Bible Questions Answered: Influencing Others

Bible Questions Answered:
What does it mean when it says “Let not then your good be evil spoken of?”
Riley W. / Mossel Bay- South Africa

Bible Answers:
The Scripture to which you refer to is...

Romans 14:16 KJV “Let not then your good be evil spoken of: “

In Romans 14: the Apostle Paul had been discussing whether Christians should eat meat that had been offered to idols.

(See also I Corinthians 8:)

In Romans 14:21 KJV The Apostle says...”It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.”

Again in I Corinthians 8:13 KJV “ Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.”

Romans 14:7 KJV “ For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.”

There may be many things, to you, that have no offense.
Going to theaters, shopping on Sundays, wearing modern clothes, etc...etc...

But to some new Christian, who is not as strong in the faith as you, doing those things could cause such a one to loose his or her faith.

Following the example of theater going, a new Christian may go to the theater and not choose the family shows that you would only watch, etc...

Shopping on Sunday, though it may seem as insignificant to many, may for others who see your example, mean to them, that you view Sunday no different than any other day.

“For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.”
Always some one is watching you, and what you do. And that may very well influence them to do the same or totally different things than you do.

Was it alright, for Christians to eat meat offered to idols?

Any Christian knew only too well, that there were no idol gods, so any offering was of none effect.
The meat was easy to come by, and why let it go to waste?

And yet, if some new Christian in the faith were to see older, mature Christians do that, they could misconstrue their actions, and maybe be led astray because of the actions taken.

“For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.”

As a Christian, we must be careful what we allow in our lives, others are watching.

May our lives lead them to the Lord, not astray from Him.

Bible Lesson: Secular Humanism

Secular Humanism:

Secular Humanist's rejects theistic religious belief and adherence to belief in the existence of a supernatural world.
Wikipedia

Situation Ethics, if it feels good, do it. No God, no morals, no boundaries, no barriers, no restraints. No tomorrow.

Luke 12:19,20 KJV
[19] And I (A rich man) will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
[20] But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee:

II Timothy 3:1-5 KJV
[1] This know also, that in the last days perilous (dangerous) times shall come.
[2] For men shall be......
lovers of their own selves,
covetous,
boasters,
proud,
blasphemers,
disobedient to parents,
unthankful,
unholy,
[3] Without natural affection,
trucebreakers,
false accusers,
incontinent (without self-restraint),
fierce,
despisers of those that are good,
[4] Traitors,
heady,
highminded,
lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
[5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:
from such turn away.

Humanism, rejects the living God. They teach, we are living in a new era, a new society, a new age, but it is an old era of open rebelion against God.

“Humanism entails a commitment to the search for truth and morality through human means in support of human interests. In focusing on the capacity for self-determination, humanism rejects the validity of transcendental justifications, such as a dependence on belief without reason, the supernatural, or texts of allegedly divine origin.” Wikipedia

Jeremiah 17:9 KJV “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

II Timothy 3:7 KJV "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Jesus said that out of the heart of man....

Matthew15:19 KJV “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: “

Proverbs 14:12 KJV “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Acts 8:21 KJV “...thy heart is not right in the sight of God.”

Galatians 5:19-21 NLT

19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear:
sexual immorality,
impurity,
lustful pleasures,
20 idolatry,
sorcery,
hostility,
quarreling,
jealousy,
outbursts of anger,
selfish ambition,
dissension (disagreements),
division,
21 envy,
drunkenness,
wild parties,
and other sins like these.
Let me tell you again, as I have before,
that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Abortion

Today, 22 percent of all pregnancies in the United States end in abortion, according to the abortion-rights advocate Guttmacher Institute.

The number of abortions performed since legalization. Based upon abortion figures supplied by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Guttmacher Institute, the NRLC concluded that 48,589,993 abortions have been performed from 1973 through 2006.

Violent crime has increased substantially.

