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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Bible Questions Answered: False Religions.

Bible Questions Answered:
“I don't think its very wise to pit one faith against another. Believe what you wish and leave others alone!”
Karen/ Topeka, Kansas

Bible Answer:

You realize of course, you and Almighty God, “do not,” share the same opinion!
Not only that, but perhaps the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, should speak up more often to point out the errors of others. We can be so loving and so caring, that we encourage our friends to freely enter the gates of judgment and wrath.

How wonderfully brave were the first century Christians who so lovingly laid down their lives rather than bow to Roman relics or pay homage to their pagan leaders.

One wonders indeed, were Christian people, put to the test today, where would their faith be?

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

Hebrews 11:32-40 KJV (Read the whole chapter-10 other heroes of faith mentioned.)
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barack, and of Samson, and of Jephthah; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

God's answer to unmasking false religion:

I Kings 18:17-39 KJV
17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?
18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.
19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.
20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:
24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let Him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
25 And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.
26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.
31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:
32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.
34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.
35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, He is the God; the LORD, He is the God.

Acts 5:17-20 KJV (Apostles arrested for speaking the truth of the gospel.)
17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

Acts 26:25 KJV (Paul before King Agrippa.)
"...speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

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


Sunday, November 27, 2011

Bible Lesson: Miracles Of The Power Of The Holy Spirit:Judgment of Ananias And Sapphira

Bible Lesson: Miracles Of The Power Of The Holy Spirit: Judgment of Ananias And Sapphira.

Bible Messenger: Peter.

Bible Location: Jerusalem.

Bible Text: Acts 4:32-37/ Acts 5:1-11 KJV

Acts 4:32-37 KJV
32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Acts 5:1-11 KJV
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

This story was the early church in action, in power, and in the blessing of the Lord.

Acts 4:32-35 NLT
32 All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.
33 The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all.
34 There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them 35 and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.

This was Christian communal living. There were no big shots, hot shots, land barons, or secret multimillionaires. Everything was "open and honest,”"caring and sharing," in the early church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And today, what features of this early church of power carry on yet? The Eucharist, and that is all (Communion).

What a difference when the heart and life is “honestly,” controlled by the Spirit of Grace.

Into this open and giving atmosphere, came Ananias, with Sapphira. Yes they had observed all too well the giving, love, and untold appreciation of gifts and givers not with standing congregational adoration to the Living God.

They had a plan, a “dishonest,” plan, a plan of collusion. Ananias, would appear before Peter first. He would present a financial gift representing the sale of land he once owned. Surely he too would be praised “in the congregation,” for his great “sacrifice”!
But Ananias was a liar, for the greater part of the sales price, he and Sapphira, kept back for themselves.

Acts 5:1,2 KJV
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

One thing Ananias and Sapphira hadn't counted on was the fact that God sees and knows all things!

I Samuel 2:3 NLT
“Stop acting so proud and haughty! Don’t speak with such arrogance! For the Lord is a God who knows what you have done; He will judge your actions.

I Chronicles 28:9 KJV
And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts..."

Job 34:21 KJV
For His eyes are upon the ways of man, and He seeth all his goings.

Psalm 1:6 KJV
For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalm 69:5 KJV
O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.

Psalm 119:168 KJV
I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.

Psalm 139:1-4 KJV
1 O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

Proverbs 5:21 KJV
For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He pondereth all his goings.

Isaiah 40:28 KJV
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of His understanding.

Jeremiah 16:17 KJV
For Mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from My face, neither is their iniquity hid from Mine eyes.

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

Jeremiah 23:24 KJV
Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 32:17-19 KJV
17 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:
18 Thou shewest loving kindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of Hosts, is His name,
19 Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:

Daniel 2:20-22 KJV
20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are His:
21 And He changeth the times and the seasons: He removeth kings, and setteth up kings: He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with Him.

Acts 5:3-6 KJV
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear* came on all them that heard these things.
6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

*Fear-Greek-Phobos (Fob-os): To be put in fear; alarm or fright: be afraid, exceedingly, fear, terror.

