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Thursday, December 31, 2009

Bible Lesson: Giving

Bible Lesson: Giving

(Giving, how should a Christian give?)


Give to the Lord, before one gives to oneself:

Proverbs 3:9 KJV
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

Freely:

Exodus 25:2 KJV
Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take My offering.

I Chronicles 29:9 KJV
Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

Matthew 10:8 KJV
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Cheerfully:

II Corinthians 8:12 NLT
Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.

II Corinthians 9:7 KJV
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Regularly:

I Corinthians 16:2 KJV
Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

Tithes our Responsibility:

Leviticus 27:30 KJV
And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's: it is holy unto the LORD.

Malachi 3:10 KJV
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Matthew 23:23 KJV
What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.


(The one who gives is blessed.)

Spiritual Blessings:

Proverbs 11:25 KJV
The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

The Blessed Life:

Acts 20:35 KJV
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Law of attraction:

Proverbs 11:23-25 NLT
23 The godly can look forward to a reward, while the wicked can expect only judgment.
24 Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.
25 The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

Proverbs 28:27 KJV
He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

Luke 6:38 KJV
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Treasurers in heaven:

Matthew 6:20 KJV
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

Matthew 19:21 KJV
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Bible Questions Answered: Sanctification

Bible Questions Answered:
How do you get sanctified, when does this happen?
Alejandro /Bogota, Colombia

Bible Answers:

Sanctification:

Old Testament Hebrew: Qadash (Kaw-dash):
To make, pronounce or observe as clean (ceremonially or morally); consecrate, dedicate, hallow, purify.

New Testament Greek: Hagiasmos (Hag-ee-as-mos): Purification, purity, holiness. (Abingdon/Strong)

Sanctification is both, static as being already complete, and yet dynamic as it is yet an on going process.

Romans 8:29 AMP
For those whom He foreknew of whom He was aware and loved beforehand, He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son (Sanctification) [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren.

Romans 15:16 KJV
That I should be the minister (The Apostle Paul) of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

I Thessalonians 4:3-8 KJV
3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit.

I Thessaolnians 4:3-8 NLT
3 God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.
4 Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor—
5 not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and His ways.
6 Never harm or cheat a Christian brother in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before.
7 God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.
8 Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

I Thessalonians 5:21-24 KJV
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.

Hebrews 13:12 KJV
Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate.

I Peter 1:2 KJV
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

I Peter 3:15 KJV
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:


Sanctification is both, static as being already complete, and yet dynamic as it is yet an on going process.

Job 17:9 KJV
The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

Job 17:9 NLT
The righteous keep moving forward, and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger.

Psalm 84:5,7 NLT
5 What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord...
7 They will continue to grow stronger..."

Psalm 92:12 KJV
The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

Proverbs 4:18 KJV
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

II Corinthians 3:18 KJV
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

I Timothy 4:15 KJV
Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

II Timothy 2:19-21 KJV
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.


Our Lord's prayer for His church.

John 17:17 KJV (Read the whole chapter verses 1-26.)
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

The call to sanctification:

Genesis 17:1 (Abraham)
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be thou perfect.

Acts 20:32 KJV (Apostle Paul)
And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

I Corinthians 1:2,3,30 KJV (Apostle Paul)
2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's:
3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
30 But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

I Corinthians 6:9,11 KJV
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?...
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Ephesians 5:25-27 KJV
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it;
26 That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Hebrews 2:11 KJV
For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren,

Hebrews 12:14 KJV
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

I Peter 1:15,16 KJV
15 But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.


Sanctification in the life of the believer is evidenced by:

1) Hatred of sin. The church has a problem today, it is to cozy to the things of this world! God give Christian people a “hatred,” for sin, no gray areas, no shadows of the truth, black and white, light versus darkness.

2) A love for the things of God. Bible study, prayer meeting, church work, witnessing for the Lord, testimonies, giving the tithe, and offerings of love, liberal acts of brotherly love, etc. etc..etc.

3) A life that adheres to holiness. A life controlled by the Spirit of God, not just hatred of sin, but love of God, heart, mind, soul, and body, and His service.

