In The Garden The Sins of Our Children. Many say that we are held accountable for the sins of our children. But is that so? The Bible teaches that we will be held accountable for every idle word that we speak. That we must seek out our own salvation, with fear and trembling. There is no verse in scripture that states that the unruliness of our children will be accounted to us as parents. Sin is a matter of choice and not hereditary. Its not something that is passed down from generation to generation. There is of course a curse that can be passed down to our children, that the scripture talks about. Specifically, when Jesus was being tried before the Jews and they called for His execution. Pilot warned them and they said let the curse be upon us and our children. I’ve noticed that some people try to blame their parents, for the condition of children , that end up on drugs, in jail or dead. They say ,if only the mom or dad, did this or that, then ma-by the child would have turned out different. Is this a true statement or is it an excuse for the lack of belief and trust in the lessons that the parents tried to teach? I believe that we should put the responsibility where it belongs, on the individual. The Bible states , Teach a child in the way of the Lord and the Word shall not depart from them. Does this mean that the lessons taught will save the child later in life? No, this is a misunderstanding of scripture. Again the salvation of each person is based upon their accepting Jesus as their Saviour. The word will not depart from them, but they still must make the commitment to Christ on their own. Then why does the Bible teach this? That there will be no excuse, when it comes the time for their judgment. The Bible does state, that if a man stand uprightly before God, then He will save his entire household. This is true, but, there goes a responsibility to God, on the part of each child to, endure until the end. Those that are saved are saved indeed, but those that endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. There is a controversy here in this statement, where some preach, once saved always saved, but in my studies I find, no where in scripture, where it ever contradicts, endure unto the end. We must tell our children the truth, they must hold on until death, their faith in Christ. Well show in scripture that the individual is held accountable for the word that they have been taught. There is a misconception going around in some teachings, it states that, everyone will be held accountable for everything in scripture. But this cant be, for we are only held accountable for what we have been taught. Lets get into the scripture and sort all this out. Matthew 27:25, “ Then answered all the people and said,”His blood be on us and our children.” Mark 13:12 “Now the brother shall betray the brother to death,and the father the son,and the children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.” Romans 9:11 For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him that calleth. In Matthew 27:25, The Jews brought a curse upon their children ,by their obstinance and hatred of Jesus. They condemned their children to banishment and captivity for generations to come. We can also bring curses upon our children by the same actions and also inactions. By not believing upon the name of Jesus, or by swearing an oath to God out of spite. For the Bible states, Its better not to make an oath, than to make one and break it. Here in this verse we can see that the parents wernt held accountable for the sins of their children but just the opposite, the children had to bear the sins of the parents, hard to believe but its true. Most of what we see in scripture has to do with prophecy, where the worst enemies that we will have will be of our own family. Children are born without sin, many believe the exact opposite, but the Bible is clear on this. Look at Romans 9:11 ,closely and you will see that Baby’s are born, haveing done, neither Good or evil, so children have an equal chance in life to make up their own mind to do good or to choose evil ,as a way of life. We raise up a child in the word and it shall not depart from them, but they will still be given a choice. So as you see ,we are not held accountable for the sins of our children. ars Condemming Sin in the Flesh,The Other Side Of Jesus. There has been a lot of controversy over what a Christian is supposed to do to convey the teachings of Jesus to the lost and unruelly in the world. We have been told here lately that we must be more tolerant and kind and submissive to other points of view. We are told and condemned ourselves over specific issues that have affected the Nation, region, local people and the Church as a whole. We have been subjected to anti-Christian points of view, where the world is now calling good evil and evil good. Do we as Christians judge others, No. We condemn sin in the flesh as scripture instructed us to. If we as Christians and ministers of the word don’t live up to the expectations of God to deliver the truth to a lost and dieing world, who then will? The opposition to the truth speaks of My Lord, Jesus only as the Christ of Love and understanding, but they ignore the other side of The Son of God. Jesus, the Ruler, Conquior, Debater, The Angel of Truth, Fighter of Unrighteousness, and the Rebuker of Sin and corruption. They ignore Jesus the Warier and punisher of evil, the destroyer of the anti Christ, false prophet and beast. Jesus came to this world as a Lamb, the next time He will not come submissive or tame, He will not come as a Baby in swaddling clothing, He will not come in a manger, He will not come in piece, but He will come as the Avenging Angel of Revelations. With Power and Great Glory. The Glory that He had prior to Bethlehem. With Power and Great Glory, a warier of renound, a warier of Righteousness, a warier, with the backing of the Father and Power of the Holy Ghost. Will there be faith on the earth when He returns? A question that we all should ask ourselves. Will there be men and women of integrity and morals on this planet of sin? Mel Gibson produced a film of extraordinary quality of the murder of Jesus; maybe He should also make a film based on the return of our savior at Armageddon. True, Jesus died for our sins, but we as Christians, no longer serve a, suffering, dieing Messiah (Hebrew), we serve the risen, Lord of Lords, King of Kings, The reigning King Jesus, alive and well, sitting on the right hand of Power. We serve the one, whose vesture is dipped in blood, riding a white stallion, weal-ding the sword of the Lord God Almighty. Who shall return with our Lord at the time of His Victory, will it be of those that stood the greatest test of faith in this life, will it be those of great courage in times of adversity? The Bible doesn’t state, but I pray that some of us today, in this time, in this era of global change, are found worthy to ride with Him, whose coming will mark, the end of sin and corruption. The survival of mans soul is at stake, the future of our loved ones and enemies is at a turning point. The spirit of anti-Christ is abounding every where, nation to nation, in our schools, government, politics, neighborhoods, there’s no where you can go without hearing anti Christian, anti Jewish comments. Can this world last much longer, have we become so lax in our studies that we can discern the signs of the seasons but miss the signs of the times? Romans 8; 16, should give us all a reason and a passion to fulfill the commission that Jesus left to us. “ The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” We are not hear on this earth to make a name for ourselves, but we are hear to make the name of Jesus, stand out to the world and herald a new age to come, where all sin and unrighteousness, will be defeated forever. “ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” Rom.8; 14. So let us all rejoice in the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father, we are who we are by the grace of God. Hold on Children, for our redeemer still liveth and shall return to deliver us from the destruction to come. Glory be to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit forever. Amen. References Romans 8:1-22, Revelations, the battle of Armageddon. ars. Concerning Hell. As the scriptures say a lot about Heaven, it also says about the same about Hell. Its existence, that most people want to ignore. To give people an alternative to everlasting piece, God introduced a place of torment into their decision. Hell in the beginning was created not for man, but for satan and his fallen angels. Man was created to live eternally with God on this planet. I know that you’ve all heard the stories, that came out of russia, about the scientist drilling down into the depths of the earth, dropping sound devices into the holes and hearing screams and the sounds of people ,at incredible depths. True ? ,I don’t know, but it makes for a good discussion around the dinner table. What I know is true thou, is Gods account of a place that is hotter than a great blast furnace.Lets take a look at Luke12:4-5 , Jesus by His own words confirmed the existence of Hell, “But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear; fear Him, which He hath killed hath power to cast into Hell,....” Remember now the Gospel is for those who will believe, atheist will say there is no hell or heaven, and until God deals with them in a manner of His own choosing. They will remain un-believers, but one act of violence or near death experience for them ,will turn the most stern atheist into an agnostic. Even in the book of Psalms, the sorrows of Hell are apparent, 18:8, 16:10, 55:15, Psalms 27:20, gives us a unique look at the condition of hell and its size, lets read, “Hell and destruction are never full, so the eyes of man are never satisfied.” David knew about the existence of hell, and his information came from the Holy Spirit. How many times, does the Bible have to say that something exists, before its considered to be true? One. I believe that one of the most remembered verses in scripture about hells existence ,is found in Isaiah, 14: 12-15. “How art thou fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, son of the Morning......yet thou shall be brought down to Hell, to the sides of the pit.” These verses not only prove the existence but condition and layout of Hell. A pit is a , grave or a vault, this grave that the writer talks about, has length, width, breath, depth and sides. An inescapable, vault or prison for the unrighteous and un-repenting of mankind and the whord of fallen angels of Satan. Some consider Hell as a place without light, with heat greater than a modern blast furnace, because the scriptures state that the sinner “will be cast into outer darkness, there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. “ This is just a taste of the scripture concerning Hell, enough to allow those that are lost to start thinking about their future.In the Book of Jude, the scripture tells us that,” On some haveing compassion makeing a difference and on others using fear, hateing even the garment, spotted by the flesh.” Convinsing some of the existance of Hell, is an important way of turning them around and directing them to Jesus. “Even thou, I make my bed in Hell, the Lord is with me, and I pray that God will always be with you. js, ars The Chosen of Christ. We as ministers must believe what the Bible states as truth. This sermon deals with,telling the truth, not as we know it but as Jesus told us. Jesus never tolorated sin and neather does He or the Father expect us to. If we as ministers cant tell the truth about what sin is then we are as lost as those that we try to reach. Lets see what Jesus had to say about sin. Luke 17;1-4 , ” It is impossible but that offences will come; but woe unto him, through whom they come.”..”rebuke him...” Luke 14 ;34-35,”Salt is good, but if the salt have lost his savour....it is neither fit for the land...but men cast it ou. He that hath ears, to hear, let him hear.” If we are offended by the scripture then we are offended by Christ. Ministers are the guideing light to the world. Jesus called the Pharisees , fools and hypocrites. Why? They deaveated from the truth. Are there not men so called ministers today that have and are devieating from the truth? The answer is yes, are they called by God to minister ? If their eye is dark ,then , no. Jesus said, ” Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.” I will say again, a man calling himself a minister of God, called by Jesus, a chosen one of Christ, will Not, behave himself, outside the boundries of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He will not be a drunkerd, fighter, theif, homosexual or anything that is unrightious, in the sight of the Lord. There are men today that are totally unrulely. They have left their first love and have gone astray in a path that will lead to utter destruction., and those who agree with them or allow them to minister unto them are just as guilty in the sight of God. Be not partaker in their sin. The scripture states very loudly, ...” and If he hear not the church, cast him out as a heathern.” Strong words., yes, but realise that we are in a battle for the souls of men, its a battle that we cant afford to lose. If we cant stand up for rightiouness, then we will fall for anything. No sin shall inter into the kingdom of Heavan, period. Lets look now at what Paul said about those that are unruely in the church.Romans 16:17-18, ” Now I beseach you breathern, mark them which cause devisions and offences that are contrary to the doctrin, which ye have learned, and avoid them.” Paul as with Jesus never gave options as far as sin was conserned. How do we, in this verse” mark them”?,.. by telling others, the doctrine that they are using is false and warn them to avoid these types of people. Isnt this gospel, isnt this, word, isnt this a commandment?,.. then why do ministers often avoid useing the power that Jesus has deligated unto us, the chosen of Christ? Lets look at a commentary of Matthew Henry on this verse....Romans 16;17, M.H. Com.,... ”If truth be forsaken, unity and piece will not last long. Many call Christ, Master and Lord, who are far from serveing Him. They corrupt the head by decieveing the Heart.” The Holy Spirit has lead me to write this sermon ,because of the divisions in the church around this country and the world, willing me to warn them that are unruely, that Christ will repay all that cause devision and spread false doctrine. We are the chosen of Christ and are expected to stand up for rightiouness and truth. ” and it shall come to pass ,that they shall say, piece and safety, and sudden destruction shall come upon them.” We are not of this world, we are in this world but we dont hafe to tolloriate the false doctrine, teachers, preachers and especially sin. We will as the Chosen of Christ, continue to battle sin at the source, cutting it up from the roots. We have a flock to protect and if we dont stand between them and the wolf, then who will. ..” where much is given, much is expected...” Jesus is expecting much from us, for we hold the keys to the kingdom in our hands, we are ambasidors of Christ. Peaqce, love and prosperity to all, ” blessed are the feet of the man who carries the gospel..” in Jesus name, Amen. You are the Chosen of Christ. ars. The Miracle of Life. Have you ever seen a pitcher of warm water turn to Ice, how about seeing cancer disappear, prophecy's fulfilled, have you ever been pronounced dead yet still alive, have you ever been told that you have, Cardiovascular disease, Cancer, Diabetes, and Reflex sympathetic dystrophy? Have you ever lost everything that you’ve owned? John 11:26-27 Jesus said unto her," I am the resurrection, and the Life, he that believeth in Me, thou he were dead, yet shall he live , and whomsoever liveth and believetyh in Me shall never die. Believest thou this ?" How many people can actually that they believe in Jesus and His promises? Its easy to say that the doctor healed me or it wasn't as bad as the doctors first thought, or some other excuse, except the truth. Some people cant handle the truth, some ignore the truth. Why is it so hard to get Christians to believe what Jesus said in John 11? Didn't he say that He WAS the life, or was He making this up, just to make Himself look good? I know that miracles do happen, I know that Jesus can raise people from the dead, I know that cancer can be cured by prayer, I know that a warm Glass of water can turn to Ice before your eyes, I know that My Redeemer Liveth. I Know. "he That Believeth in Me " Here is the key, the key that opens up promises, the key that opens up healing , mysteries , prayers, dreams, the key that will raise the dead and that will turn warm water into Ice. You may have heard the sermon, Now Faith, its true, its a fact of accomplishing any thing that your heart desires. It opens up doors with that key of belief, Satan puts up a fire before the door of belief, a shadow, a screen , a lie, and all you have to do is walk thru the fire, it cant harm you, its full of bright color and smell but there is no heat, its as when Jesus told us of clouds with no water, a picture of something that doesn't exist. Jesus said, "I am the way the truth and the life," The way, a path, a door, an opening to some place other than where you are, Jesus is the door to the sheep fold and no man enters except thru Him. Satan trys to block that door with deception, lies and deception, putting up a smoke screen. The Truth, Fact, statement or statements with proof of existence, without false hood. The Life, living in our out of body, relevants, growth to maturity, self existence without end, eternal. The Miracle of life is in Jesus and in Faith, In God, in the Holy Ghost, in the Word. How do the statements at the beginning of this sermon fit in, because they are fact, their true, How do I know?, because it is my Miracle of Life, I was pronounced dead of a massive heart attack, and still I live, I have cardiovascular disease, I have been diagnosed with Liver cancer and I still Preach, I have Reflux Sympathetic Dystrophy and I still use my Arms, in a Court House, before wittinesses, I asked God to show me my future and the belief poured warm water into a glass picture on my table , and it turned to Ice, showing me that the Jury had a cold heart. Unbelievable ? Yes, My God is unbelievable, Hes the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Hes the everlasting to everlasting. The Miracle of life is in the Blood, which we have and are the seed of God, His blood flows thru us. You are Kings and Priest before God. You've done without for too long, you've been denied for too long you've been separated from the Master for too long, its time you take your place as a child of the King. How, by accepting the Miracle of life that was given to you at you rebirth. Can you be healed, Yes, delivered, Yes, set free from the bondage of, doubt, bad memories of days gone past ,Yes. What God has done for others, He will do for you. John 11:25-26, " I am the resurrection, and the Life,....And who so ever believeth in Me Shall Never Die." The Miracle of Life, isn't really a Miracle, its fact ,its promise, its, destiny, its part of who we became, when we gave our Heart to Jesus, If children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. Romans 8;17. We now are royal blood, a people that was not a people, a royal priest hood, we have the life within us, we are more than conquerors. Accept the Miracles that are set before you, never doubt, Jesus proclaimed our victory over death, hell and the grave, He proclaimed us, victors over disease, illness, death, We are who we are ,by the grace of God. Sing praises to His name, for He is the great I Am. We no longer live in the shadow of death, we are no longer beggars , we are no longer slaves to sin and Satan, as Martin L. King, once said, I'm Free at last, I'm free at Last, Thank God almighty, I'm free at Last. "Ask , and it shall be given you , seek and ye shall find , knock and it shall be opened unto you." Have you asked, have you sought, have you even knocked on the door, where Jesus stands ready to make intersessions to God on you behalf, so that your prayers will be answered. Where death no longer control's your destiny, where sickness , no longer will bind you down , where disease will be only a minor interruption , and where hatred will no longer be in your vocabulary. The Miracle of life is many things, what it is to one, may be something different to others. You have to find out what it is to you. What has God done for you, how can you stand up and praise Him, what Miracle of life can you share with some one else? I'm alive by the grace of God, and without fear for the future, for the scriptures say, " If I live, I live unto the Lord, If I die I die unto the Lord, so weather I live or die, I am the Lords." Bless you all, in the Name of Jesus. ars The Begining of The End. Most people look at prophecy as ,for someone else, but this year that idea will change forever. Isiah 10;5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. Isiah 59:1, 10:5 thru 11:16, 66:1- 24. The Bible states that the antichrist shall conferm a peace treaty with Isreal for the length of seven years and at the mid point or 3 and a hafe years he shall break it. The Bible also states that God Himself, at the battle of Armogeddon ,shall kill the Assyrian. The point of this message is to call the lost into repentance, before its too late, Im not setting dates or times, just presenting the facts , so that others can make up their mind as to weather resist the call of God or take a look at the condition of their souls again. The Bible tell us in Revelations about Babylon and her destruction, lets take a look at Babylon again. The scriptures note that Babylon is a city of great wealth and prominance and is the center of money and goods. That the world had become wealthy by her and that she was the center of their attention. The Assyrian capitol of Babylon was was destroyed but the scripture tells us that she shall be destroyed twice.Jesus said, and this is very important to remember in prophecy, " That which is flesh is flesh and that which is spirit is spirit" Now if we look at every city in the world that would match the Bibles description of Babylon there comes, two, into mind, 1. New York City, New York and, 2. Babylon, Iraq. New York is the center of modern day commerse and center of world trade and the world banking system. Could this be the reason teriost are trying to destroy her or is there something else. Babylon ,Iraq has been destroyed, but Sadam Husain was trying to rebuild it, this is fact, he even placed his own name on the bricks of the construction site of the temple of Murdak. Speculation, you might say, but lets not deside yet, lets look at Bible fact. If we look closely at the Assyrian in scripture, God warns him and Isreal about him. Who then is the Assyrian? The Assyrian in scripture was and still is a nation of people that controlled the Babylonian Empire and took Isreal into captivity. The problem here lies, that the assyrians no longer have a nation but are scattered throuout the world. Then how can be define who the assyrian is?. We take the scripture as is and start to be Bible dectives. We know that the Bible tells us that the assyrians are the people of, Chaldeans, Nineveh, Hittites, Luites, Uruk and the people of Ur. Today they would be the people of western Egypt, Syria, Iran ,Iraq, ect. Why is this important to us today, look at the news headlines ,here is one artical that might bring all of this home to you, Jerusalem- Isreal had secret contacts with Syria several months ago... The secret meetings appeared part of an effort to restart peace talks between Isreal and one of its most intractable enemies. From the Associated Press, Janurary,2004. The actual location of the Babylon in scripture isnt that important but a piece treaty with the assyrian or Antichrist is extremly important. How can we ignore scripture and the news when they both agree. A piece treaty will come and the antichrist will arrise as the savior of the middle east and he will break the treaty and try to destroy the Isrealies. The mark of the beast, travel in and out of the United States has taken a dangerious turn ,in security, a color code for passangers will soon be in effect, most of your money is now direct deposited, you never see it, earth quakes in divers places, the oceans are dieing, the two poles are melting, things are changeing. How much more does hafe to allow to happen before those that are lost call upon His name? The world is starting to burn, our forest are going up in flames, huricanes, volcanioes, massive mud slides, and still the lost will not come to Jesus. Fire and smoke, mingled with Blood, all these tribulations and they still will not repent. The Assyrian is comming, mankind is raceing toward Armogeddon, their feet run swiftly toward mischef, murder on their minds and blood on their hands. Children haveing children, homosexuals abound, raceisum, antisemitism, greed, lust, fornication, lies adultry, as the Bible states, as was in the days of Noah, so shall it be..... Lets look at Isaiah 35: 1-10, ..." and the desert shall rejoyce, and blossum as a rose, Isreal has blossumed, where there was only desert ,there rises crops to feed the nation and crops that are exported a bountiful harvest for the children of God." 3." Strengthen ye the weak hands and comfirm the feeble knees......behold your God will come with vengeance , even God with a recompence, He will come and save you. " Jesus knew and told us that a fire had allready been kindled and He never came to stop it, but to call the lost to repentance. The stage is set and the players are ready to preform their last act. The nations around Syria are becomming weaker as she becomes stronger, the antichrist will arise as a man of piece and he shall take three nations by force and the rest will abdocate to him. Ten Crowns and Ten Kingdoms.Our enemies are now our frends and we start pulling away from Isreal. The Bible states that all nations shall compass about Isreal, ready to destroy her. Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Revelations are all being fulfilled, there is a storm comming, and we are powerless to stop it. Only Jesus can quiet the storm, only Jesus can save you throu the day of the Lord. Only Jesus can save you and pull you out of the fire. How much more do you hafe to see, how much more do you hafe to endure alone, sickness, depression, a lonelyness and an empty space in your heart that you cant fill with drugs or alcohol. Will it take fire, falling down from Heavan to turn you around, will it take the ground opening up before you to open your eyes, as to what is happening? Verse 5, " Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped." What will it take? Jesus loves you, God loves you, cant you love them in return, All they want is to trade your sins for a life that will never end, joy unspeakable and full of glory. Think about what Ive said, think about your future, think about the posabilities, if Jesus would come this moment would you wake up in Heavan or would you hafe to face the assyrian, the king of unrightiouness? The begining of the end started when Eve took the first bite. Where will you be, more importantly who will you be, when Jesus returns, a christian, blood bought and washed, or lost without hope? Remember we are in , The Beginning of The End. ars. Effective Prayer. "Our Most Gracious Heavenly Father. I come to you in the Name of your Son Jesus, asking, praying and giving thanks, for all the Blessings that you have bestowed upon me and my family. You are the Lord God almighty, the God of Abraham, The God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob and thou art my God." This is the beginning of my prayers to God, who, know,sees and understands all our needs before we even ask. What makes a prayer and effective prayer? An effective prayer is not a prayer at all, really, but a communication, one on one, with God. A unifying of Spirits, thru Jesus Christ our mediator. The Bible tells us that we are to come unto the throne room boldly and submit our petitions to God. We must praise God for His excellent Greatness, Power, Majesty and for His Glory, this is not much to ask, for all that our Lord has done for His Children. Hebrews 4:14-16; Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (If we Confess, Jesus, our, Profession, of Jesus will be valid.) For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;(Jesus considers all who believe because He experienced all that we do.) but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. " Our most common prayers to God consist of our deepest concerns for the health and well being of our Friends, Loved One, Family, and our Enemies. This is our every day trial of faith that comes when we see others suffer. This however is different from a close encounter with the Lord for those things that Jesus called Petitions. In a general sense, a Petition is, a request, supplication or prayer; but chiefly and appropriately, a solemn or formal supplication. This is deeper than a prayer, that most of us, without us realizing, are common repetitive prayers. There is nothing wrong with this, God knows us by our level of Faith, but Jesus told us that the Father already knows our needs before we even ask. Hence the Lords Prayer. A humble petitioner; one who entreats submissively. Entreating; beseeching; supplicating; asking earnestly and submissively. A prayer addressed by a person to the Supreme Being, for something needed or desired, or a branch or particular article of prayer. An Effective Prayer comes from the Heart, is Spontaneous and is directly, from praying in the Holy Ghost, toward the Father. Effective Prayers are those when we spend time with the Father, discussing all that we see, hear and feel. God is a God of thoughts and feelings. he wants to talk to you and not just listen. He wants a real relationship, a loving relationship with His Children. We must spend time with Him, Getting to know Him, as He gets closer to us. Even doctors today tell us that a child grows best when, there is an interaction between them, and the parent, is God any different than a loving human parent? When your prayers go beyond just speaking at God and become prayers to God, then your prayers become a relationship, with God. Wesley states of Hebrews 4:16 - Let us therefore come boldly - Without any doubt or fear. Unto the throne of God, our reconciled Father, even his throne of grace - Grace erected it, and reigns there, and dispenses all blessings in a way of mere, unmerited favor. Eph 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: Eph 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. We have access to God, without going thru man, nor Angel, for Christ Gave us of His Spirit, that we may enter into the Presence of God by the Name of Jesus. There is no need for any mediator than Jesus. Another man cannot be a mediator for you, this is beyond his power and access. When we understand our rights and privileges, that we possess, then our prayers and our very lives can be changed, so long as it is in the will of God. This is stated in 1John 5:14, "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:" Many times our prayers fall short, because they are not in Gods will for that person, place nor situation. If prophecy is dependant upon something happening, God will not answer a prayer that would change the prophecy. 1John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 1Jo 5:15 And if we know that he hear us,(Are you confident enough that God actually hears your prayers, if so then you are in direct contact with Him. I always ask God to forgive me of any sin that I may have committed, so that my heart is clear, before interring into His presence.) whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the Petitions that we desired of him. Psa 20:5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfill all thy Petitions. Pro 15:28-29; The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things. The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous. An effective prayer is not a mondain nor repetitive prayer, for Jesus was dissatisfied with the Pharisees repetitive prayers. Thus He taught us of praying with the Heart and with Power. Our prayers must address the fact, that, when we mention the Name of Jesus, we are then in Direct presence with God. We are no longer a servant but a Child of God. Jesus, as we became a believer, became not Just Lord and Christ to us, but also a Friend. Therefore God will deal with us not as a stranger but as a King & Priest. James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. This is a passionate request and conversation with the Father. What is needed is a conversation with God without asking for anything. Seeking His will for us, seeking His wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding and Feelings for us. Take time just to talk with God. You'll feel the difference each time you pray. ars. References for Heb 4:16 - Heb_10:19-23, Heb_13:6; Rom_8:15-17; Eph_2:18, Eph_3:12 Heb_9:5; Exo_25:17-22; Lev_16:2; 1Ch_28:11 Isa_27:11, Isa_55:6, Isa_55:7; Mat_7:7-11; 2Co_12:8- 10; Phi_4:6, Phi_4:7; 1Pe_2:10 Being A Light in A Dark World. Being A Light in A Dark World. Every time I set down to write I always ask God what He wants me to say, for in me is nothing important. My Sermons come from the Inspiration of God. I hear on a daily basis, of many Christians in need, from the poor to the rich. People seeking aid, answers and reasons for their dilemma. I am writing a young lady with an extreme problem, I write Churches that sometimes, but most often, need revival within itself. As for the poor, Jesus said that we would always have the poor with us. There is nothing that we can do, to really help them. The shear magnitude of the problem prevents us from making a difference. Most times there are government officials that steal the aid before it arrives to those in need. When it does arrive, Warring factions most often steal it away from those that need it and say that, "We are going to Liberate you, so we need the food more than you." Buying food for a day or two doesn't help them, even for a year is little to alleviate the persistent problem. We still must continue to aid where and when we can, but we must not feed them only, but address the problems. Most of the problems around the world are controlled by one factor, mans refusal to accept Jesus as Lord and Christ. God stated that famine will encompass this world and it is coming to pass. There are so many that have been deceived and diluted into believing that there are gods many and lords many, afraid to ask questions for fear of their life, they go as a sheep to the slaughter, their head down and their throat exposed. This darkness grows by the minute and the Spirit of Anti-Christ also grows. If we cant see that the end is growing closer, then we, as the "Light of the World", are also in darkness. Have you ever tried to look into a mirror, then close your eyes for a minute, and try to remember what you looked like? Its the same way it is with being a light, sometimes we forget what we are all about, our light gets a little softer, not as bright. We cannot fear the darkness but we must illuminate it. When light and dark comes together, it turns gray, a little less notable, a little less recognizable and a little less helpful. Every country around the world is in the same condition and it gets worse by the minuet. When we go to bed at night some one in their daytime is being killed, starving to death, raped, murdered, sacrificed and recruited into the depth of utter darkness as a suicide bomber. The Apostle Paul stated that, Within Himself there was no good thing. Understanding our relationship with God is of the utmost importance along with the wisdom, knowledge and understanding of His word. I have made mistakes in my Ministry, and I am the first to admit it. We are not perfect and neither can we be, until the time of Rejoicing with Jesus takes place. Even the Apostle Paul stated that He had not attained perfection but was still striving for it. But even with our faults, we must still be a light. A light in a dark world that is traveling down the road to death and destruction. In Matthew 4:16, we see the effects of being a light in a dark world; " The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up." many are on the streets seeking after a good feeling and answers as to their purpose in life. Many have given up on trying to be a citizen of any country and only live for the day, hoping to get a bit of food from somewhere. Multitudes are blinded to the light by problems and situations that they have found themselves in. Others have been taught as a Child to not expect any thing good in this life. In Luke 1:79, we see a reason to give light in a dark world. " To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, the darkness of sin and the shadow of eternal death without hope nor escape. A Darkness without the Father. We have read before;" Ye, thou I walk thru the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;" The valley spoken of here is the outside world that we step into each and every day. We must be a light, if not, we may have the blood of those that we could have shown the way, on our hands. There is no super Christian, at least I haven't seen one. We are all the light, shining together as one to open up the darkness and show the way of peace, peace not in this life but rather into the next. Matthew 6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. If therefore thine eye be single, meaning that ones purpose in life must be to please the Father in Spirit, without any other agenda. We are sent into the world to fulfill the will of our Father. Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men (Your Testimony of Jesus.), that they may see your good works (These are the works and actions of not only of the Spirit but also of the flesh.), and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Seeking only to Glorify God and not of ourselves.) Luke 11:35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. ( Let not your light be one of self glorification. Keeping your mission always to gain souls for Gods kingdom and not trying to set up your own.) John 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. The darkness in this world is choking multitudes, killing them from within. The light that we shine is not accepted to many that prefer the darkness and many do not understand the willingness of a Loving God to Save them. Jesus warned us that there will come a time when the darkness of this world will be so great, that no man will be able to work. Is that time now, or is it near. Let us always be a light, because our work shall soon be over and the night will fall. Is it so hard Being A Light in a Dark World. ars Babylon the Great. A Response. Dear Brother Olga; prophecy isn't one single incident but a series of events. Lets look at your response. Babylon the Great. " Anyhow, Babylon the Great is all religions opposed to Gods Kingdom, even those claiming to be Christian, but have no truth (see Matthew 7:21-23). (This is true but still its only one event that takes place.) I'm talking from literal Babylon, the center of all pagan teachings, and forward. (The first Babylon was destroyed but it was only the first of two.) Look at all the bloodshed, in the name of religion, or God. Allah, Christ, Buddha, all have had tons of violence in the name of their god. (The Violence spoken of and being historical Fact, was produced by man and not the will of God. If you noticed in the Books of Kings and others. The Children of Israel were instructed by God, Who, When and Where to fight. When they obeyed they won, when they disobeyed they lost.) (I have not found in Scripture where God ever instructed the Gentile race of people to fight, especially after the introduction of Jesus as the Christ.) That is the one God has in the vine press, his anger has already blazed against them, and they have fallen. Fallen from where? From his Grace, or Goodness. He has rejected them and their whole originations. Now will come their destruction. Revelation says he will put it in their hearts to carry out his will. Whose hearts? The Wild Beast of Revelation, which was, then was not, and is again. Who is this? The United Nations. It was, after WWI, as the league of nations, but when WWII broke out it was disbanded, then after WWII it was again, more powerful then it was before, this time as the United Nations. So it will be that God will put his thought, which is to destroy the harlot, Babylon the Great, into the hearts of the United Nations. Ooh, that makes a lot of since, huh?(This statement is true but again its only a part of the overall entries into the prophecy's. The United Nations has fallen into ruin and is lose its respect and power. They now have no more power over the governmental regulations than any one else does.) Yes, there are, 'those having insight', as prophesied by Daniel. (Daniel 11:33)(In Hebrew when a word or name of something appears twice it denotes that the event will take place twice. It can not be the literal Babylon on the Euphrates, for the whole representation here is of something future, and the literal Babylon had long since disappeared, never, according to the prophecies, to be rebuilt. In Isa. 13:20 thru 22, we see that this prophecy applies to the first destruction of Babylon in Iraq, which may I add has never been reoccupied as of today.) Here is one of the prophecy's that we must look at in Revelations, Rev 14:8-11, And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Very soon now we will see it. There can be only one truth; the truth will unite people, so there will be no divisions; also, its people will be in the same line of thought. (see 1 Corinthians 1:10) (Again this statement is true, but again the unity of thoughts will be only in those that have or should I say, when they make their allegiance to the will of the anti-Christ. Not every one will be under his control, because the Bible clearly states that many will give their life for the Truth of The Gospel of Jesus. Israel will run from him at the end of the first 3,5 years. This is Biblical Fact.)(There are three Battles that will take place in the end of days. 1. Gog and Magog. 2. Armageddon and 3. The Last Battle of Gog and Magog, when Christ destroys the Armies of Satan and cast him into the Lake of Fire, where the Beast and the False prophet are.)Mankind will not, I repeat will not join together in unity to make a peaceful world. This world is going to rock and shake as a drunkard, it will be on fire. This is Gospel and Truth. ) Praise our God and Father, and his Only Son, Christ Jesus. May you be able to see the truth too, and be led to his one organization teaching his truths and setting people free from the bondage of sin and death. Yes, there is a spiritual paradise now, but a physical one is to come, where there will be a paradise earth, which I hope to live on, and I will be ruled over by Christ and his anointed brothers. Then after the 1000 year reign, Christ will hand the kingdom back over to God, so that HE, God (YAHWEH not Christ), will be all things to all people. (see 1 Corinthians 15:20-28) (Again this is true, but, God stated that Christ will be King over Jerusalem forever and sit on the Throne of David.) (In Psalms, 2:6, we see the Lord God declare His King to Rule this world. "Yet have I set my king(Jesus) upon my holy hill of Zion.") Take care. Olga Olga k (olgak@teacher.com) Stockton, Ca USA - 03/11/06 at 23:25:21 (EST) I appreciate your comments on our messages and invite you to our site to look deeper into prophecy. Rev.A.R.Smith Shout To The Lord. Remember the song,"Shout to the Lord?" Shout to the Lord all ye Earth, Let us sing. Power and Majesty, Praise to the King. Mountains Bow Down and the Seas shall roar, at the Sound of your Name. This is one of the most Beautiful songs that I know, that praises God, but it still doesn't compare to the Glory that is God. God is God. We must all shout to the Lord for His Excellent Greatness, His Wisdom, knowledge and Strength. The Mountains shall bow down to Him, and the Seas shall roar, for the Lord God is an awesome God. His shadow covers the Valley and the Earth Quakes at His presents, The endlessness of Space opens up to Him and separates for His passage. Gods Power and Love is legendary. None other can reach up to His heights, nor reach down to the depths that our God can. We cannot see God, but we can see His works. We cannot see God but we can see His majesty and will in our Lives. We serve a God that doesn't call for the blood of the innocent nor those that refuse to believe, He waits upon man because of His Son. He is all knowing and all caring. When was the last time that you entered a Church without any other agenda except praising the Lord? When was the last time that you've told anyone that as for you and your house, you would serve the Lord? This world is headed into the darkness of unbelief and fear. Fear not of the Lord but of Death. The Death of a Loved One, the Death of their Income, and the Death of fearing False Religions. The Bible tells us that in the end days, Mens Hearts will fail them because of Fear. What is it that you Fear? In Psalms, 2:6, we see the Lord God declare His King to Rule this world. "Yet have I set my king(Jesus) upon my holy hill of Zion." There is only one God, The God of Abraham, The God of Isaac and The God of Jacob, The God of our fathers and The God of Creation. So therefore if The Lord God be for you, what is there to fear. Psalms 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Psalms 2:7 is not stating that Jesus was adopted nor created, but it is stating that God declared that Jesus(Emmanuel) is and shall always be His Son. Psalms 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. Shout to the Lord, He will Hear you. God inhabits Praise. Your praise and worship causes Him to be near to you, to inhabit your praise of Him. He delights in the company of His Children. His arms open wide to receive each and every one that will call out His name, in Reverence and Joy. I've read many an article that call man, no higher than the animals that they tend, I have read article after article that call man, no better than the trees that they cut down and cast into the fire. I've even read article after article, that say that God is Dead and the world can only be saved by changing attitudes to all peoples, places and religions. Mankind was created in the image of the Lord and being so, we are much higher that the other creations that were created. Who do you think God is, a fantasy, a myth, a legion or is He real to you? If He is real then, Shout to the Lord, all ye earth, let us sing. Sing of His Majesty, Greatness, Knowledge, Wisdom, Power and Love. Who else can Heal, Create, Listen to Prayers and also is able to deliver upon you request? There are none in this world that can even see or Speak. So Shout to the Lord. ars Comets, UFOs and The Bible.pt 1. The belief of UFOs. and little green men from Mars has grown, ever increasingly, from the early sixties. The imagery of exterrestrial beings have also been found in writings and paintings from the earliest of times. The Bible explains all these events, if you look close enough. Scientist say that, the building blocks of life on earth came from comets impacting the planet, bringing life in its various forms. They say that these events begat the evolution of all species and life forms on this earth. Has mans wisdom and knowledge of the universe came to this type of error in their thinking? I would have to say yes. God tells us that man shall turn away from the truth and follow after science, so called. Science is good in its place but when man trys to use science to explain away the truth of the Bible, then mans wisdom becomes useless and void of reasoning. The makeup of comets was designed by God and are within His control. I say this because of the scriptures stating, There was nothing made, that was not made by God. He has created all things visabel and invisabel. Comets and falling Stars are Biblical fact and not fiction. I have spoken of this fact about Scripture and questions that we have in this life, many times before. The Fact is, "There is an answer, for every question in the Bible." The falling stars that we see, are a reality, just as comets. These are natural events that do, and will take place, untill the end of times. There is the physical side and the spiritual side, here we must look into the spiritual. But for the spiritual side of this debate we must start with, Revelations 8:10; "And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star (Comet) from heaven, burning as it were a lamp (Burning here represents a description of the tail and head of the comet, which is seen evaporating; in reality; but its appearance by the naked eye; appears to be on fire.)(Burning with Great Fire as a Comet. This is the part of this verse that signifies that the star mentioned is a Comet. Directed by God, to impact the Earth.)(The other part of the great fire, is a representation of the carbon elements located within the comet that are burning as it inters into the earths atmosphere.), and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters (Here we see that when the comet impacts the earths atmosphere, it will break up and the fragments will fall upon one third of all rivers and streams. This is reality and extremely credible) Rev 8:11 And the name of the star (The comet) is called Wormwood(Named after the Plant): and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died (Because of poisoning) of the waters, because they were made bitter.(Toxic) (The comet, also proven by Scientist, are made up of different elements, this is the reason God will use special elements, derived from the wormwood plant, to incorporate into this comet and destroy many that will drink the water. The compound alpha-thujone, found in wormwood, formerly gave absinthe liqueur its toxicity. Because of its bitter taste the common wormwood has long symbolized human rancor and is often so represented in the Bible. Absinthe, an emerald-green distilled from and other aromatics, including angelica root, sweet-flag root, star anise, and dittany. This combination was and still is very toxic.) Here in Revelations 9:1, we see the comet representing an angel from Heaven. And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star (Angel) fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. Mat 24:29-30; Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars (Comets,Asteroids) shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. We see things in the natural and in the spiritual. But not all men can nor will, look at the spiritual side of creation. The evolution theory coming from comets, is about as bad as the theory of evolution from Darwin. The end of signs from Heaven, to prove Gods existance, stoped with the declaration from Jesus; Mat 12:38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. Mat 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah: Mat_16:1-4; Mar_8:11, Mar_8:12; Luk_11:16, Luk_11:29; Joh_2:18, Joh_4:48; 1Co_1:22 .a star: References; Rev.1:20, 8:10; Isa.14:12; Luke10:18; 2Thessalonians 2:3-8; 3:1-5. End Part 1. Part two will discuss aliens and UFOs. ars. Comets, UFOs and The Bible.pt 2. In part 2 we will look at UFOs and their place in the Bible. Scientist and the military establishment, have been doing secret research on flying saucers since before WWII. Many of the things that people have been seeing are just that, experiments and nothing else. Those that say they have been abducted by aliens are being mislead by their minds and spirits. remember that satan can appear as an angel of light. If we believe the Gospel and the words of God in Genesis, then we cannot believe the reports of any alien beings, for this is contrary to the Teachings of the Bible itself. Here is the verse that proves this; Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. We as Christians cannot believe in beings that were created that have not been created in the image of God. So where does this all leave us? It leaves us with the words of Jesus of the end days; Mat 24:22-25; And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. (References; Isa.44:7, Isa.44:8, 46:10,46:11, 48:5, 48:6; Luke 21:13; John 16:1) So if you've noticed in all the programs aired on television of UFOs, Religions, ect., you must have noticed that commentary of these programs are trying to remove mans belief in One God and the Truth of The Bible. The Bible is true, and Christianity is not a cult but a lifestyle that we as believers have chosen to live. Lets take a look at Ezekiel's wheel. What is represented here is the manifest destiny of mankind and Gods will for mankind. Each wheel is a representation of the course that man will take upon the earth in his era. Not to state that this was the only instance of a vision or physical sighting of the Wheels. As mankind makes a change in his direction, for our time, getting closer to the end, the wheels change rotation and direction. There are many interpretations of this wheel(s), after we read a little, I will show you a few others. Eze 1:16-24; The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the color of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel. And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the color of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above. And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies. And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of a host: when they stood, they let down their wings. Wesley states of the wheels; "Providence orders, changes: sometimes one spoke of the wheel is uppermost, sometimes another. But the motion of the wheel on its own axle - tree, is still regular and steady. And the wheel is said to be by the living creatures, who attend to direct its motion. For all inferior creatures are, and move, and act, as the Creator, by the ministration of angels directs and influences them: visible effects are managed and governed by invisible causes." Barnes states; "Their “work” or make, i. e. their construction, was “a wheel in the middle of a wheel;” the wheel was composed of two circumferences set at right angles to each other, like the equator and meridian upon a globe. A wheel so placed and constructed did its part alike on each side of the living creature beneath which it stood. "The wheel is simply by itself having a projecting axis; so of these it is said, “their appearance and their work was, as it were, a wheel within a wheel.” and finally Clark states; "There were either two peripheries or rims with their spokes, or the nave answered for the wheel within. I have examined models of what are called Ezekiel’s wheels, which are designed to move equally in all directions: but I plainly saw that this was impossible; nor can any kind of complex wheel move in this way." So as you can see, we are not off very much in interpretation. The wheels are controlled, not by motors nor engins, but by the spirits of the Liveing Creatures within the wheel(Mind and Spirit Controll) We are seeing the spiritual and physical manifestation of mans destiny and Gods will. Is it really so surprising that many see wonders in the heavens? God stated that there would be, but as for little green men from Mars, its a little far fetched and against Scripture. There is no other life out there except the Spiritual. With as much trouble as man has caused God, do you believe that He created man else where in Space? I don think so. Jesus died once for all mans sins and will not do it again. Lets get away from fantasy and get back to the truth. (References.)Gen 1:26 - 27 in the image: Psa.139:14; Isa.43:7; Eph.2:10, 4:24; Col.1:15 male: Gen.2:21-25, 5:2; Mal.2:15; Mat.19:4; Mar.10:6; 1Co.11:8, 1Co.11:9 How do you measure Success? Success; The favorable or prosperous termination of any thing attempted; a termination which answers the purpose intended; properly in a good sense, but often in a bad sense. How do you measure Success? Is it, the amount of money you've made, the position that you've attained, or how about, owning the posesions that others covet? Isa 56:11-12; Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant. Is success viewed in the physical or rather in the spiritual? Many don't believe in an after life, don't believe in the spirit of man, don't believe in reward and punishment, but only believe in themselves. In Luke 9:25 we see the down side of material gain. “For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” To lose ones self, is to lose your spirit and direction in life, to lose who you were raised to be. Seeking things that are not profitable to you, nor to your family. The spirit of man, is exactly what makes him an individual. To be cast away is to be rejected by the Father,to become an abomination to living flesh and an abomination to those lost in Hell. There has never been two people with the same spirit. For example, a man named, David, is alone in this universe according, not to the flesh(For there are twins.), but according to his spirit. We see in 2Pe 2:18, “For when they speak great swelling words of vanity(Emptiness; want of substance to satisfy desire; uncertainty; inanity.), they allure(To attempt to draw to; to tempt by the offer of some good, real or apparent; to invite by something flattering or acceptable; as, rewards allure men to brave danger. Sometimes used in a bad sense, to allure to evil; but in this sense entice is more common.) through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness(Sportiveness; gaiety; frolicsomeness; waggery) those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.” Success in mans terms is not righteous gain but is in error. To attain success in this world, in most cases, is to harm, neglect, overrun and ignore the wants and feelings of others, primarily the family unit. To be the head of a corporation, to have millions of dollars in the bank, nor owning vast amounts of property, is not success, it all becomes burdens. There is coming a time that this worlds riches will no longer provide enjoyment, but it will be thrown away as useless material. 