Steven Garofalo
News • Spirituality/Belief • Education
THE SECRET OF LIFE: GOD’S WORDS OF WISDOM
By Steven Garofalo, October 21, 2024 (Copyright 2024)
October 21, 2024

What is the secret of life? The longer you live, the more you will ask that question. A good start place in answering that question is through God’s Word which tells us through King Solomon: "that the words of the wise are like goads"-meaning they are designed to annoy the reader.

Today, I am going to show you through Solomon WHY God’s wisdom was given to ANNOY us. King Solomon writes, “The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings they are given by one Shepherd” (Ecclesiastes 12:11).

WHAT IS SOLOMON SAYING AND WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
Solomon uses words such as “GOADS” to PROD us and “NAILS” to ANCHOR us. “DRIVEN NAILS” means, the nails, or pegs referred to in 2nd Chronicles: These would have been pegs or hooks in tents where family members hung the cloths and pots needed for everyday living life. Here, Solomon uses this analogy of “mental hooks giving stability and perspective to life itself".

The bottom line is that Solomon wrote this as inspired by God, for the simple reason that He expects His Word to STIMULATE some form of action or reaction through our reading  the Bible. Let’s get started. This is not from man but from God.

THIS IS OF GOD AND NOT MAN 

Fast forwarding, Solomon closes by giving credit and authority to the “ONE SHEPHERD.” This makes clear to the reader that the these words, the teaching of Solomon, are God given. Solomon states outright that the source of his ideas here and through the entire Book of Ecclesiastes are from God, the one true Shepherd of Israel (Psalm 80:1).

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR US TODAY IN OUR MODERN AGE?

It means that God is nudging us, meaning you and I TODAY are to put ACTION into our FAITH. We used to call this putting legs to our words.

Just as an ox goad prods an animal (meaning to nudge gently or poke or jab or more aggressively) in the RIGHT DIRECTION, so will the WORDS written in the Book of Ecclesiastes when they are properly understood and applied to our lives. I find it fascinating that Solomon jumps to warn the reader about reading too much non-biblical literature. While it may seem out of place to the reader, it fits perfectly into what Solomon is saying, as God prods and nudges us through His Word, not secular literature.

WISDOM WARNS OF EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION OF SECULAR LITERATURE

Now, I find this one very interesting. Ecclesiastes 12:12 says, “My son, beware of anything beyond these (WORDS). Of making many books there is no end and much study is an earnings of the flesh”.

In other words, many other BOOKS (and I would submit YouTube) may “weary” their readers. Careful study of Ecclesiastes will have the opposite effect of secular literature, as it instructs, warns and admonishes its readers. Secular literature tells affirms to make us feel good according to worldly values while God’s Word properly leads us to a better life according to God’s leading. In other words, God makes it deep, simple, good, true and eternal, while we make our knowledge expansive, shallow and temporal.

GAINING PERSPECTIVE
Solomon is writing Ecclesiastes at the end of his life which gives us a whole new perspective. He didn’t write it as a young, inexperienced man, but at the tail end of his life, before going to be with the Lord. This means that he had lived out his life, experienced most everything wealth and power can offer, and gave a God inspired lesson to us as God inspired him to write Ecclesiastes.

TAKING GOD SERIOUSLY AND HAVING A HEALTHY FEAR OF GOD

Solomon makes clear at the end of the entire Book of Ecclesiastes that the end game of God’s Word and wisdom is taking God seriously. Verse 13 says this.

“The END of the matter ALL HAS BEEN HEARD, “FEAR GOD AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, for this is the WHOLE DUTY OF MAN” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

To “FEAR GOD” is one of the main themes of the book of Ecclesiastes, wisdom literature in whole, and throughout the entire Old Testament. 

To FEAR GOD is to RESPOND to Him in AWE, REVERENCE, and WONDER, to SERVE Him in purity of action, and to SHUN EVIL. This includes shunning the worship of anything else in His created universe. 