Just in case you needed the instruction, our God wishes to inform those who cherish wisdom, “not all works done in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ are, holy works! Nay, and if the works appear holy, the presenters may not be.

Matthew 7:21-23 KJV
21 Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me,
ye that work iniquity.

How could a loving Saviour, say such a hurtful thing regarding Christian workers in the House of God?
How indeed.
Charismatic Christians, Prophesying, exorcising evil spirits, doing many wonderful spiritual works!

Christ call them “workers of iniquity”!

How can this be? We had better understand this for the sake of our church today!
He called them workers of iniquity, because of verse 21

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

They in their pomp and circumstance were “not,” living in the will of the Father. They went through great rituals, and ceremonies, but their lives were corrupt.

Matthew 23:27 KJV
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.

Why did our Lord, call these spiritual workers in the church “workers of iniquity?'
He did because not only were their lives evil and not Christian, but through their beguiling religious works, lead countless others to be just like them.

I Corinthians 9:13,14 KJV
13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

James 3:1 KJV
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation (Judgment).

The works of Ananias, had judged him. Not only was Ananias a liar, but one who taught his own wife to be one as well.

Acts 5:7-11 KJV
7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
11 And great fear* came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

*Fear-Greek-Phobos (Fob-os): To be put in fear; alarm or fright: be afraid, exceedingly, fear, terror.

These two individuals, had forgotten that God sees and knows all, and one thing more. The church of the Lord Jesus Christ, is just that the Lord's Church, not mans!

Matthew 16:18 KJV
"...I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The Fear of God, is not, for the most part in the church of Jesus Christ today.
And because it is not, in its place are darkness, dishonesty, and hypocrisy.

Leviticus 19:30 KJV
Ye shall keep My sabbaths, and reverence* My sanctuary: I am the LORD.
*Reverence-Hebrew-Yare (Yaw-ray): To fear; to revere; cause to frighten;: affright, be made-afraid, dreadful-put in fear-be had in reverence.

Deuteronomy 10:12 KJV
And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear* the LORD thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
*Fear-Hebrew-Yare (Yaw-ray)

Joshua 24:14 KJV
Now therefore fear* the LORD, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth... serve ye the LORD.
*Fear-Hebrew-Yare (Yaw-ray)

Ecclesiastes 12:13,14 KJV
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear* God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
*Fear-Hebrew-Yare (Yaw-ray)

Psalm 33:8 KJV
Let all the earth fear* the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
*Fear-Hebrew-Yare (Yaw-ray)

Psalm 89:7 KJV
God is greatly to be feared* in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence* of all them that are about Him.
*Feared-Hebrew-Arats (Aw-rats): To awe or to dread; hence to be affrighted, afraid, dread, feared, terrified, dread, fear, shake terribly.

*Reverence-Hebrew-Yare (Yaw-ray):

Isaiah 8:13 KJV
Sanctify the LORD of hosts Himself; and let Him be your fear*, and let Him be your dread*.
*Fear-Hebrew-Mowra/Mora/Morah (Mo-raw): Fear, fearful thing or deed: dread, (that ought to be feared), terribleness, terror.

*Dread-Hebrew-Arats (Aw-rats):

Matthew 10:28 KJV
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear* Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
*Fear-Greek-Phobeo (Fob-eh-o): To frighten, i.e. to be alarmed; to be in awe of i.e. revere: be (sore) afraid, fear (exceedingly), reverence.

Luke 1:50 KJV
And His mercy is on them that fear* Him from generation to generation.
*Fear-Greek-Phobeo (Fob-eh-o)

Acts 10:35 KJV
But in every nation he that feareth* Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him.
*Fear-Greek-Phobeo (Fob-eh-o)

Philippians 2:12 KJV
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear* and trembling*.
*Fear-Greek-Phobos (Fob-os): To be put in fear; alarm or fright: be afraid, exceedingly, fear, terror.
*Trembling-Greek-Tromos (Trom-os): Quaking with fear: tremble, trembling.

