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Monday, May 31, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Daniel 12:7; 11,12

Bible Questions Answered:
I see a great discrepancy between Daniel 12:7 (three and one half years) and following verses 11, and 12! The last three and one half years are not 1,335 days!
Neal/ Durham, North Carolina

Bible Answer:

Correct!

Daniel 12:7; 11,12 NCV
7 The man dressed in linen, who stood over the water, raised his hands toward heaven. And I heard him swear by the name of God who lives forever, "It will be for three and one-half years. The power of the holy people will finally be broken, and then all these things will come true."
11 "The daily sacrifice will be stopped. Then, after 1,290 days from that time, a blasphemous object that brings destruction will be set up.
12 Those who wait for the end of the 1,335 days will be happy.

Daniel's writing here of course refers to the last one half of the time known as “Jacob's Trouble,” or the Great Tribulation.

At the mid way point of the Tribulation, the Ant-Christ, erects an image to himself in the “holy place,” of the temple, referred to as the “abomination of the desolation.”

Daniel 9:27 NCV
That leader will make firm an agreement with many people for seven years. He will stop the offerings and sacrifices after three and one-half years. A destroyer will do blasphemous things until the ordered end comes to the destroyed city."

Daniel 9:27 NLT
The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. And as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the fate decreed for this defiler is finally poured out on him.”

Daniel 11:31 NLT
His army will take over the Temple fortress, pollute the sanctuary, put a stop to the daily sacrifices, and set up the sacrilegious object that causes desecration.

(See the following: Revelation 13:14,15/ 14:9,11/ 15:2/ 16:2/ 19:20/ 20:4).

The last three and one half years, equal 1,260 days, based upon prophetic years of 360 days.

How then is the question, that Daniel speaks of 1, 290 days in verse 11, and yet again in verse 12 of being some 1,335 days, all of which are past 1,260 days or 3 ½ years?

Really there is no problem. We must realize the prophecy is true, the Tribulation, will end at time appointed, the 1,260 days. The extra time of verse 11, some 30 days, and the extra time of verse 12, some 45 additional days, in all some 75 extra days, will no doubt be necessary for preparing for the Kingdom.

After Christ has ended the war of Armageddon, which ends the Tribulation period,
He judges the nations.

Matthew 16:27 KJV
For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works.

Matthew 25:31-46 KJV
31 When the Son of Man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory:
32 And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a Shepherd divideth His sheep from the goats:
33 And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungered, and ye gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed Me: I was sick, and ye visited Me: I was in prison, and ye came unto Me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King 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.
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.

Then Christ, sets up His Millennial, Kingdom Age.

Matthew 6:9,10 KJV
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

I Corinthians 15:24,25 KJV
24 Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet.

That 45 extra days have been added to set these things up, is of little consequence.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Death-Spiritual

Bible Questions Answered:
The Bible speaks of the judgment of the wicked as death, doesn't this mean they no longer exist!
William/ New York, New York

Bible Answer:
The Word of God, plainly teaches that the fires of hell, are eternal.

Mark 9:43-48 KJV (As was told by Christ.)
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.

Luke 16:19-26 KJV (As told by Christ.)
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.

When the Word of God, speaks of death for the wicked, it means one of several things

1)It refers to “Spiritual-Death.”
Which means the spirit of man is separated from the Spirit of God.

Proverbs 21:16 KJV
The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

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

Romans 8:6 KJV
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Ephesians 2:1 KJV
And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Ephesians 5:14 KJV
Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Colossians 2:13 KJV
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

I Timothy 5:6 KJV
But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

James 1:15 KJV
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

James 5:20 KJV
Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Revelation 3:1 KJV
And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

Christ holds the keys to death and hell!
Christ, not Satan, has the charge over hell.

Revelation 1:18 KJV
I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Psalm 139:7-12 KJV
7 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

Amos 9:2 KJV
Though they dig into hell, thence shall Mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:

Job 26:6 KJV
Hell is naked before Him, and destruction hath no covering.