The command to “FEAR GOD” goes hand in hand with the command to KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. This indicates that true “REVERENCE” toward and of God is to be manifested through obedience to Him. In today’s rebellious society, this command is at the center of most all the sin and evil we see and experience in our lives. It is our DUTY.

SOLOMON WRITES: “THIS IS THE WHOLE DUTY OF MAN,” literally meaning that this is the whole of man "i.e. for this is what man is all about." We as men and women should be all about this command. It’s not something we apply but who we literally are and how we are to think at our core. by “Core”, I mean our MIND, HEART, STRENGTH and SOUL (Luke 10:27; Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30-31). In other words, “Our ALL”. As we close out today’s entry, I would like to zoom in on Solomon’s LAST words. WHY? Because these are God’s last words through Ecclesiastes in the last chapter of the Book, through Solomon in the last chapter of his life. In the Bible, God will more often emphasize His point at the end of His inspired word. Let’s take a look.

SOLOMON’S LAST WORDS TO US IN ECCLESIASTES 

Solomon ends this passage and the entire Book of Ecclesiastes making very clear that with all God has blessed us with, we are to enjoy all of it-but within the context of God’s COMMANDMENTS. As such we must enjoy all God has blessed us with with an UNDERSTANDING that we will be held accountable to the mission calling God has given each of us. In other words, we will be held ACCOUNTABLE as to how we used what God has given us: Both material wealth, our time, personal and spiritual gifts, and the opportunities God provided or allowed to use all these things. Verse 14 says: 

“FOR GOD WILL BRING EVERY DEED INTO JUDGEMENT, WITH EVERY SECRET THING WHETHER GOOD OR EVIL” (v.14).

This idea of accountability and judgement is the same teaching echoed by the apostle Paul in 2 COR. 5:10 in that death is not the end. All of life will be reviewed by our righteous Lord (3:17). For us, the bottom line is that life must be lived through faith with the virtues of the eternal God.

With that in mind, God has not told man how to comprehend all the frustrating futilities of life, but He has instructed man to enjoy life as His gift (2:24). As such, we are to make the most of every opportunity God leads us to (9:10), and to live life with a real REVERENCE toward Him (God) (12:13). 

IN CLOSING
We are made WHOLE and COMPLETE ONLY when we fear God and obey His commandments. What profit otherwise is there in living? If we follow what this book has said, we will have an authentic relationship with God and find life in and through Him. I find it fascinating that Solomon learned to live with life’s paradoxes by MAINTAINING A PROPER ATTITUDE TOWARD LIFE AND GOD. My personal take away is: So should we (starting with me). And this is the secret of life.

community logo
Join the Steven Garofalo Community
To read more articles like this, sign up and join my community today
0
What else you may like…
Videos
Podcasts
Posts
Articles
VOTE “VOTUM”: (“TO CHOOSE”) “Vote' comes from the Latin word

'votum' ("vow, wish" ).

00:00:51
Live Chat
Make It A Great Day and Know: We Are On Schedule!

Jesus has a way of saying things that cuts to the quick-and He did just that in Matthew 11:12. In this short video, I simply want to reiterate that Jesus made clear that John The Baptist:
1) Came to pave the way for King Jesus.
2) John’s message was, like al prophets of old, met with violence and resistance.
3) That violence and resistance was described be in Matthew 11:12 as. “The violent take it by force”. In this context probably means that violent people forcibly oppose the kingdom which their hostility (23:13). As Christ’s kingdom advances, so do the attacks against it.
4) Verse 13 speaks to “The prophets and the law” referring to the OT, which anticipated the coming of the Messiah-most likely creating some level of anxiety among the religious class and true believers. WHY? Because John the Baptist was the forerunner of Christ, the OT anticipated John’s ministry as well, but the coming of Jesus meant among other things-the upset of the “established religious ...

00:04:38
Welcome To Steven Garofalo's LOCALS Community!

