Devotions to God

Home Is Where the Heart Is

2007-09-20T13:30:00.000-07:00

Home Is Where the Heart Is
by Pete Berardi

Home Is Where the Heart Is. This expression can have two meanings. Interestingly enough I can think of a verse in the Bible that can be related to both meanings. Let us examine both of them shall we?

The first meaning is that where you live, that is where your heart is. You physically may be away from home however your heart is in the place that you live. You wish you were there because it gives you peace and joy and comfort to be there. Consider this verse:

Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

I believe that real followers of Christ can relate when I say that I would much rather be in heaven than here on earth. When you learn about the love of Jesus and compare it to the lusts of this world, one seeks to be with Jesus more than anything. The Bible does a great job of describing our future home in the Book of Revelation in Chapter 22. My heart is there right now. I wish to be there rather than down here.

The second meaning of our phrase, “Home Is Where the Heart Is”, can also be looked at as your own heart being your home. Perhaps you don’t need a comfortable place to stay to call home but there is something else that gives you such great peace that it is just like home. Simply the thought or the experience of this thing gives you the feeling of home. Consider this verse:

Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Jesus is my treasure and my heart is definitely there. While I have to spend time with things and people other than Jesus, I would choose him first anytime. I now know what my heart is because my treasure is Jesus. I can tell you that when I am with Jesus there is no place that I would rather be. I urge you to spend time with Jesus in prayer and reading his Word and you will make Him your treasure as well. God Bless.

Victory

2007-09-18T23:11:00.000-07:00

Victory
by Pete Berardi

When Jesus spoke to his apostles, he spoke much wisdom. I would like to refer you to a passage in the gospels at a time where Jesus speaking to his apostles for the last time before being brought to Pilot to be crucified. Consider this verse:

John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

There is no doubt that the things of this world are in direct opposition with the things of God. This is why Christians can sometimes lead very rough lives. Paul led a very rough life. Please look at the following verses concerning the trials and tribulations that Paul went through which he attributes to for being a Christian:

II Corinthians 11:24-26 Of the Jews five times received I forty [stripes] save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; [In] journeyings often, [in] perils of waters, [in] perils of robbers, [in] perils by [mine own] countrymen, [in] perils by the heathen, [in] perils in the city, [in] perils in the wilderness, [in] perils in the sea, [in] perils among false brethren;

Paul is not just talking about his trials and tribulations but Christians in general. Christians suffer for God’s sake. We not only struggle against non-Christians that persecute us but we also need to fight sin. Being obedient to God is not easy sometimes. The temptation of sin can be so great that we lose the battle for our hearts. However there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Look at this verse in 1 John.

I John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith.

While it may seem that we are suffering and losing the battle, nothing could be further from the truth. We have won. Christians are victorious. There will be a time when we will be free from the powers of sin. Look at how Paul cries out:

I Corinthians 15:55 O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory?

Here, Paul is hoping for his death. He knows that the only way out of the flesh and its trials are through death. Death is usually looked upon as a bad thing however when you read the next verse, it becomes clear that death is freedom from sin.

I Corinthians 15:53-54 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

As Christians, we must keep hoping for the blessed appearing of our Lord. When we are finally in his presence, we can be free from sin. Being obedient to God will no longer be a struggle.

Thirty Pieces of Silver

2007-09-13T14:02:00.000-07:00

Thirty Pieces of Silver
by Pete Berardi

Christians and non-Christians alike are familiar with the story of the crucifixion. The story is told in all four of the gospels. Jesus and his apostles are in the garden of Gethsemane praying. Judas Iscariot, the traitor, sold out the secret place to the Pharisees for thirty pieces of silver.

Mathew 26:15 And said [unto them], What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

The brief conversation that Jesus had with his abductors while they were arresting him clarifies several things. They could have come and taken him away at anytime. All of the events occurred in God’s perfect time according to prophecy. Jesus knew that one of them would betray him:

Mathew 26:21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

While studying the Bible, I have found that God does not put things in the Bible for no reason. Everything has a reason. And in turn, everybody is a Judas Iscariot in one way or another. He chose thirty pieces of silver over Jesus. Judas is very similar to Pharaoh in the Old Testament. God chose to harden his heart to essentially make a point. One can look at the story of Judas the same way. What is God’s point?

What is your thirty pieces of silver? Is there a sin in your life that is more important to you than Jesus? There are many vices in this life. For some reason, a certain vice may have power over one person but not another. Regardless of what it is, it can get in the way of your relationship with God. Judas chose because his faith was not true. Is your faith true?

I think that no one in this life is free from sin. There was only one man that could live his entire life without sinning and that is Jesus. God will forgive any sin that you commit.

I John 1: 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Let us examine our lives and see if there is anything that places itself as a higher priority than obedience to God. This is your thirty pieces of silver. While God will forgive you, you must ask and repent. Let’s not turn into a Judas and let that sin lead to our demise.

Pro 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall have mercy.

While it may be difficult, because of our prideful nature, to ask for forgiveness, it is the only way to forgiveness. We cannot cover our sins, they will end up killing us like it did Judas. By confessing and repenting, we come clean with Jesus. He forgives us and accepts us. He is an all merciful God and his love is everlasting.

Hope and Riches

2007-09-11T18:10:00.000-07:00

Hope and Riches
by Pete Berardi

Ephesians 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

I may seem redundant in my theme here from the previous post, but it just goes to show that the message of the Bible is simple. This world has transformed many good things into bad and bad things into good. Love of the world is enmity with God. You cannot serve God and mammon. The verse above in bold is along the same theme. Hope and riches according to the Bible is certainly not the same hope and riches according to the world. Let us examine a worldly point of view of hope and riches.

I would think, based on television shows, people at work and other places, and things that I have read that people hope for mostly worldly things. People hope that they get a raise. They hope for a promotion. Some hope that they marry a rich spouse.

Riches is quite obvious, however there is a spectrum of riches that could be looked at. Money is the obvious one. Material possessions are another form of riches. Some people consider themselves rich when they have a lot of friends. Others consider themselves rich in mind. They pursue a grand education and knowledge. Some people consider fame to be riches. These are all things of the world. I am not necessarily saying that these things are evil. However, most of the time, the pursuit of these worldly things, can take our eyes off the prize. The real prize of Jesus Christ is truly the only goal worth pursuing.

According to the Bible, we are made rich when we are indwelled with the Holy Spirit. This is the riches of his grace. Our hope is the second coming of Christ. We are to be constantly hoping that God will deliver us from this present and evil world. We are to be looking for his glorious appearing. The Bible states that his love is better than gold or silver, in other words better than any worldly riches.

I am stating that maybe we should try to redefine what the term riches are and reevaluate what is worth our hope. Only Jesus.

Length of Days

2007-09-10T17:52:00.000-07:00

Length of Days
by Pete Berardi

Modern history has been trying to control many things on earth. None has taken great precedence that extending life. How many drugs are on the market that promise to be the next fountain of youth? How many diet plans are recommended to help you live longer? How many self help books have been written to provide peace of mind? In my opinion there is no greater prescription than God’s word. Consider this verse:

Proverbs 3:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

Notice how the Bible talks about length of days and long life as if they were too different things. Certainly one can live a long life but their days are short. This verse also speaks of peace. Certainly we all want peace. Not just freedom from wars but also internal peace is very important. This verse promises them to us. But in order to know what will give us this peace, we need to look at the verse previous. Let us examine it.

Proverbs 3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

Keeping God’s commandments are the way to length of days, long life and peace. God’s word is the perfect antidote to any disease. God’s laws are better than any drug. They are the perfect psychiatrist. God’s wisdom is the ultimate wisdom. No self-help book can be a substitute for the words of our Creator. He made us, he knows our frame, and he loves us and wants the best for us. His commandments are not there to make life harder, but easier.

Humanity and human nature are hooked on the fact that we can do it better than God can and that we know better than God. This is malarkey. How can we know more about ourselves than the One that created us? God gave us the wonderful gift of his word. All we have to do to have length of days, long life and peace is to follow his commandments. In order to follow his commandments, we have to know his commandments. The only way to do that is to read his holy word, The Bible. Read it, Heed it, Know it.