The FBI monitors changes in the level of violent crime by tracking the volume of four specific crimes. Combined, these four offenses murder, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault form the FBI's Violent Crime Index, which has become an accepted barometer of violent crime in the U.S. Between 1965
and 1992 the number of Violent Crime Index offenses reported to law enforcement agencies increased by 432%. The increase was relatively constant over this time period. In latest 10-year period, from 1983 to 1992, the number of reported violent crimes increased by 54%.

Offenses Reported in the Violent Crime Index

Drugs

Illegal Drug Use
(Data are for U.S. for year indicated)
Prevalence
Percent of persons 12 years of age and over with any illicit drug use in the past month: 8.1 (2005)
Percent of persons 12 years of age and over with marijuana use in the past month: 6.0 (2005)
Percent of persons 12 years of age and over with any nonmedical use of a psychotherapeutic drug in the past month: 2.6 (2005)
Source: Health, United States, 2007, Table 66

Runaways

Experts say the number of yearly runaway children in the United States is 1.3 million.

Children who leave home with the approval of parents or caretakers (“throwaways”) and those who are turned out by their parents who do not want them (“push-outs”) as well as children who leave because they can't live with their home life.

Jeremiah 16:14,15 KJV
[14] Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;
[15] But, The LORD liveth...”

Matthew 22:32 KJV
“I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

Amos 4:12 KJV “...prepare to meet thy God,...”

Bible Lessons: Kept By The Power Of God

Kept By The Power Of God

I Peter 1:5 KJV
“Who are kept by the power of God through faith...”

How reassuring the Word of God is to it's people.
Here are some verses to claim for yourself and your family.

Deuteronomy 33:12 NLT
“ Moses said this about the tribe of Benjamin: (the people of God.)
" The people of Benjamin are loved by the LORD and live in safety beside Him.
He surrounds them continuously and preserves them from every harm."

Proverbs 1:33 KJV
“But all who listen to me will live in peace,untroubled by fear of harm."

Psalm 27:3 KJV
“Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.”

Psalm 37:28 KJV
“For the LORD... forsaketh not His saints; they are preserved for ever:..”

Philippians 4:19 KJV “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Psalm 91: NLT
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him.
3 For He will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished.
9 If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.
11 For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands
so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
14 The LORD says, "I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation."

The Lions-Daniel; Daniel 6:/ The Serpent-The Apostle Paul; Acts 28:.
These men did not voluntarily submit to these death threats, to test God!

Matthew 4:5-7 KJV
[5] Then the devil taketh Him up into the holy city, and setteth Him on a pinnacle of the temple,
[6] And saith unto Him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
[7] Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

This same meaning is found in the Great Commission.
Mark 16:18 KJV
“They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them;...”

It is not that men are to pursue these events, but in the course of serving the Lord, one comes across them, God will keep His servant.

Psalm 121:1-8 NLT
1 I look up to the mountains—
does my help come from there?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth!
3 He will not let you stumble;
the one who watches over you will not slumber.
4 Indeed, He who watches over Israel
never slumbers or sleeps.
5 The LORD Himself watches over you!
The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.
6 The sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon at night.
7 The LORD keeps you from all harm
and watches over your life.
8 The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go,
both now and forever.

If we will but, praise Him, the Lord will fight our battles:

II Chronicles 20:1-29 NLT
1 After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites declared war on Jehoshaphat.
2 Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army from Edom is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea. They are already at Hazazon-tamar." (This was another name for En-gedi.)
3 Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the LORD for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting.
4 So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the LORD's help.
5 Jehoshaphat stood before the community of Judah and Jerusalem in front of the new courtyard at the Temple of the LORD.
6 He prayed, "O LORD, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you!
7 O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham?
8 Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor your name.
9 They said, 'Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.'
10 "And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing. You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt, so they went around them and did not destroy them.
11 Now see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance.
12 O our God, won't you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help."
13 As all the men of Judah stood before the LORD with their little ones, wives, and children,
14 the Spirit of the LORD came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite who was a descendant of Asaph.
15 He said, "Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don't be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God's.
16 Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel.
17 But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD's victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!"
18 Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the LORD.
19 Then the Levites from the clans of Kohath and Korah stood to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud shout.
20 Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, "Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in His prophets, and you will succeed."
21 After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the LORD and praising Him for His holy splendor. This is what they sang:
"Give thanks to the LORD;
His faithful love endures forever!"
22 At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the LORD caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves.
23 The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other.
24 So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped.
25 King Jehoshaphat and his men went out to gather the plunder. They found vast amounts of equipment, clothing, and other valuables—more than they could carry. There was so much plunder that it took them three days just to collect it all!
26 On the fourth day they gathered in the Valley of Blessing, which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the LORD there. It is still called the Valley of Blessing today.
27 Then all the men returned to Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat leading them, overjoyed that the LORD had given them victory over their enemies.
28 They marched into Jerusalem to the music of harps, lyres, and trumpets, and they proceeded to the Temple of the LORD.
29 When all the surrounding kingdoms heard that the LORD himself had fought against the enemies of Israel, the fear of God came over them.30 So Jehoshaphat's kingdom was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.

Leviticus 1:3,6 KJV
[3] If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;...
[6] And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid:..”

Psalm 50:15 KJV
“And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”

II Thessalonians 3:3 KJV “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.”

Nahum 1:7 KJV
“The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him.”

Psalm 103:1-4 KJV
[1] Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
[2] Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
[3] Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
[4] Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Luke 1:37 KJV
“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

Bible Lessons: :Last Day Signs

Last Day Signs

Jesus Christ is coming for His Church!

A sign of the nearness of the return of Christ for His Church:

Since 1948 when Palestine was declared the homeland of the Jews, there has been an ever increasing influx of Jews to their native land.

This was prophesied by Jeremiah the prophet saying...

Jeremiah 16:14,15 KJV
[14] Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;
[15] But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither He had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.

The Transportation Sign.

Nahum 2:4 NLT (many think Nahum was speaking of our day.
“The chariots race recklessly along the streets and rush wildly through the squares.They flash like firelight and move as swiftly as lightning.”

The Information Sign.

Daniel 12:4 KJV
“But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro (transportation), and knowledge shall be increased.”

Transportation speed has increased.
6,000 B.C. Transportation consisted of the Caravan, approximate speed, 8 mph.
1785, the Stagecoach, traveled at 10 mph
1825, the Steam Engine traveled a 13 mph
1925, the Airplane traveled at 100 mph
1960, Missiles could fly at 1800 mph
2008, Jets Mach 2.5 (two and one half times the speed of sound.)

We are living in an age of information explosion.

For the 1^st doubling of knowledge, it took from the time of Christ to the time of Leonardo.
“ “ 2^nd “ “ “ , was completed before the American Revolution.
“ “ 3^rd “ “ “ , was completed by 1900.
“ “ 4^th “ “ “ , was completed by 1950.
“ “ 5^th “ “ “ , was completed by 1960.
......... ......... ........... ................ ...............

Knowledge is now doubling every 18 months.

Another sign, scoffers.

And yet in all the world's learning, the Word of God tells us....

II Timothy 3:7 KJV
“Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

John 14:6 KJV
“Jesus saith unto him (Thomas), I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

In our day, not only do many not believe, the truth, but are scoffers at what is true.

II Peter 3:3,4 KJV
[3] Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
[4] And saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

II Peter 2:1,2 KJV
[1] But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
[2] And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

II Thessalonians 2:11,12 KJV
[11] And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
[12] That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

I Timothy 4:1-3 KJV
[1] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
[2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
[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.

Another sign of the last days, hoarded wealth.

James 5:1-3 KJV
[1] Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
[2] Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
[3] Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire.
Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

Another sign, masses of people asleep, unaware of the nearness of Christ's return.

I Thessalonians 5:6 KJV
“..let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober (alert).”

I Thessalonians 5:2 KJV
“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.”

I Thessalonians 4:13-18 NLT
13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.
14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with Him the believers who have died.
15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet Him ahead of those who have died.
16 For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves.
17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.
18 So encourage each other with these words.