I Peter 1:17 KJV
And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear*:
*Fear-Greek-Phobos (Fob-os)

I Peter 2:17 KJV
Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear* God. Honour the king.
*Fear-Greek-Phobeo (Fob-eh-o)

Regarding gifts in the church. We are “not,” to recognize gifts by name, nor by the amounts of gifts!

Matthew 6:1-4 NLT
1 “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.
2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get.
3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.
4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

If men do not “give as unto the Lord,” then their gifts no matter how munificent is worthless.

Oh how the evil one has had his way in the church.
Oh how the evil one has had his way in the church.

And as a result, the presence and power of the Lord, are absent.
We cannot name our “own,” spiritual terms, when it come to the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, who purchased her with His own blood.

Acts 20:28 KJV
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood.

In the days of the early church Ananias and Sapphira, met immediate judgment.
And they did because they were made examples to all who would come after them, that God sees and knows all and that we must walk in Godly fear.

Ecclesiastes 8:11 KJV
Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

Think this only true of murders and thieves? Ask Ananias and Sapphira.

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

Selah

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Bible Lesson: Thanksgiving-George Washington

Bible Lesson: THANKSGIVING- George Washington

George Washington 1732-1799 1st president of the United States (1789-1797).
George Washington issued a “Proclamation of Thanksgiving” in 1789.

“Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both House of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to “recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”

Now therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th cay of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all soverigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone know to be best.”

GEORGE WASHINGTON October 1789

Psalm 50:14 KJV
Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the Most High:

Psalm 100:4 KJV
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.

Colossians 4:2 KJV
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Bible Questions Answered: Baptism Of Fire


Bible Questions Answered:
“I want to know what it is to be baptized in fire.”
Nathan/ Henderson Nevada U.S.A.

Bible Answer:

Bible Text:
Matthew 3:11 KJV (John the Baptist, speaking of Christ.)
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:

Did John speak with inspiration? Yes.

Luke 1:15 KJV (Angel Gabriel.)
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

What was the fire that John referred to?
It was the fiery baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

Acts 2:1-4 KJV
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues (languages), as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Exodus 19:16-18 KJV (The appearance of the Lord at Sinai.)
16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.
18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

God's presence is an awesome presence.

Matthew 17:1-8 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.

Acts 2:2,3 KJV
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.


Before Calvary, believers in the Lord Jesus Christ had the Spirit of God...and how do we know this?

I Corinthians 12:3 KJV (Apostle Paul)
Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

Before Calvary:

Mark 8:29 KJV
And He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto Him, Thou art the Christ.

John 11:27 KJV (Martha)
She saith unto Him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Christ before His disciples.

John 20:22 KJV
And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

What then, was Acts 2:1-4?
It was what Jesus said it would be, and “enduement with power from on high", from the Holy Spirit, to equip those who would go forth confessing their faith.

Luke 24:49 KJV
And, behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued* with power* from on high.

Endued-Greek-Enduo (En-doo-o): To invest with clothing (literal or figurative) array, clothe (with), endue, have (put) on.

Power-Greek-Dunamis (Doo-nam-is): Miraculous power: ability, abundance, meaning, might (ily,-y,- deed), worker of miracles, power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.

And the Apostle Paul listed these works in first Corinthians chapter twelve.

Tongues of fire may or may not be seen today, but surely miraculous works of faith are seen by those who fearlessly proclaim the gospel of the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

Is this promise of power for God's people, for today? Let's ask Peter.

Acts 2:39 KJV
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Bible Questions Answered: Little Horn #2

Bible Questions Answered:
“Who is the little horn that Daniel speaks about?”
Salim/ Lahore, Pakistan

Bible Answer:

Daniel 7:8,20 KJV
8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

Daniel 7:8,20 NLT
8 As I was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among them. Three of the first horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.
20 I also asked about the ten horns on the fourth beast’s head and the little horn that came up afterward and destroyed three of the other horns. This horn had seemed greater than the others, and it had human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.

Daniel here is referring to the Anti-Christ.