We are All One

2007-09-01T09:33:00.000-07:00

We Are All One
by Pete Berardi

The next time you go to church, it may serve you to look at the people around you a little bit differently. I would think that the common way of looking at people is as they are individuals. They are separate entities completely independent from you and I except for a conversation that may have taken place. While this is a logical approach, it is hardly Biblical. Assuming that all the people at church are followers of Christ, these people are more connected to you than your son or daughter or your Mother or Father. Consider this verse:

I Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

The United States Constitution states that all men are created equal. I believe that this is what the reference for that statement is. We are all equal in the site of God. And more importantly we are all of the same body. With this in mind, would you ever try to cut your pinky finger off, or your left arm for that matter? The way you treat fellow Christians is the way you treat yourself. We are all ONE.

Another important thought concerning this verse is the fact that no matter what denomination we are a part of, we are all baptized into the same Spirit, Jesus Christ. Jesus is our Father and our brother. He is the head of the Family of Christians. This is the uniting point. Therefore, no matter Catholic, Baptist, Protestant, if the person has a relationship with Jesus Christ, he is your brother.

Relating to people is not always an easy task. Often times how we relate to people has a direct correlation to how we view them. How do you think you would relate to a person if you were certain that they were a part of yourself; as much as your eye is a part of yourself? If we all had this attitude, I think that we would treat each other with love more often. We would put others first and treat others how we would treat ourselves. Isn’t that one of the golden rules, one of the major commandments by Jesus?

Not your own…God’s

2007-08-26T15:40:00.000-07:00

Not your own…God’s
by Pete Berardi

When we are children we are completely and totally dependent upon our parents for everything. As infants we unequivocally would perish if our Mother and Father did not feed us and provide us shelter. As we grow older, our dependence slowly fades. Perhaps as teenagers we may be able to feed ourselves but could not afford our own shelter. Then as we become adults, we are totally and completely independent of our parents. There is nothing wrong with being independent. I think it is shameful for one to “mooch” off their parents if they are too lazy to make it on their own. I will say this however. Society has pushed us to become independent and be “on our own”. The Bible has something to say about this.

While the word “own” appears close to 600 times in the Bible, it appears close to 50 times in the book of Proverbs. I want to examine a few of these verses and how it relates to the contrast of “our own” way of thinking and God’s way of thinking. I think you will agree with the wisest of the wise Solomon, the author of the book of Proverbs, that most if not all of the time, our thinking is moving in the opposite direction of God’s thinking.

I have gleaned several verses from the book of Proverbs. Please read them and think about them. Meditate on them. Memorize them if you could.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Proverbs 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Can you see how a man’s understanding is so clearly described as being contradictory to God? Do not lean on your own understand but trust in the LORD. Do not be wise in the way you see things, but fear the LORD. Do not always think that you are right but listen to counsel (God).

Here are a few more:

Proverbs 21;2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

Proverbs 23:4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

Proverbs 28:26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

In the preceding verses, Solomon is reminding us that we can be blinded by our own selves. It is easy to think that we are always right. It’s called being wise in our own conceit (Proverbs 26:16). In Proverbs 23:4 he even asks us to cease from our own wisdom. Can’t you see how powerful that is? The book of Jeremiah tells us that the heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). Can’t you see God’s love in these verses and how he is trying to protect you from yourself?

Power

2007-08-26T12:12:00.000-07:00

Power
by Pete Berardi

When one thinks of the word power, many definitions can come to mind. Physical power makes objects move, allows us to communicate, and provides us with many of life’s conveniences. Political power is held by men and women in “high places” and allows them to make laws and change the course of a nation. People on this earth seek power in their personal relationships, in their job, and in some cases in their own lives. Power, in a nutshell, gives people control over one thing or another no matter how big or small.

But is this really power? The word power occurs almost 300 times in the whole Bible. It is outside the scope of this article to speak of every verse. However, by looking at what Jesus said about power, we can obtain great insight into what power really is. Throughout each of the gospels Jesus uses the word power only five times. This author will use the book of Matthew to examine the word power and how it was used in the words and teachings of Jesus.

One of the first mentions of power is being able to forgive sins.

Matthew 10: 9 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

The next instance of the word power describes it as being able to heal.

Matthew 10:1 And when he had called unto [him] his twelve disciples, he gave them power [against] unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

In three other verses Jesus speaks of the power of God. He refers to God as having power and actually being power. Also, when he was resurrected, he spoke of being given all power in heaven and in earth.

My point is this. People here on earth have lost the idea of what the use of power should be. Although Jesus had all the power of God, he did not use it for selfish means. He used it to forgive sins and to heal. As I think about it, was there any other reason for Jesus to be here? That is what Jesus did, he forgave sins and healed people of their diseases. In my opinion, this is what true power is. We, as children of God, have the power to indirectly do both. By bringing the truth to all men by preaching gospel, men can be healed and their sins can be forgiven. There is no higher purpose and no better use of power.

The Building

2007-08-22T00:39:00.001-07:00

The Building
by Pete Berardi

There is only one thing on this earth that is perfect. Jesus is that thing. He was born of the Holy Spirit and lived a sinless life. No man has or ever will again accomplish this. And yet this was not of him, but of his Father. Jesus, yet a man, was God made flesh. People are not perfect. While we are his children we have faults and are sinful creatures. Jesus is the way the truth and the life. He is the pathway for his children to salvation. By having faith in him we are saved.

In the Old Testament David wanted to show his appreciation to God by building him a house. He felt so in debt to God for delivering him from his enemies that he promised God that he would make him a beautiful house. While it was not God’s will for David to build him a house, Solomon, David’s son, did. Has God delivered you? Do you want to show your appreciation to God? Wouldn’t you like to give God a gift for Father’s Day, such as a great big house?

God’s children need to stick together. We may not be perfect however we are all that we have here on this earth. Through Jesus we are brothers and fellowcitizens of the house of God (Ephesians 2: 19). Jesus is the foundation, the cornerstone, which his house is built on. Each of us cannot live on our own. We cannot support ourselves. We are all part of God’s house. Together we are the building; the holy temple of the Lord. Through God’s Spirit we are put together in order to give God a house.

This is our gift to the Lord. By obeying him and sticking with the church and treating them as brothers and sisters we are building God a house. Sometimes it is not easy. People have other priorities and unfortunately sometimes you are not one of them. However, with a little patience, faith and prayer, we can learn to live as one body. God wants to build a kingdom and he needs you to do it. Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen ( Ephesians 3:21).

The Head of the Corner

2007-08-21T14:24:00.000-07:00

The Head of the Corner
by Pete Berardi

When Jesus came to this earth he was coming unto his own. He created the earth and was coming to provide his people a way to salvation. The prophecies spoke much about this “messiah”. They were expecting to be saved from the Roman Empire. They were expecting a strong and mighty king to whisk them away and solve all their problems. Jesus did solve problems and he was a mighty King, however he was still rejected.

Consider the verse in Matthew 21:42

Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

This verse is a direct quote from Psalms 118: 22. It speaks about how Jesus was rejected by his own people. In John 1:10 the Bible says:

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and world knew him not.

Salvation is a spiritual thing and not a carnal or worldly thing. Much like then, today people are looking for a solution to their problems. The Bible is preached to many who come to churches looking for answers. However, when people are told of God’s plan and his commandments, they reject him. They feel they know better than God. Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world. He cares about the person’s heart and soul. Jesus can provide the greatest answer of all, eternal life.

While money, material possessions, and the “right relationships” might solve carnal problems, they certainly will not solve spiritual problems. By placing our trust in God, we can be assured that our heart will be kept and our soul will be safe. Jesus, while not looking very promising to people of his time as well as today, is the real answer. Jesus is the Head of the Corner. Any builder will tell you that the head of corner is what is holding the whole house together.

Make Jesus the head of the corner of your life and whatever trials and tribulations may fall upon your house, it will sustain. Jesus is the only thing that will truly solve problems because he solves them permanently. The life we live here on earth is definitely not permanent but is only temporary. Do not reject the one thing that can give you peace and joy in this life and eternal life.

