and engaged in a great number of unjust wars of aggression and bloody military interventions and interference of other nations. Significantly I cannot find on the Internet how much the total costs of American wars after the end of World War II. The cost of World War II however bad was justified because the world was fighting a just war against the evil aggressors of Germany and Japan. In comparison, at the end of World War II all the rest of wars were unjust and unholy, they have been wars of aggression and intervention and expansion and sanction mostly done by America and its allies. We do not know how many trillions of dollars were wasted in all unjust wars and bloody military operations conducted by America since the end of World War II. Apparently no one or organization is interested to provide the truth. Warmongers would never give an account of their evil deeds anyway. However, we all know the American national debt alone has exceeded $28 trillions and increasingly every second.

 WHAT IS THE NATIONAL DEBT TODAY?

  $35 trillion

 can constructively build a good society in America and a better world, how wonderful and profitable the results would be.  American democracy is useless.  fraudulent and harmful and dangerous to itself and to the world. The American system or model is a total failure and disaster for Americans and the world. All American presidents since the end of World War II have sought absolute military supremacy, economic and financial monopoly, and political dictatorship to this day. Except President Richard Nixon who sought a just and lasting peace in his short  administration. “America First” policy is a deep concern and injurious implication to both Americans and the world. America today is like a run away high speed train marching toward doom and destruction. Thinking influences action, so thinking has consequences.

II. THOUGHT IS THE THINKING PROCESS.

What is thinking? What is a thought? This monosyllabic word is deep.

Neh 6:9, “For all of them were trying to frighten us, thinking, “They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.”

Note: Thinking in Hebrew is ‘amar which means to say in one’s heart; to speak; to intend; to commune; to declare; to consider; to suppose; to bear in mind; to say in oneself; “to speak in the belly” as some natives would say for “to think”; – which occurs 5,196 times in the Old Testament. Sanballat, Geshem the Arab and other enemies of the Jews sent words to frighten Nehemiah who was rebuilding the Jerusalem wall. They were thinking by threatening Nehemiah will become discouraged so that the work will not be done. The Hebrew language uses thinking to mean saying in one’s heart is a fantastic and descriptive definition. To think is to say in your heart. To say in your heart is to think. Although I have said a million times in and to my heart, this is the first time I realize to think is to say in my heart. To say in my heart is to think. Of course God strengthened the hands of Nehemiah and the work was done. 

2Sa 5:6-7, “Now the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, and they said to David, “You shall not come in here, but the blind and lame will turn you away”; thinking, “David cannot enter here.” Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion, that is the city of David.”

Note: The word thinking used in this Scripture, the original Hebrew word is the same as the word used in Neh 6:9. The enemies of David thinking David cannot enter Jerusalem and saying so confidently that even the blind and lame would turn David away. Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion which became the city of David. A successful man is not frightened or influenced by the thinking of his opponents.

Mat 9:4, “And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?”

Note: Jesus not only can read the mind of men, Jesus knows their very thoughts. Thinking here in Greek is enthymeomai which means to bring to mind; to ponder; to deliberate; to revolve in mind; to weigh in mind; to consider; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Jesus not only knows the thoughts of men; He knows specifically they are thinking evil in their hearts. God knows your thoughts and hearts. To think evil in your heart is to err in the heart.

Luk 6:8, “But He knew what they were thinking, and He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward!” And he got up and came forward.”

Note: Thinking here in Greek is dialogismos which means inward reasoning; doubting; disputing; deliberating; questioning what is true; discussion; debate; consideration; imagination; the thinking of a man deliberating with himself; – which occurs 16 times in the New Testament. The unbelieving Jews were thinking and watching Jesus closely to see if He healed on the Sabbath, so that they might find reason to accuse Him.

Luk 9:47, “But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side.”

Note: The Greek word thinking used in the Scripture is the same as in Luk 6:8. An argument started among the disciples as to which of them might be the greatest. Jesus used a child to teach them the lesson of humility.

1Co 14:20, “Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.”

Note: The Greek word thinking in this Scripture is phrēn which means understanding; the mind; the faculty of perceiving and judging; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Our thinking should not be like children; in evil we should be like infants means unproductively and ineffectively. But in the faculty of perceiving and judging we should be mature. Think like a mature man. Mature in Greek is teleios which means perfect; of full age; complete; consummate; full grown; adult; fully developed; – which occurs 20 times in the New Testament. A man maybe 60 years old but still has infantile thinking. Is your thinking infantile or mature?

Most people not only do not think maturely, they do not think clearly. Many confuse connotation and denotation, confuse object with subject, confuse tactic with strategy, confuse expediency with principle, confuse appearance with reality. The most pathetic and primitive is to confuse idols as gods like the Japanese who confuse executed war criminals as national heroes and living gods. There is no confusion with God.

2Co 12:19, “All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for your upbuilding, beloved.”

Note: In this Scripture the Greek word for thinking is dokeō which means to suppose; to seem; to be of opinion; to judge; to determine; – which occurs 70 times in the New Testament. Others may be thinking Paul was  defending themselves, actually they were all for upbuilding of the Corinthian brothers. Do not let the thinking of others influence your true motive.

Phl 1:17, “the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment.”

Note: Thinking in this verse in Greek is oiomai which means to suppose; to imagine; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. There are people who preach the Gospel in order to get rich, thinking they may cause distress to true servants of Christ. There are secularists and unbelieving theologians who distort the Gospel to deceive and mislead the people. In America there are not a few preachers who become millionaires.  An American preacher has been reported to have assets of more than $700 million dollars.

Heb 11:15, “And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.”

Note: The Greek word for thinking in this verse is mnēmoneuō which means to remember; to be mindful of; to keep in mind; to hold in memory; to make mention of; to exercise memory; to recollect; to remember about; – which occurs 23 times in the New Testament. Those who came out of Egypt if they had been thinking of Egypt, they would have had opportunity to return to Egypt. True believers if they would they could return to the old way of life and the lust of the world. True Christians are marching toward the Holy City, the New Jerusalem. 2Ti 4:10, “for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.” Desert in Greek is egkataleipō which means to forsake; to abandon; to leave; to withdraw; – which occurs 10 times in the New Testament. Demas having loved this present world deserted Paul in their evangelistic journey. Some church members having loved this present world have abandoned the faith in Christ.

The thinking process of human mind is more complicated than a computer. The human mind makes computer, but computer cannot make human minds for many reasons.

1.  THINKING without words.

Can a man think without words? Yes, poorly, primitively badly, and limitedly. Otherwise the illiterate population would not be able to live or function in this world. Although the illiterate do not know or recognize words, they hear words expressed by other people, though with some vague understanding. An illiterate person of course can not think like a scholar. A child cannot think like an adult.

I recall an interesting anecdote to illustrate the possibility of thinking without words. When my nephew was a little boy, we visited a friend’s. Their children had toys, so they played together with the friend’s toys.  When it was time to go, my nephew wanted to take the toys home. His parents were not able to handle the situation. My nephew was born a communist who held the idea what belongs to others are also his. My friend’s children were born capitalists who had the opinion what belonged to them are theirs. An idea struck me to resolve the problem. I said to Isaac, you can have this toy but it will cost you $50, that toy $100, that toy $150, and the other toy $200 which I exaggerated. Isaac listened and counted the cost in his mind. They were too expensive and he didn’t have the money. So he smiled and said, Let us go home. Although Isaac did not know the word “value”, but he had concept of it. It is the same true with illiterate people who do not have the word, but they have the concept of it. People who have concepts can think without words even poorly.

2.  Thinking in the heart or in the brain.

You may not know the word “brain” does not exist in the Bible. In ancient times, people did not know anything about the brain. If suddenly the Bible mentions about the brain, that will be astonishing and shocking. Ancient people used a variation of words instead to describe the inside of the head or what is within a man. Some confusion or misunderstanding may take place also because of linguistic gap.

It is reported that there are as many neurons in the brain as there are stars in the Milky Way galaxy. I do not believe the statement is correct. Because stars are innumerable and cannot be counted. No one knows exactly how many stars out there in the space. Psa 147:4, “He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them.” God counts the number of the stars and He gives names to all of them. Only God knows how many stars because He names everyone of them. Now who is counting the neurons in the brain?

Zec 12:1, “The burden of the Word of the LORD concerning Israel. Thus declares the LORD who stretches out the Heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him.”

Note: Although in ancient times God disclosed the fact of the expanding universe, it was only recently that scientists discovered the fact. Men only looked up into the sky and wondered, whether there are three Heavens and the universe was expanding did not affect them directly. Science is nothing but human’s best but tentative knowledge at a given time and place. Scientists are not able to explore the invisible and the supernatural. Scientists can only explore and experiment what is physical, material and visible. Even that there are too many mysteries that men cannot fathom or understand. The finite can never reach the infinite. God forms the spirit of man within him. We only know the spirit of man is within him, we do not know where the spirit of man is located.

Even with the knowledge of the brain, science cannot and does not explain how human thinks, and how thoughts are formed. Oh, secularists and unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers think they know everything, or pretend to know everything. Is it the human mind or is it the human brain? Where is the mind located? Is the mind located in the brain? However, if you open up the brain, you cannot find the mind. Even with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), no one knows exactly what activities of the brain will generate good or evil thoughts.

Ecc 3:11, “He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.”

Note: The Bible is not a scientific textbook. God revealed truths that men of all generations can grasp. God has also set eternity in the human heart. The Bible uses the word “heart” to cover the all intellectual and cognitive and emotive faculties of man, definitely must include the brain, although the word “brain” was not used in ancient times. If a surgeon opens up the heart of a man, he cannot find eternity in it. However, it is still true to say man’s problem is not his head, but his heart.

I do not think it is accurate to say that God has emotions like man. God by nature has certain attributes that manifest Himself. For example, God is angry with the wicked because God is holy and righteous. It is certainly wrong to say God is emotional. God who is unchangeable cannot be emotional. God is Holy therefore He hates filth, sin, and immorality. Man, fallen man’s emotions do not reflect God. Only righteousness, holiness and truth reflect God the Almighty. Christians must conform to the image of Christ.

Job 12:3,“But I have intelligence as well as you;
I am not inferior to you.
And who does not know such things as these?”

Note: Intelligence in Hebrew is lebab which means heart; mind; understanding; inner man; will; soul; thinking; reflection; memory; inclination; resolution; determination; conscience; seat of emotions and passions; the seat of senses; mode of thinking and acting; seat of will and purpose; intellect; the faculty of thinking; the ability to reason; – which occurs 250 times in the Old Testament. Every man has intelligence, more or less, inferior or superior. Once I was an intern with a Ph.D. certified Psychologist. I administered the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) to a black woman. One of the questions was what is the shape of a ball. She quickly replied, Square. The answer shocked me because it was the first time I realized there are people in the world who think the shape of a ball is square. Intelligence is a born gift from God. The Spirit of Wisdom gives man intelligence. The difference between a human and an animal is the fact that man is a tripartite, body, soul and spirit. Animals do not have the spirit.

Gen 2:7, “Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”

Note: We believe “the breath of life” from God is the spirit man received from creation. Only God knows where the spirit of man is located, it is said within. You cannot find it in the heart organ, or brain, or intestines, etc. The spirit of man appreciates eternity, the brain cannot understand time without end. Everything ends in the universe.

Jhn 3:6,“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

Note: Flesh in Greek is sarx which means the body of a man; natural or physical origin; the sensuous nature of man; the animal nature; the earthly nature of man; the symbol of what is external; carnality; man’s external appearance and condition; – which occurs 149 times in the New Testament. Spirit in Greek is pneuma which means a depersonalized force; the vital principle; the rational principle; the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides; the rational soul; the disposition or influence which fills and governs the soul; mental disposition; the breath of life; – which occurs 380 times in the New Testament. This is one of Jesus’ most profound statements: That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Psa 121:4, “Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.”

Note: Although Israel is surrounded by enemies, don’t worry, the Almighty God who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

Jhn 4:23-24,“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Note: Of all the statements made by Jesus Christ, I believe this is the most profound, only three words: God is Spirit. Jesus says God is Spirit, so Spirit does not need anything, will neither slumber nor sleep. The true worshipers are those who worship the Father in spirit and truth.

Dan 12:2, “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.”

Note: Daniel long time ago received the revelation, there will be two resurrections: The resurrection of the righteous to everlasting life; the resurrection of the wicked to disgrace and everlasting contempt.

2Co 12:1, “Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.”

Note: Vision in Greek is optasia which means a sight; an appearance presented to one; an apparition; something seen in a dream, trance, or ecstasy; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. Revelation in Greek is apokalypsis which means enlightenment; disclosure of things unknown before; laying bare; making naked; disclosure of truth; manifestation; an uncovering; – which occurs 18 times in the New Testament. Boasting is not meaningful, but visions and revelation are very important.

2Co 12:2-4, “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third Heaven. And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.”

Note: How a man is possible to be alive in the body or apart from the body is beyond the knowledge of scientists. We are not told how the spirit functions separately or independently without human body. All the human knowledge is within the body. There is knowledge apart from the body is vision or revelation. How does one think apart from the body? This knowledge is not revealed in the Bible. So the dead in Christ apart from body can think and know. This knowledge is not revealed much.

Ecc 12:7, “then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.”

Note: Man is a miserable creature, a sinner harnessed with the yoke of guilt. Many rich and powerful people are arrogant, not realizing they are but dust. For you are dust, and to dust you shall return. It is obvious that the dust returns to the earth as it was. Who knows how the spirit returns to God who gave it? It is a mystery even to the living saints.

2Co 5:1, “For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens.”

2Co 5:4, “For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.”

Note: Tent in Greek is skēnos which means tabernacle; metaphorically of the human body, in which the soul dwells as in a tent, and which is taken down at death (Strong’s Concordance); a temporary residence; the earthly house; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Groan in Greek is stenazō which means to sigh with grief; to moan; to murmur; to grudge; to wail; to lament; – which occurs 7 times in the New Testament. The human body is like a tent. The condition of mortal human life is described as: we groan, being burdened. Christians look forward to spiritual and glorious and immortal bodies when mortality is swallowed up by life. Our earthly and mortal bodies affect and influence our thinking.

3.  Law of cause and effect.

There is a law of cause and effect which no man can escape. When two events occur consecutively in a way that one event is the result of another, they have a cause-and-effect relationship. Water congeals into ice at 0° Centigrade. Boiling water will evaporate. If you drink and drive, almost certainly you will cause accident even kill people. According to Newton’s third Law of Motion, “for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.”

Psa 101:5, “Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy;
No one who has a haughty look and an arrogant heart will I endure.”

Note: Here is an example of cause and effect. An arrogant heart produces a haughty look. A humble heart will not produce a haughty look.

Eze 28:5, “By your great wisdom, by your trade
You have increased your riches
And your heart is lifted up because of your riches—”

Note: Riches make a man’s heart lifted up. Riches do not make a humble man. Have you ever met a rich humble man?

Exo 19:16, “So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.”

Exo 20:18, “All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance.”

Note: The people trembled because they perceived the thunder and the lighting flashes. So thunder and lighting flashes cause them to tremble. They have a cause-and-effect relationship.

Jer 31:29-30, “In those days they will not say again,
‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes,
And the children’s teeth are set on edge.’“But everyone will die for his own iniquity; each man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth will be set on edge.”

Note: Modern dentistry finds sourness (acidity), sweetness and coldness are not good for the teeth. High acid fruits damage your teeth. In my father’s missionary church, there was a member who was a merchant of oranges. Once he asked me how come all his children teeth are so bad. Oranges have their pH value between 3.69 – 4.34. The lower the pH, the more acid it is. For example, lemon juice is with a pH of 2.00 – 2.60. This is an example of the law of cause and effect. Acidity causes tooth decay. Each man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth will be set on edge.

Jer 31:30,“But everyone will die for his own iniquity; each man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth will be set on edge.”

Eze 18:4,“Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.”

Note: God says the soul who sins will die. Sin is the cause, death is the effect. No one can escape. All have sinned, and so all will die.

Jhn 8:24,“Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

Note: This is the Word of Jesus. Unless you believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, you will die in your sins. All will die in his sins. No one has escaped. No one can escape. Secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers will die in their sins because they do not believe in Christ. Warmongers and terrorists will die in their sins for their evil deeds.

Rom 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Note: Wage in Greek is opsōnion which means pay; hire or pay of sin; payment; reward; recompense; earning; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. Gift in Greek is charisma which means a favor with which one receives without any merit of his own (Strong’s Concordance); deliverance; endowment; – which occurs 21 times in the New Testament. If you have not sinned, you will not die. This is as certain as the dawn; the reward of sin is death. The free gift of God in Christ Jesus our Lord is eternal life.

Num 32:23,“But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.”

Note: Find out in Hebrew is matsa’ which means to get; to encounter; to detect; to meet; to fall in with; to hit; to discover; to find and acquire; to catch; to come on; to get hold; to arrive at; to meet with; to fall upon; to catch in; – which occurs 454 times in the Old Testament. Man is an egregious failure because man is a sinner. The sins and crimes of Washington, Wall Street and Hollywood will find them out sooner or later. As sure as death and taxes, the sins and crimes committed by doctors and hospitals to defraud and overcharge patients will be found out, and God will judge them. The sins of warmongers, militarists and terrorists will find them out. Be sure as the Lord lives, the sins and crimes of Washington, Wall Street and Hollywood covered up as top secrets will be found out, and God will judge them. As sure as the Lord lives, the sins and crimes committed by Western powers in the last 500 years, and the sins and crimes committed by Japanese militarists in World War II, and the sins and crimes committed by Islamic terrorists will find them out, and God will judge them. There is no escape. No one can escape God’s judgment and punishment.

Pro 25:16, “Have you found honey? Eat only what you need,
That you not have it in excess and vomit it.”

Note: Honey is good. But eat only what you need. Too much of honey will make you vomit. Often too much of a good thing turns bad. Moderation is advised.

Pro 10:26, “Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy one to those who send him.”

Note: Vinegar to the teeth is bad. The teeth cannot take acidity. Smoke to the eyes is bad, eye is a precious organ to be protected. If you depend on a lazy person is like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes. It is not easy to find a dependable and diligent person. Do not expect a lazy one to accomplish the task.

Gal 6:7-8, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”

Note: Deceive in Greek is planaō which means to err; to go astray; to seduce; to wander; to be out of the way; to lead astray; to lead aside from the right way; to lead away from the truth; to lead into error; to sin; to ensnare; to trick or fool; – which occurs 46 times in the New Testament. You can be deceived by others, or you can deceive yourself. It is bad enough to be deceived, it is so pathetic to deceive yourself. Mock in Greek is myktērizō which means to deride; to sneer at; to ridicule; to defy; to treat with contempt; to scoff; to laugh at; – which occurs only 1 time in the New Testament. God cannot be mocked or laughed at. Sow in Greek is speirō which means to scatter seed; to plant seed; – which occurs 52 times in the New Testament. Reap in Greek is therizō which means to harvest; to gather; to obtain; to receive something as a result of your own actions; – which occurs 22 times in the New Testament. This is serious. You will reap what you sow.

The law of sowing and reaping is the same as the law of cause and effect. It is inevitable and no one can escape its consequences. You cannot have your cake and eat it too. You sow tares you will not reap wheat.

No one can escape from the law of cause and effect or the law of sowing and reaping. Wise is he who knows what is the cause and what will be the effect, what is the sowing and what will be the reaping. You cannot expect poor nutrition to produce a healthy body. You cannot be lazy and have good grades. You cannot be a spendthrift and not to go bankrupt. You cannot think warmongering and aggression and oppression will have peace in the world. You cannot consider capitalism not to be greedy, but generous and kind and humanitarian. You cannot believe leniency in court will have strong law enforcement. You cannot suppose forest burning will not have heavy smoke and smog in the air. You cannot treat people badly and hope people will treat you well. You cannot suppose the nation which has the largest deficits and highest national debt will not go bankrupt. You cannot expect a bad tree to bear good fruits. 

Mat 5:36,“Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.”

Note: Man has many limitations. You cannot do the impossible. You cannot make one hair white or black, but a deceitful man can dye his white hair black or blond.

Mat 6:24,“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Note: This is an eternal truth. No one can serve two masters. In the West, many people want to serve God and mammon. In Taiwan some Taiwanese leaders want to be Christians and worship idols.

1Co 10:21, “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.”

You cannot deny Jesus Christ and think you will go to Heaven.

Pro 29:2, “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
But when a wicked man rules, people groan.”

Note: Everywhere there is no joy because the wicked increase. All over the world the people groan and suffer under the corrupt governments of the wicked. Groan in Hebrew is ‘anach which means to sigh; to moan; to mourn; to grieve; which occurs 12 times in the Old Testament. Where in what nation the righteous increase? 

Pro 29:12, “If a ruler pays attention to falsehood,
All his ministers become wicked.”

Note: Falsehood in Hebrew is sheqer which means lie; lying; deceit; vanity; deception; fraud; falsity; untruth; sham; – which occurs 115 times in the Old Testament. When the ruler of a nation pays attention to falsehood, all his ministers and assistants become wicked. When the ruler is a warmonger, all his ministers and assistants prepare for wars. When a ruler is corrupt, all his ministers and assistants become crooked. If the higher beam is not straight, the lower beam is crooked. The truth is self-evident.

Ecc 10:12-13, “Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him; the beginning of his talking is folly and the end of it is wicked madness.”

Note: Consume in Hebrew is bala`which means to swallow up; to swallow down; to destroy; to devour; to engulf; to eat up; to cover; to spend up; to extirpate; to perish; – which occurs 50 times in the Old Testament. It is agonizing to watch a Western leader to use his lips to boast, to brag, to bully, to bungle, to botch, to threaten, to eat up himself. Folly in Hebrew is cikluwth which means foolishness, lack of good sense; stupidity; – which occurs 6 times in the Old Testament. The leader whose talking is folly and the end of it is wicked madness. Madness in Hebrew is howleluwth which means extreme folly; foolish or dangerous behavior or thinking; – which occurs only 1 time in the Old Testament. There are so many mad dog leaders today, particularly in the West. They think they rule the world and dictate the world. Madness can be used to describe the condition of many nations and governments.

Isa 57:20, “But the wicked are like the tossing sea,
For it cannot be quiet,
And its waters toss up refuse and mud.”

Note: Toss in Hebrew is garash which means to drive out; to cast out; to thrust out; to drive away; to put away; to drive forth; to cast up; to be carried of; to be agitated; – which occurs 50 times in the Old Testament. The wicked are like the troubled sea which cannot rest. There is no peace and quiet in the world because wicked Western leaders, resurgent Japanese militarists and Islamic terrorists are like the tossing sea and toss up dead bodies and political refuse, military mud, and financial filth and economic hardship and bankruptcy.

Eze 18:20, “The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.”

Note: This is not just the law of cause and effect that no one can escape. This verse is the Word of God. As sure as God lives, the person who sins will die. The wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself. As an American citizen, I am worried for all the wickedness American leaders have done since the end of World War II will be upon America sooner or later. God will judge America, Europe, Japan, Islamic State, and the world. The wickedness of the wicked will be upon the wicked sooner or later.

Dan 12:10, “Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.”

Note: Understand in Hebrew is biyn which means to perceive; to consider; to discern; to regard; to know with the mind; to observe; to mark; to give heed; to have discernment; to have insight; to distinguish; to turn the mind to; to have the power of comprehension; – which occurs 206 times in the Old Testament. The wicked will act wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand. This is the problem of Western powers, their wicked leaders will act wickedly and do all the wicked things they have done, unjustly accusing China and Russia with wicked words; and will not understand why they have done evil to the world in the last 500 years. This is the same problem with Islamic terrorists who act wickedly, and none of them will understand. They continue to bomb, to kill, to destroy senselessly, shamelessly and sensually; brutally, brutely, and brutishly; inhumanly, insolently, and iniquitously. Have insight in Hebrew is sakal which means to understand; to consider; to be prudent; to be circumspect; to have comprehension; to look at or upon; to give attention to; to turn the mind to; to apprehend; – which occurs 84 times in the Old Testament. The wicked do not have insight, and so they will not understand.

Psa 139:23, “Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts.”

Note: Anxious thoughts come from a troubled heart.

Psa 141:4, “Do not incline my heart to any evil thing,
To practice deeds of wickedness
With men who do iniquity;
And do not let me eat of their delicacies.”

Note: I do not know why so many Western leaders and Western media incline their hearts to do evil things, to lie, kill, and rob and still think they are Christians.

1Sa 1:13, “As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk.”

Note: Hannah was pouring out her heart in prayer to God, but Eli thought she was drunk. A misperception is caused by a misconception.

Here is a clear case of cause and effect relationship:

Rth 3:7, “When Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down.”

Note: Eating and drinking would make the heart of most people merry. However, I never drink from childhood to old age. A good meal with water would still make my heart merry.

Ecc 8:5, “He who keeps a royal command experiences no trouble, for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure.”

Note: Wise is the man who knows the proper time and procedure. Timing is very important in most undertaking. You must not sow in winter.

Isa 1:5, “Where will you be stricken again,
As you continue in your rebellion?
The whole head is sick
And the whole heart is faint.”

Note: Rebellion would make the whole head sick, and the whole heart is faint. We witness the sick head of Hong Kong youth incited and paid by Western powers to be terrorists and traitors who destroy Hong Kong.

4.  Syllogism.

Syllogism is a kind of deductive reasoning.

A primitive man once morning went out hunting. He fell into the ditch as he saw a wild rabbit hoping out of the woods. So he reasoned, rabbit is a bad omen. Seeing a rabbit hopping is sure to make a man falling into a ditch. This is how the primitive man in his faulty reasoning that leads to the false conclusion:

The major premise: rabbit is a bad omen.

The minor premise: I see rabbit hopping.

Conclusion: Seeing rabbit hopping causes falling into ditch.

The above is an example of wrong association of cause and effect.

The primitive man is wrong because he is making a false association: his falling into a ditch has nothing to do with seeing a rabbit hopping. The primitive man is wrong because his premises are wrong. Rabbit is not a bad omen. Seeing rabbit hopping does not cause one falling into a ditch. His falling into a ditch could be caused by his carelessness, not watching where he is going. His conclusion is faulty because it is based on wrong premises. Such is an example of false syllogism: 

All chickens have two legs,

Man has two legs,

Therefore man is a chicken.

In the first place, not only chickens have two legs, birds and others have two legs too. All who have two legs do not necessarily fall into the category of chicken. This is a false analysis based on false major premise and irrelevant minor premise. Not all who have two legs are chickens. So the premises are false and lead to a wrong conclusion. Man is not associated with chickens just because they have two legs.

On the other hand, the following reasoning seems irrefutable:

All men are liars,

French are men, 

Therefore, French men are liars.

The major premise is right, the minor premise is also right with qualification. Not only the French, the American, the Chinese, the Japanese, etc. are also men; they are liars too. The reasoning is slanted and biased against the French.

All men are sinners,

The wages of sin is death,

Therefore, all men will die.

The above reasoning is based on truth, without bias, and so the conclusion is right not restricted by time and space.

The crux of cause and effect is to make sure cause is cause and effect is effect, no making false association.

