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Thursday, July 29, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Marriage Part 2

Bible Questions Answered:
Pastor everyday, marriage is being hijacked by some immoral group, what can the christian church of Jesus Christ do?
Shirley/ Los Angeles, California

Bible Answer:

First of all read: Marriage

Genesis 2:21-24 KJV
21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man.
23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

There is something the church of Jesus Christ can do!
We need to call our weddings...”GENESIS WEDDINGS!”

Leviticus 10:10 KJV
And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;

NO, other group (other than Christians), can lay hold to this claim!
Let us begin to call our wedding anniversaries, “GENESIS WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES.”

About to list your wedding in the newspaper? List it as a “Genesis Wedding.”
About to have a wedding anniversary celebration? List it as a “Genesis Wedding Anniversary.”

Engagement party, or news listing? List as a “GENESIS ENGAGEMENT.”

If we begin to do these things, all will clearly see the difference between Christian, engagements, marriages, and anniversaries, and "all" others!

Christians, our Lord, strictly left us with the commandment to testify of our faith, and this is but one way in which we can do, exactly that!

Ephesians 6:10 KJV
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Weather

Bible Questions Answered:
Does God, make weather, and to judge people?
Marites/ Tacloban, Philippines

Bible Answer:
Here are a few versus showing that God is in control of weather.

Genesis 7:4 KJV
For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.

Genesis 8:1 KJV
And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged;

Genesis 19:24 KJV
Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven;

Genesis 27:28 KJV
"Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven..."

Exodus 9:13-35 KJV
13 And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let My people go, that they may serve Me.
14 For I will at this time send all My plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like Me in all the earth.
15 For now I will stretch out My hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth.
16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee My power; and that My name may be declared throughout all the earth.
17 As yet exaltest thou thyself against My people, that thou wilt not let them go?
18 Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.
19 Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.
20 He that feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses:
21 And he that regarded not the word of the Lord left his servants and his cattle in the field.
22 And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.
23 And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt.
24 So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.
25 And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.
26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.
27 And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.
28 Intreat the Lord (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.
29 And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the Lord; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the Lord's.
30 But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the Lord God.
31 And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.
32 But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they were not grown up.
33 And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the Lord: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.
34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.
35 And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the Lord had spoken by Moses.

Exodus 10:19 KJV
And the Lord turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 11:16,17 KJV
16 Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;
17 And then the Lord's wrath be kindled against you, and He shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the Lord giveth you.

Deuteronomy 28:24 KJV
The Lord shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.

Joshua 10:8-11 KJV
8 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.
9 Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.
10 And the Lord discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.
11 And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.

I Samuel 12:16-18 KJV
16 Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the Lord will do before your eyes.
17 Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the Lord, and He shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking you a king.
18 So Samuel called unto the Lord; and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.

I Kings 8:35 KJV
When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them:

I Kings 18:41-46 KJV
41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.
42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,
43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.
44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not.
45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.
46 And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

James 5:17,18 KJV
17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

Job 37:6 KJV
For He saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of His strength.

Job 37:9-18 NLT
9 The stormy wind comes from its chamber, and the driving winds bring the cold.
10 God’s breath sends the ice, freezing wide expanses of water.
11 He loads the clouds with moisture, and they flash with His lightning.
12 The clouds churn about at His direction. They do whatever He commands throughout the earth.
13 He makes these things happen either to punish people or to show His unfailing love.
14 “Pay attention to this, Job. Stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God!
15 Do you know how God controls the storm and causes the lightning to flash from His clouds?
16 Do you understand how He moves the clouds with wonderful perfection and skill?
17 When you are sweltering in your clothes and the south wind dies down and everything is still,
18 He makes the skies reflect the heat like a bronze mirror. Can you do that?

Psalm 18:11-14 NLT
11 He shrouded Himself in darkness, veiling His approach with dark rain clouds.
12 Thick clouds shielded the brightness around Him and rained down hail and burning coals.
13 The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded amid the hail and burning coals.
14 He shot His arrows and scattered His enemies; His lightning flashed, and they were greatly confused.

Psalm 78:47,48 KJV
47 He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost.
48 He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.

Psalm 135:7 KJV
He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; He maketh lightnings for the rain; He bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.

Psalm 147:16-18 NLT
16 He sends the snow like white wool; He scatters frost upon the ground like ashes.
17 He hurls the hail like stones. Who can stand against His freezing cold?
18 Then, at His command, it all melts. He sends His winds, and the ice thaws.