Dear friend, are there signs of sanctification in your life?
Make the Lord, the Master of your life.
And He will change you into His glorious image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Bible Lesson: Parables-Our Lord's-The Great Supper

Bible Lesson: Parables-Our Lord's
Parable: The Great Supper.

Text: Luke 14:16-24 KJV
16 Then said He unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse.

The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.

19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.

20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

There are similarities, between this parable and that of “The Marriage of the King's Son.”
In Matthew's gospel, it was a story about a King.
In Luke's gospel it is a story about “a certain man.”

In Matthew's gospel, it was a story about the marriage of a King's son.
In Luke's gospel it is a story about a “great supper.”

In Matthew's gospel, and Luke's the first invited are the same.
In Luke's gospel, one had married a wife and could not come.

In Matthew's gospel, one went to his farm, and another to his land.
In Luke's gospel, one went to his merchandise, and another to his five yoke of oxen, and the last had taken a wife.

In Matthew's gospel, the Kings servants were killed, the King had the people killed, and their city burnt up. The King sent other servants into the highways to bid all, both good and bad to come to the marriage feast.
In Luke's gospel, the refused invitation, is not met with judgment, the servant has not been hurt, but the invitation has been opened up instead to the poor, the maimed, the halt, and the blind, out in the streets and lanes, the highways and hedges of the city.

In Matthew's gospel, we hear of the man without a wedding garment, and his judgment.

The spiritual truth of this parable is the same as the “The Marriage of the King's Son.”
God has planned a marriage and wedding feast for His dear Son.
All have been called.

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

I Timothy 2:4 KJV
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Titus 2:11 KJV
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

II Peter 3:9 KJV
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Revelation 22:17 KJV
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Do you have the wedding garment on?

Revelation 19:6-8 KJV
6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
7 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.
8 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.

Hebrew 12:14 KJV
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

I Peter 1:15,16 KJV
15 But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Romans 5:8,9 KJV
8 But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Not saved by works, religious or otherwise, saved only by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:8,9 KJV
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Ye servants of the Lord....
Mark 16:15 NLT
And then He told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.

Dear friend, accept His invitation!
Salvation Prayer

Friday, December 25, 2009

Bible Questions Answered: Vicar-Peter?

Bible Questions Answered:
Was Peter the first vicar of the church?
Davi /Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Bible Answers:

Vicar: A person who acts in the place of another, deputy, earthly representative of Christ.
(New World Dictionary)

Concerning Peter:

Peter was a married man, who's mother in law lived with them.
Matthew 8:14 KJV (Mark 1:30)
And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.

I Timothy 4:1-5 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 (celibacy), and
commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Acts 10:9-16 KJV (The Lord taught Peter...)
9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

Matthew 16:21-23 KJV
21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
22 Then Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
23 But He (Jesus) turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind Me, Satan: thou art an offence unto Me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Matthew 20:25-27 KJV (Servitude, not Lordship.)
25 But Jesus called them unto Him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
28 Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.

Matthew 20:25-27 NLT
25 But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them.
26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,
27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.
28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Acts 8:14,15 KJV (Not acting alone.)
14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there.
15 As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit.

Acts 15:4-20 NLT (Leader of the early church-James.)
4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Paul were welcomed by the whole church, including the apostles and elders. They reported everything God had done through them.
5 But then some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and insisted, “The Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow the law of Moses.”
6 So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue.
7 At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: “Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe.
8 God knows people’s hearts, and He confirmed that He accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us.
9 He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts through faith.
10 So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear?
11 We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”
12 Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.
13 When they had finished, James stood and said, “Brothers, listen to me.
14 Peter has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for Himself.
15 And this conversion of Gentiles is exactly what the prophets predicted. As it is written:
16 ‘Afterward I will return and restore the fallen house of David. I will rebuild its ruins
and restore it,
17 so that the rest of humanity might seek the Lord, including the Gentiles— all those I have called to be mine. The Lord has spoken—
18 He who made these things known so long ago.'
19 “And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.
20 Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from eating food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from consuming blood.

I Peter 5:1 NLT
And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in His glory when He is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you:

Isaiah 42:8 KJV
I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Isaiah 42:8 NLT
“I am the Lord; that is My name! I will not give My glory to anyone else, nor share My praise with carved idols.