2)The “Second-Death.”
This is “eternal separation from God” in the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:14 KJV
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Revelation 21:8 KJV
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

There is one place, where no mention of God's presence ever has, or will exist, and that is the “lake of fire.”

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Truth-Buy The

Bible Questions Answered:
What is meant in Proverbs 'buy the truth and sell it not?
Maryln/ Modesto, California

Bible Answer:

Text:
Proverbs 23:23 KJV
Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

Solomon, exhorts us, that we should long for that which is truth, wisdom, instruction and understanding.

We may be able to buy information, but wisdom never. Wisdom is the result of truths embraced by understanding. To achieve any measure of success in the world or with God, one must embrace truth, and sell it not, i.e. value it greatly.

Again Solomon says...

Proverbs 4:5-7 KJV
5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Truth:

Psalm 86:11 KJV
Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth..."

John 14:6 KJV
Jesus saith unto him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

Ephesians 6:14 KJV
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

Wisdom:

Psalm 111:10 KJV
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: His praise endureth for ever.

Proverbs 2:6 KJV
For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Hosea 14:9 KJV
Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

Matthew 7:24-27 KJV
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

II Timothy 3:15-17 KJV
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

James 3:17 KJV
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Instruction:

Proverbs 6:20-23 KJV
20 My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

Proverbs 12:1 KJV
Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge..."

Matthew 5:2 KJV
And He opened His mouth, and taught them..."

John 6:45 KJV
It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto Me.

Ephesians 4:21 KJV
If so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:

Understanding:

Psalm 119:104,105 KJV
104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Proverbs 2:1-11 KJV
1 My son, if thou wilt receive My words, and hide My commandments with thee;
2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of His saints.
9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

Proverbs 8:14 KJV
Counsel is Mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

Colossians 1:9 KJV
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

II Timothy 2:7 NLT
Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things.

I John 5:20 KJV
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is True, and we are in Him that is True, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the True God, and eternal life.

When we are willing to “buy the truth and sell it not,” we will be willing to sacrifice for our love of it.
It is then that we will realize above all else, that to love the truth, is to embrace the Lord Jesus, who is “the way, the truth, and the life.”

No man will ever be able to come unto the Father but by Him.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Suffering-Christian

Bible Questions Answered:
Pastor, why do christian people experience suffering? Shouldn't they be delivered from such things?
Rodney/ Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Bible Answer:

The reason:

I Peter 1:3-7 KJV
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations (trials):
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

The test:
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.


*Tribulation-Greek-Thlipsis(Thlip-sis): Pressure, afflicted, anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble. (Abingdon's Strong's concordance of the Bible.)

Now there are a host of t.v. Preachers that say, “no way!” Jesus came to deliver us from all tribulation!

They of course are hard pressed to speak of the above verse.
Why do they preach such a gospel?

II Timothy 4:3 KJV
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.

They do it, because it is the gospel, many want to hear!
They do it for filthy lucre!

The truth is as Jesus has said, “... In the world ye shall have tribulation...”
Here are just a few such verses...saying the same.

Deuteronomy 4:29-31 KJV
29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find Him, if thou seek Him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
30 When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto His voice;
31 (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) He will not forsake thee..."

Psalm 34:19 KJV
Many are the afflictions of the righteous:
but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.


Isaiah 43:2,3 KJV
2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
3 For I am the LORD thy God..."

Isaiah 48:10,11 KJV
10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee
in the furnace of affliction.

11 For Mine own sake, even for Mine own sake, will I do it..."

Zechariah 13:9 KJV
And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on My name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is My people: and they shall say, The Lord is My God.

Acts 5:40-42 KJV
40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Acts 9:16 KJV (Concerning the Apostle Paul)
For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for My name's sake.

Acts 14:21,22 KJV
21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Romans 5:1-5 KJV
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Romans 8:16-18 KJV
16 The Spirit itself 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.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Philippians 1:29 KJV
For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake;

Colossians 1:24 NLT (Apostle Paul)
I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for His body, the church.