I Corinthians 15:51-58 NIV
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—
52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.
54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true:
"Death has been swallowed up in victory."
55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Do you know the Lord?

John 17:3 KJV “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

John 3:16 KJV “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

John 1:12 KJV “But as many as received Him (Jesus Christ), to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:”

John 5:24 KJV “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Romans 10:9,10 KJV
[9] 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.
[10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Acts 4:12 KJV “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

II Corinthians 6:2 KJV “...behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Bible Lessons: Calamity, Catastrophe and Disaster

Bible Lessons:
When Calamity, Catastrophe and Disaster strike, does it mean that those people were more sinful than others?

Jesus answered questions like these in Luke 13:1-5.

Luke 13:1-3 NLT
1 About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple.

Pilate had punished subjects of Herod.
(“A heathen governor had polluted the temple of God with human blood.” Paul E. Kretzmann).
Pilate in his temper, had his soldiers, execute them.

"Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?"

Jesus asked. "Is that why they suffered?

Those who came before Jesus, surmised, that those slain, surely must have been more sinful than others.

But Jesus stated...

3 Not at all!
And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God.

Our Lord's answer was, no!

The plain fact is ...

Matthew 5:45 KJV
“...for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Good and bad, happen to all.

The most important thing, Jesus says, is to be ready, before, disaster strikes.
Many times, there is no time to pray and get right with God.

Hebrews 3:7,8 KJV
[7] Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear His voice,
[8] Harden not your hearts,...”

II Corinthians 6:2 KJV
“(For He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Then Jesus, gave a second example...

Luke 13:4,5 NLT
4 And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem?

A tower many believed to have been near the pool of Siloam.

Pilate had commissioned work in the area, for an aqueduct. Perhaps the aqueduct work had precipitated the towers fall.

At any rate, when it fell, it killed eighteen people.

Again our Lord's questioners, surmised, that these surely must have been evil people.

And our Lord's reply was...

5 No,
and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too."

And again....

John 9:1-3 KJV
[1] And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
[2] And his disciples asked Him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
[3] Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

How careful we must be not to judge others!

Matthew 7:1,2 KJV
[1] Judge not, that ye be not judged.
[2] For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

Job 42:7-9 NLT
7 After the LORD had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite: "I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has.
8 So take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf. I will not treat you as you deserve, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has."
9 So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite did as the LORD commanded them, and the LORD accepted Job's prayer.

Prayer Requests: Yangon, Myanmar-Cyclone Survivors

Prayer Request:

Please pray for the survivors of the May 2nd Cylone storm, which has killed to date (5/19/08), some 78,000, and left some 56,000 missing.

If you would like to help, check with your local Red Cross.

BPL

Bible Questions Answered: Accuser Of The Brethren

Bible Questions Answered:
Someone says that Satan is in heaven, how can that be?
Manly L./ Province, South Africa

Bible Answer:

Job 1:6-12 KJV
[6] Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
[7] 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.
[8] 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?
[9] Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
[10] 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.
[11] But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
[12] 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.

Zechariah 3:1 KJV
“And He shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at His right hand to resist Him.”

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

Satan is as John wrote, the “accuser of the brethren, he accuses God's people day and night.”
He does it, as seen above in the temptation of Job, to remove any blessing of God, protecting His children, so that he may then afflict them, and cause them to cures God.

Isn't Satan, this accuser, in hell?

Matthew 25:41 KJV “Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:”

Although hell, was prepared for the devil and his angels, hell is not, where the devil is today.”

Where is Satan?

Today he is the prince of the power of the air, (in the heavenly realms.)

The Word of God, mentions three heavens, ...
The Atmospheric Heaven surrounding earth.
The Celestial (or starry) heaven, of outer space.
The third Heaven, (beyond the starry heaven) God's Home.

If but for one moment, we were given eyes to see the hoards of evil kingdoms, surrounding earth, situated in the atmospheric and celestial heavens, we would be a gasp!

