Always

 

    Always is an archaic adverb that means "all along", "for all time", or "perpetually".  In the Bible it is used to describe God's faithfulness, promise, and plan.  In Hebrew the word is תמיד, pronounced "tamid" which means forever.  In Aramaic it is māranā thā.  The Greek word used in the Bible is pantote (πάντοτε).  In Latin always is semper.  The English word always comes from the Old English word ealne weg which means "all the way" which has been around since 1225 in Hali Meidenhad.

    God love is always unfailing.  He has enough compassion to blot out our sins.  Jesus washes away all guilt and purifies us from sin.  See your rebellion for what it is and allow it to halt you.  Sin is evil, but Jesus shows us what is right.  God is always the judge of what is right and wrong.  We were born with a sinful nature, but you can also have an honest desire for wisdom and truth.

    Jesus told his apostles that he had given them authority in Heaven and on Earth.  He gave them that authority for them to go make disciples in all nations, baptizing them in God 's and his name, and how to follow the Holy Spirit.  New disciples have to be taught how to be obedient.  It doesn't come naturally.  Don't forget Jesus is always with his disciples.  He was with his apostles even to the end.

    Do not criticize those that do good and follow Jesus.  There will always be the poor or people in need, but there are only a few opportunities where you can help.  Make sure that you are following the path that the Holy Spirit leads.  Never forget the Good News and what it means.

    Always allow the joy of the Jesus be full within you.  You do this by rejoicing in what He has done in your life.  Allow everyone see what joy Jesus brings to your life.  Be considerate and remember that Jesus is returning.  You don't want to be doing something stupid when he comes back.

    If you are eager to do good, then who will want to harm you?  However, if you do suffer for doing what is right, then trust that God will reward you.  Do not be afraid, but instead worship God.  When someone ask you where you find your hope, always be ready to respond with your testimony.  Be gentle and respectful, so that you can keep a clear conscience.  When people speak against you, then the shame will be laid on them.  It is better to suffer for doing good than to suffer for doing wrong.

Psalm 51:1-6, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 14:6-9, Philippians 4:4-5, & 1 Peter 3:13-17

Altogether

 

    Altogether means completely, all things considered, or on the whole.   In the Bible there are five Hebrew words and three Greek words that signify altogether.   The most common word in Hebrew is legammri (לְגַמרֵי).  In Aramaic it is KUL (כול) which means everything.  The most common word in Greek is entelós (εντελώς).  In Latin it is omnino.  Altogether was introduced to the English language around the 12th century by putting all and together into one word to reference a group (wholly, entirely, or completely).

    Only a fool would say that there was no God.  Look around.  He is evident in all your see, the mystery of words, nature, people, and more.  Fools are corrupt, so their actions are evil.  You cannot find good among fools.  God looks down from Heaven at all humanity to see the wise.  A wise person seeks God.  He is searching for people who understand.  However, it appears people altogether have forsaken God because no one does good without Him.

    People's mouths are filled with wickedness as they speak lies.  People sit around gossiping and slandering other people not even thinking about how you are all God's children.  God remained silent and altogether people believed that He didn't care.  When He has had enough He will rebuke you listing all the charges against you.  The only way out is to repent now and allow God to forget you folly.  The other option is to be torn apart without hope of help.  

    The lover is dark and dazzling with wavy black hair.  His eyes sparkle when he looks at her.  He smells nice.  He is strong.  He has a noble stature.  His mouth is sweet.  Altogether he is desirable in everyway to this woman.  He lover (husband) is her best friend.  She values him over all other men.  Women cherish men like this.

    Give thanks to God.  That is the sacrifice that He wants from you.  A thankful heart honors Him and receives salvation.  Altogether we can have a real relationship with God and start working for a better world.  We will find perfection in Heaven.

Psalms 14:1-3, 50:19-23, 53:1-3, & Song of Solomon 5:10-16

Alter

 

    To alter is to change or amend.  In Hebrew it is אלטר, a boy's name, from Yiddish origin which means "old".  However as the verb, it is shinah (שִׁנָּה).  In Greek the word alter is allázo (αλλάζω).  There are several words in Latin that can be translated to alter in English.

    God ordered His people not to break a covenant.  Do not alter one word that was said.  God will never alter a covenant that He made.  God swore an oath to David and He can't lie because He is holy.  David's covenant was to follow God and God would allow his family to reign forever.  David's kingdom would endure time as a faithful witness.  As we know, David's descendants did not honor that, but God did.  Jesus came through David's blood line.

    Jesus took Peter, John, and James up a mountain to pray.  While Jesus was praying his appearance altered to the description of him in Revelations.  His appearance transformed into an enchanting old man worthy of honor and respect.  His clothes became dazzling white.  Jesus was radiating holiness.  Then, suddenly there were two more men: Moses and Elijah.  They came to talk to Jesus.  It was a glorious spectacle.  