Psalm 148:8 KJV
Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling His word:

Isaiah 5:6 KJV
And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.

Isaiah 40:22-25 KJV
22 It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
23 That bringeth the princes to nothing; He maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.
24 Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and He shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.
25 To whom then will ye liken Me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.

Jeremiah 10:13 KJV
12 He hath made the earth by His power, He hath established the world by His wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.
13 When He uttereth His voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; He maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of His treasures.

Jeremiah 23:19 KJV
Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.

Hosea 13:15 KJV
Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the Lord shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.

Jonah 1:3,4 KJV
3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord , and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.
4 But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.

Mark 4:37-39 KJV
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38 And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him, and say unto Him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39 And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Revelation 7:1-3 NLT
1 Then I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds so they did not blow on the earth or the sea, or even on any tree.
2 And I saw another angel coming up from the east, carrying the seal of the living God. And he shouted to those four angels, who had been given power to harm land and sea,
3 “Wait! Don’t harm the land or the sea or the trees until we have placed the seal of God on the foreheads of his servants.”

Revelation 8:5-13 NLT
5 Then the angel filled the incense burner with fire from the altar and threw it down upon the earth; and thunder crashed, lightning flashed, and there was a terrible earthquake.
6 Then the seven angels with the seven trumpets prepared to blow their mighty blasts.
7 The first angel blew his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were thrown down on the earth. One-third of the earth was set on fire, one-third of the trees were burned, and all the green grass was burned.
8 Then the second angel blew his trumpet, and a great mountain of fire was thrown into the sea. One-third of the water in the sea became blood,
9 one-third of all things living in the sea died, and one-third of all the ships on the sea were destroyed.
10 Then the third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch. It fell on one-third of the rivers and on the springs of water.
11 The name of the star was Bitterness. It made one-third of the water bitter, and many people died from drinking the bitter water.
12 Then the fourth angel blew his trumpet, and one-third of the sun was struck, and one-third of the moon, and one-third of the stars, and they became dark. And one-third of the day was dark, and also one-third of the night.
13 Then I looked, and I heard a single eagle crying loudly as it flew through the air, “Terror, terror, terror to all who belong to this world because of what will happen when the last three angels blow their trumpets.”

Revelation 16:1-21 NLT
1 Then I heard a mighty voice from the Temple say to the seven angels, “Go your ways and pour out on the earth the seven bowls containing God’s wrath.”
2 So the first angel left the Temple and poured out his bowl on the earth, and horrible, malignant sores broke out on everyone who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue.
3 Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse. And everything in the sea died.
4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs, and they became blood.
5 And I heard the angel who had authority over all water saying,“You are just, O Holy One, who is and who always was, because you have sent these judgments.
6 Since they shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, you have given them blood to drink. It is their just reward.”
7 And I heard a voice from the altar, saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, your judgments are true and just.”
8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, causing it to scorch everyone with its fire.
9 Everyone was burned by this blast of heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had control over all these plagues. They did not repent of their sins and turn to God and give Him glory.
10 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. His subjects ground their teeth in anguish,
11 and they cursed the God of heaven for their pains and sores. But they did not repent of their evil deeds and turn to God.
12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great Euphrates River, and it dried up so that the kings from the east could march their armies toward the west without hindrance.
13 And I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs leap from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet.
14 They are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God the Almighty.
15 “Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for Me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.”
16 And the demonic spirits gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place with the Hebrew name Armageddon.
17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. And a mighty shout came from the throne in the Temple, saying, “It is finished!”
18 Then the thunder crashed and rolled, and lightning flashed. And a great earthquake struck—the worst since people were placed on the earth.
19 The great city of Babylon split into three sections, and the cities of many nations fell into heaps of rubble. So God remembered all of Babylon’s sins, and He made her drink the cup that was filled with the wine of His fierce wrath.
20 And every island disappeared, and all the mountains were leveled.
21 There was a terrible hailstorm, and hailstones weighing seventy-five pounds fell from the sky onto the people below. They cursed God because of the terrible plague of the hailstorm.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Recycling

Bible Questions Answered:
We hear so much about recycling, recycling, is it really our obligation, and what would the bible say?
Tom/ Durham, New Hampshire

Bible Answer:

The Word of the Lord, would give us all, a very stern warning as to how we handle this precious planet, called Earth.

