COUNT THE COST

COUNT THE COST

* The energy we spend on non issues is energy we can't spend on real issues.

* The commitment we give to the superficial is taken away form the supernatural.

* The time spent "winning" arguments about the temporal, contributes to losing influence in the eternal.

* Heat generated in promoting personal views, diminishes light from God's good news.

FACT, YOUR BEST AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH, EVER

FACT, YOUR BEST AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH, EVER

We all need more than we have, and more than other people can provide. What we need is not attainable by any human effort. What we need is only obtainable through the miraculous intervention of God.

Simon Peter was aboard the boat with other disciples, as it was being tossed about (distressed) by the waves, but Jesus came to them, walking on the water. The others thought they saw a spirit, but Peter realized that it was Jesus. he asked Jesus to enable him to walk on the water also. Jesus told Peter to come to Him. Peter stepped over the side of the boat, and began to walk on the water. Peter could not have walked on the water if Christ had not enabled him.

As Peter was walking, he turned his attention from Christ to the violent and threatening sea. Peter was then being plunged into the watery grave. Peter realized his terrible situation and he urgently cried out, "Lord, save me." Immediately Jesus reached out and seized Peter, saving him from drowning.

No matter how hard Peter would have tried, he could not have walked on the water, without the miracle of Jesus making it happen.
No matter how hard Peter would have tried, he could not have kept himself from sinking, once he focused on the water, without the miracle of Jesus saving him.

There are things we can do, in the area of "self help" (still with God's help), but those things are not sufficient to save us from the violent and threatening seas of life, no matter how hard we try. Some problems in life, including preparation for eternal life, require Divine intervention, require a miracle from God.

No matter how much you accomplish, it is never good enough to qualify you for eternal life.
No matter how thoroughly you reform, it is never good enough to qualify you for eternal life.
Gaining heaven by the power of your highest jump will not get you very far.
IT TAKES THE MIRACLE OF GOD'S SALVATION TO SET YOU FREE FROM SIN, CLEANSE YOU FROM SIN AND KEEP YOU FROM SIN.

One problem is, PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO SURRENDER AND DEPEND UPON GOD, because they want to be God and be able to say, "Look what I did."

ONE MORE THING.
Peter could only walk on the water because he was enabled by Christ, when Christ CALLED Peter to Himself. Peter was only able to keep from sinking and drowning because he kept trusting and looking to Jesus for deliverance. In this life, we never outgrow our need for grace through faith.

DRAW NEAR TO GOD

DRAW NEAR TO GOD
People blame their failure to spend time in meditation and prayer and study, on "today's demanding schedule." This is suppose to explain their obsession with work. Marriages, families, spiritual life, values all suffer because of "today's demands."

This is one reason that retreats, conferences, workshops, camps, and revivals are so important. It brings people aside from their daily involvements and provides the time and focus for more important issues.

Another problem is that people actually spend their time, energy on activities that are unproductive at best and counter productive at worst. The activity does not have to be evil, in order for it to be destructive. As I often say,
"The greatest enemy of that which is best, is that which is good."
Therefore, Choose your path, don't let your path choose you.

This brings me to something I shared with Seaside Chapel yesterday. I post articles that are designed to help folks draw closer to God and to focus on spiritual concerns and to learn Biblical and doctrinal truths that can inform and transform our lives, taking us from light to light, from grace to grace, from faith to faith and from strength to strength. These articles can be used by an individual, or shared with family or friends. They are simply tools to open our hearts and minds to God and His word.

If a person takes the time to meditate on the teachings and the passages, which address the Christian's response to marriage, parenting, social inter action, finances, morality, politics, then they could see a definite development over a period of time.

James 4:8

(8)  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Just trying to be helpful.

2/8/10 TWINS SEPARATED AT HATCHING

TWINS SEPARATED AT HATCHING
Liberal America has always been quick to attack the teachings of the Holy Bible and Christ followers. Liberal theology has been the breeding ground of Liberal politics, Liberal academics, Liberal social values.

Liberalism has not been so quick in attacking the most brutal, vile religion in the history of the world (Islam), even though it is the least inclusive and least tolerant and least socially sensitive movement in the world.

This is because Liberalism and Islam are two of the fronts that have sprung from Satan's agenda of rebelling against the God of the Holy Bible. Their agenda is the same, but their methods are different.