Behold, there went out a sower to sow

2007-08-19T14:10:00.001-07:00

Behold, there went out a sower to sow
by Pete Berardi

In Mark Chapter 4 Jesus tells the parable of the sower. This is a very popular and powerful parable. Unlike many of Jesus’ parables, this one is explained and interpreted by Jesus. It is made clear for us that the seed is the word of God. Some seed fell on stony ground, some fell on thorns and some fell on good soil. For readers that are not familiar with the story, the passage occurs in all four gospels. I have elected to take the passage in Mark 4.

Preachers are sowers of the word. There are many people that have the belief that when it comes preaching the word of God, persuasion is in order. I do not have that belief. A few years ago, I had a brief but prosperous sales career. Persuasion was my life. My sales skills were honed through gaining knowledge and experience. I can unequivocally say that persuading and preaching are not the same thing at all.

When one persuades, he attempts to learn how another one thinks first. He then uses that information to strategically present his audience with information in a manner that will seem irresistible to the hearer. When he receives objections he then tries to overcome these objections and “shove the product down the person’s throat”. Although there are many salesmen that only sell based on need, there are more that sell to make money. Often times the customer’s best interests are not in mind, and the salesmen wants the customer to buy the product whether he needs it or not. Because of quotas and salary, manipulation techniques are not only welcomed but taught.

Preaching is not that way at all. When professing the gospel, it is really the Holy Spirit that is doing the work. While sharing the good news with someone, it is best to just tell the truth with hope that it falls on open ears and an open mind. The Bible states that faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). The Bible also states that the word that goes forth out of God’s mouth shall not return unto him void, but it shall accomplish that which he pleases, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto he sent it (Isaiah 55:11). This is the attitude that we should have when professing the gospel to someone. We should say the truth, preach the word and hope that God will use it to save this person. Pray Hard and Trust.

Identity

2007-07-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

Identity
by Pete Berardi

While living at the San Diego Rescue Mission we, as members, were visited by many different types of churches. One visit will always stay in my mind. The Lord used this church to heighten and strengthen my faith in him. The church’s choir was made up of three young girls. I will never forget the song they sang, perhaps you know it. The lyrics are:

If anybody asks me who I am, who I am, who I am. If anybody asks me who I am, I’ll tell ‘em I’m a child of God.

Not many songs stay with me as long and as prominent as this song. This world has produced many a great men which have published many a great book on the subject of self esteem. I remember dealing with this issue several times in my life before becoming a Christian. Doubts of our identity come as teenagers as well as adults. We struggle with wondering who we are and what our self worth is. When I came to God, accepted Jesus into my life and proclaimed him to be my Lord and Saviour, I never had that struggle again. There are many verses in the Bible that are the reason why however I will mention three. The first I would like to make note of is:

I Corinthians 6:20
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

So much of our struggles with self esteem seem to be rooted in control and power. We suffer from low self esteem often when we feel powerless and lack control. I am owned by God. He paid for me with his Son Jesus. His life is mine. This releases all pressure and gives me great freedom. Some may consider this to be a sign of weakness. However I will say that it is not easy to give your life to God. Also consider this verse:

Acts 17:28
For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we also are his offspring.

God is my everything, and I am his child. I do not need to please anyone but him. I live for him. While I am in him, I can forget about myself. I learned that when I take the focus off of myself, I do not worry too much about how “worthless” I am.

Col 2:10
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

There is nothing that I need to prove to anyone. There is nothing wrong with me. God has made me exactly the way he wants me. This verse makes me want to seek his will even more because God knows which the best path for my life is.

I am a child of God, that is my identity.

Zealous of Good Works

2007-06-16T17:29:00.000-07:00

Zealous of good works
by Pete Berardi

Passion has been a buzzword ever since I can remember. When I first entered the work force almost two decades ago one book in particular stood out as “gospel”. The title of the book was “Do what You Love, and the Money will Follow”. It was recommended to me by our corporate sales trainer. It was put on the shelves near the entrance of the bookstores. Quotes from the book were plastered in magazine and newspaper articles. The point of the book was that if a person does something where money is the sole motivation he will not be as successful as someone that works at something that he is passionate about. The word passion does occur in the Bible, however it has a completely different meaning. The Bible quotes the word passion in Acts 1:3

To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

This particular reference is pointing to Christ’s death on the cross. Zeal on the other hand, is very similar to passion. Webster’s defines zeal as an eagerness or ardent interest in pursuit of something or fervor. Passion is listed as a synonym for zeal as well.

Consider this verse from Titus 2:14

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Jesus died on the cross so that we would be free from sin. His death purifies us as we are cleansed in and by his blood. He was the perfect sacrifice. God’s chosen people are not like regular people. God’s chosen are born of God, and are separate from all others unto God. God’s chosen should be zealous of good works.

This means that Christians should be seeking first the kingdom God, seeking his will, following his commandments. Christians should be doing these things because it is our passion. It is our love for God that causes us to obey him. It is our zeal for the word of God and our passion for Jesus that drives us to do good works. Dear Lord, I pray for the zeal from the Holy Spirit to be given to me and to all Christians. It is this zeal that will protect us from evil, deliver us from sin, and help us to grow your kingdom. Amen.

Forgiveness: A Two Way Street

2007-06-12T00:03:00.000-07:00

Forgiveness: A Two Way Street
by Pete Berardi

Forgiveness is a big part of life. People wrong us in many ways; big and small. It is not easy to forgive someone that has wronged us. After such an incident, human nature is to have feelings of revenge and hate. The Bible teaches that we should sow to our spiritual nature rather than our fleshly nature. Consider the verse

Romans 8:1 [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Being and becoming a Christian has a lot to do with forgiveness. As sinful people, we are unable to face God because we are unholy. It is only through his forgiveness of sin that we are able to be blameless and holy in his sight. Consider this verse

I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

How does this make you feel? If you are a sinful person and you committed an awful sin against God, you need his forgiveness. You want his forgiveness so that you do not have to face everlasting punishment. You want to be forgiven. God has mercy on us and forgets all of our sin. When we are forgiven, a great burden has been lifted from our shoulders. We should remember this feeling then next time we are on the other side of the coin. Everyone has been wronged and everyone has been asked for forgiveness. The Bible states in

Mark 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

When someone wants your forgiveness do not look at it as an opportunity to get back at that person for what they have done to you. It is easy to do. By not forgiving them, you cause them to feel pain. Instead we should have mercy on them. This is our opportunity to be obedient to God. By forgiving them, you not only obey God but are showing mercy on someone. Remember how you felt when you asked God for forgiveness? That is how they feel. Don’t they deserve it? God thinks that you do.

For God's Glory

2007-06-02T21:01:00.000-07:00

For God’s Glory
by Pete Berardi

There are many things in life that are simply not fair. When people become ill, contract a disease or when babies are born deformed, people wonder why. When these types of occurrences happen it truly is an awful thing. However it is safe to say that we could make the situation worse or better depending on our attitude toward the situation. Consider this verse in John 9: 2, 3

And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

This man was born blind. Jesus’ disciples inquired as to if this man sinned or his parents sinned in order to deserve such a terrible fate. The answer Jesus gave him was that he was born blind that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

Jesus went on to heal that man so that he could see again. His life was changed forever. He went into town after he was healed and proclaimed to the Pharisees that he was healed. The Pharisees cast him out of the synagogue for proclaiming his belief. Jesus then spoke to the man and told him that he was the Son of God. This man fell down to his knees and worshipped him. Jesus then went on to say in John 9:39

And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

This man was born blind for a reason. The reason is to give glory to God. Jesus did not come for the well but for the sick. He is the great physician. Some people say, “I am not ready to go to church. I will clean up my act, then I will go.” This is lunacy. It’s exactly like saying, “I am too sick to go to a hospital, when I get better, then I will go.”

David wrote in Psalms 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

It is more important that we know God than are comfortable. It is more important to have a relationship with Jesus than to be well. It is better to be saved and on crutches or in a coma than to be not saved and in top physical shape. This world means nothing. What good is it that a man gain the whole world but loses his very soul.