Matthew 4:14-16 KJV
[14] That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
[15] The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
[16] The people which sat in darkness saw great light (the Lord Jesus); and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

Ephesians 2:1,2 KJV
[1] And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
[2] Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Ephesians 6:12 KJV (Spiritual evil kingdoms) as stated by the Apostle Paul.
“[12] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

II Corinthians 4:3,4 KJV
[3] But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
[4] In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Again John wrote...the day is coming when Satan will be cast out of the heavens, this will take place at the second advent.

Revelation 20:1-3 KJV
[1] And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
[2] And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, (Millennium of peace.)
[3] And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

Jesus, prophetically spoke of this day, saying...

Luke 10:17,18 KJV
[17] And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
[18] And He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

John 12:31 KJV
“Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.”

Yes, Satan, accuses God's people night and day, how thankful we should be, that we have a Great High Priest in the heavens, Christ Jesus, who intercedes for us.

Hebrews 2:17,18 KJV
[17] Wherefore in all things it behoved Him (Christ) to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. (Interceding for all God's people!)
[18] For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted.

Hebrews 4:14,15 NLT
14 So then, since we have a Great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.
15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin.

Hebrews 7:26 KJV
“For such an High Priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;”

Hebrews 8:1 KJV
“Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an High Priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;”

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Psalm 109:31 KJV

[29] Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.
[30] I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yea, I will praise Him among the multitude.
[31] For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.

Amen

Bible Lesson:Extraterrestrial, Alien Life, our brothers?

Extraterrestrial, Alien Life, our brothers?

The Rev. Jose Gabriel Funes, director of the Vatican Observatory has said the following...
“How can we rule out that life may have developed elsewhere? Just as we consider earthly creatures as “a brother,” and “sister,” why should we not talk about an “extraterrestrial brother'? It would still be part of creation.”

Funes went on to say that this...”doesn't contradict our faith” because aliens would still be God's creatures.”

Well, what do you think?

Here is what the Bible, the very Word of God says.

Ephesians 6:12 NLT “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against

Evil Rulers and
Authorities of the unseen world, against
Mighty Powers in this dark world, and against
Evil Spirits in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12 KJV “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
Principalities, against
Powers, against the
Rulers of the darkness of this world, against
Spiritual Wickedness in high places.

Sinful man does not realize that humanity is in a spiritual war!
Man is not alone, and never was.
God did create other beings than man, the angels.
They were created before man.
Lucifer a angel of high rank, fell under pride.
When he fell he did not go alone.

Revelation 12:3,4 KJV
[3] And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
[4] And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth:

This text speaks of the angels he caused to sin with him. (1/3 of all the known angels.)

Well where are they all today?

II Peter 2:4 KJV “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;”

Jude 6 “ And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”

Unfortunately that is not the end of the story.

Our world is filled with “evil spirits, demons.”

What has been the place of their origin, the Bible is silent, but that they are here is certain.

Matthew 8:28-33 KJV
[28] And when He was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.
[29] And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
[30] And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.
[31] So the devils besought Him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.
[32] And He said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.
[33] And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.

James 2:19 KJV
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

Revelation 16:13,14 KJV
[13] And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon (Satan), and out of the mouth of the beast (The Anti-Christ), and out of the mouth of the false prophet(World religious leader).
[14] For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

Are all evil workers locked under chains, no!

One has only to read the New Testament and to read of evil spirits being cast out, to know, that there are many evil entities in the spiritual realm that roam earth.

Demons, evil spirits, they....

Tempt to disobedience (Gen. 3:4)
Slander the saints (Job 1:9-11)
Inflict disease (Job 2:7)
Oppose the Righteous (Zechariah 3:1)
Tempted Christ (Matthew 4:1)
Take away the “good seed” of the gospel (Matthew 13:19)
Sow Tares (Matthew 13:38)
Ruin, body and soul (Luke 9:42)
Lie (John 8:44)
Cause men to sin (John 13:2)
Prey upon mankind (I Peter 5:8)
Etc.

Warning!