Revelation 11:18 KJV
And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

Revelation 20:12,13 KJV
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.

Romans 14:12 KJV
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Our Lord, reminded us that, at best, we are stewards of the earth, because, the earth is the Lord's!

Exodus 19:5 KJV
"... for all the earth is Mine."

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

Psalm 50:10 KJV
For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.

Haggai 2:8 KJV
The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, saith the Lord of Hosts.

Stewardship:

Matthew 25:14 KJV
For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

Matthew 18:23 KJV
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

I Corinthians 4:2 KJV
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

Genesis 41:35 KJV (Joseph told Pharaoh, to layup and waste not any food.)
35 Have them gather all the food produced in the good years that are just ahead and bring it to Pharaoh’s storehouses.
Store it away, and guard it so there will be food in the cities.
36 That way there will be enough to eat when the seven years of famine come to the land of Egypt. Otherwise this famine will destroy the land.”

Proverbs 21:20 NLT (Frugality)
The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.

John 6:11-13 KJV (Jesus to His disciples)
11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when He had given thanks, He distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
12 When they were filled, He said unto His disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

Waste:

Proverbs 12:27 NLT
Lazy people don’t even cook the game they catch, but the diligent make use of everything they find.

Proverbs 18:9 KJV
He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

Proverbs 18:9 NLT
A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things.

Our God, has called us to be “builders and restorers,” not wasters.

Isaiah 58:12 NLT
12 Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes.
14 Then the Lord will be your delight. I will give you great honor and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Bible Lesson: Miracles Of Jesus-Leper Healed.

Bible Lesson: Miracles Of Jesus; Leper Healed.

Location: Capernaum.

Text: Mark 1:35-45 KJV (Matthew 8:1-4/ Luke 5:12-16)
35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
36 And Simon and they that were with Him followed after Him.
37 And when they had found Him, they said unto Him, All men seek for thee.
38 And He said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.
39 And He preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.
40 And there came a leper to Him, beseeching Him, and kneeling down to Him, and saying unto Him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth His hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
42 And as soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.
43 And He straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;
44 And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
45 But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to Him from every quarter.

Jesus' custom was to rise up early to pray and to be at the temple. Teaching in the temple was not peculiar to the Sabbath, for teachings were held on Mondays and Thursday's as well.

On His way to the temple, a leper in his great need came to Jesus.
The leper's approach to Jesus, shows us a great way to come to our Lord while in “our” need.

The leper....
Mark 1:40
And there came a leper to Him, beseeching Him, and kneeling down to Him, and saying unto Him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

* Came to Jesus.
* Besought Jesus (To ask earnestly, eagerly.)
* He knelt before Jesus
* He presented his need to the Lord.

This leper showed-
*Faith
* Humility, and
* Submission

As Christians, we are to be a people of faith.

Hebrews 11:6 KJV
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.

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

James 5:15 KJV
"And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up..."

Hebrews 2:17 KJV We have...
"...a merciful and faithful high priest..."

Hebrews 4:14-16 KJV
14 Seeing then that we have a Great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

I Peter 5:7 KJV
Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.

Mark 1:41-43 KJV
41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth His hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
42 And as soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.
43 And He straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;

There’s No Disappointment In Jesus

1. There's no disappointment in Jesus,
He's more than my tongue can tell;
His love is so sure and so steadfast,
His friendship divine will not fail.

Chorus:
There's no disappointment in Jesus,
He's all that He promised to be;
His love and His care comfort me everywhere;
He is no disappointment to me.

2. There's no disappointment in Jesus,
Tho' sorrows may press me sore;
He comforts with tender compassion,
His love cheers my heart evermore.

3. There's no disappointment in Jesus,
He satisfies me always;
So strong and so willing to help me,
In Him I find comfort each day.

© 1940 John C. Hallett. Renewal 1968 Word Music, LLC

No one is ever disappointed, by coming to the Lord Jesus for help!

Isaiah 61:1-3 KJV
1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified.

Jesus instructed the man

Mark 1:43-45
43 And He straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;
44 And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
45 But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to Him from every quarter.

See Leviticus chapters 13 & 14 regarding levitical purification laws.

It was the duty of the priest, to judge a man clean or unclean, regarding disease.
And so Jesus told the man, to present himself to the priest, and to make an appropriate offering.

Now, although Jesus had commissioned the man to say nothing to anyone, other than to the priest, he told everyone. Why did he do it? Certainly not out of disrespect for the Lord, but because of the fulness of his joy, he could not contain the event.