I Thessalonians 3:4 KJV
For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

Hebrews 11:24,25 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;

James 5:10,11 KJV
10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

I Peter 2:19-21 NLT
19 For God is pleased with you when you do what you know is right and patiently endure unfair treatment.
20 Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.
21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in His steps.

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

I Peter 5:10 KJV
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His Eternal Glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Revelation 2:8,9 KJV
8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the First and the Last, which was dead, and is alive;
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty..."

Revelation 7:13,14 KJV
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.


Any Bible believing Christian should be well aware that God's rain falls on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45).

But our Lord has promised us, that when we go through the floods, and the fire, they will not overflow us, because He will be with us!

Exodus 33:14 KJV
And He said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

Psalm 41:1-3 NLT
1 Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble.
2 The Lord protects them and keeps them alive. He gives them prosperity in the land and rescues them from their enemies.
3 The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health.

Matthew 5:10-12 KJV
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

II Timothy 2:12 KJV
If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, he also will deny us:

II Timothy 4:18 KJV
And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

I Peter 5:6,7 KJV
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.

Revelation 21:3,4 KJV
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Faith Tested

Bible Questions Answered:
Will God try our faith?
Anita/ Pune, India

Bible Answer:

Yes!

Text:
Matthew 15:21-28 KJV (Mark 7:24-30)
21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto Him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
23 But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and besought Him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
24 But He answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
25 Then came she and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, help me.
26 But He answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Upon reading this gospel account, we see that a “Syro-phoenician*” woman approached Jesus asking repeatedly for His help in the healing of her possessed child.

Syro-phoenician: A mixed race, half Phoenician and half Syrian (and thus a Gentile).
(Smith's Bible Dictionary)

Christ's response, absolute rejection, “ But He answered her not a word.”
Was this the loving, caring Jesus who had healed so many? Yes!

Friends, write this down in the front of your Bible and never let it be lost.

WHAT EVER GOD DOES IS RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY!

Oh, there will be times when you will not understand this statement, nor perhaps believe it, no matter for, these words are eternally true!

Genesis 18:25 KJV
"...Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

With no help needed from us, the answer is yes, the Just Judge of all earth, shall do right!

Romans 11:33-36 NLT

33 Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and His ways!
34 For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give Him advice?
35 And who has given Him so much that He needs to pay it back?
36 For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. All glory to Him forever! Amen.
Isaiah 55:8,9 KJV
8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Our Lord, in not answering the woman, had an agenda, and that was the “trying of her faith.”
(See John 6:5, Jesus questioning Philip.)

If the Lord were to try your faith, would your faith, stand or fold?

James 1:5-8 KJV
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Hebrews 10:35,36 KJV
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

James 1:3 KJV
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

The Lord Jesus, being God, knew that the woman was determined to see her daughter made whole.

Matthew 15:
23 ...And His disciples came and besought Him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
24 But He answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Yes, she was not a Jew, she was a Gentile, and her persistence, led her to a place of humility and patience!

25 Then came she and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, help me.
26 But He answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.

Referred to as a dog, i.e. her nationality, yet she persisted.

27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
(Translation: Knowing this, can't I, too have some of your blessings?)

Christ responded...
28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Faith, tested! Does God, have the right to test our faith? Yes!

WHAT EVER GOD DOES IS RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY!

He tests us, to cause our faith to persevere!
May we always be found reading His word, that our faith may become strong.

Read Hebrews chapter eleven, of great people of faith who have persevered.

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

Psalm 118:8,9 KJV
8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

Psalm 125:1 KJV
They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.

Proverbs 3:5,6 KJV
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

Isaiah 12:2 KJV
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation.

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:

Matthew 7:7-11 KJV
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?

