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Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Bible Questions Answered: Hypocrisy.

Bible Questions Answered:
“...and I know this teacher says to live religious, but me and a friend, saw him come out of a liquor store...”
Ron/ Malibu, California U.S.A.

Bible Answer:

Perhaps one of the most serious sins within the church of Jesus Christ, today, is the sin of, hypocrisy!

Hypocrisy: Pretending to be what one is not, or to feel what one does not feel; especially a pretense of virtue, piety, etc.
(New World Dictionary of American English)

Here is what our Lord, had to say regarding the subject.

Matthew 24:44-51 KJV
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh.
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49 And shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites*: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

*Hypocrites-Greek-Hupokrites-(Hoop-ok-ree-tace): An actor under an assumed character (stage-player), i.e. a dissembler (hypocrite).

Whether, in the pew or the pulpit, hypocrisy, was denounced by the Lord Jesus, and as we have seen from Matthew 24:51, openly states that such a one is “lost.

Companion Scriptures:

Matthew 6:1-5,16-18 KJV
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret Himself shall reward thee openly.
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 15:1-9 NLT
1 Some Pharisees and teachers of religious law now arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus. They asked Him,
2 “Why do your disciples disobey our age-old tradition? For they ignore our tradition of ceremonial hand washing before they eat.”
3 Jesus replied, “And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God?
4 For instance, God says, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.’
5 But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.’
6 In this way, you say they don’t need to honor their parents. And so you cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition.
7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote,
8 ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.
9 Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’

Matthew 22:15-22 NLT
15 Then the Pharisees met together to plot how to trap Jesus into saying something for which He could be arrested. 16 They sent some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to meet with Him. “Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest you are. You teach the way of God truthfully. You are impartial and don’t play favorites.
17 Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
18 But Jesus knew their evil motives. “You hypocrites!” He said. “Why are you trying to trap Me?
19 Here, show Me the coin used for the tax.” When they handed Him a Roman coin,
20 He asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”
21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. “Well, then,” He said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”
22 His reply amazed them, and they went away.

Matthew 23:1-15;23-36 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.
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 sepulchers, 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 sepulchers 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.

Mark 12:38-40 KJV
38 And He said unto them in His doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,
39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:
40 Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

Luke 6:39-45 NLT
39 Then Jesus gave the following illustration: “Can one blind person lead another? Won’t they both fall into a ditch?
40 Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher.
41 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?
42 How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.
43 “A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.
44 A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thorn bushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes.
45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

Luke 12:1-7;54-56 KJV
1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, He began to say unto His disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
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.
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
54 And He said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.
55 And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.
56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?

Luke 13:10-16 KJV
10 And He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.
11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
12 And when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
13 And He laid His hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.
15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

Romans 1:18 KJV
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Revelation 3:15,16 KJV
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Bible Questions Answered: Angel-Christ Not A Created

Bible Questions Answered.
“The church my son and I have started going to mentions Christ as angel Michael. This seems strange to me...”
Mary/ Las Vegas, Nevada U.S.A.

Bible Answer:

It is strange, because it is a “false-teaching.”
Nothing could be further from the truth or counter to the word of God.
The enemy has long sought to destroy the Bible doctrine of the trinity, for to do so, would be to destroy the doctrine of Jesus Christ, God's Son, and His atonement.

This group, cannot, produce one scripture showing that Jesus is the angel Michael!

The Lord Jesus Christ, is not an angel.

Revelation 17:14 KJV
These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Ephesians 1:19-23 NLT
19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe Him. This is the same mighty power
20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.
21 Now He is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.
22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made Him head over all things for the benefit of the church.
23 And the church is His body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with Himself.

Read this following chapter to the Hebrews, then, please take the time to read it once more!

Hebrews 1:1-14 KJV
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
4 Being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
5 For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son?
6 And again, when He bringeth in the first begotten into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him.
7 And of the angels He saith, Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.
8 But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.
9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
13 But to which of the angels said He at any time, Sit on My right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Did you notice verse 6? All the angels of heaven are to worship the Son of God!
Angels are NEVER WORSHIPED!

Revelation 22:8,9 KJV
8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

Michael, an angel did not dare rebuke Satan.

Jude 9 NLT
But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse the devil of blasphemy, but simply said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (This took place when Michael was arguing with the devil about Moses’ body.)

But Jesus Christ, "not," an angel said to Satan....

Zechariah 3:2 NLT
And the Lord said to Satan, “I, the Lord, reject your accusations, Satan.
Yes, the Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you. This man is like a burning stick that has been snatched from the fire.”

Jesus, God's eternal Son, told Satan....

Matthew 4:8-10 NLT
8 Next the devil took Him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
9 “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”
10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only Him.”

Let's take a look at …

I Thessalonians 4:16 KJV
For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Translation: Three instantaneous events.
Christ's Shout
Arch angel's voice
Trumpet blast

What our Lord will shout, we are not told, it may well be “My beloved!”

Arch angel, may well be Michael, as he is often portrayed as a leader of God's army.
His words may be “Mount up!”
(See for reference: Daniel 10:13,21/ Jude 9/ Revelation 12:7-9 KJV).

The trumpet blast will be the last, like a mighty cavalry charge.

(Be sure to read the blog-- Jesus Christ-Created Son? )


Friday, August 26, 2011

Bible Questions Answered: Salvation Through Christ Only

Bible Questions Answered:
“...I believe that there are many different ways to God...”
Eric/ Dayton, Ohio U.S.A.

Bible Answer.

We live in a day, when many have the idea that the way they choose, will be the way to God.
There will be a sad awakening, one day. The worst part of all this, is there have been religious leaders of some prominence who have espoused this very same thing. Saying that whoever you are believing whatever you wish, you will be bound for heaven.

The last time I read the book, heaven a very real place, was the home of God the father, His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. To get to heaven, is not by fanciful wishing or by mere happenstance.

The Word of God:

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.

John 8:24 KJV
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.

John 10:1,9 KJV
1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the Door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
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.

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.

Acts 4:10-12 KJV
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole.
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 5:8,9 KJV
8 But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

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

I Timothy 2:3-6 NLT
3 This is good and pleases God our Savior,
4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
5 For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the Man Christ Jesus.
6 He gave His life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.

I Timothy 2:3-6 NLT
3 This is good and pleases God our Savior,
4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
5 For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.
6 He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.

I John 4:14,15 KJV
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

I John 5:11-13 KJV
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Ezekiel 33:11 KJV
Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die...?


Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Favorite Bible Verses

Favorite Bible Verses:

(We've fallen way behind in listing, favorite Bible verses, so here are a few.)

“After the death of our son, God gave us this verse.”
Dick and Clara/ Denver, Colorado U.S.A.

Isaiah 25:8 KJV
He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces..."

“My husband lost his job and for six months we scrimped and saved. Then our faith, began to really believe. We took the Lord's words to Joshua, to be our Lord's words to us! My husband has a new job and one that pays over twice what he was making before praise be the Lord.”
Sheila and Ron/ Los Angeles, California U.S.A.

Joshua 1:5-9 KJV
5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
6 Be strong and of a good courage...
7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.


“My husbands suicide while in Afghanistan left me, his wife, with heartache and disappointment.
But I have read this scripture and other scriptures of comfort.”
Susan/ Fort Worth, Texas U.S.A.

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

“...you prayed and we prayed, mom and his dad, and his two brothers. We took this verse to heart, and prayed it every day until he was out of the hospital and back at home.”
Leana /Munster, Germany

Isaiah 49:13-19 NLT
13 Sing for joy, O heavens! Rejoice, O earth! Burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people and will have compassion on them in their suffering.
14 Yet Jerusalem says, “The Lord has deserted us; the Lord has forgotten us.”
15 “Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you!
16 See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands...”

“...and so after loosing my husband of 52 years, I felt alone. But God know us and cares for us to the end of life, this the comfort of his promises.”
Patricia/ Jacksonville, North Carolina U.S.A.

Isaiah 55:6 KJV
Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while he is near:
He is near us and the verse

Isaiah 46:3-5 NLT (KJV given, NLT used)
4 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.
5 To whom will ye liken Me, and make Me equal, and compare Me, that we may be like?

Monday, August 22, 2011

Bible Lesson: Miracles Of Jesus 2

Bible Lessons: Miracles Of Jesus: Draught Of Fishes, No. 2.

Bible Location: Sea of Galilee.

Bible Text: John 21:1-14 KJV
1 After these things Jesus shewed Himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed He Himself.
2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of His disciples.
3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered Him, No.
6 And He said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask Him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed Himself to His disciples, after that He was risen from the dead.


John 21:1-5 KJV
1 After these things Jesus shewed Himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed He Himself.
2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of His disciples.
3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered Him, No.

This miracle was after Calvary, and the glorious resurrection of our Lord, and the third time that Jesus had shown Himself to His disciples!
And it was the second time that He had performed the miracle of the draught of fishes for them, the first being at the beginning of His ministry, see Luke 5:1-11 and the blog

Seven of the disciples were present, they had fished all night, but caught nothing!

Without God, without God, you could do nothing!
Read it again,..........................................................

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

I Chronicles 29:12 KJV
Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.

Ecclesiastes 5:19 KJV
Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

If it weren't for and by the grace of the living God, you could be a paraplegic, lying in a hospital bed somewhere, then what wealth would you have?

Haggai 2:8 KJV
The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.

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


John 21:6 KJV
And He said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

Can and do, men become wealthy without God?
Answer: Yes.

As has been said before, "wealth, in and of itself, is absolutley no sign of God's blessing!"
But one thing is for sure, without acknowledging the living God of all creation, certainly there is no blessing of God on anyone, be he rich or poor.

The disciples, incase they had missed it the first time, realized that wealth, whether it be of physical or spiritual realm, comes from God! When we are obedient to the Lord, He will fill the net.


John 21:7,8 KJV
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.

Beloved John, knew it was the Lord, after all He had performed this miracle before. Telling Peter that it was the Lord, Peter, gathered his fishing coat about him, and jumped into the sea, swimming some 100 yard to Jesus.

Point of Interest:
Did you see it? Peter, in the messy fishing business, which is slimy and soaking had no clothing on, out to sea, in the boat, as often may have been the custom of fishers.
But, but, when going to meet Jesus, the FIRST thing he did was to "girt his fisher's coat unto him."

When someone comes to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour, they don't take clothes off, the make sure they are on.

Luke 9:26-35 KJV
26 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.
27 And when He went forth to land, there met Him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God Most High? I beseech thee, torment me not.
29 (For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.
31 And they besought Him that He would not command them to go out into the deep.
32 And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought Him that He would suffer them to enter into them. And He suffered them.
33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.
34 When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.
35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

Perhaps this is where we should speak on the subject of Christian Modesty, but, another time.

Once again, the word of God, has shown us that the "further away someone is from the Lord," the less clothes he has on!
In the presence of the Lord, clothed, and in their right mind.

This of course was not any issue with the disciples, but it it good to point this out, to today's world, especially to those who name the name of Christ!

A point could also be said of the nature of impetuous Peter.

When an individual comes to the Lord, and turns their life over to the Lord, their name is immediately written in the Lamb's book of lIfe.
But let us not be mislead to believe that their sinful nature has been changed in an instant, that is "not," the case!

Our nature, our character, must be molded day by day, by the Word, and by the Spirit of God. This does not, happen in an instant, and anyone who thnks so is deluded.

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

Though Peter had cursed and said he never had heard of Jesus, Jesus waited patiently for the work of the Spirit of Grace in Peter's life. And He lovingly waits for the lives of His people to be changed like His, which will not see total fruition until .....

1 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.


John 21:9-11 KJV
9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

Our Lord told Abraham of old (Who would become a father at 100 years old.)
Genesis 18:14 KJV
Is any thing too hard for the LORD?..."

And the answer is No!

One hundred and fifty three fish, many have speculated, does that have any significance?
The net over filled, and yet did not break.

John 21:12-14 KJV
12 Jesus saith unto them, COME AND DINE. And none of the disciples durst ask Him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed Himself to His disciples, after that He was risen from the dead.

"Come and dine," Jesus had prepared supper for His men.
Friend, there is soon coming a wonderful day, when the risen Saviour will shout to His people....

Luke 14:17 KJV
"...Come; for all things are now ready."

Whatever you do, make your you have the wedding garment on, so that you may atted the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

Revelation 19:6-9 KJV
6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.


Friday, August 19, 2011

Bible Questions Answered: Anger-Of Jesus

Bible Questions Answered:
"Jesus got mad and threw over the money changers tables and hit them with cords. Wasn't this a sin with Jesus?"
Roanna/ Sao Paulo, South America

Bible Answer:
No.
Cleansing of the temple, this Jesus performed twice.

First: (Beginning of our Lord's ministry.)
John 2:13-22 KJV
13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
15 And when He had made a scourge of small cords, He drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not My Father's house an house of merchandise.
17 And His disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten Me up.
18 Then answered the Jews and said unto Him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
21 But He spake of the temple of His body.
22 When therefore He was risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture,


Second: (Three years later, at the end of our Lord's ministry.)
Mark 11:15-18 KJV (Matthew 21:12,13/ Luke 19:45-48)
15 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
17 And He taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy Him: for they feared Him, because all the people was astonished at His doctrine.

“History proves that men do not learn from history.”
Three years later, was there any difference in the temple after our Lord's first cleansing? Answer, no!

Did Jesus sin, by His anger?
Absolutely not!

Saints of God, use to talk about their "righteous indignation." That was their holy anger over sin.
We live in a day, when Christian people are so filled with love, that everything is A OK. Some things are differnent than what we think or are used to, but "live and let live," "total acceptance," what's the big deal. "What the world needs now is love sweet love..."

Jesus would "not," have liked a silly saying like that!
This may come as a shock to some, but there was a time when Christian people, would actually call up a radio station, and tell them they didn't like the language they were hearing on it!
Some would call up a television station, or write and tell the station that they were sick and tired of all the violent programs they were airing every day, and weren't going to watch their channel any more! Some, dear saints would actually write the sponsors of television violence and sex, and tell them they would boycot their products because of the filth they were feeding the young people of their city.

Can you belive it?
Believe me, it "was," once true. Fanatics?

What has happened to the dear church of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Simple! Pastors, wishing dearly to feed their families, and hopefully some day live to retirement, fearing the church board, and or congregation, have "soft-peddled" the word of God!

OK, go back and read that again.
Now ask yourself, if that could be your church, or if you have ever been a party to watering down "Thus saith the Lord."

Did you know as a Christian, your life was to be filled with "hate?"
"ok, pastor, we've stayed with you for some time (for free of course), but now we're out of here!"

Well, too bad, for here is the Word of the Lord.

Psalm 97:10 KJV
Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of His saints; He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

Proverbs 8:13 KJV
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Ecclesiastes 3:8 KJV
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Amos 5:15 KJV
Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.

Jude 23 KJV
And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Jude 23 NLT
Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.

We don't need a revival of love, and glory, what we need is an old fashioned revival of hatred of the things that are evil!

How easy it is for Christian people today, to look like, sound like, dress and act like the "lost," people of the world.
God help us.

There is to be a separation between the people of God and the people of a lost world!

I Corinthians 10:21 KJV
Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

II Corinthians 6:14-18 KJV
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Ephesians 5:7,8 KJV
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

I John 1:6 KJV
If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

Personal revival?
Pray earnestly, pray sincerely, pray with all your heart, that the Lord, our righteous and holy Saviour, will give you a "hatred," for all the things of sin.

Selah

Monday, August 15, 2011

Bible Questions Answered: Punishment-Degrees Of - II

Bible Questions Answered:
“...in our class we talked about if the rich man of Luke 16, saw Nero, and if they would be tormenting together.”
Manny/ San Diego, California U.S.A.

Bible Answer:

The word of God, gives evidence that in hell there are degrees of punishment. The disciples said of Judas....

Acts 1:23-26 KJV
23 And 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.

That place, according to the disciples, certainly was not heaven, put a place of torment, especially fitted for one who would betray the Saviour.

The following verses more than lend themselves to the view that in hell there are degrees of eternal punishment and suffering. Hell is not party land where sinners gather together for a sinful time. It is a place of torment, and suffering, fully suited to ones sin.

Matthew 11:20-24 KJV
20 Then began He (Jesus) to upbraid the cities wherein most of His mighty works were done, because they repented not:
21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

Matthew 23:14,15 KJV
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.

Matthew 26:24,25 KJV
24 The Son of Man goeth as it is written of Him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
25 Then Judas, which betrayed Him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.

Mark 6:11 KJV
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you,
It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Luke 10:10-15 KJV
10 But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,
11 Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
12 But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.
13 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
14 But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.
15 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.

Luke 12:42-48 KJV
42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes,
shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

John 19:10,11 KJV
10 Then saith Pilate unto Him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against Me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered Me unto thee hath the greater sin.

There is a Judge who shall Judge right!
Genesis 18:25 KJV
"...Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" Yes.

Hebrews 10:31 KJV
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.


Saturday, August 13, 2011

Bible Questions Answered: War-End Of

Bible Questions Answered:
“...doesn't it say some where that war and fightings are going to stop, or be stopped?”
Lacey/ Lambeth, United Kingdom

Bible Answer:

Thank God, there is coming a day when war will be over! That day will not come until, man has had his fill of war, and that day will not be until the end of the tribulation period, ending in the last battle fought, known as the battle of Armageddon.

Then will be a period of one thousand years of peace, because the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus will be ruling and reigning from Jerusalem.

Satan, man's arch enemy, will be bound.

Revelation 20:1-4 KJV
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

Of that day we read....

Psalm 46:9 KJV
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariot in the fire.

Isaiah 2:1-5 KJV
1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4 And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
5 O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.

Isaiah 11:6-9 NLT
6 In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all.
7 The cow will graze near the bear. The cub and the calf will lie down together. The lion will eat hay like a cow.
8 The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.
9 Nothing will hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord.

Hosea 2:18 KJV
And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.

Micah 4:1-5 KJV
1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
3 And He shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.
5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.

Zechariah 9:10 KJV
And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and He shall speak peace unto the heathen: and His dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.

PEACE:

Isaiah 9:6,7 KJV
6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God,
The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Matthew 5:9 KJV
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

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

James 3:15-18 KJV
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 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.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Do you know this Prince of Peace, who knows and loves you?


Friday, August 12, 2011

Bible Questions Answered: Son Of Man Coming In His Kingdom.

Bible Questions Answered:
“...what does it mean when it says, some will not see death, till he comes?”
Jenny/ Raleigh, North Carolina U.S.A.

Bible Answer:

Bible Text:

Matthew 16:24-28 KJV
24 Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 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.
28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.

Mark 8:34-36/ Mark 9:1 KJV
34 And when He had called the people unto Him with His disciples also, He said unto them, Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.
1 And He said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

Please note, that Matthew states, “Son of Man coming in His kingdom,” but Mark's view is, “ the kingdom of God come with power.”

There are at least three different views as to what our Lord meant.

1)
One interpretation is that this was literally fulfilled at the transfiguration of Christ.

Matthew 17:1-7 KJV
1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
2 And was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light.
3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with Him.
4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a Voice out of the cloud, which said, This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.
6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

2)
Another interpretation of this verses is that this speaks of the glorification of Christ, i.e. His death and resurrection, and with Pentecost, was the birth of the church, and in a very real sense, His coming in power.

I Corinthians 15:3,4 KJV
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Ephesians 5:30,32 KJV
30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

3)
A different interpretation of this verse, is that this speaks of the beginning of “the day of judgment” on Jerusalem, which will not see total fruition until the end of the tribulation period.
Some of the disciples were yet alive at the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. by Roman Emperor Titus. Again this also proves this verse true.

Matthew 23:37-39 KJV
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.

Luke 19:43,44 KJV
43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

Luke 21:24 KJV
And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Matthew 16:28 KJV
Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.

What a great truth also is that, our Wonderful Saviour, has forever conquered death!

Isaiah 25:8,9 KJV
8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.
9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.

I Corinthians 15:26,51-58 KJV
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Philippians 1:21 KJV
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

II Timothy 1:10 KJV
But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Revelation 21:4 KJV
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.

Do you know this Wonderful Saviour?

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Bible Questions Answered: Baptism-Re-Baptize?

Bible Questions Answered:
“I was baptized at an early age, in a church, today, that I would not call Christian.” My question, should I be baptized again now as a believer?”
Elisha/ Dallas, Texas U.S.A.

Bible Answer:

Some would say, no, but they would “not,” be in accord with the word of God.

Bible Text;
Acts 19:3-5 NLT
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Johns baptism:
Matthew 3:11 KJV
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with Fire:

The Apostle Paul, re-baptized these Corinthian believers.

Please remember that though baptism is commanded by our Lord, yet it in itself “is NOT a means of salvation!” It is a means of "confession," confession of our faith, in believing in the finished work of Christ!

I Peter 3:18,20-22 KJV
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
20 ...the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21 The like figure (The Ark) where unto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him.

In Noah's day, eight individuals entered into the Ark, by faith. Once in the Ark, they were saved from God's judgment.

One must be of the “faith,” before partaking of baptism. Baptism does not save, but a persons belief-and-confession, that by Christ's victory over sin on the cross, we may have victory as believers, victory over death and, judgment.

The Ark of Noah's day was the “symbol-of-faith,” for eight people, it was their public confession and reliance upon Almighty God, for their salvation.

Today, Baptism, is a "symbol-of-faith," for we believers, it is our public confession and reliance upon Almighty God, for our salvation.

Romans 6:4 KJV
Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Think for one moment, if baptism saved us, what a terrible shame God's son had to come to earth, suffer and die, for nothing!
How preposterous!

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

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 (Secular, or Righteous, ed.), lest any man should boast.

Concerning baptism, be sure also to read the blog....


Sunday, August 7, 2011

Bible Lesson: Miracles Of Jesus: -Malchus Ear Healed.

Bible Lesson: Miracles Of Jesus: Malchus' Ear Healed.

Bible Location: Gethsemane.

Bible Text: Luke 22:48-51 KJV
48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss?
49 When they which were about Him saw what would follow, they said unto Him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?
50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And He touched his ear, and healed him.

Mark 14:47 KJV
And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

John 18:10,11 KJV
10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which My Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it?

Luke 22:48-50 KJV
48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss?
49 When they which were about Him saw what would follow, they said unto Him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?
50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.

“Lord, shall we smite with the sword?”
Oh, how “natural,” it is to reach for the arm of flesh! A Christian, and don't think this pertains to you?
Then already, you have failed. To be human, is to be more than inclined to fleshly thinking, and actions.

First and foremost, we are to rely of the living God, for His wisdom, and defense.

2 Chronicles 32:1-8;20,21 NLT
Assyria Invades Judah
1 After Hezekiah had faithfully carried out this work, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified towns, giving orders for his army to break through their walls.
2 When Hezekiah realized that Sennacherib also intended to attack Jerusalem,
3 he consulted with his officials and military advisers, and they decided to stop the flow of the springs outside the city.
4 They organized a huge work crew to stop the flow of the springs, cutting off the brook that ran through the fields. For they said, “Why should the kings of Assyria come here and find plenty of water?”
5 Then Hezekiah worked hard at repairing all the broken sections of the wall, erecting towers, and constructing a second wall outside the first. He also reinforced the supporting terraces in the City of David and manufactured large numbers of weapons and shields.
6 He appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in the square at the city gate. Then Hezekiah encouraged them by saying:
7 “Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side!
8 He may have a great army, but they are merely men. We have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!” Hezekiah’s words greatly encouraged the people.
20 Then King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to God in heaven.
21 And the Lord sent an angel who destroyed the Assyrian army with all its commanders and officers. So Sennacherib was forced to return home in disgrace to his own land. And when he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons killed him there with a sword.

When were the extra walls around the city, the towers, the many weapons, shields, and military officers needed?
Answer: Never.

20 Then King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to God in heaven.
21 And the Lord sent an angel who destroyed the Assyrian army

If all of the countless billions of dollars spent on military might, would be applied to the needy, homeless and, starving of this world, how different would our world be?

II Corinthians 10:3,4 KJV
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

If a people could put their lives and trust in the God of the universe, how different things would be, but alas this is a world of the flesh, and fleshly thinking.
We see it in government, and in the church, just as well.

Jeremiah 17:5 KJV
Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

Our Lord, told Solomon of old...

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.

Luke 22:51 NLT
But Jesus said, “No more of this.” And He touched the man’s ear and healed him.

These were God's men, the disciples, thinking they were doing God's service!

But how wrong, how misguided, they were, well intentioned or not. Misguided good intentions, never have done anyone any good, ever.
How careful, we must be, not to be in the flesh, but to be lead by the Spirit of God.

Proverbs 16:25 NLT
There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.

Romans 8:14 KJV
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

The ear of Malchus, was restored, by the power of the Lord Jesus.

Luke 9:56 KJV
For the Son of Man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them..."

John 10:10 KJV
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.

Man in his fleshly conduct, is quick to destroy, a mark of Apollyon. Jesus, was a life giver, a restorer of life.

Matthew 7:20 KJV
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

When life is over, what will we look back upon? A life of being in the flesh, having missed God, or a life filled with “life-saving,” works, representing the Lord Jesus Christ?
Everyday the choice is ours.
Being lead by the Spirit of God, is not by choice alone, but by daily consecration to the Lord.

Psalm 4:3 KJV
But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for Himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto Him.

Titus 2:11,12 NLT
11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people.
12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God,

Friday, August 5, 2011

Bible Questions Answered: Government-Types Of

Bible Questions Answered:
“What kind of government did they have in bible days?”
Bonnie/ London, United Kingdom

Bible Answer:
There are some four forms of government mentioned.

THEOCRACY:
God, the ruler of His people.

Genesis 3:8 KJV
And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day..."

Adam and Eve and their descendents, were under the rule of God, until the Patriarchal period.

PATRIARCHAL:
Paternal rights. The family unit, father, mother and children. The father (or eldest male) was the ruler of his home. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his sons were patriarchs.

Acts 7:8 KJV
And He gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.

Job 1:1-5 KJV
1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

THE PATRIARCHS:

A time believed to be from 1900 B.C. To 1500 B.C.
The patriarchs were, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and his sons.
The patriarchs, nomads with flocks and herds, were in groups of families or clans, who prayed and sacrificed to God.

A complete list of patriarchs, Usher, Hales & Calmet, is as follows.

Adam
Seth
Enos
Cainan
Mahalaleel
Jared
Enoch
Methuselah
Lamech
Noah
Shem
Time of the flood:
Arphaxad
Salah
Eber
Peleg
Reu
Serug
Nahor
Terah
Abram
Isaac
Jacob, and his sons

Jacob's sons:
Reuben (Genesis 29:32),
Simeon (Genesis 29:33),
Levi (Genesis 29:34), (Had no inheritance for land, as God, Himself was their inheritance.)
Judah (Genesis 29:35),
Dan (Genesis 30:5),
Naphtali (Genesis 30:7),
Gad (Genesis 30:10),
Asher (Genesis 30:12),
Issachar (Genesis 30:17),
Zebulun (Genesis 30:19),
Joseph (Genesis 30:23) (Joseph's sons take his place, Mannasseh and Ephraim.)
Benjamin (Genesis 35:18).

THEOCRACY:

God, the ruler of His people:

Exodus 19:3-8 KJV
3 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;
4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself.
5 Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine:
6 And ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.
8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.

Numbers 9:18 KJV
At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed..."

JUDGES:
Moses, leading his people,Israel, in the desert, for some time had been the judge in all matters. When the task became too great because of the increasing size of God's people, Moses' father in law, Jethro suggested that Godly rulers be appointed.

Exodus 18:17-26 KJV
17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.
18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.
19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:
20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.
21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.
23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.
24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.
25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

Deuteronomy 1:15,16 KJV
15 So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes.
16 And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him.

Deep reverence was shown to the rulers of God's people.

Psalm 82:1,6 KJV (Exodus 21:6) (The Almighty Judge, speaks to earthly judges.) Read the whole chapter.
1 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; He judgeth among the gods*.
6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the Most High.

*Gods:-Hebrew-Elohiym-(El-o-heem): Plural, the Supreme God/ occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates.
Abingodn's Strong's Concordance of the Bible

Much, could be said at this point about the awesome responsibility of God's magistrates, be they spiritual or worldly, but such is not the topic of discussion here.

Once in Canaan, judges, again ruled over God's people.

Deuteronomy 16:18 KJV
Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.

JUDGES OF ISRAEL:

Othniel (Judges 3:9)
Ehud (Judges 3:15)
Shamgar (Judges 3:31)
Deborah (Judges 4:5)
Gideon (Judges 6:36)
Abimelech (Judges (9:1)
Tola (Judges 10:1)
Jair (Judges 10:3)
Jephthah (Judges 11:11)
Ibzan (Judges 12:8)
Elon (Judges 12:11)
Abdon (Judges 12:13)
Samson (Judges 16:30)
Eli (I Samuel 4:18)
Samuel (I Samuel 7:15)

The time of the judges saw an endless cycle from God's blessing to spiritual lethargy, to open sin, to judgment, to repentance, back to God's blessing, over and over again. What was that saying?
“The only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history.”
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831)
Alas, so it was for Israel, and we today?

MONARCHY:

The people demanded of Samuel, a King to rule over them.

I Samuel 8:4-7 KJV
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
5 And said unto him (Samuel), Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.

I Samuel 10:24 KJV
And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him (Saul the son of Kish.) whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.

KINGS OF ISRAEL:

Jeroboam (I Kings 11:28)
Nadab (I Kings 14:20)
Baasha (I Kings 15:16)
Elah (I Kings 16:8)
Zimri (I Kings 16:15)
Omri (I Kings (16:16)
Ahab (I Kings 16:29)
Ahaziah (I Kings 22:40)
Jehoram (Joram) (II Kings 1:17)
Jehu (I Kings 19:16)
Jehoahaz (II Kings 10:35)
Jehoash (II Kings 13:10)
Jeroboam (II Kings 14:23)
Zachariah (II Kings 14:29)
Shallum (II Kings 15:10)
Menahem (II Kings 15:14)
Pekahiah (II Kings 15:23)
Pekah (II Kings 15:25)
Hoshea (II Kings 15:30)

KINGS OF JUDAH:

Rehoboam (I Kings 11:43)
Abijam (Abijah) (I Kings 14:31)
Asa (I Kings 15:8)
Jehoshaphat (II Kings 15:24)
Jehoram (II Chronicles 21:1)
Ahaziah (II Kiings 8:25)
Athaliah (II Kings 8:26)
Joash (Jehoash) (II Kings 11:2)
Amaziah (II Kings 14:1)
Uzziah (Azariah) (II Kiings 14:21)
Jotham (II Kings 15:5)
Ahaz (II Kings 15:38)
Hezekiah (II Kings 16:20)
Manasseh ( II Kings 21:2)
Amon (II Kings 21:19)
Josiah (I Kings 13:2)
Jehoahaz (Shallum) (II Kings 23:30)
Jehoiakim (II Kings 23:34)
Jehoiachin (Jeconiah) (II Kings 24:6)
Zedekiah (Mattaniah) (II Kings 24:17)

What shall be the government in the millennium, or when there will be a new heaven and a new earth?
Answer: As it was in the beginning, so forever it shall be.....

THEOCRACY:
God, the ruler of His people.

Revelation 22:1-5 KJV
1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve Him:
4 And they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads.
5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.