Another example, War Brings Poverty. This major premise is generally true if you live in a war zone and become a victim of the circumstances. When your home is bombed, your business is destroyed, you lost everything you had and compounded there is food shortage, inflation, and spread of diseases, etc. you suddenly become very poor and miserable. But it is not so to other group of people who are warmongers, the military-industrial-security-complex who are greatly benefited financially by wars and all sorts of wars. You see a coin has two sides. Sometimes complicated problems have many sides which are difficult to sort out what is the cause and what is the effect.

Syllogistic reasoning is a form of thinking, concerned with using syllogisms to draw conclusions from premises. We knowingly and unknowingly apply logical connection between unrelated points. Truth is not always assumed by logic. The truth of Christ is disclosed by revelation which is beyond human understanding or scientific inquiry. For example, Jesus says, God is Spirit. This is the most profound truth in Christ. God is Spirit is the greatest mystery beyond syllogistic or logical reasoning. 

III.  VARIOUS MODES OF THOUGHT

Luk 9:47, “But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side.”

Mat 9:4, “And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?”

Note: What makes man think? Jesus says men think evil in their hearts. In pre-science era, people did not know much about the brain. Even today scientists do not know much about the brain. Suffice it to say, heart is the center or seat of thinking, feeling, and deciding.

Psa 64:6, “They devise injustices, saying,
“We are ready with a well-conceived plot”;
For the inward thought and the heart of a man are deep.”

Note: The inward thought of man comes from the heart. It is impossible to have thought without the heart. The heart does not mean the organ which circulates blood.

Ecc 5:2, “Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.”

Greek is a marvelous, rich and most precise language. There are several original Greek words in the Bible that relate to each other which may mean thinking or thought. By knowing and studying these Greek words may help us to understand thinking or thought better. For example, most English readers would not consider to think is to learn. Would you not think differently if you know this?

(1).  dokeo

Mat 3:9, “and do not think that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.”

Mat 6:7, “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.”

Note: Words rendered “think” in Mat 3:9, and “suppose” in Mat 6:7 are the same original Greek word dokeō which means to think; to seem; to be of opinion; to trow; to judge; to determine; to hold as an opinion; to believe; to conceive; to suppose; – which occurs 70 times in the New Testament. To “suppose” is the same to “think.” Jesus corrects two examples of wrong thinking of the Jews. (a). The Jews were so proud to think themselves as indispensable because they had Abraham for their father. Jesus says God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. (b). Do not suppose that you use meaningless repetition in your prayer as the Gentiles do God will hear you because of your many words. To think or suppose is a mode of thought process.

(2).  hegeomai

Act 26:2, “In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today.”

2Co 9:5, “So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift, so that the same would be ready as a bountiful gift and not affected by covetousness.”

Phl 2:6, “ who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped.”

2Pe 1:13, “ I count it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder.”

Note: Words rendered “consider” in Act 26:2, “thought” (think) in 2Co 9:5, “regard” in Phl 2:6, and “count” in 2Pe 1:13 are the same original word in Greek hēgeomai which means to count; to think; to deem; to account; to regard; to suppose; to consider; – which occurs 29 times in the New Testament. A man can consider, think, regard and count as a mode of thought process.

(3).  noeo

Eph 3:20, “ Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.”

Note: Think in Greek is noeō which means to understand; to perceive; to consider; to heed; to ponder; to exercise the mind; to observe; to comprehend; to understand; – which occurs 14 times in the New Testament. The power that works within believers can be beyond all that we think.

(4).  legō

Act 13:25,“And while John was completing his course, he kept saying, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold, one is coming after me the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

Note: Suppose in Greek is legō which means to say; to speak; to call; to tell; to maintain; to point out; to mean; to name; to speak of; to mention; to describe; to affirm; – which occurs 2,305 times in the New Testament. To suppose may be a mode of thinking.

(5).  logizomai

Rom 2:3, “But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?”

1Co 13:5, “does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered.”

1Co 13:11, “ When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.”

2Co 3:5, “ Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.”

Phl 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”

Note: Words rendered “suppose”, “take into account”, “reason”, “consider”, and “dwell on” cited in the Scriptures above are of one original word in Greeklogizomaiwhich means to impute; to reckon; to count; to think; to suppose; to take into account; to reason; to deliberate; to deem; to judge; to determine; to decide; to conclude; – which occurs 44 times in the New Testament. One may suppose, take into account, consider, and dwell on as a mode of thinking.

(6).  phroneō

1Co 13:11, “ When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.”

Phl 1:7, “For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.”

Note: Think or feel in Greek is phroneō which means to regard; to mind; to feel; to judge; to have understanding; to think; to exercise the mind; – which occurs 36 times of the New Testament. Thinking and feeling may be one mode of thought process.

(7).  nomizō

Mat 5:17, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.”

Note: Think in Greek nomizō is to suppose; to think; to deem; to hold; to regard; – which occurs 15 times in the New Testament. Do not regard can be a mode of thinking process.

(8).  hyperphroneō

Rom 12:3, “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”

Note: Think in Greek is hyperphroneō which means to think more highly of oneself than is proper; to be vain or arrogant; to esteem oneself overmuch; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. Do not think more highly of yourself is mode of thought process.

(9).  manthanō

1Co 4:6, “Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other.”

Note: Learn in Greek is manthanō which means to learn; to understand; to increase one’s knowledge; to be informed; – which occurs 26 times in the New Testament. To learn is a mode of thinking process.

(10).  laleō

1Co 3:1, “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.”

Note: Speak in Greek is laleō which means to say; to tell; to talk; to declare one’s mind and disclose one’s thought; to utter words; to articulate; – which occurs 302 times in the New Testament. To speak can be a mode of thought process.

(11).  krinō

1Co 4:5, “Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.”

Note: Pass judgment in Greek is krinō which means to determine; to judge; to condemn; to call in question; to think; to be of opinion; to censure; to dispute; to conclude; – which occurs 123 times in the New Testament. Passing judgment may be a mode of thinking process.

(12).  oiomai

Jhn 21:25, “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself *would not contain the books that would be written.”

Phl 1:17, “the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment.”

Jas 1:7, “For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord.”

Note: Suppose or think or expect in Greek is oiomai which means to think; to suppose; to imagine; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. To suppose, think and expect may be a mode of thought process.

(13).  oida

Phl 1:16, “the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the Gospel.”

Note: Knowing in Greek is oida which means to know; to perceive; to understand; – which occurs 335 times in the New Testament. To know can be a mode of thinking process.

(14).  phainō

Mar 14:64,“You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.”

Note: Seem in Greek is to appear; to seem; to think; to become evident; to come to view; to be seen; to show; to shed light; to become clear; to manifest; – which occurs 32 times in the New Testament. What does it seem to you can be a mode of thought process.

(15).  eudokeō

1Th 3:1, “Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone.”

Note: Think in Greek is eudokeō which means to be well pleased; to have pleasure; to take pleasure in; to think good; to think it good; to choose; to determine; to decide; to prefer; to choose rather; to think well of; to be favorably inclined toward one; – which occurs 36 times in the New Testament. To think what is best may be a mode of thinking process. Are you surprised that the Greek can use 15 different words to think?

A.  Thinking is related to words.

Pro 29:20, “Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.”

Ecc 5:2, “Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in Heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.”

Note: It is possible for a man to be hasty in words or impulsive in thought. A man who is hasty in his words and impulsive in his thought is worse than a fool.

Mar 5:28, “For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.”

Note: The sick woman was right to believe by touching the garments of Jesus she would get well. 

Luk 24:37, “But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit.”

Note: Man’s behavior is influenced by tradition and belief. If you think you are seeing a spirit, you would be startled and frightened.

Jhn 11:13, “Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep.”

Note: Disciples misunderstood because they thought Jesus was speaking of literal sleep not as symbolic of death.

Act 12:9, “And he went out and continued to follow, and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.”

Note: Peter thought he was seeing a vision and did not realize he was really rescued by the angel from the jail.

B.  Thinking is related to the heart.

Pro 21:4, “Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
The lamp of the wicked, is sin.”

Note: The wicked have haughty eyes because they have a proud heart. A proud heart produces haughty eyes. The lamp of the wicked is sin.

Pro 15:28, “The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.”

Note: To ponder in the heart is to think. The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer. But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. Western media consistently and persistently pour out lies, fake reports, fake news to smear people and nations they don’ t like.

Pro 10:20, “The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver,
The heart of the wicked is worth little.”

Note: History is full of proofs that the heart of the wicked is worth little. Just look at what Western powers have done in the last 500 years to the world and you would not know the value of their wicked deeds.

1Sa 24:13,“As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness’; but my hand shall not be against you.”

Note: This is a great truth: Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness. When I was living in Los Angeles , there were many black and Latino gangs that did most brutal crimes and wicked deeds. Many people wondered why. The Bible provides the answer: Out of the wicked come forth wickedness. This can be used to explain many wars of aggression conducted by Western powers, genocide and sex slavery committed by Japanese soldiers, and atrocities committed by Islamic terrorists and malicious and vicious deeds committed by crooks and criminals.

Gen 6:5, “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

Note: Evil originated from every intent of the thoughts of the heart.

Gen 6:6, “The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.”

Note: God is Spirit, unlike man to have flesh and blood. What does it mean that God was grieved in His heart? Does God have a heart? Not a physical heart as the blood circulating organ of the body. God has a heart, definitely. This is an anthropomorphic expression. There is no way to compare God with man. So human language is used as a method or tool of communication. It is impossible for man to learn or know the language of God. Besides, God knows all the languages of man. The Bible speaks about the language of angels, never the language of God. A language consists of the use of words. This is a fine gift of God differentiating men from all animals. Jesus Christ is the Word of God and He reveals God to mankind. We are ignorant what will be the language of Heaven, definitely not English or Chinese. In the first place the language of angels is most pure and wonderful already, although I do not speak the language of angels. However, when God sends His angels to communicate with human beings, the angels always use the language of the recipient so that the recipient can understand. Imagine, angels who are servants of God already know all languages in the world. How can anyone compare angels to the Omnipotent and Omniscient God?

Mar 7:21-23,“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”

Note: Out of the heart of men comes out evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness; deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. The heart here does not mean the organ that circulates blood. It means “within,” not knowing exactly where it is because it is abstract.

Gen 17:17, “Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”

Note: Abraham said in his heart, “Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” Abraham laughed because can a child be born to a man one hundred years old? He was reasoning, Will a ninety years old woman bear a child? Abraham was thinking in his heart. These are sober and reasonable thoughts. But there is nothing impossible with God.

Gen 24:45, “Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder, and went down to the spring and drew, and I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’”

Note: I think the Hebrew’s expression of thinking as speaking in the heart is poetic and positivistic.

Exo 14:5, “When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?”

Note: A change of heart brings about a change of thinking. A change of thinking brings about a change of behavior.

2Ki 12:4, “Then Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money of the sacred things which is brought into the house of the LORD, in current money, both the money of each man’s assessment and all the money which any man’s heart prompts him to bring into the house of the LORD.”

Note: Any donation for the house of the Lord must be voluntary or what a man’s heart prompts him to bring. Prompt means to stir up; to incite. Your love of the Lord must be prompted or incited from your heart. Any good deed must be prompted from your heart, not for ulterior motive. 

Pro 12:25, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down,
But a good word makes it glad.”

Note: Anxiety in a man’s heart is like a heavy rock that weighs it down. What you worry in your heart makes you weary. For Jesus says, Jhn 14:1, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. Jhn 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” Christians need not to worry.

Pro 19:21, “Many plans are in a man’s heart,
But the counsel of the LORD will stand.”

Note: A man may make many plans in his heart, only the counsel of the Lord will stand. Man proposes, God disposes. Christians make plans and say God willing.

Ecc 10:2, “A wise man’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man’s heart directs him toward the left.”

Note: A wise man’s heart is right with the Lord. The foolish man’s heart directs him toward the path of destruction. Mat 25:33, “and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.” How important to be Jesus’ sheep on His right. All warmongers, unbelievers, terrorists and the wicked are the goats on the left of Jesus.

Jas 1:26, “If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.”

Note: Western leaders and media think themselves to be Christians, and yet they lie, lie, and lie; kill, kill, and kill; rob, rob, and rob. Their religion is not only worthless, they deceive their own hearts, they deceive themselves. There are many worthless religions.

It is still correct to say, The problem of man is not his head, but his heart.

Psa 64:6, “They devise iniquities: We have perfected a shrew scheme. Both the inward thought and the heart of man are deep.”

Note: Thought in Hebrew qerebwhich means inward par; inner most being;, seat of thought and emotion; faculty of thought and emotion; the seat of thought and desire; – which occurs 227 times in the Old Testament. Heart in Hebrew is leb which means inner man, mind, will, understanding; inner part, soul, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory; – it occurs about 593 times in the Old Testament.

Thought and heart are abstract constructs, not physical objects. Deep in Hebrew is `amoq which means mysterious, unsearchable, profound; – it occurs about 16 times in the Old Testament. If you want to know how deep the inward thought and the heart are, ponder the following questions:

(a). When you are consciously thinking about something, it could be originated by yourself, other, thing, or even devil (as in the case of Judah the traitor whom the devil put the thought of betrayal into his heart); are you sue who or what is directing your thought process?

(b). When you are deliberating something, all of a sudden some other thought strikes you and redirects your thinking; do you know where does such invasion or redirection come from? How does it happen?

(c). When you are looking at something, some scene, somebody, etc. and it suddenly reminds you of something else; but when you are not doing the looking, how does some thought penetrate you anyway?

(d). Are you capable of being forced by someone to think about something you rejected to think in the first place, if so, who gives the permission?

(e). Who or what is telling you (when there is no known human being) not to think about something that makes you thinking?

(f). Are you capable of stopping to think about something, who or what is making you to do so? Can you refuse evil thoughts and how?

(g). When you are thinking about something and then interrupted by something else, you lose track of it, who and what puts you back in the thought process and picks up that thought again?

(h). When you are occupied or busy doing something, some thought suddenly knocks at the door of your heart; do you know where the guest comes from? Are you capable of refusing or ignoring the guest thinker? If so, how? If not, why not?

(i). When everything looks fine, suddenly a thought disturbs or worries you heavily; where does that thought come from?

(j). When there is no apparent reason to be depressed, why depression strikes at your thought process, can you refuse or reject it? If yes, how? If not, why?

(k). Is your thought process continuing consciously, subconsciously or unconsciously; or starts and stops at will, and how and why?

(l). When you are thinking, can you differentiate between the superficial and the profound, the important and unimportant, the right and wrong, the good and evil? What makes you able to do so?

(m). Through the thought process can you see the invisible? Who or what is helping you? Do you use any instrument or tool?

(n). Can you be sure you are thinking what you are thinking, not suggested directly or indirectly, consciously or subconsciously by something or someone else?

(o). Have you ever thought that you could be wrong in your thinking? Who initiates such review or reevaluation process? How does it happen?

(p). Do you know human thoughts are darkened and futile, what makes you think so? If not, why not?

The Scripture is right: Both the inward thought and the heart of man are deep.

There are three important things to remember:

(a). Pro 23:7,“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. ‘Eat and drink!’ he says to you, but his heart is not with you.”

As you think in your heart, so are you. What you think makes what you are.

(b). Mar 7:21-23, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

The whole world is corrupted by the evil things come out of the heart of men cited above and especially represented by Wall Street, Washington, and Hollywood. Executives of Wall Street are so greedy, day and night they devise shrewd schemes on how to get rich quick and defraud the world. Wall Street created the financial and economic crisis in 2008 that defrauded the whole world more than $50 trillion dollars.

(c). 2Cr 10:5, “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”

This is what an unbeliever does not know or experience. Many thoughts of unbelieving philosophers are lofty, speculative, vain and self-conceited. Christians are empowered to destroy speculative thoughts against the knowledge of God, and take captive of every thought to the obedience of Christ. The power to destroy any thought against God is the Sword of the Spirit. Our thought and our heart must subject to the obedience of Christ. This is the mind of Christ in the believers. A carnal mind does not have the power from above, and cannot understand spiritual things.

Some self-appointed scholars like to specialize on speculations. Is it possible to think without words and without human body? Is it possible to communicate without language? I focus on true knowledge. I leave the impossible to God, for nothing is impossible with God. There are infinity what human beings cannot do and cannot know.

C.  Thinking is related to intelligence.

Psa 14:1, “For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds;
There is no one who does good.”

Note: The fool thinks foolishly. It is a fool who thinks and says in his heart there is no God. No matter he is a secularist, unbelieving theologian, scientist or philosopher — if he thinks in his heart there is no God, he is a fool.

Pro 22:15, “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.”

Note: It is my theory that every child is born foolish, except the Child Jesus the Son of God. When I was a child I was so foolish that I was almost drown had it not for the mercy of God. For that reason, parents take good care of your children and train them. Every day on Chinese TV reported how foolish children got themselves into big troubles, putting their heads into something they could not get out, sticking their fingers into something they could not pull out, hanging themselves outside the windows that they may drop dead, walking on the street to be run over by cars, etc. The fact that a child is born foolish indicates the need of education. I told my students that is why they need to go to university to train them how to think.

Luk 12:16-21, “And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. “And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’“Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.” But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’  “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Note: The rich fool thinks his soul has many goods laid up for many years to come; take ease, eat, drink and be merry. But God requires his soul this very night, and now who will own what he has prepared?

Mat 7:24-27,“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

Note: A wise man built his house on the rock. Jesus defines everyone who hears His words and does not act on them is a fool. A foolish man built his house on the sand. A man who has low intelligence does not think that rain, floods, winds can slam against a house and may cause it fall. To have a marriage is like to building a house. If you do not build the house of marriage on the rock. Your marriage will be rocked by winds and waves of events and time; it will collapse. The $130 billion cannot save it.

Job 12:3, “But I have intelligence as well as you;
I am not inferior to you.
And who does not know such things as these?”

Note: There are superior intelligence and inferior intelligence. People who have superior intelligence know more and better things than people who have inferior intelligence. Years ago I was an intern with a Ph.D. psychologist (who was also a friend) Dr. Harold Ronning and I administered a Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) to a black woman. One of the questions was what is the shape of a ball. To my shock and surprise the black woman quickly answered, square. For the first time in my life I learned that there are people in the world who think the shape of a ball is square.

Dan 1:4, “youths in whom was no defect, who were good-looking, showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge, and who had ability for serving in the king’s court; and he ordered him to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.”

Dan 1:17, “As for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams.”

Note: God gave Daniel and his friends knowledge and intelligence, wisdom and understanding. Even at old age, I still pray for wisdom.

Act 13:7, “who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the Word of God.”

Note: A man of intelligence should seek to hear and to know the Word of God.

D.  Thinking is related to value.

Luk 12:16-21, “ And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive.“  And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.” But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’  “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Note: The rich fool values goods above his soul.

Lev 27:12, “The priest shall value it as either good or bad; as you, the priest, value it, so it shall be.”

Job 28:12-20, “But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Man does not know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living. The deep says, ‘It is not in me’; and the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’ Pure gold cannot be given in exchange for it, nor can silver be weighed as its price. It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx, or sapphire. Gold or glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for articles of fine gold. Coral and crystal are not to be mentioned; and the acquisition of wisdom is above that of pearls. The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, nor can it be valued in pure gold. Where then does wisdom come from? And where is the place of understanding?”  

Mat 13:46, “and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

Note: Things of lower value may be sold in order to obtain thing of greater or higher value. The Christian faith is the pearl of great value, not to be sold or exchanged for anything.

Phl 3:8, “More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.”

Note: Paul views the knowledge of Christ surpassing value and so he counts all things to be loss and count all things but rubbish so that he may gain Christ. 

Col 2:23, “These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.”

Note: Self-abasement and severe treatment of the body appear wise in self-made religion are of no value against fleshly indulgence.

1Pe 2:4-8, “And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture:
“BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone,
AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,
“THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,
THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,”and,
“A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”;
for they stumble because they are disobedient to the Word, and to this doom they were also appointed.”

Note: The cross of Christ is of precious value to all believers, but to those who disbelieve it is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. 

Luk 1:46-49, “ And Mary said:
“My soul exalts the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. “For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;
For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
And holy is His name.”

Note: Mary counts herself blessed to be the bondslave of God to bear the Son of God; for the Mighty One has done great things for her.

Jas 5:11, “We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.”

2Pe 2:13, “suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, as they carouse with you.”

Note: Sinners count it a pleasure to sin. The wicked count it a pleasure to do wicked things. Liars and corn men and swindlers count it a pleasure to defraud people.

Heb 11:24-26, “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.”

Note: Moses illustrates how his thinking and action are influenced by his value. Moses identified with the children of Israel and refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Moses chose rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin. Moses considered the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. If you tell me what you value, I will tell you who you are. Prosperity gospel is a false gospel because it chooses the riches of the world. A man’s choice, not only revealing his thinking, discloses his value. Once I asked my female students, would they prefer to marry a wise poor man or a rich fool. Decision is making choice. I would rather be hungry now so that I will have food tomorrow. Why does a girl would choose to be a prostitute rather than a princess? Many would choose to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond? Would rather have a $1 million mansion than $800,000 cash? I would rather choose to serve the Almighty God even poor than to serve Mammon and be a billionaire. 

The following story tells how hard to make a choice among the evil.

1Ch 21:9-13, “The LORD spoke to Gad, David’s seer, saying,“Go and speak to David, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, “I offer you three things; choose for yourself one of them, which I will do to you.” So Gad came to David and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, Take for yourself either three years of famine, or three months to be swept away before your foes, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the LORD, even pestilence in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.’ Now, therefore, consider what answer I shall return to Him who sent me.” David said to Gad, “I am in great distress; please let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are very great. But do not let me fall into the hand of man.”

Note: David trusted in the mercies of the Lord. David would not trust man. In my life experiences encountering millions of people; the problem is not that people do not know how to choose between greater and lesser evil, or between the greater good and lesser good; the thing that most upsets me is that people in the face of good and evil, many choose evil. Why do Western leaders, professing to be Christians, lie, lie, and lie; kill, kill, and kill; rob, rob, and rob other nations? Why do Western media on purpose make fake news, fake reports, distort facts, and spread lies?

Job 15:5,  “For your guilt teaches your mouth,
And you choose the language of the crafty.”

Note:  Western leaders are so proud and they misuse the so-called “democratic values”. The American model of democracy is a farce and a failure. To cut the long story short, the world witnessed the last American presidential election with so much uncertainty and trickery; the Capitol Riots; the divisiveness of the two parties, the Congress, and the Federal government and state governments; the fear and unrest of the American people; the demonstrations and protests all over the country for government injustice and incompetency, etc. Both America and Europe are failed democracies; not counting the counterfeit of Japan, Australia, Canada, etc. American democracy does not work for American people, and it cannot work anywhere. When one percent of the population rules over the 99 percent, and when 1 per cent of the population owns most of the power and wealth of America, how do you call it democracy? When American empire, EU, and its allies want to continue to dictate and dominate the world and therefore target and sanction Russia and China, do you call “democratic values”?

When Western leaders want to do evil, they always choose the language of the crafty by saying they are promoting democracy, freedom, justice, equal right, human right, civil right, religious freedom, freedom of navigation, and giving humanitarian aid, etc.? They are well trained in wars, in distortion, misinformation, disinformation, exploitation, sanction, oppression and destruction. The worse thing is that they call themselves Christians. Pro 1:29, “Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD.” The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. Those who do evil do not fear the Lord.

Psa 12:8, “The wicked strut about on every side
When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.”

Job 34:4,“Let us choose for ourselves what is right;
Let us know among ourselves what is good.”

Note: To think correct is to choose what is right and know what is good. Refuse evil and choose good.

Exo 23:2,“You shall not follow the masses in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after a multitude in order to pervert justice.”

Note: There are people who value the opinions of the masses. They shall follow the masses even in doing evil. They turn aside after a multitude in order to pervert justice. These people follow fads and fashions whatever the masses or multitudes do, eat, drink, hear, play and wear. The young are the most vulnerable in following the masses. This is how the noisy music called Rock and Roll became fashionable and famous. This is how cigarette smoking seduce the young and simple-minded. This is also the problem of democracy when the majority of people choose evil.

Psa 37:16, “Better is the little of the righteous
Than the abundance of many wicked.”

Psa 58:3, “The wicked are estranged from the womb;
These who speak lies go astray from birth.”

Pro 6:12, “A worthless person, a wicked man,
Is the one who walks with a perverse mouth.”

The former American leader was so perverse that he called COVID-19 China virus.

Note: The wicked are estranged from the womb. A wicked man is a worthless person, and he walks with a perverse mouth.

Pro 6:18, “A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that run rapidly to evil.”

Note: He who devises wicked plans in his heart, his feet run rapidly to evil.

E.  Thinking is related to personality.

Job 32:6, “So Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite spoke out and said, “I am young in years and you are old;
Therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you what I think.”

Note: A shy personality does not think like a brave personality. A shy person may be afraid to tell you what she thinks.

1Co 13:11, “When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.”

Note: A child does not think like a man. A man who thinks like a child is still a child. A man did away with childish things.

1Sa 30:22, “Then all the wicked and worthless men among those who went with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away and depart.”

Note: The opinion of the wicked and worthless men is usually loud and noisy. The substance of their opinion is usually selfish and divisive. The wicked and worthless men usually have low value and unpleasant personality.

F.  Thinking is related to reasoning.

Luk 12:16-21, “ And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive.  “And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’  “Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.” “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’  “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Note: A fool thinks like a fool. A fool reasons like a fool.

G.  Thinking is related to consciousness.

What is consciousness? Consciousness is awareness of internal and external existence.

Job 21:6, “Even when I remember, I am disturbed,
And horror takes hold of my flesh.”

Note: When you remember, you are disturbed and horror takes hold of your flesh — this is your self-consciousness.

Heb 10:2, “Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins?”

Note: Admit it or not, all men have consciousness of sins. Secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers probably deny they have consciousness of sins.

1Co 8:7, “However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.”

Note: Not everyone has the knowledge that the idol is nothing. One conscience can be defiled by eating a thing offered to an idol. The most outrageous thing is the fact some Taiwanese leaders claim to be Christians and yet they publicly burn incense and worship idols without conscious of their sins. Even more outrageous is the fact that Taiwanese self-claimed preachers do not preach against the sin of idolatry. 

1Pe 2:19, “For it brings favor if, because of a consciousness of God, someone endures grief from suffering unjustly.”

Job 10:15, “‘If I am wicked, woe to me!
And if I am righteous, I dare not lift up my head.
I am sated with disgrace and conscious of my misery.”

Note: Many wicked men are not conscious their sins and disgrace.

Jhn 6:61, “But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble?”

Note: If a man grumbles at the truth, he may stumble.

1Co 4:4, “For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord.”

Note: The Christian conscience knows he is not acquitted even he is conscious of nothing against himself. When the Lord examines, who can say he is not guilty?

Rom 3:20, “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.”

Psa 51:3, “For I am aware of my rebellious acts; I am forever conscious of my sin.”

Tit 3:11, “You know that such a person is twisted by sin and is conscious of it himself.”

Psa 51:3, “For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me.”

Ecc 6:5, “Though a stillborn child does not see the sun and is not conscious, it has more rest than he.”

Note: We all should be conscious of our sins and rebellion.

1Ki 2:44, “ The king also said to Shimei, “You know all the evil which you acknowledge in your heart, which you did to my father David; therefore the LORD shall return your evil on your own head.”

Note: The evil in your heart shall return your evil on your own head.

Act 23:5, “ And Paul said, “I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL OF A RULER OF YOUR PEOPLE.’”

Note: If you are aware, you should not speak evil of the ruler.

How deep is the human thought? It cannot been seen or touched, therefore it cannot be measured. But one thing is closely related with thought is the word. 

Pro 18:4, “The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;
The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.” 

Note the words of a man come from his heart. When a man’s heart is full, his words come out. By the words of a man’s mouth you can appraise his heart.

Job 21:6,“Even when I remember, I am disturbed,
And horror takes hold of my flesh.”

Note: Remembering or memory is a form of consciousness. A person can be disturbed by his remembrance or memory. I believe all animals can have a short and simple memory. For example, a dog can recognize you who hit it with a stick. Elephant is believed to have longer memory. But no animals have time consciousness so that they can recall or reminisce that two years ago they enjoyed themselves in the beautiful forest of Maine in the Fall.

Psa 77:3, “When I remember God, then I am disturbed;
When I sigh, then my spirit grows faint. Selah.”

Job 10:15, “If I am wicked, woe to me!
And if I am righteous, I dare not lift up my head.
I am sated with disgrace and conscious of my misery.”

Note: Thinking makes a man conscious, conscious of his misery.

H.  Heart and mind are closely associated. 

1Ch 28:9, “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.”

Mind may be viewed as the intellectual part of man, it is within a man, although no one knows where it is exactly located.

Psa 26:2, “Examine me, O LORD, and try me;
Test my mind and my heart.”

Jer 17:10,“I, the LORD, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give to each man according to his ways,
According to the results of his deeds.”

Jer 20:12, “Yet, O LORD of hosts, You who test the righteous,
Who see the mind and the heart;
Let me see Your vengeance on them;
For to You I have set forth my cause.”

Dan 2:30, “But as for me, this mystery has not been revealed to me for any wisdom residing in me more than in any other living man, but for the purpose of making the interpretation known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind.”

Note: Even an intelligent person may not understand the thoughts of his mind without divine help. God sees our mind and heart.

I.  Heart and soul are related.

2Ch 15:12, “They entered into the covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and soul.”

Note: We need to seek the Lord with our heart and soul.

Pro 2:10, “For wisdom will enter your heart
And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.”

Note: Are heart and soul synonymous or individual entity?

Deu 30:2, “and you return to the LORD your God and obey Him with all your heart and soul according to all that I command you today, you and your sons.”

Deu 30:10, “if you obey the LORD your God to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law, if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and soul.”

Note: We are told to obey God with all our heart and soul. So we must, although I am too stupid to know which is my heart and which is my soul.

Act 4:32, “And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.”

Note: I believe in this Scripture “one heart and soul” means one mind, one accord, one agreement, one opinion, one desire, one intentionality.

Mar 12:30, “AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’

Note: The easiest to understand is strength, soul and mind are difficult. Heart is generally understood. Such as you tell a person I love you with all my heart. Could it be heart, soul and mind are a figure of speech?

J.  Heart is related to spirit.

Psa 77:6, “I will remember my song in the night;
I will meditate with my heart,
And my spirit ponders.”

Note: Asaph is very smart, he ponders with his spirit. I understand to meditate with my heart (not the organ that circulates blood), I do not know how to ponder with my spirit. Do you?

Psa 78:8, “And not be like their fathers,
A stubborn and rebellious generation,
A generation that did not prepare its heart
And whose spirit was not faithful to God.”

Note: I know for sure my spirit is faithful to God. Are yours?

Eze 18:31,“Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel?”

Note: What humans need is not reform, not even research. What we need is a new heart and a new spirit. A new heart is to be born again. A new spirit is to have the Spirit of the Lord dwelling in you.

Eze 36:26,  “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”

Dan 5:20,“But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit became so proud that he behaved arrogantly, he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken away from him.”

Note: The spirit of sinful man can be so proud, that is deadly.

Mat 9:4, “And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?”

1Co 14:20, “Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.”

Note: Thinking evil leads to doing evil. In evil be infants, in thinking be mature. This is the best advice about thinking.

K.  Heart is related to mind.

Psa 7:9, “O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; For the righteous God tries the hearts and minds.”

Note: The hearts and minds represent the depth and totality of a person.

L.  How heart, soul, and mind are related? 

Mat 22:37, “And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’

Note: Could your heart, soul and mind are a euphemism for all you have got inside you? Could they mean the totality of you? We must love the Lord with all we have got, and nothing left.

M.  How a pure heart and a good conscience relate to each other?

1Ti 1:5, “But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”

Note: The goal of Christian education is love from a pure heart with a good conscience and a sincere faith. Love from a pure heart is without ulterior motive or simulation or pretension. A good conscience is the way of life. A sincere faith takes hold of the truth in Christ without reservation. The wicked and the unrighteous do not have a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. I am greatly troubled by Western leaders, unbelieving theologians and secular academics who pretend to be Christians without a sincere faith.

How deep is the human thought? It cannot been seen or touched, therefore it cannot be measured. But one thing is closely related with thought is the word. 

Pro 18:4, “The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;
The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.” 

The words of a man come from his heart. When a man’s heart is full, his words come out. By the words of a man’s mouth you can appraise his heart.

IV.   IVP INFLUENCES THINKING

1Th 5:23, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Note: Here in this Scripture which clearly separates spirit, soul, and body as tripartite of man. I want to make it clear from the beginning. There should be no confusion or cumbrousness between the theological tripartite of Body, Soul, and Spirit and my philosophical tripartite of Intelligence, Value and Personality (IVP). God says man is composed of Body, Soul, and Spirit — this truth will not pass away for it is eternal. All children of God in the Kingdom of Heaven will have Body, Soul and Spirit. The big difference is the fact Christian resurrected body will be glorious, spiritual and immortal. My philosophical tripartite of man is only useful in this world. All human knowledge will pass away anyway. 

Mat 10:28,“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell.”

Note: In this Scripture the Lord Jesus specifically stresses those who suffer in Hell both soul and body will be destroyed. Don’t get the wrong idea, if you think body and soul are destroyed, all is ended. No. The torture in Hell is everlasting. How could that be? The dead body of the wicked will rise for judgment. The risen body will feel pain and suffer but will not die. The wicked in Hell will experience pain of the worm and the unquenchable fire like dying all the time but not dead at all and finished.

Theologically speaking, Man is made of body, soul and spirit. This is the eternal truth viewed from the sight of God. It is easy and simple to differentiate between body and soul. The body is physical and mortal. It is most profound to distinguish between soul and spirit. I can only mention some key points in passing because that is not the subject of this article. Spirit is the consciousness of God. Soul is the consciousness of self. Body is the consciousness of material or physical thing. 

Luk 24:39, “See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

Note: Do not confuse the Holy Spirit with the individual spirit of man. Jesus says definitively that a spirit does not have flesh and bones. Man as a tripartite has body, soul, and spirit. Mat 26:41, “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” In some situations the spirit of man may be willing, but the flesh is weak. Mar 8:12, “Sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, “Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” Jesus was sighing deeply in His Spirit. I think the Spirit of Jesus is the Holy Spirit, unlike the spirit of man. If you do not have the Spirit of the Lord, you do not belong to the Lord. What we do not know often confuses us. Mat 27:50, “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.” Jesus did not yield up His soul. There are too much we do not know the differences or differentiation between soul and spirit. Luk1:46-47, “And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” Apparently, Mary knows the difference between her soul and her spirit. The soul of Mary exalts the Lord, and her spirit has rejoiced in God her Savior. I exalt the Lord and rejoice in God my Savior. But I do not know which is which, my soul or my spirit. I am ignorant and do not know much about soul and spirit matters. I have not read anyone in the world who can explain soul and spirit satisfactorily. However, I believe in the Word of God, the tripartite of man as body, soul, and spirit. There are many things in the Bible which I do not understand, yet I believe and trust my Lord and Savior with all my heart, soul and mind. Heaven and earth will pass away, but the Word of God will not pass away.

1.  IVP THEORY 

Observations of millions of peoples in the world, and all kinds of peoples in the world for a lifelong experiences laid the theoretical groundwork of establishing IVP.  IVP should not be viewed as separate three words. IVP should be viewed as one term. IVP is a theory based on the concept man is a tripartite, namely, INTELLIGENCE, VALUE AND PERSONALITY. Intelligence is mental ability, activity, capacity and quality; Value is moral character and worth; and Personality is the substance and summary of individual character and quality. Intelligence, Value and Personality interact with each other and influence each other. In any specific challenge or situation, one element may emerge as the Predominating or Predominant Factor, while the other two may become Recessive Factors. 

Viewed from the sight of man, philosophically speaking, Man is made of Intelligence, Value and Personality. I hold the theory that man’s thinking is influenced by his intelligence, value, and personality. A man’s behavior is influenced by his IVP. 

Years ago I invented the theory of IVP. “I” stands for Intelligence, “V” stands for Value, and “P” stands for Personality. A man is a tripartite of Intelligence, Value and Personality. I also design IVP Scale. It is not self applause. You will find IVP Theory and Scale interesting and useful. IVP can be used to assess an individual or even appraise a nation, and predict the behavior of man. If I know exactly the IVP of a person, I can predict what he/she would do on a certain condition. However, IVP interacts with each other, the predominating factor decides and determines the behavior. For example, why all men would love Marilyn Monroe. When a man looks at Marilyn Monroe, his Personality emerges as the predominant factor to decide his action, his Intelligence and Value become recessive factors and submit to the inclination or intentionality of his Personality.

Job 12:3,“But I have intelligence as well as you;
I am not inferior to you.
And who does not know such things as these?”

INTELLIGECNE

Note: Intelligence in Hebrew is lebab which means mind; heart; understanding; knowledge; thinking; conscience; soul; the seat of senses; mode of thinking and acting; the seat of will and purpose; intellect and wisdom; the faculty of thinking; – which occurs 250 times in the Old Testament. Needless to say, man’s intelligence is limited. However, there are arrogant groups of people such as secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers, militarists, etc. who are so vainly puffed up by their fleshly mind that they speak and act as if they have unlimited intelligence. A true intelligent person knows his own limitations. However, generally speaking there are inferior and superior intelligence, high and low intelligence, positive and negative intelligence. When a criminal or crook uses his intelligence to do evil, that is called negative intelligence. When a person uses his intelligence to do good, that is called positive intelligence.

Job 12:24,“He deprives of intelligence the chiefs of the earth’s people
And makes them wander in a pathless waste.”

Note: Here Intelligence in Hebrew is leb which means heart; mind; understanding; inner man; knowledge; thinking; inclination; determination; conscience; seat of emotions and passions; the will; the intellect; wisdom; – which occurs 591 times in the Old Testament. Anyone deprived of intelligence will wander in a pathless waste. How many mistakes a man makes and wastes of his life because of wandering. A man wandering means he is lost and not knowing what he is doing and where he is going. A man who is lost and not knowing what he is doing or going is a failure.

Dan 1:17, “As for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams.”

Note: In the Scripture cited above Intelligence here in Hebrew is sakal which means understanding; skill; prudence; insight; comprehension; wit; wisdom; turn of the mind; – which occurs 84 times in the Old Testament. God gives knowledge and intelligence to anyone He pleases.

It appears knowledge and intelligence are related, but each has its identity. You can say people who have intelligence have knowledge. Wisdom and understanding are also separate entities although they are related. People who have wisdom understand things.

Act 13:7, “who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the Word of God.”

Note: Intelligence cited above is the only occurrence in the New Testament. Intelligence in Greek is synetos which means wisdom; learning; understanding; sagacity; prudence; mental putting together; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. Intelligence is no small matter, not easy to define or determine; the Old Testament has 3 words for intelligence, while the New Testament has one. Once I ask my female students this question, Would you rather marry a rich fool or a wise poor man? On the surface this appears to be a question of intelligence; in fact, value is the predominant factor. This is not to despise the profession of a carpenter, however, it requires a higher intelligence to be a surgeon. You fail in life if you could be a surgeon but settle down for a carpenter. It is nothing wrong to be a farmer, but Robert Frost chose to be poet. It would be an inferior intelligence if you choose to be a painter, for even Vincent van Gogh could not make a living on his paintings that he killed himself. It is not wise to exchange the temporal for the eternal, the uncertain for the certain. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. It is not wise to give up the bird in the hand to look for two birds in the bush.

Pro 13:7, “There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing;
Another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth.”

To pretend is to act falsely to deceive people. A person who pretends to be poor but has great wealth is better than the one who pretends to be rich but has nothing. A person who pretends to be what he is not is a fool. There are many American leaders who pretend to be Christians but they are children of the Devil as defined by Jesus Christ. Jhn 8:44.

The number one fool is:

Psa 14:1, “For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds;
There is no one who does good.”

Psa 53:1, “For the choir director; according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David.
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God,”
They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice;
There is no one who does good.”

Note: Fool in Hebrew is nabal which means foolish man; vile person; senseless person; stupid person; impious; ungodly; the wicked; – which occurs 20 times in the Old Testament. Secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers may think themselves wise, but God says, they are fools who say in their heart, There is no God. After studying their works, I agree with the Word of God.

A good example of a fool of inferior intelligence is given by Jesus.

Luk 12:15-21, “Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.” But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Note: There are many forms of greed. The love of money is the root of all evil. Jesus Christ proclaims the greatest philosophy of life and teaches man how to live. A man who has wrong value does not know how to live. A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. What you are is more important than what you have. I think the most miserable people in the world are those executives of Washington, Wall Street, and Hollywood who live in luxury of this world without God and without hope. A man’s life composes of Body, Soul, and Spirit but does not consist of money, power and sex. The people of Washington, Wall Street, and Hollywood live and work for money, power and sex.

Productive in Greek is euphoreō which means to be fertile; to bring forth plentifully; to bear well; to produce abundantly; yielding great results; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. There is nothing wrong for being productive. In fact, to be productive is the way to live. There are many dying and collapsing nations all because they are not productive. They spend more than they earn, and so they get into big debts and even unable to pay for the interest of their big loans. There is one outstanding fact that Western leaders and Western media deliberately ignore and do not want to acknowledge: China used to suffer hunger and famine. Today China is able to produce enough food to feed its 1.4 billion population and still gives aid to many nations without political strings attached. Western leaders and Western media are so rotten that every good thing that China does is counted as bad and a vice, and every bad thing that Western powers do is extolled as good and a virtue. Building larger barns to store crops, grain and goods is a worthwhile free enterprise. To bomb, kill and rob other nation’s wealth and resources are destructive evil enterprise. If the warmongering nations stop aggression and stop building nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction, and convert all the resources to build a good society and a better world, it will be most productive and beneficial. Trillions and trillions of dollars have been wasted in wars and development of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction which cannot feed one person, cannot house one person, cannot educate one person, cannot do anyone good. I do not have respect or sympathy for those fake refugees who do not produce anything but seek to move to affluent nations hoping to have a better life supported by the productivity of other people. That is the root cause of many millions of illegal aliens residing in America today, they came to America to live on welfare and breed many children like rabbits, and for years the government did nothing to stop them. Actually the Democratic Party encouraged the illegal aliens to vote for them so that they may gain power to rule America. Do you know why the overwhelming majority of the descendants of illegal aliens and people on welfare are members of the Democratic Party? Both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party do not serve the American people, they do not serve the national interest. They serve the partisan interest, their self interest, and the special interest. So American democracy is serving the interest of one percent of the population at the expense of the ninety-nine percent. Western democracy has fooled the world for a long time since its inception. Worse of all, Western leaders force their failed model of democracy on other nations without shame.

The problem of the rich man is not his barns too small, his crops, grain and goods too much and he was very productive. The rich man is fool because he says to his soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.” Soul does not take ease, eat, drink and be merry on his goods. Material goods may satisfy the body, but not the soul. Soul does not enjoy lobster, roast pig, Caviar, giant crab, sword fish, bluefin tuna, bird’s nest, brown-lipped abalone, shark fin, turtle soup, fried giant fish egg, even ice cream. It is reported that the most expensive meal is US$14,500. I believe a minister who eats a $1,000 meal has sinned against God and does not deserve support of Christians or church members. The luxury and material comfort cannot apply to the soul. So the rich man is a fool. The rich man laid up goods for his soul for many years to come. He unknowingly makes a wrong calculation. God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Most of the rich and powerful in the world are not rich toward God. 

Soul in Greek is psychē which means life; heart; mind; the breath of life; the vital force; the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions; the soul as an essence which differs from the body and is not dissolved by death; – which occurs 101 times in the New Testament. Death is the separation of soul from the body. When soul departs from the body, the man is dead. Gen 35:18, “It came about as her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin.” This very night the rich man dies; he does not know who will own what he has prepared. The people of Washington, Wall Street and Hollywood own much of the wealth and power in the world, but tonight anyone of them can die. They are not rich toward God. In the sight of God, they are the poorest people in the world, poorer than Lazarus. Mat 16:26, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Can Washington, Wall Street, and Hollywood answer the question of Jesus?

Mat 4:4, “But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’”

Note: The tripartite man does not live on bread alone, but on every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. The rich fool and all fools do not know the truth of God.

Souls have troubles that the body of man cannot imagine. The bitter of soul cannot be measured. The soul can be grieved. The anguish of the soul no medicine can soothe. Soul can be crushed. Despair of soul no psychiatrist can help. Your eyes can bring pain to your soul.

Pro 21:10, “The soul of the wicked desires evil;
His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.”

Note:  Evil upsets me. Then I learn the soul of the wicked desires evil just like a pig enjoys filth. It is the nature of the wicked to desire evil. Desire in Hebrew is ‘avah which means to lust after; to long for; to covet; to wish; to want; to be greedy; to wish for; to wait longingly; to crave; – which occurs 31 times in the Old Testament. Why do the wicked do wicked? This is a definitive answer: The soul of the wicked desires evil. This explains why the wicked do evil. The soul of the wicked desires evil. The soul of the righteous hates evil.

Eze 18:4, “Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.”

Note: All souls belong to God. The soul who sins will die.

Mat 10:28,“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell.”

Note: Man and even Devil are unable to kill the soul. Fear God for God is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell. The wicked will rise in the end of time to be judged. The wicked who rose from the dead will have an immortal body and soul. To be tormented body and soul in Hell means the wicked can feel the pain of fire and worm, they feel like dying all the time but they are not dead. They will suffer eternal punishment in Hell.

Human Intelligence is largely an inborn gift that consists of mental ability, capability, activity and quality to learn from one’s and other’s experience, understand and handle abstract and concrete concepts, adjust and adapt to new situation, and use knowledge and judgment to solve problems and manipulate one’s environment. Acquisition may play a role in contributing and sharpening one’s intelligence. A man may expand and better utilize his intelligence by observation, study, research, or experience. However, no man can increase the level of his intelligence by any acquisitive effort or means. In brief, intelligence is the ability to think and solve problems. The ability to think and solve problem may draw upon a number of cognitive processes, such as conception, perception, action, memory, and reasoning. Intelligence is not contingent on any single cognitive process, rather it is the result of the effective combination and interaction of all these processes. Intelligence enables a man to understand, to take or hold, all sorts of things and matters real or imaginary, abstract or concrete, tangible or intangible, rational or irrational, beautiful or ugly, noble or foul. Intelligence helps a man to discriminate and differentiate between right and wrong, good and evil, important and unimportant, precious and worthless, momentary and lasting, transitory and eternal. Intelligence can be low or high, inferior or superior, good or bad, positive or negative. Positive intelligence means one is using his intelligence to do good. Negative intelligence means one is using his intelligence to do evil. High, superior, good and positive intelligence help a man to live better and do well. 

VALUE

Value is the moral standard and judgment of assessing what is important, good, right, noble and worthwhile. Value can be more or better; good or bad; present or eternal. For example, indulgence of the flesh is precious to a natural man, but abominable to a spiritual man. Things of above are of more value to believers than to non-believers. In the things of the world, the real value of a thing is its utility. In the things of God, the real value of things are the abiding and intrinsic nature of things in themselves. 1Co 13:13, “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.” The greatest is love, for God is love. Do not stray into error, love is not God. Some worship love as a god. Grace, peace, truth, and eternal life are not commodities, they are the gifts of God without price. 

The following is the Christian manifesto of Value:

Phl 3:7-12, “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.”

Note: Christian value is epitomized and embodied in the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Col 2:8, “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”

Note: The trinity of Washington, Wall Street, and Hollywood represents as captive through secular philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, and according to the elementary principles of the world which are contrary to the Christian value. Christian value is not a commodity and cannot be exchanged for anything. There is no price function in Christian value because it is priceless. The economic theory of supply and demand is ludicrous and irrelevant to Christian value. No Christian would make profit out of Christian value, only false preachers do. No one can merchandise or monopolize the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ, because it is the free gift of God. One unknown man emailed me because he wanted to buy my products in dollars. I told him the Gospel is free and not for sale. I strongly believe the American value of money, power, and sex will eventually destroy America and probably will destroy the world also.

Job 28:13,“Man does not know its value,
Nor is it found in the land of the living.”

Note: Value in Hebrew is `erek which means estimation; price; valuation; proportion; assessment; – which occurs 34 times in the Old Testament. People who lack intelligence may not know the value of things. Almost all people know the value of money, but most people do not know the value of truth and wisdom.

Mat 13:46, “and upon finding one Pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

Note: Value in Greek of the cited Scripture is polytimos which means of great price; very costly; very valuable; extremely valuable; – which occurs 6 times in the New Testament. Jesus Christ is our Pearl of Great Value. Paul says, Phl 3:8, “More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.” Surpassing value is the supreme value, the excellent value, and the highest value. If you know the surpassing value of Christ Jesus, naturally you count all things as rubbish. If you own a 100-carat perfect diamond, you would view all other stones as nothing. If you own a skyscraper in Lujiazui, Shanghai, what is your home in the village would matter?

Rom 2:25, “For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.”

Note: Value in Greek is ōpheleō which means profit; advantage; usefulness; – which occurs 16 times in the New Testament. If you are a Jew and practice the Law, indeed circumcision is of value to you. If you are a transgressor or violator of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. If you made your money the crooked way, your charity becomes non-charity, your foundation is to benefit you and not others. If you rob someone and give a little to the poor, what is the value of your gift?

Col 2:23, “These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.”

Note: Value in Greek of the Scripture cited above is the same original word used in 1 Pe 2:7. The appearance of wisdom represented by Washington, Wall Street, Hollywood, military-industrial-security complex is not true wisdom. Self-made religions and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body are of no value against fleshly indulgence.

1Pe 2:7, “This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,
“THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,
THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,”

Note: Precious value in Greek is timē which means honor; price for thing bought or sold; deference; reverence; esteem; dignity; – which occurs 44 times in the New Testament. For those who believe in Jesus Christ, the Christian faith is of precious value. Once I bought some brass statues, I thought one was a symbol of wealth as another symbol of age. Some told me it was the god of wealth. As soon as I know it, I threw it into the garbage can. 1Co 8:4, “Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but One.” All idols even made of gold are worthless to me, and in fact abominable. Intelligence enables you to know what is what and which is which. 

PERSONALITY

The word “personality” does not exist in the Bible; it is a modern word, although its concept always existed from the beginning. Personality is the identity or individuality with the total characteristics or qualities of a person. I believe it is wrong to use the term Personality in terms of the three persons of the Trinity, Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Nothing human can be or should be compared with the Divine. It is most dangerous and stupid for theologians who think that with the approval of councils they can compare the nature of God with the nature of man. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are ONE, the unity not the separateness. The highest moral perfection of a Christian is in the subordination to the will of God and conformation to the image of Christ. The summum bonum of a Christian is not the actualization or realization of the self, but the gain of Christ. Phl 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Gal 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

The devil has a personality of self-centered arrogance; for he wants to be like God. Isa 14:12-14, 

“How you are fallen from Heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!

For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’

Woman in general has a personality of vanity probably inherited from Eve. Man has a personality of lust, lust for power and sex. 

Personality is the substance and summary of a man’s individual qualities, self-consciousness, self-determination, and self-expression. Personality is basically self consciousness. When a boy or girl begins to say, I like this, or, I don’t like it – it begins to have a personality. Personality is a personal way of thinking, feeling, and behaving. Personality is the totality of a person. Moods, attitudes, feelings, opinions, gestures, voice, civility, and behaving are clearly expressed in interactions with other people. What does a person do by himself or herself is only known to himself or herself. It is hard to say whether which behavioral characteristics are inherent or acquired. Eating, drinking, speaking, laughing, feeling, looking, walking, etc. are universally inherent, but how each function or task is expressed is individually. Can you tell different people laugh differently? When I was young I could discern the way of my father’s footsteps sound? Is a person born that way or bred that way? This is a big topic about nature and nurture which we are not going to dwell on in this article. Pattern of behavior is usually acquired. Children imitate the adults. Quarrelsome parents produce quarrelsome children. Parents who eat with the habit of throwing fish or meat bones on the floor, their children follow. Dirty parents produce dirty children. Interplay among children at school also lead some acquire bad habits, bad language, and bad behavior. Individual patterns of behavior can be swallowed up by the governing group, such as among religious followers and also brainwashing by ideological groups. I offer an example of religious brainwashing. I met a young Catholic girl and told her Mary was not the perpetual Virgin, as the Bible says she had several sons and daughters. The Catholic girl would not accept the fact but persistent in believing Mary, the Holy Mother is the perpetual Virgin as taught by the Roman Catholic Church. 

Personality is a fascinating subject, the embodiment of a person. A male standing there, there you have vision of a man. A female standing there, there you have vision of a woman. A child standing there, there you have vision of a child. Personality has a way of manifesting itself. Marilyn Monroe by just walking can capture the attention, hearts and minds of men. You cannot see Intelligence or Value by just looking. I used to see a beautiful woman in America. She did not have to speak or do anything. She was just standing there and I had the vision of a beaming and shining star! Personality is psychologically and socially significant. Once a six-year old boy who had high intelligence, good value and pleasant personality visited us with his mother in Shanghai. I had a chat with the boy, and I told him Mount Huang, Yellow Sea and Yellow River (Huang and Yellow = Wong) all belong to me because my surname is Huang (Wong). He looked at me and listened and then laughed heartily. Why? He could not answer or respond or comment to such an outrageous and amusing claim and his personality became the predominating factor that brought on a good laughter. Personality is the conscious manifestation of self. The consciousness of self and the consciousness of another person or thing is not the same. The difference is internal versus external. There is no such a thing called permanent self. Everything human or about the world is not permanent.

Only God can have a complete and perfect Personality. Self-knowledge and Self-determination do not make man like God. In the full sense of the word, only God can declare, “I AM WHO I AM.” (Exo 3:14) There are many things overpass human power of knowing and proving. The complete consummation of Christian personality is the voluntary and intentional surrender of our will to the will of God. Mat 26:39, “And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” For that reason, Christianity is not a religion, but a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The pivot of the Gospel is: Lord, save me. Jer 17:14, “

Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed;
Save me and I will be saved,
For You are my praise.”