I Peter 1:3-9 KJV
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Healing For Soul And Body

Bible Questions Answered:
I see that on one occasion in Matthew chapter nine, that Christ forgave a man his sins and then healed him.
The man had not asked to be forgiven any sins, what was the situation there?
Kiri/ Auckland, New Zealand

Bible Answers:

Text:
Matthew 9:1-8 KJV (Mark 2:1-12/ Luke 5:17-26)
1And He entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into His own city.
2And, behold, they brought to Him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
3And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
4And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
5For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
6But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith He to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
7And he arose, and departed to his house.
8But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

The answer is quite simple. The “cause,” of the mans disease, was sin.
What his sin was, we are not told.

Can sin, cause illness and death? Yes!

What person, doesn't know that the life of a drunkard ends in life threatening mishap or terminal disease? Yes, sin can, and may be behind many diseases, yet not all!

In this case of the paralytic man, Jesus said that it had been.
This is why our Saviour, first told the repentant man, that his sins had been forgiven.

Oh, how true those words....
Galatians 6:7,8 KJV
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Job 4:8 KJV
Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.

Isaiah 3:10,11 NLT
10 Tell the godly that all will be well for them. They will enjoy the rich reward they have earned!
11 But the wicked are doomed, for they will get exactly what they deserve.

Jeremiah 2:17,19 NLT
17 And you have brought this upon yourselves by rebelling against the Lord your God,
even though He was leading you on the way!
19 Your wickedness will bring its own punishment. Your turning from Me will shame you.
You will see what an evil, bitter thing it is to abandon the Lord your God and not to fear Him. I, the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!

Jeremiah 17:10 KJV
I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Proverbs 5:22 KJV
His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.

Proverbs 6:27 KJV
Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?

Hosea 8:7 KJV
For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind..."

I Corinthians 6:9-11 NLT
9 Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality,
10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.
11 Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

I Peter 1:17 KJV
And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

II Corinthians 5:10 KJV
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

I John 2:16,17 KJV
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.

Revelation 20:12 KJV
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Revelation 22:12 KJV
And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Here in our story is a picture of illness, not of body only, but of the soul as well. The Lord Jesus, most important of all, is a healer of the soul!

Isaiah 43:25 KJV
I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins

Matthew 9:2 KJV

“ ...Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.”

Christ not only saw the soul of the paralytic, but saw the thoughts of the Pharisees.

Matthew 9:3-7 KJV
3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
4And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
5For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
6But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith He to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
7And he arose, and departed to his house.

Sick souls, and bodies still may be made well through the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalm 103:2,3;11,12 KJV
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.

I John 1:9 KJV
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I Peter 2:24 KJV
Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Second Death

Bible Questions Answered:
I read in Revelation 21 about something called the, second death, which is this?
Shin/ Tokyo, Japan

Bible Answers:

Revelation 2:11 KJV
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Revelation 20:10-15 KJV
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
11 And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:10-15 NLT
10 Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
11 And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from His presence, but they found no place to hide.
12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.
13 The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds.
14 Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is
the second death.

15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Revelation 21:7,8 KJV
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Revelation 21:7,8 NLT
7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be My children.
8 “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
This is the second death.”


Sinners who have rejected God's love gift, the only means of salvation, His beloved son the Lord Jesus, face the second death.

After physical death, the word of God tell us, that for Christians...
II Corinthians 5:8 KJV
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

But the sinner, the Christ rejecter, finds himself in hell and the second death, which is
“eternal separation from God.”

The Second Death, is a place of eternal torment, punishment of the rebellious wicked.

Isaiah 66:24 KJV
And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against Me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

Matthew 3:12 KJV
Whose fan is in His hand, and He will throughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Matthew 18:8 KJV
Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting 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:
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Mark 3:29 KJV
But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.

Mark 9:43-48 KJV (Jesus Christ, taught that hell, and the lake of fire, are eternal.)
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.

Luke 3:16,17 KJV
16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
17 Whose fan is in His hand, and He will throughly purge His floor, and will gather the wheat into His garner; but the chaff He will burn with fire unquenchable.