Memorial

2007-05-26T10:47:00.001-07:00

Memorial
by Pete Berardi

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. This is by all means an honorable and very worth reason for a federal holiday. The Bible also speaks of a Memorial. The word memorial occurs thirty-two times in thirty-one verses in the KJV Bible.

Most of the references occur in the Old Testament. These references to memorial are specific events that occur in which God commands his prophets to build a memorial to represent these events. Although these specific events have great significance, there are two events that have supreme importance in which God calls his people to remember. These two important happenings are the deliverance of the Israelites from the Egyptians and the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross.

In the Old Testament, God’s people fall in and out of sin many times. Many times God reminds his people, through the prophets, to remember what he has done for them and to repent from their sins. The oppression of the Egyptians was very great upon the Israelites. When the Israelites were finally delivered, they were great appreciative and full of the joy of the Lord.

When Jesus had the last supper with the twelve apostles he broke bread and drank wine in remembrance of him. That night Jesus was betrayed and he was crucified the next day. This crucifixion is the atonement for our sins. Christians everywhere can remember when they were first saved. Their joy was great and their spirits were high. In many circles this is referred to as “being on fire for the Lord”. It is not uncommon to forget the feeling of appreciation that we have to Jesus for delivering us from our sin and the punishment for sin.

As Christians, we should try to remember the joy that we first had when we were saved. We should share this joy with others for this is our testimony of our faith. Consider this verse:

Psa 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me [with thy] free spirit.

The service of our troops is a worthy cause of national remembrance. I claim that as a member of the nation of God, we should remember what God has done for us.

Tribulation

2007-05-19T10:14:00.001-07:00

Tribulation
by Pete Berardi

The word tribulation occurs twenty-six times in The Bible if we include tribulations as a form of the word. By definition, the word means trouble or annoying or catastrophic events. Common sense might teach us that tribulation, along with being avoided, is a mighty bad thing. I for one have had somewhat of the same notion. The Bible discusses this word, what it is, and how we are to react to it and think about it. Consider these verses.

John 16:33 These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Trials and tribulations come from the world. Jesus is telling us here that because of our faith in him, we can have peace regardless of the tribulations that we have. If we keep our eyes on the big picture, we can then work through the times of tribulation. Jesus has overcome the world and in the end we will have victory over pain, sin and death.

Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

Paul goes on in verses four and five to describe how patience creates experience, experience creates hope and hope makes us unashamed. Tribulation is a means to an end. Through understanding that Jesus will deliver us from tribulations, we have patience. This patience gives us the experience and character that is the mind of Christ. This mind of Christ keeps our eyes on the “blessed hope” Titus 2:13. And if we are focused on this, we will not let anything, including tribulations, cause us to be ashamed of our faith or Christ or The Bible.

The first appearance of the word tribulation occurs in Deuteronomy 4:30-31 When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the LORD thy God [is] a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

God was teaching the Israelites that for relief from these tribulations they should turn to him. He will not forsake them and not forget the covenant that he has with them and will deliver them. We should follow the same example. We, in a sense, should embrace our tribulations because it brings us closer to God.

Laying it to Heart

2007-05-13T11:06:00.001-07:00

Laying it to Heart
by Pete Berardi

In this world image is a very important thing. At work we must put up a professional image in front of customers, our supervisors and fellow employees. This image that we put up is for the most part fake. We must learn to fake smile and even though we do not like the customers that walk into the store, we must make them think that we like them. In the prophecy of Malachi specifically, other prophecies and in the preachings of Jesus, this is referred to as hypocrisy. A person is a hypocrite when his heart is on one thing but his lips are on another. The people in the prophecy of Malachi were being hypocrites by thinking that they could just go through the motions of sacrificing to God. They were not offering God the best of the best. It is apparent from the following verse that God wants sincerity and a sacrifice of the heart and not just the lips.

Malachi 2:2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay [it] to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay [it] to heart.

Our social lives can also put image first. It is important to appear happy or well off even though we are not. As humans, we have a desire to make people believe that we are better off than we actually are. We may be able to fool people, but we cannot fool God. What is more important though is that we do not need to fool God. God loves us for who we are. Putting up an impression for God is not only futile but unnecessary. Consider the verse in Psalms.

Psa 139:16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all [my members] were written, [which] in continuance were fashioned, when [as yet there was] none of them.

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees because they although they were the priests of the temple, their heart was not in the right place. Consider this saying from the mouth of Jesus in the book of Matthew:

Mat 15:7,8 [Ye] hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is far from me.

Living a lie is no way to live. The Bible states that the truth shall set you free. By being honest with God, yourself, and other people, we can be truly free. This way we can lay everything to heart. Nothing has to be of the lips only, and we can live from our hearts.

God is My Shield

2007-05-03T13:42:00.001-07:00

God is My Shield

by Pete Berardi

The word shield appears forty four times in the whole Bible however only once in the New Testament. The first appearance of “shield” occurs in Genesis 15:1 where it states: After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I [am] thy shield, [and] thy exceeding great reward.

Typically, the word shield only is used when discussing a war or a fight. It is not out of the question to refer to life as a fight or a struggle. God says to us: Fear not, for I am your shield. In other words, “I will protect you”, says the Lord.

How is God our shield? In order for God to be our shield, we have to use him as our shield. A shield is of no use to us when it is lying on the ground. The shield must be held up and held proudly. We must do the same thing with God. Christians must not be ashamed of their faith and must have the courage to share it. In order for God to be our shield we must be obedient to his commandments.

One way to be sure that we have God as our shield is our attitude toward our very lives. The Bible states in Matthew 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. As Christians, it is very important to put God first. When you think about a shield, doesn’t it come first? A shield is no good when it is behind you, unless of course you are traveling in reverse. The same holds true for God. If we seek to save our lives, we shall surely lose it. In other words, only God can save our life. He sacrificed his for ours, and he lived. We are to sacrifice our life for his, therefore we too shall live.

The perfect attitude in regards to our life in my opinion is this: Our life is not our own, it is God’s. Let his will be done in our life. We should feel confident that God has our best interests in mind no matter how bleak the situation. We should walk through this struggle with the “shield of faith” (Ephesians 6:16) held highly up that it might protect us. Let God worry about every little thing. By putting our FAITH in him and TRUSTING him, we empower him to do wondrous things in our lives.

Who Decides?

2007-04-27T11:05:00.000-07:00

Who Decides?

by Pete Berardi

There seems to be a phrase that is very common in regards to behavior, it’s “What’s normal anyway?” These words are heard in conversations that deal with eccentric behavior. Normality seems to be a relative thing. The point of this saying is that there is not a framework or model of normal behavior. In my opinion there is a model and framework of perfection; his name is Jesus. Some will say “Who decides what normal is?” Well I say that Jesus is the one to decide what normal is.

It is the opinion of this author that humans have not only a propensity to sin but a propensity to justify their sins. Sins of sexual immorality, greed, lying, theft, and violence can easily be justified in not only the eyes of the sinner themselves, but observers as well. People will go to great lengths to make it seem that their sin is O.K. and this is all the work of Satan.

Consider this passage in 1Peter 2:21-22 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

Jesus Christ was a sinless man. The only reason he was able to do this is because he was God. To ask a person to not sin is asking the impossible. However, if we make Jesus our model and our framework for living, we can walk the path of righteousness. When we do stumble, we should not make excuses for our sins and justify them. We should ask Jesus for forgiveness and the strength to deliver us from further temptation.

Jesus is the one that decides what is normal. By attempting to live up to his standards we are being obedient. The Bible states that we should be

thirsting after righteousness Matthew 5:6
seeking first the kingdom of God Matthew 6:33
trusting in him with all our heart Proverbs 3:5
in all our ways acknowledging him Proverbs 3:6

Sin is a dangerous thing however unfortunately sin is also pleasing to the flesh. When we understand that it is better to fulfill the Spirit rather than fulfill the flesh, sin will not seem as attractive to us. By making Jesus our model and seeking to walk in his ways and be like him, we can be truly free of pain, frustration and obtain true peace, joy and fulfillment.

