Thomas Jefferson Stated His Faith

A true Statesman is a politician of integrity, a cut above the rest, beyond the tongues of those who smear him.

Thomas Jefferson by Rembrandt Peale: (1805)

  

In the thick of party conflict in 1800, Thomas Jefferson wrote in a private letter, "I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." <http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/thomasjefferson>

Thomas Jefferson

SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE; DIPLOMAT; GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA; SECRETARY OF STATE; THIRD PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

The doctrines of Jesus are simple, and tend all to the happiness of man.⁶⁴


The practice of morality being necessary for the well being of society, He [God] has taken care to impress its precepts so indelibly on our hearts that they shall not be effaced by the subtleties of our brain. We all agree in the obligation of the moral principles of Jesus and nowhere will they be found delivered in greater purity than in His discourses.⁶⁵ 



I am a Christian in the only sense in which He wished anyone to be: sincerely attached to His doctrines in preference to all others.⁶⁶ 



I am a real Christian – that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus Christ.⁶⁷ 

Ref: Wall Builders  < http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=8755>

Voluntarily, I recommend, learn the truth about Thomas Jefferson. Don't miss David Barton's new book.

The Jefferson Lies: Exposing the Myths You've Always Believed About Thomas Jefferson (Hardback from Wall Builders).

Today, we are besieged by a leader who falsely leads, whose every word is a contradiction in turn, whose plots are secret and deceptive. Who was raised as a Muslim in a strong Communist family. Whose political philosophy originated in satanic worship (per the book Marx & Satan by Richard Wurmbrand) <www.VOMbooks.com>, and who has the ultimate goal of socialistic tyranny and destruction.

Today, more than ever, we need to look to leaders who believe in American Freedom, including worship and work, as outlined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Leaders, who dare to stand for right, who speak forthrightly, who do not change to meet prevailing political correctness, who have solid integrity, and are men and women of God.

--Bill Hunt

World in Christ

Joshua and the Power of the Bible

Like Joshua, Draw on the Power of God's Word.

Joshua Leads Israel Crossing the Jordan River (by Gustave Dore, 1865)

 

Grasshoppers! Joshua exclaimed as he covered his head and opened a scroll in prayer. He knew the people were afraid. It was right then, the still quiet voice of God penetrated his being and gave him the instructions.

There would be no shirking of his duty. The anointing power of God encased his body, mind, soul, and strength.

“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:8-9 NKJ).

The solitary general sitting among the rocks of the desert pondered the mission in his heart. Since Moses died, he felt alone.

Now it was his mission to lead the attack of the entire Hebrew nation upon the promised land, the land of Abraham, to reclaim the land of the patriarchs. His people would face multiple warrior nations against them. He knew Caleb stood with him before God. But he also remembered what the other ten spies had reported.

“The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw the giants...; and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight” (Num. 13:32-33 NKJ).

Through faith, Joshua knew he had to make the decision, Go or No Go. He knew he could not overcome overwhelming numbers of enemies without God.

Little did Joshua know, his name would be the same name as the expected Jewish Messiah to come, Yeshua, Jesus! But he looked down at his scroll and his heart knew the confirming word of the Lord ringing through his being.

King David would express it later, in years to come.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law he meditates day and night.

“He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf does not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper” (Psalm 1:1-3 NKJ).

Through the Spirit, Joshua heard only one word ringing in his whole being, “Attack!”

--Bill Hunt

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Mercy Seasons Leadership

“The quality of mercy is not strained…. It becomes the throned monarch better than his crown,” instructed Shakespeare. Shouldn’t mercy likewise season all leadership of the pastors in the church, the politicians in government, the managers in business, the fathers of families?

"The Scapegoat" (1856) by William Holman Hunt

Shepherding
God is teaching me what it means to be a shepherd. I own Barbados Black Bellied Sheep. They know my voice on hearing and my appearance on sight. In fact, they have extremely keen eyesight. They watch me in the windows of my house from an acre away. They depend on me for their needs, and they let me know. For instance, they clearly signal me when it’s time to eat.

The sheep are also extremely timid. As a result, I have to be careful to be very gentle around them. I do not startle my sheep. If startled, I have seen them jump a six-foot fence in a long glide like a gazelle. If they escape my fences, I would probably never get them back because of their shyness. No, I do not startle them, I’m always careful to speak softly to them and to protect them. God knows what it means to be a shepherd.

“I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong (the butt heads) I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice” (Ezk. 34:15-16 NIV).


Correction Before Judgment
Jesus shows us this grace of shepherding when he tells us how we are to pastor the delinquent members of his flock in the church. “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” (James 2:12-13 NIV).

Does not Shakespeare’s words parallel that last line? Let’s see if I can remember.
PORTIA: The quality of mercy is not strain'd, 
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven 
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest; 
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: 
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes 
The throned monarch better than his crown....                                                  

 (From Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, 

  Act 4, scene 1, 1596.)

There are, at least, two steps of correction which must precede any judgment, Jesus teaches.

I “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.
                        
II “But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
                       
III “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

“I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matt 18: 15-18 NIV). Notice, this quote refers in context to discipline, not to doctrines.

The instruction of Jesus works just as well in business management, political and legal authority, church discipline, or family headship.

– Bill Hunt

Arrogance Brings the Downfall of Men

Holy Spirit

King Saul's life shows humility wins the favor of God, while arrogance brings the downfall of men.

HUMILITY WINS THE FAVOR OF GOD  (publicdomainpictures.net)

Arrogance brings the downfall of kings, presidents, government leaders, CEO's, potentates, evangelists and pastors; men in all walks of life. Have you seen them in the News? Arrogance brings the wrath of God and loses his divine favor.

Man needs to remember who he is, and who God is!

The difference between the behavior of the “politician” and the “statesman” who labors for the good of his people is a matter of the historical record.

Adolf Hitler led his nation to devastation and committed suicide hiding in a bunker. Saddam Hussein persecuted his own people, yet was found hiding in a dirt hole, tried and executed.

King Saul's life exemplified the fall.

Initially, Samuel the prophet, at the instruction of God, anointed the young Saul with oil.

As a result of this anointing, Saul encountered a company of prophets. They celebrated a joyous time with lyres, tambourines, flutes, and harps and freely prophesied in the power of the Spirit of God.

Samuel forewarned Saul of the effect of God's anointing.

“The Spirit of the Lord will come on you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you” (1 Samuel 10:6 NIV).

However, Saul failed to stand in the spirit of the anointing. For instance, when Samuel summoned all Israel to announce the King, he actually found Saul hiding afraid in the baggage.

For a time, God's anointing blessed Saul. When the Ammonites attacked Israel in overwhelming mass, the Spirit of God came on the young leader. Angry in spirit, Saul summoned all Israel and Judah for battle. Israel assembled 300,000 men and Judah, 30,000 men.

With this anointing, Saul strategically divided his army into three divisions during the night, attacked, and destroyed the powerful enemy.

The people confirmed him as King, and he reigned over Israel the next forty-two years.

Ultimately in pride, Saul grew arrogant

toward Samuel and to God.

When the Amalekites attacked, Saul failed to destroy the wicked enemy as God instructed. Instead, he captured King Agag alive and seized much forbidden plunder.

Samuel chastised him with words that loudly ring true through the ages.

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king” (1 Samuel 15: 22-23 NIV).

Samuel never returned to advise Saul again. King Saul died in battle shamefully, and David succeeded him king.

Humility wins the favor of God.

The power of humility dominates in Moses' tremendous leadership in leading over a million people through the barren wilderness for forty years.

“Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3 NIV).

Jesus taught humility with his sacrificial life.

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden light” (Matthew 11: 29-30 NIV).

The prophet Isaiah proclaims

God dwells with the man of humble heart.

For this is what the high and lofty One says – he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite” (Isaiah 57:15 NIV).

Humility is the secret of the prayerful man or woman who draws close to God or the statesman who effectively leads for the good of his people.

– Bill Hunt © 2010

(See books on Humility, Prayer, and Leadership.)

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