JOIN MY COMMUNITY AT www.StevenGarofalo.Locals.Com

00:02:24
Live Chat
IS MULTICULTURALISM GOOD? (PT1)

IS MULTICULTURALISM GOOD? America has been called “The Melting Pot” for all people, cultures and countries around the world. But is multiculturalism good? More importantly, is it biblical? In today's podcast I am going to show you the answer through reality and God's Word. In PART2, we will dig even deeper into God's Word to see what God says about the subject. The Scriptures makes clear that the gathering of many cultures in one place, or “multiculturalism” can be beautiful, but ONLY when under the Federal Headship of Jesus. Let’s jump into PT1!

IS MULTICULTURALISM GOOD? (PT1)
Live Chat
DO MY BUSINESS UNTIL I COME!

Jesus said that He will but not immediately.
Today, I am going to show you that, as such, you and I are to serve God and others faithfully until He (Jesus) returns in bodily form-for He commanded in Luke 19-“Do my business till I come”. We have so many options for recreation in todays' world that we often forget that Jesus made clear for us to "DO MY BUSINESS TILL I COME". The Bible is clear as one reads through it that God gently, and sometimes not so gently, reminds us to tune up our thinking, worldview and priorities as we live out our daily lives. Today we will look at what Jesus said in Luke 19.

DO MY BUSINESS UNTIL I COME!
Live Chat
TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT EXPLAINED BIBLICALLY

How is President Trump alive today? In this pre-released podcast, Steven will explain the attempted Trump assassination-biblically.

TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT EXPLAINED BIBLICALLY
Live Chat
HOW BIG OR SMALL IS YOUR STRENGTH?

“If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small” (Proverbs 24:1).

In other words, caving in under pressure shows how “small” one’s strength is. Times of DISTRESS will test a person’s character (v.10). If he is “SLACK” in difficult times, due to cowardice, laziness, or indifference he proves his “LIMTED STRENGTH” of character.

In the end, we have just “just missed” a very bad and evil government in the United States which would have spread to the entire world. But God spared us. In the end, we must stay strong in His strength. This means not growing faint in the future when once again, the day of adversity will come again. When it does, we must show our faith as strong and our strength as real.-Steven

Live Chat
PRESIDENT TRUMP WINS THE ELECTION AGAIN

“God spared my life for a reason,” Trump said referring to the assassination attempts on his life.

"He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;"- Daniel (2:21)

“This was a movement like nobody has ever seen before, and frankly, this was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time. There’s never been anything like this in this country,” Trump said.

Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine before Inauguration Day and to launch the largest illegal immigrant deportation operation in U.S. history. As president, Trump will have the power to achieve both without the help of Congress. The same goes for rolling back the tailpipe emissions rule, which Republicans call a de-facto electric vehicle mandate.

VOTE “VOTUM”: (“TO CHOOSE”)
“Vote' comes from the Latin word 'votum' ("vow, wish" ).

CERTAIN OF GOD’S PROMISES
By Steven Garofalo, November 5, 2024 (Copyright 2024)

We are called in faith to be CERTAIN of God’s promises. Today, I am going to show you through Isaiah, chapter 12, just what that looks like according to God through the ancient prophet Isaiah. In Isaiah, Chapter 12, verses one through six, we find a HYMM OF PRAISE by Isaiah. But this is no ordinary hymn of praise-it’s a model for you and I to learn, adopt, believe in and live by on a daily basis. 

WHY DO I SAY THAT?
So certain were God’s promises of future blessing for Israel IN THAT FUTURE DAY that Isaiah composed this song of praise in anticipation of the Millennium. Considering the fact that the Book of Isaiah was written 740-680 B.C. We should be no less patient of our future hope than Isaiah was.

THE OPENING
I love the opening of Isaiah why’s says this: “ YOU WILL SAY IN THAT DAY: I WLL GIVE THANKS TO YOU, O LORD, FOR THOUGH YO UWERE ANGRY WITH ME, YOUR ANGER TURNED AWAY, THAT YOU MIGHT COMFORT ME. BEHOLD, GOD IS MY SALVATION; I WILL TRUST, AND WILL NOT BE AFRAID; FOR “THE LORD GOD IS MY STRENGTH AND MY SONG, AND HE WILL BECOME MY SALVATION”… (ISAIAH 12:1-2). 

WHAT DID ISAIAH MEAN BY “IN THAT DAY” IN VERSE 1?
When Isaiah said, “In that day” in verse 1, we can look to chapter 2:12 for greater clarity. The first “YOU” is singular, representing the remnant as an individual. The word “ANGRY”: Here, Isaiah is speaking of the anger of God which has caused the people to be “DISPERSED” among the nations (5:25; 9:12); And it is God’s grace that would lead to their regathering in the future

GOD IS MY SALVATION
In verse 2, Isaiah points out: "GOD IS MY SALVATION". This psalm of redemption is based on the first psalm of redemption in Exodus (Exodus 15:2; Psalm 118:14). The word used is “YAH” or “THE LORD”, but its repetition, emphasizes that Israel’s covenant-keeping God-and not the nations-brings salvation (26:4).

GOD’S STRENGTH
Isaiah says in verse 2, “MY STRENGTH AND SONG”. What does he mean by that? The phrase may be rephrased as “MY STRONG SONG” or “MY SONG OF STRENGTH” (Exodus 15:2).

The bottom line is that this hymn by Isaiah is a future model to guide our present perspective. What do I mean by that? The answer is that ultimately, this is an end-time psalm of praise (as is 42:10-17); a POEM to be sung in the future kingdom by the redeemed of the Lord in His glorious presence. Why is this important to us?

CONCLUSION
This passage is important in that it represents a song of victory celebrating the Lord’s final defeat of Israel’s enemies and His deliverance of Israel, The song beings with an acknowledgment of God’s “ANGER”, which is “TURNED AWAY” resulting in comfort and salvation (v.1). It continues with the affirmation that the people’s salvation is found only in God. Verse 2 does not point to the activities of God the have led to salvation, but to God Himself as salvation. As such, the people will no longer look to more powerful nations, political alliances, or their own wealth and strength for salvation, but to God alone. The people will finally trust and fear the Lord, acknowledging Him as the source of all refuge and strength (v.2). This is all covered in the first two verses.

This chapter was written specifically for the Jewish people, but has application that affects all of us, even as gentiles. We (Jew and gentile) are all called in faith to be CERTAIN of God’s promises. And God makes clear through Isaiah, chapter 12 that both Jew and Gentile are to TRUST in His promises.

Read full Article
AMERICA’S TRUE CRISES OF FAITH
By Steven Garofalo, November 4, 2024

IN A RECENT BARNA STUDY ON THE STATE OF AMERICAN 'CHRISTIANITY: Of American churchgoers, recent studies unveiled exactly why Christianity, and many churches are failing at their core mission. Today, I am going to show you through an excerpt from Southern Evangelical Seminary, SES.Edu, exactly why that is and how that failure reflects our efforts-or lack-there-of as Christians. Let’s get started.

IN A RECENT STUDY ON THE STATE OF AMERICAN 'CHRISTIANITY': Of American churchgoers, recent studies found the following.

63% agree that God accepts the worship of all religions

48% agree the Bible contains helpful accounts of ancient myths but is not literally true

54% agree that religious belief is a matter of personal opinion rather than objective truth

Around 2 in 5 American churchgoers agree that gender identity is a matter of choice

Nearly half of American churchgoers disagree or are unsure that abortion is a sin. WHY is this important? Because murdering babies and children reflects the most basic state of morality and building blocks of any civil society. Or there-lack-of.

The study also found that: Only 2 in 5 Senior Pastors have a biblical worldview* This is a MAJOR problem and unveils that 3 in 5 pastors do NOT have a biblical worldview. Why are they pastors to begin with is beyond me outside of the  idea that perhaps they are unmotivated, unskilled and perhaps incapable of getting another job in a different field.

Furthermore, only 12% of Children’s & Youth Pastors have a biblical worldview*
*”Biblical Worldview” is defined here as making sure our understanding/choices are consistent with God’s principles and commands: 
(Sources: Barna.com, PewResearch.org, ArizonaChristian.edu, TheStateofTheology.com).

Why should anyone in a highly-educated, scientific, “tolerant,” and technologically-advanced culture believe the truthfulness of Christianity? Thinking well about things like logic, faith and reason, the evidence for God’s existence, and the true nature of Christianity directly address all the issues listed above. 

When the evidence is examined in a systematic way, we can see that we have excellent reasons to believe Christianity is actually true. And if that is the case, as C.S. Lewis observed, there is nothing more important we can take hold of and learn to effectively share with others. As SES co-founder Dr. Norman Geisler said, 

“Why should anyone in a highly-educated, scientific, “tolerant,” and technologically-advanced culture believe the truthfulness of Christianity? Thinking well about things like logic, faith and reason, the evidence for God’s existence, and the true nature of Christianity directly address all the issues listed above. When the evidence is examined in a systematic way, we can see that we have excellent reasons to believe Christianity is actually true. And if that is the case, as C.S. Lewis observed, there is nothing more important we can take hold of and learn to effectively share with others.”

CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA SAID:
“Some, who think themselves naturally gifted, do not wish to touch either philosophy or logic; nay more, they do not wish to learn natural science. They demand bare faith alone, as if they wished, without bestowing any care on the vine, straightway to gather clusters from the first. Now the Lord is figuratively described as the vine, from which, with pains and the art of husbandry, according to the word, the fruit is to be gathered. We must lop, dig, bind, and perform the other operations. The pruning-knife, I should think, and the pick-axe, and the other agricultural implements, are necessary for the culture of the vine, so that it may produce eatable (sic.) fruit. … So also here, I call him truly learned who brings everything to bear on the truth; so that, from geometry, and music, and grammar, and philosophy itself, culling what is useful, he guards the faith against assault.”
-[CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA, circa 200 A.D.]

I would like to close with the words of my old friend, teacher and mentor, Dr. Norman L. Geisler:
“[Apologetics] is opening the door, clearing the rubble, and removing the hurdles so that people can come to Christ.”

Our culture’s failure to keep the orthodox faith and use apologetics rightly has led to a crisis of biblical literacy that the United States has never seen. How do I know this? 

The research is in and only two in five pastors have an orthodox biblical worldview; meaning three out of five don’t; 63% agree that God accepts the worship of all religions; 48% agree the Bible contains helpful accounts of ancient myths but is not literally true; 54% agree that religious belief is a matter of personal opinion rather than objective truth.

Even worse, only 12% of Children’s & Youth Pastors have a biblical worldview*
*”Biblical Worldview” is defined here as making sure our understanding/choices are consistent with God’s principles and commands. When we lose the youth, we lose the faith. And of all the challenges we face, this is AMERICA’S STATE OF FAITH CRISIS and source of most all of our current problems. This raises one serious question: What are we going to do to begin to change this for the next generation?

Read full Article
THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING WHO YOU WORSHIP
By Steven Garofalo November 1, 2024 (Copyright 2024)

Most of the world today doesn’t know “WHO” they worship, at least not outside of themselves. Today, I am going to show you through five simple points why it’s so essential that we as Christians know exactly “WHO” we worship, according to the words of Jesus himself. And I am going to do this using the story of the Samaritan woman at the well, found in John 4.  

Before we get started, I want to point out that this familiar passage is often read and studied with an emphasis (rightly so) on the patience, love and grace that our Lord and Savior Jesus showed the Samaritan lady. Today I want to take a different angle and look at something Jesus said regarding the fact that we should think deeply about WHAT” and “WHO” we really worship. Let’s read the passage below and I will explain from there. 

JESUS SPEAKING“22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” (John 4:22-26 ESV).

Let’s break this down in order to truly and more deeply understand Jesus’ point.

FIRST: 
JESUS MAKES CLEAR THAT SALVATION IS FROM THE JEWS
IIn verse 22, Jesus makes clear that “salvation is from the Jews. What does Jesus mean by this? The answer is that Jesus is making clear that the Savior was a Jew, and the Jews were the first messengers of the good news. In this case, Jesus himself is a Jew speaking to a Samaritan lady. This gives credence and identity to Jesus as Lord and Savior. 

SECOND: 
JESUS GIVE THE COMMEND THAT WE “MUST WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH”
The English word “WORSHIP” was originally spelled “WORTH-SHIP” and means to “ACKNOWLEDGE” God’s “WORTH” in “SPIRIT” (in contrast to material ways) and in. “TRUTH” (in contrast to falsehood).

THIRD:
WHAT DID JESUS MEAN BY “THE HOUR IS COMING”?
In verses 21-23, Jesus tells the Samaritan woman that The hour is coming. What hour is Jesus speaking about? Christ here reveals to the woman that WHERE a person worships is unimportant. In other words, one’s location of worship is not limited to Mount Gerizim or Jerusalem as the Samaritans may have thought. Jesus knew that the Samaritans worship what they DO NOT KNOW. The Samaritans had created a form of their own religion while the Jews had divine guidance for their worship. “SALVATION IS OF THE JEWS” means that the Messiah would come from the Jewish people as stated in the passage. 

FOURTH:
JESUS MADE CLEAR THAT GOD IS SPIRIT…WORSHIP HIM…IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH (v.24)
In verse 24, Jesus gets down to business in making clear that God is not LIMITED by TIME and SPACE. When people are born of the Spirit, they can commune with God anywhere. “SPIRIT” is the opposite of what is “MATERIAL” and “EARTHLY. For example, the Samaritans worshipped at Mount Gerizim as their formal (if not exclusive) place of worship. Christ on the other hand makes clear that worship is a matter of the heart as opposed to any specific physical location. Furthermore, Jesus Christ makes clear that we are to worship Him in “TRUTH”; what is in harmony with the nature and will of God. Truth is the opposite of all that is false. Here the truth is specifically the exclusive worship of God through His Son Jesus Christ. The bottom line is that worship is not predicated on “WHERE” a person worships, but “HOW” and “WHOM” they worship.

FIFITH APPLICATION:
In the end, the Samaritan(s) in this story (“you”” is plural in the Greek v.22) worshipped in and out of IGNORANCE of the Truth. How many Christians and people who call themselves Christian (culturally in name only) worship a false concept or understanding of God “IN or WITH IGNORANCE?” This is a dangerous notion. The TRUE MESSAGEcomes through and by Jesus, the Messiah of salvation. It is from THE JEWS, not the Samaritans. Never-the-less, the provision of salvation encompasses all people who had and would have faith in the Jewish Messiah, including the Samaritans. How does this apply to you, me and those we know?

CONCLUSION:
The bottom-line Jesus gives us is that “Truth worshipers” are defined as those who “…will worship the Father in spirit and truth. In “spirit” does not mean “with enthusiasm” or with “spiritual gifts” as many might believe. It’s not an emotional reaction. In v.24, Jesus explains that “God is spirit”, and to worship “in spirit and truth” means, among other things, to worship “with God in one’s life”, to worship as one in whom God, who is Spirit, dwells. Lastly, when Jesus points out that we must worship “IN TRUTH”, He is speaking of the full revelation now given through Christ (1:114, 17). In the end, our “FATHER GOD” seeks this kind of worshiper (v.27). And so, our worship (v.24) must correspond to the nature of God as opposed to our selfish human nature. “GOD IS SPIRIT” and we “MUST WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH”. And this ladies and gentlemen is why it is so important to know WHOM you worship.

Read full Article
Available on mobile and TV devices
google store google store app store app store
google store google store app tv store app tv store amazon store amazon store roku store roku store
Powered by Locals