Revelation 17:12 KJV
And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

Bible Time-Line:
Imminent Rapture of the Church of Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 15:51-58/
I Thessalonians 4:13-18 KJV)

Introduction to the Ant-Christ.
World chaos breaks forth, as a warring nation form the north (north of Israel), and her allies, a war that Ezekiel prophesied concerning in Ezekiel 38, and 39 (587 B.C.), a war fought upon the “Mountains of Israel” (mentioned some “six,” times. Ezekiel 38:8,20,21/ 39:2,4,17).

Ezekiel 38:14,16 KJV
14...In that day when My people of Israel dwelleth safely...
16 ...it shall be in the latter days...

This is but the beginning of the “Day of Jacobs Trouble/ the Tribulation.)

While nations are in a state of chaos, one arrives who makes order out of disorder, peace out of national unrest, he is the beast, the Anti-Christ.

He will gather to himself a ten nation confederacy described by Daniel 7:.
He will seemingly be the harbinger of national peace and prosperity.
He will with Israel make a covenant of peace (7 years), encouraging, nay, commissioning them to build their long awaited temple.

II Corinthians 11:13-15 KJV
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Daniel 7:24-25 NLT
24 Its ten horns are ten kings who will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them.
25 He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time.

He will in the midst of the covenant (3 ½ years), break his peace pact with Israel, by announcing, in the newly built temple, that he himself is god.

His attending false prophet (spiritual leader) will command that an image be erected to the beast, and that it be worshiped, those not doing so will meet with death.

Revelation 13:11-18 KJV
11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

To escape, the Jews will run to the rocky hills of Jordan, to the rose valley of Petra.

Revelation 13:5-8 KJV
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Will there be those who will turn yet to the true God, a work of the Holy Spirit? Yes, for God is everywhere and though the commission of the Holy Spirit during the Tribulation has changed, i.e. He is not restraining evil in the world, yet through His workings many will turn to the Lord.

And the many, who do confess Christ, will pay with their lives.

Revelation 6:8 KJV
And when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

Once again the world becomes a place of utter chaos, disorder and unrest everywhere.
All comes together for a final battle, the battle of Armageddon, a war of many nations fought in the “valley of Megiddo.”

Joel 3:9-12 KJV
9 Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:
10 Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.
11 Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.
12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.
13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.
14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.
16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of His people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

Revelation 16:16-21 NLT
12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
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.

The second coming of Christ ends the battle of Armageddon.

Zechariah 14:1-4 KJV
1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle.
4 And His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

Revelation 19:11-21 KJV
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself.
13 And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse, and against His army.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of Him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of His mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

Thus is the end of the work of the Anti-Christ, and the False Prophet.
A thousand years of peace ensues as the Prince of Peace rules and reigns from Jerusalem.

One only needs to read the daily newspaper to see, the four horses of the Apocalypse ready to race ahead with their destruction and death.

Do you know the Lord Jesus, is He your Saviour?

Psalm 18:2 NLT
The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Savior; my God is my Rock, in whom I find protection. He is my Shield, the Power that saves me, and my place of Safety.

Psalm 62:2 NLT
He alone is my Rock and my Salvation, my Fortress where I will never be shaken.

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.

Psalm 78:35 NLT
Then they remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.



Friday, November 18, 2011

Bible Questions Answered: Godly Comfort

Bible Questions Answered:
“...so I go to church every day and pray, but I get tired to do this...”
Leilah/ Rio Grande, Brazil

Bible Answer:
Keep, going on!
Yes there may come weariness, but press on to the good that our God calls you to do.

The Word:

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

Psalm 9:9 KJV
The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

Psalm 119:50 KJV
This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

Psalm 126:5,6 KJV
5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Isaiah 40:31 KJV
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

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 46:4 NLT
I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.

Isaiah 61:3 KJV
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.

Isaiah 66:13 KJV
As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted..."

Matthew 5:4 KJV
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

John 14:18 KJV
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

II Corinthians 1:3-5 NLT
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.
4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with His comfort through Christ.

II Corinthians 12:9,10 NLT
9 Each time He said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Galatians 6:8-10 KJV
8...he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

II Thessalonians 2:16,17 NLT
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope,
17 comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.

II Timothy 2:10-12 NLT
10 So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.
11 This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with Him, we will also live with Him.
12 If we endure hardship, we will reign with Him..."

Hebrews 12:1-4 NLT
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
3 Think of all the hostility He endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.
4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

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

Revelation 2:1-3,7 NLT
1 ...This is the message from the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven gold lamp stands:
2 “I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance...
3 You have patiently suffered for Me without quitting.
7 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.

Revelation 3:11 KJV
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
See the blogs....


Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Bible Lesson: Miracles Of The Power Of The Holy Spirit: Lame Man Healed

Bible Lesson: Miracles Of The Power Of The Holy Spirit: Lame Man Healed.

God's Messengers: Peter and John.

Bible Location: Jerusalem/ Beautiful Gate.

Bible Text: Acts 3:1 - 4:16 KJV

Acts 3:1-26 NLT
1 Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service.
2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple.
3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.
4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!”
5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money.
6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”
7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened.
8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.
9 All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God.
10 When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded!
11 They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.
12 Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness?
13 For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him.
14 You rejected this Holy, Righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer.
15 You killed the Author of Life, but God raised Him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!
16 “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes.
17 “Friends, I realize that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance.
18 But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had foretold about the Messiah—that He must suffer these things.
19 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.
20 Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and He will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.
21 For He must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through His holy prophets.
22 Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your own people. Listen carefully to everything He tells you.’
23 Then Moses said, ‘Anyone who will not listen to that Prophet will be completely cut off from God’s people.’
24 “Starting with Samuel, every prophet spoke about what is happening today.
25 You are the children of those prophets, and you are included in the covenant God promised to your ancestors. For God said to Abraham, ‘Through your descendants all the families on earth will be blessed.’
26 When God raised up His servant, Jesus, He sent Him first to you people of Israel, to bless you by turning each of you back from your sinful ways.”


Acts 4:1-22 NLT
1 While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees.
2 These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead.
3 They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning.
4 But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of believers now totaled about 5,000 men, not counting women and children.
5 The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem.
6 Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest.
7 They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?”
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people,
9 are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed?
10 Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead.
11 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’
12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.
14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there among them, there was nothing the council could say.
15 So they ordered Peter and John out of the council chamber and conferred among themselves.
16 “What should we do with these men?” they asked each other. “We can’t deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it.
17 But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.”
18 So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than Him?
20 We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”
21 The council then threatened them further, but they finally let them go because they didn’t know how to punish them without starting a riot. For everyone was praising God
22 for this miraculous sign—the healing of a man who had been lame for more than forty years.

Here is a man, a forty year old man, who from his birth (Acts 3:2), had been carried into the temple to receive the alms of those going into the temple. Parents, and friends brought him faithfully every day.
They relied upon the generosity of God's people.

Daily the lame man continued to trust in the help of God and His people.
One thing the poor, the sick, the elderly can afford, is hope in God, and His people.

Job 5:1,8-16 NLT
1 “Cry for help, but will anyone answer you?...
8 “If I were you, I would go to God and present my case to Him.
9 He does great things too marvelous to understand. He performs countless miracles.
10 He gives rain for the earth and water for the fields.
11 He gives prosperity to the poor and protects those who suffer.
12 He frustrates the plans of schemers so the work of their hands will not succeed.
13 He traps the wise in their own cleverness so their cunning schemes are thwarted.
14 They find it is dark in the daytime, and they grope at noon as if it were night.
15 He rescues the poor from the cutting words of the strong, and rescues them from the clutches of the powerful.
16 And so at last the poor have hope, and the snapping jaws of the wicked are shut.

Psalm 31:24 KJV
Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

Psalm 33:18 KJV
Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear Him, upon them that hope in His mercy;

Psalm 42:11 KJV
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Psalm 71:14 KJV
But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.

