steve zomok

a credentialed minister and on many websites~~~

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Pain can have a real value

Oct 102016

Pain and suffering exist in this fallen evil world. There is no doubt about it, both moral and natural evil do cause pain. This is what exists in this present but temporal age. Some have wondered if it is possible that pain may have a value or can good come out of it? I believe pain or suffering has a possible good end in the Lord’s purpose for his creation! The God of the Bible can bring good out of bad. All things have there season (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

I and many others have pointed out that the best possible world is one in which pain and suffering exist for a season. It is a learning experience and Some good things can come out of suffering. Does not a person gain a stronger character in the midst of both physical and mental suffering? Does not a person become stronger and more patient? Of course these things are true. God knows that in order for each person to be complete or perfected they must experience many things and this includes pain in this temporary age (Romans 5:3–) Some day this age will end and God’s people will be able to reflect on the knowledge of experience and be better for it.

Pastorzomok

How we view things briefly stated

Bible Study, Ministry, World No Responses »

Oct 052016

We live in a fallen world full of sin and strife. All people, despite differences, seek happiness, but never seem to reach a golden finish line. Admit it, we feel like the fabled Sisyphus, condemned to endlessly pushing a round rock up a hill only to watch it roll down again and again. We feel stuck in an endless cycle and maybe as we push that rock the path might get a little smoother sometimes. We wonder if this is all there is for us. The scene is bleak…

The only correct answer is found in JESUS CHRIST, who said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life…” (John 14:6). As believers we are also the priesthood and it is our duty to go into all the world and bring every creature to the Cross.

Pastor Zomok

Predestination?

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Sep 292016

Probably the most noted and extreme view of “predestination” is that advocated by the core of those with Calvinistic theology. In their view God chose a relatively small group of people to be “saved” and the rest are going to the fires of hell (the pagan rooted traditional “hell”, which I consider disproved). In this scheme there is no choice. You are either a small elect group that is saved or you scream for endless eons (suggesting that God sustains sin).. One text often cited to support this is Ephesians 1:4—
“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.”
This text does plainly indicate that God certainly chooses certain people and fits other verses and scriptures like John 6:44, although there is nothing here proving everyone else goes to the fabled hell. People are saved from what? They are saved from DEATH (Romans 6:23, John 3:16, Matthew10:28…etc…). They are not saved from Dante’s Inferno! Another text often used to support some predestination is Romans 8:28-30. Although these verses do indicate clearly that God chooses a special elect group it does not support the general Calvinistic contentions that only a little group are saved and the rest go to a sadistic hell. They put the above verses in contradiction to many other verses due to their incorrect outlook. Many verses imply that many people are eventually saved, if not all. Look at Romans 5:18-19—
“Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.”
These two verses contradict the contentions of Calvinistic predestination. The above does not say only a small group of elected people are saved. It implies that everyone will be!! See also 1 Corinthians 15:22. Now one might still ask if Ephesian 1:4 is really in contradiction to Romans 5:18-? I would say no. Although some verses speak of God choosing some people, whereas other verses seem to imply that God wills all (or many) to be saved, there might be a simple answer to clear this up!
I think God chooses some people to be saved now and the rest he chooses later. After all the scriptures are clear that “every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess God.” (Romans 14:11). I doubt if God is going to destroy all these folks bowing before divine majesty, nor is it a forced bowing and confessing.
Ever since the start of Christianity there has been people that wish to bring in false doctrines and confusions only to control and enslave others with fear. Woe to those that make what is simple difficult in order to lord it over others or to gain financially. This is not to say that proponents of the regular “hell fire” view are evil and deceptive..of course not.. They are victims too…held hostage to error.

Pastor Zomok

Do not follow idols

Bible Study No Responses »

Sep 212016

Both Israel and Judah traded the Water of Life (YHWH) for broken cisterns when they turned to idol worship. “Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.” We too are doomed for committing the same folly.

Jeremiah 2:13 – “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”

This is certainly a good lesson from history to learn from. If America does not come back to the true God and forsake the false and meaningless things it will be doomed.

pastorZomok

The Holy Spirit and Biblical Counseling (briefly)

Bible Study, Ministry No Responses »

Aug 102016

The Greek word translated “Comforter” or “Counselor” (as found in John 14:16) is parakletos. This word means “one called to the side of another”. Jesus is speaking about the Holy Spirit, who travels beside the Christian to guide, comfort, and to counsel. Ultimately speaking God’s spirit is our true Counselor. What we learn from the Holy Spirit also helps us help others too.

In the field of Christian Counseling, the good minister or believer has the spirit upon him (Isaiah 61~) and can go forth to further comfort, counsel, or to assist others. A Christian counselor can be fully equipped due to his or her textbook, the Holy Bible. It is completely adequate… “All Scripture is God-breathed and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults and training in right living; thus anyone who belongs to God may be fully equipped for every good work.”–2 Timothy 3:17. Admittedly this is a presuppositional view but unless there exists a chemical imbalance or drug abuse, which may require medical help, Christian counseling motivated by the Spirit and Scriptures is fully adequate to do the job!
Pastor Zomok

Zechariah 3 and Jesus

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Apr 222016

The Book of Zechariah was produced about 519 BC, in the early Persian period. It seems to me that Zechariah is largely overlooked and out shined by the major prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, but has some outstanding wonders within, seemingly even telling us the name of the future messiah! (from about 519 BC.).
In chapter 3 we see the high priest (Joshua). —

“Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and (the)Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. 2 The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?”
3 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel.4 The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.”
Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.”
5 Then I said, “Put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord stood by.”
It is further written—

The angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua: 7 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.
8 “‘Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. 9 See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.
10 “‘In that day each of you will invite your neighbor to sit under your vine and fig tree,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

There are a number of wonderful things here that point to Jesus, our Savior. Firstly, look at the very name of this high priest…which is “Joshua”. This name is basically just a form of “Jeshua” and “Yeshua” (and “Jesus”). These are all merely shortened forms of the original Hebrew name. Each form points toward salvation. Also this same high priest (Chapter 6) becomes a king. Like the Lord Jesus, he is both a priest and king. Next, we see that the priest is carrying sin, represented by filthy garments (sin), but afterwards he has clean garments. Jesus Christ carried the sins of the world… Verse 8 tells us that Joshua and his men are symbolic of things to come, indeed a coming “branch” (see Jeremiah 33:15). In the Hebrew (Zechariah) text for “branch” we find “semach” which is a “twig” or “sprout” of growth, so it does point to Jesus as the true vine in the Gospel of John. Even the “stone” with seven eyes, points to the divine Jesus as he is the chief corner stone. This is a brief commentary and much more can be stated but enough is here for a good bible study as many things in Zechariah point toward Jesus.
pastor Zomok

Visiting the Pool of Bethesda

Ministry No Responses »

Jan 252016

I remember a story about a depressed fellow that wanted to get into the waters of the Pool of Bethesda because he read about its healing powers and he wanted to have his sadness taken away. He finally decided to visit but just before he got close enough to even view the pool an angel blocked his path and told him that it was not his time to be healed of his sadness. The angel said to the man that God wishes to bring glory and healing through your sad nature. I do not remember more of the story but sadness and/or depression can make one see things in a different light. There are advantages worth thinking on–

The depressed soul can help others in ways that the non-depressed can not because he or she, being sad, can empathize with the sadness of others. They are more in tune to what anguish others are going through and therefore can give superior counsel or encouragement, which probably will make another soul feel better, to the glory of God.

Off hand there are are two other things that deep feelings of loneliness and depression can help one perceive. The downcast soul can be more acquainted with the sufferings of Jesus when he was rejected and abandoned by his friends. The messiah was in the world but the world knew him not (John 1:10..). Deep sadness will cause a person to love and understand the Lord more! Deep sadness also makes one realize that this world is not our final home and we should long for paradise.

pastor Zomok

God molds and shapes people

Ministry 1 Response »

Jan 242016

Just as Michelangelo used his various chiseling tools to form his statue of David from a marble rock, God uses circumstances, some painful, to form us into a more Christ like image. It is sometimes said that Michelangelo used a stone that others rejected and thought of as unworkable but a good artist and a good God can bring much good out of what seems to be meager. Of course God is omnipotent and omnipresent and can act both directly and indirectly (through natural laws) in what seems to be a seamless manner. The ways and means seem painful but the end product is good.

God says, in Romans 8:29, we are, “predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.”

As we move through the tapestry of life we experience many trying events that make us think and examine ourselves, while God is behind it all. The highest God can bring much good out of bad, indeed, we see this in many lives including the prophets, like Jeremiah, and apostles like Shaul of Tarsus. We must ponder…

Pastor Zomok

The Long Suffering God and “hell” doctrines

Bible Study 3 Responses »

Nov 262015

I have covered many aspects of the faulty doctrine of an eternal burning hell, logically pointing out that the penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23) and how Yeshua came and suffered that very penalty. I have also logically argued that in the end of time God will have a perfect creation without sin, which could not be so if he were to sustain an eternal penal colony of lost souls roasting in a “hell”. Such lost souls would be sustained sinners and not reconciled by any sane definition! I need not rehash here every aspect of the faulty doctrine of an eternal burning hell!!!