From the perspective of personality, it tells you something about the nature of a language. In German “ich” is equivalent to English “I” which is using small letter. In English “I” is using capital letter. I do not know other languages that use “I” in capital letter. Obviously the “I” of the English culture is self-important, and egocentric. Therefore, the English-speaking people are culturally inclined and influenced to be more aggressive than others. Jesus never made use the language of science or philosophy of His age to express God. The Wisdom of God does not need the knowledge of man. Jesus Christ is the Word of God. To explain the ‘I AM WHO I AM’ of the Old Testament, Jesus declares, Jhn 14:6-7, “Jesus said to him, “I AM the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” Jhn 10:30, “I and the Father are One.” How the Father and the Son are ONE? Jhn 14:10-11, “Do you not believe that I AM in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I AM in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.” Jhn 8:29, “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” The whole raison d’être and the highest goal of Christians is to conform to the Image of Christ, by always doing the things that are pleasing to God. Thus the Christian personality is an imitation of Christ.

I personally do not believe in Personality Types presented in the market place. Introvert or extrovert is an easy classification which may have some truth in it. The three personality types of ant, bee and spider also contain some interesting points. An ant is sociable; a bee is individualistic; while a spider is a self-dominant and power-hungry. The dichotomy between proud and humble, honest and dishonest; dependable and undependable are clearly verifiable and useful. I also do not believe in many tests that claim to define your personality type. However, I do think Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) has some value, but not absolute. There is nothing absolute in any science or human knowledge. 

IVP not only influences your thinking and behavior, IVP ultimately makes you what you are. IVP Scale measures and indicates the score of a individual, or nation. For the sake of simplicity, we only provide simple models. There are sophisticated IVP Scales which we will not dwell on in this article.

As an illustration, some years ago I lectured at Xian Jiaotong University, China, the Chairman of a corporation also invited me to speak to his staff and employees. In providing a model of decision making, I presented an imaginary problem to see how people would solve it. Suppose you are in a big ship but sinking, your mother, wife and child are with you. The situation is such that you can save only one person. Your mother, wife, and child, which one you would save. All the Chinese people influenced by the Chinese traditional Value as the predominating factor decided to save their mother. They objected that I would not save my mother. I explained to them: my mother is already old and she has lived a happy life, and I am my mother’s favorite son. My mother would refuse me to save her, she would want me to save my wife and live happily hereafter. Besides, I can have another child; but I would not want to have another woman or another wife. You see my decision is more complex than the straightforward decision of the Chinese audience, even the Value factor plays an important role dominating and interacting with other factors.

If you would understand a person better, you better understand his IVP. If you were born with low and inferior Intelligence, no one can help you to increase your intelligence to a higher level. But everyone can change and improve his Value and Personality. IVP is all about this life in this world.  If you want eternal life in the world to come, Jesus says, Jhn 3:5-8, “Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 

If you are born again, having passed from death to life, and have eternal life, with the Holy Spirit living in you, you will enter the Kingdom of God and enjoy full blessings of the Lord, every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, peace and grace, honor and glory forever and ever in the Kingdom of Heaven. IVP would not be a problem to you. All things have passed away, and all things have become new. 

2.  IVP SCALE

IVP Scale is used to score the tripartite elements of an individual, high, middle or low or zero, positive or negative, +, – and x. The sum of IVP Scale indicates the complete make-up of the person.

To make IVP Scale it is necessary to understand the following symbols:

IVP = THEORY OF MAN, COVERING INTELLIGENCE, VALUE AND PERSONALITY.

IVP Scale counts and covers the total makeup or picture of a man.

IVP = INTELLIGENCE, VALUE , PERSONALITY

I =  INTELLIGENCE

V=  VALUE

P=  PERSONALITY

H=  HIGH

M=  MIDDLE

L=  LOW

h=  high

m=  middle

L=  low

o=  zero

n=  negative

p=  positive

+ =  plus

– =  minus

x =  multiply

These are simple IVP Scales, there can be very sophisticated scales. Suffice it to use simple scales for the sake of simplicity. To provide examples, I have made the following IVP Scales of various individuals and nations for your evaluation and judgment:

Hitler = nHI x nLV + nHP

Japanese no. 1 war criminal = nMI x nLV + nLP

Note: Do you know why Hitler was more dangerous than the no. 1 Japanese war criminal by examining their IVP scales?

Islamic Terrorist = nLI x oV x oP

Western leaders who continuously lie, distort, kill, rob = nlI x nlV x nlP

Drunk driver who kills = nmI + nLV + nLP

Judas the Traitor = nMI – nLV – nLP

Nobel Prize winners, scientists, great philosophers = pHI

Famous actors and actresses = pHP

Martin Luther = pHI x pHV x pHP

Abraham Lincoln = pHI + pHV + pHP

Helen Keller = phI + pHV + pMP

Ungrateful person = nLI + oV + nLP

Traitor = nLI – oV – nLP

Serial rapist or mass murderer = noI – oV – noP

Delilah = nlI – oV + mP

When you assess a nation, you must think Personality as national character.

Evil Empire = nl I x nl V x nl P

Nazi Germany = nMI – nLV – nLP

Militarist Japan = nMI – nLV – nLP

Western Powers = nMI – nLV – nLP

Warmonger = nl I – nl V – nl P

Western Media = nMI – nLV – nLP

Fool = nLI + nLV + nLP

Rascal = nLI – nLV – nLP

Crooked doctor and hospital owner = nHI + nLV – LP

Washington Executives = nhI – nLV – nLP

Wall Street Executives = nHI – nLV – nLP

Hollywood Executives = nhI – nLV – nLP

A hot tempered person = nl I + l V + l P

A good for nothing person = nl I – oV – l P

A religious or cult leader = nhI + nLV + MP

An violent and abusive husband = nl I – nl V – nl P

A rioter = nl I + oV + oP

A traitor = nl I – oV – oP

An unpleasant person = nl I + lV – l P

An unwelcome person = nl I + oV + oP

A useless person = nl I – oV – oP

A shameless person = nl l – oV + oP

Prolific serial killer = oI x oV x oP

The most frightening phenomenon is the fact that the leaders of the United States of America today are = nLI x nLV x nLP

They may lead America to a nuclear war and destruction of the world.

More sophisticated IVP Scales could include the following:

HHI, MHI, LHI, HMI, MMI, LMI, LHI, LLI; HHV, HMV, LHV, MHV, MMV, LMV, LLV; HHP, HMP, HLP, MHP, MMP, MLP, LHP, LMP, LLP; +. – x.

There are cases where no predominating factor emerges, even people make decision. For example, do you prefer the gift of a $1 million home or cash of $800,000? As for me, three parts of me, Intelligence, Value and Personality would unanimously choose $800,000 cash. Pardon me for not providing the detailed analysis of my decision. I am aware some people would prefer a $1 million home. This is not a moral issue, you may choose as you like.

Almost all Christian ministries exist and live on donations. I know how poor preachers suffered, my father was one of them. The children of poor missionaries also suffered. The most difficult and hardest thing I have ever done was to work my way through college in America. When I earned my Bachelor and Master’s degrees, I did not owe anyone one penny. I have preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the Internet for about 20 years absolutely free. We do not want donation, we just want the people to know the truth. My decision to decline donation is deliberate. Over the years I have watched false preachers who distorted the Gospel and disgraced Christianity by shamelessly and repeatedly begging for money on TV in public. My Body, Soul, and Spirit; my Intelligence, Value, and Personality unanimously and wholeheartedly vote to choose to preach the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ absolutely free. There is no regret, no hesitation, no change of mind.

Would you choose to marry a rich fool or a poor wise man? I know many girls and women would prefer to marry a rich fool. Not a few would even marry a rich old fool. For these girls and women, the Value of money is the only predominating factor in their lives. The Bible says, The love of money is the root of all evil. (1Ti 6:10) For the same reason, Wall Street executives invented 2008 financial crisis and robbed the world $50 trillion and obtained billions in bonuses without shame or regret or going to jail. For the same reason, crooked and fraudulent doctors, dentists, hospital owners, insurance and drugs companies, labs and medical suppliers habitually and routinely defraud and overcharge and bankrupt millions of families with impunity. It is the strangest and most abnormal business transaction in the world that American doctors and hospitals do not have to provide advanced cost information to patients. After patients are discharged, they automatically send overcharged and fraudulent bills to patients they cannot bargain or refuse. In all business transactions under the Heaven, the buyers know ahead of time what will cost them or how much they have to pay. The American legal system allows and enables doctors and hospitals not to disclose cost information in advance and charge whatever they please with impunity.

Why do you become a Christian? As for me, all the articles I wrote on the Internet testify to it. My theological tripartite and my philosophical tripartite deliberately choose to believe in Jesus Christ and become a disciple and follower of Jesus Christ. For those who do not believe, I cannot speak for them. Let us take the Intelligence factor which secularists, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers would argue as the first cause. But Jesus says, Jhn 10:26, “But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep.” I would rather to be a sheep of Jesus than all the knowledge and honor of secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers. The evil heart of unbelief is not what man can fully explain or understand. If you are wise, Believe and Repent.

IVP teaches every man is responsible for himself. IVP also teaches you to know yourself and to know others. IVP teaches you your thinking has consequences because thinking influences behavior. Every act brings consequence. What you sow is what you reap. No one can escape the law of cause and effect. If you fail in this world, there is no one to blame but yourself. If you do well or succeed, it is because you have received help from many people. Your IVP makes you what you are. You have a choice to be what you are. You do not have a choice to be born, but you have a choice how to live. Your destiny is in your hand. Only you can save yourself from self-indulgence, self-deception, self-negligence, self-will, and self-destruction. If you perish, you could not even blame the devil. Jesus says, Jhn 5:40, “and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.” If you are unwilling, God will not force you. God has given you a free will, you may choose life or death. I hope you choose to come to Jesus and have life, eternal life.

Unfortunately I fell ill on October 7, 2019 so I had to go to a major hospital emergency in Shanghai. There I observed several events at the emergency department. (1). One violent young man suddenly ferociously beat up his wife with slapping and kicking in public. People were watching and no one helped. (2) One strong some 40 year old female patient suddenly erupted in fighting and banging the door of a doctor, I saw her hand combat with hospital security personnel, I did not know whether she struck at the doctor or not. Four or five security personnel could not handle her. Then I went to Emergency IV Therapy Area to undergo IV treatment. So I did not know the end result of that violent female patient. (3). I went to below standard hospital toilet facility where I met a man hiding behind the toilet door smoking. I do not need to mention the undesirable and unpleasant and stupid behavior of some patients during IV treatment.

A word to secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers who say there is no God, so they also believe there is no Hell. I invite them to visit a major Shanghai hospital emergency to find out the existence of a living hell. First they have to fight through the procedure of registering as an emergency patient and pay the fee. Then they have to line up waiting for the doctor. They will have to go through all kinds of tests, pay the fees and wait for the reports. They will also pay and get the prescribed drugs. Finally they will go to the Emergency IV Area to undergo IV treatment. All anyone has to do is to open his eyes to see, his ears to hear, and with MI (Middle Intelligence) he should be able to determine if a living hell exists or not in this world. Have you ever met a doctor who is really concerned about you, voluntarily taking time to explain your condition? If you are very ill, a prescription of ineffective drugs is tantamount to poison. It will not be hard to convince you that a living hell exists in this world, so you can be sure of God’s Word there is an eternal Hell after death.

INTELLIGENCE and VALUE are not self-apparent, you have to use deductive method to measure them. If you are experienced and good at IVP Scale, you can estimate an individual IVP Scale by just watching and hearing a person speak. PERSONALITY is more apparent than Intelligence and Value. IVP Scale has political, social, psychological and economic implications for nations. IVP Scale describes and defines what a person is, or his IVP Scale reflects what a person is.

Woe to a nation which has a large population with the following IVP Scale: nll + lV + lP.

I do not see any hope for any nation which has a large population of the following IVP Scale: nl I + oV + oP.

Have you found IVP and IVP Scale interesting and useful? I told you so.

V.  THINKING INFLUENCES BEHAVIOR

What a man thinks in his heart or in his mind has direct influence on his behavior, for better or worse.

1.  The Devil was the first wrong THINKER.

Isa 14:12, “How you are fallen from Heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!”

Note: Lucifer in Hebrew is heylel which means Lucifer = “light-bearer”; shining one; morning star; splendid star; – which occurs 1 time only in the Old Testament. The fallen angel was Lucifer, who was fallen from Heaven. That was the biggest fall, probably bigger than falling from grace. The Bible does not provide the origin of the evil angel. He was cut down to the ground by God. Weaken in Hebrew is chalash which means to waste away; to disable; to prostrate; to overcome; to overthrow; to make frail; – which occurs 3 times in the Old Testament. The Devil weakened the nations. How did the evil angel fall from Heaven?

Isa 14:13,“But you said in your heart,
‘I will ascend to Heaven;
 I will raise my throne above the stars of God,
And I will sit on the mount of assembly
In the recesses of the north.”

Note: Does the devil have a heart, or it means his mind? The fallen angel said in his heart, he will ascend to Heaven. He will raise his throne above the stars of God. He will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. The sin that caused the fallen angel turn into the Devil was his pride or unholy ambition. He wanted to ascend to Heaven. He wanted to raise himself above the stars of God. He wanted to sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. The pride of the Devil’s heart is the pride of power. The Devil spoke with insolent pride he will ascend. The devil is full of ego, that was why he did not subject himself to God. Anyone who does what the devil did is going to destruction. Pro 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.” Later the Devil used the same sin to seduce Eve, You will be like God. Secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers fall into the same trap the devil did.

Isa 14:14, “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.”

Note: The will of Lucifer ruins him. Lucifer committed the unpardonable sin for he wanted to make himself like the Most High. Lucifer had the ego bigger than his head. How many times he made egocentric thoughts and said in his heart: I will ascend to Heaven …I will raise my throne above…I will sit on the mount…I will ascend above the heights…I will make myself like the Most High – he hit the deadly sin. So Lucifer was the first wrong thinker that brought himself down from Heaven. That is why Jesus says anyone who wants to follow Jesus must deny himself. Watch out the activities of the devil:

(1). The devil fell from Heaven like lightning. (Luk 10:18)

(2). The devil is the enemy who sowed bad seed in the world. (Mat 13:39)

(3). The devil is the tempter.(Luk 4:13)

(4). The devil takes away the word from the heart of man. (Luk 8:12)

(5). The devil is a murderer, liar, and father of lies. (Jhn 8:44)

(6). The devil puts evil thought into the heart of man. (Act 10:38)

(7). The devil oppresses people with diseases and demons. (Act 10:38)

(8). The devil plots schemes against believers. (Eph 6:11)

(9). The devil makes the snare to trap Christians. (1Ti 3:7)

(10). The devil is seeking someone to devour.(1Pe 5:8)

(11). The children of the devil do not practice righteousness. (1Jo 3:10)

(12). The devil deceives the whole world. (Rev 12:9)

(13). The devil has come down to earth. (Rev 12:12)

(14). The devil is not setting his mind on God’s interests. (Mat 16:23)

(15). The devil disguises himself as an angel of light. (2Co 11:14)

(16). The devil hinders the servants of Christ. (1Th 2:18)

(17). The devil can perform power and signs and false wonders. (2Th 2:9)

(18). The devil has the flaming arrows. (Eph 6:16)

(19). The devil does not touch one who is born of God. (1Jo 5:18)

(20). The whole world lies in the power of the evil one. (1Jo 5:19)

(21). The devil is the ruler of this world. (Jhn 16:11)

(22). The devil will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. (Rev 20:10)

2.  Some Biblical Examples: 

The Bible is full of examples to illustrate the fact that thinking influences behavior, we only selected a few for your edification.

(A.)  EVE.

Gen 3:1-7, “Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’  ”The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.”

Note: Historically Eve was deceived first by the Devil. It is not a sexist statement to say that women are more likely to be deceived than men. The old crafty serpent started his dirty work first with Eve. He picked his vulnerable target.

2Co 11:2-4, “For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.”

Note: Spiritually speaking, a Christian, a true believer, is like a pure virgin of Christ betrothed to Christ. The pure virgin of Christ will not go for another Jesus, will not receive a different spirit, and will not receive a different gospel. Secular academics and unbelieving theologians seduce the pure virgin of Christ to follow another Jesus, to receive a different spirit and a different gospel. So Christians must be alert and not to be deceived. For instance, prosperity gospel is another gospel, not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The so-called historical Jesus presented by Modernists is not the true Jesus of the Bible. The spirit of one World Religion is the spirit of the devil.

1Ti 2:12-15, “But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.”

Note: The devil seduced Eve with the cunning words your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God. That was the sin the devil committed in the first place, he wanted to be like God. Eve saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise. Here Eve fell into the trap of appearance, the vanity of beauty: the fruit was a delight to the eyes. All the cosmetics and fashions and bags and shoes, jewelry, etc. appeal to women and they turn into big businesses in billions and billions. The desire to look smart and pretty is a black hole. 

Christian women, do not listen to the feminist movement and their spokeswomen. They are children of the devil. Follow the Bible as instructed below:

1Ti 3:11, “Women must likewise be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate, faithful in all things.”

Note: Dignified in Greek is semnos which means honest; grave; august; venerable; reverend; venerated in character; honorable; respectable; serious and graceful; distinguished; – which occurs 5 times in the New Testament. Have you met a dignified Christian lady? She is more magnificent than a queen. Slanderer in Greek is diabolos which means false accuser; a calumniator; one who acts the part of the devil; traducer; – which occurs 38 times in the New Testament. Many Western leaders and almost all Western media are slanderers who spread lies, make fakes news and fake reports and false accusations. Temperate in Greek is nēphalios which means sober; vigilant; abstaining from wine; free from alcohol; circumspect; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. An intemperate woman appears more degrading. Faithful in Greek is pistos which means true; trusty; sure; worthy of trust; trustworthy; truthful; that can be relied on; – which occurs 69 times in the New Testament. On the contrary, many worldly women engage in malicious gossips.

Tit 2:3, “Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not false accusers nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good.”

Note: Reverent in Greek is hieroprepēs which means befitting; becoming; as becomes holiness; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. Enslave in Greek is douloō which means to become servant; to be under bondage; to make a slave of; – which occurs 12 times in the New Testament. Wine or liquor can enslave people. A woman enslaved by wine appears more horrible. A dignified woman who also teaches what is good is so precious.

Tit 2:4, “so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children.”

Note: Women who love their husbands and their children are good citizens of Heaven.

1Pe 3:5, “For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands.”

Note: Adorn in Greek is kosmeō which means to garnish; to trim; to put in order; to arrange; to prepare; to embellish; to ornament; to decorate; to make ready; to beautify; to do makeup; – which occurs 12 times in the New Testament. In former times the holy women are more dignified and respectable than these days. The adornment of the holy women is to be submissive to their own husbands. Other women act like the husbands.

1Ti 2:9-10, “ Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.”

Note: How women adorn themselves tell the difference between the holy women and the common women. Proper in Greek is kosmios which means modest; of good behavior; well arranged; seemly; orderly; decorous; virtuous; respectable; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Due to bad influence of Western culture, nowadays many women and girls do not know how to dress themselves properly. Many Western women dress in away deliberately to show most of their breasts. It will not be a surprise if these women and girls go topless one day.  Clothing is a very big business in the name of fashion appealing to vanity allure women and girls to dress not properly.

Modestly in Greek is aidōs which means shamefacedly; bashfully; respectfully; decently; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Discreetly in Greek is sōphrosynē which means soberly; with self control; with soundness of mind; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. Women hairdos or hairstyles is another big business. Women jewelry is probably the most expensive business. Their favorites are gold and pearls and diamonds. It is even said, Diamonds are women best friends. Costly garments are status symbol for men and women, especially for women. I hold the opinion that a minister’s wife who wears a $30,000 mink coat is a disgrace and gives the enemy of Christ occasion for reproach.

Christian women do not follow the feminist movement, it is a broad way that leads to destruction. Do not imitate Eve, but imitate the holy women. Do not follow in the steps of Eve, but follow Sarah the wife of Abraham, Ruth the virtuous woman, Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary the sister of Lazarus, Elisabeth the mother of John the Baptist, Mary Magdalene, etc.

(B).  CAIN.

Gen 4:1-16, “Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, “I have gotten a manchild with the help of the LORD.” Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground. Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then the LORD said to Cain: And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground. Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth.” Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is too great to bear! Behold, You have driven me this day from the face of the ground; and from Your face I will be hidden, and I will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” So the LORD said to him, “Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” And the LORD appointed a sign for Cain, so that no one finding him would slay him. Then Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.”

Note: Cain in Hebrew is Qayin which means a possession; a spear; – which occurs 19 times in the Old Testament. Eve thought she got a possession when she gave birth to Cain, not knowing she got a killer, a murderer of his brother. The difference between Abel and Cain was not in their work; one was a keeper of flocks, the other was a tiller of the ground. There is nothing wrong with being a tiller of the land. All work is honorable. God had regard for the offering Abel, and no regard for the offering of Cain. Instead of thinking and finding out why his offering was not acceptable to God, Cain got angry. Very often, people who do not do well get angry. A Western power got angry with China because it cannot compete with China. Out of envy and jealousy the evil nation targets China in every way and treats China as an enemy without cause. If Cain asked his father Adam, he would have learned that because of Adam’s sin, the ground was cursed by God. Cain used the fruit of the ground (cursed) to offer to God, therefore God had no regard for his offering.

When Cain killed his brother Abel, God asked Cain, Where is your brother Abel? Cain answered he did not know. When a man commits a sin or crime, he always insists he has no knowledge of it. Now not only Cain was a murderer, he was a liar. Cain even argued with God that he was not his brother’s keeper. Thinking evil has consequences. When God punished Cain for his murder, Cain not only did not repent and beg for mercy, he complained the punishment was too great to bear. Those who hold death penalty is too cruel must be descendants of Cain.

Gen 3:17, “Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’;
Cursed is the ground because of you;
In toil you will eat of it
All the days of your life.”

Note: It is dangerous for the husband to listen to the voice of his wife in sinning against God. The world is cursed because of sin.

Gen 3:19, “By the sweat of your face
You will eat bread,
Till you return to the ground,
Because from it you were taken;
For you are dust,
And to dust you shall return.”

Note: Arrogant man does not realize he is dust, and to dust he shall return.

Gen 5:29, “Now he called his name Noah, saying, “This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the LORD has cursed.”

There is no escape, thinking and doing evil has consequences.

Heb 11:4, “By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.”

Note: Through faith in Jesus Christ and by grace a sinner can be justified before God and saved from the wrath of God.

1Jo 3:12, “not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.”

Note: The Bible calls Cain the evil one because he slew his brother. It is not passing judgment to say a killer is an evil one. Western warmongers and Islamic terrorists are evil ones. Nazis who killed 6 millions Jews were evil ones. Japanese who killed 35 million Chinese were evil ones. The devil was the first murderer, and Cain was the first fratricide. 

Jde 1:11, “Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.”

Note: The way of Cain is the way of killing. Since the end of World War II, American presidents and Congressional leaders have gone the way of Cain by killing millions and millions of innocent peoples in the world.

(C).  LOT.

Gen 12:5, “Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan.”

Note: Lot in Hebrew is Lowt which means covering; a veil; the ancestor of Ammonites and Moabites; – which occurs 33 times in the Old Testament. Lot was very fortunate to have an uncle like Abraham; Abraham was burdened to have a nephew like Lot.

Gen 13:5-13, “Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. And the land could not sustain them while dwelling together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to remain together. And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. Now the Canaanite and the Perizzite were dwelling then in the land. So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me; if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left.” Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere—this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the valley, and moved his tents as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the LORD.”

Note: Possession in Hebrew is rĕkuwsh which means goods; substance; riches; property; – which occurs 28 times in the Old Testament. Worldly possessions often cause conflict between men and men and nations and nations. Sometimes too much riches may not be a blessing. I agree with the saint who prayed:

Pro 30:7-9, “Two things I asked of You,
Do not refuse me before I die:

Keep deception and lies far from me,
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with the food that is my portion,

That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the LORD?”
Or that I not be in want and steal,
And profane the name of my God.”

Note: Please in Hebrew is na’ which means now I beseech thee; I pray; used in entreaty or exhortation; used in submissive and modest request; to have the kindness; to express politeness in a request; – which occurs 384 times in the Old Testament. Abraham was so magnificent and noble. Lot had nothing when Abraham took him to the land of Canaan. Now the herdsmen of Lot had strife with herdsmen of Abraham because Lot had great possessions. Lot looks like an ungrateful nephew. Strife in Hebrew is riyb which means controversy; conflict; contention; dispute; case at law; contest; chiding; suit; fight; – which occurs 63 times in the Old Testament. Although Abraham was the elder of Lot as his uncle, he spoke humbly to Lot. Brother in Hebrew is ‘ach which means kindred; relative; kinship; kinsman; – which occurs 634 times in the Old Testament. Abraham treated Lot as a brother, not as an inferior low ranking relative. Abraham even gave his nephew first priority: If Lot chooses to go to the left, Abraham will go to the right; if Lot chooses to go to the right, Abraham will go to the left. It is unlike the arrogant American leaders to declare policy to the world with “America First”.

Choose in Hebrew is bachar which means to make choice; to elect; to select; to decide for; to appoint; to require; to have a preference for; – which occurs 170 times in the Old Testament. Lot’s choice was influenced by his perception and value. Choice determines one’s destiny. If you compare the life of Lot and the life of Abraham, the consequences prove choice is a critical and historical determinant. Choice reveals the true nature of a person. It is not possible for a sheep to choose a life of a pig.

Gen 13:10-12, “Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere—this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the valley, and moved his tents as far as Sodom.”

Note: Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan like the garden of the Lord. Lot had shallow perception and worldly value.

Luk 17:28-29,“It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from Heaven and destroyed them all.”

2Pe 2:6-8, “and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter; and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds).”

Note:  How can any Christian, much more a preacher, not be tormented by the lawless deeds of American and European leaders and politicians from ancient time to the present and the evil deeds of Islamic terrorists?

Whatever we may think of Lot, the Word of God calls him righteous Lot, righteous man, he had righteous soul. But Lot made a wrong choice, while living among the Sodomites, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds. Are your righteous souls not tormented day and night by watching on TV what is happening in the world? Why did not Lot move out of Sodom is a question I cannot answer. Lot was oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men. Homosexuals are unprincipled men. Corrupt politicians are unprincipled men. Corrupt and greedy Wall Street and Hollywood executives are unprincipled men. Greedy and fraudulent doctors, dentists and hospital owners are unprincipled men. Could not Lot do something about the unprincipled men? I do not understand Lot at all. If you make a wrong decision after all can you not change to save yourself from the wrong environment? Of course we are in the world, we cannot get out the world unless we die, but we do not belong to the world. That is the predicament of every saint on earth waiting for the second coming of Jesus Christ. 

Luk 17:32-33, “Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.”

Note: Remember in Greek is mnēmoneuō which means to be mindful of; to mention; to call to mind; to think of; to hold in memory; to keep in mind; to recollect; to make mention; to remember about; – which occurs 23 times in the New Testament. What to remember Lot’s wife about? Jesus Christ teaches us a lesson: “Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.” Washington, Wall Street and Hollywood executives seek to keep their lives in this world will lose them eventually.

