On FOOD fixation

 

Philippians 3:18-19

King James Version

¹⁸ (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, 

and now tell you even weeping, 

that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

¹⁹ Whose end is destruction, 

whose God is their belly, 

and whose glory is in their shame, 

who mind earthly things.)

You will never hear JESUS glorifying food.

He doesn't have to.

And it's not in His nature to do so.

He is beyond, and above man's food.

He is TRUE sustenance.

He is the BREAD of LIFE.

John 6:35

King James Version

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.

In JESUS, we live.

He satisfies every basic need.

Which is what, anyway?

Salvation, first of all.

The rest, our physical sustenance.

And some basic essentials.

A roof over our heads.

Some food to tide us over.

A family that, ideally, loves us.

Work that serves the LORD.

Good health for all the people in the world.

Freedom from oppression for everyone.

Some income to sustain us, and our families.

And yet, I look to the world, and it isn't so

It's amazing how the world is fixated on the 6 Fs.

Many are fixated on food, face, flesh, fame, fine clothes, and fortune.

Do those really matter?

Would those be good for our soul?

Will we need it where we're all going?

We really have to stop this obsession with worldly stuff.

Perhaps, it's my training from childhood.

To make do with what you have.

Not to aspire for luxury.

Work, through honest means.

When GOD made me born again, all those things made sense.

I was prepared and attuned for simplicity.

Look at the state of the world today.

So many industries were birthed, focusing on food.

Social media made it worse.

Now, everyone can post their favorite food.

They can share, or boast, about the trending food places they've visited.

And you gawk at the abundance of food and partying.

It's like there's no end to it.

Everyone's trying to outdo the other.

Then I remember many people who have nothing to eat.

Or people oppressed in many societies.

We also witness uneaten food ending up in the garbage.

I honestly, honestly believe no one need starve.

There's so much food everywhere!

We just have to have the heart to share with others.

Probably, the only time people don't post, is when they're in the bathroom.

But surely, people also check their phones while in the bathroom.

Do we have to "document" everything we eat, buy, or do?

It's a selfish, narcissistic society, all right.

Not a healthy society, for sure.

A society that will perish.

People have forgotten GOD.

Or if they remember, they have relegated the "Father of lights" in some dark corner of their soul.

We have no idea what we're doing.

We gorge on food, and skimp on GOD.

We have become a world of gluttons.

With diseases hot on our heels, because of greed, vanity, and insatiable appetites.

What a terrible, demonic world we have.

Lose that fixation on food.

We've all been warned, time and time again:

Mark 1:15

15 And saying, 

The time is fulfilled, 

and the kingdom of God is at hand: 

repent ye, 

and believe the gospel.

Related material:

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The WICKED shall PERISH

JESUS as BREAD of LIFE

The LIVING BREAD

BORN AGAIN classics

Image: Clipart Library

LAW on LEAVEN

 

1 Corinthians 5:6

King James Version

6 Your glorying is not good. 

Know ye not that a little leaven 

leaveneth the whole lump?

I can't ignore something I learned today.

SPIRIT led me to TWO types of leaven.

One, concerning the WORD of GOD.

Which we wrote about earlier in our "The LEAVEN parable".

And another, a different kind of "leaven" JESUS spoke of.

These verses clarify.

First, from the Old Testament:

Exodus 12:15

King James Version

15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; 

even the first day ye shall put away leaven 

out of your houses: 

for whosoever eateth leavened bread 

from the first day until the seventh day, 

that soul shall be cut off from Israel.

Exodus 12:19-20

King James Version

19 Seven days shall there be 

no leaven found in your houses: 

for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, 

even that soul shall be cut off 

from the congregation of Israel, 

whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.

20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; 

in all your habitations shall ye eat 

unleavened bread.

Exodus 13:3

King James Version

3 And Moses said unto the people, 

Remember this day, 

in which ye came out from Egypt, 

out of the house of bondage; 

for by strength of hand the Lord 

brought you out from this place: 

there shall no leavened bread be eaten.