See also:
Vicar, Bishop, Elder, Pastor

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Bible Questions Answered: Divinity Of Christ

Bible Questions Answered:
Some people in our group say, Jesus never claimed to be God, what about this?
Macarena/ Manila, Philippines

Bible Answer:

Jesus claimed to be God, and those who knew Him, also claimed He was!

Matthew 3:17 KJV
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Matthew 16:16 KJV
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Matthew 17:5 KJV
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.

Luke 22:66-71
66 At daybreak all the elders of the people assembled, including the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. Jesus was led before this high council,
67 and they said, “Tell us, are you the Messiah?” But He replied, “If I tell you, you won’t believe Me.
68 And if I ask you a question, you won’t answer.
69 But from now on the Son of Man will be seated in the place of power at God’s right hand.”
70 They all shouted, “So, are you claiming to be the Son of God?” And He replied, “You say that I am.”
71 “Why do we need other witnesses?” they said. “We ourselves heard Him say it.”

John 1:1,2 KJV
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.

John 8:18 KJV
I am one that bear witness of Myself, and the Father that sent Me beareth witness of Me.

John 10:30 KJV
I and My Father are one.

John 10:30-33; 37,38 KJV
30 I and My Father are one.
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.
32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from My Father; for which of those works do ye stone Me?
33 The Jews answered Him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

37 If I do not the works of My Father, believe Me not.
38 But if I do, though ye believe not Me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.

John 14:8-11 KJV
8 Philip saith unto Him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works.
11 Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the very works' sake.

John 20:26-29 KJV
26 And after eight days again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27 Then saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto Him, My LORD and my God.
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

The resurrection, proved to Thomas, that indeed, Jesus was God.

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:

Romans 9:5 KJV
Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

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

I Timothy 3:16 KJV
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Hebrews 1:1-3 KJV
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

I John 5:9 KJV
If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which He hath testified of His Son.

Evil spirits confessed that Jesus was the Son of God:

Matthew 8:28,29 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?

Mark 1:23,24 KJV
23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

Mark 3:11 KJV
And unclean spirits, when they saw Him, fell down before Him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.

Luke 4:41 KJV
And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And He rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that He was Christ.

I John 4:15 KJV
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Bible Questions Answered: Remembering This Life After Death

Bible Questions Answered:
Once in heaven, will we remember what we did here on earth?
Freja/ Eidsvoll, Norway

Bible Answer:

Our Lord, best answers this in His story of the “rich man and Lazarus.”

Text: Luke 16:19-31 KJV
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus*, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 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.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

*Lazarus-A form of the Hebrew word Elazar (El-aw-zawr): God is my helper. (Abingdon/Strong)

In the first eight verses of St. Luke sixteen, Jesus tells the story of a wealthy man and his shrewd manager, who was dishonest with his employers money to say the least, and to his own advantage.

Then Jesus addresses the Pharisees by saying....

Luke 16:13-15 NLT
13 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
14 The Pharisees, who dearly loved their money, heard all this and scoffed at Him.
15 Then He said to them, “You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God.

The “love of money and riches,” again outlines the last story of Luke sixteen, that of the rich man and Lazarus.

The debate of whether this is an actual story or parable will go on infinitude.
Luther say, that he believed the story to “actual,” due to the informative content of the story.
It has long been pointed out that Jesus did not use proper names in His parables, and yet here He does.

The rich man and his love of luxury and wealth, which excluded any love for God, and his fellowman with their needs, had landed him in hell.
The poor diseased, Lazarus, was born to paradise on angels wings.

And now the question, what survives death?

First answer, the soul.
There may be some who doubt the existence of the soul, but God's Son, specifically stated that it was so.

Both men existed, “after-death.”
They weren't reincarnated, which is a false idea!

Hebrews 9:27 KJV
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Hebrews 9:27 NLT
And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment,

Hebrews 9:27 NAS
And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,

Hebrews 9:27 NRSV
And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment,

Hebrews 9:27 AMP
And just as it is appointed for [all] men once to die, and after that the [certain] judgment,

One life/ one death/ one judgment.

Men love to embellish these simple facts, so that they may have countless tries at heaven, salvation, the life here after, but that is simply “not,” the case.