    God never alters His Word. If there is something that is altered, then it is for the good of the Heavenly realm.  We should consider ourselves blessed to be able to see it.  It can be a moment like on the mountain top or it could be watching someone being transformed by the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 89:34-37 & Luke 9:28-31

Altar

 

    Th Altar is a raised place of worship where God's people make offerings to Him.  In Hebrew, altar is majebee'ach (מִזבֵּחַ).  In Aramaic it is mizbeaḦ, which means "place of slaughter".  In Greek it is thusiasterion (θυσιαστήριον).  thusiasterion appears in the New Testament 24 times since Greek was the common language in the middle east at the time.  We get the English word altar from the Latin word altare.

    The first time the word altar is mentioned is in Genesis 8.  Noah built an altar to God where he sacrificed burnt offerings.  God approved of this.  Noah lived in a godless time, he survived when he saw everyone else he knew outside of his family die.  He needed to do something to honor and thank God.  This choice pleased God.  In return God promised never to curse the earth to be wiped out by a flood again.  He meant a global flood. He never promised that there would not be flooding in different places.  

    Over time building altars to God became a thing.  So much so that pagans started to imitate it for their purposes.  God decided to specify how His altars would be made, so that He was set apart.  God's altars were to be made of Acadia wood in a square shape (7/5 ft long, 4.5 ft high).  The four corners would have horns covered in bronze.  Even the tools to be used were specified.  God's altar had polls attached to it, so that it could be carried where ever God's people went.  It was built just as God had shown Moses on the mountain.

    Sacrifices at the altar changed as the environment of God's people changed.  Once they were established, sacrifices were made at the altar at God's Temple.  It became a permanent home for God.  That means that the sacrificing also became refined.  Jesus pointed out that if you have an issue with someone, then resolve the issue before you make your sacrifice to God.  God made us to need each other, so that means that we need to work at getting along and not hurting each other to make God pleased.

    To swear by God's name or in His temple is binding.  It makes fools of those that swear.  It is more important to be purified than to look the part of a Christian.  The altar is binding.  Your heart and mind set is more important than the offering itself.  Be careful in how you use your words.  They hold power and sometimes they are binding for life and eternity.

    Those who serve God get their food from what we give as offerings.  They serve at the altar, so they get sacrificial offerings to live on.  It is  the churches duty to support their pastor.  Do not give more than what you have, so they can become rich.  At the same time, do not hold back what you do have at their expense.  You will answer to God for your choices.  

    The altar in the Tabernacle is the one location in which God's priest were not to eat from.  It would have been like reaching over onto God's plate and eating His food.  The priest made sin offerings there.  They bled animals to make the place holy.  Jesus is that last sacrificial animal to be bled.  He died to make us holy.  He bore all people's disgrace as if it were his own, so that we could have a permanent home in Heaven.  

    Abraham showed us how to have a holy heart.  He was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac on God's altar.  It was faith in action.  He was willing to give up his only son because he trusted God.  In return, his faith was made complete.  Faith complete is what makes us righteous.  However faith means nothing if you do not put action behind it.

    The last altar is found in Revelations, when Jesus broke the fifth seal.  Under the altar were all the souls of the martyrs who died for their faithful testimony.  They shouted to God honoring, but asking when their deaths would be avenged.  They were all given white robes and told to rest a little longer until all the martyrs have joined them.

Genesis 8:20-22, Exodus 27:1-8, Matthew 5:23-24, 23:16-22, 1 Corinthians 9:13-16, Hebrews 13:10-14, James 2:21-24, & Revelations 6:9-11

Already

 

    Already is a word to describe a state of complete preparation.  It indicates that something is about to happen at a specific time.  Already in Hebrew is khadar (כְּבָר).  In Aramaic it is kvar.  In Greek it is ídi (ήδη).  In Latin it is iam.

    Jesus spoke about adultery.  He pointed out that the Jews knew of the commandment to not commit adultery already.  What they did not understand was that if they looked at a woman with lust in their heart, then they had already committed adultery in their heart.  The same truth applies to us.  Lusty eyes is adultery, even if you are not married.  It is degrading to your potential spouse.

    Jesus said that it is better to gouge out your eyes to allow them to cause you to sin.  You can loose body parts that will be replaced in Heaven instead of loosing your whole body to hell.  Sin is serious.  We already know this.

    You think you already have everything you need.  You think you are already rich.  What we have now is nothing compared to what we will have in Heaven.  We will have a perfect government led by God without corruption or sin.  We will have peace and all the good things that were intended for us now.  Right now we are made a spectacle.  We suffer because Jesus suffered.  We may have things, but true wealth will come.

    Be careful who you listen to about the Holy Spirit.  There are many false prophets in the world.  If you are a Christian, then you already have the ability to see the truth. Test what the "prophet" declares.  If the prophet acknowledges Jesus for who He was, then the person has the Spirit of God in him.  However, if the prophet does not acknowledge the truth, then that person is not of God.  They have the spirit of the antichrist.  He is already here.