Exodus 13:4-5

King James Version

4 This day came ye out in the month Abib.

5 And it shall be when the Lord 

shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, 

and the Hittites, and the Amorites, 

and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, 

which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, 

a land flowing with milk and honey, 

that thou shalt keep this service in this month.

Exodus 13:6-7

King James Version

6 Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, 

and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the Lord.

7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; 

and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, 

neither shall there be leaven seen with thee 

in all thy quarters.

Exodus 13:8

King James Version

8 And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, 

This is done because of that which the Lord did 

unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.

Exodus 34:25

King James Version

25 Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice 

with leaven; neither 

shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover 

be left unto the morning.

Leviticus 2:11

King James Version

11 No meat offering, 

which ye shall bring unto the Lord, 

shall be made with leaven: 

for ye shall burn no leaven, 

nor any honey, 

in any offering of the Lord made by fire.

Leviticus 6:14-17

King James Version

14 And this is the law of the meat offering: 

the sons of Aaron shall offer it before the Lord, 

before the altar.

15 And he shall take of it his handful, 

of the flour of the meat offering, 

and of the oil thereof, 

and all the frankincense 

which is upon the meat offering, 

and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour, 

even the memorial of it, unto the Lord.

16 And the remainder thereof 

shall Aaron and his sons eat: 

with unleavened bread shall it be eaten 

in the holy place; 

in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation 

they shall eat it.

17 It shall not be baken with leaven. 

I have given it unto them for their portion 

of my offerings made by fire; 

it is most holy, as is the sin offering, 

and as the trespass offering.

Leviticus 10:12

King James Version

12 And Moses spake unto Aaron, 

and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, 

his sons that were left, 

Take the meat offering that remaineth 

of the offerings of the Lord made by fire, 

and eat it without leaven beside the altar: 

for it is most holy:

Leviticus 23:16-18

King James Version

16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath 

shall ye number fifty days; 

and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord.

17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations 

two wave loaves of two tenth deals; 

they shall be of fine flour; 

they shall be baken with leaven; 

they are the firstfruits unto the Lord.

18 And ye shall offer with the bread 

seven lambs without blemish of the first year, 

and one young bullock, and two rams: 

they shall be for a burnt offering unto the Lord, 

with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, 

even an offering made by fire, 

of sweet savour unto the Lord.

Second, from the New Testament:

Mark 8:14-16

King James Version

14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, 

neither had they in the ship with them 

more than one loaf.

15 And he charged them, saying, 

Take heed, 

beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, 

and of the leaven of Herod.

16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, 

It is because we have no bread.

Matthew 16:8-12

King James Version

8 Which when Jesus perceived, 

he said unto them, 

O ye of little faith, 

why reason ye among yourselves, 

because ye have brought no bread?

9 Do ye not yet understand, 

neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, 

and how many baskets ye took up?

10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, 

and how many baskets ye took up?

11 How is it that ye do not understand 

that I spake it not to you concerning bread, 

that ye should beware of the leaven 

of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

12 Then understood they how that he bade them 

not beware of the leaven of bread, 

but of the doctrine of the Pharisees 

and of the Sadducees.

Luke 12:1

King James Version

12 In the mean time, 

when there were gathered together 

an innumerable multitude of people, 

insomuch that they trode one upon another, 

he began to say unto his disciples first of all, 

Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, 

which is hypocrisy.

1 Corinthians 5:6-8

King James Version

6 Your glorying is not good. 

Know ye not that a little leaven 

leaveneth the whole lump?

7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, 

that ye may be a new lump, 

as ye are unleavened. 

For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

8 Therefore let us keep the feast, 

not with old leaven, 

neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; 

but with the unleavened bread 

of sincerity and truth.

Related material:

The LEAVEN parable

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This PREOCCUPATION with FOOD

 

Proverbs 25:16

King James Version

16 Hast thou found honey? 

eat so much as is sufficient for thee, 

lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

You have to admit it.