Hebrews 13:2 KJV
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

Angels have the ability, among other things, to take on the form of a man.

If this is true of good angels, it certainly is true of evil spirits as well.

Are these beings, our brothers?
Absolutely not!

As we saw above in Ephesians 6:12, the Apostle Paul mentions at least four categories of evil spirits.

Principalities, against
Powers, against the
Rulers of the darkness of this world, against
Spiritual Wickedness in high places.

If someone knocked on the door to your house at 2:00 in the morning, saying it was an old friend come to see you......would you open the door?
Certainly not!
Most, would, never be that gullible.

And yet, thousands upon thousands are playing with ouija boards, channeling, etc...with spirits, who they cannot see or know, and yet believing everything they hear.

If an alien, were to come to this world claiming to be one of our lost brothers?
What would you believe?

I John 2:18 KJV
“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

I John 4:1-3 KJV
[1] Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
[2] Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
[3] And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

II John 7
“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”

II Corinthians 11:13-15 KJV
[13] For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
[14] And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
[15] Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Matthew 24:23-26 KJV
[23] Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
[24] For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
[25] Behold, I have told you before.
[26] Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

Ephesians 2:2 KJV “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: “

II Thessalonians 2:9 KJV
“Even him (the anti-christ), whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, “

II Corinthians 4:3,4 KJV
[3] But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
[4] In whom the god of this world (satan) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Warning!
I Peter 5:8 KJV
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

James 4:7-10 KJV
[7] Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
[8] Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
[9] Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
[10] Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.

Romans 13:11-14 KJV
[11] And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
[12] The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
[13] Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
[14] But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Prayer Requests: Chengda, China

Please remember in prayer the many thousands of people of Chengda, China, who have suffered through a 7.9 earthquake.

It has been estimated that there may be as many as ten thousand dead. People are living in the street, afraid of returning to their homes.

The strong quake was felt as fay away as one thousand miles.

BPL

Bible Lesson: Reconciliation

Reconciliation
New World Dictionary
Reconciliation: To make friendly again or win over to a friendly attitude. Bring into harmony.

The Lord Jesus said....

Matthew 5:21-24 KJV
[21] Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
[22] But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca (Greek. Rhaka: O empty one; thou worthless-utter vilification), shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
[23] Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
[24] Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

What interesting instruction from the Lord.
One of the most important articles within the church, is the Altar. (Is it any wonder why the enemy of our souls, has in many churches, done away with the altar!)

It is at the altar, where we meet with God.

It is at the altar, that God will speak to us.

It is at the altar, as our Lord has said, that things will be brought to our mind, sins that must be confessed, and wrongs that must be made right.

It is at the altar, where lives are pledged to each other, and where lives are pledged in service to God.

It is at the altar, where we remember the great sacrifice of our Lord.

It is the responsibility of every pastor, to call his congregation, to the altar.

(In our Lord's story, this individual, did not remember that he was out of harmony with his brother, until at the Altar, for the Spirit of God, spoke to him.)

In this text we see that contrary to what evil men may think, we cannot “buy-off,” God.

Bringing all the money of the world into the church treasury, while living an unacceptable, hypocritical life, does not please God!

We cannot buy, our way into God's favor.

Only through righteous living, with humility, can we find the blessing of God.

And again, according to this instruction from the Lord, we have no business coming before the Living God, at the Altar, Communion, etc. if we are out of harmony with our fellow man, believers or otherwise, for our heart will condemns us!

I John 3:19-22 KJV
[19] And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.
[20] For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
[21] Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
[22] And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

In the giving of Communion, the Apostle Paul gave this warning....

I Corinthians 11:27-32 KJV
27 So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup.
29 For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God's judgment upon yourself.
30 That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.
31 But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way.
32 Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

Ephesians 4:30-32 KJV
[30] And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
[31] Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour (loud noisy complaint), and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice (desire to do harm):
[32] And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

II Corinthians 5:21 KJV
“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. “

Jesus told us that we cannot be reconciled to God, without first being reconciled to our brother, or sister first.