Movie Review: The King

2007-04-15T09:42:00.001-07:00

Movie Review: The King

by Pete Berardi

I am not much of a movie buff. In fact the last time I rented a DVD before renting The King last Tuesday night was in May of 2005. Sure I watch some TNT and TBS movies but only because they are on. Although I am not proud of the selection that I made because of some of the graphic sex and violence in the film, I thought that it would be worth mentioning.

The King is about a pastor, his family, his church and his sin. William Hurt plays a pastor in a Corpus Christi Church. He has a beautiful sixteen year old daughter, Malory, who is involved in the Church, has her mind set on God and is pure in every way. His eighteen year old son, Paul, plays guitar and sings for the worship team. His congregation is alive and growing, and his sermons are inspirational, powerful and truthful. He has a beautiful house and all seems well. In comes Elvis.

Elvis is the bastard son of William Hurt and a prostitute he used to visit before becoming saved. Elvis wants to know who his father is, and seeks him out upon release from the military. Hurt shuns Elvis. He is ashamed of his sin and seeks to protect his family and his church from what damage could be done by his past. Elvis seeks out Malory, brings her into sexual sin and she begins to fall away from the family. Paul, Hurt’s good son, follows Elvis to his hotel room. He demands that Elvis stays away from his sister and threatens to blow the whistle on the whole affair. This enrages Elvis; he stabs Paul and kills him. He hides the body and gets away with it. Meanwhile, Hurt believes that his son is missing.

Hurt seeks God, and is drawn to his other son Elvis. He brings him into his home not knowing of the relationship between him and his daughter. Malory also does not know that Elvis is her half brother. One Sunday morning in church, Hurt decides to bring everything out into the open. He brings Elvis on stage, admits his sin to the congregation, and calls him his son in front of everyone, including Malory. Finally a light bulb goes off in Malory’s head and she breaks down and tells her mother. Before things can get out of hand for Elvis, he shoots them both while Hurt is at church doing paperwork. He then proceeds to burn down his house. After the murder and the arson, Elvis seeks out Hurt at his church office. The movie ends with Elvis, with blood on his hands, asking Hurt how he can get right with God.

There are many lessons to be learned from this story. The most obvious one is that sin is damaging to people’s lives. There is just one thing that I want to mention. Although it is not Hurt’s fault for what Elvis did to him, he might have been able to prevent it. By facing up to his sin immediately, telling the truth to his family from the start, and being true to his son, this all could have been avoided.

Sinking Sand

2007-04-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

Sinking Sand

by Pete Berardi

While living at the San Diego Rescue Mission we were required to attend chapel twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. The night service was provided by local churches that donated their time and effort to the Rescue Mission’s cause of providing for the poor and needy. During these nightly services, we would usually sing old hymns. The old hymn Sinking Sand is my favorite hymn. Although I do not know all the verses, the chorus is what is most important. It goes something like this.

On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand…all other ground is sinking sand.

This says it all. Our relationship with Christ is not there just to be “fire insurance” so to speak. I hear many people say, I can live life the way I want and then when I am on my death bed, I will just ask Jesus into my heart and then I will go to heaven. Although the Bible does state that all who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved, it also says that not all that say Lord, Lord will enter in to the kingdom of heaven. Words alone cannot save us. It is the condition of the heart which saves us. And only when a person is born again and his heart is filled with the Holy Spirit can he enter into the kingdom of heaven.

This song comes from Psalm 40:2. The verse states: He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, [and] established my goings.

There are many horrible pits in life. There are some pits that we fall into on accident and there are others that we are more than happy to stay in and reside in. A horrible pit can be vices that destroy our lives such as alcohol, drug, premarital sex, and violence. These are typically addictions or things that we might know are wrong yet do not have the will power to keep from them. However some people spend most of their lives in other horrible pits that they put all their effort working toward. Las Vegas in all its glory is a horrible pit. This town boasts its lights and its tourist attractions. The city from a bird’s eye view is a thing of beauty. This beauty is deceiving. Las Vegas is not called “Sin City” by mistake. Another horrible pit is the New York Stock Exchange. This marvel of the world makes more commercial banking transactions in one day than some countries make in a year. It can be viewed as the world hub of commerce. It is run flawlessly and people devote their lives and careers to this horrible pit. In my view, The New York Stock Exchange is the hub of greed and corruption.

My point is this: One, a horrible pit is anything that is not the ways of Jesus and the teachings in The Bible. Two, a horrible pit does not have to be so horrible. As a matter of fact, a horrible pit can be the best thing that ever happened to someone. The reason it seems so however is the same reason why this person needs Jesus. This person does not even know that he is in a horrible pit and thinks that he has “made it”. In reality the only thing that this person has made for himself is a huge gap between him and the peace of God.

Focus

2007-04-08T14:51:00.001-07:00

Focus by Pete Berardi

In the Bible Jesus is very clear about what our focus is supposed to be on. It is important to understand this because obedience to God will cause us to be in his will and ultimately be the person that he wants us to be. For the most part, Jesus commands us to focus on Him, and others. In Philippians 2:4, the Bible states: Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. The first five verses of Philippians are actually speaking to those that are prideful and greedy. This world is full of competitiveness when it comes to financial success, power and status. The world sees these things as the definition of success. The world also teaches us to fight for these things and make sacrifices for them because they are worthy. This is false and a trick from Satan himself. Satan would have you believe that wealth, power, material possessions, status will all make you happy. This false happiness is supposedly derived from having more than others. Therefore instead of helping others to be happy we might find ourselves actually sabotaging others. The Bible’s teachings are exactly opposite. In 1 John 2:15-16, The Bible states: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. We are actually supposed to be helping other people and esteeming them to be higher than ourselves states Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Focus on Jesus is very clear in the Bible as well. Although there are more verses than two, I will only mention these two

II Corinthians 5:15 states: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Jesus not only wants us to focus on him but to live for him. He died for our sins and his life should be Him. Jesus can provide us with the greatest peace and joy that is far better than what the things of this world can provide. By putting him first, and all his righteousness, God will give us what we are really looking for. The great lie of Satan is to tell you that true peace, joy and happiness comes from the things of this world. He does this to divert our attention from the truth. By making us work for things that he promises will fulfill us, we miss the point. Jesus is the only one that can fulfill us. By focusing on him, living for him, and putting him first, our lives will be full.

Heritage

2007-03-21T21:34:00.001-07:00

Heritage

by Pete Berardi

There are many things to be proud of in this world. Status, financial security, material possessions, relationships are all things that are as feathers in the cap of many people. One feather that many people place a lot of faith in and are proud of is their heritage. My family is especially proud of their heritage. I have many relatives that are from the old country and are quite selective when it comes to making friends and choosing which people to like. It is the opinion of many people in my family that if you are Italian, you are okay in my book.

My heritage, although I am a descendent of the Italians, is not Italian. When people become saved, put their faith in Christ, and call themselves Christians, they become part of the family of God. This is their new heritage. Romans 9:4 states Who are Israelites; to whom [pertaineth] the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service [of God], and the promises;

When Moses brought the Israelites out of the bondage of Egypt, God promised them the land of Canaan. This land was the inheritance of the Israelites and became a symbol of their heritage. It is as if God’s people are all adopted by Him and their new heritage is him. Exodus 6:8 states And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I [am] the LORD.

The same holds true for us today. Because I am a Christian, I am a part of the Family of God. My heritage is the testimonies of God (Psalms 119:111a). God has adopted me into his family and I am his son.

Yes I am Italian. But my heritage is God. I will only have pride in the fact that God chose me and adopted me. His testimonies are the rejoicing of my heart (Psalms 119:111b). As Christians we should consider all fellow Christians as family. A fellow believer is a brother and a sister. Mark 3:34 states, speaking of Jesus, And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

Interestingly enough, God also thinks of his people as his heritage. Micah 7:18 states Who [is] a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth [in] mercy.

Perfect Hatred

2007-03-20T08:07:00.000-07:00

Perfect Hatred

by Pete Berardi

Psalm 139:22 I hate them with a perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

Most Psalms are hymns and prayers. Here in this verse of the book of the Psalms David is praying to God. The context is him praying to God about God’s enemies. He claims that God’s enemies are his enemies. But what are God’s enemies. God does have an enemy. And surprisingly to some, God does hate.