The world is preoccupied with food.

And not necessarily food for the poor and hungry.

Look to the food channels, the selections and varieties at supermarkets.

Look to the restaurants, food businesses, and online food deliveries.

Strangely, the virus "outbreak" had been supplanted with focus on food.

There is now a delirious preoccupation with food.

More than ever.

As if a "virus" had never taken place.

People have been made "free" to roam again.

But you only need to look at the resulting "industries" birthed.

All that consumption's catching up with us.

Look at our salt and sugar consumption.

Look to the burgeoning dialysis industries, big pharma products, hospital expansions, ailments, and you'd know something's afoot.

People are getting sick.

People are getting vain.

People are getting gluttonous.

People are forgetting GOD all over again.

I once read an article about a particular European chef.

Who was truly particular.

He was "master of knives".

A knife for this.

A knife for that.

Only the choicest knives, for the choicest food, for the choicest customers.

I have been cooking for quite a while.

But you won't find me with an assortment of knives.

Give me one good, medium-sized, sharp, sturdy knife, and that would do.

I also normally cook one-dish meals.

Like what an old Italian cookbook taught me.

The ingredients were meager, for it was a time of war.

Thus, the lady author basically used tomatoes, olive oil, eggplant, garlic, and whatever was on hand.

Perhaps, I'm lazy.

Perhaps, I'm a minimalist.

But surely, it's because I'm born again.

The latter changes your outlook in life.

You look to JESUS for everything.

You'd be careful not to be a hypocrite.

1 Corinthians 9:27

King James Version

27 But I keep under my body, 

and bring it into subjection: 

lest that by any means, 

when I have preached to others, 

I myself should be a castaway.

You will be moderate in consumption, lest you be consumed.

1 Corinthians 9:25

King James Version

25 And every man that striveth for the mastery 

is temperate in all things. 

Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; 

but we an incorruptible.

Your focus is on JESUS alone.

Matthew 4:4

King James Version

4 But he answered and said, 

It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, 

but by every word that proceedeth 

out of the mouth of God.

When you are born again, you walk with SPIRIT.

Galatians 5:24-25

King James Version

24 And they that are Christ's 

have crucified the flesh 

with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, 

let us also walk in the Spirit.

You know the body is temple of the HOLY SPIRIT.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

King James Version

19 What? know ye not that your body 

is the temple of the Holy Ghost 

which is in you, 

which ye have of God, 

and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: 

therefore glorify God in your body, 

and in your spirit, which are God's.

You know everything must be for GOD's GLORY alone.

1 Corinthians 10:31

King James Version

31 Whether therefore ye eat, 

or drink, 

or whatsoever ye do, 

do all to the glory of God.

Everything in the world is vanity.

Everything in the world takes us away from GOD.

Know who rules the world:

2 Corinthians 4:4

King James Version

4 In whom the god of this world 

hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, 

lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, 

who is the image of God, 

should shine unto them.

Being born again really changes one's thinking.

You look at the world and you grieve at how much we consume, and waste, while others are left hungry.

You look at how much people consume, and you think how simple the LORD JESUS was.

He did not think of having parties, what food to buy, what to eat, how to impress others.

Instead, JESUS gave us imperishable food.

He taught us GOD's WORD.

Luke 9:11

King James Version

11 And the people, when they knew it, 

followed him: 

and he received them, 

and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, 

and healed them that had need of healing.

JESUS had heart for those who listened to Him.

Luke 9:12-13

King James Version

12 And when the day began to wear away, 

then came the twelve, and said unto him, 

Send the multitude away, 

that they may go into the towns and country round about, 

and lodge, and get victuals: 

for we are here in a desert place.

13 But he said unto them, 

Give ye them to eat. 

And they said, 

We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; 

except we should go and buy meat for all this people.

He was also master of organization.

