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Sunday, January 31, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Hating Father or Mother

Bible Questions Answered:
What does it mean that we are to hate mother or father?
Mekhi/Nairobi, Kenya

Bible Answers:

The Text:
Luke 14:25-33 KJV
25 And there went great multitudes with Him: and He turned, and said unto them,
26 If any man come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.


Luke 14:25-33 NLT
25 A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them,
26 “If you want to be My disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be My disciple.
27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow Me, you cannot be My disciple.
28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?
29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you.
30 They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’
31 “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him?
32 And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away.
33 So you cannot become My disciple without giving up everything you own.

The message Jesus put before the people was simply,”Who or what has supremacy in your life?
Jesus was looking for cross bearers.

If His followers had a loved one, that took first place in their lives, then certainly they would at one point or another leave Him, for their loved one.
If it was their land, their homes, or their friends, then again, they would at some time leave the Lord Jesus, for the love of other people or things.

Matthew 10:37-39 KJV
37 He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me.
39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it.

The subject is not so much “hate,” as it is “love.”
What is it we love, most?
Who is it we love supremely?
Who are we the most loyal too?
Who's cross are we willing to take up and follow to the death?

Throngs of people followed the Lord Jesus, for His miracles, for their curiosity etc., but why do we follow Him?
Do we follow Him, out of true devotion, even if it means bearing a cross as He bore His? We must count the cost.

To truly be a disciple of the Lord Jesus, means we must follow Him, with hearts of adoration, and absolute devotion.

Revelation 12:10,11 KJV
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

It is God's will that we follow the Lord Jesus.

I Peter 2:21 KJV
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps:

John 12:26 KJV
If any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall also My servant be: if any man serve Me, him will My Father honour.

Deuteronomy 6:5 KJV
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Psalm 119:2 KJV
Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Trusting God

Bible Questions Answered:
I have a friend my age-36, who is married, with four kids. His wife works a full time job, and he only works part time. He tells me “God shall supply, all I need.”
I feel sorry for his wife, they live, in a run down house, and hand outs from their church.
What does the Bible say about this, is he right?
Aerick/ Manchester, UK

Bible Answers:
He is definitely, wrong!

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

The context of this scripture, which your friend seems so willingly to quote, is as follows.

The Philippian believers through Epaphroditus, had sent the Apostle Paul and abundance of gifts.
The Apostle said, the giving was such in abundance and blessing as to be a “an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God. (Philippians 4:18 KJV)

In return Apostle Paul, told the Philippian church that “ But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 KJV.

And the needs of the Philippian believers were not necessarily, riches, but rather God's Spiritual blessings, i.e. spiritual gifts within the church, etc.
It would be God, who would decide what their needs were and fill those needs, “according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. “

Not that God can't help us with His riches, “if” we are sincerely doing our part!

Now again take this text:

Luke 12:16-31 KJV
16 And He spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I 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: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
22 And He said unto His disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.

24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will He clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Was our Lord, saying here that we need not take any provision for our food, clothing, housing, etc. etc. etc.?
Never!

What was He saying?
He was saying that we should provide for family, and ourselves, but not to the point of having a heart filled with fear!

“How will we be by fall, I wonder if I'll still have a job, I wonder if we'll still have our house...one fearful thought after another, without end.

I John 4:18 KJV
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:
because fear hath torment.
He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

II Timothy 1:7 KJV
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Philippians 4:6 KJV
Be careful* for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

*Careful-Greek-Merimnao (Mer-im-nah-o): To be anxious about... (Abingdon's/Strong's Concordance of the Bible.)

Philippians 4:6 NLT
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.


Should we provide for ourselves and our family?

I Timothy 5:8 KJV
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

I Timothy 5:8 NLT
But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.

Proverbs 6:6 KJV
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

Proverbs 10:5 KJV
He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

Proverbs 12:11 KJV
He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.

Proverbs 13:4,11 NLT
4 Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.
11 Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.

Proverbs 14:23 NLT
Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty!

Romans 12:11 NLT
Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.

As we “work, as we do our best,” so that we may provide for our loved ones, yet we are to “trust,” our heavenly Father, who remembers us both physically and spiritually, as His children!

Deuteronomy 8:18 KJV
"But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth"

Psalm 37:5 KJV
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.

Psalm 34:22 KJV
The LORD redeemeth the soul of His servants: and none of them that trust in Him shall be desolate.

Proverbs 3:5 KJV
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Isaiah 26:3,4 KJV
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Bible Lesson: Parables-Our Lord's-The Rich Man And Lazarus

Bible Lesson: Parables-Our Lord's
Parable: 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.
27Then 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.


Luke 16:19-31 NLT
19 Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury.
20 At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores.
21 As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.
22 “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried,
23 and his soul went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.
24 “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’
25 “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’
27 “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. 28 For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’
29 “But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’
30 “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’
31 “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Perhaps no other parable is so pregnant with meaning as this one.
All kinds of questions may arise from reading this simple story:

*Does adherence to poverty, bring with it righteousness, and worldly riches damnation?
*Is there such a thing as “Future Compensation?”
*Is there such a thing a “purgatory,” where through suffering, lost souls, “seek the things of
God?”
*Is there life after death?
*Is the eternal body, (In spirit or body form,) much different than the earthly one?
*Is there a judgment after death?
*Does God really send people to hell, a place of eternal torment?
*Etc. etc. etc. etc.......

It would seemingly appear that Lazarus had no display of righteousness, and that he was saved merely because of his poverty.
Pity the very thought, for nothing could be any further from the truth!

Luke 16:20 KJV
“And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus*,...”

Lazarus-Greek: Lazaros (Lad-zar-os): Hebrew: Lazarus i.e. Elazar.
Elazar-Hebrew: Elazar (El-aw-zawr): God is (my) helper.

Lazarus, was a Godly, man who believed in the commandments of God.

Mark 12:28-33 KJV
28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that He (The Lord Jesus.) had answered them well, asked Him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

32 And the scribe said unto Him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but He:
33 And to love Him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

Lazarus, believed that a Jewish man, the rich man, surely would believe in these two commandments of God!
Lazarus, believed in the mercy of God.
Lazarus, believed that, “God was his helper!”

All these facts, “are,” without any doubt clearly seen in this story.

Did poverty save him, absolutely not, it was his “faith,” that saved him!

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.

Galatians 3:6,7 KJV
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

One is not transported into heaven, based upon his poverty, or his wealth, as wealth is no sign of salvation either!
One is transported to heaven based upon his faith (Since Calvary, in the finished work of Jesus Christ), and obedience to that faith!

What was the sin of the Rich Man?

Gluttony, and luxury:

Luke 16:19 NLT
Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury.

Philippians 3:18,19 KJV
18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Philippians 3:18,19 NLT
18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.
19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.

Selfishness:

Luke 16:23,24 KJV
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.

The rich man, was used to servants that did his bidding, in hell he found that this luxury was gone.
Besides that, water cannot, by reason of its design, exist in fire.

Matthew 25:41-46 KJV
41 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:
42 For I was an hungered, and ye gave Me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took Me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited Me not.
44 Then shall they also answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall He answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.


That there is an after, “eternal-life,” this story of Christ attests!
Lazarus, was carried to paradise, the “selfish rich man into hell.

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

How many deaths, reincarnations? Anathema!
Such teachings falsely teach endless reincarnations, of self improvement. False, says the Word of God.

What shall we say then, of the rich man's gaining faith in hell, to the extent of caring for his five brothers!

Luke 16:22-31
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.
27Then 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.

Dear friend, and prayerfully we are at the least, friends, if not brothers and sisters.
Have you ever wondered if it had been you in the garden, instead of Adam or Eve, would you have been deceived?

Think long and hard, before going on.

How many would gladly say of themselves, “not I!”
Really?

Friend if we say such a thing as that, we confess that we do not as of yet fully understand, the depths of our wiley, enemy, Satan.

Are we subject to deception? Could the enemy be so slick, so cunning as to deceive us?
We are an enlightened people, we are a scientific and cultured people. True our ancestors, were susceptible to the enemies wiles, because they were “not,” as an enlightened people. They did not have the Bible. They were not an educated people, and the more.

Friend if you thought that the rich man was contrite for his five brothers, than you were deceived!

Selah
(Take some time here for personal reflection, too often we race from one thought to another!)


Oh, how some would love to murder the Word of God!
Second Chance Religion / don't make it in this life....well, make it then in the next!
Anathema.

What is the truth?
The truth is that not one soul who has ever gone to hell, has ever, no matter what the torment for rejecting God, has ever changed one scintilla, nor could they ever!

The rich man was a, gluttonous, selfish man.

In hell he is forever, the same, locked in by his "life-time" choices, that he alone had made.

When he protested his five brothers coming to hell, it was “Not,” because of their coming to torment, but it was because of his “additional,” torment by their coming! (Can the torments of hell, increase? According to this story of the Lord Jesus, yes!)

And they would come because of he being the eldest son, they would no doubt follow his example to their own graves. Once there, they would, time without end, curse him, for the sinful example he had left them.

The selfish rich man, was looking out for himself, as he had done all through life. His only concern was himself.

Oh the deception of sin!
Selah

There are those today, who think they can be the master of worldly things, that they so love, to use them according to their own likings, what ever that may be.
Danger, danger, those who do so, walk on the very precipice of the pit.

Satan, the enemy of our souls is a master of deception!

I John 2:15-17 KJV
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Our Lord's Warning: (Three times Jesus warns.)

Mark 9:44:43-48 KJV (Our Lord is speaking symbolically.)
43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

Men who feed on the baser things of life, and who refuse to “die to self, and it's earthly lusts of the flesh,” stay worm (larva) like forever.

Philippians 4:8 KJV (God's People)
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think (Feed)on these things.

Romans 6:3-14 KJV (God's People)
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?
4 Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over Him.
10 For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

II Corinthians 3:18 KJV (God's People)
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.

Those who refuse to “feed on the things of God,” and who refuse to “die to self, and its lustful desires, forever seal their eternal fate as the worm, feeding on the base things of the world. Forever “self-condemned,” to a world of base, or sinful things.

Never to die to self, is never to have metamorphosis, always the worm. Never to know the “higher-life” that the butterfly knows.
Never to know the joy of the heavens.


The place of safety:


Psalm 91:1,2 KJV
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.

The only place of safety is with the Lord Jesus.
How close must you be to Him?
You must be close enough to be in His shadow!

Question:
Will the spiritual body, that we have after this life, be much different?
Answer:
Yes.

As this story gladly submits:

Men and women will be able to withstand “joys, perhaps beyond, what we could withstand in this life!
John 16:12 KJV
I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

Men and women will be able to withstand “fire, sorrow and torments beyond, what we could withstand in this life!

And again....

Luke 16:22-26 KJV
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.

How could the rich man, now in hell, see Lazarus and Abraham, in paradise, seeing how they were afar off, a great gulf, between them?
He could, because the senses of immortal man are heightened, becoming much more acute than they were while alive on earth, in the flesh.

What a misnomer, God sends people to hell!
The God of love sends no one to hell!

Men, that go there, have decided themselves that, that is where they long to be!

Ezekiel 18:23 KJV
Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign Lord. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live.

Proverbs 8:35,36 KJV
35 For whoso findeth Me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
36 But he that sinneth against Me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate Me love death.

Another point to be made from this story, is that in the next life there are “rewards,” for what has been accomplished in this one.
Judgment and torment for the sinner, glory and crowns for the believer see.....

Rewards For The Christian

Rewards For Faithful Believers

Friday, January 22, 2010

Announcements

Announcements

On behalf of all of us here, we wish to say a big thank-you to all who have written over the holidays, with your e-cards, e-letters and gifts.
Thank you and God bless you, you make possible the work of the Lord to go on!

Pastor Reine has taken some days off in January, as on Friday the twenty second, he will be holding a funeral service for his mother.

Thank you so very much for all your correspondence and prayers, and thank you so very much, telling us that you pray for all the prayer listings!

All of Gods blessings.

The Bible Prayer Line/ Staff/ and Brother Reine

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Prayer Request: Leroy

Please Pray:
Man, in his mid fifties, Leroy, has been stricken with cancer. This man has been prayed over and some recent x rays have proven what were once spots of cancer have disappeared, but yet there have been many chemo-therapy sessions. February 1st, new x rays will be taken to determine course of health care.

Thank you for remembering Leroy in your prayers, as though he were your own brother, God will reward faithful Christians who uphold others in prayer!

Psalm 103:1-3 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;

Prayer Request: Daniel

Dear Friends, great rewards will one day be given to those who pray, is that you? Thank you for praying over these individuals in this prayer list!

Please pray for Daniel, faithful Christian, husband and father going into the hospital January 20th to see if he needs to have “stints,” for heart arteries.

Psalm 107:20 KJV
He sent His word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Matthew 25:40 KJV
And the King (King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, the Lord Jesus Christ) shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Bible Lesson: Parables-Our Lord's-The Unjust Steward

Bible Lesson: Parables-Our Lord's
Parable: The Unjust Steward

Text: Luke 16:1-13 KJV
1 And He said also unto His disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.
4 I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
5 So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?
6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.
7 Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.
8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.


Luke 16:1-13 NLT
1 Jesus told this story to His disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a manager handling his affairs. One day a report came that the manager was wasting his employer’s money.
2 So the employer called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about you? Get your report in order, because you are going to be fired.’
3 “The manager thought to himself, ‘Now what? My boss has fired me. I don’t have the strength to dig ditches, and I’m too proud to beg.
4 Ah, I know how to ensure that I’ll have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I am fired.’
5 “So he invited each person who owed money to his employer to come and discuss the situation. He asked the first one, ‘How much do you owe him?’
6 The man replied, ‘I owe him 800 gallons of olive oil.’ So the manager told him, ‘Take the bill and quickly change it to 400 gallons.’
7 “‘And how much do you owe my employer?’ he asked the next man. ‘I owe him 1,000 bushels of wheat,’ was the reply. ‘Here,’ the manager said, ‘take the bill and change it to 800 bushels.’
8 “The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light.

9 Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.
10 “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.
11 And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?
12 And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?
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.”

Did our Lord endorse thievery?
Never, for it was not the Lord Jesus, (who told this story) that admired such an act but the
certain rich man of the story.

Luke 16:8 KJV
“And the lord* commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely:...”

*Lord-Kurios (Koo-ree-os): Authority, a respectful title.

The “lord,” here referred to is …

Luke 16:1 KJV
“There was a certain rich man,...”

The lord spoken of here was the employer of the unjust steward.
How very well, the New Living Translation (NLT), has so translated this verse....

Luke 16:8 NLT
The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light.

Here are just a few others...

Luke 16:8 NAS
And his master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light.

Luke 16:8 RSV
And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.

Luke 16:8 AMP
And [his] master praised the dishonest (unjust) manager for acting shrewdly and prudently; for the sons of this age are shrewder and more prudent and wiser in (relation to] their own generation [to their own age and kind] than are the sons of light.

Relating this story our Lord, then adds His own application to it.

Luke 16:9 NLT
Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.

We might ask, who are “they?”
Many translations word this differently, more clearly.
Here are just a few...

Luke 16:9 Contemporary English Version CEV
My disciples, I tell you to use wicked wealth to make friends for yourselves. Then when it is gone, you will be welcomed into an eternal home.

Luke 16:9 Darby
And I say to you, Make to yourselves friends with the mammon of unrighteousness, that when it fails ye may be received into the eternal tabernacles.

Luke 16:9 Good News
And Jesus went on to say, And so I tell you: make friends for yourselves with worldly wealth, so that when it gives out, you will be welcomed in the eternal home.

Luke 16:9 NCV
I tell you, make friends for yourselves using worldly riches so that when those riches are gone, you will be welcomed in those homes that continue forever.


Jesus also said...

Matthew 6:20,21 KJV
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

God's word....
Proverbs 19:17 KJV
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will He pay him again.

II Corinthians 9:6 KJV
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

Then our Lord, addresses the subject of trust:

Luke 16:10-13 NLT
10 “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.

11 And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?

12 And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?

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.”

A Christian, must be “trustworthy!”

I Timothy 3:7 KJV (Not only true of Bishops, but of every Christian!)
Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

As Christians, we do not “own,” goods, we manage them, as stewards for God, who is the owner of all.

Psalm 24:1 KJV
The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

What kind of stewards are we?
Are we faithful, in how we treat His earth?
Are we faithful, in how we treat others?
Are we faithful, in our giving our tithes to Him?
Are we faithful?

Luke 16:13 NLT
“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.”

Matthew 22:35-39 KJV
35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked Him a question, tempting Him, and saying,
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

As Christians, we cannot, be living for this world, and serving God.
Our lives are to be hid in Christ.

Colossians 3:1-4 KJV
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.

James 4:4 KJV
"...know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

I John 2:15-17 KJV
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

This is the hour that tries what stewards we are. May we be stewards of faithfulness, in our Lord's service, living, heart, soul, and mind for the Saviour, loving and serving others as we would ourselves. Laying up our “treasures,” in our eternal home in heaven.

Philippians 2:5-16 KJV
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life;...

Friday, January 15, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Forgiveness

Bible Questions Answered:
What do I tell a friend who hates her cousin, who took away her boy friend, and later married him.
Both are Christians and use to go to the same church.
Bae /Inch'on, South Korea

Bible Answers:
Tell her that she is “not,” a Christian.

Matthew 6:12 NLT (The Lord's Prayer.)
and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.