Proverbs 6: states These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness [that] speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Part of our battle with sin is not just to love God and to follow his laws. An important part of keeping from sin is to make God’s enemies our enemies. It is not enough sometimes to keep away from sin but we must hate it with a perfect hatred. Romans 12:9 calls us to abhor that which is evil as well as to cleave to that which is good.

Hatred may seem as if it is a bad thing, an unholy thing and an ungodly thing however nothing could be further from the truth. In fact God claims hatred as a characteristic of himself and says that the fear of the Lord is to hate evil (Proverbs 8:13).

The things of this world are diametrically opposite of the things of God. By focusing on the things of the world we are automatically taking our focus off of the things of God. By making the things of this world our enemy, we greatly increase our chances of becoming free from sin.

Make sin your enemy and hate it with a perfect hatred. If it be the sin of drugs or alcohol, hate it with all your heart. If our battle is lust after the opposite sex, learn to hate the feeling of lust. If we steal or lie or cheat, learn to hate these things. Make it your enemy.

Why Be Holy (if I am going to heaven anyway)?

2007-03-05T21:47:00.000-08:00

Why Be Holy (if I am going to heaven anyway)?

by Pete Berardi

All this talk about the gift of grace has made me think to myself that since I am forgiven of all my sins and God has chosen me as his child, I can do whatever I want. I mean what the heck, I am going to heaven anyhow right? The fact of the matter is that there is no sin that can send me to hell. Just as there is nothing that a man can do in order to be saved, there is only one thing that keeps a man out of heaven. Mark 3:28-29 quotes Jesus: Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation. God is a forgiving God. Joel 2:12 states And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. He will forgive any sin that his child commits. The only sin that a man can commit that will keep him out of heaven is to blaspheme the Holy Spirit.

So now the question appears. Why should I not sin? If God is going to forgive everything that I do, I can just do whatever I want and I will still go to heaven.

This is a dangerous thought. In fact Paul asks this question to his audience in the book of Romans Chapter 6 verse 1. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? In fact the whole sixth chapter of Romans is dedicated to this very question. Paul’s answer comes in the last sentence. Romans 6:23 states: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. God loves us that not only did he give us a way out of the hell to come but also the hell here on earth. By following God’s laws we can have a happier and better life. God’s laws are given to us to protect us, to teach how to live.

The laws that I am referring to are the Ten Commandments. These laws are our school master and a guide for to live our life by. These laws protect us from evil. God knows what is best for us and what will truly make us happy. By following God’s laws we can be assured that the life that is truly best for us will occur.

When Jesus came down to earth, he fulfilled and established the whole law with two simple sentences:

Mark 12:30 states And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Mark 12:31 states And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

The Divine Nature

2007-03-04T07:55:00.001-08:00

The Divine Nature
by Pete Berardi

2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

When one becomes a Christian and has placed his faith in Jesus Christ, a change occurs. The verse in 2 Peter 1:4 discusses Christians as being the “partakers of the divine nature”. The best way to understand the “divine nature” is to examine a few verses that can shed light on it. The word divine in this verse means of God, of Christ and of the Holy Spirit. Three things from the Bible are of extreme importance regarding the conversion of a man to Christianity.

He was born dead in his sins and trespasses.
Christians are offspring of God.
When one believes, he becomes something new.

Romans 5:12 states that sin passed from Adam unto all men. What Paul is discussing in this verse is our sinful nature. Man is born a sinner with a sinful nature. Before a man places his faith in Jesus Christ, he is spiritually dead.

John 1:12, 13 states that “as many as received him…where born of God". God chose his children before the foundations of the world (Ephesians 1:4). When his children come to know him and Jesus blesses us with his grace, we receive the gift of faith which then renews us and gives our spirit a rebirth. At that moment we are children of God. Acts 17:28 states that Christians are his offspring and in him we live.

People have been using the term “born again Christians” for as long as I can remember. This term has a certain connotation to it; almost hippy like. In fact all men that place their faith in Jesus Christ are born again. John 3:3 quotes Jesus when he says “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Paul states that if any man be “in Christ” he is a new creature (2Cor 5:17). This rebirth gives Christians the Holy Spirit and he dwells within them.

Christians are very different from people that are not Christians because of their divine nature. To quote Jesus once more in John 3:6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit”. It is the divine nature which separates us from the people that do not believe.

Wisdom is the Principal Thing

2007-02-21T17:22:00.000-08:00

Wisdom is the Principal Thing
by Pete Berardi

One night after King Solomon, son of David, made an offering to the Lord, God spoke to him. God said to him, “Solomon, ask what I shall give thee" (2 Chronicles 1:7). Solomon had just become King of Israel. His Father David was a great king before him and Solomon had rather large shoes to fill. He felt the burden of his responsibilities to the people of his kingdom. Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge that he might judge the people fairly. God rewarded Solomon by granting him wisdom and knowledge but also riches, wealth and honour such as “none of the kings that have been before him”. Solomon could have asked for anything at all, but because he chose wisdom and knowledge, God gave him that and more.

This is a great lesson to learn and indicates how highly God values wisdom. The word wisdom occurs 234 times in the whole Bible. The first three occurrences of the word wisdom shows what wisdom truly is. Many verses after these three support this definition of wisdom. Exodus 28:3, Exodus 31:3 and Exodus 31:6 all make mention of people being filled with the spirit of wisdom which enables them to do something for God. This “spirit of wisdom” is symbolic of and points to salvation in Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:24 states: But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and wisdom of God. This clarifies and makes glaringly obvious that wisdom is indeed salvation. Salvation can come only through knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Many successful men of this world are wise. They contain many degrees and hold certificates and have invented and innovated. This is not truly wisdom. This is the wisdom of the world. All things of the world are only temporary. If a man is truly wise then he has knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ who is able to save his soul. Jeremiah 9:24 states: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

Wisdom is the principal thing (Proverbs 4:7). The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth (Proverbs 3:19). Wisdom is better than rubies (Proverbs 8:11). How much better is it to get wisdom than gold (Proverbs 16:16). Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established (Proverbs 24:3).

Unto Death

2007-02-18T09:36:00.000-08:00

Unto Death
by Pete Berardi

Philippians 2:8
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

People have hardships, trials and tribulations. The life that people lead and attempt to lead is not an easy road. Jobs are lost, investments decline, accidents occur. Sometimes the troubles that people have seem so much to bear that people need counseling or become severely depressed. Much of this stress occurs because of the intensity that people strive for betterment of life and acquisition of material possessions. People seem to never have enough; it’s as if they always want more out of life no matter how much they already have.

The Bible states that the love of the world is enmity with God. The lust of the eyes and the pride of life is what cause people to strive for status, money, material possessions, power and more. People don’t seem to realize that what they are really striving for is inner peace which can only be attained by having a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Jesus lived a simple life. In fact, he lived a life of poverty. He was born in a manger and worked as a carpenter. For most of his adult life he had no certain dwelling place and ate when he could. This kind of life certainly is not what most people strive for, however true obedience to Jesus leads exactly to this kind of life. Most people would balk at even missing one meal let alone not having a place to live. Jesus on the other hand was obedient to his Father to the extent that it got him killed.

How many people would stand up for their beliefs past the point of being executed? I say not many. I dare to say that many of us would forsake our beliefs because of some ridicule let alone torture and death. Would it really be so bad if we were forced to miss a meal every now and so that someone else could have one? Is it too much to ask to sacrifice a tenth of our income so that churches that preach the gospel and provide for the sick and needy can survive? Would it kill us to do without so that we can help others?

Jesus was obedient to his Father unto death. I doubt that there are many things, especially here in America, which would get us killed for Christ’s sake. I pledge that the next time we have an opportunity to sacrifice on account of obedience to the Bible, we remember the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made for us.