These two men had died.
Death is the “agent,” that forever seals, and sets, life's mold of spiritual choice, forever.

These two men had been judged.
These two men had a final resting place by their choices in life!

They had an eternal soul, their life did not end upon the death of their body!

And now what of the quality and satisfaction of the soul?

The beggar, Lazarus.
Where as in life (physical), he had only pain and disease, poverty, and disrespect.
In eternity, he was whole, and elevated as a “child of God,” carried to paradise.

Psalm 16:11 KJV
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

The beggar, was without disease, whole.
The beggar, was in the luxury of paradise.
The beggar, in his thankfulness and rejoicing (assumed, but certainly true), had no regrets.

Then there was the “rich man.”

Whereas he once (in the flesh), lived in total “selfishness,” luxury, and wealth, he found now that they had left him.

He was, now the beggar, and beg he did, and still is!

A wealthy man is “used to,” having every wish of his desires granted, and so commanding orders was nothing new for the rich man.
But though commands were given, nothing was given to him.

24 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.

A test, for could a drop of water be brought to the rich man, then too the flames of hell could be assuaged, but water cannot exist in a flame!

The rich man, was now...destitute, penniless, without luxury and without servants.
But he was rich in ….torment, tears, requests, and a multitude of regrets, and fears!

He was not in paradise but hell.
He was tormented in the flames of hell, yet “not,” destroyed.
He cried.
He petitioned, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me...”

He saw and remembered Lazarus, and requested that the now well-bodied child of God, come help him, to no avail.

He remembered, with regret, his five brothers who would no doubt follow their older brother's example, and one day one by one follow him into hell.
(Was he in agony over their coming to such a place to suffer, cursed idea/ an implantation by the seducer!
This “selfish man was in agony over their coming to hell, to deride him (torment) for time without end, because of his sinful life, which they would follow!)

Men in hell, do not, “get religion,” they exist as they existed on earth.
The rich man was a “selfish man,” and we see true to form, his sin, of selfishness, was now all the more “full-blown, in nature,” the seed sown in life had now come to fruition!

And the rich man could do something earthly men could not do, he could see into paradise, it was there that he saw Lazarus.
What remorse, what regret, that he too could have been there in paradise, but for his sinful gluttony, and lack of serving the Creator more than the creature.

Dear friend, do not, be confused, all the regret possible, in hell, is regret eternally misplaced, and forever worthless!
It is worthless, because it is not regret, that one did not live a “Godly,” life!
It is regret that one cannot be in paradise, and sin just like they did once on earth.....and this will and can never, ever be!

Will we know or remember our earthly life once passed on to our reward?
Jesus, definitely says yes!

Hebrews 12:1,2 KJV
1 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,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..."

Who are these heavenly witness of the affairs of earthly men?
No doubt they are the angels and saints of all ages, cheering the children of God on, on to victory, in the name of Jesus!

Bible Questions Answered:

Friday, December 18, 2009

Bible Lesson: Shepherds Of Bethlehem

Bible Lesson: Shepherds of Bethlehem.

Text: Luke 2:20 KJV
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

The Shepherds saw the angelic hosts.
In His great love, God condescended to man.
If heavenly Angels of God, shouted His praises, shall the hearts and lips of men be silent?

The angels proclaimed God's message, for the shepherds to hear...
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Isn't God's way, the way of peace and love, not war?

Isaiah 2:3-5 KJV
3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4 And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
5 O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.

The Shepherds glorified God, and praised His name.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”

Then the Shepherds told everyone what they had seen and heard!

"And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds."

Have you seen the Lord?
Have you glorified and praised His dear name?

And if you have...
Do you make known, His message of “ God with us,” to all people!

Matthew 1:23 KJV
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Matthew 10:7,27 KJV
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

Matthew 24:14 KJV
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Mark 16:15 KJV
And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Acts 1:8 KJV
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

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.

Romans 10:9-10 NLT
9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

II Timothy 4:1-5 KJV
1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Make this a “blessed,” Christmas, tell others how to find the Lord Jesus, our Emanuel, “

Monday, December 14, 2009

Bible Lesson: Parables-Our Lord's-Marriage For The King's Son

Bible Lesson: Parables-Our Lord's
Parable: Marriage for the Kings Son.