Matthew 6:14,15 KJV
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 18:21-35 KJV (The unmerciful servant.)
21 Then came Peter to Him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35 So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Again the words of Jesus.

Matthew 5:22-26 KJV
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, 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.
25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

Mark 11:25,26 KJV
25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Luke 17:3,4 KJV
3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

Ephesians 4:32 KJV
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Colossians 3:12,13 KJV
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

I John 3:15 KJV
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Prayer Requests: Haitians-after earthquake

Please pray for the Haitian people, having survived a 7.0-magnitude quake on Tuesday.
It has been estimated, that some one hundred thousand people may have been killed.
Food, medicine, and other supplies are racing in from around the world.
If you can help....

http://www.SalvationArmyUSA.Org


Whatever you can do, please pray for the suffering people of Haiti.

Prayer Requests:

Please pray for the Christians and their churches in Malaysia.
The Malaysian government recently passed a ruling that the Christian churches of Malaysia, may use the name, “Allah” to refer to God.
The Muslims, which comprise no less than ninety percent of Malaysia, consider the name “Allah,” peculiar to their Muslim faith, and have been at odds over Christians free right now to use that sacred name.

They, no doubt are afraid of something and that is that of the other ten percent in Malaysia, are Arabs who have turned Christian, and by allowing others to use that name, they think Arab people will be lead into Christianity.

Many churches have been fire bombed, and desecrated in some way, thankfully, no one as of yet has been hurt.
Surely this kind of thinking, “does-not,” represent all peaceful Arab people!

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Justification Through Faith In Christ

Bible Questions Answered:
You say that salvation is by grace and not works, but I see in Revelation that those who kept the commandments had the right to the tree of life! So salvation is by works!
Nathan/ Castel Gandolfo, Italy

Bible Answers:
Revelation 22:14 KJV
Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Well, we know only too well, that mankind is “not,” saved by works, so then something must be wrong here.

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.

There is a problem, and the problem is how the King James version has translated verse fourteen, it should have been translated “Blessed are those who wash their robes....” all the “best,” manuscripts so translate it.

(Twelve different versions)

Revelation 22:14 The Message
How blessed are those who wash their robes! The Tree of Life is theirs for good, and they'll walk through the gates to the City.

Revelation 22:14 NLT
Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life.

Revelation 22:14 NAS
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.

Revelation 22:14 RSV
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.

Revelation 22:14 AMP
Blessed (happy and to be envied) are those who cleanse their garments, that they may have the authority and right to [approach] the tree of life and to enter through the gates into the city.

Revelation 22:14 ESV
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.

Revelation 22:14 CEV
God will bless all who have washed their robes. They will each have the right to eat fruit from the tree that gives life, and they can enter the gates of the city.

Revelation 22:14 NCV
"Blessed are those who wash their robes so that they will receive the right to eat the fruit from the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.

Revelation 22:14 ASV
Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right to come to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.

Revelation 22:14 Darby
Blessed [are] they that wash their robes, that they may have right to the tree of life, and that they should go in by the gates into the city.

Revelation 22:14 HCSB
"Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.

Revelation 22:14 Wycliffe
Blessed be they, that wash their stoles, that the power of them be in the tree of life, and enter by the gates into the city.


(A heavenly view:
Sinfully stained garments made white and clean, through the blood of Christ.)

Revelation 6:11 KJV
"And white robes were given unto every one of them..."

Revelation 7:9;13,14 KJV
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me,
These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Revelation 19:11-13 KJV
11 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.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself.
13 And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God.

Revelation 19:7,8 KJV
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.

(Children of God, cleansed by the blood of Christ, and the regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, with the Word of God.)

Isaiah 1:18 KJV
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Titus 3:4-7 KJV
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
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;
7 That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

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.

Ephesians 5:25-27 NLT
25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up His life for her
26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.
27 He did this to present her to Himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.

I John 1:7 KJV
But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Galatians 2:16 KJV
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Worldliness

Bible Questions Answered:
Is being cool with my friends a sin, our music where we hang out?
Brenda/ Chicago, Illinois

Bible Answers:

If we call ourselves “Christian,” we must evaluate ourselves, by the one and only “Spiritual-Standard,” and that standard, is the Word of God.

Joshua 24:14 KJV
Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.

Proverbs 20:1 KJV
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Proverbs 27:20 KJV
Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

Isaiah 30:1 KJV
Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of Me; and that cover with a covering, but not of My spirit, that they may add sin to sin:

Matthew 6:24 NLT
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.