Luke 9:14-16

King James Version

14 For they were about five thousand men. 

And he said to his disciples, 

Make them sit down by fifties in a company.

15 And they did so, and made them all sit down.

16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, 

and looking up to heaven, 

he blessed them, 

and brake, 

and gave to the disciples 

to set before the multitude.

And there was plenty left to feed them.

Luke 9:17

King James Version

17 And they did eat, 

and were all filled: 

and there was taken up of fragments 

that remained to them twelve baskets.

With the LORD, we have sufficiency.

With the world, things will never be enough.

With the WORD, we are saved.

With the world, we perish.

For the true born again, JESUS is all we need.

Not the perfect knife to use.

Not the perfect food to eat.

Not the perfect company to eat with.

JESUS -- GOD's WORD -- suffices.

Related material:

MEALS with HEART

FOOD for spirit

BORN AGAIN articles

Image: Clipart Library

WORD made FLESH

 

John 1:14

King James Version

14 And the Word was made flesh, 

and dwelt among us, 

(and we beheld his glory, 

the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) 

full of grace and truth.

Such is GOD's love for us.

That He sent His only Son.

That we may be saved from our sins.

And believers given eternal life.

But how many people thank GOD?

How many people care to know Him?

How many people truly love Him?

How many people know the WORD?

How many people know JESUS is the WORD?

How many people live by the Bible?

It's time we did.

The coming of the LORD JESUS had been prophesied:

Psalm 118:22

King James Version

22 The stone which the builders refused 

is become the head stone of the corner.

Isaiah 9:6

King James Version

6 For unto us a child is born, 

unto us a son is given: 

and the government shall be upon his shoulder: 

and his name shall be called Wonderful, 

Counsellor, 

The mighty God, 

The everlasting Father, 

The Prince of Peace.

Jeremiah 23:5

King James Version

5 Behold, 

the days come, 

saith the Lord, 

that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, 

and a King shall reign and prosper, 

and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

Micah 5:2

King James Version

2 But thou, 

Bethlehem Ephratah, 

though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, 

yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me 

that is to be ruler in Israel; 

whose goings forth have been from of old, 

from everlasting.

Zechariah 9:9

King James Version

9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; 

shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: 

behold, 

thy King cometh unto thee: 

he is just, and having salvation; 

lowly, and riding upon an ass, 

and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Malachi 3:1

King James Version

3 Behold, 

I will send my messenger, 

and he shall prepare the way before me: 

and the Lord, 

whom ye seek, 

shall suddenly come to his temple, 

even the messenger of the covenant, 

whom ye delight in: 

behold, 

he shall come, 

saith the Lord of hosts.

Luke 1:33

King James Version

33 And he shall reign 

over the house of Jacob for ever; 

and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Luke 1:35

King James Version

35 And the angel answered and said unto her, 

The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, 

and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: 

therefore also that holy thing 

which shall be born of thee 

shall be called the Son of God.

Romans 11:26-27

King James Version

26 And so all Israel shall be saved: 

as it is written, 

There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, 

and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

27 For this is my covenant unto them, 

when I shall take away their sins.

Galatians 4:4

King James Version

4 But when the fulness of the time was come, 

God sent forth his Son, 

made of a woman, 

made under the law,

Luke 2:11-14

King James Version

11 For unto you is born this day 

in the city of David 

a Saviour, 

which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; 

Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 

lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel 

a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, 

and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, 

and on earth peace, 

good will toward men.

Luke 5:32

King James Version

32 I came not to call the righteous, 

but sinners to repentance.

Luke 19:9-10

King James Version

9 And Jesus said unto him, 

This day is salvation come to this house, 

forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

10 For the Son of man is come 

to seek and to save that which was lost.

Revelation 19:11-13

King James Version

11 And I saw heaven opened, 

and behold a white horse; 

and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, 

and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, 

and on his head were many crowns; 

and he had a name written, 

that no man knew, but he himself.

13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: 

and his name is called The Word of God.

Related material:

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JESUS

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