Text:
Matthew 22:1-14 KJV
1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

In this parable of the Lord Jesus, the King is God the Father, the Son is Jesus, the invited guests, are the Jewish people.

The King sent out His invitation to those invited (The Jewish Nation O.T.), ...
5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
The prophets of God, were refused, and killed.

Matthew 23:13-39 NLT
13 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.
15 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are!
16 “Blind guides! What sorrow awaits you! For you say that it means nothing to swear ‘by God’s Temple,’ but that it is binding to swear ‘by the gold in the Temple.’
17 Blind fools! Which is more important—the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred?
18 And you say that to swear ‘by the altar’ is not binding, but to swear ‘by the gifts on the altar’ is binding.
19 How blind! For which is more important—the gift on the altar or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
20 When you swear ‘by the altar,’ you are swearing by it and by everything on it.
21 And when you swear ‘by the Temple,’ you are swearing by it and by God, who lives in it.
22 And when you swear ‘by heaven,’ you are swearing by the throne of God and by God, who sits on the throne.
23 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
24 Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel!
25 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence!
26 You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too.
27 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity.
28 Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you build tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed, and you decorate the monuments of the godly people your ancestors destroyed.
30 Then you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would never have joined them in killing the prophets.’
31 “But in saying that, you testify against yourselves that you are indeed the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.
32 Go ahead and finish what your ancestors started.
33 Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell?
34 “Therefore, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers of religious law. But you will kill some by crucifixion, and you will flog others with whips in your synagogues, chasing them from city to city.
35 As a result, you will be held responsible for the murder of all godly people of all time—from the murder of righteous Abel to the murder of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed in the Temple between the sanctuary and the altar.
36 I tell you the truth, this judgment will fall on this very generation.
37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let Me.
38 And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate.
39 For I tell you this, you will never see Me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!”

At the second invitation, came John the baptist, God's own Son, and His Apostles.
The answer was still the same.

With the anger of the King, came judgment.
Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Fell under siege of the Romans, Vespasian and Titus.
The city and its temple were destroyed.

The King then looked for other guests to invite to the marriage of His dear Son.
Those invited in the highways and byways good and evil, are the Gentile Nations of the world.

The gathering room for these guests is the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Guests accepting the Kings invitation, receive the proper wedding garment.

Revelation 19:5-9 KJV
5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye His servants, and ye that fear Him, both small and great.
6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.

Romans 1:16,17 KJV
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Romans 3:23-25 NLT
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
24 Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins.
25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood..."

II Corinthians 5:21 KJV
For He (God the Father) hath made Him (Jesus Christ God's Eternal Son) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

Philippians 3:9 KJV
And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Titus 3:5,6 KJV
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

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

Friend, do you have the wedding garment on today?
You can't buy this garment, you can't earn it.
The wedding garment doesn't come by baptism, confirmation, dedication, communion, church membership, giving, praying, etc. etc. etc...

Ephesians 2:8,9 KJV
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Many a soul today in cathedrals of darkness would rather through ritual, and eulogy, earn their salvation, rather than bowing and repenting, calling on the name of the Lord Jesus to save them.

One day, they will find that they are “without,” the wedding garment, and cast out, into outer darknes.

Hebrews 3:15-19
"...Today when you hear His voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.”
16 And who was it who rebelled against God, even though they heard His voice? Wasn’t it the people Moses led out of Egypt?
17 And who made God angry for forty years? Wasn’t it the people who sinned, whose corpses lay in the wilderness?
18 And to whom was God speaking when He took an oath that they would never enter His rest? Wasn’t it the people who disobeyed Him?
19 So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter His rest.

Today, the King, yet calls those in the highways and byways, to come to the wedding of His dear Son.

Revelation 22:16,17 KJV
16 I Jesus have sent Mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Matthew 25:1-13
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Bible Lesson: Jesus-The Character Of

Bible Lesson: The Character of Jesus.

Would you like to be like the wonderful Lord Jesus?

The Character of Jesus Christ: (A partial list.)

* As a young man growing up, He was obedient to His heavenly Father.