II Thessalonians 1:7-9 KJV
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power;

Revelation 14:9-11 KJV
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

John 3:14-18 KJV
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

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

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

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Bible Lesson: Bible Mountain-Mount Calvary-Salvation

Bible Lesson: Bible Mountain-Mount Calvary: Salvation.

Text:
Luke 23:33 KJV
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

Mark 15:22 KJV
And they bring Him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.

John 19:17 KJV
And He bearing His cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:


Christ's crucifixion was outside the city wall, near a garden:
Hebrews 13:12 KJV
Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

John 19:41 KJV
Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulcher, wherein was never man yet laid.

Outside the city wall, and near a garden, describes one location outside of the Damascus Gate. Here a hill, north of Jerusalem, has the resemblance of a human skull. Two caverns for the eyes, while a jutting rock forms a nose, and a slit the mouth, and a ledge forms a chin. Seven hundred feet away is General Charles G. Gordon's garden tomb.

As sacred as this site is, never are we told to worship it, there is only one to be worshiped, and that is God.

Many Good Friday, and Easter services have been held there, D.L. Moody and Talmage preached messages there.

Calvary, speaks of God's great love for us:
John 3:16-18 KJV
16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

The Way of Salvation is through Christ, only:
John 10:9-11 KJV (He is the door/ the Good Shepherd.)
9 I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
11 I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.

Acts 4:11 KJV (The only Saviour.)
11 This is the Stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the Head of the Corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Romans 5:9 KJV (We are saved by His blood.)
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.

I John 1:7 KJV (The blood...cleanseth.)
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.

Acts 15:11 KJV (By His Grace.)
But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved..."

G: God's
R: Riches
A: At
C: Christ's
E: Expense

Confession of sin:
Proverbs 28:13 KJV
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

I John 1:8,9 KJV
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Obedience:
Hebrews 5:9 KJV
And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him;

Matthew 7:21 KJV
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.


Confession of Christ:
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.

Matthew 10:32,33 KJV
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven.

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

Romans 10:13 KJV (Whosoever shall call.)
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

God's Gift:
John 4:10 KJV (Gift)
Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the Gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give Me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water.

Romans 3:24 KJV (Freely.)
Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Romans 5:18 NLT (God's Gift.)
17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His Gift of Righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.
18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.

Romans 6:23 KJV (Gift)
For the wages of sin is death; but the Gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 8:32 KJV (Freely)
He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

II Corinthians 9:15 KJV (Gift)
Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable Gift.

Ephesians 2:8,9 KJV (Gift of God.)
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.

Revelation 22:17 KJV (Freely.)
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.

Salvation available to all:
I Timothy 2:3,4 KJV (All men.)
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Titus 2:11-13 KJV (Hath appeared to all men.)
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;

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

Divine Forgiveness:
Isaiah 43:25 KJV
I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

Isaiah 44:22 KJV
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee.

Isaiah 55:7 KJV
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.

Micah 7:18 KJV
18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy.
19 He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

Now is the accepted time to call upon the Lord:
Psalm 95:6-8 NLT
6 Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,
7 for He is our God. We are the people He watches over, the flock under His care. If only you would listen to His voice today!
8 The Lord says, “Don’t harden your hearts..."

II Corinthians 6:2 NLT
For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.”
Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.

Salvation Prayer

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Christian Loyalty

Bible Questions Answered:
Why are we to hate father, mother, wife and all others to follow Christ?
Roshan/ New Delhi, India

Bible Answers:

Christ's message was one of love.

John 15:9 KJV
As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love.

I Corinthians 13:13 KJV
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

I John 4:16 KJV
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.


Text:
Luke 14:25-27 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.

What else, Jesus had to say in Luke 14:15-24.

15 And when one of them that sat at meat with Him heard these things, he said unto Him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.
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.

(Misplaced priorities by those invited to the feast!)

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.

(Not counting the cost.)

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.