(D).  ABRAHAM.

Gen 20:1-18, “Now Abraham journeyed from there toward the land of the Negev, and settled between Kadesh and Shur; then he sojourned in Gerar. Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is married.” Now Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, will You slay a nation, even though blameless? Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.”Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also kept you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. Now therefore, restore the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.” So Abimelech arose early in the morning and called all his servants and told all these things in their hearing; and the men were greatly frightened. Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be done.” And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What have you encountered, that you have done this thing?” Abraham said, “Because I thought, surely there is no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife. Besides, she actually is my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife; and it came about, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, ‘This is the kindness which you will show to me: everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.” Abimelech then took sheep and oxen and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored his wife Sarah to him. Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you; settle wherever you please.” To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; behold, it is your vindication before all who are with you, and before all men you are cleared.” Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maids, so that they bore children. For the LORD had closed fast all the wombs of the household of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.”

Note: This is a most fascinating historical account of Abraham and his beautiful wife Sarah. I have nothing against Abraham. Abraham, who owns a title called, the friend of God, is probably the most magnificent and marvelous and noble gentleman ever lived. Jas 2:23, “and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God.” Whenever I meet Jewish people, I always tell them I am also a son of Abraham by faith. I am using Abraham as an example, not because he had done anything wrong. The point is: Man’s thought influenced his behavior. A man’s thought influences his behavior. A good man’s thought also influences his behavior. If I were in the position of Abraham, probably I would do the same and calling my beautiful wife my sister. People who have no fear of God may do any evil. People who fear God do no evil. Western leaders pretend to fear God but they continuously do evil in this world for the last 500 years.

Besides in Hebrew is gam which means also; even; again; indeed; moreover; in addition; truly; which occurs 707 times in the Old Testament. Blessed is the man when he does thing with additional reason. Sarah was truly Abraham’s sister, the same father but different mother. Sarah was both wife and half-sister of Abraham. Kindness in Hebrew is checed which means mercy; lovingkindness; goodness; favor; pity; faithfulness; good deed; love; benevolence; – which occurs 253 times in the Old Testament. What wife would not do a good deed to save her husband’s life? Here is a tragic reality. People would kill for a beautiful woman. Pardon me, even David did it. Beauty is good but it can be dangerous. People kill for money too. So wealth can be dangerous.

Abraham said God caused him to wander. Abraham obeyed God wherever God wanted him to go. God caused Abraham to wander. Abraham did whatever God caused him to do. This is obedience. Is God the first cause of your life? This is also security. If everything happens in my life is caused by God, I am secure, having nothing to worry. God will lead me through the valley of death to the Holy City. This is the promise of God to His children, Rom 8:28, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” It is a most comforting thought that in a dangerous world God not only controls whatever comes to pass, God also causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him.

Dream in Hebrew is chalowm which means what is heard or seen or experienced during sleep; – which occurs 65 times in the Old Testament. There are two kinds of dream: ordinary dream and prophetic dream. For example, Joseph had prophetic dreams. God also used dream to speak to people, from king Abimelech to the wise men from the East. 

God said to Abimelech that he was a dead man because the woman whom he had taken was married. If you take a married woman, God considers you are a dead man. Adultery is a great sin. Oh how many dead men in the West, Arab countries and the world! Dead in Hebrew is muwth which means killed; executed; sterile; – which occurs 984 times in the Old Testament. The reason was that the LORD had closed fast all the wombs of the household of Abimelech, Abimelech and his wife and his maids, so that they bore no children. Hearing these things they were greatly frightened.

God can slay any person or nation any time. I wonder why Western leaders and media executive and Islamic terrorists are not afraid that God may slay them? Blameless in Hebrew is tsaddiyq which means righteous in conduct and character; just; lawful; correct; right; true; honest; virtuous; pious; upright; – which occurs 235 times in the Old Testament. To be blameless is to have the integrity of the heart and the innocence of the hands. Integrity in Hebrew is tom which means uprightness; simplicity; perfection; completeness; innocence; wholeness; incorruptibility; – which occurs 24 times in the Old Testament. Innocence in Hebrew is niqqayown which means innocency; cleanness; freedom from guilt; purity; – which occurs 5 times in the Old Testament. How many Western leaders have the integrity of the heart and the innocence of the hands? A liar, murderer and robber cannot have the integrity of the heart and the innocence of the hands.

Restore in Hebrew is shuwb which means to return; to turn back; to recover; to bring back; to put back; to give back; to send back; – which occurs 1,299 times in the Old Testament. This is grave and serious matter: If you rape a virgin, she cannot be restored. If you rape a woman, she cannot be restored. It is wonderful to know that God who loved Abraham and Sarah so much that He kept king Abimelech from sinning against God, and therefore God did not let Abimelech touch Sarah. I bow to the Sovereignty of God and I adore His power and lovingkindness.

Vindication in Hebrew is kĕcuwth which means covering for concealment; vesture; raiment; veiling; a cover (garment); covering of the eyes (a gift of appeasing); a present given in order to obtain a pardon; a mulct; – which occurs 8 times in the Old Testament. For a vindication, king Abimelech gave a thousand pieces of silver to Abraham, a big sum of money. Vindication of China will take place when Japan confesses its war crimes, genocide, sex slavery, slave labor, atrocities and brutalities committed against China in the war of aggression for 14 years and pay compensation! Vindication of China can take place when America, Europe, Japan and others return the national treasures of China worth US$100,000 trillion dollars robbed and looted during the infamous Opium Wars, etc. to the present.

Clear in Hebrew is yakach which means to prove right; to show to be right; to justify; to be in the front; to be in the sunshine; – which occurs 64 times in the Old Testament. Isn’t this a beautiful expression? To be cleared is to be in the sunshine? American presidents and leaders, Western leaders for the last 500 years, Japanese leaders and militarists, and Islamic terrorists can never be cleared from their crimes and sins of lying, killing and robbing. They should not feel lucky because they are not charged in the court of men. They will face the Supreme Court of Heaven sooner or later.

(E).  SAMSON.

Jdg 14:1-9, “Then Samson went down to Timnah and saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines. So he came back and told his father and mother, “I saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife.” Then his father and his mother said to him, “Is there no woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she looks good to me.” However, his father and mother did not know that it was of the LORD, for He was seeking an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel. Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother, and came as far as the vineyards of Timnah; and behold, a young lion came roaring toward him. The Spirit of the LORD came upon him mightily, so that he tore him as one tears a young goat though he had nothing in his hand; but he did not tell his father or mother what he had done. So he went down and talked to the woman; and she looked good to Samson. When he returned later to take her, he turned aside to look at the carcass of the lion; and behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the body of the lion. So he scraped the honey into his hands and went on, eating as he went. When he came to his father and mother, he gave some to them and they ate it; but he did not tell them that he had scraped the honey out of the body of the lion.” 

Note: Delilah looks good to Samson. Deadly mushrooms also look good. Samson in Hebrew is Shimshown which means like the sun; sunlight; – which occurs 38 times in the Old Testament. Samson was a Nazarite for life, and a judge of Israel for 20 years. Samson was celebrated for his great strength, but he was weak toward women, particularly beautiful women. Samson could conquer the Philistines, but he could not subdue himself. Pro 16:32, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.” Apparently, Samson could not rule his spirit. A wife must be a woman, but a woman may not be a wife. The only reason that Samson wanted Delilah for a wife was because Delilah looked good to him. The good looks of woman have such a mesmerizing effect on all men. All men are pleased with good looking women. Appearance attracts man. When Marilyn Monroe walked, all men stopped and looked. 

Jdg 16:15, “Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have deceived me these three times and have not told me where your great strength is.”

Note: It is certainly dangerous to pick a wife sheer and only based on appearance or good looks. There is vanity in beauty, but no beauty in vanity. It is true everywhere, appearance attracts men. Jesus says, Jhn 7:24, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” 1Sa 16:7, “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” Appearance in Hebrew is mar’eh which means sight; countenance; what is seen; look; form; – which occurs 95 times in the Old Testament. Outward appearance in Hebrew is`ayin which means eye; face; sight; presence; resemblance; what is before the eyes; between the eyes; – which occurs 844 times in the Old Testament. This is a great truth: God sees not as man sees. A man of tripartite (IVP) cannot and does not see as the Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient God sees. So this is your problem, secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers –you cannot see as God sees.

A good looking woman may not be a good wife, a good wife may not be good looking. It is rare to find the combination of intelligence and beautiful appearance. 1Sa 25:3, “(now the man’s name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail. And the woman was intelligent and beautiful in appearance, but the man was harsh and evil in his dealings, and he was a Calebite).” Abigail was both intelligent and beautiful who became David’s wife after decease of her husband. Ruth was beautiful and virtuous. Sarah was beautiful and holy. See the value of a virtuous woman and wife as follows:

Pro 12:4, “A virtuous woman is a crown of her husband, but she who causes shame is like decay in his bones.”

Note: Virtuous in Hebrew is chayil which means efficient; able; virtuous; worthy; – which occurs 243 times in the Old Testament. Crown in Hebrew is `atarah which means a diadem; a royal headdress; – which occurs 23 times in the Old Testament. Cause shame in Hebrew is buwsh which means to put to shame; to act shamefully; to disgrace; – which occurs 109 times in the Old Testament. Decay in Hebrew is raqab which means rotten thing; rottenness; decomposition; – which occurs 5 times in the Old Testament.

Pro 31:10-31, “Who can find an virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life. She looks for wool and flax
And works with her hands in delight. She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar. She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household and portions to her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She senses that her gain is good; her lamp does not go out at night. She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle. She extends her hand to the poor, and she stretches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She makes coverings for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies belts to the tradesmen. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future. She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and bless her; her husband also, and he praises her, saying: Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all.” Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her the product of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.”

Note: The failure of Samson highlights the priceless value of a virtuous wife. To get a woman is easy, but who can find a virtuous wife. How blessed is the man who has a virtuous wife, she is more valuable than all the gold stored at Fort Knox. I rise up and bless my mother. There is one important point to be said about Delilah in respect to Samson. 

Jdg 16:14-17, “So while he slept, Delilah took the seven locks of his hair and wove them into the web. And she fastened it with the pin and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he awoke from his sleep and pulled out the pin of the loom and the web. Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have deceived me these three times and have not told me where your great strength is.” It came about when she pressed him daily with her words and urged him, that his soul was annoyed to death. So he told her all that was in his heart and said to her, “A razor has never come on my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, then my strength will leave me and I will become weak and be like any other man.”

Note: Delilah in Hebrew is Dĕliylah which means feeble; weak and delicate; a Philistine woman pining with desire; – which occurs 6 times in the Old Testament. Delilah was anything but feeble. She was full of lies and schemes to destroy Samson, and had the gall to say that Samson deceived her three times. Press in Hebrew is tsuwq which means to distress; to oppress; to bring into straits; to compress; to straiten; to urge; – which occurs 13 times in the Old Testament. Samson who was a physically strong person but was spiritually weak and could not stand the daily pressure of words and urging from his woman. You see how much influence a woman has on a man. Urge in Hebrew is ‘alats which means to press; to demand earnestly; – which occurs 1 time in the Old Testament. Annoy in Hebrew is qatsar which means to vex; to discourage; to disturb; to dock off; to curtail; to bother; to trouble; to loathe; to grieve; to straiten; to upset; to make impatient; to irritate repeatedly; to harass; – which occurs 52 times in the Old Testament. The soul of Samson was annoyed to death by Delilah. Who says it is a weaker sex, a woman can annoy the strongest man to death! Oh man, do not tell the secret of your heart to a woman, unless she is a Ruth or Sarah. Strangest thing about Samson is the fact that Delilah tried three times to betray and harm him, Samson did not seem to realize the danger or recognize the evil of Delilah. Samson seemed to be blind, deaf and dumb in front of his woman. The evil and wicked Delilah had the most twisted and tortured logic and distorted definition of love, she said to Samson, How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me?. The concept of Delilah’s love is one way and to irrationally demand Samson to surrender his heart to her. Diabolical Delilah does not know that love is mutual, not selfish. Love is not only the heart who loves you must be with you, your heart must also be with your counterpart. Samson’s heart must be with Delilah even Delilah planned boldly to have him harmed and killed. If you think a woman wants to rob all you have, to bankrupt you, to ruin your life is to love you, you set yourself up for complete shame and total destruction.

Beware of Delilah! Christians girls and women, don’t be Delilah even in Samson’s eyes she was beautiful. Don’t be a woman that betrays your husband and ruined his life. Christian ladies, imitate the holy women like Sarah, Ruth, Mary Magdalene, Mary the sister of Lazarus, Joanna, Susanna, and Elizabeth the mother of John the Baptist, etc.

(F).  ELI

1Sa 1:8-19, “Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep and why do you not eat and why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” Then Hannah rose after eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the temple of the LORD. She, greatly distressed, prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. She made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head.” Now it came about, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli was watching her mouth. As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk. Then Eli said to her, “How long will you make yourself drunk? Put away your wine from you.” But Hannah replied, “No, my lord, I am a woman oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD. Do not consider your maidservant as a worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and provocation.” Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him.” She said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. Then they arose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD, and returned again to their house in Ramah. And Elkanah had relations with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. It came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of the LORD.”

Note: Eli in Hebrew is `Eliy in Hebrew is means ascension; a high priest and judge of Israel; the predecessor of Samuel; – which occurs 33 times in the Old Testament. Poor Eli could not judge correctly, he thought Hannah was drunk when actually she was speaking in her heart and pouring out her soul before the Lord. When a devout woman was praying earnestly, the priest thought she was drunk a worthless woman. Eli had poor insight and poor judgment. It is tragic when a minister has poor insight and wrong judgment. No matter what church you belong to, you must use the Word of God to test and measure the preacher. How damaging when a minister condemns the wrong person. 

1Sa 2:12-17, “Now the sons of Eli were worthless men; they did not know the LORD and the custom of the priests with the people. When any man was offering a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand. Then he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. Thus they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. Also, before they burned the fat, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give the priest meat for roasting, as he will not take boiled meat from you, only raw.” If the man said to him, “They must surely burn the fat first, and then take as much as you desire,” then he would say, “No, but you shall give it to me now; and if not, I will take it by force.” Thus the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for the men despised the offering of the LORD.”

Note: Eli thought Hannah was drunk a worthless woman. Poor Eli could not see the evil and blasphemous deeds of his two sons who did not know the Lord and the custom of the priests with the people. Poor Eli could not see his sons were worthless men. So many parents could not see their sons and daughter are worthless persons. The sons of Eli were famous or infamous with the “three-pronged fork”. Worthless in Hebrew is bĕliya`al which means wicked; ungodly; naughty; evil; good for nothing; base; vile; useless; – which occurs 28 times in the Old Testament. Why Eli was so blind and deaf that he did not know his two sons were worthless men who did not know the Lord? Some parents seem to be oblivious to the faults and sins of their children. The sins of the young men was very great before the Lord for they despised the offering of the Lord. The offering of the Lord is holy and to be respected. It is most tragic if the children of a minister are worthless and do not know the Lord. 

1Sa 2:22-25, “Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting. He said to them, “Why do you do such things, the evil things that I hear from all these people? No, my sons; for the report is not good which I hear the LORD’S people circulating. If one man sins against another, God will mediate for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for the LORD desired to put them to death.”

Note: The evil things that the sons of Eli did were sins against the Lord. Eli had failed as a priest and judge because even his children would not listen to his voice. Every father is a failure if his children would not listen to his voice. Every minister is a failure if his children would not listen to him. A word to all fathers: the most important lesson you must teach your children is only one word: obedience. Obedience is the path of righteousness and the path of success. 

1Sa 2:27-36, “Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Did I not indeed reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in bondage to Pharaoh’s house? Did I not choose them from all the tribes of Israel to be My priests, to go up to My altar, to burn incense, to carry an ephod before Me; and did I not give to the house of your father all the fire offerings of the sons of Israel? Why do you kick at My sacrifice and at My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling, and honor your sons above Me, by making yourselves fat with the choicest of every offering of My people Israel?’ Therefore the LORD God of Israel declares, ‘I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father should walk before Me forever’; but now the LORD declares, ‘Far be it from Me—for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be lightly esteemed. Behold, the days are coming when I will break your strength and the strength of your father’s house so that there will not be an old man in your house. You will see the distress of My dwelling, in spite of all the good that I do for Israel; and an old man will not be in your house forever. Yet I will not cut off every man of yours from My altar so that your eyes will fail from weeping and your soul grieve, and all the increase of your house will die in the prime of life. This will be the sign to you which will come concerning your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas: on the same day both of them will die. But I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in My heart and in My soul; and I will build him an enduring house, and he will walk before My anointed always. Everyone who is left in your house will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread and say, “Please assign me to one of the priest’s offices so that I may eat a piece of bread.”

Note: The sin of Eli was that he honored his son above the Lord. Honor in Hebrew is kabad which means to glorify; to esteem; to respect; to promote; to lift up; to make important or heavy; to make honorable; to make weighty; to render illustrious; to boast; to treat with respect; – which occurs 132 times in the Old Testament. This is a great truth with consequences: Those who honor God, God will honor them. Those who despise God will be lightly esteemed. A minister who honors his son or anyone above the Lord is a dead man. Christians must not and cannot honor anyone above the Lord. This is God’s wonderful promise: God will honor those who honor Him. Despise in Hebrew is bazah which means to hold in contempt; to disdain; to regard with contempt; to look down; to scorn; to underestimate; to trample with the feet; to make light of; – which occurs 44 times in the Old Testament. Esteem lightly in Greek is qalal which means to be cursed; to despise; to abate; to be slighted; to make despicable; to treat with contempt; to be dishonored; to be diminished; to be made of little account; to make light; to reckon lightly; – which occurs 95 times in the Old Testament. Is there anything worse than the curse of God?

A house which does not have an old man is cursed, because their members die in the prime of their lives. The sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, both of them died on the same day. Hophni in Hebrew is Chophniy which means pugilist; fighter; – which occurs 5 times in the Old Testament. Hophni was not fighter, he was a fool. Phinehas in Hebrew is Piynĕchac which means mouth of brass; mouth of a serpent; – which occurs 25 times in the Old Testament. Hophni and Phinehas who sinned against God died young on the same day. Eli could not see well because his eyesight had begun to grow dim. Nowadays we might say Eli suffered cataract.

1Sa 3:11-18, “The LORD said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. In that day I will carry out against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them. Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever. So Samuel lay down until morning. Then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. But Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. Then Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “What is the word that He spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. May God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the words that He spoke to you.” So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the LORD; let Him do what seems good to Him.”

Note: Tingle in Hebrew is tsalal which means to quiver of fear; to rattle together (as the ears reddening in shame); or the teeth in chattering with fear; or the lips quivering with fear; – which occurs 4 times in the Old Testament. Iniquity in Hebrew is `avon which means sin; fault; mischief; perversity; depravity; guilt contracted by sinning; punishment of iniquity; crime; calamity; misery; – which occurs 237 times in the Old Testament. To bring curse in Hebrew is qalal which means to execrate; to bring curse to oneself; to afflict; to declare to be evil; – which occurs 95 times in the Old Testament. Rebuke in Hebrew is kahah which means to restraint; to weaken; to cast down; to chide; to reprimand; to check or keep down; to strongly disapprove; – which occurs 8 times in the Old Testament. 

1Sa 4:12-18, “Now a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes torn and dust on his head. When he came, behold, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road eagerly watching, because his heart was trembling for the ark of God. So the man came to tell it in the city, and all the city cried out. When Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he said, “What does the noise of this commotion mean?” Then the man came hurriedly and told Eli. Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were set so that he could not see. The man said to Eli, “I am the one who came from the battle line. Indeed, I escaped from the battle line today.” And he said, “How did things go, my son?”Then the one who brought the news replied, “Israel has fled before the Philistines and there has also been a great slaughter among the people, and your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been taken.” When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell off the seat backward beside the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for he was old and heavy. Thus he judged Israel forty years.”

Note: Somethings were seriously wrong with Eli. (1). Knowing the iniquity his two sons committed against the Lord and the people, Eli did not rebuke and stop them. (2). Hearing the Lord was going to judge and destroy his house, Eli did not beg God for mercy and repent of his sins. How awful and terrible that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever. Eli nonchalantly said, “It is the LORD; let Him do what seems good to Him.” It is not up to Eli to say anything, the Lord will do whatever He pleases. The Lord will do whatever seems good to Him. The tragic end of Eli serves a warning to all ministers who are complacent and incompetent about the rearing and training of their children. Eli serves as a warning to all ministers who do not discipline their children. Eli serves as a warning to all fathers who do not rebuke and stop their children from sinning or doing evil.

(G).  SAUL.

Saul was the first king of the Jewish nation. 

1Sa 9:1-17, “Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor. He had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people. Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Take now with you one of the servants, and arise, go search for the donkeys.” He passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them. When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, and let us return, or else my father will cease to be concerned about the donkeys and will become anxious for us.” He said to him, “Behold now, there is a man of God in this city, and the man is held in honor; all that he says surely comes true. Now let us go there, perhaps he can tell us about our journey on which we have set out.” Then Saul said to his servant, “But behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone from our sack and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” The servant answered Saul again and said, “Behold, I have in my hand a fourth of a shekel of silver; I will give it to the man of God and he will tell us our way.” (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he used to say, “Come, and let us go to the seer”; for he who is called a prophet now was formerly called a seer.) Then Saul said to his servant, “Well said; come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was. As they went up the slope to the city, they found young women going out to draw water and said to them, “Is the seer here?” They answered them and said, “He is; see, he is ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come into the city today, for the people have a sacrifice on the high place today. As soon as you enter the city you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now therefore, go up for you will find him at once.” So they went up to the city. As they came into the city, behold, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the high place. Now a day before Saul’s coming, the LORD had revealed this to Samuel saying,“About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over My people Israel; and he will deliver My people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have regarded My people, because their cry has come to Me.” When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, “Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! This one shall rule over My people.”

Note: Saul had begun well, who could predict his tragic end? He who begins well there is no guarantee will end well.

1Sa 9:18-27, “Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.” Samuel answered Saul and said, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today; and in the morning I will let you go, and will tell you all that is on your mind.“As for your donkeys which were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father’s household?”Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me in this way?”Then Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall and gave them a place at the head of those who were invited, who were about thirty men.Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion that I gave you, concerning which I said to you, ‘Set it aside.’”Then the cook took up the leg with what was on it and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, “Here is what has been reserved! Set it before you and eat, because it has been kept for you until the appointed time, since I said I have invited the people.” So Saul ate with Samuel that day. When they came down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof. And they arose early; and at daybreak Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, “Get up, that I may send you away.” So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street.As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Say to the servant that he might go ahead of us and pass on, but you remain standing now, that I may proclaim the Word of God to you.”

Note: The job of a prophet of God is to proclaim the Word of God without fear.

1Sa 10:6-9, “Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you mightily, and you shall prophesy with them and be changed into another man.“It shall be when these signs come to you, do for yourself what the occasion requires, for God is with you. And you shall go down before me to Gilgal; and behold, I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice peace offerings. You shall wait seven days until I come to you and show you what you should do.”Then it happened when he turned his back to leave Samuel, God changed his heart; and all those signs came about on that day.”

Note: The Spirit of the Lord can make a man mighty. When God is with you, you have nothing to worry.

1Sa 10:20-24, “Thus Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the Matrite family was taken. And Saul the son of Kish was taken; but when they looked for him, he could not be found. Therefore they inquired further of the LORD, “Has the man come here yet?” So the LORD said, “Behold, he is hiding himself by the baggage.” So they ran and took him from there, and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen? Surely there is no one like him among all the people.” So all the people shouted and said, “Long live the king!”

Note: Why was Saul hiding himself by the baggage? Saul was little in his own eyes, and so he hid himself. Saul was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. The height of man is measured from his chin up, not from his shoulders upward. In my lifetime a great man Deng Xiaoping was also short, and too bad he was not a Christian.

1Sa 11:11-13, “The next morning Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp at the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.Then the people said to Samuel, “Who is he that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death.”But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has accomplished deliverance in Israel.”

1Sa 11:15, “So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal. There they also offered sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.”

Note: Saul was young and had this first great victory over the Ammonites and he was also wise in not putting his enemies to death.

1Sa 13:5-14, “Now the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen, and people like the sand which is on the seashore in abundance; and they came up and camped in Michmash, east of Beth-aven. When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were hard-pressed), then the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in cliffs, in cellars, and in pits. Also some of the Hebrews crossed the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead. But as for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. Now he waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him.  So Saul said, “Bring to me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. As soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him and to greet him. But Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the appointed days, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash, therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the LORD.’ So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.” Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, for now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. “But now your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”

Note: Here is the beginning of the downfall of Saul. The situation was desperate. When you are in a desperate situation, all the more you must keep the commandment of the Lord your God and seek His mercy earnestly. Saul had waited, I do not know the delay of Samuel was a test for his patience. Never run ahead of the Lord. The darkest night is near the dawn. Always ask yourself, What am I doing? Am I doing the will of God? Never force yourself to do anything that violates or offends the commandment of the Lord. Saul knew a king is not appointed or qualified to do the sacred job of the priest or prophet. Never go beyond your position. Never usurp a divine authority. In the holy things of God, you must never offend God and think it is a small thing. For a king to act as a priest is foolish. Samuel said to Saul that he had acted foolishly. For a carpenter to act as a surgeon would be disaster. For a cook to play doctor is a calamity. This is a great truth, obedience is better than a offering. Nothing against the Lord will endure. The Lord will appoint a man after His own heart. God honors those who honor Him. God uses those who obey Him.

However bad was Saul, he had a good and righteous son Jonathan. Jonathan was not a homosexual as secular academics and unbelieving theologians may claim. Jonathan’s love for David was pure and holy, for he knew God had chosen David to be King of Israel. The foolish Saul almost had killed his good son.

1Sa 14:37, “Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You give them into the hand of Israel?” But He did not answer him on that day.”

Note: If you do not listen to God, God will not listen to you. If you continue to read about Saul, you will learn more about foolish and unrighteous things that he did. He was marching toward destruction, a tragic end even involving his righteous son Jonathan.

1Sa 15:1-4, “Then Samuel said to Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint you as king over His people, over Israel; now therefore, listen to the Words of the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way while he was coming up from Egypt. Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ Then Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim, 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah.”

Note: For any man, high or low, the most important thing is to listen to the Words of the Lord.

1Sa 15:8-11, “He captured Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to destroy them utterly; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed. Then the Word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying, “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not carried out My commands.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all night.”

Note: The word “regret” is curious. Whether to say God feels sorry or grieves is an anthropomorphic euphemism. For God knows the end from the beginning. Nothing surprises God. Nothing withstands God. The Bible was written for our learning, learning in human terms. Here goes again Saul turned his back from following God and did not carry out His commands repeatedly and disobeyed God again and again. 

1Sa 15:22-23, “Samuel said,
“Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
As in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.

“For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the Word of the LORD,
He has also rejected you from being king.”

Note: The Scriptures cited above summarize the failures and sins of Saul. It is very funny all crooked people who made their fortunes corrupt way always ended up in becoming philanthropists. Their foundations are used to compensate or cover up their conscience of guilt and greed. Dirty money does not make charity. God rejects those who reject His Word. 1Sa 15:26, But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you; for you have rejected the Word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel.” The way Saul hunted down David discloses what a bad character he is. Truth often makes people angry. Saul had slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. This is an indisputable fact. But the saying displeased Saul. Jealousy can blind a human’s heart and sight. For the same reason, out of envy and jealousy Western leaders are madly targeting and hunting down China.

To make the long story short: 1Ch 10:2-6, “The Philistines closely pursued Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. The battle became heavy against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was wounded by the archers. Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, otherwise these uncircumcised will come and abuse me.” But his armor bearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword and fell on it. When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword and died. Thus Saul died with his three sons, and all those of his house died together.” Many of Saul’s thoughts and acts were fatally wrong. Here the tragic end of king Saul who rejected the Word of God. Do not confuse Saul of the Old Testament with Saul of the New Testament who was better known as Paul.

(H).  JUDAS ISCARIOT

Mat 10:4, “Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him.”

Note: Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve disciples, the one who betrayed the Lord. Judas in Greek is Ioudas is a name of several persons; which means he shall be praised; which occurs 44 times in the New Testament. Judas Iscariot has an epithet of the traitor. Judas proves a bad man can have a good name. Betray in Greek is paradidōmi which means to give into the hands of another; to deliver up treacherously; to give over; to be disloyal by evil deed; – which occurs 134 times in the New Testament. The Lord was betrayed by his disciple. You can be betrayed by a friend of 30 years. This illustrates human depravity.

Luk 6:16, “Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.”

Note: Become in Greek is ginomai which means to come to pass; to begin to be; to be made; to come into being; to come into existence; to show oneself; to come to be; – which occurs 536 times in the New Testament. To become presupposes choice and action. Judas became a traitor on his own, not forced by anyone. Traitor in Greek is prodotēs which means a betrayer; surrender; one who commits treason; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. For thirty pieces of silver, Judas stinks and suffers shame for eternity.

Some may not realize the leaders of Taiwan have become Chinese traitors because they obeyed the command of foreign forces and leaders and have sold out China. It would be wrong to treat them like Chinese. They must be destroyed as traitors. There have been traitors in Hong Kong too, but Hong Kong government gets wiser now.

Jhn 12:3-8, “Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?” Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it. Therefore Jesus said, “Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial. For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”

Note: The comparison of Mary with Judas is the comparison of Heaven and Hell. Mary offered to Jesus her best, Judas was intending to betray the Lord. Very costly in Greek is polytimos which means of great price; very valuable; extremely valuable; very expensive; – which occurs 6 times in the New Testament. What Mary did for Jesus burial the fragrance lasts for eternity. Intend in Greek is mellō which means to have in mind; to be about; to be on the point of doing something; to think to; – which occurs 105 times in the New Testament. It is significantly clear, both a good and bad deed is intentional. When people pompously promote something seemingly good, you have to analyze the motive behind the campaign. Some people are so sleek to say and do something seemingly good, but that is not because of what they say or do. They say just to fool people. Watch out the true reason behind any action: not because… but because. Judas was not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief. Thief in Greek is kleptēs which means an embezzler; pilferer; a stealer; one who commits theft; – which occurs 16 times in the New Testament. The word kleptomania is derived from the Greek word. Many politicians who advocate loudly democracy and human rights are actually kleptocracy wherewith they rob the people and nation to live luxuriously. Not a few preachers who preach they are the recipients of tithing in order to live lavishly.

Judas sounds like a philanthropist, but actually he is an embezzler who pilfers from the money box. There are rich people who set up foundations, not because they care about the poor or intending to do good, but because to compensate their guilt in making money the crooked ways and to be exempt from taxes. Western leaders loudly promote democracy, freedom, human rights, etc. not because they care for justice and peace and equality, but because they want to dominate and dictate the world. Playboys behave nicely to young women, not because they want to marry them, but because they want to play promiscuity and have sex with them. It is almost funny to hear so may old people in China fall into scam and con game thinking they can make good money. The promise of a swindler is to bait the simple-minded. 

Mat 26:14-16, “Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?” And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him. From then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus.”

Note: The wicked always want to get something out of the evil deed they do. They want to get paid for doing evil. Look for in Greek is zēteō which means to seek for; to seek in order to find; to seek after; to aim at; to strive after; to search for; to await with hope; – which occurs 119 times in the New Testament. Opportunity in Greek is eukairia which means a favorable occasion; seasonable time; good timing; a good chance; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. Interestingly Judas was looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus. I think you always have a chance to do a little good or a little evil. But to do big good or big evil, you will need a good opportunity. Pure virgins do not give opportunity to the rapist to deflower you. Virtuous women do not give a good opportunity to the wicked to debase you. Watch out do not give the wicked opportunity to rob you. You must be alert and always on guard to protect your valuables.

Jhn 13:2, “During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him.”

Note: This is one of the most horrible and terrible truths. The devil is the most dangerous character, not only he does evil himself, he also puts evil thought in the heart and mind of man. The devil is the origin of evil. 

Jhn 6:70-71, “Jesus answered them, “Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?” Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him.”

Note: Devil in Greek is diabolos which means false accuser; slanderer; a calumniator; a traducer; Satan; the supreme spirit of evil; – which occurs 40 times in the New Testament. Jesus called Judas a devil, not a demon. Could it be Judas was the incarnation of the devil? Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus was a devil, worse than a demon. The devil is the chief of all demons and evil spirits.

Jhn 6:64, “But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him.”

Note: Jesus knew all men. Jesus knew some people who do not believe. Jesus was never a victim of man, or circumstances, or the devil. Jesus knew the end from the beginning. Jesus knew everything. Nothing surprised the Lord. Jesus knew from the beginning Judas the traitor who did not believe. Amazing, a man could follow Jesus and eat with Him and witnessed His miracles and teachings for years and even performed miracles and cast out demons in Jesus name and yet not a believer. How can anyone know or realize the evil heart of unbelief?

Mat 26:48-50, “Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.” Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.”

Luk 22:47-48, “While He was still speaking, behold, a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was preceding them; and he approached Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

Note: Kiss in Greek is philēma which means a touch with the lips as a sign of affection; a sign of fraternal affection; a caress of one another with the lips; – which occurs 7 times in the New Testament. How wicked for Judas to use a sign of affection in betraying the Lord. Friend in Greek is hetairos which means a comrade; fellow; partner; one that is not hostile; a favored companion; someone who can be trusted; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. It is amazing that Jesus knew Judas to be the traitor and still called him friend.

Mat 26:24, “For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!”

Note: Be far better in Greek is kalos which means good; honest; beautiful; excellent; eminent; precious; commendable; admirable; useful; suitable; magnificent; approved; noble; honorable; pleasing; expedient; profitable; wholesome; delightful; – which occurs 105 times in the New Testament. I am not a Greek scholar, I believe the Greek word kalos does contain the meaning of “better” although it usually rendered as “good”. Can anyone have the idea of anything good or better than never to have been born? Can you know or think of nothingness? Even a rat can know it is a rat.  But nothingness cannot be conscious of nothingness. If you have never been born, it means you never exist, you are absolutely nothing, having no identity or consciousness whatsoever — such cognitive oblivion and material or physical nothingness would be better than to betray the Lord!

Mat 27:3-10, “Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he regretted and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself. The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the temple treasury, since it is the price of blood.” And they conferred together and with the money bought the Potter’s Field as a burial place for strangers. For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.  Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “AND THEY TOOK THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER, THE PRICE OF THE ONE WHOSE PRICE HAD BEEN SET by the sons of Israel; AND THEY GAVE THEM FOR THE POTTER’S FIELD, AS THE LORD DIRECTED ME.”

Note:  Only God knows how much innocent blood had been shed by American and European leaders for hundreds of years to this day. What is most shocking is the fact that they seem willing to continue shedding the blood of innocent!!!

Regret in Greek is metamelomai which means to repent; to care afterwards; to feel sorry; – which occurs 9 times in the New Testament. Judas regretted and admitted that he betrayed the innocent blood. The price of blood is a decent concept. So many world leaders and the wicked would rob the price of blood willingly and happily and put them in their bank accounts and safe deposit boxes. In the last 500 years European powers and in the last 300 years American imperialists have robbed the world and made themselves very rich and affluent. In the last created economic crisis of 2008 Wall Street had robbed the world more than $50 trillions! Crooked and fraudulent American doctors, dentists and hospital owners, drug and insurance companies, labs and medical suppliers, lawyers, etc. have robbed billions or trillions and bankrupted millions of American families with impunity.  

Mat 21:28-32,“But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go work today in the vineyard.’ “And he answered, ‘I will not’; but afterward he regretted it and went.“ The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he answered, ‘I will, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him.”

Note: Regret in Greek is metamelomai which means to repent; to change one’s mind; to be very sorry for; which occurs 9 times in the New Testament. Feel remorse in Greek is metamelomai, the same word used for regret. I think Judas regretted without remorse and repentance.

Act 1:16-19,“Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry.” (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out. And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.).”

Note: Ministry in Greek is diakonia which means service; ministering; office of the apostles; – which occurs 34 times in the New Testament. Judas the traitor serves as a warning and a sign that not all ministers or preachers are servants of Christ. A devil can be a minister!!! All those who preach the Gospel for money are descendants of Judas. For example preachers of false gospel such as prosperity gospel.

Some facts about JUDAS THE TRAITOR:

1.  Judas was foretold in the Scripture to betray the Lord.
2.  Judas was an apostle, although he followed Jesus all these years,  heard Jesus teaching and watched Jesus performing miracles, he himself also received his share of the ministry, cast out demons, but he from the beginning did not believe.
3.  Jesus called Judas a devil.
4.  Judas had the money box and he was a thief.
5.  Judas got thirty pieces of silver from the chief priests for betraying Jesus.
6. Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss.
7.  Judas regretted and admitted his sin for betraying Jesus but never  repented. 
8.  Judas hanged himself and died with all his intestines gushed out.
9.  It was good or better that Judas had never been born.

In summary, Judas the traitor serves as a warning to all false preachers, to preachers who merchandise the Gospel of God for gain and glory, for fame and fortune.

3.  WHITE MAN’S BURDEN

The White Man’s Burden was not created in 1899. Much earlier and long before Power and Wealth wed in Europe and bred what is known later as White Man’s Burden. In order to whitewash and beautify the evil thought and action committed by Europeans, they put on the cloak of Christianity as a cover and with the phony pretext in their hearts and minds that claim the Europeans are of a superior race, and they are given a burden by God to civilize and colonize the nonwhites (who are half devil and half child) in order to rule the world on behalf of God. They can use you in any way and are better because they are superior. The white man’s burden means it is the white person’s duty to teach you how to be civilized and how to be like them. This reason becomes the basis and rationale of White racism to this day. Darwin’s “the survival of the fittest” becomes a convenient analogy that Europeans were the fittest in human nature and environment and technologically more advanced.

Although it was Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) who was the first person to coin the term, White Man’s Burden did not start with Kipling the British white supremacist. Charles Darwin (1809-1882) did not start White Man’s Burden either, although social Darwinism was having frequent intercourses with White Man’s Burden. Long before Kipling and Darwin, the forefathers of White Man’s Burden were blessed with the elementary enlightenment of Christianity but went astray and infused or adulterated with the love of Power and Wealth — and so the unholy union and ambition drove unrighteous and unjust white supremacists to justify the existence of Imperialism and Colonialism. In fact, there is not much difference between Imperialism and Colonialism. Imperialists employ military power to conquer weaker nations like China, India, etc. at that time. Colonialists moved to conquered nations and set up governments to rule and subdue the peoples so that they can exploit and rob their resources and wealth. The resources and wealth looted and robbed from Europeans colonies in Asia, Africa and Latin America made Europe affluent and rich to develop science and technology and vast infrastructure and imperial luxury. I recall studying Latin American history, European had the gall to conquer South America with the slogan “For God and Gold”. It was reported at the height of European imperial powers, by 1914, European imperial powers controlled 70% of the land on earth. Probably European imperialists also had more than 70% of the wealth of the world.

In the last 500 years Western powers (mainly Europe and later America) rule the world to this day. It started with a false and fallacious and facetious thinking called “White Man’s Burden” and translated into the world domination and dictatorship to this day. After World War II all European and American colonies became independent, and thus the de facto end of colonialism. But after World War II due to the virtual destruction of Europe, America emerged as the only Imperialist and Super Power. Although the United States does not have colony or colonial government in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa–America acts as the only Imperial Power that can order governments in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa to do its will. For example, recently Canada bowed to America to arrest a Chinese Huawei executive without charge and without cause. Taiwanese leaders are actual running dogs of America. Europe Union also bows to America because NATO is under American protection, although in reality Russia is no threat to Europe at all. It is the brave president of the Philippines who refused to take order from Washington. Venezuela is subject to American sanction because its president does not surrender to American power, etc. Although Colonialism is no more, but American imperialist rules the world with its superior nuclear military and monopolistic power, controls and dictates finance and banking, world trade and technology, transportation, education, diplomacy, gold reserve, etc. It is better for the headquarters of the United Nations to move out of New York, to a neutral nation that practices multilateralism so that diplomats will not be refused visa to enter the United Nations. 

“White Man’s Burden” is a historical and very arrogant view that White Europeans had a duty to make the peoples of Africa, Asia and Latin America ‘civilized’. This view has been used to justify and serve as an excuse for colonialism, imperialism, militarism, and capitalism and many unjust and unholy wars conducted by Europe and America. How many millions of peoples in Asia, Africa and Latin America have been killed by Europeans and Americans. How many injustice, atrocities, miseries, and brutalities and how much poverty and hardship have been caused by the evil deeds of Europeans and Americans? Isn’t it a laughingstock and absurdity that the American government makes laws involving the sovereignty of other nations which it has no jurisdiction such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Tibet, etc. acting like the world dictator? Only the American Imperialist has ever done so in the history of mankind. American leaders cannot be self-abased, self-absorbed, self-abused, self-aggrandizing; self-catering, self-conceited, self-congratulating; self-glorious, self-important, and self-indulgent in thinking evil they can continue do evil and do as they please. The judgment of God is at hand.

One thing which is most disturbing and distressing is the fact that Europeans and Americans who are responsible for all the evil deeds done in the last 500 years (and more recently the evil deeds done by Japan which incited the World War II) to the present claim they are Christians. Japanese are pagans who do not claim to be Christians. In fact, true Christianity does not exist in Europe today. Europeans are practicing a secular form of Christianity. America is practicing a false version of Christianity. For the last 300 years no American preacher preached against imperialism and capitalism. Blinded by national patriotism no American preacher dares to preach against the sins of American presidents and congressional leaders who have been wrecking havoc and doing destruction in the whole world. But listen carefully to the judgement of Jesus Christ:

Jhn 8:44,“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Now it is no secret to the world that American leaders lie, lie, and lie; kill, kill, and kill; rob, rob, and rob. American and Western powers and media are expert in using their vast global propaganda machine to lie, make lies, make fake news, make fake reports to support the evil actions of their nations. The devil is not only the first liar, murderer; but also the first wrong thinker because the devil thought to be like God. The Jews were mistaken to think because of Abraham they were children of God. Jesus defines the children of the devil as anyone who lies and kills. How many lies and murders and robberies European and American leaders have committed only God knows and counts them. In addition, they hypocritically sent missionaries to the nations they oppressed. You can imagine those oppressed people would accept the religion of their oppressors. Europe and America disgraced and distorted Christianity by their words and deeds, although Christianity is definitely not a White’s man religion. 

During the infamous Opium Wars, the British empire, America, Japan and other nations killed Chinese and looted and robbed China’s national treasures worth at least US$100,000 trillions not including interest. There are many Chinese priceless national treasures you can see for yourself displayed in the British Museum, American Smithsonian, the Louvre Museum, European museums, Japanese museums, etc.

America, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, NATO, EU, Japan, etc. Open your eyes. Have you seen the 2hr40min multi-billion dollar Parade of China 70^th Independence Day, on October 1, 2019 the greatest and grandest parade in the history of the world? The 1.4 billion Chinese are on the move. Do you want to stand in their way? If you stand in the way, you surely will be run over and trampled to death. Do you want to take on China and wage war against China? It is not wise to be the enemies of 1.4 billion Chinese. The certain consequence is mutual destruction and destruction of the world! Cooperation is more profitable than confrontation. Don’t you see? Peace is more desirable than War. Life is better than Death. 

In the twist of time, White Man’s Burden has been replaced by “America First” as declared and demonstrated by the current American president. The old causes are still the new causes of imperialism that include manufactured goods, raw materials, trade in terms of import and export, tariff, manifest destiny, democracy, freedom with some fancy civil rights, human rights, civilization, protection money, military alliance, economic and political reasons. China and Russia do not want war. The rest of the world do not want war. American president and Congressional leaders want war and spend and prepare for war. American allies under American leadership also want war. Japan wants war to reemerge as the Great Nippon. Islamic terrorists execute war daily. It is suggested that Europeans and American leaders read my article on 

The Judgment of God,

https://williewongthought.hpage.com/the-judgment-of-god.html

And Christianity Is Not A Religion, 

https://williewongthought.hpage.com/christianity-is-not-a-religion.html

As I am an American, I hope American leaders and American people will think about the consequences of what America has done since its inception to the present and repent before the judgment of God fall upon the country. Historically, Lucifer, thinking evil to want to be like God, fell from Heaven, turned into the devil. Individuals, thinking evil, can be ruined. Nations, thinking and doing evil, can be doomed. My fellow Americans, may I have a word with you. Have you ever thought, why the Holy Bible does not mention or give a clue to the existence of the sole superpower, the United States of America, in the end time? There are possibly two explanations, either and or. It is possible that in the end of time, America is no longer an important nation like insignificant Singapore or Australia or Canada, so it is not mentioned at all. Or in the end of time, America no longer exists so the Bible does not and could not mention a nation which does not exist anymore. Continuously demonstrated by words and deeds, I am afraid the current American president and Congressional leaders with the national policy of “America First” insolently interfering and maliciously meddling in the internal affairs of many nations, spending huge funds on developing and maintaining of massive nuclear weapons and global military bases, and making every effort and activity in preparing for the coming war, are leading America and the world to a nuclear war and total destruction. If you prepare for a funeral, you are going to have a funeral. If you are preparing for a war, you are going to have a war. Those who have eyes to see know for sure America is committing suicide with “America First” policy; however, American leaders are completely oblivious and unconscious of the handwriting on the wall!

VI.  THINKING MAKES THE MAN.

Pro 23:7, “For as he thinks within himself, so he is.
He says to you, “Eat and drink!”
But his heart is not with you.”

Note: As a man thinks, so is he. Thinking makes the man. Thinking makes you what you are. Thoughts are the prime movers of conduct or behavior. If you think bad, you become bad. If you think dirty, you become dirty. If you think stupid, you become stupid. If you think violence, you may kill. For the last 500 years, Western leaders have been thinking evil and have done so much evil in this world. However, if you think wise, it does not make you wise. But if you think you want to be wise, and think how to be wise, and ask the Lord to give you wisdom, you may be wise. If you think rich it does not make you rich. But if you think how working hard and being thrifty you may become rich.

Martin Luther was thinking the Word of God is far above the teaching of the church or any man. Reformation begun by Martin Luther in 1517 was the greatest positive and distinctive results of one single individual and others in obedience to the Word of God which started the glorious revival of the Church and return of Christians everywhere to the infallibility and final and supreme authority of the Holy Bible above any human institution or individual. The pope, pretending to be the Sole Representative of Christ on earth, had in the most audacious manner declared himself the sovereign of the whole world. The illumination of the human mind by the Word of God brought about the most interesting improvement of the social, political and economic state of the world. All human doctrines, traditions, teachings, rules of faith, and beliefs are considered as null and void. The peoples were liberated from the monstrous despotism of the popes, extravagant superstitions and indulgences of the ecclesiastical polity, and the corruption and spiritual slavery practiced by the Roman Catholic Church. Protestantism singularly succeeded in making straight and bringing the Church back to the Bible, return to the original Christianity, and a revolt of light against darkness. The great Reformation is supranational. Protestantism is never a new religion as apostate Catholics claim. Luther did not find the Lutheran Church. It was the brightest moment in the darkest ages. Almost about the same time all the kingdoms of Europe began to open their eyes and saw the great Light. In my assessment, Martin Luther was the greatest man ever lived outside of the Bible. A Protestant is an evangelical and true believer of Jesus Christ the Son of God, and the Savior of the world, as practiced in the original Christianity written in the New Testament, without divisions and without denominations. Only setting free from slavery by knowing the truth can you have mature and productive thinking.

All Protestants, evangelicals and Christians believe in the following Apostles’ Creed.

Apostles’ Creed

1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of Heaven and earth:

2. And in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord:

3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:

4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:

5. The third day He rose again from the dead:

6. He ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:

7. From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead:

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost:

9. I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints:

10. The forgiveness of sins:

11. The resurrection of the body:

12. And the life everlasting. Amen.

Note: Item 4. “He descended into hell” was believed not in the original. Item 9. does not mean the Roman Catholic Church, it means the universal Church of Jesus Christ, the Body of Christ. If you do not think the Apostle Creed is correct, you cannot be a Christian.

For better or worse, it is believed that Reformation makes Renaissance possible. Renaissance was begotten and driven by Humanism. Humanism is the father of today Secularism. Thought begets something.

Pro 6:18, “A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that run rapidly to evil.”

Note: An evil heart devises wicked plans. Wicked plans come from an evil heart. America has “RAND PLAN” to war against China and destroy it.

Pro 12:20, “Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.”

Note: Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, so the Western leaders lie, lie, and lie; kill, kill and kill; rob, rob, and rob. They abnormally have joy in war, in aggression, in oppression, in sanction, in destruction.

Pro 12:23, “A prudent man conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims folly.”

Note: The heart of a foolish Western leader proclaims folly loudly and shamelessly daily.

Pro 12:25, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down,
But a good word makes it glad.”

Note: Anxiety in a man’s heart is like a big burden that weights it down. A good word can make it glad. No good word comes from an evil man.

Isa 32:6, “For a fool speaks nonsense,
And his heart inclines toward wickedness:
To practice ungodliness and to speak error against the LORD,
To keep the hungry person unsatisfied
And to withhold drink from the thirsty.”

Note: You can watch TV and hear a foolish Western leader speak nonsense, and his heart inclines toward wickedness. Only God knows and counts how much wickedness Western powers have done in the last 500 years.

Jer 23:23-29, “Am I a God who is near,” declares the LORD,
“And not a God far off? Can a man hide himself in hiding places
So I do not see him?” declares the LORD.
“Do I not fill the Heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD. I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy falsely in My name, saying, ‘I had a dream, I had a dream!’  “How long? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy falsehood, even these prophets of the deception of their own heart, who intend to make My people forget My name by their dreams which they relate to one another, just as their fathers forgot My name because of Baal? The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word in truth. What does straw have in common with grain?” declares the LORD.“Is not My word like fire?” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?”

Note: The false and immoral political preacher said, I had a dream! I had a dream! What does straw have in common with grain? You will know them by their fruits.

Luk 12:45,“But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk.”

Note: To say in one’s heart is to think. The slave thinks his Master will be a long time in coming, and so he begins to beat the other slaves, and to eat and drink and get drunk. Here is a clear example how the thinking of the slave produces the beating of other slaves, eating and drinking and getting drunk because he says in his heart, My master will be a long time in coming. The Judge of the living and the dead is coming soon to judge the whole world and reign with the saints.

2Co 5:12, “We are not again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.”

Note: Beware of those who take pride in appearance and not in heart. Don’t you know all the rich an powerful people take pride in appearance?

Nehemiah

Neh 6:1-19, “ Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, to Geshem the Arab and to the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall, and that no breach remained in it, although at that time I had not set up the doors then Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they were planning to harm me. So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”  They sent messages to me four times in this manner, and I answered them in the same way. Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in the same manner a fifth time with an open letter in his hand. In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel; therefore you are rebuilding the wall. And you are to be their king, according to these reports. You have also appointed prophets to proclaim in Jerusalem concerning you, ‘A king is in Judah!’ And now it will be reported to the king according to these reports. So come now, let us take counsel together.” Then I sent a message to him saying, “Such things as you are saying have not been done, but you are inventing them in your own mind.” For all of them were trying to frighten us, thinking, “They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands. When I entered the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined at home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you, and they are coming to kill you at night.” But I said, “Should a man like me flee? And could one such as I go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.” Then I perceived that surely God had not sent him, but he uttered his prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. He was hired for this reason, that I might become frightened and act accordingly and sin, so that they might have an evil report in order that they could reproach me. Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these works of theirs, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the rest of the prophets who were trying to frighten me. So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they lost their confidence; for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God. Also in those days many letters went from the nobles of Judah to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them. For many in Judah were bound by oath to him because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. Moreover, they were speaking about his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. Then Tobiah sent letters to frighten me.”

Note: Nehemiah was born at Babylon during the captivity. So he knew the importance of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. Nehemiah got permit from the king of Persia to go to Jerusalem and rebuilding it. Nehemiah was a man who trusted God and thought and acted correctly and courageously. Nehemiah was a fearless great man who did a great work and not frightened or threatened by the enemies of the Jews. Even his enemies recognized that the work that Nehemiah did was accomplished with the help of our God. A great man knows he is doing a great work, determined, not stopping the work even when frightened by the enemies, and not fleeing when his life is threatened, but keeps on working to finish the great work. Nehemiah sets an example as a strong leader with ability and determination and shows how to accomplish great work.

Exo 25:2, “Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution.”

Note: If you want to make a contribution for the work of the Lord, let every believer’s heart move him or her.

Exo 35:5, “‘Take from among you a contribution to the LORD; whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as the LORD’S contribution: gold, silver, and bronze.”

Note: All contribution to the Lord must come from a wiling heart to support for the furtherance of the Gospel. To support false preachers is a waste of money and not a contribution to the Lord.

Exo 35:21, “Everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came and brought the LORD’S contribution for the work of the tent of meeting and for all its service and for the holy garments.”

Note: Those who work for the Lord whose heart must stir him and whose spirit must move him not for gain or glory, fame or fortune.

Deu 4:29, “But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.”

Note: We must search and seek the Lord with all our heart and all our soul.

Since thinking makes the man, we must get rid of all bad thoughts:

Job 4:13,“Amid disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night,
When deep sleep falls on men.”

Psa 94:19, “When my anxious thoughts multiply within me,
Your consolations delight my soul.”

Jer 4:14, “Wash your heart from evil, O Jerusalem,
That you may be saved.
How long will your wicked thoughts
Lodge within you?”

Note: Both Disquieting Thoughts and Anxious Thoughts are not good for spiritual and mental health. Seek the Lord for healing. Wicked in Hebrew is ‘aven which means unrighteous; iniquitous; evil; vain; fraudulent; false; wrong; – which occurs 77 times in the Old Testament. Wicked thoughts make wicked man. For as he thinks within himself, so he is.

Do not listen to the secularists who tell you to indulge your mind on rational or religious pleasure, or the so-called positive thinking, etc. The following Scripture tells us exactly how and what to think:

Phl 4:8, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” To think is to dwell on it and have the mind of Christ. To have the mind of Christ is to have every view or thought or will according to Christ Jesus.

It is a fallacy to suppose that any human thought or behavior might affect the mind of Christ. The thought of Christ is not human thought. It is absolutely false to say that at the outset the essence of the Gospel appeared as a revolutionary idealism. The Gospel of Jesus Christ has nothing to do with the systems of the world or any revolution. Jhn 18:36, “Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My Kingdom is not of this realm.” Watch out the unbelieving scholars try to secularize Christianity. The ancient mind, the mediaeval mind, the modern mind, etc. had nothing to do with the mind of Christ. The mind of Christ is never a product or synthesis of compromises and contrasts of various streams of human thoughts in this world. Jesus makes contrast between this world and the world to come is fully embodied in the truth of Christ. When Jesus makes contrast between the secular and the spiritual, they are always definitive and ultimate, having no worldly sources or gray areas.

Mat 16:26, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Note: The whole world cannot be exchanged for one’s soul.

Jhn 3:6, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

Note: The children of the devil are born of the flesh, the children of God are born of the Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, what is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Luk 18:29-30, “And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.”

Note: What you have left for the Kingdom of God will receive many times and eternal life.

Jhn 5:24, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My Word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”

Note: He who hears the Word of God and believes in Jesus Christ whom God sent has eternal life and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Having passed out death into life means you are saved.

Jhn 5:28-29, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”

The consciousness of Jesus Christ is expressed in the eternal truths:

Jhn 5:30-32, “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true. There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true.”

Mat 3:9, “and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.”

Mat 11:25, “At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants.”

Note: Do you notice that secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers consider themselves wise and intelligent but the truths of Christ are hidden from them, and yet the common people who are simple like infants receive the revelation?

An unbelieving so-called philosopher and anti-christ said, “Jesus Christ knew he was God. So wake up and find out eventually who you really are. In our culture, of course, they’ll say you’re crazy and you’re blasphemous, and they’ll either put you in jail or in a nut house (which is pretty much the same thing). However if you wake up in India and tell your friends and relations, ‘My goodness, I’ve just discovered that I’m God,’ they’ll laugh and say, ‘Oh, congratulations, at last you found out.”

Note: Jhn 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Jesus Christ did not dream or sleep and wake up to discover He was God. Jesus Christ was God from the beginning, before time and space and everything. God is eternal not local or regional or national. A man who says there is no God is a fool. A man who declares he is god is not only mad, but self-made deception. If you discovered yourself god in India, why don’t you first test yourself by walking on the Indian Ocean? Why don’t you save yourself from poverty, ignorance, injustice and violence and save other Indians from famine and lack of toilet facilities? Wake up and find out who you really are: 

Job 14:1-2, “Man, who is born of woman,
Is short-lived and full of turmoil. Like a flower he comes forth and withers. He also flees like a shadow and does not remain.”

Note: This is an accurate description of human life: short-lived and full of turmoil. Turmoil in Hebrew is rogez which means trouble; fear; rage; wrath; agitation; trembling; commotion; restlessness; crash; noise; trepidation; perturbation; tumult; – which occurs 7 times in the Old Testament. Man withers and flees like a shadow and does not remain.

Job 33:12, “Behold, let me tell you, you are not right in this,
For God is greater than man.”

Note: It is the fool of fools who does not know God is greater than man.

Psa 49:12, “But man in his pomp will not endure;
He is like the beasts that perish.”

Note: How many men in their pomp did not endure, to name a few Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Napoleon, Eisenhower, Hitler, etc. They all like the beasts that perish.

Pro 14:12, “There is a way which seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.”

Note: The American way seems right to the American president and congressional leaders, but its end is the way of death.

Mar 7:20-23, “ And He was saying, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”

1Co 3:18, “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this world, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise.”

Note: Let no man deceive himself. Apparently Washington, Wall Street, Hollywood, military-industrial-security complex think they are wise in this world because they own most of the power and wealth in the world.

Gal 6:7-8, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”

Note: God is not mocked, God cannot be mocked. Whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. Do you know what Washington, Wall Street, Hollywood, military-industrial-security complex are going to reap?

Eph 5:5, “For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God.”

Note: The Word of God says this is for sure: No immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, can enter the Kingdom of Christ and God.

Rom 5:12, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—”

Rom 3:23-24, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”

Note: The fact that we were all born in sin is not a doctrine of Luther. In the face of truth, you will find man is no god, no good but a poor miserable sinner who will suffer eternal death in Hell unless he is justified as a gift by God’s grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. Superstition, empty philosophy and false religions blind the hearts and minds of many people and leading them to death.

Mat 19:23-24, “And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.”

Note: Hard in Greek is dyskolōs which means with difficulty; impractical; not easy; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. It is not impossible, but it is more difficult for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Why? Mar 4:19, “but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful.” Washington, Wall Street, and Hollywood, and the military-industrial-security complex own much of the power and wealth of the world, but it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than a member of these conglomerate empire to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jhn 8:12, “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

Note: No one speaks like Jesus who speaks with authority. Jesus is the Light of the world. He who follows Jesus will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life. There are Western leaders who claim to be Christians, yet they do not follow Jesus but walk in the darkness. If you follow the Light of the world, you will have the Light of life.

Jhn 3:3, “Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

Note: See in Greek is horaō which means to perceive; to know; to attend to; to behold; to see with the eyes; – which occurs 459 times in the New Testament. Unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.

Jhn 5:19, “Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.”

Note: The consciousness of Jesus is to do whatever the Father does, these things Jesus also does in like manner. Christians cannot do whatever Jesus does in like manner because we do not have the power of God. For examples, Christians cannot walk on the sea, turn water into wine, or rebuke the winds and the sea to make perfectly calm, etc. But Christians can take up the cross and follow Jesus. Above all, to be Christians is to obey the commandments of Jesus Christ.

Jhn 8:34, “Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.”

Note: This is an eternal truth: Everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. Executives of Washington, Wall Street, Hollywood, and military-industrial-security complex may think they are victors and rulers of the world, but in fact they are slaves to money, power and pleasure.

Mar 10:46-52, “Then they came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you.” Throwing aside his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus. And answering him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!”  And Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.”

Note: Batimaeus illustrates a true story how a blind beggar becomes a Christian. The task of becoming Christian requires a subjective faith and a personal will. Bartimaeus means son of Timaeus, a blind beggar in Jericho. When he heard it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out. Bartimaeus must have heard how Jesus healed the blind and raised the dead. So he seized the opportunity and cried out. Faith is active. Bartimaeus passionately begged for mercy. Those who seek mercy of God is not far from salvation. Faith encounters difficulty because many were sternly telling him to be quiet. Batimaeus is so concerned about himself that he totally ignores the opinions of others. Faith is unstoppable, Bartinaeus kept crying out all the more. Here is a man of character and courage. When faith calls on God for mercy, God stops and answers. This is faith in action. Bartimaeus throwing aside his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus. When you want to come to Jesus, do not let anything to hinder you. This is the most wonderful offer from the Savior, “What do you want Me to do for you?” Christianity is the personal relationship between sinner and the Savior. The blind man said to Jesus, “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!” Rabboni in Greek is rhabbouni which means Lord Christ; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. You must know whom you ask for mercy and salvation. There are too many who seek salvation from idols and false gods or man-made religions. Bartimaeus wants to regain his sight. He asks for the right thing. The blind beggar did not ask for silver and gold. Many people join the church seeking prosperity, opportunity, position, money and wealth. Batimaeus immediately regained his sight. To be born again is an immediate occurrence, passing from death to life. To grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ requires a life-long process. To be a Christian is simply to follow Christ all the days of your life.

Act 20:24, “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the Gospel of the grace of God.”

Note: Paul took a stand on a matter of life and death and counted all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord. As a comparison, Apostle Paul is a victor who did not consider his life of any account as dear to himself; so that he might finish his course and the ministry which he received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the Gospel of the grace of God.

Such man is the victor who considers and thinks finishing the course of his life according to the will of God is of the greatest meaning and importance. The Christian does not live alone. Phl 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

VII.  THE VALUE OF MATURE THINKING.

1Co 13:11, “When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.”

Note: A child by nature does not think like a man. A man should not speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child. To be a man is to do away with childish things. A simple-minded or immature person is like a child. By watching and listening to how a person speaks, how he thinks and reasons, you can judge whether he is a child or a man. What are childish things? They include hasty in word or impulsive in thought, tantrum, short sighted, impatience, ignorance, playfulness, lack of restraint, lack of instruction, lack of understanding, lack of knowledge, lack of self-control, lack of commitment, lack of judgment, wrong motive, wrong value, etc. To have mature thinking you must have the mind of Christ.

1Co 14:20, “ Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.”

Note: Thinking in Greek is phrēn which means understanding; perceiving an judging; cognitive faculties; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. In perceiving and judging do not be children. In evil be infants, because infants do not think or do evil. In thinking be mature. Mature in Greek is teleios which means perfect; of full age; complete; full grown; – which occurs 20 times in the New Testament. A mature man must have mature thinking. Children cannot have mature thinking.

Heb 5:14, “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”

Note: Infants cannot take solid food. Solid food is for the mature. Infants cannot discern good and evil. Infants cannot deal with weighty matters of life. Mature people have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Senses in Greek is aisthētērion which means faculty of the mind for perceiving, understanding, judging (Strong’s Concordance); an organ of perception; judgment; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. Train in Greek is gymnazō which means to exercise vigorously; to undergo instruction; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. Discern in Greek is diakrisis which means to judge; to estimate judicially; to distinguish; to pass judgment on opinion; to discriminate; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. Senses of discerning good and evil have to be trained which makes a mature man. For example, a doctor is trained to discern the sound of your heart to determine whether you have heart murmur or not. For example, Samuel did not know, but Eli discerned that the LORD was calling the boy.

2Co 12:17-21, “ Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps? All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for your upbuilding, beloved. For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances; I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.”

Note: Strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossips, arrogance, disturbances, impurity, immorality, sensuality are indicated of immature believers.

Phl 1:15-21, “Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the Gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Envy, strife, selfish ambition, etc. are symptoms of immature thinking and behaving.

Heb 11:13-16, “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.”

Note: It is a mature thinking of seeking a country of your own and desire a better country. In 1975-76 I went to six European nations (Britain, France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway) looking for a better country than America. There I conceived and developed the Theory of Good Society. Now I concluded there is no better country on earth anywhere. There is a better country, that is, a heavenly one. 

1Co 2:10-14, “For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.”

Note: Appraise in Greek is anakrinō which means to examine; to judge; to discern; to ask question; to investigate; to scrutinize; to sift; to interrogate; to estimate; to determine; to search; – which occurs 19 times in the New Testament. God revealed to believers spiritual things or the things freely given to believers by God through the Holy Spirit. There are two spirits: the spirit of the world and the Spirit who is from God. The people of the world have the spirit of the world, Christians have the Spirit from God. Worldly people are taught by human wisdom; spiritual people are taught by the Spirit. Like it or not, secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers are natural men who do not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to them. Their human wisdom cannot understand them. I recall the confession of a famous Chinese scholar who studied the Pilgrim’s Progress of John Bunyan; he highly appraised the English classic, but confessed he did not understand what is all about. In the same way the secularists do not and could not understand the Bible talking about spiritual things. In spite of their intelligence, those unbelievers do not have the Spirit of God and the things of God are spiritually appraised. God did not reveal the things of God to secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers so by their human wisdom they cannot understand them, and they consider spiritual things as it is written in the Bible foolishness to them. Mature thinking cannot be accomplished without being taught by the Holy Spirit. Unbelievers are spiritually dead and blind.

Mat 9:4, “And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?”

Note: What makes man think? Jesus says men think evil in their hearts. To think evil in your heart is to err in the heart. In pre-science era, people did not know much about brain. Even today scientists still do not know much about brain. Suffice it to say, heart is the center or seat of thinking, feeling, and deciding.

Mar 7:21-23, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”

Note: Defile in Greek is koinoō which means to pollute; to make common; to make unclean; to render unhallowed; to render profane; to count unclean; to declare unclean; to make profane; – which occurs 14 times in the New Testament. Some evil things defile the man and Jesus defines evil thoughts. Fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness are evil things. In Western nations, sensuality is counted a good thing among certain circles. Many Westerns leaders exude pride as a badge of national honor. If men think evil things as things of honor, they have a wrong value, and immature thinking.

Gen 6:5, “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

Gen 6:6, “The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.”

Note: God is Spirit, unlike man to have flesh and blood. What does it mean that God was grieved in His heart? Does God have a heart? Not a physical heart as the blood circulating organ of the body. God has a heart, definitely. This is an anthropomorphic expression. There is no way to compare God with man. So human language is used as a method or tool of communication. It is impossible for man to learn or know the language of God. Besides, God knows all the languages of men. The Bible speaks about the language of angels, never the language of God. A language consists of the use of words. This is a fine gift of God differentiating men from all animals. Jesus Christ is the Word of God and He reveals God to mankind. We are ignorant what will be the language of Heaven, definitely not English or Chinese. In the first place the language of angels is most pure and wonderful already, although I do not speak the language of angels. However, when God sends His angels to communicate with human beings, the angels always use the language of the recipient so that the recipient can understand. Imagine, angels who are servants of God already know all languages in the world. How can anyone compare angels to the Omnipotent and Omniscient God? God is grieved in His heart that men reject the truth, reject Jesus Christ the Son of God who was sent into the world to save sinners.

Eph 4:13, “until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”

Note: Attain in Greek is katantaō which means to come to; to arrive; to achieve a thing; to obtain; to gain; – which occurs 13 times in the New Testament. It is an ongoing process for all believers in Christ to attain to the unity of the faith. The unity of the faith is based on the knowledge of the Son of God and the fullness of Christ. To the extent that a Christian becomes mature, he attains to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. Even Apostle Paul could not claim to have attained the full measure of the stature of Christ. 

1Co 2:6, “Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this world, who are passing away.”

Note: You cannot speak wisdom to an infant or a baby, even a child because they could not understand and would not appreciate. There are spiritual wisdom for mature Christians to expand discernment and increase the breadth of mind. I have studied secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers, they do not have sound wisdom. The wisdom of this world and of the rulers of this world (as represented by Washington, Wall Street, Hollywood, military-industrial-security complex) are passing away.

Pro 9:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

As I study the work of secularists, they appear to me they have no fear of the Lord, and they do not seem to be interested in the knowledge of the Holy One.

Pro 19:21, “Many plans are in a man’s heart,
But the counsel of the LORD will stand.”

Note: Man’s heart is deep and has many plans, the mature are wise to seek the counsel of the Lord. The mature man asks for the counsel of the Lord. The mature one listens to the counsel of the Lord. The mature one waits for the counsel of the Lord. The mature man acts according to the counsel of the Lord. The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

Why do we seek the counsel of the Lord?

Job 12:13,“With Him are wisdom and might;
To Him belong counsel and understanding.”

Psa 33:11, “The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
The plans of His heart from generation to generation.”

Mature thoughts exclude base thought, impulsive thought, accursed thought and all wicked thoughts. Childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.

Most people have wrong conception of God. Some people even treat God like a human being of infinite limitations. Jesus correct this flawed thinking by saying Mar 10:27, “Looking at them, Jesus said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” Contradiction presents no difficulties to God. God has no problems. God is not limited by time and space. God has no limitations. There is nothing that stands in the way of God. In the sight of God, everything is nothing to Him. That is why the counsel of the Lord stands forever.

Eph 1:9-12, “He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the Heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.”

In summing up all things in Christ, things in the Heavens and on the earth, what is the highest purpose in a mature Christian life? To know the mystery of God’s will. Obtain an inheritance according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will. The will of God is the summum bonum or the highest goal of every Christian life. To fail to do the will of God is to fail in life, to fail for eternity. To do the will of God is to win for eternity. Let a wise man’s heart direct himself toward the right. The end that we Christians to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.

This is what an unbeliever does not know or experience. Many thoughts of unbelieving philosophers are lofty, speculative, vain and self-conceited. Christians are empowered to destroy speculative thoughts against the knowledge of God, and take captive of every thought to the obedience of Christ. The power to destroy any thought against God is the Sword of the Spirit. Our thought and our heart must subject to the obedience of Christ. This is the mind of Christ in the believers. A carnal mind does not have the power from above, and cannot understand spiritual things.

Deu 28:28, “The LORD will smite you with madness and with blindness and with bewilderment of heart.”

Note: The people who are smitten with madness and with blindness and with bewilderment of heart cannot discern good and evil, cannot see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Jer 49:16, “As for the terror of you,
The arrogance of your heart has deceived you,
O you who live in the clefts of the rock,
Who occupy the height of the hill.
Though you make your nest as high as an eagle’s,
I will bring you down from there,” declares the LORD.”

Note: The rich and powerful who live in the clefts of the rock, who occupy the height of the hill, who make their nest as high as an eagle’s, the arrogance of their heart has deceived them. They cannot have correct and mature thinking. Their thinking is only about the world, wealth, riches, and the desire of other things; the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life.

Rom 12:3, “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”

Note: A mature spiritual Christian does not think more highly of himself than he ought to think, but to think so as to have sound judgement. If you tell me what you think, I cannot tell you what you are.

Deu 28:65, “Among those nations you shall find no rest, and there will be no resting place for the sole of your foot; but there the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing of eyes, and despair of soul.”

Note: The Scripture cited describes the situation of the world: You find no rest among the nations whether rich or poor, advanced or primitive, democratic or non-democractic, and there is no resting place; the people are suffering a trembling heart, failing of eyes, and despair of soul. 

Deu 28:67,“In the morning you shall say, ‘Would that it were evening!’ And at evening you shall say, ‘Would that it were morning!’ because of the dread of your heart which you dread, and for the sight of your eyes which you will see.”

Note: In the morning people shall say, ‘Would that it were evening!’ And at evening people shall say, ‘Would that it were morning!’ because of the dread of your heart which you dread, and for the sight of your eyes which you will see. People in the world dread what the dread of their heart, and the dread of what their eyes will see coming to this world!

Deu 32:35,‘Vengeance is Mine, and retribution,
In due time their foot will slip;
For the day of their calamity is near,
And the impending things are hastening upon them.’

Note: If you are mature, think about the day of calamity is near, and the impending things are hastening upon them. The Judgment Day is coming.

Job 21:30, “For the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity;
They will be led forth at the day of fury.”

Note: The wicked has no place to run to, no refuge, no hiding place. Nuclear defense cannot protect or save them. The wicked is reserved for the day of calamity and the day of fury.

Pro 1:27, “When your dread comes like a storm
And your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.”

Note: The superpower may think it has security. The dread will come like a storm, your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon the world. Jesus Christ is coming again!

The Kingdom of God awaits the children of God. It will be love, peace, joy, light, righteousness, holiness, honor, glory and immortality.

VIII.  THE INCOMPARABLE MIND OF CHRIST.

The self-consciousness of Christ is the self-consciousness of God. The mind of Christ is the mind of God. So no one speaks like Christ. When Jesus speaks, God speaks. For Jesus Christ is the Word of God. Jesus Christ and God are ONE.

Jhn 6:46, “Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father.” No one has seen the Father, except the Son has seen the Father. Jhn 14:9, “Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” Jhn 10:30, “I and the Father are one.” God and Jesus are ONE. There is no doubt or uncertainty about the divinity of Christ.

Jesus speaks with full consciousness, confidence and assertiveness. No one speaks like Jesus. For Jesus speaks like God speaks. Jehovah’s “Thus says the Lord”, in the Old Testament is Jesus’ “I say to you”, in the New Testament. The Old Testament ‘I AM WHO I AM’ is the New Testament “I AM.’ When Jesus speaks, God speaks. The mind of Christ is the mind of the Lord. Paul never says, I say to you. Peter never says, I say to you. No prophet, no apostle, no angel, no church, no pope, no one has the authority of Jesus Christ. 

Jhn 3:11,“Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony.”

Jhn 8:14, “Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.”

Jhn 8:55, “and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His Word.”

Jhn 10:38, “but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.”

All thinking involves willing, and all willing involves thought. Jhn 7:15-18, “The Jews then were astonished, saying, “How has this man become learned, having never been educated?” So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.” To be willing in Greek is thelō which means to desire; would have; to have in mind; to intend; to purpose; to wish; to like to do; to take delight in; to have pleasure; to love; to determine; to choose or prefer; to resolve to; to carry out the purpose into act; – which occurs 212 times in the New Testament. If you are willing to do the will of God, you will know for sure Jesus is true.

Jhn 14:20, “In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.”

Note: This is a great mystery, we Christians still do not understand. In that day when Jesus Christ returns to reign with the saints, believers will know that Jesus Christ is in the Father, and believers are in Christ, and Christ is in believers. There is no such a thing called Lutheran theology, Calvinistic theology, Augustinian theology, liberal theology, fundamental theology, Catholic theology, Protestant theology — there is only one Biblical theology. God is ONE, the Lord is One, the Holy Spirit is One, One Faith, One Baptism, One Savior, One Mediator, One Hope, One Body, all saved believers are One in Christ.

Would Christ approve of the pattern of our present civilization at all? Absolutely and definitely not. For that reason Christ prays to the Father: Jhn 17:14-24, “ I have given them Your Word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask on behalf of these alone, that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”

Christianity has a clear message. Christ does not want Christians to escape from the world. Christ wants us to escape from the snare of the devil. 2Ti 2:26, “and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.” Christ prays to the Father to keep Christians from the evil one. Christ desires Christians to be sanctified in truth. Christ desires Christians to be one in God, perfected in unity. Christ desires Christians one day to be with Him where He is, so that we may see His glory the glory the Father has given Him. For that reason, the Bible says: 1Pe 1:8, “and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.” 1Jo 2:15, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Christians are in the world now, but they do not belong to the world, and they do not love the world nor the things in the world. There is no confusion. Phl 3:20-21, “For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.” This is the reason of Christian existence, our hope.

Jhn 15:15,“No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”

Jhn 17:23, “I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.”

Note: The relationship between the Father and the Son, between the Son and believers are wonderful and great mystery. Jesus Christ is in the believers, and the Father is in the Son. The believers may be perfected in unity, unity in faith in Christ. So that the world may know that the Father sent the Son, and loved believers, even as the Father has loved the Son. The relationship between the Father and the Son and the believers are the relationship of love for eternity.

Jesus Christ never makes the following statements:

“I don’t know.

I don’t think so.

I believe so.

Maybe.

Probably.

I hope so.

I have no idea.”

The Bible never says ‘Jesus thinks’ or ‘Christ thinks’ because Jesus Christ knows everything; He knows the end from the beginning, from everlasting to everlasting. Jesus does not have any problem; He does not need to figure out how to solve a problem. On the contrary, Jesus tells his enemies not to think:

Mat 5:17, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.”

Note: Jesus knows what He is doing. Jesus did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; Jesus did not come to abolish but to fulfill. Everything God requires of sinners, Jesus Christ fulfills for them.

Mat 10:34, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

Note: This does not mean Jesus has come for war. It means people who reject the truth will have no peace, nations will be fighting against nations. Luk 21:9-11, “When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately.”Then He continued by saying to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be great earthquakes, and in many places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from Heaven.”

Mat 26:53, “Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?”

Note: Do not think there is anything that Jesus cannot do. Appeal in Greek is parakaleō which means to beseech; to entreat; to ask; to request; to call upon; to pray; to beg; – which occurs 111 times in the New Testament. Legion in Greek is legiōn which means a body of soldiers; the principal unit of the Roman army comprising around 6,000 soldiers. Twelve legions of angels using Roman unit would be around 72,000. The Roman Empire would not be able to fight a legion of angels. Remember Sennacherib?

2Ki 19:35-37, “Then it happened that night that the angel of the LORD went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men rose early in the morning, behold, all of them were dead. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and returned home, and lived at Nineveh. It came about as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son became king in his place.”

Note: One angel of the Lord alone killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night. The issue was not the Roman Empire. Historian Edward Gibbon estimated that the size of the Roman army most probably a standing force of 3,750,000. By His Word, Jesus alone can destroy the whole Roman Empire. Jesus Christ did not come to destroy, He came to save sinners. Jhn 6:38, “For I have come down from Heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”

Heb 10:7-10, “THEN I SAID, ‘BEHOLD, I HAVE COME
(IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME)
TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.’ After saying above, “SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS AND WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, NOR HAVE YOU TAKEN PLEASURE in them” (which are offered according to the Law), then He said, “BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

Note: Jesus takes away the first (Law) in order to establish the second (Truth and Grace). By the will of God Jesus sacrificed Himself through the offering of His body on the cross once for all. Jesus Christ fulfilled all the requirements of the Law, the righteous for the unrighteous in order to obtain the righteousness of God; and by grace and through faith in Jesus Christ we may be saved and receive the eternal life. Believers are sanctified by the precious blood of Christ through the Holy Spirit.

There is nothing impossible with Jesus. But Jesus has come to the will of the Father.

Jhn 5:45, “Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope.”

Note: The Jews who rejected Christ will be condemned by the Law of Moses. Moses does not offer hope to anyone. There is no salvation or grace in the Law. The Law brings the knowledge of sin; and the wages of sin is death.

Mat 5:17, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.”

Note: Jesus came to fulfill the Law or the Prophets. Jesus came to fulfill the Old Testament. The Old Testament is fulfilled in the New Testament.

Everything Jesus says is true, absolute, authoritative, ultimate, and final. Jesus often stresses by saying, ‘truly I say to you,’ ‘truly, truly, I say to you,’ or ‘I say to you.’

Whatever Jesus says is the final with supreme authority for the standard belief and conduct of every believer, Christian, and follower of Jesus Christ. You have to test every doctrine, teaching, tradition, belief, subject, matter, etc. by the Word of Christ. You do not test the Truth of Christ by anything else.

Mat 5:18, “For truly I say to you, until Heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”

Note: One of the last words of Jesus on the cross: Jhn 19:30, “Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” The work of redemption is accomplished, finished. The work of salvation is accomplished. Jesus had finished the work the Father had Him to do.

Mat 5:20, “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Note: The scribes and Pharisees were religious hypocrites. Their righteousness cannot enable them to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Believers by grace through faith in Jesus Christ are given the righteousness of God and by the righteousness of God believers may enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Mat 5:22, “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery Hell.”

Note: Jesus says there exists the fiery Hell. The wicked and unbelievers will suffer in Hell for eternity.

Mat 5:26, “Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.”

Note: It is bad for an individual to owe money. It is even worse for a nation to owe large debt. You have to pay your debt. Nation has to pay its debt. You will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent. Nowadays crooks and criminals defraud by billions and trillions of dollars. In 2008 Wall Street manufactures a financial crisis which robbed the world more than $50 trillion dollars. Japan killed 35 million Chinese and denies all its war crimes, sex slavery, slave labor, atrocities and brutalities and refuses to pay compensations. God will judge individuals as well as nations. No one and no nation can escape their responsibility. No one and no nation can escape the judgment and punishment of God.

Mat 5:28, “but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Note: No one can stand before the Judge of the living and the dead. Jesus Christ knows everything in your heart. Do you know a man can commit adultery with a woman in his heart just by looking at the woman with lust? How can any man escape God’s judgment?