Luke 2:49 KJV
And He said unto them, How is it that ye sought Me? wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business?

Luke 22:42 KJV
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from Me: nevertheless not My will, but thine, be done.

John4:34 KJV
Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work.

John 15:10 KJV
If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love.

* Jesus was obedient to His earthly parents.

Luke 2:51-52 KJV
51 And He went down with them (Parents-Mary and Joseph), and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but His mother kept all these sayings
in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

* Jesus is our example.

Matthew 11:29,30 KJV
29 Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.

Matthew 16:24 KJV
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

John 13:15 KJV
For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

Attractive

Matthew 8:1 KJV

Large crowds followed Jesus as He came down the mountainside.

Luke 9:37 KJV
The next day, after they had come down the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus.

John 12:32 KJV
And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.

Compassionate

Isaiah 40:11 KJV
He will feed His flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in His arms, holding them close to His heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.

Matthew 4:23 KJV
Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And He healed every
kind of disease and illness.

Acts 10:38 KJV
And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who
were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

Confession

Mark 1:38 KJV
And He said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.

Luke 4:43,44 KJV
43 And He said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
44 And He preached in the synagogues of Galilee.

John 18:37 KJV
Pilate therefore said unto Him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice.

Empathy

Hebrews 4:15 KJV
For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 4:15 AMP
For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.

Faithful

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

Hebrews 10:23 KJV
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;)

Revelation 19:11 KJV
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.

Forgiving

Luke 23:34 KJV
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted His raiment, and cast lots.

Good

Matthew 19:16 KJV
And, behold, one came and said unto Him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

Grace

II Timothy 2:1 KJV
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace* that is in Christ Jesus.

* Grace-Greek-Charis (Khar-ece): Divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including: Gratitude, acceptable, benefit, favor, gift, joy, liberality, pleasure, thanks. (Abingdon/Strong)


Grace and Truth

John 1:14 KJV
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Holy

Luke 1:35 KJV
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also
that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Acts 4:27 KJV
For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

Honesty

Isaiah 53:9 KJV
And He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death; because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth.

Humble, Long, Suffering

Matthew 11:29,30 KJV
29 Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Matthew 27:12-14 NLT
12 But when the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent.
13 “Don’t you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?” Pilate demanded.
14 But Jesus made no response to any of the charges, much to the governor’s surprise.

Innocent

Matthew 27:4 KJV
Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

Joy

John 15:11 KJV
These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

John 17:13 KJV
And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have My joy fulfilled in themselves.

Just and Lowly

Zechariah 9:9 KJV
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and
riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

John 5:30 KJV
I can of Mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath
sent Me.

Loving

John 13:1 KJV
Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having
loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end.

John 15:13 KJV
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Merciful

Hebrews 2:17 KJV
Wherefore in all things it behoved Him 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.

Patience.

I Timothy 1:16 KJV
But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others
will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.

Peace

John 14:27 KJV
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 16:33 KJV
These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Power

Matthew 28:18 KJV (Christ)
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.

Luke 10:19 KJV (Man)
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power* of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

*Greek-Exousia (Ex-oo-see-ah): Authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.

Matthew 16:19 KJV (The Gospel.)
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Prayer

Mark 1:35 KJV
And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Luke 5:16 KJV
And He withdrew Himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

Resisted Temptation

Matthew 4:3,4 KJV
3 During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,‘People do not live by bread alone,but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

Righteous

Isaiah 53:11 KJV
He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My Righteous Servant justify many; for He shall bear their
iniquities.

Righteousness and Faithfulness

Isaiah 11:5 KJV
And righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins, and faithfulness the girdle of His reins.

Servant

Luke 22:27 KJV
Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among
you as one who serves.

Sinless and True

I Peter 2:22 NLT
He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone.

John 8:46 KJV
Which of you convinceth Me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe Me?

I Peter 1:19 KJV
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Suffering

Romans 8:17 KJV
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.

Teacher-Liberator

Matthew 4:23 KJV
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Isaiah 58:6-9 KJV
6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward.
9 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer..."

True

John 7:18 KJV
He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but He that seeketh His glory that sent Him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.

Weeping (Before God.)

Hebrews 5:7 KJV
Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared;

Luke 19:41 KJV
But as He came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, He began to weep.

Wisdom

Colossians 2:2,3 KJV
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Bible Questions Answered: Demoniacs Of Gadara

Bible Questions Answered:
I see that Matthew 8:28 says two demon possessed men, while Mark 5:2 and Luke 8:27, mention only one, why is this, and what seems to be the point of this story?
Arnold/ Liecester, U.K.

Bible Answers:
Yes, that is true, but it is only because one was violent, only one of the two came rushing out to Jesus.

What a warning this story is about, sin, and doing the bidding of the evil one!

Luke 8:26-39 KJV
26 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.
27 And when He went forth to land, there met Him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God Most High? I beseech thee, torment me not.
29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.
31 And they besought Him that He would not command them to go out into the deep.
32 And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought Him that He would suffer them to enter into them. And He suffered them.
33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.
34 When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.
35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.
37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought Him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and He went up into the ship, and returned back again.
38 Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought Him that he might be with Him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,
39 Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.


Luke 8:26-39 NLT
26 So they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee.
27 As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet Him. For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in a cemetery outside the town.
28 As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of Him. Then he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don’t torture me!”
29 For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon’s power.
30 Jesus demanded, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, for he was filled with many demons.
31 The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit.
32 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons begged Him to let them enter into the pigs. So Jesus gave them permission.
33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned.
34 When the herdsmen saw it, they fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran.
35 People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been freed from the demons. He was sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid.
36 Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed.
37 And all the people in the region of the Gerasenes begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them. So Jesus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake.
38 The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with Him. But Jesus sent him home, saying,
39 “No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him.

This story shows us that:

1) The evil spirits, could “not,” enter the swine, unless given divine permission.
They had power over the man, because he had given himself in one form or another, to the devil.

2) A multitude of evil spirits may possess some one.
Luke 8:30 KJV “And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion*: because many devils were entered into him.”

*Legion-Greek-Legeon (Leg-eh-ohn): Regiment. (Abingdon/ Strong)
Legion: “The chief subdivision of the Roman army, containing about six thousand infantry, with a contingent of cavalry.” Smith's Bible Dictionary.

3) It has been said, and no doubt true, that the release of the multitude of demons into the herd of swine, was a punishment for Jews raising
swine, an unclean, animal, something they were forbidden to do.

4) This story also shows how that many have only a heart for financial gain, and not Christ!
The herders of the swine, admonished Jesus to leave them, the one who could have liberated them as well, and given divine grace, cast out.

5) This story shows us that man, may not believe in hell, but demons know about and “fear,” it!
James 2:19 KJV “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

Luke 8:31 KJV “And they besought Him that He would not command them to go out into the deep*.”

*Deep-Greek-Abusso (Ab-us-sos): Abyss, deep, bottomless pit.

6) The swine were killed. The devil is a murderer.
John 8:44 KJV
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.


7) In this story we see the “character of the possessed,”

A. The two demoniacs preferred nudity. Luke 8:27 KJV “And when He went forth to land, there met Him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.”

B. The two demoniacs had a preoccupation with death. Luke 8:27 KJV “And when He went forth to land, there met Him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.”

C. Demoniacs possessed Super Natural Strength. Luke 8:29 KJV “For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.”

D. Demoniacs had Super Natural Knowledge. Luke 8:28 KJV “When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God Most High? I beseech thee, torment me not.”

E. Often the possessed, are “out of their right mind.”
Luke 8:35
"Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid."


This story is a picture of what sin will do. Satan, rewards his faithful, with torment!
Bound by something stronger than chains, no one could help the demoniacs, no one until Jesus came.

Luke 8:29
“...he ... commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man.”

Through Christ and His power, is deliverance found!

Luke 8:35,36 KJV
35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.

Psalm 44:5 KJV
Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.

Isaiah 42:7 KJV
To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

Isaiah 58:6-9 KJV
6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward.
9 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer..."

Luke 4:18 KJV (Isaiah 61:1)
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

Luke 10:19 NLT
"Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy..."

I John 3:8 KJV
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Revelation 12:11 KJV
"And they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony..."