Matthew 16:24-26 KJV
24 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.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Mark 4:18-20 KJV
18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirty fold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

Luke 12:15 KJV
And He said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Luke 21:34 KJV
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

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.

Romans 6:11,12 KJV
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Romans 12:1,2 KJV
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 13:11-14 KJV
11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.
13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.
14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

I Corinthians 10:13, 21 KJV
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

II Corinthians 4:2 NLT
We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.

II Corinthians 6:14-17 KJV
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

Galatians 6:14 KJV
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Ephesians 5:11 KJV
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Philippians 3:7 KJV
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Colossians 3:1-10 NLT
1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all His glory.
5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.
7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world.
8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.
9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.
10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.

II Timothy 2:4 KJV
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

Titus 2:11-13 KJV
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Hebrews 11:24-27 KJV
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible.

James 1:19-27 NLT
19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.
21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.
24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.
25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.
27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

James 3:10,11 KJV
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

James 4:4 KJV
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

II Peter 1:4 KJV
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

II Peter 2:9 KJV
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

I John 2:15-17 KJV
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

I John 5:5 KJV
Who is he that over cometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Friday, January 8, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Christian Definitions.

Bible Questions Answered:
I don't see the question I have, what is exactly adoption?
Karen/ Plymouth, North Carolina

Bible Answers:

Here is a list of Bible definitions, concerning Christians, and their walk with the Lord.

Adoption:
Change of relationship, from sinful out casts, to the very sons and daughters of God, through faith in the Lord Jesus.

Psalm 27:10 KJV
When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

John 1:12,13 KJV
12 But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:12,13 NLT
12 But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God.
13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

Romans 8:15-17 KJV
15 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.
16 The Spirit itself (Himself) beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 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.

Romans 8:15-17 NLT
15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as His own children. Now we call Him, “Abba, Father.”
16 For His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.
17 And since we are His children, we are His heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering.

II Corinthians 6:17,18 KJV
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Galatians 4:4-7 KJV
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.


Conversion:

New life through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ezekiel 36:26,27 KJV
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them.

John 3:1-8 KJV
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto Him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

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.


Justification:
A new way of standing before God, “just as if we had never sinned.”

Isaiah 53:4-6 KJV
4 Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:4-6 NLT
4 Yet it was our weaknesses He carried; it was our sorrows that weighed Him down. And we thought His troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for His own sins!
5 But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.
6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on Him the sins of us all.

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.

Acts 13:38,39 KJV
38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
39 And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

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 1:16,17 NLT
16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.
17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in His sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

Romans 5:1 KJV
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Galatians 2:16 KJV
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Galatians 2:16 NLT
Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”

Titus 3:5-7 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;
7 That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:5-7 NLT
5 He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.
6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.
7 Because of His grace He declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”


Regeneration:

A new nature, a new heart, and spirit, from the Lord.

Ezekiel 11:19,20 KJV
19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
20 That they may walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.

John 3:3 KJV
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

I Peter 1:23 KJV
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Romans 6:3-23 KJV
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?
4 Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over Him.
10 For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.


Repentance:
Sorrow for sin, a turning about face and receiving the Lord.

II Chronicles 7:14 KJV
If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Isaiah 55:6,7 KJV
6 Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near:
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

Jeremiah 14:20 KJV
We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee.

Joel 2:12,13 NLT
12 That is why the Lord says,“Turn to Me now, while there is time. Give Me your hearts.
Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
13 Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for He is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.

Acts 3:19 KJV
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

Acts 17:30 KJV
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

II Corinthians 7:10 NLT
For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.


Sanctification:
Separation, and consecration to the Lord (Spiritual perfection).
A work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer, it is on-going, not fully accomplished, until one with the Lord.

II Thessalonians 2:13 KJV
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

II Thessalonians 2:13 NLT
As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth.

Romans 12:1,2 KJV
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Ephesians 4:23,24 KJV
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Philippians 3:7-11 KJV
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 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:
10 That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Philippians 3:7-11 NLT
7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.
8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ
9 and become one with Him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with Himself depends on faith.
10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. I want to suffer with Him, sharing in His death,
11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

Colossians 3:1-3 KJV
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.


Glorification:
Sanctification, forever accomplished.

Matthew 13:43 KJV
Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

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.

II Corinthians 4:17 KJV
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

Colossians 3:4 KJV
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.

II Timothy 2:10 KJV
Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

I John 3:2,3 KJV (When entire sanctification-glorification takes place.)
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.