Lovingkindness

2007-02-09T23:07:00.000-08:00

Lovingkindness
by Pete Berardi

Psalm 63: 3
Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

Have you ever heard someone say, “I love that better than life itself”? I have. I wonder sometimes what could be better than life itself. For if a person loves something than life itself, what he is saying is that he would rather die than lose or not experience that particular thing. The writer of Psalm 63:3 says that he loves the lovingkindness of God better than life itself. He proclaims that he would rather die than give up the Lord’s lovingkindness. Death is a pretty serious matter, what is this so called lovingkindness?

The best way to “define” lovingkindness, since it is not in Webster’s, is to examine its context. Lovingkindness appears twenty-six times in the Bible. Most of the occurrences are in the Book of the Psalms. There are a few in Jeremiah and one in Hosea. The best definition of lovingkindness comes from three verses: Jeremiah 16:15, Jeremiah 31:3 and Hosea 2:19.

Jeremiah 16:15 states: For thus saith the LORD, Enter not into the house of mourning, neither go to lament or bemoan them: for I have taken away my peace from this people, saith the LORD, [even] lovingkindness and mercies.

Here, God states quite plainly that his lovingkindness is his peace.

Jeremiah 31: 3 states: The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, [saying], Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

This verse compares lovingkindness with an “everlasting” love. This is the kind of love that only God can provide. This is the kind of love that one is willing to die for. Everlasting never ends, it lasts forever.

Finally,
Hosea 2:19 states: And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yeah, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.

God is speaking to his people here as if we were his bride. God wants to spend the rest of eternity with us in lovingkindness. Betroth, as you know, refers to marriage. This lovingkindness again will last forever and is the kind of closeness that a husband and wife have with each other.

The Psalmist David, who is described as a man after God’s own heart (see Acts 13:22), is willing to die for the lovingkindness of God just as God himself was willing to die for our lovingkindness. God did in fact die for us by sending his one and only son Jesus to suffer the cross. By dying on the cross he guaranteed a life forever with him for whoever believes on him. This is the kind of love that I want. And this is the kind of love that I also consider to be better than life and willing to die for.

The Power of Belief

2007-02-04T23:20:00.000-08:00

The Power of Belief
by Pete Berardi

Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:

All of our actions are dependent upon our belief system. We live in a place that we believe we belong. We earn the exact amount of money that we believe we deserve. We have relationships with people that we believe to be worthy of our time. All of our success, failure, happiness and sadness is based on our belief system.

To that statement one might say, “But what about the things that happen to me that are outside of my control? For instance, when someone attacks me or if I get in a car accident, this changes my life. I have no control over these occurrences.” I agree. However what a person does have control over is how he or she reacts to these occurrences.

For example, if a loved one passes away, I can either feel sadness or joy. My feelings depend upon only what I believe. If I believe that this person is in a better place, that God has a plan, and that someday I will see him again, then I will undoubtedly experience joy. On the other hand however if I focus only on the loss of this person and how it affects my life, I will feel sadness and grief.

By changing one’s belief system a person can dramatically change all facets of his or her life. By believing that one can be successful, he or she takes leaps toward actually being successful. Anything that a man can believe, he can achieve. And yet, no one can achieve anything that he or she does not believe that he or she can achieve it.

Righteousness

2007-01-31T12:19:00.000-08:00

Righteousness
by Pete Berardi

II Peter 3:13

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Righteousness is what separates all believers in Christ from nonbelievers. In II Corinthians 6:14 Paul says that righteousness should have nothing to do with unrighteousness. Matthew 5:6 states that blessed are those that hunger and thirst after righteousness. What is righteousness?

Our first instinct in answering this question would be to say “Righteousness means doing the right thing”. Although this is partly correct, a believer’s righteous actions are merely fruit of the true meaning of righteousness.

In Romans 3:10 Paul states that there are no righteous people in the world no not even one. Paul goes on to explain what this righteousness and how people can obtain in. Righteousness is being just and free and guilt. When we are born, we are born sinners. Our lack of the Holy Spirit within us makes us unworthy to come before God. Our sin, which was passed to us from Adam, makes us unjust. Righteousness makes us just and it is given to us by faith in Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:22 states: Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Romans 3:26 states: To declare, [I say], at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

When a person believes in Jesus he becomes justified by Jesus. This is why, as believers, we are constantly looking for places here on earth where righteousness dwells. Yes, Peter in II Peter 3:13 is referring to the New Jerusalem which will be our eternal resting place when the Lord returns at the end of the world. However, while on this earth, it is very common for Christians to seek righteousness. This world is full of unrighteousness. The Devil has a stranglehold on this world and has convinced many people that Jesus and his saving faith is a lie. As Christians it is very hard to coexist in this kind of hostile environment. Christians seek areas of righteousness where we can celebrate our salvation, give God glory and be free from the damnation and temptation of the world.

This is the fruit of righteousness that was mentioned earlier. When one becomes righteous, he seeks to be righteous. Galatians 5:22 states “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

In Spirit and In Truth

2007-01-18T00:34:00.000-08:00

In Spirit and In Truth

Sunday mornings mean different things to different people. Traditionally Sunday is known for the time of the week where one makes time for church going activities. I can remember when I was a child how my sister and I would have to dress up in our uncomfortable shoes and clothes and head over to the local church. Since I went to the same school as the church, I often saw my classmates and their parents. Sometimes there was a bit of a tiff between my Mother and Father because the Bears were playing at the same time as Mass. I was raised Catholic and back then we called it Mass.

As I got older church became less and less important. In fact in my early twenties my belief was that church and believers in God were for the weak and I avoided it all costs. Since I found Jesus, I have attended several different church services. Born again Christians have Church Service on Sunday mornings. There was always a certain joy that is different from any other that is derived from attending church service. Most of the time, I felt that the pastor was speaking directly to me as he preached his sermon. Often times I felt as if I was leaving a different person than I was when I walked in; being changed in my heart.

I spent some time living at the San Diego Rescue Mission where they conduct chapel services. Chapel is a sincere, solemn time of praise and worship. The basic format that the San Diego Rescue Mission would follow went something like this: Scripture Reading, Opening Prayer, Hymns, Sermon, Closing Prayer, Closing Song, and Farewell. I have attended hundreds of chapel services and the feelings were similar with the Church Services described above, although with one difference. At Chapel I felt connected to the congregation. I felt a sense of brotherhood that is indescribable. The Bible states that we are chosen to be saved and given a gift of grace. When attending Chapel, I felt that everyone was my family and that we were all there for the purpose of serving God.

Jesus commands us in the gospels to worship God in Spirit and in Truth. There are many churches that conduct their worship service in the correct manner. There are many that do not. I believe that worshipping God is a serious matter and should be taken seriously by the administers as well as by the attendees. Also, it is important to note that rituals can be the unnecessary distraction that detracts from worshipping God in the correct way.

Although the Bible commands in Hebrews to not forsake the assembling of the brethren, there is something to be said for having a church service alone. By praying and reading and singing in the privacy of your own home, one can be comfortable and do what one feels is right at his own discretion. There is no one to give you the eye as you sing. There are no babies crying. There are no unnecessary rituals. God knows our hearts and the Bible contains many verses that place the condition of the heart above the showmanship of outwardly actions.

GO TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY AND WORSHIP YOUR CREATOR!

War! What is it good for?

2007-01-16T23:06:00.000-08:00

WAR! What is it good for?

Today on the way to run errands on a fairly brisk Saturday in San Diego I was stopped by a faithful soldier of Jesus Christ. He handed me a pamphlet that read “Who Would Jesus Bomb Today”. Its funny how the Lord works because I spend ninety percent of my time indoors and for the one half hour that I am outside, he sent me this messenger of his word. Perhaps I was the messenger to him.

This brave faithful man quoted multiple verses of scripture that would indicate that Jesus would never bomb anyone and that war was Biblically incorrect. On the back of this pamphlet was typed in bold letters “As Christians we walk as Jesus walked. Let us Love as Christ Loved, An unconditional Love of both friends and enemies, A love that is stronger than our fears.

This is a very deep and moving statement because it is not only true but it is relevant today when our nation is involved in a very serious war with the radical insurgents in Iraq. It was especially moving for me because I believe that war is Biblically correct.

I always carry a Bible with me. I hardly ever need to use it. Today I did. I showed Stu the verse which I have quoted several times to other anti-evangelical right voices.
Romans 13:1-3 reads:

Let every soul be subject unto higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same.