1Ti 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. In 1Titus 6:5 we see that there are Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, what does this all mean? Literally, turned aside; hence, distorted from the right. Men are using all manner of vain arguments to obtain control of any specific situation. Success is not success if it takes a road that leads to, vanity, wantonness, or trickery.(Lies) Phi 3:18-19; (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: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) Then you say, “What is success?” Success is, seeing a child not going hungry, seeing a family made up of a Mother and a Dad, seeing a man raise His children in the fear of the Lord. Success is, knowing that as each day comes to a close, you have done your best, knowing that your family serves the Lord in Spirit and Truth, having godliness with contentment, being satisfied with yourself and with God, no matter what state that you are in. Success is, being content no matter weather, rich or poor, Living a life without covetousness, having food and raiment and being satisfied. Being a success is , being able to sit on your porch, listening to the sounds of the night, knowing that if you never see another day, you've completed your destiny with the Lord. Jesus said of success; “Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.” In Phi 4:11 Paul speaks of what success is, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” This is Success, Revelations 3:7-13; And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. So, how do you measure success? Ars. Faith is the Assurance. I want to speak of, the Faith of the believer in Christ, the Faith in the Church and the faith within ourselves. In the Revised version of the Bible, it speaks of faith in this manner; Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance (trustworthiness and abiding, unwavering confidence. To know what is and is not.) of things hoped for, the proving, (Trying; ascertaining; evincing; experiencing.)of things not seen. Barnes states of this version; Quote; The idea here is, “ground or confidence.” There is scarcely any verse of the New Testament more important than this, for it states what is the nature of all true faith, and is the only definition of it which is attempted in the Scriptures. Eternal life depends on the existence and exercise of faith.” Unquote. In this last phrase Barnes states that Eternal life depends upon, “the existence and exercise of faith.” In a way I agree with him, for we must, as believers, first believe that “God is”, but we must look at who is going to be eternal, this is where I disagree with this statement. Eternity and being immortal, is a destiny of all manner of men, and not just the Saved. Men have always looked for a way to become immortal, they shall receive immortality but not in this life. In Isaiah 66:24, we see the proof of this; “And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men(Body's) that have transgressed(Sinned) against me(God): for their worm(Soul) shall not die(but be Immortal), neither shall their fire(Punishment, rewards for their mortal actions.) be quenched(Set aside); and they shall be an abhorring(Revulsion) unto all flesh.(Those that are alive)” In the King James version we see; Now faith is the substance (“that which stands under.” In a general sense, being; something existing by itself; that which really is or exists; equally applicable to matter or spirit. Thus the soul of man is called an immaterial substance, a cogitative substance, a substance endued with thought.)of things hoped for(This covers many of our wants and desires.), the evidence (conviction, Greek word denotes “putting to the test,” examining for the purpose of proof, bringing to conviction.)of things not seen. The confidence of faith is based, not on “works of righteousness which we have done” Our confidence in God is based on our ability to believe God and His word. Our substance is supplied by God, 1. According to our level of faith. and 2. By our ability to hold fast our profession of Faith. The phrase,” faith is the substance”, declares that our physical needs that are, supplied by God, in a manner and timing of His choice and not ours, are the things that we can see. The substance of things hoped for, is any or all the needs of the physical flesh, which includes, food, clothing, healing and instruction. We initially began our Faith with believing that there was a God. Heb 11:6 But without faith(Belief; the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another, resting on his authority and veracity, without other evidence; the judgment that what another states or testifies is the truth. The assent(To admit as true; to agree, yield or concede, or rather to express an agreement of the mind to what is alleged, or proposed. To the mind as to the truth.) it is impossible to please him(God): for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. As you see faith begins in the mind and not of the other senses. This is the reason that Satan and the other spirits of anti-Christ, desires to control the mind of man. If we loose control of our thoughts, then we start loosing control of our faith. Its like the story of the old woman, that asked God to remove a mountain from her back yard, so she could see the valley on the other side. She prayed and went to sleep, the next morning she proclaimed, “Just as I thought, Its still there.” She declared that, the night before she didn't believe in her prayer to be answered, her faith wasn't what it should have been. Then faith grew to believing that Jesus was the Son of God. Our very existence as a Christian is based on Faith. In Matthew 6:25, we see Jesus trying to explain what our faith should be based upon. “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?” Jesus stated very clearly; “Take no thought”( Be not burdened by) 1. “your life.” (We have no control over our life as far as the state of the physical body, for many things that happen to us are common. We neither have control over our death.) 2.”eat.“ Our daily food is provided by the Lord without respect to persons. Being Believers in Him. 3. “drink” This is the same as food, God knows that these body's can't survive, so He provides us with water. 4. “what ye shall put on.” Clothing is also provided by God to cover our nakedness. Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God (Salvation of the soul must be our priority before anything that this life offers. Our needs are met by Gods riches in Heaven and not by our works.), and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Mat 9:29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. According (Here the whole preceding parts of the sentence are to accord, i.e. agree with, correspond with, or be suitable to, what follows. According, here, has its true participial sense, agreeing, and is always followed by to. It is never a preposition.) We cannot put our trust in man, for man will always let you down. He has no way of answering prayer, his money is corrupt and his intentions are in question. In Phi 2:21 we see this, “For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.” Who has separated himself from the Mercies of God, who has turned aside the promises of God and has turned to seek help from his neighbor, who has denied his faith and turned to the things of this world, who stands with God? “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” We must act, According to Knowledge, According to Truth, and According to Faith. ars The Rapture,A coming Event Daniel 2:44-11:35 The Rapture, A coming Event. Are we reserved to go thru the Day of Gods Wrath? The Bible Says no. To begin with, what is prophecy, Its the study of future events. There are those who think that the rapture has already taken place, and that Jesus has already set up His kingdom on earth. These people would love for those that read their statements to believe exactly what they say. This is a deception, that even in the days of Paul, were common. Lets look at 2nd Thessalonians, 2:1-5. A letter had been forged in Paul's name and was sent to the Church stating that the rapture had already taken place. 2nd,Thes 2:1-5 "That ye be not soon shaken (agitated.) in mind, or be troubled, nether by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand., Let no man deceive you..... The church at Thessalonia was upset, for they received a false letter in Paul's name, they were sad because, they thought that they were lost, believing that the church had already been raptured. Or should I say caught away. There must have been discussion, prior to this, Considering Paul's own words of; ”the day of Christ is at hand.” about a catching away of the Church, otherwise, this confusion would not have taken place. We see this throughout scripture. What a blow that had to be on these people, waiting on Jesus to return and take them home and then hearing that He had already come and gone. Isn't that what were hearing today? The Day of The Lord that Paul speaks of is depicted as a “falling away first.” There are many interpretations of these words, but that is what interpretation is, ”An Idea.” 2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first( References for one interpretation)(1Ti_4:1-3; 2Ti_3:1-3, 2Ti_4:3, 2Ti_4:4 ) , and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. This is referring to the tribulation period because of the words close to the end of the verse; “showing himself that he is God.” Prophecy has to take specific time lines that were set up by God. There are over 230 prophetic verses in scripture that have to line up and be fulfilled before the rapture can take place. There are many that don't believe in the Rapture, but the rapture is an event that is an Idea of interpretation, that we cannot ignore. There are specific references to a great falling away and a catching up, in scripture. Unless otherwise noted, prophecy must be taken literally to be understood. There are two distinct phases, listed in scripture, may I say, more than once, The first is the rapture(Gathering. Mat 24:31 ) and the second is the glorious appearing. The word rapture is not mentioned in scripture, but we must look at the meaning. The word comes from the word; L. raptus, rapio. A seizing by violence. Rapidity with violence; a hurrying along with velocity; Some reference for these are, Mth. 24:29-31; Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather (To bring together; to collect a number of separate things into one place or into one aggregate body.) together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Where will this gathering take Place? Mat 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. Scofield says of 1Co 15:52; Two resurrections are yet future, which are inclusive of "all that are in the graves" (Joh_5:28). These are distinguished as "of life"; (1Co_15:22); (1Co_15:23); (1Th_4:14-17); (Rev_20:4) and "of judgment"; (Joh_5:28); (Joh_5:29); (Rev_20:11-13). They are separated by a period of one thousand years (Rev_20:5). The "first resurrection," that "unto life," will occur at the second coming of Christ (1Co_15:23) the saints of the Old Testament and church ages meeting Him in the air (1Th_4:16); (1Th_4:17) while the martyrs of the tribulation, who also have part in the resurrection (Rev_20:4) are raised at the end of the great tribulation. (5) The mortal body will be related to the resurrection body as grain sown is related to the harvest (1Co_15:37); (1Co_15:38) that body will be incorruptible, glorious, powerful, and spiritual (1Co_15:42-44); (1Co_15:49). (6) The bodies of living believers will, at the same time, be instantaneously changed (1Co_15:50-53); (Phi_3:20); (Phi_3:21). This "change" of the living, and resurrection of the dead in Christ, is called the "redemption of the body"; (Rom_8:23); (Eph_1:13); (Eph_1:14). (7) After the thousand years the "resurrection unto judgment" (Joh_5:29) occurs. The resurrection-body of the wicked dead is not described. They are judged according to their works, and cast into the lake of fire. (Rev_20:7-15). gather: Isa_11:12, Isa_49:18, Isa_60:4; Zec_14:5; Mar_13:27; Joh_11:52; Eph_1:10; 2Th_2:1, 25:31-46., One of the major verses in scripture that indicates that a special event will take place is in Matthew 24:22; “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.” Notice in this verse the phrase; ” should and shall, be shortened“ In conjecture, we see an indication for this action, to be set into being, question 1, Is it because of a catching away or 2. Is it because of the harshness of the tribulation period, resulting in the same action? Rev. 19:11-21. Look at John 14:1-3., 2nd Cor. 5:8-10 and Rev 19:1-10, These last three should be read in conjunction with each other. As you've noticed a lot of prophecy times are lined up with each other in one or two single verses. That is the reason we have to look carefully at each verse to see weather there are more than one event taking place. The Day of wrath. Rev_11:18, Rev_16:14; Isa. 13:6-22; Jer_30:7; Joe_2:31; Zep_1:14-18; Rom_2:5; Jud_1:6 Rom 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Rev 6:15- And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; (Note that Rev 6:15 is all inclusive. Is this an indication that only the lost and unrighteous shall be on the earth at this time?) Rev 6:16-17 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, The day of Wrath is noted in scripture as an event that has a time line and a table. “we shall be saved from wrath through him.” The second coming passages or Glorious Appearing passages are just as long and start from Dan 2:44-45 thru Rev 22:7,12 and 20. Lets look at Daniel and the entire 70 weeks in retrospect. Daniel 9:24-27. 1st we have the Babylonian captivity, Cyrus decree to rebuild Jerusalem, then we have the restoration of 49 years, rebuilding the temple and the city walls under two different men. 1. Ezra and 2. Nehemiah. Next we have the 434 years of silence, or 62 hep tads, until Messiah shall be cut off but not for Himself. And Jesus crucified, this is 483 years. That leaves 1 hep tad or 1 seven year period of tribulation for the Jews, which is called in Jer.,30:3-11, the time of Jacobs trouble. ars The Lies of The Gospel of Judas. Many new religions and cults, see the manuscript of the so called, Gospel of Judas, as historical and Biblical fact. The facts, as we see it, come not from man but from God. The fact is that Judas Iscariot was cursed and condemned to everlasting punishment in the lake of Fire, for his part in the betrail of Jesus. These so call Christian Gnostic (Knowledge) Gospels are an illusion and far from being fact. If these people would read not just the New Testament facts, but the Old Testament Prophecy's, they would see that the prophecy's of the betrayer of Christ and the predictions were written before these so called gospels. For example; “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.” Psa 55:12-15; For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them. Psa_41:9, Psa_55:12-15Isa_53:10; Zec_13:7 These gospels are a denial of Biblical fact and are trying to deceive the very elect, as the Bible indicates, would take place. That is the reason that God stated that He would shorten the days. Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. In a recently published article by a, World Peace Religion, member, we read the following. “Quote”;Well, this revelation about Judas is nothing compared to the others in the Christian Knowledge Gospels. In the Koran, (Sura Chapter 4:156) the angel Gabriel who brought Mary the good news tells the Prophet Muhammad that in fact Jesus was not even crucified, a likeness, an impostor was, because this was the story in the Christian Knowledge Gospels which were burned by the Church Fathers forever (they hoped) 1,700 years ago. The Gnostic Gospel of Judas never mentions the crucifixion or the resurrection. Seth was the third child of Adam and Eve. There was a group of Gnostic (Knowledge) Christians named after Seth, Sethians. In the Christian Gospel called "The Second Treatise of The Great Seth", 56.6-19 in NHL 332, Jesus Christ told Simon, "It was another...who drank the gall and the vinegar; it was not I... it was another Simon, who bore the cross on his shoulder. It was another upon whom they placed the crown of thorns. But I was rejoicing in the height (the hills) over… their error. And I was laughing at their ignorance. (for thinking it was I who they were crucifying)". The Christian Gnostic Knowledge Gospels contradict the 4 Canonized Gospels in the New Testament endlessly. The 4 New Testament Gospels contradict themselves endlessly. “Unquote” The term "gnostic" derives from "gnosis," which means "knowledge" in Greek. The Gnostic's believed that they were privy to a secret knowledge about the divine, hence the name. (Huxley coined "agnosticism" on the basis that all knowledge must be based on reason. We cannot rationally claim to have access to knowledge that is beyond the powers of the intellect. There is nowhere in the scripture that states, that the knowledge of God toward man, is limited to any, sect nor generation, but is open to all whom seek this knowledge. Let us now look at the Bible for the facts about Judas and the Crucification. Mat 26:24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. In these following statements we see how Biblical interpretation gets many into false religions and into much trouble. “Quote”;One need only look right in the Holy Bible to see what is really going on. God the Father said through Prophet Isaiah that the Bible writers, the Priests and Prophets who wrote the Bibles, “the scribes were creating for the people a shelter, a refuge, of lies and falsehoods, (Isaiah 28:14-15) which would cause the people to fall backward and be broken and ensnared and taken.” (Isaiah 28:9-13). God the Father called the Holy Bible “The Word of Satan!” God said to the scribes, "You prophesy by Baal, Beelzebub, Satan!" (Jeremiah 2:8). God the Father said, "They (the scribes) say, 'Says the Lord', when the Lord has not sent them, and yet they wait for the fulfillment of their word!" (Ezekiel 13:6). Jesus launched into an absolute diatribe in Matthew 23 calling the Bible writers, the scribes, lying venomous snakes who spewed their own divisive racist deadly hateful lies right into your Holy Bible and signed them, “said God”, and “said Jesus”. Jesus lambasted the scribes and those who followed the same Old Testament followed by Judaism, Christianity and Islam today.”Unquote.” Isa 41:24 Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of naught: an abomination is he that chooseth you. As far as hell and the lake of fire being a man made thought, lets read; Isa 66:24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. These Christian Gnostic (Knowledge) Gospels not only deny the New Testament accounts but they also deny the Old Testament Accounts of prophecy. These are the Blind leading the Blind. Those that follow, these types of teachings, are those who, have no knowledge in them of the works of Christ. These people deny all the prophetic word of the Old Testament such as these verses, just to name a few; If God were unrighteous, would He be able to Judge the World? No. God is just and no lier. False doctrine, Teachings and Teachers, seek to justify themselves for their lack of understanding and knowledge by calling that which is Good, Evil and Evil, Good. ars Isa_50:5, Isa_50:6, Isa_53:1-12; Dan_9:26; Zec_12:10, Zec_13:7; Mar_9:12; Luk_24:25, Luk_24:26, Luk_24:46; Joh_19:24, Joh_19:28, Joh_19:36, Joh_19:37; Act_13:27-29, Act_17:2-3, Act_26:22, Act_26:23, Act_28:23; 1Co_15:3; 1Pe_1:11 ars As the Lightning Shineth. Luke 17:24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. We all see this life as an experiment in futility, one day as it becomes another. We look at our neighbor, as the enemy of our ability to succeed at prominence. We see the religions of the world as, a hindrance to world wide unity and we don't bother thinking about eternity, for it is too far away. For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together. Where ever the dead in spirit are there will the devourers of the flesh be gathered. Have we become a world of the dead walking? Mankind has almost come full circle, his attitudes and actions are reminiscent of the past, as was Sodom and Gomorrah were, so shall it be in the time of the end. Mark 6:11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city. Can't you see the Tribulation coming upon this world? What is Tribulation? Severe affliction; distresses of life; vexations. In Scripture, it often denotes the troubles and distresses which proceed from persecution. 1.A powerful earthquake struck early Thursday near the South Pacific nation of Tonga, prompting tsunami warnings for as far away as Fiji and New Zealand. 2.A Tsunami in the Indian Ocean leaves at least 216,000 people dead or missing. 3.Former Liberian president Charles Taylor was arrested for alleged crimes including corruption, rape and genocide. 4. Africa sees worst drought in history, millions die. 5. Russia signs military pact with China and India. 6. Prayer illegal in public schools and the Bible cannot be taught. 7. Homosexuality is on the verge of taking over, churches, marriage, schools and politics. 8. Christianity Illegal in most countries. Etc Etc Mankind has become more inexcusable, they are turning from the righteous Lord to an unrighteous world and its values. What are they seeking, an everlasting life in the flesh, immortality in their works, lasting happiness at the cost of their brethren? Oh, fool hearty man, don't you understand, that there will be no history, nor book, pictures or commentary, of man after this world is turned into a land of fire and desolation? Weather you believe in God or not, don't you understand that this world will not last forever? Man has corrupted, government, laws, boarders and country's. The natural order of nature, that God established, has been destroyed by mans pollution, over grazing, over planting and over consumption of all that was provided to us by the Lord. What lie has Satan told you? What kind of deception have you taken to heart, what religion has told you that all will be well? What will prove to you that The Scriptures are True? What sign are you looking for? Here is the sign that was given by God, of the end of times; Luke 11:30 For as Jonah was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation. Jesus was the sign of the beginning of the end, Jesus was the Light that came to break up the darkness, and to warn all that would listen, that the time was short. You are looking for a sign? Well you already had it. There is no religion, nor historian, that can denie that Jesus was real. These are the signs of the world today; Nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom, war, great earthquakes in divers places, famines, pestilences, fearful sights, great signs out of the heavens, Commotions, Insurrections, betrayal both by parents, Children against the parents, morality gone, and a great falling away from the Truth. Jesus was the fulfillment of prophecy and the sign of the end. Remember that God states that,” Rev 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending.”Where will you be when the Christian Church is gone, what man will testify of you, what creature or spirit will be able to rescue you from the fait of all that have rejected God? “I am Alpha and Omega”,The first and the last letters of the Hebrew alphabet denotes the whole of anything, from beginning to end. Alpha= The First(Beginning) and Omega= The End(Eternity) I am from eternity to eternity, I am from everlasting to everlasting, and there is none like unto me, sayest the Lord. There is still time, as long as there is breath in your body, to accept Jesus. Remember the sign was here and eternity waits for no man. Ars. Rev_1:11, Rev_1:17, Rev_2:8, Rev_21:6, Rev_22:13; Isa_41:4, Isa_43:10, Isa_44:6, Isa_48:12 Part Time Christians. Half way salvation. Jesus was teaching to pick up your cross and follow me. Letting the dead bury the dead. A look into part time Christians, ready only at a weeks notice. Many people call upon God when its ether convent, or when they are in trouble, having only faith for the moment and not for the long run. Matthew 23:4, Jesus said, For they bind heavy burdens and grevious to be borne, and lay them on mens shoulders, but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. Mat 23:1-12 - M Henry says of these verses; We find not Christ, in all his preaching, so severe upon any sort of people as upon these scribes and Pharisees; for the truth is, nothing is more directly opposite to the spirit of the gospel than the temper and practice of that generation of men, who were made up of pride, worldliness, and tyranny, under a cloak and pretence of religion; yet these were the idols and darlings of the people, who thought, if but two men went to heaven, one would be a Pharisee. Now Christ directs his discourse here to the multitude, and to his disciples (Mat_23:1) to rectify their mistakes concerning these scribes and Pharisees, by painting them out in their true colours, and so to take off the prejudice which some of the multitude had conceived against Christ and his doctrine, because it was opposed by those men of their church, that called themselves the people's guides. Note, It is good to know the true characters of men, that we may not be imposed upon by great and mighty names, titles, and pretensions to power. People must be told of the wolves (Act_20:29, Can you say that, when you've seen a fellow Christian at a fault, that you have helped him to return to the right path, or did you start accusing them or start rumors at church? Have you looked in the Bible quickly to find fault with someone else, trying to find the right scripture to condemn them and to justify yourself, making yourself self righteous? Jesus called these types of people hypocrites, for they say one thing and then do another. Jesus goes on to say, Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Are we so ready to condemn that we condemn ourselves? Luke 6:23.....condemn not and ye shall not be condemned....., What is a part time Christian? You know, they show up at special gatherings of the church, homecomings, song fest, business meetings, these are the ones that give a dollar or two to the offering and then want their say heard. These are the first ones there on Easter and the last to be seen when it comes to doing the work at the church building. Sounds harsh? Jesus said more., Jesus wasn't afraid to call people what they were. Jesus wasn't afraid to tell the truth. Isn't that whats being saved is all about, not being afraid any more? Are we not to be about our Fathers business, going out into the highways and by ways ,compelling them to come in? Being a Christian doesn't stop at midnight Sunday night. Jesus had to rebuke the Pharisees many times, today we call them part time Christians, in His day, He called them, hypocrites. They wanted the best seats, the best tables, the best clothes, the best food, they wanted attention for everything that they did, and no responsibility for their actions, that were contrary to the Law. But they wanted the work to go to everyone else, sound familiar? You may ask yourself, why would someone want to preach a sermon like this? The answer, Look around you, look at the world, look at the neighborhood, look at the church, its changing by the minute, Jesus said it would. God wants wariers, he wants people to be able to stand and endure when the pressure comes on, when the heat goes up, when the decision that his people make are not decisions of what to wear to church, but decisions of weather we are willing to give our life for Jesus. Giving to life to Jesus is different from giving your life for Jesus. With salvation, come responsibility. A responsibility to seek out others for the kingdom of God, a responsibility to always help the Christian in need before anyone else. This is scripture, this is the Truth. Yes there is coming a time when we will have to make that decision and much more. to put on the whole amour of God and be willing to stand. This world is at its wits end, fightings and trouble every where, murder, governmental hippocracy, no one knowing who to believe. There are people in the churches today that will judge others so much that we lose good working Christians. Its time this all stops, were all in this together. Jesus said, if we can't love our brother that we can see, how then can we say that we love God who we cannot see? Lets get back to business and if you are a part time Christian, come back into the fold, be one of the sheep again, Jesus will lead you into the paths of righteousness. Its time to stop being religious and start being the Children of God. ars. Mat_23:23, Mat_11:28-30; Luk_11:46; Act_15:10,Act_15:28; Gal_6:13; Rev_2:24 Bro Stef’s Commentary: Speeches like this only add fuel to the already burning fire. When the Pope or the President of The United States calls for the formation of a illegitimate state at Israel’s expense, this causes countries like Iran to become emboldened and to come to the rescue of it’s abused brother state. Hence, they escalate their political talk to threaten those against them with nuclear war or mass murders within those countries who are their enemies. Excerpt from the Popes speech on Easter Sunday April 16, 2006: "May the international community, which reaffirms Israel's just right to exist in peace, assist the Palestinian people to overcome the precarious conditions in which they live and to build their future, moving toward the constitution of a state which is truly their own," Benedict said. To see the complete speech go here. Former U.S. Ambassador to Morocco and Fox News correspondent, Marc Ginsberg, said on Fox News Saturday April 29, 2006 that he was sad to have to report that he believes Iran will develop a nuclear bomb. As I watched the interview with Mr. Ginsberg and how he discussed the process politician’s go through with sanctions, it became clear to me that he was right in his assessment. As the world body tries to talk and negotiate with Iran, Iran is brilliantly using this time to build their nuclear weapons arsenals. I also thought about Ezekiel 38 and how Russia and it’s Arab alliances will come against Israel in the “appointed time.” For Persia (Iran) to be considered a threat to Israel, I think Iran will have to have nuclear weapons that cause Israel and the world great concern. It seems to me as I read how God has always delivered His people, the odds are always staked against them (The Jews) and that deliverance seems humanly impossible. Should Iran develop and maintain a nuclear arsenal, one could say that the cards are effectively stacked against Israel. Think of it like this…Israel’s enemies are most of the known world, but, the ring leaders who will lead the charge are bully countries like Russia, China, Iran (Arab – Muslem Alliance). That really does stack the deck against tiny Israel! Therefore, with this in mind, it seems reasonable to me that Iran and the Arab alliance will be armed with nuclear capabilities and determined to destroy Israel. At this precise moment God steps in, like He did at the Red Sea when He delivered His people from Pharaoh and parted the waters, so He will destroy Israel’s enemies in that battle and the world will have to acknowledge it was a miracle - of God like proportions! The willingness of many Israelis to make concessions on the borders of Jerusalem in exchange for peace is an indication that Bible prophecy, related to the Jews and Jerusalem, is nearing fulfillment. There has been a fundamental change in general opinion with regard to Jerusalem since the 2003 election when there was a near consensus that the borders of Jerusalem were non-negotiable. Even the politicians in Israel today are starting to mention plans that include the giveaway of portions of the city of Jerusalem, a city that was only reunited after 2,000 years - at the end of the Six-Day War in 1967. Present-day concessions on Jerusalem will lead to the End Times scenario that is found in Bible prophecy. Zechariah 12:2 says that those who have control of Jerusalem will be intoxicated with power. Zechariah 1:12- 16 says that God is aggressively possessive of Jerusalem and will return to Jerusalem and build His Temple here. Isaiah 51:3, Joel 2:3, and Ezekiel 36:35 say that Jerusalem will be returned to the Garden of Eden. The Psalmist wrote that God has chosen Jerusalem as the place where He will rule and reign from and dwell among His people forever - Psalm 132:13, 14. The bottom line here is that God will not allow His city or country to be permanently occupied by gentile ruler ship. Let’s not forget, God is jealous for His land and Jerusalem. He will not rest until He and His people are completely established in the land of Israel. See Eze 39:25; 2 Chronicles 6:1-11; Micah 4:1; Isaiah 2:3; Zechariah 14; Psalm 24 and Na 1:2-8 . In conclusion, and I hope I am wrong on this one, I believe Iran will develop nuclear weapons and will march against Israel in our generation. I think the world will try to negotiate this issue to death, giving Iran all the time they need to get the job done. Who then Shall Prophesy? pt.1. Who then Shall Prophesy in the name of the Lord, a man of Wealth, Wisdom, Knowledge, Position, Insight, Educated, Young, Old, who? This may sound simple, but only one type of people can Prophesy. Those that are called (Those that hear the voice of God urging them to ask for the gift.) and are willing to accept the gift and responsibility. A prophecy that comes to pass, comes from God, and the Prophecy's that do not come to pass, are man made and are erroneous, these do not come from God. Jer 14:14 Then the LORD said unto me, “The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spoke unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of naught, and the deceit of their heart.” Many so called prophets today, which we call, psychics and sooth-sayers and seers, are only after money and notoriety, they have no vision, no interpretation nor calling from God. We must remember that Satan only knows the past and not the future. Many well meaning Christians say that there are no more prophets, no more dreamers of dreams and no visions from visionaries. This belief has resulted in much knowledge being suppressed. Many, that have the gift of prophecy, suppress their gift for not wanting others to downgrade and separate them from the body of the Church. Prophecy is a gift, that must be used in order to enlighten the unbeliever into the truth of Gods word. Prophecy is not primarily for the believer, but only for his information, but prophecy is for the lost and unbeliever, to show them that God is using every means to convert them to salvation, thru His Son Jesus. Just because someone prophesies, doesn't mean that he is a prophet, many times he is delivering a special, warning or message of encouragement from God. This is called a, “Rema Word", from God. So if a Christian or a Church, suppresses a prophecy, from being delivered, then they are actually hindering Gods work. Even prophecy, prophecies of prophets in our time. 1Co 14:31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. Purpose, to Learn and to Comfort. Rev 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.“I will give power” Prophecy's come from power given to men, from God. Rom 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 2Pe 1:20 “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation.” This is the interpretation of Scripture. Men want to have all control of the scriptures including all prophetic verses, but the Bible states that all have a prophecy, a vision a dream and an interpretation. Lets read, 1st.Sa 10:6; “And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.”This is how a man Prophecy; Barnes, Wesley and J.F.B. States of 1st. Samuel; Shalt be turned into another man - This is a remarkable expression, and occurs nowhere else. It describes the change in point of mental power and energy which would result from the influx of the Spirit of the Lord 1Sa.10:9. In the case of Samson it was a supernatural bodily strength; in the case of Saul a capacity for ruling and leading the people of which before he was destitute, and which the Spirit worked in him. (Compare Acts.1:8; Isaiah 11:2-4.) 1Sa 10:6 - the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee — literally, “rush upon thee,” suddenly endowing thee with a capacity and disposition to act in a manner far superior to thy previous character and habits; and instead of the simplicity, ignorance, and sheepishness of a peasant, thou wilt display an energy, wisdom, and magnanimity worthy of a prince. 1Sa 10:6 - Will come - Heb. will leap, or rush upon thee. Another man - That is, thou shalt be suddenly endowed with another spirit, filled with skill of divine things, with courage, and wisdom, and magnanimity; and other qualifications befitting thy dignity. In 1st.Co 14:1, The Apostle Paul, encouraged all to prophecy. 1Co 14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 1Co 14:24-25. But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:This is why prophecy is for the unbeliever. So then what is prophecy? PROPH'ECY, n. [Gr. to foretell, before and to tell. This ought to be written prophesy.] 1. A foretelling; prediction; a declaration of something to come. As God only knows future events with certainty, no being but God or some person informed by him, can utter a real prophecy. The prophecies recorded in Scripture, when fulfilled, afford most convincing evidence of the divine original of the Scriptures, as those who uttered the prophecies could not have foreknown the events predicted without supernatural instruction. 2 Pet 1. 2. In Scripture, a book of prophecies; a history; as the prophecy of Ahijah. 2 Chr 9. 3. Preaching; public interpretation of Scripture; exhortation or instruction. Prov 31. In Scripture, to preach; to instruct in religious doctrines; to interpret or explain Scripture or religious subjects; to exhort. A person illuminated, inspired or instructed by God to announce future events; as Moses, Elijah, David & Isaiah. Jer 14:14 Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spoke unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of naught, and the deceit of their heart. end pt 1. Who then Shall Prophesy? pt.2. Is prophecy that important? The answer to that question is ,”Yes.” The days that we live in are filled with prophecy being fulfilled, in the past, present and future. Many so called theologians and Biblical experts, ignore the truth of prophecy. I seen and heard many of these people and they have been teaching that prophecy is only allegorical or only in the past. They ignore the word of God and there by are deceivers, deceiving and being deceived. Many say that prophecy isn't real but then they say they believe in The Birth, Death and Resurrection of Christ. They cannot believe in Christ and not believe in Prophecy. The prophecy of the Birth, Death and Resurrection, comes first from the Old Testament. Isa 9:6 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, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Prophetic words are essential for the unbeliever and also for the believer. The believer must use prophecy to aid in bringing the lost to Christ. Seeing prophecy being fulfilled is essential to prove what is happening in the world and why. The unbeliever must see prophecy in action to aid him in the believing of the Truth of the Gospel. In the age of recorded history we see a pattern that proves the prophecies in the Bible. Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. Wars, Rumors of Wars, such as the rumor of war between Iran and Israel. A.P.; Headlined "Iran declares war?," a May 11 editorial in the New York Sun expressed the belief that a recent letter written by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which had been widely interpreted as a peaceful gesture, "is in fact a declaration of war." Mar 13:8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. MSNBC.; ‘Final hours of the North American empire’ Chavez counters that the United States is the country to be wary of. In a two-hour speech Saturday while in Vienna, Austria, for a summit on Latin America, Chavez said that the “final hours of the North American empire have arrived.” “So now we have to say to the empire: ‘We’re not afraid of you. You’re a paper tiger,’” he said. Several volcanoes around the world are capable of gigantic eruptions unlike anything witnessed in recorded history, based on geologic evidence of past events, the scientists said. Forces brewing deep beneath Yellowstone National Park could be making one of the largest volcanoes on ... Volcano is on the rise at Yellowstone park Uplift reported, creating new cracks in crust . MOUNT MERAPI, Indonesia - Indonesia's Mount Merapi volcano erupted with clouds of hot gas and rained ash on surrounding areas on Monday, sending some nearby villagers who had been reluctant to leave scurrying for safety. This is just a few examples of the recent events around the world. The Great Quake in California in 1906, Mount Saint Helen's, Mount Krakatoa, etc. Drought contributes to famines and disease outbreaks in less developed countries that kill millions. Mosquitoes and disease to spread. Scientists are not sure how climate change will affect the planet. Up to 5,000,000 people died during the famines of '32-'33; Scoffers.; He would say, if there's a God, then why does he allow them to die in tidal waves; why does he allow them to die in hurricanes; why does he allow famines. There are no more tribulations today than there were centuries ago with plagues, famines, wars, etc. These people do not understand that prophecy is not a single event but a series of events that join together to fulfill prophecy. From the first volcanic eruption, the first earth quake, the first famine, to the first betrail of fathers of sons and sons of fathers, these are all parts of the fulfillment of prophecy. Mar 13:12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. In Isa 24:19-20;We see that this prophecy is an end time prophecy, remember that prophecy is only proven when it occurs. The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again. This prophecy has been fulfilling sense Jesus came upon the earth. Today Christianity is hated around the world by many nations, peoples and religious sects. Mark 13:13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Mar_16:15; Mat_24:14, Mat_28:18, Mat_28:19; Rom_1:8, Rom_10:18, Rom_15:19; Col_1:6, Col_1:23; Rev_14:6 End part 2. In Part 3, we will look at the false prophets of the past, the present, and the future. Ars. Who then Shall Prophecy? Conclusion. Many shall prophesy in the name of the Lord that, neither know Him, nor understand Him. In these end day we see more and more those that say there are Christians and yet they denie the truth of the Bible. Here are examples of the False Prophets. Jim Jones was one of these. The Peoples Temple. This was a Christian destructive, doomsday cult founded and led by James Warren Jones (1931-1978). Jim Jones held degrees from Indiana University and Butler University. He was not a Fundamentalist pastor as many reports in the media and the anti-cult movement claim. They reach a consensus to commit group suicide. 914 died: 638 adults and 276 children. The next we see is, David Koresh, a self proclaimed prophet of God. The Branch Davidian Seventh-Day Adventists are basically Millerites. They are historical and doctrinal descendants of the Seventh-Day Adventist and a break-off group of reformers, the Davidian Seventh-Day Adventists. Their idea of God is not, however, impersonal, as they believe in a Godhead with a Heavenly Father, and with a feminine Holy Spirit as a Heavenly Mother. In a Letter to the FBI, Koresh (speaking as a "prophet") spoke for God in the first person, and referred to himself, in the second person, as God's servant. The Branch Davidians believe God's full name is Yahweh Koresh, which is taken to mean "life and death." David Koresh is seen as God's servant who has his Father's surname. About 80 members of the Branch Davidian cult died when fire engulfed their compound in Waco, Texas, in 1993. "The tragedy at Waco rests with certain Branch Davidians and their leader David Koresh, who shot and killed four (government) agents, wounded 20 others, shot at FBI agents trying to insert tear gas into the complex, burned down the complex, and shot at least 20 of their own people, including five children," said the report from former Senator Danford. The last I wish to introduce is, Marshall Applewhite. Heaven's Gate was the name of a UFO religion co-led by Marshall Applewhite, Jacob Bleier, and Bonnie Nettles (until her death). The cult's end, coinciding with the appearance of Comet Hale-Bopp, created a sensation in the United States in 1997. Applewhite convinced 39 followers to commit suicide so that their souls could take a ride on a spaceship that they believed was hiding behind the comet; members reportedly believed themselves to be extraterrestrials. Such beliefs have led some observers to characterize the group as a type of "UFO religion". Now lets read Jer 23:25-26; “I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;” False prophecy is the reason that many will not believe in the true prophecy's that are given by those sent by God. This makes warning others of doom and distress that will soon take place, according to the Bible. It is no wonder to me that many, Christians and Churches, forbid prophesys' to be stated within the Sanctuary. They fear the unknown and unexplained. They have been taught that prophecy was only for the first Church and not for us, this view is misleading and false. The Death of the False Prophets.; Deu 13:5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee. Here in these end days we see many prophesying in the name of the Lord, we see men and women declaring that God has spoken to them and do lie. Prophets, Psychics and mediums are the work of Satan. They lead many to stray from the truth and away from the teachings of Jesus, by using false divinations, miracles and wonders. The end days; Zec 13:3 And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begot him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begot him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth. J.F.B. The substantial truth expressed is that false prophecy shall be utterly abolished. If it were possible for it again to start up, the very parents of the false prophet would not let parental affection interfere, but would be the first to thrust him through. Love to Christ must be paramount to the tenderest of natural ties. Clark. Falsely; such shall be the horror of such an evil, that there shall be no toleration of it. Itself, and they who practice it, shall be everywhere destroyed. Its up to you to believe or not. You ask,”Have you ever made a prophesy that came true?” My Answer is, Yes, in fact 2, In the First, God showed me that a house in another state would burn to the ground because of the sin within it, three days later it was gone. The Second, I told of my own death, A week later I was pronounced dead of a massive heart attack. God in His mercy and by the prayers of my wife, I was raised up to continue my ministry. Glory be to God. Ars. The Prince of Peace: Isa_7:14, Isa_8:18, Isa_53:10; Isa_11:6-9, Isa_53:5; Psa_72:3, Psa_72:7, Psa_85:10; Dan_9:24, Dan_9:25; Mic_5:4, Mic_5:5; Luk_2:14; Joh_14:27; Act_10:36; Rom_5:1-10; 2Co_5:19; Eph_2:14-18; Col_1:20,Col_1:21; Heb_7:2, Heb_7:3, Heb_13:20. References from Win. Enc. D.Koresh web, and others. On Higher Ground. I have no presumption to believe that I am a master of all knowledge of Scripture. The only thing that I can say is that I preach and Teach, what is given to me from the Holy Spirit. Many are seeking the truth concerning, Life, Death and the Hereafter, what I try to accomplish, is to give only the Bibles View and Truth, to all those that are seeking the Truth. There are multitudes that are not, and will never, search for, nor seek the truth. Joe 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. . The Bible stands as the only true presents on this earth, that can be searched, researched and studied, for all answers to all this worlds questions. With out the leadership of Gods word, many would be lost as to what salvation and righteousness is all about. As was the gentile race before Christ, we all would be worshiping Devils. . The Christian community is being bombarded by many half truths and attacks over their faith in Christ. We as Christians must seek out Higher Ground, for the flood is upon us. Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. . In Mat 16:18, many mistakenly recognize Peter as the “Rock” that Jesus was speaking of but actually, Jesus was only recognizing Peter as to whom he was. The Rock Jesus was referring to was,”Himself.” This is proved in many places in Scripture, so I will use 1Co 10:4. Mat 16:18; And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 1Co 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. . 1Pe 4:11- 4:19; If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: . We all go thru trials of Faith, sometimes daily and sometimes ever so often. But one thing is for certain, as the end days approach, these trials will become more often and stronger. As a flood upon the land, Christians will be tried and tested, to assure that they will stand upon that Rock that will deliver all who come to higher ground. . 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. There are many that are being persecuted for their testimony of Christ and our Governments are trying to give way to alternate lifestyles. Banning each and everything that constitutes Christian beliefs. We will be partakers of Christ's sufferings, pain of rejection, persecuted, hounded, lie upon, and despised by many. 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. . 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. We are commanded to remain neutral in all of mans matters, we do not try to interfere in matters that do not Glorify God. In these past years we see great divisions in Politics, Immigration, Gay Marriage, and Abortion, but being on Higher ground, we as Christians must see what is actually happening, that is, the Spirit of Anti-Christ, is coming out stronger and showing his ugly head, deceiving many. . Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. We rejoice in persecution. We must allow Gods prophesys to avail themselves to all and be shown to all. We cannot change the things that must come to pass, Divisions in the Church, Homosexuality, Wars and Rumors of Wars, Political indifference to what is right and wrong, and False Doctrine being taught in our schools and neighborhoods. . For those upon Higher Ground, we welcome these things coming to pass, even knowing that ,many will suffer. We welcome these things because, 1. We can use these prophetic words to aid us in our evangelism. And 2. We know that we can start looking up for our redemption grows near. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. . Isa 28:16-18; Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. Ars. multitudes: the end: Ecc_7:2; Jer_5:31; Eze_7:2, Eze_7:3, Eze_7:6; Mat_24:13, Mat_24:14; Rom_13:12; 1Co_7:29; 1Co_15:24; Phi_4:5; Heb_10:25; Jam_5:8, Jam_5:9; 2Pe_3:9-11; 1Jo_2:18, 1Jo_2:19 Joe_3:2; Isa_34:2-8, Isa_63:1-7; Ezek. 38:8-23, Eze_39:8-20; Rev_16:14-16, Rev_19:19-21 decision: or, concision, Phi_3:2, or, threshing for: Joe_2:1; Psa_37:13; 2Pe_3:7 Why must I be Saved? There are many that ask, “Why must I be Saved? I never asked to be born, and I shouldn't be made to make any kind of decision. Its not right to hold me accountable for something I didn't ask for.” Did you ever think what you were, or where you were, before you were born? Did you ever think about being born or who your parents were to be? Or did you think that all that you are and all that you see, in this life, were all pre-established or just coincidence? There is nothing in this life, on this earth, nor in this universe, that was ever created by mistake. Romans 9:20-21; “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?” Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? We had no choice into being born or not, we were created by God for God and His Good pleasure. Just as the wood, steel, brick and concrete, that we use to form and shape into things that we desire, knowing that these elements can not object to what they are to be, we also are formed and shaped and created to please a Higher being, God. Some mistaken the meaning of Pro 16:4, sense God cannot create evil, nor sin, or cause any man to sin, The meaning is simple, God created man and man became evil by free will, and the day of the wicked was created by God for the evil men to be punished. Pro 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. For himself - Better, The Lord has done everything for its own end; and this includes the appointment of an “evil day” for “the wicked” who deserve it. Brns. “for its answer,” or “purpose,” that is, according to God’s plan; the wicked are for the day of evil (Psa_49:5; Jer_17:18); sinning and suffering answer to each other, are indissolubly united. jfb Why must You be Saved? The answer is simple. You were born into sin and from sin you must be, Redeemed, Reconciled, and Reestablished, into what is acceptable to God. God formed you into a being that He desired to exist. He made you a people unto Himself, only after the Jews rejected Christ. Rom 9:25-26; As he saith also in Osee(Hosea), I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. God established you into a vine(Christ) and grafted you into it, grafting out the old, and grafting the new. But we must remember that we boast not of the grafting, because we are a wild branch. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. Barnes makes a thought provoking statement here; The doctrine which he had established, he proceeds now to confirm by quotations from the writings of Jews, that he might remove every objection. The doctrine was, (1) That God intended to call his people from the Gentiles as well as the Jews. (2) that he was bound by no promise and no principle of obligation to bestow salvation on all the Jews. (3) that, therefore, it was right for him to reject any or all of the Jews, if he chose, and cut them off from their privileges as a people and from salvation. In point (2) of what Barnes states, (that he was bound by no promise and no principle of obligation to bestow salvation on all the Jews.) we also must admit that not only the Jews but also of the Gentiles, God has no written obligation to save all even tho the Bible states, That It is the Will of God that no man should perish but all should come into repentance. In Osee - This is the Greek form of writing the Hebrew word Hosea. It means in the book of Hosea, as “in David” means in the book of David, or by David, Heb_4:7. The passage is found in Hos_2:23. This quotation is not made according to the letter, but the sense of the prophet is preserved. The meaning is the same in Hosea and in this place, that God would bring those into a covenant relation to himself, who were before deemed outcasts and strangers. Thus, he supports his main position that God would choose his people from among the Gentiles as well as the Jews, or would exercise toward both his right as a sovereign, bestowing or withholding his blessings as he pleases. The God of Heaven has the right to make us as He pleases and also to Choose whom He wills. Mat 22:14 For many(A multitude; a great number of individuals; the people.) are called, but few are chosen. You are in the multitude of mankind and have a chance to accept or reject, God and His word. The word “few”, is speaking not of, 144,000 as many believe, but rather a difference between the number saved and those that will remain lost. A percentage of the total world population. “A number that no man can number.” We must look at the key words of John 15:16; Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. The Bible is full of Reward and Punishment, and so shall it be at the Judgment Day. Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: So then, Why must You be Saved? 1.You were pre-ordained and pre-established before the foundation of the world. 2.The God of Heaven had the right to make us as He pleases. 3. That It is the Will of God that no man should perish but all should come into repentance. 4. You were born into sin and from sin you must be, Redeemed, Reconciled, and Reestablished, into what is acceptable to God.   The Doctrine of Women Preachers. What we want to look at is the doctrine of the womans roll within the Church. The Bible has all the answers to all the questions that we have. (ISBE)The preacher, is with all other Christians a sharer in the freedom that is in Christ. But as a recognized teacher and leader of the church, he is not an unattached. In the New Testament sense a preacher is a man who has the inner call from the Holy Spirit and the external call from the church the witnessing body of Christ on earth, and has been duly set apart as an accredited and qualified teacher of the Christian religion. Many say that Mary Magdalene preached a message after the resurrection of Jesus, or did she? Lets read and understand. Luke 24:10; It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. Luke 24:23-25; And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulcher, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Was what Mary testified to, considered preaching? The answer is no. Mary, and the others with her, were only testifying to the truth, witnessing to the facts, of the prophets and the words of Christ. Why then did God ordain that women would find the sepulcher empty? For it is easier for a woman to believe in the unseen than for a man. In these next few verses we will see the will of God concerning men and women in the Church. Eph 5:23 For the husband(Man) is the head of the wife(Woman), even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. In these verses Paul states that the head is; The Major Influence; force; strength; A chief; a principal person; a leader; a commander; one who has the first rank or place, and to whom others are subordinate. So therefore a woman cannot usurp authority over the man being a subordinate to the man, also being the weaker of the two and cannot be the Major Influence; force; or strength within the Church. 1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; In 1Ti 3:2 the phrase; ”the husband of one wife.” stops all women from being a Deacon, Elder, Bishop, Preacher or Apostle, within the Church, for a woman cannot be the husband of one wife. This also negates any form of abomination to serve as the leader, teacher, preacher, apostle, or prophet within the Church, primarily speaking of Homo-sexual churches. For none of these are the husband of one wife. Many Churches are ordaining women as Deacons there-by rejecting the commandments of God. By erring from the truth of the Gospel, they are in danger of the Judgment. Is this saying that these women and those that allow them to preach, will face torment for this act? No. The things that we do from are considered works, we will be judged according to our works, weather they be good or evil. We stand in danger of loosing our reward, this is fact and it is scripture. Lets read and understand; 1Co 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 1Tit 1:5-6; For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 1Ti 3:4-5; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 1Ti 3:5; brings out a good point, the man being the head of the wife, must also be the head of his own home, there-by being able to control the House of God. A woman, being in subjection to the man in the Home cannot be above the man within the Church. This is the lot that the woman received, because the woman was the first in transgression. 1Ti 3:8-12; Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. The Major Influence; force; or strength within the Church, must come from the man. Being subject to God and being held accountable to God for the actions within the Church. So let the head of the Church, be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. ars. Tit 1:7 - a bishop: Tit_1:5; Phi_1:1; 1Ti_3:1, 1Ti_3:2-13 as: Mat_24:45; Luk_12:42; 1Co_4:1, 1Co_4:2; 1Pe_4:10 not selfwilled: Gen_49:6; 2Pe_2:10 not soon: Pro_14:17, Pro_15:18, Pro_16:32; Ecc_7:9; Jam_1:19, Jam_1:20 not given to wine: Tit_2:3; Lev_10:9; Pro_31:4, Pro_31:5; Isa_28:7, Isa_56:12; Eze_44:21; Eph_5:18; 1Ti_3:3 no: 2Ti_2:24, 2Ti_2:25 *Gr. Luk 24:22 - Luk_24:9-11; Mat_28:7, Mat_28:8; Mar_16:9, Mar_16:10; Joh_20:1, Joh_20:2, Joh_20:18 1Ti 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. Terror; The Lost War. Zephaniah 1:14-1:18 Terror; The Lost War. {Terror; Intense, overpowering fear.An emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight).A feeling of agitation and anxiety caused by the presence or imminence of danger. A state or condition marked by this feeling: living in fear. A feeling of disquiet or apprehension: a fear of looking foolish. Extreme reverence or awe, as toward a supreme power. A reason for dread or apprehension} As the Iraq war turns into another Vietnam and Iran remains a nation of anti-Christian, anti-Israely people. I wonder why the Government still insists that the middle east will turn into a democratic stronghold. Democracy and the middle east will never take place. Even the election in Iran was an exercise in futility. No matter who is elected, the Clerics still run the country. Why cant people see that Gods prophecy’s, will and are, taking place. Luke 21:20 tells us, “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.” Doesnt Luke 21:20 reviele the truth of the world as we see it today. There are many in the Middle East that are preaching peace between them and Israel, but this is because they are afraid of Israel. When the time is right they will strike. Africa is starving to death, The Dead Sea is drying up, Israel is under attack, Earth Quakes are increasing in number, Marriage is being destroyed and the values of many, that were strong just 20 years ago, are slowly slipping away in the name of compromise and unity. Man has polluted and almost used up all natural resources. Familys are afraid to walk down the streets at night, Mothers and Dads are afraid to send their children to school. This my frends is all terror. Terror is right down town, all around. The war on terror cannot be won. Many are deceived that this world will last forever. That things can be changed if we have one world, Religion, Government and Bank. One head of all religious matters. Its time to wake up and smell the smoke. Religion is “NOT” Salvation ! I must say that again,Religion is “NOT” Salvation. Wars and rumors of wars are an item in the news each and every day. 20 years ago we seldom heard of terrorist or wars in multiple countries. We never heard of combining religions into one unit. God was God and Jesus reigned supreme in our lives. Today we are seeing wars over, Oil, Land, Religion and Power. In just the last few weeks I have read of murder-suicides in our home town. Stalkers and terror on ever hand. Saying that a war on terror is win-able is misleading. Terrorist have been on this earth from the beginning and will be untill the end of time. Don’t misunderstand, protecting people from murder is essential but the war on terror is a lost war before it started. We lock our doors because of fear and terror. Lets read an article that was mailed to me from Jerusalem; Foreign Minister Shalom commented on the Iranian elections, maintaining that the election of Ahmadinejad proves that Iran is not interested in reform, conciliation and progress; rather, it is interested in conservatism and extremism. The foreign minister said that it is more probable now than ever before that the Iranian government will arm the terrorist organizations with nuclear weapons and will thereby distribute the nuclear threat all over the world. The connection between terrorism and nuclear weapons is a global existential threat. The international community must form a unified and decisive policy towards Iran, which will assure that the enlightened western nations will not become hostages of an extremist Iran. Lets read a little scripture. 1Peter 3:12- 14: For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 1Peter 3:12- 14 is mistaken by some who believe that God, in these verses ,is promising Christians a peaceful life. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. The key phrase is this; “But and if ye suffer for righteousness’” Many Christians will be immune from violence and terror and then again many will be victims of it. We hear of the wars but very seldom does the news tell of the murders and terrors of Christians, that are taking place each and every day. We Don’t hear of the Christian, women being raped, Christian children being kidnaped and brane washed, nor about Christian preachers being beaten savagely, because of their beliefe in Jesus Christ. This is a war on terror that is being ignored by man. This is a war on terror that is destroying this earth. This is a war on terror that is being lost. Zep 1:14-18 tells it the way it is; “The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.” The Day of Wrath is comming upon this earth and nothing is going to stop it. I wonder sometimes, what it will take for people to understand the God loves them, just the way they are. He is willing to protect them from that awful day but will not wait long. The days of the gentiles is just about over. 911 was another sign. Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and the terrorist that came with them are all signs that this earth is ready for a change. Gods word will cover the Globe but Christianity will not win the world to Christ. Thats not Biblical. Luke 21:9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. [Ref; Psa_38:20; Pro_15:9;Rom_8:28, Rom_13:3 Isa_8:12, Isa_8:13, Isa_41:10-14, Isa_51:12; Jer_1:8; Eze_3:9; Mat_10:28, Mat_10:31; Luke_12:4, Luke_12:5; John_14:1] ars John_14:27; Act_18:9, Act_18:10.] Then are ye Bastards, and not Sons. Bastard; Illegitimate sons who are excluded from the rights of inheritance. Male or female, for there is neither in the Kingdom of Heaven. What type of inheritance? The inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven. If we being sons of God with all privileges of son ship, then those that refuse son ship are bastards and not sons. We see in Romans 8:16-17, a witness to our rights and privileges under the promise of God toward being a joint heirs, with Christ to Gods Kingdom; “The Spirit itself(Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit.) beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (We can see with the first part of the verse, we can communicate with the Holy Ghost and receive conformation of acceptance into son ship with God. We are no longer alienated from God but rather in close proximity with Him.)And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” “that we may be also glorified together.” The promise that when the end comes, our glory will come from God, and Jesus will also be Glorified with us. There is coming a time when all men shall bow to the power of God, they will admit and confess that Jesus is both Lord and Christ. To be Glorified means; The felicity of heaven prepared for the children of God; celestial bliss. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel,and afterwards receive me to glory. Psa 73. Honored; dignified Honorable representation of God. Distinguished honor or ornament; that which honors or makes renowned; that of which one may boast. To be accepted into the beloved, we suffer with Christ, we are hated, despised, shunned, persecuted and many, have been and will be, cast into prison for their testimony of Christ. Heb 12:1-2; Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. “endured the cross, despising the shame.” Endured; Borne; suffered; sustained. The powers of the human body being limited and intolerant of excesses is a testimony to the power of God and the determination of Jesus to tolerate the intolerable. To accept pain and suffering that no other Human being could suffer. To accept the shame of public humiliation and scorn, to accept the sins of the world and all its unrighteousness upon Himself, to bare what no man could bare. This is His testimony this is His proof, that He is and there is no other. There is safety in His name and Faith in His name. For by believing in Jesus, as the Son of God, we are also accepted by the Father. Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Heb 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? Mat 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. Confess; To own, avow or acknowledge; publicly to declare a belief in and adherence to. Act 24:14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: The word Heresy is A fundamental error in religion, or an error of opinion respecting some fundamental doctrine of religion. But in countries where there is an established church, sect or organization, an opinion is deemed heresy, Speaking contrary to what they teach as truth, weather they provide proof or not, when it differs from that of the church. The Scriptures being the standard of faith, any opinion that is repugnant to its doctrines, is heresy. When heretics are noted in Christianity or against Christianity, we don't put them to death nor make them suffer reproach. We mark them as a heretics and shun them, per the word of God. Tit 3:10-11; A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Tit 3:11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. 2Th 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. Act 24:15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. Act 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. Tit 3:10 - heretic: 1Co_11:19; Gal_5:20; 2Pe_2:1 after: Mat_18:15-17; 2Co_13:2 reject: Rom_16:17; 1Co_5:4-13; Gal_5:12; 2Th_3:6, 2Th_3:14; 2Ti_3:5; 2Jo_1:10 Heb 12:8 - Heb_12:6; Psa_73:1, Psa_73:14, Psa_73:15; 1Pe_5:9, 1Pe_5:10 But for a Drink of Water. Will the mercy's of God be everlasting to His enemies? No. Will He, who created, say to the creature; “Have a time with me, doubt my word and I will be merciful ?” No, but the creature will denigh all exsistance of the creator until it comes time to answer for all their works. Deu 32:29 O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end! Can this life, that you live, be without consequence after death? Everyone sees everyone else going to a place that they call Hell, but they never acknowledge the exsistance of it for themselves. They call on mass murders and rapist to answer for their crimes in everlasting punishment, but for not serving God, or believing in His Son, they denigh any wrong doing or sin. I never asked to be born and I should not be held responsible to make a decision on weather God exists or not. Luke 16:23-24; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” Many evangelicals and other Ministers, play down the exsistance of Everlasting torment and Hell. Many say,”Why would God allow a man only to live a short space on this earth and then condemn a person to eternal Punishment?” Does the punishment fit the crime? “therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour.” “I am tormented in this flame.” The law states that there is no better witness than a person that has seen. How can we ignore the witness of such a man as this, a man that lived his life in pleasure not wanting for anything, denies God and spends his life in the flame that never dies? God needs no councilor or advisor on sin nor unrighteousness. God created man for His good pleasure, gave him a soul and a choice. If our choice is to denigh Him, He then will also denigh us. denigh what? Our very exsistance, our privileges and rights to enter into everlasting rest and joy. The humiliation, pain, suffering, blood and rejection has already been shed. You are no longer a free agent, to come and go as you please, your life is no longer yours, it belongs to the one that paid the price. You have been freed from the bonds of Satan and now you must make a choice. Jer 23:19-20; Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked. The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly. Who can stand against the Lord and the purpose of His thoughts, who can negate the thoughts of His Heart. Who can say to the Lord, “This is not right?” Can we use our imagination to change the things that are and will be? “The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand;” God will not repent of His fierce wrath against the workers of iniquity nor the workers of darkness, He will not repent of His punishment of those that denigh His Son. For as the Father is, so is the Son. “Depart from Me ye that work iniquity, for I never knew you.” How can any denigh the exsistance of Hell or an eternal punishment, do they also denigh the Son and His words? Can they say that Jesus told stories and fairy tails to scare the Children? In Mat 13:41-42; Jesus stated the word “Shall” four times, which means; When shall is uttered with emphasis in such phrases, it expresses determination in the speaker, and implies an authority to enforce the act. shall implies a promise, command or determination. Mat 13:41-42; The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Many have prophesied, dreamed dreams, spoken as from the Lord, but He never sent them, never gave them a vision nor a dream, hypocrites all that say that they are the voice of the Lord, whom He never sent. Deceivers, deceiving and being deceived. Leading themselves and others down a path that leads to that fire, where water never runs, where pain never stops, where salvation cannot exist. Psa 55:15 Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them. Jer 23:23 Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? Isa 27:11 When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, and set them on fire: for it is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour. “But for a drink of Water.” “I am tormented in this flame.” ars Luk 16:23 - in hell: Psa_9:17, Psa_16:10, Psa_49:15, Psa_86:13; Pro_5:5, Pro_7:27, Pro_9:18, Pro_15:24; Isa_14:9, Isa_14:15; Mat_5:22, Mat_5:29, Mat_18:9, Mat_23:33; 1Co_15:55 *marg. 2Pe_2:4; Rev_20:13, Rev_20:14 being: Luk_16:28, Luk_8:28; Mat_8:29; Rev_14:10,Rev_14:11, Rev_20:10 seeth: Luk_13:28, Luk_13:29; Mat_8:11, Mat_8:12 Who is blind, but my servant? I am the Lord God almighty, that is My Name. In this life of disappointment and confusion, there is one that Came to set the crooked straight, the dark to be made light, the mountains to rise from the earth and the seas to give life. There is someone that we can always turn to when, we are blind and cannot see, deaf and cannot hear, weak and cannot stand, and confused and be delivered. Fear not for the Lord God almighty is with those that call upon His name. If you do not call, you will never be answered. Isa 42:5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: Each man has a spirit that was given to him from God. This spirit is what makes us who we are. Without the spirit within man, the body dies. So then is this spirit alive? Is this spirit Immortal? Will this spirit be Judged? The answer is “yes” to all. We Preach expecting to be heard, we Write expecting to be read, we Teach expecting others to learn, but we do none of these to Impress only to inform. For it is the spirit of God that directs and establishes His word in all, to accept or reject. For all Glory is the Lords, He will be recognized and worshiped, He has declared it, and it will come to pass. Amen. Isa 42:18-20; The Lord Roars; “Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD'S servant? Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.” Who is deaf? Those that will not Hear. Who is Blind? Those that will not See. Those that have ears, let them listen, those with eyes, let them see. For it is God alone that can create or destroy. It is God who can save or banish to torment. There is no other God, there is only one. Other gods that man has created for himself are just shadows and fantasy. They cannot save, nor create. The mountains are moved at His presence, the seas boil at His word, and those that are dead, come alive at His command. Isa 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. The Lord is worthy of all Praise, Honor and Glory. He Sees when we are sorrowful, He Hears when we call, He Knows our every need and He Understands our heartache. Who keeps this world from falling apart, who keeps the islands and mountains in place, who keeps man from destroying what has been created? 2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. This is the power of the Lord God almighty, the First and the Last, the beginning and the End. “The heavens shall pass away with a great noise.” The celestial heavens, the abode of God and of the hosts of angels (Psa_11:4; Psa_103:19-21; Isa_66:1; Rev_4:2; Rev_5:11; compare Dan_7:10), though it was recognized that Yahweh's presence was not confined to any region (1Ki_8:27). Later Judaism reckoned seven heavens. The apostle Paul speaks of himself as caught up into “the third heaven,” which he evidently identifies with Paradise (2Co_12:2). (ISBE.) Isa 42:13-14; The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies. I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once. When will the Lord Roar, when will the Lord Devour, when will the Lord Destroy? Isa 63:1-4; Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. The servant of God is Blind to his own desires. The Servant of God is Deaf to all that speak not the Truth. The servant of God is Unwilling to follow after any other voice. The servant of God will not Bend a knee to any other gods. The servant of God will not Bow to any other authority. The servant of God will not Burn in the flame of unrighteousness. ars. Isa 42:13 - as a mighty: Isa_59:16-19, Isa_63:1-4; Exo_15:1-3; Psa_78:65, Psa_110:5, Psa_110:6; Jer_25:30 jealousy: Nah_1:2; Zep_1:18, Zep_3:8 shall cry: Isa_31:4; Hos_11:10; Joe_3:16; Amo_1:2 Isa 42:15 - Isa_2:12-16, Isa_11:15, Isa_11:16, Isa_44:27, Isa_49:11, Isa_50:2; Psa_18:7, Psa_107:33, Psa_107:34, Psa_114:3-7; Jer_4:24; Nah_1:4-6; Hab_3:6-10; Hag_2:6; Zec_10:11; Rev_6:12-17; Rev_8:7-12, Rev_11:13, Rev_16:12, Rev_16:18, Rev_20:11 In the Eyes of the Future. What do you see in the eyes of the elderly? Do you see the past, the future, or nothing important? Do you see the pain of a long and hard life, or do you see a loved one in pain of living too long? Do you see hope in those eyes of love, or confusion? Do you see someone asking for help, when years earlier they asked no one? Do you see weakness, when once there was strength? Do you see sadness, when once there was joy? Do you see yourself in years to come? As a child at school, I once told a friend, as we looked down the road; “Our future is down there, we couldn't see it yesterday, but now its clear, and I'm afraid.” John 21:18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. There are many that ridicule the word of God and those that deliver it. They only look at the physical view and not into the intent of the message. We cannot ignore what God has given us, our birth, life, old age and yes even our death. For death into life is His promise. We see, sometimes only the beginning and the end, but we forget all that is and what will be. For Jesus said; ”Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” That is the same with us, we must all die so that life can be renewed. Death comes to all, but in the mean time, do we ignore the helplessness of our elderly? Can we look into those eyes of yearning and say; ”No more.” Can we see them suffer and wonder alone and say; “Your time is over and now its my time?” Can we forget all that they have sacrificed for us, all the pain, suffering, work, care and especially, forsaking all their pleasure and comfort for our sakes? How hard hearted can a generation be, how can they overlook the tears and whimpers of their mothers and fathers? Think of it this way, You say that you believe in God and Jesus, thats great, but what if they overlooked all the tears of loneliness, and feelings of brokenness that you feel? The worst thing that you can experience, is a broken heart, and I've seen many elderly with broken hearts. Hearts torn apart because they feel that their own children have left them and no longer care. That they no longer matter or are of any use. I know this feeling and without God and my family, I would have been a man most miserable. My heart breaks when I see these people. We reach out to them, taking care of them, as they have taken care of us. All children of God have a mother and father, even when their own are gone to meet Jesus. Every nursing home is full of mothers and fathers, waiting for a kind word, a hug, a kiss, a card or letter from someone, that will show them love. The cries to the Father are many in these days of age; Psa 71:9, “Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.” “Cast me not off in the time of old age.” Each Christian should learn this verse and keep it to heart. For if Christ doesn't come before your time of age occurs we will all call upon the Lord for lost love and compassion, for strength to see, hear and understand. The greatest promise for all of us is that Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us. He may not give us back our sight, our strength, our hearing but He will give us hope in these latter years. Isa 46:4 And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. Isa 41:4 Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he. From the beginning to the last generation, God is there. He never changes as generations do, as children do and as attitudes do. Is there something that you must change in these last days, is there something that is missing from your life, have you forsaken those that have, and still do, love you no matter what? Are those eyes that you look into, show you your future? ars. Psa 71:9 - Cast: Psa_71:18, Psa_92:13-15; Isa_46:4; 2Ti_1:12, 2Ti_4:18 Isa 46:4 - even to your: Isa_41:4, Isa_43:13, Isa_43:25; Psa_92:14, Psa_102:26, Psa_102:27; Mal_2:16, Mal_3:6; Rom_11:29; Heb_1:12, Heb_13:8; Jam_1:17 even to hoar: Psa_48:14, Psa_71:18   The Nature of Sin. There are many people today who believe that what God said about sin in the Old Testament was not carried forward to what Jesus said about sin in the New Testament. This misunderstanding has led to a lot of churches opening up that have ignored what God is said in the Old Testament, and have only relied on what Jesus said in the New Testament. This idea or concept of what people are teaching today is completely deceptive and wrong. When did God change the very nature of sin from the Old Testament,the old covenant, into the New Testament covenant of grace? There has been no change from one covenant into the other. This is a misconception that have led many astray and has opened up many churches that are deceiving themselves and are deceiving others. In the book of Romans, we see that God , condemned sin, in the same manner that he did in the Old Testament. My question is, where is the change from the old testament way of condemning sin from that of the New Testament? Many are wanting to change the very nature of sin so that they can defiled themselves and still be considered righteous. From Leviticus to Romans, the idea of sexual sin and the sins of the flesh, are all still condemned. Jesus stated to all, that the words that He spoke, where not His but were from the Father. Since God cannot change, and Jesus being God, neither can change sin or its consequences. Jesus never changed the 10 Commandments and never eliminated them. They are still enforce today. The difference is in the Old testament, when the 10 Commandments were written, they applied only to the Jewish House of Israel, but as soon as Jesus fulfilled the Law, these same commandments became in force to all men. Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: (This verse is speaking of Homosexuality.) Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. Creature; swarming things, creeping things,That which is created; every being besides the Creator, or every thing not self-existent. The sun, moon and stars; the earth, animals, plants, light, darkness, air, water, &c., are the creatures of God. Man has turned to these creatures, not of God but by God. In other words, God created all things, seen and unseen, but man has created gods from these, non self-existent things, money, power, riches, animals, idols, etc. Rom 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: (This verse is speaking of Homosexuality.) Women having sexual relationships with the same sex, being vile in the old testament was never changed in the new. Vile; despised (1Sa_15:9), despicable (Dan_11:21 the King James Version), foolish (Isa_32:6, the King James Version and the English Revised Version), dishonorable (Rom_1:26), filthy or dirty (Jam_2:2). Rom 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly(Not fit or becoming; uncomely; unbecoming; indecent,Vile), and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.(This verse is speaking of Homosexuality.) What is the natural use of a woman. The Bible tells us that a womans duty is to serve her husband as a lord, fulfilling the sexual needs of the husband and also to bear children. No where in the Bible does it state that Jesus or the disciples changed this, natural use of a womans body. For Sarah called Abraham “lord.” These statements can be found in the Book of Genesis. Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;. There has been no change from the the Old Testament to the New Testament. In the Old Testament God damned sexual imposition and animal husbandry whereby men and women were having sexual relationships between themselves and the animals. Lev 20:15-16; And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast. And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. (Lev 20:15 - Lev_18:23; Exo_22:19; Deu_27:21) Many people today, not just a few, but thousands, are wanting all to change the nature of sin for their own reasons but what about this, would they, or would they not, accept this type of behavior in their assemblies? Another question is why would God change this in the New Testament? The answer is, he would not. The very nature of sin is interpreted by each individual as they look upon their own situations. Lev 18:22-23; Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. (This verse is speaking of Homosexuality.) Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. The verses in the Old testament are under attack by many so called new life churches. They are stating that Jesus never condemned sexual sins of the flesh in the New Testament. But do they also teach that animal husbandry is alright also? Many believe that when Jesus came, that he came not only to fulfill the law but he also came to change the law so that sin could be reevaluated. Murder is murder no matter whether it came from, the Old or from the New. When people start changing the very nature of sin from God's word, thats where man starts deceiving himself and deceiving others. We cannot change the very nature of sin because sin is sin, no matter whether it is the sin of murder, or is the sin of a lie. God judges all sin equally. This judgment is not a judgment of the act itself, but the judgment of the unrighteousness to the act. This is where many misunderstand, and can not understand, that the biggest sin is just as unrighteousness the smallest sin. Now what about drinking of strong drinks? Make up you own mind after reading this. Isa 5:11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! Isa 28:7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. Eze 32:21 The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword. Isa 56:11-12; Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant. Mat 24:49-51; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. When did God change the very nature of sin? ars. I will: Mic_3:5, Mic_3:11; 1Ki_22:6; Jer_6:13, Jer_6:14, Jer_8:10,Jer_8:11, Jer_23:17; Rom_16:18; Phi_3:19; 2Pe_2:13-19 Isa 56:12 - I will: Isa_5:22, Isa_28:7, Isa_28:8; Pro_31:4, Pro_31:5; Hos_4:11; Amo_6:3-6; Mat_24:49-51; Luk_12:45, Luk_12:46, Luk_21:34; Tit_1:7 Rom 1:26 - gave them: Rom_1:24 vile: Gen_19:5; Lev_18:22-28; Deu_23:17, Deu_23:18; Jg_19:22; 1Co_6:9; Eph_4:19; Eph_5:12; 1Ti_1:10; Jud_1:7, Jud_1:10 Avoiding the Snare; A message from my friends at the Temple Institute. "And you shalt consume all the peoples that the L-rd your G-d shall deliver unto you; your eye shall not pity them; neither shall you serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto you." Deuteronomy 7:16 Av 15, 5766/August 9, 2006 When confronted with a life or death decision, it is incumbent upon us to act decisively and morally. To be indecisive or to hesitate, to be passive rather than to act, can be both immoral and deadly. Today Israel is waging war against an implacable enemy, an enemy which worships at an altar of hatred and destruction, and which will be satisfied with nothing less than the total annihilation of the state of Israel, the genocide of the Jewish people, and the obliteration of the Torah of Israel from the face of the earth. When facing such an enemy, each soldier of the army of Israel needs to be armed with a clear and uncompromising understanding of his responsibility to himself, his nation, and all humankind. We are taught by our sages that one is required to die as a martyr rather than to murder. Yet, to cut down an enemy in battle is not murder, but the prevention of murder. Even when that enemy places himself among "innocent" civilians. Even when those "innocents" are women and children. To refrain from pursuing the enemy because of these extenuating circumstances is not an act of moral deliberation. It is an act of confusion, perhaps even cowardice. Torah makes it clear that an enemy is to be pursued mercilessly. The ungodly "moral dilemma" cooked up by the enemy, practitioners of a cynical death cult, is to be treated with contempt. To spare a murderer, even at the risk of killing an innocent child, is to allow and to encourage him to continue to murder and to murder and to murder. To concede to the rules that the terrorists would have us play by, is to become ensnared in trap both deadly and immoral. As much as we hate to see our sons and friends confronted with such decisions, the stern warning which the Torah delivers in this week's reading, Ekev, (Deuteronomy 7:12 - 11:25) leaves no room for moral equivocation. The Torah places a supreme value on human life. Indeed, we are commanded to "choose life." An appreciation of all living things is essential to an understanding of the inner meaning of the Divine service at the Holy Temple. The everyday mitzvot with which we preoccupy ourselves are a celebration of life. One particular day in which the celebration of life as a heavenly gift to be both appreciated and embraced, is Tu B'Av - the 15th day of the month of Av. Considered a minor holiday by Jewish tradition, it is nevertheless one of the most sublime occasions on the Hebrew calendar. Tu B'Av is a day of brotherly love, where common daily distinctions are dropped, and all be come equal. As brothers in peace and unity we become fit for our most sacred task and ultimate destiny - to become partners to the Holy One Himself, Creator of the universe. end message; This is a response to articles, that speak of Israel as the disproportionate one. Lebanon, Gaza, Jerusalem, along with the Golan Heights, and Palestine are all property's of Israel. The problem is that illegal treatment of the Palestinians is not illegal, its self defense. Israel has been invaded many times, The 1948 War of Independence, 1956 Sinai War, 1967 Six Day War, 1973 Yom Kippur War. Weather you believe in God or not, Abraham was Given, by God, Canaan. Iran and Syria are the two anti-Israeli countries that have and will continue to provide Weapons to Hezbollah and Palestinian extremist. There was no Incorrect Translation of the statements by Iranian President Ahmadinejad that Israel has no right to exist.” The Fact is that All Muslim Nations are teaching their Children that all Jews and Christians must be killed to rid the world of the unbelievers in Allah. They seek a one world religion, Islam. Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has it wrong when He says: "If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail." Many people, especially Religious Leaders are forgetting Biblical prophecy's. This is not a matter of Israeli occupation and oppression, but of Biblical prophecy. These are the end Days and the beginning of Sorrows. The statement; In the end, it’s the strong, not the weak, who control events, is thinking in the natural and not the Spiritual. Its Good verses Evil, God Verses Satan and Jesus Verses the Anti-Christ, fighting over the souls of mankind. God Bless Israel! Rev A.R.Smith Dealing with Temptation. When we come of age, we seek those things that are pleasing to us and not of another. We see ourselves as immune to law and limitations. We break away from the things that we were taught, to find our own way, to discover new things and to see if we are immortal. From the rich to the poor, from the learned to the unlearned, we all have been in this situation at one time or another. Children grow up under the watchful eye of their parents and their school masters. But if the child doesn't learn does that mean that the teachers didn't teach? Leaving childhood, lets look at adulthood. 1Co 10:12-13; Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. When a child leaves the world of being a child we see that many start thinking of self. 1Co 13:11 “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought (reasoned) as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” It shouldn't surprise you that, as a child grows up, his attitudes change, his thoughts, his actions and his reasoning, changes. Many times Ive looked at a person, that I knew as a Child, and wondered what happened to them. The temptations of this life have gotten hold of many. The reality of life and death, and its lack of compassion on the populace, had given them a rude awaking. Without direction, even as an adult, the temptations leed to many a heartache and trouble. I spake, I understood(To have the same ideas as the person who speaks, or the ideas which a person intends to communicate. A child's mind to a child's mind.), I thought, and I reasoned (Ideas; conceptions, Fancy; conceit; something framed by the imagination.), as a child. “When I became a man, I put away childish things.”( Belonging to a child; trifling; puerile. Pertaining to children; ignorant; silly; weak. Sometimes a mans childhood is out grown, and many times its taken away.) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:(Here we see that there are no temptations in this life, that are of supernatural sources.) but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able(The word “able” here signifies that the temptations are only allowed to come upon you to the level of faith that you have. Having physical power sufficient; having competent power or strength, bodily or mental); but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear(To support; to sustain; as, to bear a weight or burden.) it. The temptations that affect mankind the most is, Power, Prestige, and Lust. We are drawn away from our Creator with the desires, not of others, but of our own. 1. Power is a temptation in itself, being a driving force that corrupts a man or nation to act in a irresponsible manner. 2. Prestige is the Widely recognized prominence, distinction, or importance that others place on someone. This denotes a man that seeks self importance, trying to impress others to do things that he desires them to do, a smile on one hand and a knife on the other. 3. Lust covers more than just sex, its to have an intense or obsessive desire, An overwhelming desire or craving, Intense eagerness or enthusiasm, generally directed to the individual for their own desires. Power, Prestige, and Lust, are the three main items in mans life that causes, war, rape, disputes and covetousness. A Temptation is, To attract by arousing hope or desire; lure . This is an overwhelming desire to obtain that which is not mans to obtain. James 1:13-15; Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. In Mark 7:21-23 we see these three things again, Power, Prestige, and Lust, brought forth as an degrading manner of man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. All these things can be handled easily by recognizing what they are and what they will produce. We handle temptation by looking at the consequences of our actions and by letting God know that these things are a burden to us. Satan knows what your weaknesses are and he will use them to his advantage, to kill the spirit within you, and then the body. We all know these signs of temptation, we see them every day, those that try to lie to you in every way, with varied media, and we see it on the streets, the news and even within our own neighborhood and sometimes within our own house. We must not forget the lessons of the past, for if we do, the past will repeat itself, to terrible conclusions. 1Co_3:1, 1Co_3:2, 1Co_14:20; Ecc_11:10; Gal_4:1 1Co_4:6-8, 1Co_8:2; Pro_16:18, Pro_28:14; Mat_26:33, Mat_26:34, Mat_26:40,Mat_26:41; Rom_11:20; Rev_3:17, Rev_3:18. ars Dealing with Controversy James 2:2-2:4 Dealing with Controversy. As we enter into this end time era, I feel that we all need to know how to deal with controversy. Jesus dealt with it; from the time He started His Ministry until the Day He was crucified. Have you ever dealt with areas of life that caused a division among you and your friends, your spouse or your entire family? It’s difficult to be different, isn’t it? Lets deal with specifics of controversy. Controversy is a disagreement, or debate. Here is one that James dealt with ; James 2:2-4 For if there come into your synagogue ( church, place of worship) a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, and there come in also a poor man in vile ( loathsome, nasty, obnoxious, odious, base, degraded, foul, etc) clothing; and ye have regard (look upon, gaze at, have preference to, etc) to him that weareth the fine clothing, and say, Sit thou here in a good place; and ye say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool; Do ye not make distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? These three verses are pretty self-explanatory aren’t they? Controversy starts with a difference of opinion, or a difference in policy. So you ask, “Where s the controversy here?” Its everywhere a poor man cant come into a church, to seek after God, dressed the way he is, maybe all he has are a pare of blue jeans and a clean shirt, some churches would stop Him at the door and refuse him entrance, Yes, its true, I’ve seen it. Have we gotten to the point that salvation is only for the best dressed or only for those that can afford it? Isn’t salvation a free gift from God? Have we become a Nation of judges, having evil thoughts? Maybe so, or maybe, we have lost sight of who we are in Christ. The end days are a negative time that needs to be addressed and opened up. If we are to endure and be faithful witnesses for Christ, we must bring out the worst of mankind to help others make a complex decision on their place in eternity. Dealing with controversy here is learning to deal with, church doctrine and making it line up with the word of God, instead of contradicting it. Hebrews 13:2-3 Forget not to show love unto strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; them that are illtreated, as being yourselves also in the body. We have a responsibility to others that are in bondage as once we were, to help set them free, and those that are illtreated (abused, neglected), to suffer with them, showing compassion. Lets stop and think for a moment, has there ever been a time in your life that you’ve met someone, talked to him or her for a moment and turned around and they were gone from sight? Or you needed help along side the road, and all of a sudden someone was there? Have you ever passed by someone on the road and looked in your rear view mirror and couldn’t see them? Have you ever turned away someone away from the church because of the way they were dressed? Someone that may have been turned away from the church doors, could have been an angel. Now we all know the difference between vile raiment and just plain vulgar clothing, the latter must be stopped at the door and addressed. But to turn away some one because of a dress code or other doctrine, that, might I say, is contrary to sound doctrine, is very dangerous. Because of James 2:2-4 and Hebrews 13:2-3. Matthew 19:23-25And Jesus said unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. (The Sadducee's and Pharisees, were fixed on or had an fixation on clothing and fine apparel, which became part of their downfall) And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye (a passage way, very narrow, that camels had to be unloaded to pass thru, on the trade route), than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And when the disciples heard it, they were astonished exceedingly, saying, Who then can be saved? Controversy, because something hadn’t been taught before makes it difficult for people to comprehend and understand. Sometimes people have been taught wrong for so long that they begin to take it as being right. Controversy on the salvation of the rich over the poor. Jesus was asking in His teachings, “Who among you have made the Rich better than the Poor as far as salvation, as far as sin, as far as condemnation, as far as the Law and as far as Gods love for each?” Matthew 19:30 But many shall be last that are first; and first that are last. Your status or station on earth will not be the status that you will receive in Heaven. {M.H.} There will be reversals; those rich on earth, but poor hereafter; those high in station, degraded hereafter; and the lowly on earth, exalted hereafter. The right man to follow any cause, be it what it will, is he who loves it well enough to fling to it everything he has in the world, and then think that not enough, and so fling himself after it. This last item often weighs down the scales in heaven, and the man gets what he gave himself for. This is where many controversies lie. Being exalted of ourselves here, self-righteousness, does nothing to change the destiny that is ours in the afterlife. Jesus once said of John the Baptist, Matthew 11:11 “Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is but little in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” This in itself, is a controversial, statement, because of mans pride wanting to be the best of everything. If the smallest in Heaven is to be greater than the greatest man born of woman, then where are we as man, not born the greatest of woman, going to stand? Humbleness is a virtue that we all need to work on. Our station in Heaven is only secure if we are obedient to the will of God. This does not take away from our rewards, for the labor that we have done in the name of the Gospel. It is only teaching that rich or poor there is no difference in the eyes of God. Want more proof, lets read a little more in Matthew. Matthew 20:9-12 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a shilling. And when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received every man a shilling. And when they received it, they murmured against the householder, saying, These last have spent but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat. Who has made us higher than God, who has made us judges of what is right and wrong? Who among us can tell God who deserves what type of reward? Mat 20:15-16 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Or is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last. When we start thinking that we are better than others, then we inter into sin. Controversy is not just the sins of the flesh but also sins of the mind. Matthew 5:27-28 Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery: but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. John 6:53-60 Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have not life in yourselves. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life: and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he that eateth me, he also shall live because of me. This is the bread which came down out of heaven: not as the fathers ate, and died; he that eateth this bread shall live for ever. These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. Many therefore of his disciples, when they heard this, said, this is a hard saying; who can hear it? Speaking things contrary to popular beliefs brings forth controversy and debate. Speaking of controversy, Jesus opened the eyes of the religious community, by telling them; it’s not only the sins of the flesh that you have to worry about but also the sins of the mind. What is controversy? Jesus is. Jesus was and is, the most controversial man in history. What other man do you know in history, ever took 12 unimpressive men and turned the world upside down. Jesus took controversy and changed this world forever. Believing in Jesus and the Gospel has always been controversial; it is not for us as believers to deal with controversy but just the opposite. It’s the world of unbelief that has to deal with Jesus. Religion and worldly laws must come to grips with the teachings of Jesus. God gave man, law and man failed to abide by them. All controversy stems from the righteous teachings of Jesus. Why? Because the teachings of Jesus allow for the inclusion of all man kind and not just a chosen few. Wars, rumors of wars, hate, strife, abortion, homosexuality, infighting among the church, pride, arrogants, etc, all come from resistance of the Gospel. 1Titus 1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully, Those who are unbelievers are lost due to their knowledge of carnal sin and must repent to have everlasting life. For where there is no law there is no knowledge of sin. Paul stated that he only knew sin by the knowledge of the law. The teachings, of Jesus, were and still are, so much more advanced than any other, and controversy is always around. He opens all the locked closets, turns on all the lights to brighten the dark places, reveals all the dirty laundry, tells all the hidden secrets and tells all the truths of your life, making them known to all the world, He lays all sins bare before the world, He makes the crooked straight, and the mountains flat, the lame to walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak. He humbles the mighty, and exalts the weak. He has made the impossible, possible, the wrongs, right and the united, divided. He came not to bring peace but a sword, not to bring adhesion but division, among nations, leaders and families. All the controversial issues of life, abortion, same sex marriages, homosexuality, politics, nation, church leadership, women’s rights, baptism of babies, ECT, all answered in the word. So then if all answers are given in the Scripture, why are we having such a hard time in coming together as one body, “Pride”. Answers are only as good as the ability of a person to accept them; otherwise they become only words on a page. You all know this next set of verses, lets get to the point. Mark 4:12-20, emphasis on Mark 4:19-20 and the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. And those are they that were sown upon the good ground; such as hear the word, and accept it, and bear fruit, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold. We deal with controversy by dealing with Christ and the Word of God. Once we believe in Him that sent His Son to die for us, we no longer live or have to deal with controversy. As believers in Christ we have been made over comers by the word of God and by our testimony. All controversy stems from the Gospel, because it is contrary to the laws of man and mans idea of what life should be. Sin and unrighteousness are contradictions of the Gospel and result in controversy. Many don’t and will never believe in Jesus or God. Their lives are spent in trying to discredit the Gospel to justify their lifestyle. Dealing with controversy is as easy as praying. Cast all your cares on the Lord, for He cares for you. Ars   Dealing with Disappointment Philippians 4:11-4:21 Dealing with Disappointment. How did the people in the Bible and How do we deal with Disappointment? Philippians 4:11, Not that I speek in respect of want, for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am , therewith to be content. David and Saul and many others of the Old Testament when faced with disappointment, rent their clothes and put on sack cloth an dashes, in repentance to God for not only their sins but for the sins of the people of Israel. They cried and wept bitterly, prayed and made sacrifices. What is disappointment, Strong's Dictionary of Bible words, says it, to frustrate, to disesteem, to cease, neutralize. So what is it in our life? Sometimes its when we think that something is going to happen and it doesn't when you don't get the promotion that you've been waiting for, or the loan from the bank falls thru or when you always wanted to do something and the opportunity comes and everything looks great and you anticipation is at an all time high and suddenly something happens. Your back where you started from. Disappointment leads to depression and depression leads to lack of confidence and lack of confidence leads to low self esteem. How did Paul deal with this spirit, and yes ,its a spirit. If one action leads to another which brings torment, then its a spirit. Paul, after all that He had to go thru, finally realized that the only way to defeat this spirit, was to be content with whatsoever state that He was in. Ive been disappointed many times in my life, promotions that should have come to me was given to others that had less experience, bank loans, that should have went good, were denied, prayers that I knew that would be answered, weren't. But we can always go to scripture and find the answers. Philippians 4:6, Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. This doesn't mean that He will grant your request, but He will know your intent. Remember that sometimes the best answer from God on your prayers are NO. Verse 4 tells us to rejoice, in everything, rejoice. This is a good way to get rid of that disappointing spirit. Your not the first person that has had prayers not answered or been disappointed about how life has treated you. We've all been thru it, and we have all survived. Disappointment is one of the biggest causes of suicide in the world, because it leads to other things. We have to get a handle upon it and rebuke it, before it starts to grow. At times it will also cause you to stop going to church. When disappointment sets in, we start feeling sorry for ourselves and then we want the world to have a pity party for us. I refuse to have these spirits in my life and home. I tell others that have this spirit that visit me, I can help you but I'm not going to join in the pity party that this spirit wants. We then proceed to cast it out and then work on the rest. Did Jesus ever feel disappointment? Yes, but he knew how to deal with it. When the deciles couldn't cast out a demon from a child, Jesus rebuked them, How much longer must I suffer you. Bring the child to me. He rebuked the spirit and finished the work. And that is what we are supposed to do. Jesus has given us all an example of all situations and the means to deal with them. Lets look at Paul again as an example. Phil.cpt 4:12, I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound, every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. Powerful statement, wasn't it? But we have to, as Christians, be able and willing to, share in the need of another that has a spirit of disappointment, to help bear one another's burdens. To be willing to say, Ive been there and know what your going thru, lets sit down and talk about it. Can you do that? I believe that you can. Lets get rid of disappointment as quickly as we can before it gets rid of us. ars. Dealing With Life John 11:9-11:10 Dealing with Life. A Bibles point of view. Part three How do we deal with the living, others and our selfs. Knowing how to deal with life is just as important as knowing how to deal with death. The life we lead on this earth, determines, how and where we spend eternity in the next life. Jesus said, that a man who believes on him ,even thou he be dead the same shall live again. He told us that he came to give life and to give it more abundantly. What is life? Life is a series of trial and error. A way of relating to our present exsistance, spirit,heart, mind, and soul, of being. Life is a period of time that has been given to us by God to reconcile ourselves to Him thru Jesus. There is none of us that ever asked to be born . We made no decisions about our parents, color, race, sex, geographical location, whether to be rich or poor. This is who we are. We may not have the education of others, or we may not even be whole, we may be handicapped, lame, halt, blind or deaf. But the exsistance that we have ,is what we have to work with. You nor I can change our features or physical status, but we can learn to adapt thru the grace of God. Most people that I have met, make their life decisions on experience or change in the economy, geographical location, government or religious regulations. But if we make our decisions based upon the Bible then we will endure this life much better. Dealing with life is being able to deal with decisions. Lets look at what Jesus says. John 11:9-10, .. Are there not 12 hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. Jesus was talking about decisions of life and how a man has two ways of dealing with them. We can make our life decisions based upon the light of day, where by we can see clearly to make our decisions by the word of God, or we can make them by the darkness of this worlds systems. Our lives are full of decisions, who we marry, jobs, education, clothes, food ,transportation, where we live and who we associate with. But if you notice , there is a lot of complaining in this life, you've heard it, time and time again. If a man comes to you complaining that he has no shoes, remind him of the man who has no feet. That is dealing with life. If a man comes complaining that the bread that he has is two days old, remind him of the children that have no bread at all. Church, there is coming a time where all your decisions on life will be made for you, government officials will enact laws governing everything about your life, right down to your religion. Its even possible for them to outlaw all religions to stop trouble between false religions and Christianity. Didn't Jesus say that, it was better to enter into life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into hell fire? Matthew 18:8-9. The apostle Paul stated that, He learned that whatever state that he was in, to therewith to be content. We have to learn to deal with whatever state that were in. To be content, if we cant be content with what we have, how church, can God bless us with something better? If God cant trust you with 1 dollar, how can he trust you with 2? Are you looking for a perfect life here on earth, well your not going to get it, so we all have to deal with the reality that Jesus came to give life but he didn't say here. He said that, My kingdom is not on this earth, if it were, wouldn't my disciples fight? This life is a dressing room, a staging ground, a stage, a training camp for something higher or lower depending on the decisions you make. We were born into this life for one reason only, it was for Gods good pleasure, and nothing else, can the clay tell the potter what it wants to be? No. So this is how we deal with life. We do the best we can with what God has given us and maby he will bless us with better, when we show him that we can take care of it. Remember these few things, some of the ways God answers prayer are these, 1.Yes. 2. No. 3. Maby ars. Dealing with Memories Romans 8:13-8:15 Dealing with Memory This message is part of the Dealing With Series. How do we as Christians deal with memories of the past, (good or bad)? What is a memory? The faculty of the mind by which it retains the knowledge of past events, or ideas, which are past. A distinction is made between memory and recollection. Memory retains past ideas without any, or with little effort; recollection implies an effort to recall ideas that are past. Is it an affliction at times? Yes. So then, what is an affliction? 1. A condition of pain, suffering, or distress, burden. 2. A cause of pain, suffering, or distress. Inflected forms: af·flict·ed, af·flict·ing, af·flicts To inflict grievous physical or mental suffering on, Middle English afflighten, from afflight, disturbed, frightened, from Latin afflictum, to cast down, to strike afflict, agonize, rack, torment, torture These verbs mean to bring great harm or suffering to someone: tortured by painful memories. Heb 10:32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 1Co 4:17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church. 1Ti 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. 2Pe 1:15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. John 11:35 Jesus wept. To the unsaved, memories are primarily, recollections of past sins that were pleasurable and badges of conquests, the jobs that you beat others out of, the sexual encounter that went your way, the money you acquired by the loss of others, etc. But to the saved they are pricks to the soul and spirit. Many are hurtful and bring harm to the spirit of the individual. Heb 10:32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; the word afflictions here represents, not physical only, but of mental anguish. The past of a Christian always bring to each a separate set of problems. Other Christians bring many of those problems on, Yes, I said other Christians, bringing up your past. Many of your friends that are still in the world will always bring up you’re past trying to get you to revert to the way you once were. They don’t understand what you have and wish only to have you back the way they remember you. Many times I’ve noticed, that people that are miserable with their life, wish to have everyone else just as miserable as they are, so they bring up your past to remind you of your faults. When this happens, the old memories start flowing, as a river, not to refreshen you but to drown you in you’re past faults. The types of memories depend upon the individual. Satan knows your past and will use the most painful to cause you loss of sleep, loss of concentration and confusion in your daily walk with God. Do you have, Bad dreams, nightmares, dreams that once brought you pleasure that you thought were gone, are you happily married and still have recollections of lost loves of your youth? Do you sometimes have doubts about the choices that you made in the past? If you said yes to any of these, these are the things that the Bible says are fights of afflictions. After ye were illuminated, most of your memories never affected you until after you were saved, true of false? There are good memories and bad. The good memories are those of departed loved ones, happy times as a child, accomplishments you’ve attained, etc. These are no burden to you and Satan will not bother with them. The ones he uses are those that we have discussed before. Do all men have memories? Yes, even Jesus had memories of past events, not as the Son of God only, but also as the Son of Man. John 11:35 Jesus wept. The shortest verse in scripture but one that reveals a lot. Why did Jesus cry? His friend Lazarus had died, when Jesus was confronted with the reality of the passing, sometimes memories are invoked by the, confrontation of reality in this life. The memories Jesus had, of his friend, came flooding back to him and he wept. These were good memories. Now how can I say this about Jesus and memory? Remember that Jesus had prior knowledge of the death of Lazarus and the scripture doesn’t state that Jesus cried after telling the disciples that Lazarus had died. The actual burden never came upon Jesus until after the memories came to Him, until after He came, face to face, with the reality of death itself of a loved one. Think of this for a moment and you will understand. What makes us cry when a loved one passes away? Not only the actual death itself but the memories of them and the knowledge that there will be no more contact with them. An end to future good times and bad, an end to plans, hopes and dreams of better times ahead, a parting of spirits never to reunite in this life. Of all the funerals that I have attended, the main subject upon everyone’s mind was, memories. But what about the bad memories that cause torment? These are not of God. God does not bring torment to His children, so we have to look at the source of this burden. Satan and his demons (aka) evil spirits are the source. How then do we deal with this? Different means are and can be used in relieving torment. Recognition, Revitalization and Rebuking. 1. Recognition. Recognizing a good memory from a bad one. Knowing weather a memory is from God or Satan, otherwise as the scripture states, discerning of spirits [1Co 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits;], those that are of God and those that are of Satan. This is one of the spiritual gifts. Once we recognize that the spirit we are dealing with is from Satan then we know how to contend with it. 2.Revitalization. Renewing your faith in God. Faith plays an important part in dealing with the past and its memories. Knowing that God no longer remembers your past nor does He remember your sins of the past. Many may disagree at this next point but I want to bring it forward for discussion. If a memory of a past sin haunts you and brings you torment, many people try to ask God to help you with it. But, remember, that when God forgave you of your sins, He forgave you of all not just some. So when you bring up a past sin to God, He has no memory of it. The Father has no idea what you are speaking of. Psa 103:12, As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Reference; Psa_50:1, Psa_113:3; Isa_45:6 Isa_43:25; Jer_31:34, Jer_50:20; Mic_7:18; Heb_10:2; 1Jo_1:7 3. Rebuking. Tit 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. What is to rebuke? In Scripture, chastisement; punishment; affliction for the purpose of restraint and correction. Ezek 5. To check or restrain. We must restrain or check these spirits that bring upon us bad memories. How you may ask? First by recognizing the spirit and calling it out by name. Each spirit of Satan has a name, such as, spirit of; evil, Legion (many), heartache, sickness (various), unclean thoughts, depression, anxiety, nightmares, lust, greed, hate, bondage, confrontation, ECT. In the following verse, the Lord calls the spirit out by name. The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan. Zec 3. Isa 17. Act 19:15-16 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; Rom 8:26 Likewise the spirit also helpeth our infirmities: So you can see thru these examples, that we must take control of these spirits, rebuking them and restraining them from using our memories from harming us. Our memories are just fragments of our past, some of them are of failures in life and others are accomplishments, we have to discern which and control them. God has given us power over all the enemy, and we must learn to use it effectively. Remember you can’t change the past, and even if you could ask yourself, “ would I want to? “ Sometimes the things you want are not necessarily the things that you need. Ars. Dealing with Terror Isaiah 8:12-8:13 How do we as Christians deal with terror? Terror has been an effective tool of Satan from the beginning and He will continue to use it until Christ does away with it. Terror is a spirit and if left unchecked will destroy a mans faith in Gods promises. From Vietnam, Racial discord and the Cold War, we have been dealing with terror on our own terms. Viet Nam was a terror in a distant land; we knew where the front line was and whom the enemy was. By, The Grace of God, we overcame racial Discord and predigest. . The Cold war, we knew who our enemies were and it was dealt with by prayer and persistence. Our greatest threat today is September 11th.Fighting a cowardly enemy who knows neither decency nor boundaries to murder. An army with no face nor uniform, no rules of conduct or set country. The enemy here is religion, false religion. It has come in as a thief, to steal souls and lives of the innocent. The basis for their terror is found in the Koran;” The Guilty may be killed”, and who are the guilty according to Mohamed? Any one who is not Muslim. Christians around the world are being martyred every single day, beheadings are on the increase, bombings, imprisonment, rape and abductions are common practices for the anti-Christian nations. We should and must be able to defend our religion with meekness, in the fear of God. There is no room for any other fears where this great fear is; it disturbs not. The Fear of the Lord should be our only concern, for Christ said,” Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” The conscience (principles or the sense of right and wrong) is good, when it does its office well. But when the conscious deters from its intended purpose it brings forth death (spiritual and physical) and sin and all manner of abominations. Lacking truth and wisdom in God. In the case of our Lord’s suffering, he that knew no sin, suffered instead of those who knew no righteousness. The spirit of terror has no righteousness within itself; it has no shame and no love for mankind. Terror wishes to destroy the spirit of the people and bring them into bondage. If terror is allowed to accomplish its mission we as Christians are in bondage to it and not to the freedom that we have in God. Who is stronger, man or God? If you suffer the anxiety of terror you must renew you strength in God by renewing your Fear of God and your Joy in Him. Rom 13:3 for rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 2Co 5:11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. 1Pe 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; Lets look a little closer at, 1st Peter 3; 14; For righteousness, "not the suffering, but the cause for which one suffers, makes the martyr" [AUGUSTINE]. Augustine was indicating that the suffering of Jesus was not for the suffering itself, which was in the flesh, but the suffering was for the cause of righteousness and our salvation. Without a cause, suffering is pointless. Many today are suffering for the cause of Christianity this makes them martyrs for God and the Gospel. Happy, Not even can suffering take away your blessedness, but rather promotes it. Terror cannot take away your blessedness or salvation unless you allow it to. Our suffering, again, must have a purpose or we suffer for nothing. Our safety is based on the Power of God and His Grace and not on the things that man can do. 2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Heb 11:34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. We are made strong thru our weakness and terror is overcome by our strength in our faith. If man kills the body there is no more that he can do. This body must return back to the dust of the earth but the soul will live forever. 2Co 13:4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. Jesus dealt with terror or should I say the spirit of terror, in the garden of Gethsemane and on the cross. Mat 26:38-39 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. Overcoming terror for Jesus was accomplished by Joy, “for the Joy set before Him, endured the Cross, Despising the shame.” Joy overcomes terror and grief. The Joy of the Lord is my strength, my stay and my salvation; with the Joy of God we are over-comers of this world and its terror. Does not the scripture say that we are more than conquers? Jesus dealt with and overcame every spirit that we deal with today, we can do no less than our savior did, and we also must overcome. Look at Revelations, Jesus spoke of “He that Overcometh.” And the overcoming of terror is thru and by the Word of God, knowing that if we are martyred for the cause of the Gospel, we are assured of Life everlasting in the arms of the Almighty. And--Greek, "but." Do not impair (damage or weaken) your blessing (1Pe 3:9) by fearing man’s terror in your times of adversity. Literally, "Be not terrified with their terror," that is, with that which they try to strike into you, and which strikes them when in adversity. This verse and 1Pe 3:15 is quoted from Isa 8:12-13. God alone is to be feared; he that fears God has none else to fear. God alone is to be feared, knowledge begins with the fear of God. Not a physical fear but a reverent fear, there is a difference. Neither be troubled--the threat of the law, Lev 26:36; Deut 28:65-66; in contrast to which the Gospel gives the believer a heart assured of God’s favor, and therefore unruffled, amidst all adversities. Not only be not afraid, but also be not even agitated. When you hear or see signs of terror, take it with stride, understand the cause and be not afraid. Terror always has a cause and understanding it and facing it will relieve the fear of it. I pray that this message will strengthen your resolve to endure and to strengthen your faith. We are never alone; Jesus promised that He would always be with you even until the end of the world. Ars. Dealing with the Past 1 Corinthians 13:10-13:12 There are many things that we as Christians have to deal with, when we give our life to Christ. One of these things is our past life, before we were changed into a new creature. As we grow in Jesus we start to expand our testimony to those that we use to know, hoping to get them to join in the family of God. But as we prepare our testimony and present our case to them, they always bring up our past and Satan tries to defeat us with it. So how do we deal with our past? Lets get some scripture and start to learn about, Dealing with the Past. Romans 8:6-7. We’ve all at one time or another ,been hurt, by those that bring up our past as if we were still living it. The scripture tells us that we all at one time were unruly. Most people that are miserable with their lives, want to make others, just as miserable as they are. This seems to be a way of forgetting their failures in life and passing the hurt to someone else. Consequently, they bring up your past, to help themselves to feel better about their failures in life. They don’t count the consequences of the hurt that they will cause you, and believe me ,it does hurt, especially when you’ve fought for a long time to forgive yourself for your mistakes. yes ,you do have to forgive yourself also. When Jesus forgives, He and God no longer remember what you’ve done, but you also have to forgive and forget,for, yourself. Romans 8:33, Who shall lay anything to the charge of Gods elect ? It is God that justifieth. Who are these people that condemn you,for your past, we are and all have been unruly. Christ made the sacrifice for us, He paid the debt, He did not owe, so it is to Him weather to forgive and judge, and not others. Just remember, when Satan reminds you of your past, remind him of his future. Rebuke these spirits that torment you, and yes these are spirits that bring up your past, because torment is not of God. There is a lot about mans ignorance that shows thru when they remember your past, but we must be willing to deal with it, to be a good witness for Jesus. Showing them that, the sins of the past are forgiven and the sins of the future are hidden under the blood, for a Christian will not sin willfully. For we as, reborn creatures ,can no longer live in sin, for we are of the seed of God. John 8:6-7, 1Corinthians 13:10-12, and many others tell us us people that will bring up the past to hurt or justify their anger at situations that they cant control. 1st Corin., 13:10 speaks of ,”But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. “ Dreams, visions, etc, will come and go, but to end, the way to deal with the past is to, rebuke the spirit of torment, calling it by name. Remember to bind on earth, is to bind in Heaven. Call these spirits by name ,rebuking them in the name of Jesus, believing that they will no longer bother you and ,forgive yourself as Christ has forgiven you. Paul said, “let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of dead works, unto repentance.” Read the scriptures and understand, what God has forgiven, He no longer remembers. We serve God not man. ars. Dealing with Heart Disease. There are two different types of Heart Disease, the disease of the flesh and the disease of the spirit. For a moment I would like to talk to you about the Heart Disease of the flesh. In 1999 I had a massive heart attack, in fact I had three. On the first one I was pronounced dead by a Doctor from a prestigious Hospital. God in His mercy raised me up to continue my ministry, but He also allowed my body to maintain the Disease. I understand what many go thru when their hearts fail them. I know the pain and sometimes the despair that follows the attack. Fear wasn't with me but was rebuked. I was ready to leave this world and be with my Saviour. Living with this disease is sometimes difficult because the symptoms don't show outwardly. Have you ever heard people say, ” I don't see a thing wrong with you.?” I have. Heart disease is a silent killer that gives little or no warning just as Cancer. There sometimes is no outward sign that a person has the disease. I have experienced, nights without sleep, pains that come and go and depression that I have to rebuke. Yes, ministers also are attacked by Satan. I know how it affects family and friends. Many friends walk away from you, because they don't want to deal with it. The best friend I have is my wife Juanita. She is always there with words of encouragement and comfort. This reminds me of the times Jesus sent out the disciples by twos, one would be able to lean on the other and help each other. Thats how I feel about my wife, she is my best friend. To be able to live with this debilitating Disease, I turned to the Bible for my answers, the first question I had for God was, 1. Why Me? The answer I received was, 1Pe 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. But the most surprising of His answers was, ”Why Not You, My Son also had to suffer.” I accepted these answers and went on. 2. How will I continue on with my ministry? 1Co 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 2Co 8:7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. The key word here was grace. His Grace would be sufficient for me to continue in His path. Unlike the Scientologist, I accepted the help of my doctors, took my medication, blessed each pill by the grace of God and trusted in Him. I don't think about dieing, for its up to the Lord. I learned one thing real fast, I have no control over my time to die, so why worry about it. The Joy of the Lord is my strength. The best example that God showed me was the life of Job. Job 1:6-12 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. So I put myself in Jobs shoes. Satan have you considered my servant Anthony? So put yourself in Jobs shoes. Satan have you considered my servant ..................? To live with Heart disease, 1. Live. Don't let the disease rule you. 2. Grace. Let Gods grace fill you with understanding of why you. For God Grace is sufficient. 3. Faith. Let your faith in God deliver you thru all the pain and suffering that you go thru. 4. Believe. Believe that God has a reason that you are allowed to be inflicted. 5. Show. Show the world what your God can do. 6. Witness. Be a witness to His majesty and Power. 7. Rebuke. Rebuke the spirit of infirmity. 8. Stand. Stand, and when you've done all, stand on Gods word. 9. Don't Fear. Don't fear or fret about the body but consider the soul and the one who has power over body and soul. 10. Read. Read Gods word daily, it comforts the Body, Mind and Soul. Remember this one thing, Prayer isn't automatic. Many Christians believe that God will answer all prayers because of the statement by Christ. Mat 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. This statement has a condition that goes along with it, ”If it be Gods Will !” Mat 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. Praying in the will of God is important,” not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Luke 21:25-26 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. Now to the Spirit. Rev 2:23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. Mans heart is a complex thing not just in the flesh but especially in the spirit. Man has come from the creation of God in His image to a creature that is being killed in spirit by the cancer that has taken over this world. I just want to share with you a letter that I received today from a good friend of mine. “Dear Brother Smith, It has been a long time you never heard from me, an incident occurred that completely took me off my feet. My wife was shot by armed robbers on September 10th, over $30,000 collected from her as she was working on her new clinic site, 8 bullets has so far been removed from her head, the rib's were broken by bullets and the right leg. She will be injected for 28days and no one is permitted to see her during these period. Brother it's a tormenting period for me, help me in prayers please. Bishop Dr. Joseph Rankin” This world is dieing. Many are calling for peace, but peace is unattainable in this life. Prostitution, Homo-sexuality, Rape, Murder, Theft, Unrighteousness, war, rumors of war, Earthquakes, Floods, Fires, And man still fails to repent or to see the signs of the times. There are many that say that they belong to God, but which god do they belong to. John 8:44-47, Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. The cancer of mans spirit is growing each and every day. Many worldwide are calling for an alliance of Christian, Judaism and Islam, to bring about world peace and prosperity. They want to join all three under one universal name. But there can only be two that can align themselves together, Judaism and Christianity, for the Jews and Christians are brothers. All other, so called religions that denigh the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are not of God but of that spiritual cancer. You cannot make an alliance with the Devil. His promises to you are worthless and misleading. Death and destruction are in the paths of man, for he knows not the God of our fathers. Rejection has become the norm around the world. Many are ignoring the signs of the times, many are being cautious stating that the things that have are are going to happen are fulfillment of prophecy. The cancer in man has blinded him from the truth. He no longer sees the suffering of others, he no longer sees the signs of the times, the signs in the heavens, the signs in the earth and the signs on the earth. Hell enlarges its boarders daily and is never full. Man is on a course that puts him in the number that will have not only one death but will die a second time. Heb 3:10-12, Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 1Jo 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. Apostasy; An abandonment of what one has professed; a total desertion, or departure from one's faith or religion. Rev 18:7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. 2Pe 2:14-22; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. Apostasy; An abandonment of God for the lust of the flesh, power, corruption, instability, hypocrites all. Lost and dieing without hope of a resurrection in Glory. Falling as a tree in the woods with no sound to be heard, falling with cancer without any truth within them. False teachers, false preachers, false prophets, without understanding, without knowledge, without wisdom. As a tree falls, so shall it be raised. My words are nothing compared to the words of God. ars Dealing with Divorce. Many divorces happen because of an unequal alliance. A joining of two, separately dividing, different people. Many times its a matter of rich and poor, Immaturity, educated and uneducated, Christian and non-Christian. But most of the time, its a joining of two different people, out of the will of God. Marriages made by lust, convenience, and popularity. In most of the instances I've seen and councled, its a matter of, abuse and adultery, and or, childish lust that gives way to an act that is not justified. The joining of two different people, is what God warns of being unequally yoked together. There is no reason nor cause for abuse in any form, mental or physical, for this is a violation of the Laws of God and man. This is a violation of the Gospel, and will be dealt with by God. Eph 5:28-29; So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: The sins of Adultery. Pro 5:18-20; Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished(delighted to ecstasy.) with a strange woman,(A woman, not your wife.) and embrace the bosom of a stranger? These sins of man are equal to the same sins created by the woman, having a relationship with a man, not her husband. JFB. States of this; unequally yoked — “yoked with one alien in spirit.” The image is from the symbolical precept of the law (Lev_19:19), “Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind”; or the precept (Deu_22:10), “Thou shalt not plough with an ox and an ass together.” Compare Deu_7:3, forbidding marriages with the heathen; also 1Co_7:39. The believer and unbeliever are utterly heterogeneous. Too close intercourse with unbelievers in other relations also is included (2Co_6:16; 1Co_8:10; 1Co_10:14). A marriage of people that haven't grown up and still think as a child. Many times its the parents that cause a division between the wife and husband and often it's just childishness that is the cause. 1Co 7:15 - if ... depart — that is, wishes for separation. Translate, “separateth himself”: offended with her Christianity, and refusing to live with her unless she renounce it. brother or a sister is not under bondage — is not bound to renounce the faith for the sake of retaining her unbelieving husband [Hammond]. Deu_13:6; Mat_10:35-37; Luk_14:26. The believer does not lie under the same obligation in the case of a union with an unbeliever, as in the case of one with a believer. In the former case he is not bound not to separate, if the unbeliever separate or “depart,” in the latter nothing but “fornication” justifies separation [Photius in Aecumenius]. but God hath called us to peace — Our Christian calling is one that tends to “peace” (Rom_12:18), not quarreling; therefore the believer should not ordinarily depart from the unbelieving consort (1Co_7:12-14), on the one hand; and on the other, in the exceptional case of the unbeliever desiring to depart, the believer is not bound to force the other party to stay in a state of continual discord (Mat_5:32). Better still it would be not to enter into such unequal alliances at all (1Co_7:40; 2Co_6:14).(Clark.) bill of divorce — literally, “a writing of cuttings off.” The plural implies the completeness of the severance. The use of this metaphor here, as in the former discourse (Jer_3:1), implies a close connection between the discourses. The epithets are characteristic; Israel “apostate” (as the Hebrew for “backsliding” is better rendered); Judah, not as yet utterly apostate, but treacherous or faithless. jfb Jer 3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. 1Co 7:9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. 1Co 7:28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you. Mat 19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. The sins of some churches. 1Ti 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 1Co 7:15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.1Co 7:15 - But if the unbelieving depart - If they choose to leave you. Let him depart - You cannot prevent it, and you are to submit to it patiently, and bear it as a Christian. brns. Divorce does not mean the end of ones ability to love or remarry, if they chose to do so. We cannot condemn the divorce for abiding to the word of God and Jesus, concerning divorce. If the circumstances arise, then we must not condemn ourselves, for if the individual does all to reconcile to the other and is refused, then the person is not bound any more but has retain peace between them and God. In these cases, do not try to bear the burden of blame or fault with yourself, this is self condemnation. Those that are not saved, the laws of God are not in force with them, for the carnal mind is not subject to the law of God. Proof? Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Jfb. In such a state of mind there neither is nor can be the least subjection to the law of God. The reason here is explained, that, a person, an unbeliever is not, or will not, be bound to the laws of God and will do as he or she desires to do. There by, being not subject to the Laws of God. This is where many say that a person being married in or as sinners, after divorce, cannot remarry. This is untrue, for being out in sin, and then being saved, God no longer remembers the sins of their past. In so that a person can remarry and still be in the will of God, without a judgment being leveled against that person. This is not to say that they are not bound by the plan of salvation, for all will give an answer for their actions. Fornication; 1. The incontinence or lewdness of unmarried persons, male or female; also, the criminal conversation of a married man with an unmarried woman. 2. Adultery. Mat 5. 3. Incest. 1 Cor 5. 4. Idolatry; a forsaking of the true God, and worshipping of idols. 5.conjugal infidelity 2 Chr 21. Rev 19. ars. Gen_2:23, Gen_2:24, Gen_24:67; Pro_5:18, Pro_5:19; Ecc_9:9; Mal_2:14-16; Luk_14:26; Eph_5:25, Eph_5:28, Eph_5:29, Eph_5:33; 1Pe_3:7 Dealing with Sex. pt.1. This message is not to show what sexual sins are but rather what the Bible teaches about it. The thing about this subject is that many, so called religious ministers and organizations, are teaching the wrong message. These next 5 are the basic sins of sex. Fornication 1. The incontinence or lewdness of unmarried persons, male or female; also, the criminal conversation of a married man with an unmarried woman, having sex between the same gender. 2. Adultery. Mat 5. 3. Incest. 1 Cor 5. 4. Idolatry; a forsaking of the true God, and worshipping of idols. 5. Animal Husbandry. Lev 18:23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. Lev 20:16 And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. The Bible is full of beautiful passages concerning, love and sex between a man and a woman, and curses on those that disregard Gods intent for sexual relations. The first verse we will look at is; 1Pe 3:7. “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.” The husband to stay within the good graces of God must; 1. Be in Knowledge of a relationship with a woman. “dwell with them according to knowledge.” Where does this knowledge come from? The Bible and the parents instruction. If a child is raised according to the Law of Grace, and shows their Children a loving relationship between the two, then their children shall grow up in the same manner, fearing God. 2. Respect. “giving honour unto the wife” as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life. The woman is the weaker of the two. 3. Why these commandments to the husband? “that your prayers be not hindered.” A husband out of the will of God, concerning his wife, will have his prayers hindered as a transgression on his part. These commandments are for the believer and not unto an unbeliever. Why? For the unbeliever has a carnal mind and a carnal mind is not subject to the Law of God and neither can be. 1Co 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. The Bible doesn't say, Life Partner nor Mate. 2 Chr 21. Rev 19. 1Co 7:2 - to avoid: 1Co_7:9, 1Co_6:18; Pro_5:18, Pro_5:19; 1Ti_4:3 In this message we are going to look at the Book of Proverbs. Pro 5:2-5; That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge. (“Discretion”; Prudence, or knowledge and prudence; that discernment which enables a person to judge critically of what is correct and proper, united with caution, knowing who is his and who is not, making a sound judgment.) For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: (We see here a woman, with alternative thoughts, will try to be seductive to a man. This type of woman is pleasant to the eyes and lusting to the senses. Her mouth brings forth many a seductive sound and words that will try to lead a man, unlearned in the word of Knowledge, away from his wife. But her end is bitter as wormwood(Poison.), sharp as a twoedged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. (She has a life style that will lead more than one man astray, and her destiny if bitter judgment.) Pro 5:6 Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them. Brns.;The words describe with a terrible vividness the state of heart and soul which prostitution brings upon its victims; the reckless blindness that will not think, tottering on the abyss, yet loud in its defiant mirth, ignoring the dreadful future. Prostitution is not a victim less act, but an act of destruction of body, mind and family. A prostitute is not only a woman selling her body on the street but also a woman that desires to disrupt another womans life, stealing affections from the other womans husband, without any regard of any consequences. The best advice that I see here in Proverbs is this next verse; Pro 5:15 Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. 1.“Drink waters out of thine own cistern” From your own wife. 2.“running waters out of thine own well.” Happiness, Fulfillment and Satisfaction, from your own wifes body. Pro 5:17-23; Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee. 1.Your own Wife. The repetitiveness of this Idea is to instill in a man that strange flesh, strange women, not your own wife, is a transgression of the Laws of God, concerning man. When a idea is repeated more than once it is stating a great importance upon that subject. End part 1. ars Dealing with Sex. pt.2.. Dealing With Sex. pt. 2. Pro 5:17-22; Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee. Here we see the blessedness of marriage; “Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. (Fountain; your rain of life.) Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished(delighted to ecstasy.) always with her love. (“Hind”; gentleness, Pro.5:19, feminine modesty, Son.2:7; Son.3:5) (“roe”, Slender, graceful, shy, and timid; the image of feminine loveliness (Son.4:5; Son.2:9; Son.2:17; Son.8:14). The eye is large, soft, liquid, languishing, and of deepest black; image of swift footedness (2Sa.1:19; 2Sa.2:18; 1Ch.12:8). Pro 5:19 - jfb; loving ... roe — other figures for a wife from the well-known beauty of these animals. breasts — (Compare Son_1:13; Eze_23:3, Eze_23:8). ravished — literally, “intoxicated,” that is, fully satisfied. A man, who being in the will of God, shall be please with his wife, and have no other to desire after. Sex is an important part of a marriage, but the spiritual side is also important to maintain. The Lord stated that, That which is flesh is flesh and that which is spirit is spirit. To have a successful relationship between husband and wife, it must contain both physical submission and spiritual guidance thru knowledge. Sex was established by God to populate the earth and to make a pleasant relationship between husband and wife, anything out side of this type of union is vulgar and sinful. Man has taken a beautiful thing as love between a man and a woman and made it something that is hidden. He has taken sex and made it into something that is repulsive to many. The relationship between a man and a woman, is an teaching relationship that shows us the relationship that God desires from us, it shows Gods desire to have that same relationship between Him and The Children of Israel. God is showing us thru His word, 2 separate things, a relationship between husband and wife and a relationship between Christ and the Church. to her: Rev_3:4, Rev_3:5, Rev_3:18; Psa_45:13, Psa_45:14; Isa_61:10; Eze_16:10; Mat_22:12; Rom_3:22; Rom_13:14; Eph_5:26, Eph_5:27. Rev 19:7-9; Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger? (Will you become a whore to another?) For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.(God knows all that each man does in this life.) His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.(Mans sins shall destroy him because it is the man that comitts such things that are contrary to sound judgment.) Lets read some beautiful passages of Love in, The Song of Solomon; Son 1:10-17; Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold. We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver. While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof. A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts. My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi. Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes. Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green. The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.end pt. 2. ars. Son 1:8 - O thou: Son_1:15, Son_2:10, Son_4:1, Son_4:7, Son_4:10, Son_5:9, Son_6:1, Son_6:4-10, Son_7:1-13; Psa_16:3, Psa_45:11, Psa_45:13; Eph_5:27; Rev_19:7, Rev_19:8 Dealing with Sex. pt.3. Dealing with Sex. 3. In this conclusion message, we see that a sexual relationship between a married couple is ordained by God. This relationship may have problems later on in life. These problems do not occur because of a love relationship is lost but rather a loss of ability of the body. We must look at 1Co 7:5; “Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.” The key words in 1Co 7:5, “with consent”. Maintaining a sexual relationship is important in a relationship, but there comes times when a man and a woman become unable to preform these actions because of health or just age. We see this in the relationship between Abraham and Sarah. Gen 17:17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? Gen 18:12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? Brns. Gen 18:12 - Sarah laughed within herself - It was not a laughter of faith, like Abraham's, Gen_17:17, but a laughter of doubting and distrust. The great objection which Sarah could not get over was her age. I am waxed old, and past child - bearing in a course of nature, especially having been hitherto barren, and which magnifies the difficulty, My lord is old also. Observe here, That Sarah calls Abraham her lord, and the Holy Ghost takes notice of it to her honour, and recommends it to the imitation of all Christian wives, 1Pe_3:6. Sarah obeyed Abraham calling him lord, in token of respect and subjection. The statement in 1Co 7:5, is not a commandment but a suggestion from God thru the Apostle Paul. We say this because of what is stated afterwards; 1Co 7:6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment. “by permission” brns. This word means “indulgence,” or “permission,” and stands opposed to that which is expressly enjoined; compare 1Co_7:25. “I am ‘allowed’ to say this; I have no express command on the subject; I give it as my opinion; I do not speak it directly under the influence of divine inspiration;” see 1Co_7:10, 1Co_7:25, 1Co_7:40. Paul here does not claim to be under inspiration in these directions which he specifics. But this is no argument against his inspiration in general, but rather the contrary. 1Co 7:6 - by: 1Co_7:12, 1Co_7:25; 2Co_8:8, 2Co_11:17 1Co 7:8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. The Apostle Paul was not married, but his advice for the married and unmarried are words from the Father, by permission, and not of commandment. 1Co 7:9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. “if they cannot contain” is speaking of a sexual relationship before marriage. “for it is better to marry than to burn.” Speaking of the desire of the flesh and also of the penalty of sex before marriage, fornication. 1Co 7:29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; 1Co 7:29, is speaking of the end days, where it will be all a man and a woman can do, to remained saved, to remain solely concentrated on God. Sex at this point and time for Christians will be a low priority, but rather their priority will be on worship. Mal 2:15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. Mal 2:16 For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. Mal 2:17 Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment? Dealing with sex is a matter of wisdom and knowledge, in Gods word. We cannot continue to have random sex between, the unmarried and the fornication of same sex couples. We cannot accept these types of lifestyles, we cannot say that these things will be ok, or that they were born this way, for these are the lies of Satan. These things or should I say relationships, bring about, pain, heart ache, disease, trouble and damnation, for after sin is conceived it brings forth death. This world is coming to and end. God will accept you as you are, but He refuses to allow you to continue in the ways of sin. We deal with sex as a part of our very exsistance, ordained by God as a union between, a married, man and a woman. We can take the dirtiness of sex out, with instruction and education, we can remove the sexual sins by raising our children in the knowledge of Lord. In my opinion, we have almost lost an entire generation to lack of teaching, knowledge and instruction. We are losing many thru the, shows, books and commercials that bombard our nation and our children that state that all sex is ok. Accepting these lies will lead to damnation. Ars. If thou shalt confess. Romans 10:9-10. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. KNOWL'EDGE, n. nol'lej. 1. A clear and certain perception of that which exists, or of truth and fact; the perception of the connection and agreement, or disagreement and repugnancy of our ideas. We can have no knowledge of that which does not exist. God has a perfect knowledge of all his works. Human knowledge is very limited, and is mostly gained by observation and experience. 2. Learning; illumination of mind. Ignorance is the curse of God, knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven. Rom 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. Knowledge of one faults and need of salvation is essential to confession to God. Knowledge of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for you is paramount in becoming a Christian. Many have a zeal for serving God but as the passage states, without Knowledge. Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted(Surrendered; resigned; yielded; referred.) themselves unto the righteousness of God. In Rom 10:3, we see that, submission to the righteousness of God is the beginning of establishment of a covenant agreement between those that are lost and God. They say that confession is good for the soul, and they are correct. Then whom shall we confess our sins to, man or God? Fausset states that; Confession is desirable (1) In case of wrong done to a neighbor, Mat.18:15;(This is true, if we wrong a neighbor, we are to apologize and ask forgiveness for the transgression.) (2) To a Christian adviser, ordained or unordained, anyone who can apply God's written word suitably to one's need, and "pray for" and with one, James 5:16; Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. We are to pray for one another, weather it be between only 2 people or an entire congregation, for the prayers of many shall avail over any obstacle. (3) Open confession of any wrong done to the church, which has caused scandal to religion, in token of penitence. Not auricular: Mat. 3:6; Act. 19:18, "many confessed and shewed (openly, not in the ear of a priest under the seal of secrecy) their deeds." 2Co 6:3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed;. We are no longer bound by confession or giving offerings to the priest hood for our sins, which we as gentiles, were never added unto the law and by that, we were not subject to any law. Only the Jews were under the Law! As without law - Not practicing the special rites and ceremonies enjoined in the law of Moses. Not insisting on them, or urging them, but showing that the obligation to those rites had been done away; and that they were not binding, though when among the Jews I might still continue to observe them; see the notes at Acts 15; and the argument of Paul in Gal_2:11-18. I neglected the ceremonial precepts of the Mosaic law, when I was with those who had not heard of the law of Moses, or those who did not observe them, because I knew that the binding obligation of these ceremonial precepts had ceased. I did not, therefore, press them upon the Gentiles, nor did I superstitiously and publicly practice them. In all this, Paul has reference only to those things which he regarded as in themselves indifferent, and not a matter of conscience; and his purpose was not; needlessly to excite the prejudice or the opposition of the world. Nothing is ever gained by provoking opposition for the mere sake of opposition. Nothing tends more to hinder the gospel than that. In all things of conscience and truth a man should be firm, and should lose his life rather than abandon either; in all things of indifference, of mere custom, of prejudice, he should yield, and accommodate himself to the modes of thinking among people, and adapt himself to their views, feelings, and habits of life, that he may win them to Christ. BRNS. James 2:10 states about the Law; “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” 1Co 9:21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. This is the gentile race of people, we had a law within ourselves. In Acts 8:37, we see the simplicity to this whole question; “And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” By this confession, by knowledge of Jesus Christ, this man was Saved. We confess to God that, Jesus Christ is the Son of God. We repent of our sins and are Baptized. After that, being saved, if we sin, we confess our sins not to man but to God. We are in no need of anyone else to interseed for us, for we have a High Priest forever, that interseeds for us, Jesus Christ, our mediator. Our confession of being lost goes to God, our confessions of sin and transgressions goes to God thru Jesus Christ and we do not confess our sins to any priest for we are free from the Law. So again; “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”ars. tsk. That if: Rom_14:11; Mat_10:32, Mat_10:33; Luk_12:8; When Religions Collide. The Truth of the Gospel offends many religions in this world today, of compromise. Every one is trying to compromise on religion, salvation and life itself. Compromise was never in the intent of Gods plan of salvation. Compromise was never in the intent of Gods Word. Compromise brings about weakness, when it comes to the word of God, this will not be allowed. We do as our Lord commands, we do not compromise, but we are to reason together, one with another. Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. This reasoning is not compromising, but rather a closer look at problems and misunderstandings that sometimes comes between man and God. Many religions are very pleasant, friendly and agreeable, until confronted with the truth. Then they become offended and nasty. Not wanting to compromise on their religion, but all others. Jesus went thru this when He started His ministry. Mat 12:38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. Master, “Master,” when the translation of 'ādhōn, “ruler,” “lord” (Sir), often translated “lord,”“Rabboni,” Isa 41:21 Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. The word, “Hypocrites” is listed 20 times in the Bible. God knew that religion would be a great obstacle in conversion of the Lost. Religion is becoming a great disappointment in this, the end days of mankind. Job 15:34-35; For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery. They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit. Mat 15:7-9 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. BRNS;And he called the multitude - In opposition to the doctrines of the Pharisees, the Saviour took occasion to show them that the great source of pollution was the heart. They supposed that external things chiefly defiled a man. On this all their doctrines about purification were founded. This opinion of the Jews it was of great importance to correct. The Saviour took occasion, therefore, to direct the people to the true source of defilement - their own hearts. He particularly directed them to it as of importance - “Hear and understand.” In his answer he implied that his disciples were not bound to obey their traditions - they were invented by human beings. He said, also, that those traditions could not be binding, as they violated the commandments of God. . He proceeded to specify a case in which their tradition made void one of the plain laws of God; and if that was their character, then they could not blame him for not regarding them. Religions Collide when doctrines of man, additions to the scripture or deductions from the Gospel, become open to discussion. We all can recognize blatant disregard for the Gospel, but the ones that are causing the most controversy and trouble, are those that try to introduce doctrine and passages, not of God, slowly and unobtrusively. Mat 15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. A man is defiled, when what he says is contrary to sound doctrine. Christians are not in the business to downgrade anyone, but on the contrary, Christians have 2 duties to God and their faith. 1. Defend the Gospel. And 2. Compel those that are lost to come to Jesus before its too late. Here is where religious beliefs Collide. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is pure and needs no other words to support it. Those that try to add to and take away from this Gospel, become the enemies of Christ and the enemies of His followers. These man made doctrines bring forth; evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness and blasphemies Mat 15:12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, (Offended by the Truth.)after they heard this saying? Mat 15:13 But he answered and said, Every plant(doctrine, ministers, teachers, prophets), which my heavenly Father hath not planted(Sent.), shall be rooted up.(This speaking of the Pharisees and their doctrine.) Mat 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind.(Teachers of false doctrine and those that follow them.) And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.(Hell) Two different religious beliefs collided here, between the Truth of the Gospel and the laws of man Changed doctrine. The Mosaic Law was given to man by God, but man Changed the words, making the Law tainted. In other words, God gave us the key to unlock our soul from Sin and Satan, and those that reject Gods word as it is written, gives man a key but they also changed the lock so that the key doesn't fit. Mat 7:22-23; Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Wesley; Mat 7:22 - We have prophesied - We have declared the mysteries of thy kingdom, wrote books; preached excellent sermons: In thy name done many wonderful works - So that even the working of miracles is no proof that a man has saving faith. Brns; I never knew you - That is, I never approved of your conduct; never loved you; never regarded you as my friends. See Psa_1:6; 2Ti_2:19; 1Co_8:3. This proves that, with all their pretensions, they had never been true followers of Christ. Jesus will not then say to false prophets and false professors of religion that he had once known them and then rejected them; that they had been once Christians and then had fallen away; that they had been pardoned and then had apostatized but that he had never known them - they had never been true Christians. Whatever might have been their pretended joys, their raptures, their hopes, their self-confidence, their visions, their zeal, they had never been regarded by the Saviour as his true friends. The collision of the True Gospel and The False Doctrines of Man. Act 19:26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: Act 19:40 For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse. The collision of Religions will progressively get worse in this end times, all trying to confuse and entice with great swelling words of false hope and freedom. But all other religions offer false doctrines and keys to eternal damnation. Ars.   For Him Web Designs