The result was that crowds of people came looking for Jesus, so much so that He could no longer enter into the city, but had to resort to desert places, and yet even there they found Him.

As Christians today, we are not to contain, our testimony...but broadcast it, so that others, like ourselves, may find the Saviour.

Matthew 10:7 KJV
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mark 16:15,16 KJV
15 And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Acts 5:20 KJV
Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

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

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Prayer Request: Barbara

Prayer Request:
Please pray for Barbara (Christian, wife and mother) who is going into surgery for breast cancer.

Matthew 10:42 NLT
And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of My followers, you will surely be rewarded.”
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.

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

UPDATE:
Barbara has had her surgery, with the result- - no radiation, needed, no follow up medication needed. Praise the Lord! Thank all of you faithful prayer warriors!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Repentance Necessary For Salvation?

Bible Questions Answered:
How could Jesus forgive someone who never asked for forgiveness like the woman taken in adultery?
Aanandini/ Chennai, India

Bible Answer:

Text:
John 8:1-11 KJV
1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
2 And early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came unto Him; and He sat down, and taught them.
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto Him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto Him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6 This they said, tempting Him, that they might have to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7 So when they continued asking Him, He lifted up Himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again He stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up Himself, and saw none but the woman, He said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

John 8:1-11 NLT
1 Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives,
2 but early the next morning He was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and He sat down and taught them.
3 As He was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.
4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery.
5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”
6 They were trying to trap Him into saying something they could use against Him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with His finger.
7 They kept demanding an answer, so He stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”
8 Then He stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.
10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”


John 8:2 KJV
And early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came unto Him; and He sat down, and taught them.

Dear Christian Worker, never be discouraged in your work for the Lord!
Our dear Saviour, “early in the morning, came again into the temple,” to teach the people.
Nothing could keep Him away from doing the will of the Father, it was His Life, His Love, His earthly mission, to bring the Word of the Father, to a lost world.

John 8:3 KJV
“And the scribes and Pharisees..."
Doing the work of the Lord?
Than expect opposition from the enemy.

The Jews had their own courts, but the Scribes and Pharisees in order to trap Jesus, who they absolutely rejected, brought the woman before Him, to see what He would do.

If He would do nothing but keep silent, they would have rejected Him.
If he had say “no,” they would have rejected Him for having rejected Moses law.
If He would say, stone her, He would be rejecting His own teachings.

Matthew 7:1-5 KJV
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

Romans 2:1 NLT
You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse!
When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.

His enemies waited.

Matthew 16:10-25 KJV
16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
22 And ye shall be hated of all men for My name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of Man be come.
24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called
the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of His household?

Matthew 24:9 KJV
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name's sake.


John 8:4,5 KJV
4 They say unto Him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

Mosaic Law:
Exodus 20: 14 KJV
Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Leviticus 20:10
And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

Leviticus 21:9 KJV
And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.

Deuteronomy 17:2-7 KJV
2 If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord thy God, in transgressing His covenant,
3 And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded;
4 And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel:
5 Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die.
6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
7 The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.

Deuteronomy 17:2-7 NLT
2 “When you begin living in the towns the Lord your God is giving you, a man or woman among you might do evil in the sight of the Lord your God and violate the covenant.
3 For instance, they might serve other gods or worship the sun, the moon, or any of the stars—the forces of heaven—which I have strictly forbidden.
4 When you hear about it, investigate the matter thoroughly. If it is true that this detestable thing has been done in Israel,
5 then the man or woman who has committed such an evil act must be taken to the gates of the town and stoned to death.
6 But never put a person to death on the testimony of only one witness. There must always be two or three witnesses.
7 The witnesses must throw the first stones, and then all the people may join in. In this way, you will purge the evil from among you.

Deuteronomy 22:22 KJV
If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.

Ezekiel 16:38-40 KJV
38 And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will give thee blood in fury and jealousy.
39 And I will also give thee into their hand, and they shall throw down thine eminent place, and shall break down thy high places: they shall strip thee also of thy clothes, and shall take thy fair jewels, and leave thee naked and bare.
40 They shall also bring up a company against thee, and they shall stone thee with stones, and thrust thee through with their swords.


John 8:6 KJV
This they said, tempting Him, that they might have to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

For many years, the speculation has been, “What did Jesus, write?”
Perhaps He wrote for all to see:

Hypocrites: (Matthew 23:3)
Enslavers-Burden Givers (Matthew 23:4)
Ritualistic Pomp-False-Worshipers (Matthew 23:5-12)
Blind Leaders of the Blind (Matthew 23:13,15)
Robbers (Matthew 23:14)
False Teachers (Matthew 23:16-22)
Legalists (Matthew 23:23,24)
Deceivers (Matthew 23:25-28)
Liars (Matthew 23:29-32)

What the Lord Jesus Christ had to say regarding the Scribes and Pharisees:

Matthew 23:1-39 KJV
1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to His disciples,
2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.
22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify;
and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.

John 8:7-11 KJV
7 So when they continued asking Him, He lifted up Himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again He stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up Himself, and saw none but the woman, He said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Did Jesus forgive this woman's sin, without any repentance on her part?
Never!
He knew only too well, her sorrowful heart, and her shame.

God Knows the hearts of men:

Psalm 17:3 KJV
"Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me..."

Psalm 26:2 KJV
Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

Psalm 44:20,21 KJV
20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;
21 Shall not God search this out? for He knoweth the secrets of the heart.

Psalm 139:23,24 KJV
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Repentance:

Matthew 3:2 KJV
"... Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Luke 13:2,3 KJV
2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

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:

Yes, Jesus was God, and because He was, He knew only too well the heart of the woman.
And what was her heart was that of sorrow and shame.


John 8:11 KJV
“... And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”

The condemnation, the guilt, the shame, the spiritual wound of sin, was gone, because Jesus had forgiven her, with His admonition, “go, and sin no more.”

And that is what repentance means, an about face.
Oh, the most wonderful words that woman had ever heard, words she no doubt would never forget...
neither do I condemn thee.

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.

Not to be condemned by the Lord is to be received by Him.

John 6:37 KJV
All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.


Monday, July 19, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Saved Or Lost?

Bible Questions Answered:
How can Matthew 18:14 be true in light of Matthew 7:13?
Helen/ Westminster, Colorado

Bible Answer:

Texts:
Matthew 7:13 KJV
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:

Matthew 18:14 KJV
Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

Homily:
In a class room, it is the desire of any sincere teacher, that all of his or her students pass their final exams, and go on to their own success.

But alas, in reality, not all shall pass.

How nice it would be, indeed if the teacher received everything that they desired, and that all his or her students would pass but the students have something to say in the matter as well.

And if a student, does not take his studies seriously, failure lieth at the door, and by no other hand than by their own.

In this “fallen,” world, God does not command His will to be done regarding the lives of men, for all of humanity have their own wills, as well.

God's “will,” is that all would be saved!

I Timothy 2:3,4 KJV
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.

II Peter 3:8,9 KJV
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 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.

Men have choice in their lives, and many may decide, to have nothing to do with God, and so
consequently, they will be lost.

God does not “force,” His will upon men.
There is the Will of God, and then there is His Permissive will.

Permissive: Allowing freedom; esp., tolerant of behavior or practices disapproved of by others; indulgent; lenient.
(New World Dictionary)

Oh the errant thinking of lost men. “If there's a loving God, he won't let me go to hell!”
But the plain fact is, God doesn't send anyone to hell, men send themselves, and they do so by the choices they make!

God gives men, what they ask for, if they ask for separation from Him and His blessings, He gives it to them!

Psalm 106:13-15 NLT
13 Yet how quickly they forgot what He had done! They wouldn’t wait for His counsel!
14 In the wilderness their desires ran wild, testing God’s patience in that dry wasteland.
15 So He gave them what they asked for, but He sent a plague along with it.

God's will is that He is, “ not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

But, the plain fact is, many will “not,” choose to come to repentance.
Matthew 7:13 KJV
“...and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:”

How precious are little children.

Matthew 18:14 KJV
Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

But, again, the fact is that little children, grow up, and make their own choices, one of which may be to reject the word of the Lord, and His warnings.

John 8:20-24 KJV
20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as He taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on Him; for His hour was not yet come.
21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go My way, and ye shall seek Me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
22 Then said the Jews, Will He kill Himself? because He saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.
23 And He said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins.

How careful we must be in not rejecting the word of the Lord!
Genesis 6:3 KJV
"And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man..."

Hebrews 3:15 KJV
"While it is said, To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts..."


Friday, July 16, 2010

Bible Lesson: Miracles Of Jesus; Peter's mother-in-law healed

Bible Lesson: Miracles Of Jesus. Peter's mother-in-law healed.
Location: Capernaum.

Text:
Matthew 8:14 KJV
14 And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.
15 And He touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

Mark 1:30,31 KJV
29 And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon (immediately) they tell Him of her.
31 And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

Luke 4:38,39 KJV
38 And He arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought Him for her.
39 And He stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.

Peter and Andrew owned a home at Capernaum. Peter was a married man, in no way shape or form, as his Lord, espoused celibacy.
(For coverage on this subject see my new ebook “Salvation!” Top of this blog page.)

Dr. Luke tells us that his mother-in-law had a “great-fever.”
Without any doubt, she was very sick, and unable to minister to them.

Immediately, the Lord Jesus was told of the situation.

Dear friends, never, ever doubt that our Saviour cares for you!

I Peter 5:7 KJV
Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.

Wow, did you see that?
In only eleven words, the personal pronoun He, or Him, is used twice.
Not she, or they, or anything else! “He” careth for you!
(See my new ebook- “Salvation”, where this subject is completely covered!)

Here is a-must read-found at this blog!


Isaiah 41:10 KJV
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.

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, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour..."

Isaiah 46:4 KJV
And even to your old age I am He; and even to hoar (Grey) hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

Hebrews 13:5 KJV
"...for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

The Lord Jesus cared for Peter's mother-in-law.
Luke says that He, …

Luke 4:39 KJV
“... rebuked* the fever; and it left her...”

*Rebuked-Greek-Epitimao (Ep-ee-tee-mah-o): Censure or admonish, forbid, charge, rebuke. (Abingdon's Strong's Concordance of the Bible)

This is the same word used in...
Matthew 8:26 KJV
And He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then He arose, and rebuked* the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

Genesis 18:14 KJV
"Is any thing too hard for the Lord?..."

Matthew 19:26 KJV
But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

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

I John 4:4 KJV
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Luke 4:39 KJV
“... and it (great fever) left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them."

Are we as Christian people, to pray for the sick today?

Mark 16:15-18 KJV
15 And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

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

James 5:14-16 KJV
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

I John 5:14,15 KJV
14 And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us:
15 And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Salvation-Not By Works

Bible Questions Answered:
I heard some one on radio last night say, they didn't think that a good person would ever go to hell.
What do you think?
Robin/ Richmond, Texas U.S.A.

Bible Answer:

How good are they?
Completely good?
There is no such earthly person!

I Kings 8:46 KJV
"...for there is no man that sinneth not..."

Isaiah 53:6 KJV
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 64:6 KJV
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Matthew 19:17 KJV (Jesus said)
"And He said unto him...there is none good but one, that is, God..."

I John 1:8 KJV
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Since Adam, and Eve, mankind has come under the curse of sin.

Romans 3:10,23 KJV
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

This is God's universe.

Isaiah 45:5 KJV
"I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside Me..."

He is the creator.

Colossians 1:16,17 KJV
16 For by Him (Christ) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him:
17And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.

Revelation 4:11 KJV
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Because this is God's universe, He has the right to tell us what to do to be able to come to Him.

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.

John 10:9 KJV
"I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved..."

John 8:20-24 KJV
20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as He taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on Him; for his hour was not yet come.
21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go My way, and ye shall seek Me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
22 Then said the Jews, Will He kill Himself? because He saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.
23 And He said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins.

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.

Man's morality, or goodness, saves no one!
Man, at his best is only somewhat good, and certainly not holy!

Romans 3:23 KJV
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Our living God, hates sin, anything sinful, cannot approach Him.

Habakkuk 1:13 KJV
"Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity..."

Habakkuk 1:13 NLT
"But you are pure and cannot stand the sight of evil..."

Man's only Salvation is by the blood of His precious Son the Lord Jesus Christ.

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.

Revelation 7:13,14 KJV
13And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
14And 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.

If someone rejects, God's way of salvation, they are lost.
To be lost is to be in a place of rejecting God, and His love gift.

To be lost, means to exist eternally in a place prepared for the devil and his angels, a place of torment, and eternal separation from God.

Mark 9:43-48 KJV
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 12:4,5 KJV
4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, fear Him.

Luke 13:27,28 KJV
27 But He shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from Me, all ye workers of iniquity.
28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth..."

There is salvation, by one means only, the precious blood of Christ.

Romans 3:19,20 NLT
19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God.
20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

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. (And this includes all man's pious works!)

Galatians 2:16,21 KJV
16 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.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

And may we add, Communion, church membership, baptism, confirmation, dedication, etc. etc. etc.
If salvation came by these....then Christ is dead in vain.

Galatians 3:11 KJV
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Will good people go to hell?
People, who reject the Saviour, are not good, but evil, regardless of the deeds they have done or are doing on earth.

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

Monday, July 12, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Apostles Creed

Bible Questions Answered:
Who wrote the Apostles Creed?
Warren/ Portland, Oregon

Bible Answer:

The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the
Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day
He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

This creed, used mostly by the following churches: Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, Western Orthodox,Presbyterian, Methodist, Arian, Unitarian, and Congregationalists.

This creed is not acceptable by some because it does not discuss the divinity of Jesus Christ, or of the Holy Spirit.

This creed, was “not,” written by the Apostles!
No ecclesiastical writer, church father or Luke, or any other, mentions an “Apostles Creed,” before the fifth century!
Origin and date of the creed are unknown.

Some one has said that the creed was taken from scripture, as the following....

“I believe in God the Father Almighty”; (Peter)
“Maker of heaven and earth” (John)
“And in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord” (James)
“Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary” (Andrew)
“Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified dead and buried”; (Philip)
“He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead”; (Thomas)
“He ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty”; (Bartholomew)
“from whence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.” (Matthew)

Other phrases contributed by: James (the son of Alpheus), Simon Zelotes, Jude and Matthias.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Christ No Longer Known After The Flesh

Bible Questions Answered:
I see we are no longer to know Christ after the flesh, what is this meaning?
Kaamilee/Bangalore, India

Bible Answer:

Text:
II Corinthians 5:16,17 KJV
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

II Corinthians 5:16,17 NLT
16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know Him now!
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

How common it is for men to judge others by the flesh.
What's his education, social status, what's he worth, etc. etc. etc.

Saul once looked up Christian people, as doing away with the Jewish faith. He was determined to destroy all of them. That was up until he had his Damascus, experience (Acts 9:), with the living resurrected Christ.

Paul became a new man, he no longer...
II Corinthians 5:16 NLT “...evaluat(ed) others from a human point of view. At one time (he) thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently (he knew) Him now!

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

As our view of the Lord, is that now of the spirit, so to we are to think of our fellow man, in a new light, not of their fleshly status, but of the spirit.

Acts 10:34 KJV
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

Romans 10:12,13 KJV
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

And our living God, does not “save” a person by their station or rank in life.....

Ephesians 2:8-10 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.
(We cannot work our way into God's favor, by religious, educational, social status, or any other means.)
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The Christian, is a new creation in Christ.
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.

It does not matter what the man was before, weather he was wealthy, well educated, or a thief, after coming to Christ, the Saviour, he is now a new creation.

II Corinthians 5:17 KJV
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

A Christian, has his salvation assured, but his sanctification, is a work in progress, and not complete until...
I John 3:2 KJV
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.

Who may become a “new creation in Christ?”

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

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.

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.

I Corinthians 3:11 KJV
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

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


Thursday, July 8, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Cain's Sorrow

Bible Questions Answered:
Genesis tells us that Cain was in great sorrow, did God forgive him? Over half of our class says yes, God is in the forgiving business, while some don't know.

Bible Answer:

Text: Genesis 4:8-16 KJV
8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
10 And He said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto Me from the ground.
11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
13 And Cain said unto the Lord, my punishment is greater than I can bear.
14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid;
and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
15 And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
16 And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

We know of no “sorrow, over sin,” on the part of Cain.
Sorrow, and grief as to his sentence by God, yes, but we cannot, must not mistake the two.

Genesis 4:13 And Cain said unto the Lord, my punishment is greater than I can bear.

Cain, was facing great loss, and about to be turned out into the wilderness, a place where the kinsman of Abel, could lay in wait for him.

His sorrow was a “selfish,” sorrow!

This story is reminiscent of Judas Isacriot.

Judas betrayed his Lord.
Matthew 26;14-16 KJV
14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver Him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.

Matthew 27:1-5 KJV
1 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death:
2 And when they had bound Him, they led Him away, and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
3 Then Judas, which had betrayed Him, when he saw that He was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

Had Judas been repentant?
No!

Not according to the Disciples.

Acts 1:23-26 KJV
23And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Acts 1:23-26 NLT
23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.
24 Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen
25 as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.”
26 Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.