Understand this, God loves all sinners, including those who subscribe to the lies of Liberalism and the lies of Islam. God does not love or condone the lies of Liberalism or Islam. We choose which God/god we will follow. Choose the God of the Holy Bible; choose Jesus Christ, God with us.

LIFE IS BUT A BREATH

LIFE IS BUT A BREATH

This life is transient and we sometimes have to be parted from a loved one.

Sadly, when that loved one has refused to turn to Christ, our final goodbye is eternally final.

Gladly, Christ has made it possible to say, "See you on the other side."

SOMETHING YOU ARE NOT LIKELY TO SEE

SOMETHING YOU ARE NOT LIKELY TO SEE
(and something I see all the time)

NOT LIKELY
A drowning person is about to be dragged away by the raging river, when a rescuer throws a life ring and line to the victim.
The victim deliberately moves away from the life ring and screams at the rescuer.
The rescuer shouts out encouragement and throws the ring again, but the victim moves even further away and shouts back a curse.
The rescuer tries yet again, but the victim curses and raises a fist in defiance while waving an obscene gesture with the other hand
As the victim is pulled under for the last time, people hear him scream his dying words, indicating that he thought that his would-be rescuer was trying to harm him, by repeatedly throwing the large object at him.

HOWEVER,
I throw the life ring of salvation to those who are lost in sin, to those who are bound by anger, to those who are controlled by destructive substances or habits, to those who are being carried away with vile desires or illicit relationships, to those who are weighted down with hatred or greed or lust or deceit, and they respond in anger, as if I was trying to hurt or destroy them. They fight against the love of Christ and the calling of the Holy Spirit, as if the salvation of God is their enemy. In their resistance, they are swept away to a devils hell and the eternal lake of fire, while cursing me for trying to reach them with the Lifeline of God.

CHRIST'S RESCUE MISSION
Christ came to save (RESCUE) sinners. He is the Friend of sinners.
Take the time to read the following verses, and be certain that you respond in the right way to God's rescue offer.

Luke 19:10
(10) For the Son of man (Jesus) is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Luke 5:32
(32) (Jesus said) I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Romans 5:6-8
(6) For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
(7) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
(8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Hebrews 7:25
(25) Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

1 John 4:9-10
(9) In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
(10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation (satisfaction) for our sins.

IMMUNE TO JOY

IMMUNE TO JOY
I just wrote a post about having the Joy of Jesus in our lives. I referenced 14 New Testament passages with over 30 verses, which address the subject of joy in Jesus.

Joy is basic to the Christian experience for various reason, including the fact that joy is the fruit, the product of the Holy Spirit.

Joy is not like a summer shower. It is not intermittent, it is a continuous, constant and consistent outpouring from God. Joy is not dependent on circumstances.

A Paradox
However, there are people who cannot be happy unless they are miserable. I know, that makes as much sense as someone being "purely sinful." But you know what I mean. They never really know true joy because they are always unhappy about something.

When emotions are dependent on life's situations or when people are determined to have some emotional or relational upheaval, then they do not have real joy. Of course, those people can justify their dissatisfaction and claim to have joy, but the facts speak for themselves.

Good News? (not really)
Well, here is good news for those of you who want to always have a reason to be unhappy or dissatisfied or angry or jealous or suspicious or divisive.

There will always be something in this life that bothers you, something that does not please you, something or someone who is not perfect.

You will always be able to be upset with someone, because other people have flaws (at least according to you), and as everyone knows, flawed people are inexcusable, unacceptable, unworthy of your love and kindness.

An Divine Caveat 
Of course, you will not be able to go to heaven, since God hates grumbling and division and pride and anger and all the other stuff that goes with selfishness. But missing heaven is not a total loss for the people who cannot be happy unless they are miserable, because they are going to be cast away from God forever into a place of eternal torment, where they will always have enough misery to "make them happy."

The Upside To Being Down
"What is so good about the prospect of being lost forever," you may ask.

* Well, you will have more than enough to complain about when you are cut off from God, from loved ones, from love, from joy, from peace, from dignity and holiness, and you will have more than enough time, since it is forever.

* You will be in a place of eternal, "wrongness," and endless suffering, which will give you plenty to complain about, plenty to hate, plenty to criticize.

* Your hell will be the heaven, for which you always lived.

God Spoke About You In The Holy Bible
God told us that in the last days evil men would separate themselves from God by being complainers and fault finders. Therefore, you are expected to complain, and you have all eternity to look forward to endless complaining.

Jude 1:14-16

(14)  And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

(15)  To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

(16)  These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

God's Promises Concerning Eternity

And just so you know that you could not be happy in the New Heaven and New Earth and New Jerusalem, God promises to wipe away all tears (vss. 1-7 in Rev. 21). Now, how could you ever enjoy unfettered misery if God took away all your sorrow?

But if misery makes you happy, God promises eternal suffering for all sinners who do not repent (vs. 8 in Rev. 21).

Revelation 21:1-8

(1)  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

(2)  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

(3)  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

(4)  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

(5)  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

(6)  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

(7)  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

(8)  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

As crazy as this sounds, your misery, even the misery you share with others (now and forever), will not give you comfort or joy.

JOY IN JESUS

JOY IN JESUS
The grandchildren could form a music group and call themselves the Happy Cousins. I could open for them and call myself The Happy Pappy. Of course I am happy, look at my grandchildren. And my grandchildren are happy because they are learning about life in the context of Christ and the Holy Bible.

If we go on tour we can call it
"The Happy Cousins and Happy Pappy, Joy Ride To Heaven Tour."

Our flyers can say,
"Come and join us as we share the joy of Jesus on our way to the Holy and Happy Hills of Home."

Joy is found in Jesus, and I hope the grandchildren continue it, and I also hope many others will find the joy of sins forgiven as they take the Road to heaven.

These verses are more than just pious platitudes. They are directives, encouragements and promises.

If a person focuses on these verses in humble meditation, that person could experience a transformation beyond their expectations.

JOY IN JESUS...
Luke 2:10-11
(10) And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
(11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 6:22-23
(22) Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
(23) Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Luke 24:51-53
(51) And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
(52) And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
(53) And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

John 15:9-13
(9) As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
(10) If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
(11) These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
(12) This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
(13) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Romans 14:17
(17) For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Romans 15:13-14
(13) Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
(14) And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

Galatians 5:22
(22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

1 Thessalonians 1:6
(6) And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

James 1:2-4
(2) My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
(3) Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
(4) But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

1 Peter 1:7-9
(7) That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
(8) Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
(9) Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 4:12-16
(12) Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
(13) But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
(14) If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
(15) But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
(16) Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

1 John 1:4-7
(4) And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
(5) This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
(6) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
(7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

3 John 1:4
(4) I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Jude 1:24
(24) Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

THIS IS WHY

THIS IS WHY
For those who wonder why I link the various "isms," of the world with Islam and every other Bible denying, and Christ rejecting religion, it simple to understand.

* Christ and His word is truth, and anything that opposes them is wrong and following evil.

* Christ is love and truth and life and righteousness.

* Christ is the only way to God the Father.

* All of life belongs to Him and should be subservient to Him.

* All of this world's power and wealth and wisdom will try to end the rule of Christ, but they will fail.

* Better choose Christ now, while you can.

WOW! WHAT A COINCIDENCE

Wow. What a coincidence.

The most Islamic based violent year and period in American history, just happened to come along during the administration of BHO.

Sadly, people who are brainwashed by anti-Biblical Liberalism deny the connection between violent Islam and Obama because they ignore the facts concerning the history, philosophy and associations of BHO and Islam.

Wake up. The truth of Christianity delivers the thinking and affections of men from the darkness of Humanism, Secularism, Communism, Socialism and other oppressive "isms," along with barbaric Islam.

Unhappily, people want to pick and choose the truths of Christianity that they want, while rejecting the Lordship of Christ in their own lives.

NOT TOO LATE TO MAKE CHANGES

NOT TOO LATE TO MAKE CHANGES
Although the new year has begun, it is not too late to take inventory and re-evaluate our lives. We can still prioritize by removing and reviving and realigning our lives. Check to see where you are, in relationship to God's plan for your life, and then make the changes, regardless of how costly or difficult the changes may seem to be. The cost of faithfulness is not nearly as costly as the cost of failure to follow.

* Are there extraneous things in your life that are hampering your fulfillment of His calling and leading? Get rid of them, whether great of small, no matter who or what it involves.

* Are there things missing from your life, which are essential to success in serving God? Add them.

* Are there changes in habits, relationships, activities, desires that need to be dropped, picked up or moved around? Do it. You only get one shot at this life, don't mess it up.

Sometimes the changes are not changes based on inherent evil, but based on specific needs.
In order to be more successful (faithful) in an area of my life for Jesus, I may need to curtail or remove things, which are not evil.

* Growth means change.
* Adventure entails change.
* Success (faithfulness) requires change.

Changes (aside from sin) that I have had to accommodate in order to move forward in my relationship and stewardship and partnership with God are in the realm of activities, group involvements, pets, personal pursuits, goals attitudes habits, idiosyncrasies.

IT IS NOT TOO LATE to make changes, but if you don't make the right changes now, while you can and when you should, by the time you realize the cost of not making the changes, it may be too late to redeem the time and your losses will be irretrievable and irreversible.

Ephesians 5:14-17
(14) Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
(15) See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
(16) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
(17) Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Colossians 4:5-6
(5) Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
(6) Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

(reprint... ACTIONS AND ATTITUDES AFFECT OTHERS)

ACTIONS AND ATTITUDES AFFECT OTHERS
(This is basically a reprint from January 31, 2010. I hope this blesses you)

Victory Is Determined Individually, Through Christ
Victory in life is determined by each individual, however, the extent of our victory is affected by other people. Our actions and our attitudes (good and bad) affect the extent of victory in other people's lives.

Success Is Affected By Other People
In sports, and other disciplines, each player affects the other players and can determine the outcome of a game. In life, our victory over sin is determined by our faith/obedience to Christ, however, the extent of our success in the affairs of life are either enhanced or diminished by the actions and attitudes of other people.

* The Sinner
There are Sinners (people under the domain of sin) who have a better attitude toward life than some Christians (people under the domain of God). This is because our human nature with its natural temperaments or personality types, is predisposed to respond to circumstances in a certain way (positively/negatively). When a person becomes a believer, he is expected, by God's enabling, to channel his actions and attitudes in the right direction. The fallen human nature is not to be confused with the sinful nature, which is totally corrupt and non-redeemable.

The sinner is subject to sin and Satan. Only by God's prevenient grace (the grace that God gives to a person before salvation) is the sinner kept from becoming the full blown monster that he is capable of becoming. In the salvific sense there is no victory over sin for the sinner. Still, the actions and attitudes of sinners affects other people.

* The Saved
The saved person has been regenerated and imparted with Divine nature. This saving grace makes it possible for the believer to live victoriously over sin. In fact, the evidence of salvation is victory over sin. While other people affect our victory, they do not determine our victory. Salvation enables us to manifest redemptive actions and attitudes. The problem for the saved person is the inherent and indwelling sinful nature that is always contending for rule over the believer. Manifesting redemptive actions and attitudes is part of the battle for the saved man.

* The Sanctified
The sanctified person must yield his human nature to the influences of the imparted Divine nature and the indwelling Holy Spirit. However, the inner turmoil with the sinful nature (carnal mind, old man, double mind, flesh, evil heart of unbelief) was done away with through the Sanctifying Blood, Word and Spirit of God. This fullness of the Baptism of God's Holy Spirit perfects us in love; purifies us, even as He is pure; conforms us to the likeness of Jesus; and saves us from all sin in this present evil world. Still, the believer must make choices to walk in grace in order to produce redemptive actions and attitudes.

Right Response If We Lapse Into Sin
It is possible for a Christian, even an entirely sanctified believer, to Lapse into sin. It can happen in a moment. Believers do not have to sin, but they are capable of sin, just as Adam was capable in the Garden of Eden. If a believer lapses, then he should repent and make things right immediately. To delay steps of restoration only allows the corruption of the sin to spread as a cancer. The sanctified should manifest the most obvious positive actions and attitudes in our world.

THE DELUSION OF PRIDE
* People will wear their pride as a Badge of Honor, not realizing it is their Red Letter of Humiliation.
* It is possible for people to be proud of their grace.

Five (+1) Areas Of Pride
* Pride of Face
*Pride of Race
* Pride of Place
* Pride of Lace
* Pride of Grace
(I have added another to this list)
* Pride of Pace (the pride of being driven, success oriented)
Remember, Pride Destroys.

PASSAGE...
Romans 6:11-22
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

TURN OR BURN

TURN OR BURN 

I would never tell a person, who is running hot and cold in their relationship with God, to just quit playing games, and simply choose against God. After all, the destiny of their eternal soul is hanging in the balance. But the fact is, the longer they put off the decision to deny self and turn from sin, the more likely they are to finally cut themselves off from God forever.

ULTERIOR AND DEMONIC MOTIVES

ULTERIOR AND DEMONIC MOTIVES
When evil people, or "moral" people who do not believe the Holy Bible, question Christ followers, concerning their actions in social benevolence or social justice, it is atually an attack on Christ, salvation, and the Holy Bible. They judge Christians according to humanistic standards and they are attempting to ridicule Biblical faith. Remember, Satan is the accuser of the brethren.

Revelation 12:10
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

SIDETRACKING
When someone who supports the murdereing of pre-born and new born children, they are wicked people and the only valid question they can ask a Christian is, "How can I be saved."
Do not let them turn the subject or discussion to self righteousness or self saving.

DOES JESUS BELONG IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

DOES JESUS BELONG IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
This came to mind, when I woke up at 3:30 this morning.
There are some people who say that Christians try to make Jesus fit into the Old Testament. Well, think about this one idea.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Ge. 1:1).

Plurality
The name of God in this verse is Elohim, which is the plural for El, which is one of the names or words for God in the Old Testament. When speaking of more than one cherub in the Bible (an order of angels), they are translated as either cherubim, cherubs, or cherubims; likewise, when speaking of more than one seraph in the Bible (another order of angels), they are translated as either seraphim, seraphs, or seraphims. The "im" ending indicates plurality.

Jewish View Today
The Jews were very definite in their belief in ONLY ONE GOD. So why did they use the plural form, when referring to the One and Only God? The Jews today claim that the use of the plural form indicates the supremacy of God over all others (which He is).

Biblical View

However, the Bible is the word of God, not just words about God. God inspired, led, directed the Bible writers to use the term "Gods" for His own reasons. Elohim was God's way of introducing us to the fact that there is One God, in Three Persons. This is made more clear in the most important verse in the Old Testament.

The Shema 
Deuteronomy 6:4
(4) Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

The LORD (or Jehovah, or Yahweh) our God (Elohim, which is "Gods") is one LORD (or Jehovah, or Yahweh).

I will not address other passages in the Old Testament that indicate more than one Person in the Godhead, except to mention two of them.

Genesis 1:26, God said,
"...Let us make man in our image."

Genesis 11:7, The LORD said,
"... let us go down, and there confuse their language..."

I will not address the many other passages in the Old Testament that are repeated in the New Testament, in direct reference to Jesus Christ.

However, the point of this post is that Jesus is in the Old Testament from the very beginning, and all the way through. In John and in First John (New Testament) we read about God, and His creation of the world. In these passages, John clearly refers to Jesus as the Creator God, and there is nothing in the Old Testament that conflicts with this view (see two passages below). In fact, further study of the Old Testament will verify John's position on this issue.

Therefore, Jesus not only "fits" into the Old Testament, there is no Old Testament without Jesus. Remember, The New Testament is in the Old concealed, and the Old Testament is in the New revealed.

I hope you take a few minutes to read and think about these verses today.

John 1:1-18
(1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(2) The same was in the beginning with God.
(3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
(4) In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
(5) And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
(6) There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
(7) The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
(8) He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
(9) That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
(10) He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
(11) He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
(12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
(13) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
(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.
(15) John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
(16) And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
(17) For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
(18) No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

1 John 1:1-3
(1) That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
(2) (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
(3) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Also, the entire first chapter of the book of Hebrews addresses the fact that Jesus is the Creator God.

Hebrews 1:1-14
(1) God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
(2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
(3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
(4) Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
(5) For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
(6) And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
(7) And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
(8) But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
(9) Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
(10) And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
(11) They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
(12) And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
(13) But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
(14) Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

We find the term, "Godhead," which refers to the One God in Three Persons, in the New Testament.

Acts 17:29
(29) Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

Romans 1:20
(20) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Colossians 2:8-9
(8) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
(9) For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.