Mat 5:32, “but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

Note: Jesus Christ forbids Christians to divorce, the only ground is the reason of unchastity or infidelity. Those who remarry after divorce commit adultery. Those who marry a divorced woman commit adultery. America is practicing a false version of Christianity. There are many church members who divorce and remarry. Even some pastors did.

Mat 5:34, “But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by Heaven, for it is the throne of God.”

Note: Jesus Christ forbids believers to make an oath or to swear.

Mat 5:39, “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.”

Note: Christians must not practice violence. Do not resist an evil person. This is the famous dictum of Jesus: Whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

Mat 5:44, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Note: This is the highest Christian ideal: love your enemies. Do not take vengeance. Jesus Christ dying on the cross said: Luk 23:34, “But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.” The sins of some Western leaders are even heavier and more weighty, not only they do not love their enemies, they make enemies without cause or reason. They lie, lie, and lie; they kill, kill, and kill; and they rob, rob, and rob — yet they claim to be Christians. They want to dictate and dominate the whole world.

Mat 6:2,“So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”

Note: Doing charity cannot save you. No matter how good you are, you are not good enough to enter Heaven. We are not saved by good works, but after we are saved we must do good works or to bear good fruits. To rob people $99 dollars and donate $1 is not charity, but thievery and robbery. Christians do good work not for seeking fame or to be honored by men. Many so-called philanthropists seek fame through their fortune.

Mat 6:5, “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”

Note: Jesus Christ hates hypocrites, above all religious hypocrites. They practice religion in order they may be seen by men. You pray to God in secret. There are also political hypocrites, ideological hypocrites, theoretical hypocrites, philanthropic hypocrites, economic hypocrites, financial hypocrites, medical hypocrites, theological hypocrites, and philosophical hypocrites.

Mat 6:16, “Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”

Note: Whether praying or fasting, it is not for a show. It must be sincere.

Mat 6:25, “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”

Note: Jesus wants believers not to be worried about eating, drinking, and clothing. Seek first the righteousness of God.

Mat 6:29, “yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.

Note: Solomon in all his glory is no better than the lilies of the field.

Mat 7:23, “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

Note: Jesus will say to false prophets, false preachers, false brothers, unbelieving theologians, the wicked and unbelievers, I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS. Western leaders seem not to know, to engage in war of aggression and intervention is to practice lawlessness. They cannot fool the Lord using the name of democracy, human right, freedom, justice, humanity, etc.

Mat 8:3, “Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”

Note: Jesus is willing; willing to cleanse all leprosy, willing to cleanse sinners from their sins. Are you willing to come to Jesus to be cleansed from your sins and to be saved?

Jhn 5:40-42, “and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. I do not receive glory from men, but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves.”

Note: The greatest tragedy is that people are unwilling to come to Jesus so that they may have life. Jesus knows you. There is no place to hide. The love of God is so precious. No secularists, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers can supply the assurance of true knowledge, permanent reality or certainty of truth. After you have wasted so much time and effort to discover how superficial and frail are all the systems of philosophy, and the limitations and failure of science, you willingly bow down to accept and appreciate the eternal Word of God. Col 2:17, “For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ Himself is that reality.” Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. Christ is the only Reality.

Mat 8:7-11, “Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion said, “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.  “I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Note: A good Christian always thinks he is not worthy. If you think you are worthy, it is because you are not worthy. The centurion had great faith. He said the Lord did not have to come under his roof, because he is not worthy. The Lord just say the word, his servant will be healed. Do you know the Lord Jesus did not have to do anything, He just says the word, it will be done.

The rise of speculative philosophy, the scientific movement and the application of scientific method in historical and critical research cannot clear a man from consciousness of his sins. There is nothing absolute in science; science only deals with knowable, the natural, the visible, the temporal and the finite. No human reason can reach Ultimate Reality without divine Revelation. Science does not know what is beyond human reason. Biblical theology is based only and formed by the truths of Christ, not contributed by any science or philosophy, not influenced by historical or psychological or social consciousness. All theological truth is Christo-centric. The supernatural, the spiritual, the eternal truths beyond human conception or perception are not vulgar but glorious, beautiful, absolute, holy and infinite. Jhn 3:6,“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

There is no such a thing called modern conceptions of Christ as secular scholars claim to be. It is absolute theoretical trash to divide Christ into the Ideal Christ, the Ethical Christ and the Historical Christ. There are not three Christs. There is only one conception of Christ which is Biblical. The Historical Christ is the true Christ, as it is written in Bible, not imagined by self-appointed theologians or scholars. The Christ of history does not mean His life began on earth when he was born, for Christ has preexistence before time and space, before the universe. 1Co 8:6, “yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.” Christians cannot exist without Jesus Christ. Eph 4:4-6, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” The number of Christianity is made of seven perfect ones: ONE BODY, ONE SPIRIT, ONE HOPE, ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM, ONE GOD AND FATHER. The unity of Christianity is ONE in Christ, there is no other.

The Historical Jesus means God became Man in the person of Jesus Christ. The Biblical Christianity is the true Christianity, not dogmatic Christianity. The historical Christ means God manifested in the person of Jesus, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of Virgin Mary, the Son of the living God. The life story of Jesus Christ is recorded in the Four Gospels. Everything Jesus said and did is written down in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These were firsthand Jesus eyewitnesses. In the holy communication to the Father, Jesus says, Jhn 17:3, “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” Jesus came that we the people of the world may know God, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom God had sent. To know God and Jesus Christ is to have eternal life. Apostle John in particular wrote, Jhn 21:24-25, “This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.” The divinity of Jesus indicates His divine nature and eternal power, His humanity proves His suitability to save mankind by His death on the cross. Christ’s threefold ministry as Preacher (Prophet), Priest and King is to be consummated as history progresses. The first of ministry as Prophet was completed on earth some 2000 years ago. Christ is now in the highest Heaven as the High Priest on behalf of His sheep before God the Almighty. The third ministry will be fulfilled when Christ returns to judge the world and reign with the saints forever and ever as King of kings and Lord of lords.

The correct conception of Christ was a revelation of the Father to Peter, Mat 16:16-17, “Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in Heaven.” Based on this revelation, Jesus Christ builds His Church on the Rock which is Himself, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. (Mat 16:18, 1Co 10:4). Mar 1:1, “The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus Christ the Son of God is the beginning of the Gospel. Without Jesus Christ there is no Gospel. Christ not only has the Word of God, Christ is the Word of God. The critical and decisive question for all Christians, however, is not whether a doctrine or teaching is acceptable to a rational mind but whether God had said it. The Word of God is absolute, supreme, ultimate and eternal.

The Bible consistently and persistently presents and demonstrates the only correct conception of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of mankind as follows:

Luk 2:11, “for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luk 9:20, “And He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.” Luk 24:46, “and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day.”Jhn 1:17, “For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”Jhn 7:31, “But many of the crowd believed in Him; and they were saying, “When the Christ comes, He will not perform more miracles than those which this man has, will He?” Jhn 11:27, “She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.” Jhn 20:31, “but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” Act 2:36,“Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” Act 2:38, “Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Act 3:18, “But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.” Act 17:3, “explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.” Act 18:28, “for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.” Act 20:21, “solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Act 26:23, “that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”Rom 1:4, “who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom 3:22, “even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction.” Rom 3:24, “being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.” Rom 5:1, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Rom 5:6, “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” Rom 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom 6:4, “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” Rom 6:8, “Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.” Rom 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”Rom 7:4, “Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.” Rom 8:1, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Rom 8:9, “However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” Rom 8:11, “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Rom 12:5, “so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”Rom 16:25, “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past.”

Christ is more than the Ideal Christ, Ethical Christ and Historical Christ. Christ is Perfect, Able, Absolute, Holy, Glorious, Faithful, Sinless, Righteous, Christ is all, and in all. Christ is Eternal. Heb 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” What is universally and eternally true cannot be appreciated by time.

The idea that man, each man, as a moral personality, endowed with reason and free will, is self-sufficient on his own for moral advance or redemption is destructive heresy. If man can save himself, Christ needs not come down from Heaven to die on the cross. Under whatever label this belief, ideology, general idea is strange doctrine and strange teaching that will undergo the punishment of eternal fire. What man needs is not a thorough revolution of the entire mode of thought. What man need is a regeneration, a new birth. Jhn 3:3-8, “Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”No matter how good the flesh is, it is not good enough in the sight of God. The salvation of Jesus Christ is not founded on our moral reason. Sinful man has no moral reason in the sight of God. The redemption accomplished by Jesus Christ is based on making atonement for sin and iniquity, the Righteousness died for the unrighteous, in order to obtain the righteousness of God as a gift of grace through faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of mankind. No human deed or merit can earn or deserve the righteousness of God. Self-redemption is the philosopher’s illusion and delusion. For human to achieve moral perfection is another illusion and delusion of unbelieving theologians and speculative philosophers. Secularists beget so many vain deceits, one of them is history itself is the incarnation of God. I have discovered it is a waste of time and effort to evaluate the empty words, empty conceit, empty deception, empty chatter, and erroneous opinions of secular academics and unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers. They are not worth a dime. The collective humanity is a corrupt bundle of individuals sinking without God and without hope. But Jesus does not just present an idea, Jesus offers real salvation. 

Mat 11:28, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Jhn 5:40, “and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.” You have free will to come to Jesus or not, but only you come may have life, salvation. Jhn 6:37, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” Jhn 6:44, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.” Jhn 6:65, “And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.” Jhn 7:37, “Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.” 2Pe 3:9, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” If you perish and go to Hell, you have no one to blame but yourself.

Rev 21:6, “Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.”

Rev 22:17, “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.”

Note: To take the water of life is to have eternal life, without cost is absolutely free. Salvation is free, free of money, free of work, free of merit.

Christ is not only the center of Christianity, Christ is everything about Christianity. Christ is also the ground of Christianity, without Christ Christianity has no ground to stand. Without Christ, there is no Christianity.  The unity between Christ and God is not solidaric, it is singular, spiritual, substantive, united in mind, in will, in activity, in connectivity, in fidelity, in reciprocity, in community, in sovereignty, and in perfect bond. The Father is in the Son, and the Son is in the Father, the unity no human words can describe. No reflection or appreciation of the truth can a saint fully experience. The Triune God is too wonderful for man to fathom or understand. There is one more mystery to realize in eternity: Just as God is in Christ, Christ is in God, Christ is in believers, and believers are in Christ forever ever in truth and in love.

What is truth? Truth defines what is. Mat 5:37, “But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.” Lie defines what is not. However, to define what is or what is not depends on what type of truth. There is no one tool for humans to define all truths. Different types of truth require different types of tool. What is used to measure weight, cannot be used to measure length. What is used to measure one type of truth may not be fit to measure another type of truth. Cups cannot be used to measure ocean water. Thermometers cannot be used to measure straightness. Scientific truth can be verified by scientific means. Historical truth can be verified by historical facts. Financial truth can be verified by accounting. Mathematical truth can be verified by mathematical principles. However, human efforts are so feeble, and the tool so crude, very often are not dependable. For example, historical truth with a long time frame is hard to be verified. Even Vietnam War was fought in our generation, it is hard to determine the historical truth; because each side has its own version of truth. Moral truth is usually verified by its consequences. Political truth does not exist because politicians seek expediency, not principle. Western leaders and Western media are the largest organized lies. All human truths are relative, only the divine truth or spiritual truth is absolute. 2Co 1:18-19, “But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no. For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silvanus and Timothy—was not yes and no, but is yes in Him.” So the truth of Christ is very different from all human truths. When Jesus Christ declares, Jhn 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I AM the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” How do I know this is truth? It cannot be verified by any human means and tools. I study and search the Scriptures. I study the person, the word and deed of Jesus Christ. I have found no one in the history of the world who is like Jesus. No one in history claims what Jesus claims to be. No one in history was born of a Virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirit. No one performed miracles, wonders and signs like Jesus did. No one speaks and teaches like Jesus. Jesus died as predicted by Himself, buried, rose from the dead, ascended into Heaven. Jesus saved me from deaths many times. He answered my prayers a million times. From childhood to old age, Jesus has led my life through crises and difficulties. With all my heart and soul I deliberately and willingly believe Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior, and that the truth of Christ is absolute, supreme, ultimate, and eternal as it is written in the Holy Bible. Without doubt or compromise, the incomparable mind of Christ is the mind of God. Experience cannot be used as the test of sacred truth. For the truth of God is beyond human experience. Job 13:15, 

“Though He slay me,
I will hope in Him.
Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him.”

The decisive question is not whether the truth is acceptable to a rational mind but whether God had said it. Christians rest on the Word of God.

We don’t need any bright stars in the theological sky? What we need is 2Pe 1:19, “So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.”

The central dogmas of the faith, such as the Trinity and the Incarnation and the Resurrection are not an admixture of Greek thought. The Virgin birth and the atonement are not an amazing mass of parallels from folklore of kindred peoples. Rationalism is not the new conquering empire of light and reason. The entire Bible was inspired and therefore it is true. The Bible is the Word of God cannot be wrong. God cannot be wrong. The Word of God was not evolved, it was revealed. Truth does not depend on any stage of your life or the era of history. The Christian doctrine is true and has nothing to fear of scientific rationalism. No advancing knowledge can break the Word of God. There cannot be untruth in the true living God. Rational criticism will vanish as Heaven and earth will vanish, but the Word of God remains forever. The whole Christian dogma and moral prescription are accepted on faith by revelation, not on rational evidence. There is no self-sufficiency in human reason because of the frailty and fallibility of human mind. It does not bother me because God cannot be known by theoretical reason. God is Spirit beyond human reason. It does not bother me that an ameba cannot understand man. There is no need to combine Christian belief with so-called intellectual honesty. All men are liars, what intellectual honesty can be; let God be true. Modern thought does not threaten the absolute and eternal truth in Christ, because it was built on the rock. Luk 6:48, “he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.” Christianity is built on the rock, and the Rock is Jesus Christ, who came down from Heaven, who died for sinners and rose from the dead, ascended to the highest Heavens, and He is coming back to judge the world and reign with the saints forever and ever. Remember, no science, no philosophy, no ideology, no rationalism can save mankind. Human reason is self-defeating. The individual can do absolutely nothing of himself. Man cannot save himself. Man is nothing before God. There is no salvation in any other except Jesus Christ.

2Ti 1:12, “ For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”

Note: I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that Jesus Christ is able to save me to the end and until that day of His glorious coming. Convinced in Greek is peithō which means to be persuaded; having confidence; assured; – which occurs 64 times in the New Testament. 

Secular scholars may think that some of the cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith are indemonstrable. Is God demonstrable? Blasphemy! By the creation you can know the Creator. By Incarnation God has manifested Himself. Only by faith you can see the invisible. Pro 22:21, “To make you know the certainty of the words of truth that you may correctly answer him who sent you?” Jhn 20:27-29, “Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” Is eternal life demonstrable? No one can use time to demonstrate eternity, for eternity is without time. You cannot use a cup to measure the ocean. Although I do not see, and yet I believe. I believe everything written in the Word of God. I have more certainty in the Word of God than all the works of secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers put together. Plato and Aristotle, Spinoza and Hume, Kant and Hegel, Nietzsche and Kierkegaard, etc. are nothing in the sight of God. 

The ultimate concern of a Christian is not the sense of sin or guilt of his own, because Rom 8:1, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Now the prime place in a Christian’s life is his relation to God the Father. When the finite facing the infinite, it is not your morality or merit that matters, it is your complete obedience to Christ. Christ set an example for us. Heb 5:8, “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.” Christians need to learn obedience to the will of God through suffering. Suffering is not a goal, obedience to the will of God is. Jhn 12:26, “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.” Mat 25:23, “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” Christians are not in the world to earn Nobel Prize, national highest medal, to be invited to the White House, etc. All the efforts of Christians in this life is to serve Jesus Christ, hoping to hear the final commendation, “Well done, good and faithful slave!”

Job 19:25, “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
And at the last He will take His stand on the earth.”

Because my Redeemer lives forever, so I will also live forever.

IX.  GOD KNOWS YOUR HEARTS.

Luk 16:15, “And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.”

Note: Money, power, and sex are highly esteemed among men especially in Western nations are detestable in the sight of God. Detestable in Greek is bdelygma which means abominable; foul; filthy; pertaining to idolatry; – which occurs 6 times in the New Testament. God does not value what man values.

Psa 44:21, “Would not God find this out?
For He knows the secrets of the heart.”

Note: God knows the secrets of your heart. God knows the top secrets of Western powers in the last 500 years to present. God knows the secrets of the heart of warmongers. God knows the secrets of all nations and peoples.

Psa 69:5, “O God, it is You who knows my folly,
And my wrongs are not hidden from You.”

Note: God knows my folly, your folly, and folly of everyone and every nation. My wrongs, your wrongs, and wrongs of every body and every nations are not hidden from God.

Isa 59:7, “Their feet run to evil,
And they hasten to shed innocent blood;
Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity,
Devastation and destruction are in their highways.”

Note: The Scripture cited above accurately and vividly describe many Western leaders. They move by planes and aircraft carriers and tanks and submarines and war ships to do evil. They hasten to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity. Wherever they go devastation and destruction are in their highways. 

Act 15:8, “And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us.”

Mat 9:4, “And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?”

Note: Jesus Christ the Omniscient God not only knows your words, your deeds, and also your evil thoughts in your heart. There is no hiding. There is no escape.

Mat 12:25, “And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand.”

Note: Do you see America is divided against itself? Do you see Britain is divided against itself? Many nations and peoples are divided against themselves. Any nation divided against itself will not stand.

1Jo 3:20, “in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.”

Note: God is greater than our heart and knows all things. If our heart condemns us, how much more would God condemn us. I am afraid there are people whose hearts are seared by hot iron, their conscience is dead, they do not feel shame or regret in lying, killing, and robbing others. Doctors and hospital owners who habitually and routinely make fraudulent and excessive billing thinking they have a license to bankrupt millions of families in order to make themselves filthy rich.

2Co 10:5, “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”

Note: Secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers give birth to speculations and every lofty thing (such as higher criticism, textual criticism, etc.) raised up against the knowledge of God. Christians must use the Sword of the Lord to destroy them. Believers are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

Mar 7:21-23, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”

Note: God knows out of the heart of men, all these evil things proceed from within and defile the man. Can anyone stand before the judgment of God? God sees all the dirty and evil things in the heart.

Heb 4:12, “For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Note: The Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. How do you face God, the Judge of the living and the dead?

Luk 6:6-11, “ On another Sabbath He entered the synagogue and was teaching; and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He healed on the Sabbath, so that they might find reason to accuse Him. But He knew what they were thinking, and He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward!” And he got up and came forward.

And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to destroy it?” After looking around at them all, He said to him, “Stretch out your hand!” And he did so; and his hand was restored. But they themselves were filled with rage, and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.”

Note: Scribes and Pharisees were watching Jesus closely to see if He healed on the Sabbath, so that they might find reason to accuse Him.

Is it not strange that hypocrites are filled with rage when someone does something good? Western leaders are filled with rage when China does something good in Africa and they try to find reason to accuse China of neocolonialism. Western leaders do not repent and make compensation for all their evil deeds under imperialism and colonialism in the last 500 years. They are true children of Pharisees the hypocrites. God knows the hearts and minds of the wicked who are filled with rage when seeing other people doing good.

Luk 9:46-48, “An argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest. But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side, and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.”

Note: Even disciples started argument among them as to which of them might be the greatest. Jesus teaches them the truth to be great one has to be humble like the least. An arrogant Western leader wants to be the greatest is causing much trouble in the world, he may lead the world to a nuclear war that will destroy the world.

Luk 12:34, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Note: This is an apparent truth: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The rich and powerful love the world, because it is where their treasure is. If your treasure is in Heaven, you seek and think of things above. Can you imagine a famous preacher died and left $10 million to his children? The heart of prosperity gospel preachers is on money. If you watch commercial people, it becomes so apparent they go crazy with zeal because their heart is on money.

Isa 35:4, “Say to those with anxious heart,
“Take courage, fear not.
Behold, your God will come with vengeance;
The recompense of God will come,
But He will save you.”

Note: Believers with anxious heart, don’t worry, believe in Christ. Behold God will come with vengeance; the recompense of God will come. Jesus will save His followers to the end.

Oba 1:3, “The arrogance of your heart has deceived you,
You who live in the clefts of the rock,
In the loftiness of your dwelling place,
Who say in your heart,
‘Who will bring me down to earth?’”

Note: The rich and powerful people, the arrogance of their hearts have deceived them. They who live in the lofty mansions of high rise skyscrapers, who say in their hearts, who will bring us down to earth? The Washington, Wall Street, and Hollywood executives and military-industrial-security conglomerate empire feel on top the world and live in luxury and security, who can topple them? God knows the hearts and minds of the rich and powerful, deceived by the arrogance of their hearts.

Zec 8:17, “Also let none of you devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love perjury; for all these are what I hate,’ declares the LORD.”

Note: The current phenomenon of the world is the fact that Western powers devise evil in their heart against nations that are not their allies or running dogs. They love perjury and distortion of justice apparent in Western media and their sly and false statements and reports. These are what the Lord hates. The most outrageous thing is that the Western leaders think they are Christians just like the Jews who opposed Jesus Christ thought they were children of Abraham.

Mar 7:21-23, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”

Note: God knows the heart of men. Out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. This is like a catalog of evil in Western society, and also more and more in the whole world. Evil things defile the man, East or West, North or South.

Luk 6:45, “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.”

Note: The mind of Christ is the mind of God. Jesus Christ sees through what is in the heart of man. Jesus sees what is the good treasure of the good man and also the evil treasure of the evil man. This is a verifiable truth that a man’s mouth speaks from that which fills his heart. When I was a manager, in a 15-minute interview I can know for sure what a person is. If your mouth speaks that which fills your heart, you are an open book. Western leaders are expert in talking craftily. When they speak about democracy, human rights, civil rights, freedom, justice, humanity, and a bunch of flowery slogans, it means they want to dominate and dictate your country.

Eph 4:18, “being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart.”

Note: There are many in the world today among the rich and powerful, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance in them, because of the hardness of their heart. Once in a while it is refreshing to hear and watch some strong man or woman who dares to challenge injustice. Recently I learned about Dr. Abigail Disney who championed the cause of underpaid miserable Disney employees who have to go home and forage for food in other people’s garbage. Let me say first I have nothing against Disney personally. Over the years (most of my life) in California I enjoyed Disneyland. Orange County is the best place I have ever lived in this world. I spent many New Year’s Eve at Disneyland watching the fireworks. While the current CEO of Disney is making $66 million a year. For years I hold the truth that employees making too little because corporate executives are making too much. I suggested there must be a limit to executive pay in comparison to the pay of the lowest employees, the ratio cannot be too great. No, it won’t happen because America is a capitalistic nation, where 1 percent of the population rules over the 99 percent. That is the beauty of American democracy. Unless you are an American and live half a century in America, you would not understand how serious is poverty. There was a time when American economy was so bad that even a Ph.D. became a taxi driver and millions of professionals were laid off and unemployed for a long period of time. I was so worried of becoming a homeless beggar. Foreigners do not really know the high cost of living in America. One day I read the Scripture, Psa 37:25, 

“I have been young and now I am old,
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
Or his descendants begging bread.”

The Word of God cheered me up, and I rested on the promise of God. I communicated to my Lord and said I was a descendant of the righteous, my parents were missionaries and asked the Lord not to let me begging bread. I can testify to the fact although I was not rich, all my life I had never been a beggar, and I have never looked for food in other people’s garbage. Those who put their trust in the Lord will not be put to shame.

Most people in the world do not know, in the land of the free, you are free to be shot, free to be mugged, free to be threatened, free to be raped, free to be robbed, free to be abused and oppressed, free to be discriminated, free to be laid off or unemployed, free to be defrauded and slaughtered by doctors and hospitals, free to become desperate and homeless. If you are unemployed for a few months, you will lose your home or apartment and free to be homeless in the street! Western society is an alienated society, everyone for himself. When you are doing well, you have plenty of friends. When you are in need, you are alone.

Psa 73:7, “Their eye bulges from fatness;
The imaginations of their heart run riot.”

Note: Have you not seen people with their eyes bulging from fatness? The scary thing is the imagination of the hearts of many Western leaders run riot with their money and power to oppress and sanction weaker nations without cause. 

2Pe 2:14, “having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children.”

Note: I have a lifetime observing and watching how executives of Washington, Wall Street, and Hollywood having a heart trained in greed, they were well trained at American Ivy League Universities. They are the smartest people on earth who own most of money and power in the world. But God called them accursed children.

Gal 6:3, “For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”

Note: The most miserable and pitiful people are those who think they are something when they are nothing, they who deceive others and deceive themselves. God cannot be fooled. God not only knows your words and deeds, He knows your thoughts. You cannot escape from the judgement of God. Having learned so much about the Word of God, don’t you think it is high time to repent and have a change of heart. Remember, whatever you do have consequences. 

If God only judges the thoughts of men, no one can stand before God. Not to say God will judge the words, the deeds, and the thoughts of every man and woman. The inevitable is for everyone to be sent to Hell for everlasting punishment. Stress of suffering in this life comes from the original sin and personal sins. The world was cursed. But there is good news in Jesus Christ. Your sins can be forgiven and you may be saved from eternal damnation.

Jer 4:14, “Wash your heart from evil, O Jerusalem,
That you may be saved.
How long will your wicked thoughts
Lodge within you?”

Note: How can you wash your heart from evil? You cannot use bleach, detergent, dish soap, baking soda, or other cleaning agents to wash your heart from evil. There is good news. 1Pe 1:18-19, “knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” The precious blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, washes away our sins; sanctified by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.

Isa 55:7, “Let the wicked forsake his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the LORD,
And He will have compassion on him,
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.”

To pardon in Hebrew is calach which means to forgive; to spare; to receive mercy; to pass without punishment; – which occurs 47 times in the Old Testament. God will pardon your iniquity, your transgression, and your sin in the name of Jesus Christ the Redeemer.

Christianity is a way of life in Christ. Christianity is action, not thought. Faith is not an intellectual affair, but a matter of action. The following historical story illustrates the leap of faith. Act 3:6-9, “But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God.” The acceptance of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior requires a decision, a leap of faith, a commitment of the will (heart and soul), an instance of doing and becoming, not of contemplating. 

Sadly and tragically, America, Europe, UK, NATO, Australia, Canada, Palestinians, Hamas, Islamic terrorists, and Japan do not know that they are WONG. The worst of all they think they are RIGHT!

You have learned a lot about thinking and thinking has consequences.

Jesus asks, Mat 24:44

“For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.”

Why must you also be ready? At least two reasons: the first you do not know when you are going to die. Secondly, we do not know when Jesus Christ is coming again.

Do you want to act now in receiving pardon for your sins in Jesus Christ? Do you want to have correct thinking and right behavior? Those who repent and believe in Jesus Christ will receive forgiveness of sins.

Would you repent of your sins and believe Jesus Christ, the Son of God, your Lord and Savior?

You can do it right now. Come before it is too late!

WILLIE WONG THOUGHT
WILLIE WONG
AUGUST 7, 2025
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