Judas had, “Great Regret,” yes, but repentance for sin, no.
Is it possible for a person to make the following confession....

Matthew 27:3,4 KJV
3 Then Judas, which had betrayed Him, when he saw that He was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.

And not be repentant to the Lord?
Judas, had every opportunity to present himself in sorrow over his sin, to the Lord, and yet did not!
Regret, yes, repentance to the Lord, no!

Acts 1:25 KJV
“...that he might go to his own place.

Acts 1:25 NLT
“...for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.”


Another example of regret, is found in the Old Testament, and is the story of Esau.
It is the story of Esau, having sold his “Birthright, and lineage to the coming Messiah,” for a mess of pottage, at the hands of his brother, Chef Jacob (Genesis 25-28.)

Genesis 25:27-34 NLT
27 As the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter. He was an outdoorsman, but Jacob had a quiet temperament, preferring to stay at home.
28 Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed eating the wild game Esau brought home, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
29 One day when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau arrived home from the wilderness exhausted and hungry.
30 Esau said to Jacob, “I’m starved! Give me some of that red stew!” (This is how Esau got his other name, Edom, which means “red.”)
31 “All right,” Jacob replied, “but trade me your rights as the firstborn son.”
32 “Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?”
33 But Jacob said, “First you must swear that your birthright is mine.” So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob.
34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn.

Genesis 27:30-40 NLT (Jacob had tricked his father Isaac for his blessing.)
30 As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and almost before Jacob had left his father, Esau returned from his hunt.
31 Esau prepared a delicious meal and brought it to his father. Then he said, “Sit up, my father, and eat my wild game so you can give me your blessing.”
32 But Isaac asked him, “Who are you?” Esau replied, “It’s your son, your firstborn son, Esau.”
33 Isaac began to tremble uncontrollably and said, “Then who just served me wild game? I have already eaten it, and I blessed him just before you came. And yes, that blessing must stand!”
34 When Esau heard his father’s words, he let out a loud and bitter cry. “Oh my father, what about me? Bless me, too!” he begged.
35 But Isaac said, “Your brother was here, and he tricked me. He has taken away your blessing.”
36 Esau exclaimed, “No wonder his name is Jacob, for now he has cheated me twice. First he took my rights as the firstborn, and now he has stolen my blessing. Oh, haven’t you saved even one blessing for me?”
37 Isaac said to Esau, “I have made Jacob your master and have declared that all his brothers will be his servants. I have guaranteed him an abundance of grain and wine—what is left for me to give you, my son?”
38 Esau pleaded, “But do you have only one blessing? Oh my father, bless me, too!” Then Esau broke down and wept.
39 Finally, his father, Isaac, said to him, “You will live away from the richness of the earth, and away from the dew of the heaven above.
40 You will live by your sword, and you will serve your brother. But when you decide to break free, you will shake his yoke from your neck.”

Hebrews 12:14-17 KJV
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

This issue was not over Esau's salvation, but his birthright.
He had treated it as nothing, in light of his hunger, but lived to regret it.

But his regret, was not that he was a “profane,” person, treating sacred things as nothing, but that he would not have all the blessings associated with it.

His fleshly appetites had cost him his “Birthright,” and all it's blessing.
But he had given it away, because he had no regard for eternal spiritual things.

His regret, was not repentance, over his earthy nature, and so the blessings of father Isaac, were forever passed down on his son Jacob.


Romans 2:4 NLT
Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you?
Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that His kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

A dying man, may have all the sorrowful regret in the world, with tears, and yet, regret never saved anyone!
Repentance, and turning to the Saviour, does!

John 6:37 KJV
All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.

Cain's sorrow, was not over having slain his brother, but over his own personal loss, and sense of terror that others would be looking to kill him.

Judas' may very well indeed experienced sorrow having betrayed an innocent man, but not over his own personal sins, of ….

Greed:
Matthew 26:14, 15 KJV
14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

Hypocrisy:
John 12:5,6 KJV
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

An Evil Heart:
Mark 14:10 KJV
And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray Him unto them.

Luke 22:47,48 KJV
47 And while He yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve,
went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss Him.
48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss?

Dishonesty:
John 12:3-6 KJV
3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
4 Then saith one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray Him,
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

Regret, does not grant salvation!
Regret, true sorrow over sin, that brings one to the Saviour, leads to salvation.

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.