Because you and I never know just when we will meet death, how important it is, not to delay in any way, to be reconciled with all those who we know.

Matthew 18:15-17 KJV
[15] ... if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
[16] But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
[17] And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

We live in a world today of hatred and discord, but may it not be so, with the people of God. Judgment is coming.

Revelation 6:12-17 KJV
[12] And I beheld when He had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
[13] And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
[14] And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
[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;
[16] 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:
[17] For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Bible Questions Answered: Witnesses-The Two

Bible Questions Answered:
Rev. mentions two wintesses in the tribulation, who are these witnesses?
Shelia B./ Manchester, U.K

Bible Answers:
The scripture to which you refer is...

Revelation 11:3-12 NLT
3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will be clothed in burlap and will prophesy during those 1,260 days."(3.5 years/42 months of 30 days each. Each year, 360 days. The last half of the seven year Tribulation, Time of Jacob's Trouble.)
4 These two prophets are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of all the earth.
5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire flashes from their mouths and consumes their enemies. This is how anyone who tries to harm them must die.
6 They have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall for as long as they prophesy. And they have the power to turn the rivers and oceans into blood, and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish.
7 When they complete their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the bottomless pit will declare war against them, and he will conquer them and kill them.
8 And their bodies will lie in the main street of Jerusalem, the city that is figuratively called "Sodom" and "Egypt," the city where their Lord was crucified.
9 And for three and a half days, all peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will stare at their bodies. No one will be allowed to bury them.
10 All the people who belong to this world will gloat over them and give presents to each other to celebrate the death of the two prophets who had tormented them.
11 But after three and a half days, God breathed life into them, and they stood up! Terror struck all who were staring at them.
12 Then a loud voice from heaven called to the two prophets, "Come up here!" And they rose to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched.

Malachi 4:1-6 KJV
[1] For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
[2] But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
[3] And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.
[4] Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
[5] Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
[6] And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Mark 9:1-8 KJV
[1] And He said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.
[2] And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and He was transfigured before them.
[3] And His raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
[4] And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.
[5] And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
[6] For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.
[7] And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear Him.
[8] And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

Although this has been a subject of much conjecture, yet scripture, with scripture seems to yield to the events shown above.

Isaiah 8:20 KJV

“ To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”

Certainly the life of Moses spoke of receiving and delegating, “The Law.”

Stood with the Lord.

Exodus 34:5,6 KJV
[5] And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.
[6] And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

And Elijah's life was that of the Testimony, of the power of God.

Stood with the Lord.

I Kings 19:9,
[9] And he (Elijah) came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
[11] And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
[12] And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

Bible Lessons: Deacons

Deacons...

Who may become deacons?

Deacons: Greek. Diakoneo: To be an attendant, to serve, individuals who prayerfully take upon themselves the affairs of the church.

I Timothy 3:8-13 KJV
[8] Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
[9] Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
[10] And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
[11] Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
[12] Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
[13] For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Deacons, may also be women of good report.

Romans 16:1,2 NLT
1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon (Deaconess) in the church in Cenchrea.
2 Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God's people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me.

Prayed over and set apart for service.

Acts 6:1-6 NLT
1 But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.
2 So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, "We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program.
3 And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility.
4 Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word."
5 Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith).
6 These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.

Prayer Request: Haiti-Starving

Please pray for the people of Haiti. Food costs has risen by as much as 50%, while the cost of pasta has doubled. In the last seven months the U.S. Coast Guard has restrained or intercepted some 972 migrants. Many try the dangerous trip at sea to the U.S. There are many stories of migrants drowning, being attacked by sharks, or drowning.

M.E./ Palmdale, Flordia

Bible Questions Answered: Marks Of The Lord Jesus

Bible Questions Answered:
What are the marks of the Lord Jesus, Paul spoke of?
Leonard K./ Birmingham, Alabama

Bible Answers:
The scripture to which you refer is, ...

Galatians 6:17 KJV
“From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks (Greek. Stigma: Scar of service.) of the Lord Jesus.”

Stigma, stigmata, mark or scar.

The Apostle Paul said that he had in his body the scars of (following and serving) the Lord Jesus.

II Corinthians 11:22-28 KJV
[22] Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
[23] Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
[24] Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
[25] Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
[26] In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
[27] In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
[28] Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

Yes, the Apostle Paul, had in his body the “Marks of the Lord Jesus.”
And he was not alone....

Hebrews 11:36-40 KJV
[36] And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
[37] They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
[38] (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
[39] And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
[40] God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Bible Lesson: Holy Spirit-God The- Part III

God the Holy Spirit and His Gifts

The Gift of Prophecy

Romans 12:6 KJV
“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;”

I Corinthians 12:10 KJV
“To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:”

Gift of Ministration

Romans 12:6,7 KJV
[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;
[7] Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

I Corinthians 12:28 KJV
“And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”

Gift of Giving

Romans 12:6,8 KJV
[6] Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, ...
[8] ... he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

Gift of Exhortation
Romans 12:6,8 KJV
[6] Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us,...
[8] Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation:.. (To admonish, strongly).

Gift of Mercy

Romans 12:6,8 KJV
[6] Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us,
[8] ...he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

Gift of Management/Administration

Romans 12:6,8 KJV
[6] Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us,
[8] ...he that ruleth, with diligence;

Gift of Faith

Romans 12:3 KJV
“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

Gift of Teachers

Romans 12:7 KJV
“Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;”

Gift of Knowledge

I Corinthians 12:8 KJV
“...the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;”

Gift of Wisdom

I Corinthians 12:8 KJV
“For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom;..”

Gift of Healing

I Corinthians 12:9 KJV
[9] To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

Gift of the Interpretation of Tongues

I Corinthians 12:10 KJV
“To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:”

Gift of Discernment

I Corinthians 12:10 KJV
“To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

Gift of Tongues

I Corinthians 12:10 KJV
“To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:”

Gift of Miracles

I Corinthians 12:28 KJV
“And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”

Gift of Apostles

I Corinthians 12:28 KJV
“ And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

Ephesians 4:11 KJV
[11] And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”

Gift of Evangelists

II Timothy 4:5 KJV
“But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”

Gift of Pastors

Ephesians 4:11 KJV
“And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Bible Lesson: Holy Spirit-God The- Part II

God The Holy Spirit: His Scriptural Names.

The Comforter

John 14:26 KJV
“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.”

The Spirit of Truth

John 16:13 KJV
“Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.”

The Spirit of Promise

Acts 1:4,5 KJV
[4] And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of me.
[5] For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

The Spirit of Holiness

Romans 1:4 KJV
“And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of Holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:”

The Spirit of Life

Romans 8:2 KJV
“For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”

The Spirit of Christ

Romans 8:9 KJV
“ But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.”

The Spirit of Adoption

Romans 8:15 KJV
“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of Adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”

The Spirit of God

I Corinthians 3:16 KJV
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”

The Spirit of Faith

II Corinthians 4:13 KJV
“ We having the same Spirit of Faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;”

The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation

Ephesians 1:17 KJV
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of Him:”

The Eternal Spirit

Hebrews 9:14 KJV
“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

The Spirit of Grace

Hebrews 10:29 KJV
“Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of Grace?

The Spirit of Glory

I Peter 4:14 KJV
“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.”

Bible Lesson: Salvation Prayer

Salvation Prayer

Jesus, be merciful to me a sinner. I confess and forsake my sins, and ask you to forgive me, and make me a child of God, for you have said, “...whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Acts 2:21) Thank you for dying for me, taking my place in judgment, that I might be pardoned. I take you as the Saviour, and Lord (Master) of my life. Help me to read your word, confess you, and live for you.

Amen

John 1:12 KJV “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: “

John 3:16,17 KJV
[16] For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
[17] For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.

John 6:37 KJV “...him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

Acts 2:21 KJV “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Acts 4:12 KJV “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Romans 6:23 KJV “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 10:9l, 10 KJV
[9] 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.
[10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.