This verse is so powerful because it shows the sovereignty of God and how he influences the world. Quite simply this verse makes four points.
1. The government that is in place today is there because God put it there
2. The government is put there to rid evil of the world and protect the good
3. Don’t be evil, be good.

It really is that simple. This may be very hard for some people to swallow because each person has their own idea of what good and evil is. It may also be hard to accept because we as human beings cannot see the big picture. The fact is that only God can decide what is good and what is evil. And only God is omnipotent. His power allows him to see into the future and make changes according to his will.

By realizing that God is in control, we can rest easy and know that he will protect us from evil. War is an ugly, terrible, horrific yet necessary thing.

Vengeance

2007-01-12T00:32:00.000-08:00

Vengeance
by Pete Berardi

Unfortunately in this harsh, dog eat dog world, people do bad things to each other. Whether a person physically harms another or one of his loved one’s, infringes on his personal rights, steals from him, or any other misconduct, the reaction for most people is to take revenge. The feeling of revenge I believe stems from two things. One, the victim has the feeling that he is being taken advantage of and needs to protect his dignity and pride. Two, the victim wants to regain what he has lost. Everyday millions of dollars are spent on high priced lawyers who are hired to take vengeance upon another. Gang warfare in our cities is mostly motivated by vengeance. Vengeance is a vicious circle with dire consequences and can be compared to the family feuds in folklore. Vengeance can be never ending and can cause irreparable harm to all that are involved.

With God none of this has to be the case. As Christians we are taught that God will take vengeance for us against any who hurt us. One of the first acts of vengeance in the Bible involves Moses and one of his Jewish brothers. His Israelite brother was being attacked by an Egyptian and Moses did not stand for it. He killed that Egyptian and took vengeance for his Israelite brother. This is very symbolic of what God does for us. The Israelite people of the Bible are a symbol for who God’s people are today. Moses is a figure of God. The Egyptian represents the world who seeks to take advantage of the Christian.

The Bible refers to vengeance several times. It gives the reader clear instructions on how to react when someone wrongs you. Romans 12:19 states: avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay saith the Lord. As Christians we are to give up all of our rights that we are entitled to in this world. We are to trust that God is watching over us and will protect us. For a Christian to take revenge upon another is a sin. Matthew 5:5 states: Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. Jesus’ teachings dictate to us that we are to not take vengeance for ourselves as well. Many of us are familiar with Matthew 5:39 which reads: Whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

This may seem foolish to many. Many in the world would say that this philosophy on life will only lead to misery. By living like this one would be taken advantage of constantly and will be a failure in life. I disagree. I believe that our sole purpose in life is to please God. If the Bible says for us to not take vengeance, to turn the other cheek, and to rely on God for our protection, then I feel that is the best attitude to have.

From a practical standpoint, someone has to stop the vicious circle. If everyone continued to take vengeance on people that wronged them with no forgiveness, the world would be filled with hate and violence. By following God’s suggestions in the Bible, we can promote peace and good will towards men. Our true reward will come when Jesus returns for his chosen people and takes us to heaven with him.

Follow Me

2006-12-19T20:03:00.000-08:00

by Pete Berardi

Mark 10:22
And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

What is it that you hold most dearly? Chances are that this is the very thing that you would give your life for. The man in Mark 10:22 was a wealthy man. It was his wealth that he held most dearly and it was his wealth that he gave his life for.

In the gospels, Jesus uses the words “follow me” very sparingly. He used them to call Simon Peter to be an apostle. He said “follow me” to Matthew who also obediently became one of his disciples. He asked a man named Levi to follow him and soon after he taught the Pharisees a very valuable lesson on what the Sabbath is really all about. However not everyone that Jesus asked to follow him was obedient. This brings us to the wealthy man in Mark 10:22.

This wealthy man wanted to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus explained to him that even though he followed God’s laws perfectly, he must do one more thing. That one thing was to “follow him”. This also meant giving up all of his possessions. The man could not do it. He chose wealth over salvation.

Many people are familiar with the saying “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven”. Jesus loved to speak in parables and often left his listeners with a mystery to ponder. Other times, such as this, he explained his parables. The literal meaning of the parable is “Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:24)

The Bible is very clear when it says that if you are not going to heaven, you are going to hell. Hell is eternal damnation and a complete separation from God. Hell truly is death. When a person dies, whether or not he goes to heaven depends solely upon his faith or lack thereof. By rejecting Jesus because of his desire to keep his great wealth, the man committed the only unpardonable sin: unbelief.

The wealthy man held more dearly his riches than the kingdom of God. This was in fact a death sentence. By turning his back on Jesus he essentially told him that he would rather have the riches of this material world than the spiritual riches of heaven. This is a big mistake. The Bible teaches us that all things in this world are temporary and that the only things worth having are spiritual things which are eternal.

By holding Jesus more dearly than anything in this world, no matter how valuable, we are proclaiming saving faith in Christ. By being satisfied with only the love of Jesus, denying ourselves and following him, we can enter the kingdom of heaven and be assured of obtaining much greater riches than this world could ever offer.

When a sunset is more than just a sunset

2006-12-19T19:13:00.000-08:00

by Pete Berardi

Psalms 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God, the firmament showeth his handiwork.

Living here in San Diego definitely has its advantages. The weather is consistently seventy degrees and sunny. The winter is fairly short and extremely mild. We have a gorgeous stretch of beach that lasts for miles.

Recently I stood on the shore line and watched the sunset. It was only one of a thousand that I have seen, but yet it was unique in its own way. When the sun sets into the ocean it almost seems as if it will never get there. The experience is a slow anticipation. One peculiar thing about sunsets in San Diego is that they rarely can be experienced alone. Normally, sunsets attract a crowd and are similar to a Broadway show with applause and whistling afterward. Everyone seems to be enthralled, with their eyes glued to the horizon, as if the sun occasionally would do a sing and dance and they didn’t want to miss it.

On this particular sunset, as with many, I was in awe. It is very common that I think about God during them because of their beauty. I selfishly often think that God created this sunset especially for me and that he was using it to give me a message. There are so many science books in publication that “preach” the theory of the big bang. They claim that our universe was created billions of years ago by an explosion of a star. I simply cannot accept this. The exquisite perfection of the sun setting in the horizon does not allow me to cheapen the whole experience by giving its credit to an “accident”.

God is the creator of the universe, without a doubt. There are thousands of books in publication that will give multiple examples of the intricacies in our universe which somehow explain the theory ( intelligent design. These theories claim that there is a supernatural force that is behind all of creation. I cannot stand by this theory either. The design of the universe is much greater than intelligent, it is divine. God in his divine wisdom created the unmatched pulchritude in the simplicity of the sun setting into its resting place.

The Bible says that the firmament shows the handiwork of God and I stand by this theory. If you are a believer and have ever watched a sunset, you know exactly what I mean. If you are not a believer, I urge you to look at your next sunset with God in mind. Let his own creation speak to you that you might understand that He created it for you that you might understand. Solomon, the wisest man in the world, wrote in Proverbs “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the holy is understanding” (vv. 9:10). Let a beautiful sunset be even more so by letting be a tool of the Lord.

Bread of Life

2006-03-14T15:43:00.000-08:00

John 6:35
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

When Jesus came to earth, one of the reasons that he was rejected was because He consistently referred to God as his Father. This was very objectionable and offensive to the Jews. The Jews, since the time of Moses, were always thought of as being God’s chosen people. They couldn’t stand anyone calling Jehovah their personal Father. However, this was one of Jesus’ most important messages. He came to tell the people of the earth that it was not only the Jews that were God’s chosen people but everyone that believeth on him.

In the Old Testament, while the Jews were in the wilderness for forty years, God fed them with manna. This “bread of life” was God’s way of telling the Jews that they were his chosen people and that He would provide for them.

The same holds true for the people in the time of Jesus. Jesus was God’s symbol to us of how much He loves us (see John 3:16). Jesus is the bread of life. Whoever believeth on him shall never hunger and never thirst because he or she has become one of God’s children and God will provide for them.