(Conquest, without planning is foolish.)

33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.

34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

(To be of value, must be strong until the end.)

* Hate-(verse 26)Greek-Miseo (Mis-eh-o): To love less.

Jesus never taught anyone to hate, his mother, father or wife and friends.

These words of Jesus, have to with what is the “priority,” in the life of a follower of Jesus.
Is Christ his first and foremost priority?
He must always remain the number one priority in the Christians life.

The gospel of Matthew show this so much clearer.

Matthew 10:34-39 KJV
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
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.

Moses well taught Israel...
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.

Deuteronomy 10:12 KJV
And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

Luke 14:27 KJV
And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple.

Matthew 10:38,39 KJV
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.

Jesus had told them, a cross was waiting for Him, no doubt He was preparing them, for what lay ahead, for them.

A Christian is to so love his Lord, as to be willing to lay down his life in obedience to Him.
Perhaps why most Christians today are “not,” under some form of enemy persecution, is because they are closet Christians.

No open testimony, no public witness of their faith, no loyalty to the Saviour.
Some time back this old pastor asked the following question...
“Would you consider taking your Bible with you down town, when you go to work, meet your friends, etc. etc..”

The reply was deafening, no responses whatsoever.
And so what do we see today, by so-called Christians? Dinning out they will not so much as bow their head for a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord that bought them.
Christians thinking it nothing wrong to find themselves in all kinds of "worldly amusements."
Friends, these things ought not so to be.

Christian, your greatest priority, should always be...thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

When we live, that way, our actions will match, what we believe and say!

Matthew 7:13-21 KJV
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16 KJV
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

This is not a call for showy aggrandizement, or some kind of spiritual exhibitionism, far from it. It is the call of the humble, to remain faithful, and not shirk their private or public loyalty to the King of Kings and Lord of Lord's.

One day, our life will only too well reveal just where our loyalties have been.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Faith

Bible Questions Answered:
According to Mark 9:24 are we supposed to pray for faith?
Roxanne/ El Paso, Texas

Bible Answers:

Yes, while we learn to trust the Lord, with all our heart.
Psalm 37:4,5 KJV
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD: and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Text:
Mark 9:17-29 KJV
17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto Me.
20 And they brought him unto Him: and when He saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
21 And He asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, he is dead.
27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
28 And when He was come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, Why could not we cast him out?
29 And He said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

Mark 9:17-29 NLT
17 One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk.
18 And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.”
19 Jesus said to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to Me.”
20 So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth.
21 “How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father. He replied, “Since he was a little boy.
22 The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”
23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.
24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, He rebuked the evil spirit. “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” He said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!”
26 Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, “He’s dead.”
27 But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.
28 Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with His disciples, they asked Him, “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?”
29 Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.”

Yes, we are to pray that our faith will increase!
Having “faith,” is so important, for the people of God.

Habakkukk 2:4 KJV
"...the just shall live by his faith."

Luke 17:5,6 KJV
5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

Mark 11:22-24 KJV
22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Hebrews 11:1,6 KJV (Read this chapter.)
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

II Chronicles 20:20 KJV
"...Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper."

John 6:28,29 KJV
28 Then said they unto Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.

A great way to “increase,” our faith, is by reading the Word of God.
In this Holy Book, we read of the living God, and His reaching out to all of humanity, through His Son the Lord Jesus.

Romans 10:17 KJV
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

I Corinthians 2:4,5 KJV
4 And my (The Apostle Paul) speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

We can be a people of faith, if our hearts don't condemn us.

I John 3:19-24 KJV
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.
20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
24 And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and he in Him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us.

Luke 8:15 KJV
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart,
having heard the word,
keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

James 1:5-8 KJV
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Philippians 4:13 KJV
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Hebrews 10:35-39 NRSV
35 Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward.
36 For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
37 For yet‘in a very little while, the one who is coming will come and will not delay;
38 but my righteous one will live by faith. My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back.’
39 But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved.