A Sure Sign!

This is the most beautiful season of this year when people are busy doing many things for their family members and shopping endlessly. It is so nice to see the fresh falling snow and the landscape and the mountain peaks are covered with snow and people try to light up fire around to keep themselves warm. Talk about the time and effort we all take decorating our houses and the trees! Not to forget the good food we can all try with friends and the family members and it is indeed a beautiful season every one is waiting for.

In this beautiful hustle and bustle, very often we tend to forget what the real reason is for this season and what is the main thing?  ¹⁴ Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. ^[a]  Isaiah 7:14; (NKJV)

Isaiah chapter 7 is talking about the perilous times of the nation of Judah, where the Assyrians were growing stronger and threatened the smaller nations around. The Northern Kingdoms which consists of Syria and Ephraim tried their pressure on Judah to form an alliance against Assyria but, the King of Judah, Ahaz refused to join them. We just wonder what the reason was for the king of Judah not to form an alliance. Is it because he secretly formed a treaty with Assyria (2 King 16: 5-9).

It is very clear that the King of Judah did not trust God and his promises, because if it was so, he could have easily broken that treaty and called the nation to prayer and praise. Prophet Isaiah was prophesying during that period and he gave a sign for the nation as well as for the “whole house of David.”  This prophecy was concerning “Immanuel.” Immanuel means God with us and the ultimate fulfillment of the prophecy is in our Lord Jesus Christ.

The virgin birth of Jesus Christ is the key doctrine for Christianity, God coming in the sinless flesh, and but for this sure sign, we have no Saviour! This is a huge reminder that God was with His people and would care for them. What a great beautiful promise fulfilled “sure sign”?

The virgin birth of Jesus is the belief that Jesus was conceived in the womb of his mother Mary by the Holy Spirit and born while Mary was yet a virgin.^[1] The New Testament references are Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-38. The virgin birth is not mentioned in the Pauline epistles, nor is it mentioned in the Gospels of Mark or John.

The virgin birth was universally accepted in the Christian church by the 2nd century, was enshrined in the Apostles’ Creed, and, except for several minor sects, was not seriously challenged until the 18th century, and remains a basic article of belief in the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and most Protestant churches.

Jesus Christ willingly obeyed the will of the Father and chooses to be born of Virgin Mary in order to redeem each one of us and the humanity and buy us back from the law of sin and death. This is beyond our human reasoning and understanding and there is a definite percentage of mystery involved in it. If we extrapolate further, it is further humbling to note that though He was rich, for our sake He became poor, so that through His poverty we become rich; 2 Cori 8:9. When He was on the cross, He was despised and rejected by men, and the Word of God tells us that He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; Isa 53:2-3.

God when He took humanity, he did not wait for us to recognize Him, esteem Him, and acknowledge Him for who He is. He is welcoming each one of us in to the family of God as adopted children; Gal 4:4-5. Through faith in Christ Jesus each one of us has the ability to become the child of God; Gal: 3:26.

God’s work through Christ Jesus opens the door to heaven for all believers.

Below are the Words of Te Deum. The Te Deum (also known as Ambrosian Hymn or A Song of the Church) is an early Christian hymn of praise. The title is taken from its opening Latin words, Te Deum laudamus, rendered as "Thee, O God, we praise"³.

[We praise thee, O God: we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship thee: the Father everlasting.
To thee all Angels cry aloud; the Heavens, and all the Powers therein.
To thee Cherubim and Seraphim: continually do cry,

Holy, Holy, Holy; Lord God of Sabaoth; Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty: of thy glory.
The glorious company of the Apostles: praise thee. The goodly fellowship of the Prophets: praise thee. The noble army of Martyrs: praise thee.
The holy Church throughout all the world: doth acknowledge thee;

The Father: of an infinite Majesty; Thine honourable, true: and only Son;
Also the Holy Ghost: the Comforter. Thou art the King of Glory: O Christ.
Thou art the everlasting Son: of the Father. When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man: thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb. When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death: thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers.

Thou sittest at the right hand of God: in the glory of the Father.
We believe that thou shalt come: to be our Judge. We therefore pray thee, help thy servants:
 whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.
Make them to be numbered with thy Saints: in glory everlasting.

[added later, mainly from Psalm verses:]
O Lord, save thy people: and bless thine heritage.
Govern them: and lift them up for ever. Day by day: we magnify thee;
And we worship thy Name : ever world without end. Vouchsafe, O Lord: to keep us this day without sin.O Lord, have mercy upon us: have mercy upon us.
O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us: as our trust is in thee.
O Lord, in thee have I trusted: let me never be confounded.]²

This article is about the hymn. For the type of service, see Te Deum (religious service).

"Ambrosian Hymn" redirects here. For hymns written by Ambrose, see Ambrosian hymns.

Can we accept that this is a beautiful story which could be life changing?! So to all of us born of a woman there is hope and we can now approach the throne of grace knowing that He identifies exactly with our needs. When we face temptation, we know He will make Himself available to us, and His mercy and grace will be in abundant supply because He was tempted and tried in all points. Yet in all the temptations He was without sin; Heb: 4: 15-16. Especially when we encounter very stressful situations we know His grace will be sufficient for us; 2 Cori 12:8-9.

Man kind is totally depraved ever since the fall and God in His infinite mercy knows that we can never make it without Him. When we talk about total depravity we are talking about total degradation which affects all our mental, emotional, spiritual, faculties not with holding our perishing bodies. Now we have this great High Priest who was tempted and tried in all points like us, and interceding before God’s throne room for each one of us especially when we face rejection, hardships, extreme need and all other weaknesses.

Of course we never fully understand in our falleness, why God would choose to leave the comfort and security of heaven to come to earth. No one can fully fathom why God would leave His Divinity, and take the form of a bond servant, clothe in human flesh, and humble Himself to the point of death on the cross; Phil 2:6-8. Isn’t there any other way to redeem mankind?

It costs God His only Son’s life in order to understand each one of us, and make salvation available to us, and show the way to the Father. My biggest heart question is how many of us who call ourselves as Christians are eternally grateful for what God did though Jesus Christ His precious Son? For me, Virgin birth is indeed a sure sign for God in flesh and that humbles me to the point “my utmost for His Highest”.

Do we believe? What should be our response? What is the message to our hearts?

End Notes:

1. Virgin birth of Jesus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_birth_of_Jesus

The virgin birth of Jesus is the belief that Jesus was conceived in the womb of his mother Mary by the Holy Spirit and born while Mary was yet a virgin. The New ...

 2,3. Te Deum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Te_Deum

The Te Deum (also known as Ambrosian Hymn or A Song of the Church) is an early Christian hymn of praise. The title is taken from its opening Latin words, Te Deum ...

Website References:

1.        Te Deum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Te_Deum

The Te Deum (also known as Ambrosian Hymn or A Song of the Church) is an early Christian hymn of praise. The title is taken from its opening Latin words, Te Deum ...

2.        THE PRIESTS - TE DEUM LYRICS - SongLyrics.com

www.songlyrics.com/the-priests/te-deum-lyrics

The Priests - Te Deum Lyrics. Te te Deum laudamus* Te te Dominum confitemur Te aeternum Patrem omnis terra veneratur veneratur Te aeternum Patrem omnis terra veneratur ve

 

Bibliography:

1. Millard J. Erickson. Christian Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983-85, p. 947-1002.

 

2. R.T. Kendall. Understanding Theology, Developing a Healthy Church in the 21^st Century, 1996, p. 357-364.

3. Jay E. Adams. A Theology of Christian Counseling, More than Redemption. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1979, p.249-275.

4. Louis Berkhof. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996, p. 423-450.

5.  Robert P Lightner. Handbook of Evangelical Theology, Historical, Biblical, and Contemporary Survey and Review. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1986, p.527-544.

6. Charles Ryrie. Basic Theology. Chicago: Moody Press, 1986, 1999, p.374-377.

7.  A. H. Strong. Systematic Theology. New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Co, 1907, p. 869-881.

8.  Wayne Grudem. Systematic Theology, An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994, p. 736-761; 840-850.

9. Steven W. Waterhouse. Not By Bread Alone, An Outlined Guide To Bible Doctrine. Amarillo: Westcliffe Press, 2007, p.188-191. 

 

10. John Theodore Muller, Th.D. Christian Dogmatics, A handbook of Doctrinal Theology for Pastors, Teachers, and Laymen.  St. Louis, Mo: Concordia Publishing House, 1934, p.384-386.  

11. Prayers To Move Your Mountains. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers,2000.

12. John White. Parables, the Greatest Stories ever Told. Illinois: Inter varsity Press, 1988, 1999.

13. ESV Study Bible. English Standard Version. Crossway Bibles, Wheaton, Illinois: Publishing ministry of Good News publishers, 2008.

14. The Matthew Henry Study Bible. King James Version. Iowa falls: World Bible Publishers, Inc.1990.  

 

Abandoned and rejected….

This article is for some one who is going through frail state of helplessness, hopelessness, despair and having the feelings of rejection, and abandonment. Dear friend this journey could be a very lonely walk and waves of anger, discouragement, and doubt could plague you to the utmost point of despair. Even if you are in a crowd or in a party there could be a continuing gnaw away at your heart as though you have a terminal illness. You may even question, is your life worth continuing?

What is the meaning of abandonment?

a·ban·doned

1. forsaken or deserted: an abandoned building; an abandoned kitten.

2. unrestrained or uncontrolled; uninhibited: She danced with abandoned enthusiasm.

3. utterly lacking in moral restraints; shameless; wicked: an abandoned and dissolute ruler.

 

Abandonment and rejection are not easy to handle but could be handled Biblically with the tremendous grace of God. There is always a connection between the mind and the heart and very often that becomes a place for Satan to work to destroy any one.  "As a Man Thinketh" is a literary essay by James Allen, published in 1902. The title is influenced by a verse in the Bible from the Book of Proverbs, chapter 23, verse 7: “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” This book, written in terms of the responsibility assumption, opens with the statement:

Mind is the Master power that moulds and makes,

And Man is Mind, and evermore he takes

The tool of Thought, and, shaping what he wills,

Brings forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills: —

He thinks in secret, and it comes to pass:

Environment is but his looking-glass‑¹.

Now the point and the encouragement I am bringing forth in this article is, if there is much upheaval; there should be much comfort some where. “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” Says your God; Isaiah 40:1; (NKJV). God’s People Are Comforted. William Sanford in his fascinating book Great personalities of the Old Testament mentioned that Isaiah the prophetic book was great for two reasons.

a.       he lived in momentous days especially in critical days of international upheaval.

      b.   he wrote what many consider being the greatest book in the Old Testament.

As we study this book we will get to know what this outstanding prophet is saying, and also we meet mighty Kings and rulers of his time. We will witness the rise and fall of mighty Kingdoms and Kings, and we see the Hand of the Lord chastening and restoring God’s people. One of the greatest themes of this book is the suffering servant, the Lord Jesus Christ. We come to the knowledge and understanding of the suffering servant, how He does the will of the Father, and came to the world to suffer and die for the sins of the whole world.  

It is a great comfort when we read Isaiah chapter 53, on “the suffering servant.” For a person who is suffering it was the greatest comfort to know that Jesus was rejected, even by the closest friends, family, and even all the people whom He helped and at a time he needed the most. “He was despised and rejected” Isa: 53:3.  The Matthew Henry one of the greatest Theologians of 1600’s explains that Jesus was abandoned and abhorred and he became a reproach to all men. In other words, Jesus became one that men would be shy of keeping company and he had no self-esteem. Many hid their faces from Him, because he was considered as a bad man. Despite the love he showed and the lives He touched, they denied Him, betrayed Him, and they gave up on Him.

‘He opened not his mouth’ Isa: 53: 7; Jesus Christ freely offered himself to suffer and die for us in perfect accordance with His Father’s will. We know from God’s Word that He grew in stature and God’s wisdom. By His wisdom he could have evaded this deathly sentence; and by his power he could have resisted this kind of brutal execution. But he went to the cross just like a lamb being led to the slaughter house without any reluctance and difficulty. This denotes not only His meekness under reproach but his will in compliance with His father’s will; But I, like a deaf man, do not hear; And I am like a mute who does not open his mouth; Psa:38:13.

Plod while we wait! What is the meaning of plod?

Definition of plod (vi)Bing Dictionary

plod

1. walk heavily: to walk with a slow heavy tread
2. work slowly but steadily: to work slowly but steadily, especially on something uninteresting or laborious
3. slow heavy steps: a walk with slow heavy steps

Synonyms: trudge, slog, tread, traipse, lumber, tramp, clump, clomp, walk

God is able to understand how we feel some times, and He is the only one who is able to scale the unscalable. If we trust in our own strength we fail miserably and if we wait on the Lord He is able to renew our strength and supply our mental, emotional and spiritual make up.  “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint”. Isaiah 40:3; (NKJV). This means hope in hopelessness and this involves meditating on His character, and His promises, praying and glorifying Him. Does this come naturally to a fallen man? Of course not and this renewing of our minds means to “exchange” as taking off old clothes and putting on new; 2 Cori 12:1-10. In this process of exchange we are slowly changing our weaknesses for God’s power as we wait upon Him. God’s Spirit is available and with His help we refuse to allow the enemy to sow seeds of unforgiveness, bitterness, vengeance and hatred which could also eventually lay foundation for abandonment and rejection.

God’s power enables us to soar; when there is a crisis situation it is very much harder to walk in the ordinary pressures of life than to fly like the eagle. William Carey the father of modern missions once said, “I can plod and that is my only genius; I can persevere in any pursuit and to this I owe everything.” When we read Hebrews chapter 11, the greatest heroes of faith are not always those who seem to be soaring, but the ones who are faithfully plodding! One thing is for sure those heroes of faith had the vision of God’s unconditional love and acceptance. We can even say, blessed are the plodders with God’s help, because they finally arrive at the destination.

        End Notes:

 

         1. As a Man Thinketh - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/As_a_Man_Thinketh

The title is influenced by a verse in the Bible from the Book of Proverbs, chapter 23, verse 7: “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”

Website References:

1.        Abandoned | Define Abandoned at Dictionary.com

dictionary.reference.com/browse/abandoned

adjective 1. forsaken or deserted: an abandoned building; an abandoned kitten. 2. unrestrained or uncontrolled; uninhibited: She danced with abandoned enthusiasm. 3 ...

2.        abandoned - definition of abandoned by the Free Online ...

www.thefreedictionary.com/abandoned

a·ban·doned    (-b n d nd) adj. 1. Deserted; forsaken. 2. Exuberantly enthusiastic. 3. Recklessly unrestrained. abandoned [əˈbændənd] adj. 1. deserted an abandoned ...

3.        Definition: Abandoned (Meaning of Abandoned)

ardictionary.com/Abandoned/54

Meaning of Abandoned: of Abandon ... Search Dictionary:

Bibliography:

1. Millard J. Erickson. Christian Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983-85, p. 947-1002.

2. R.T. Kendall. Understanding Theology, Developing a Healthy Church in the 21^st Century, 1996, p. 357-364.

3. Jay E. Adams. A Theology of Christian Counseling, More than Redemption. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1979, p.249-275.

4. Louis Berkhof. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996, p. 423-450.

5.  Robert P Lightner. Handbook of Evangelical Theology, Historical, Biblical, and Contemporary Survey and Review. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1986, p.527-544.

6. Charles Ryrie. Basic Theology. Chicago: Moody Press, 1986, 1999, p.374-377.

7.  A. H. Strong. Systematic Theology. New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Co, 1907, p. 869-881.

8.  Wayne Grudem. Systematic Theology, An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994, p. 736-761; 840-850.

9. Steven W. Waterhouse. Not By Bread Alone, An Outlined Guide To Bible Doctrine. Amarillo: Westcliffe Press, 2007, p.188-191. 

10. John Theodore Muller, Th.D. Christian Dogmatics, A handbook of Doctrinal Theology for Pastors, Teachers, and Laymen.  St. Louis, Mo: Concordia Publishing House, 1934, p.384-386.  

11. Prayers To Move Your Mountains. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers,2000.

12. John White. Parables, the Greatest Stories ever Told. Illinois: Inter varsity Press, 1988, 1999.

13. ESV Study Bible. English Standard Version. Crossway Bibles, Wheaton, Illinois: Publishing ministry of Good News publishers, 2008.

14. The Matthew Henry Study Bible. King James Version. Iowa falls: World Bible Publishers, Inc.

Greed and warped perspectives…

Everywhere we move around we are constantly bombarded by the external influences in the media, most of it seeking to seduce our earthly fleshly desires. Our society is transfixed on materialism and gain, wealth and possessions, and there is an indirect pressure even on believers to conform to their thinking, the pattern of the world.

Definition of greed (n)

Bing Dictionary

Greed

strong desire for more: an overwhelming desire to have more of something such as money than is actually needed

Synonyms: gluttony, voracity, ravenousness, greediness, insatiability, hunger, self-indulgence, appetite, craving

An excessive desire to acquire or possess more than what one needs or deserves, especially with respect to material wealth: "Many . . . attach to competition the stigma of selfish greed" (Henry Fawcett) ¹.

Greed is the inordinate desire to possess wealth, goods, or objects of abstract value with the intention to keep it for one's self, far beyond the dictates of basic survival and comfort. It is applied to a markedly high desire for and pursuit of wealth, status, and power².

 

How do we triumph over greed, indulgence and materialism? Greed is a very dangerous disposition of a person’s make up, and it often comes out of a fear that God’s resources and love are in short supply. Very often when we allow Satan to work in our heart/mind we think more about us and not about God. We want everything under the sun, and we want it under our control, because we in our warped perspective think that we can control every event and situation around us. We want more money, then slowly more power, and of course fame adds its ugly head along with it, and along with it comes different strange relationships, in order to calm our fears. We tend to believe if we have the above in our control it will calm all of our fears, and we will be really secure. Dear friend what a warped perspective for life! Do you want to know the reality? The reality is there will never be enough of anything we seek, if the reason we seek is for security and self-worth.

The dangers of greed are so many and the most important one is it robs us off some beautiful relationships. It robs us off our relationship with God, and also with godly men and women in this earth. Suddenly we find that we can not have any reasonably good relationship with people and we become very selfish, and we are in the downward spiral of fear. This fear separates us from people makes one think that all other people are their enemies and none of the people around them are good enough for them. The real enemy (the enemy of our soul) enters our life in his different strategies, tentacles, format and colors and he is conquering our heart, emotions and mind. I have mentioned to you in my previous blogs that there is a definite beautiful connection between heart and mind. Satan is capable of putting the thought in our mind, and processesing it so beautifully and it gradually descends to our heart and then makes us believe it is so true! What a warped perspective? 

 

This warped perspective finally destroys the one who allows Satan’s strategies and in that process all the beautiful relationships God has given in our lives are destroyed too. In a nut shell, greed is dangerous because it robs us of the capacity for gratitude, generosity, love and most of all the beautiful freedom from fear.

The Parable of the Rich Fool

¹³ Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” ¹⁴ But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” ¹⁵ And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, ^[a] for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” ¹⁶ Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. ¹⁷ And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ ¹⁸ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. ¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ ²⁰ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ ²¹ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:13-21; New King James Version (NKJV)

Time and again there are so many warnings in the word of God against greed. In the above story we notice that Jesus is not condemning all rich people, but giving a serious warning to those who are not rich towards God. It is important that we keep our focus and be cautious so the material world will not blind us to the spiritual world which is the true world. Bible says that the things of this world will pass away, and it will be burned up! Is it worth to let fear and greed rule our lives, and rob us off from godly people? Is it worth to be under the yoke of Satan and giving undue importance to resources and in that process allowing Satan to rob us off the riches that comes from a trusting heart towards God?

This parable reminds us that death is the final war, and very often it does clarify things in the right perspective. Very often death of a loved one or our own death makes us reassess things from our previous wrong perspectives. Death is the chief end of all mankind according to God’s beautiful Words. Death indeed makes us revaluate what the purpose of life is, and it causes us to ask ourselves what really matters?

What is the tragedy of all tragedies? Fear…..The fear that underlies greed misses the reality of God’s abundant love, resources, and robs us off our only hope. The living hope and security which the world can not give are found in God alone because God’s resources never run dry. Wow! We have a great resource in God, in Christ Jesus, and He is Jehovah Jireh our great provider!

The older brother by Jewish law receives a double portion of the inheritance, and this man is asking Jesus to speak with authority regarding the situation in his favour. Here we observe that this man does not ask Jesus to decide what is just, but he wants a decision to be rendered in his favour. It is also not very clear whether the other brother has asked Jesus to judge this matter of inheritance and Jesus’ reply indicates that the man has improper motives and priorities. Christ is taking this occasion to warn against covetousness which is a desire to have more than God in His providence has allotted for each one. Christ is not warning against the lawful desire of getting his own, but the sinful desire of getting more than his own.

In some ways, this rich man’s actions and questions towards Jesus were logical and appropriate, although we can detect a greater degree of self-centredness; ¹⁶ Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. ¹⁷ And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ ¹⁸ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. The following verse clearly reveals that the man’s attitude comes out because of his warped perspective and it does prove that he is not rich towards the things of God; ¹⁹ and I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”     

Christ is asking us to guard our hearts, because it is easy for Satan to put covetous principles into our hearts and destroy us. ¹⁵ And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, ^[a] for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Our happiness, comfort and self-worth does not depend on our having a great deal of wealth of this world, and very often they work against the nature of our soul and destroy us completely if we put our trust in this earthly goods for security. Wealth and material possessions are not evil in themselves, but when we begin seeking them rather than seeking God we need to be on alert because we are in a danger zone.

God’s Word explicitly admonishes that God’s people must not have any hint of greed because it is improper; Eph: 5:3. Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life are not of God, but of the world and our love for them is definitely a proof that God’s love is not in us. Lord we pray that You would deliver us from greed, indulgence, materialism and the lust for more which will never give the satisfaction and security which You are able to give. Give us a heart to seek Your Kingdom and righteousness, knowing that all our needs will be met by You; Matt: 6:33. Lord, we want to seek You not because what You can give us, but for what You have already given us: forgiveness and eternal life in Christ Jesus; Amen.

End Notes:

         1. greed - definition of greed by the Free Online Dictionary ...

www.thefreedictionary.com/greed

greed (gr d) n. An excessive desire to acquire or possess more than what one needs or deserves, especially with respect to material wealth: "Many . . . attach to ...

        2. Greed - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greed

Greed is the inordinate desire to possess wealth, goods, or objects of abstract value with the intention to keep it for one's self, far beyond the dictates of basic ...

Website References:

1.        Greed | Define Greed at Dictionary.com

dictionary.reference.com/browse/greed

noun excessive or rapacious desire, especially for wealth or possessions. Origin: 1600–10; back formation from greedy Related forms greedless, adjective greedsome ...

2.        greed: Definition, Synonyms from Answers.com

www.answers.com/topic/greed

greed n. An excessive desire to acquire or possess more than what one needs or deserves, especially with respect to material wealth: 'Many

Bibliography:

1. Millard J. Erickson. Christian Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983-85, p. 947-1002.

2. R.T. Kendall. Understanding Theology, Developing a Healthy Church in the 21^st Century, 1996, p. 357-364.

3. Jay E. Adams. A Theology of Christian Counseling, More than Redemption. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1979, p.249-275.

4. Louis Berkhof. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996, p. 423-450.

5.  Robert P Lightner. Handbook of Evangelical Theology, Historical, Biblical, and Contemporary Survey and Review. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1986, p.527-544.

6. Charles Ryrie. Basic Theology. Chicago: Moody Press, 1986, 1999, p.374-377.

7.  A. H. Strong. Systematic Theology. New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Co, 1907, p. 869-881.

8.  Wayne Grudem. Systematic Theology, An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994, p. 736-761; 840-850.

9. Steven W. Waterhouse. Not By Bread Alone, An Outlined Guide To Bible Doctrine. Amarillo: Westcliffe Press, 2007, p.188-191. 

10. John Theodore Muller, Th.D. Christian Dogmatics, A handbook of Doctrinal Theology for Pastors, Teachers, and Laymen.  St. Louis, Mo: Concordia Publishing House, 1934, p.384-386.  

11. Prayers To Move Your Mountains. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers,2000.

12. John White. Parables, the Greatest Stories ever Told. Illinois: Inter varsity Press, 1988, 1999.

13. ESV Study Bible. English Standard Version. Crossway Bibles, Wheaton, Illinois: Publishing ministry of Good News publishers, 2008.

14. The Matthew Henry Study Bible. King James Version. Iowa falls: World Bible Publishers, Inc.