Last night I prayed for something new to point out and shortly thereafter noticed a new point. It stood out with new luster. I started to study about the fact that God is “longsuffering” in Numbers 14:18. In the Hebrew this is “long-faced” [Strong’s H750 and H639]. The Hebrew is concrete in this case pointing at the sad long face of a suffering personality. I also wanted to see how the Septuagint translated this and found the Greek word, “makrothumia”, which means “long-endurance” of pain and being patient with others.. [see Strong’s G3115]. The Hebrew and Greek work well together in touching all bases on what God experiences. He suffers with his creation!

There has been a debate on just how much God experiences pain. Under Greek philosophical influence the early church often held that God does not suffer and is basically above it all. The term “impassable” has often been used to describe God in this regard. God is supposedly “not emotional” or does not feel pain. Many theologians will label any verse that describes face, eyes, hands, and suffering of God “Anthropomorphisms” and “Anthropopathisms” (emotions). In other words, God is described with human features (physical and mental) to help us understand certain points about the divine. I am persuaded when God is described with hands and face, for God is spirit, but not persuaded about God not having certain mental and emotional attributes. If God is without emotions than God would be less understanding and could not see things fully. God is “passable” not “impassable”. He truly loves the created world and all his creatures!!!

To wrap this up, because God is both omnipresent and omniscient (all knowing) he is both above his creation and within it. God is within everything, every single atom and particle. God sees out our very eyes and is in our very nerves. In him we move and have our being. God suffers what we suffer. God knows each of us better than we know ourselves, something required for a perfect and devine judge. NOW if God were to sustain unredeemed sinners in and endless fiery hell God would suffer with them because he would be sustaining them. Remember anything completely separated from God has no existence. God will have a perfect creation in the end where all is completed and reconciled, which cannot be so if God as well as most people suffer in hell forever. God would suffer with them and to some extent the redeemed would also knowing that their loved ones did not earn salvation..

It is time to put the unbiblical and illogical Traditional view of Hell in the catagory of fables where it truly belongs.

Pastor S. Zomok (note: The above post is found on several other sites and has several thousand views. I hope to get the popularity of this site up…)

I defeated a Muslim

Posts 1 Response »

Sep 172015

Several years ago a pro-Islamic lady said to me, “Why would I choose the Biblical Jesus over the Muslim Jesus (Isa) as they mention him too in their Koran”?

I said to this lady that indeed the Koran does mention Jesus about 96 times but why would you consider what the Koran says about Jesus as equal to what the New Testament says? Do you not know that the New Testament Gospels were produced between 64 and 94 AD, by the disciples and the people that knew them in the first century, whereas, the Koran did not appear until about 800 AD, about 700 years later!!!! My dear lady lets change the whole chronology and lets say the ministry of Jesus took place in 1929 America at the time the stock market crashed, and lets keep the relative chronology going. With this in mind the whole activities of the original disciples and Paul would have been from 1930 to about the 1990s and even now (2010 then) there would be eyewitnesses to Jesus around, moreover, all the gospels would have been spread around by now. And my dear lady you would have to wait until about the year 2800 AD for the Koran, so which testimony of Jesus would be more accurate? The lady seemed stunned with eyes wide open! Then She looked flush and deflated..

At any rate I gave a good answer! It is true that the Koran (or Quran) does mention Jesus (isa) but it is not as accurate in its view of Jesus and denies facts about Jesus. Here is a verse of the Koran—

And they said we have killed the Messiah Jesus son of Mary, the Messenger of God. They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, though it was made to appear like that to them; those that disagreed about him are full of doubt, with no knowledge to follow, only supposition: they certainly did not kill him. On the contrary, God raised him unto himself. God is almighty and wise.

— Quran surah 4 ……..

Historically speaking Jesus was crucified and put into a tomb, as the gospels say, and historically speaking a few days later, the tomb was empty, and historically speaking the disciples, now apostles (sent ones) changed the world in a few generations. The Koran denies these truths. Even Jewish and secular sources of the first and second centuries mention Jesus and his execution (Josephus as one example)..

pastor zomok

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