Matthew 5:27-30, 1 Corinthians 4:8-10, 1 John 4:1-3

Alms

 

    Alms is a term that refers to giving to the poor or giving motivation through love and compassion.  It originated from the Greek word eleemosynary (ἐλεημοσύνη).  Eleemosynary means "merciful".  That is why you will not find the term used in the Bible until the new testament.  Greek came later.  In Hebrew the closest thing is tzedakah which means "righteous".  In Aramaic, alms is צדקתא which translates to "almsgiving".  In Latin it is eleemosyna which is very close to the Greek word.

    Watch out for your motives.  If you are doing good deeds to feel good or to be seen, then all the reward you will get is in this world.  If you want your reward to be in Heaven, then your motivation to give alms needs to be from a humble and loving heart.  Compassion needs to be what drives you.  

    Do not embarrass the person you are helping by announcing it to the world.  It can't be easy for them to be where they are in life.  You do not have to tear other people down to make yourself look good.  When you help people, then don't think about it.  Do the deed and move on without ever saying a word to anyone.  It needs to be private to honor God.  He reads your heart and His opinion matters more than other people's.

    One day when Jesus was speaking to the public, a Pharisee invited Jesus to his home for a meal.  When they arrived, Jesus sat down to eat.  The Pharisee was offended that Jesus did not first wash his hands to perform a cleansing ritual that was required in the Jewish culture.  Jesus responded that the Pharisees were so concerned about outward appearances that they didn't realize how filthy they were on the inside from the greed and wicked hearts.      

    Cornelius was a Roman officer in Caesarea.  He was a captain of the Italian Regiment which means he knew how to lead and held power in his circle of influence.  He was also devout to God along with everyone in his household.  He was generous to give alms to the poor.  One day around 3pm, and angel of God came to him calling his name.  He was blessed because of his fear and devotion to God.

    It is foolish to be so concerned with outward cleanliness when you do nothing to make the inside clean.  Focus on cleaning the heart and soul by giving alms.  The cleaner you are on the inside will affect the cleanliness on the outside.

    Look at all that you have in your life.  Take note of how blessed you are.  In your heart, you need to be ready to part with all of it.  Give what you can to the poor, not because the government or someone else makes you.  Give what you have out of love and compassion.  

    If you do not have that love and compassion, then keep it all.  It is all you will have in life.  You can never out give God.  If you loose all you have today, then God can replace it and multiply it.  What God gives, no one can take away.  Wherever your treasure is, your heart will be, so evaluate your heart today.

Matthew 6:1-4, Luke 11:37-41, 12:33-24, & Acts 10:1-3

Halloween

 

    Halloween is not specifically mentioned in the Bible because it didn't come about until centuries after.  It is a holiday with the theme of death, darkness, and the supernatural.  This is why many Christians believe it is a holiday that celebrates Satan.  It is a pagan holiday involving witchcraft, idols, and mythological rituals.  It is a holiday based on false beliefs.

    Halloween in Hebrew is leil kol ha`kdoshim (לֵיל כָּל הַקְּדוֹשִׁים).  In Greek is it 31 Októvri (31 Οκτώβρη).  In Latin it is turpis.  In English the name comes from "All Hallows Eve".  It is the evening before All Saints Day, a Christian Holiday that celebrates saints and martyrs.  It was originally celebrated May 13, but moved to November 1 in the eight century.  In the 16th Century All Hallows Eve was shortened to Halloween.

    When you become a Christian you are called to live apart from the world's way of doing things.  Do not fall into the trap of paganistic living like sacrificing your family for selfish ambition, witchcraft, reading the stars, horoscopes, or things along that nature.  Do not mess with the world of the dead.  If you do, then you will be detestable to God.  Instead live blamelessly in honor of God.  

    When the world turns to what is wrong, everyone that suffers.  You know you will die one day, but the dead do not know that they are dead.  They are rewarded with not remembering.  Whatever they did in their life is beyond them in death.  They no longer have a part in life.  Live your life and do not be stuck in death.  Do not disturb the dead because it is cruel to them and God forbids it.

    Giving offerings to idols or the dead is meaningless.  It is the equivalent of offering sacrifices to demons.  It does nothing for God.  Do not get involved with demons.  You can't drink of the cup of God and the cup of demons.  You can't eat with God and eat with demons.  Why rouse God's jealousy?

    Be determined to please God in all that you do.  Do not get involved in worthless deeds that are of evil and darkness.  God considers it shameful to even talk of the things done in secret.  Evil intentions will be exposed to the light and become visible.  Jesus is the light that will reveal all wickedness when he comes back.

    Be strong in the Lord and in His power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can stand firm against Satan.  You are not fighting things of this world.  Your battle is spiritual.  You fight against the darkness and evil spirits.  Remember that your soul belongs to the light.  

    When it comes to celebrating Halloween.  It has very little to do with the origin anymore.  However, if you are convicted not to celebrate then do not.  Do not judge those that do.  If you do celebrate, go into today spiritually awake and ready.  Keep the day holy and prayerfully try to honor God thought your thoughtful choices today.

Deuteronomy 18:9-13, Ecclesiastes 9:5-8, 1 Corinthians 10:19-22, Ephesians 5:10-14, & 6:10-12