Psalm 119:114 KJV
Thou art my Hiding Place and my Shield: I hope in thy word.

Psalm 146:5 KJV
Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:

Psalm 147:11 KJV
The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy.

Jeremiah 17:7 KJV
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

Lamentations 3:26 KJV
It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Acts 3:6-8 NLT
6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”
7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened.
8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.

Some one has well said...”The church of Jesus Christ can no longer say “silver and gold have I none,” and it is also true that they cannot say “rise up and walk.”

What a difference a little silver and gold can make.

The sin of hypocrisy.
Many leaders of today's church masquerade around in cheap suits and small cars, saying that they “rely on God.”
When if the truth be known they are millionaires many times over, and some, yes true, billionaires.

On the other hand some religious leaders openly brandish their gospel wealth, proclaiming, God wants everyone to be wealthy, especially themselves!

What was it our Lord said.......

Matthew 8:20 KJV
And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head.

Matthew 17:24-27 NLT (Jesus and Peter, no money for taxes.)
24 On their arrival in Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax came to Peter and asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the Temple tax?”
25 “Yes, he does,” Peter replied. Then he went into the house. But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, “What do you think, Peter? Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered?”
26 “They tax the people they have conquered,” Peter replied. “Well, then,” Jesus said, “the citizens are free!
27 However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.”

Jesus speaks of the draw of wealth.

Matthew 6:19-21,24 KJV
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
24 No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

“No one can serve two masters,” today we have a world of religious workers doing their best to prove Jesus wrong!

Deuteronomy 11:16 KJV
Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;

Titus 1:7 KJV
For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

I Peter 5:2 KJV
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

The commodity Peter and John had, was power, that had been given them from on high, and from which they so freely gave.

Matthew 10:8 KJV
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Acts 3:7-9 KJV
7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened.
8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.
9 All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God.

We who long for the works of God's Holy Spirit again in the church, may it forever be realized that revival is not something “worked up,” or that magically “comes down,” it flows from the hearts of holy honest people.

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

Acts 6:3 KJV
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
(Notice that the first category of a Deacon, is that of honesty.)

Romans 12:17 KJV
"...Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

II Corinthians 8:21 KJV
Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

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

May all disciples of this day, remember well the calling of Christ's disciples. That not to filthy lucre, or the chief seats (positions of power or prestige), but to the humble work of Christ, and their own cross.

Mark 8:34 KJV
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.

Mark 10:21 KJV (The young man of wealth.)
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.

Matthew 17:8 KJV
And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw...Jesus only.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Bible Questions Answered: Zechariah 6:1-8

Bible Questions Answered:
“...could you say a word to Zechariah 6:12-8.”
Hakim/ Adis Abeba, Ethiopia

Bible Text:

Zechariah 6:1-8 NLT
(Four Chariots)
1 Then I looked up again and saw four chariots coming from between two bronze mountains.
(Mount Zion and the Mount of Olives.)

2 The first chariot was pulled by red horses, the second by black horses,
3 the third by white horses, and the fourth by powerful dappled-gray horses.
4 “And what are these, my lord?” I asked the angel who was talking with me.
5 The angel replied, “These are the four spirits of heaven who stand before the Lord of all the earth. They are going out to do His work.
6 The chariot with black horses is going north, the chariot with white horses is going west, and the chariot with dappled-gray horses is going south.”
7 The powerful horses were eager to set out to patrol the earth. And the Lord said, “Go and patrol the earth!” So they left at once on their patrol.
8 Then the Lord summoned me and said, “Look, those who went north have vented the anger of my Spirit there in the land of the north.”

Bible Answer:

Before we begin we must go back to Zechariah chapter one and read the vision there.

Zechariah 1:7-17 NLT
(A Man among the Myrtle Trees)
7 Three months later, on February 15, the Lord sent another message to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah and grandson of Iddo.
8 In a vision during the night, I saw a man sitting on a red horse that was standing among some myrtle trees in a small valley. Behind him were riders on red, brown, and white horses.
9 I asked the angel who was talking with me, “My lord, what do these horses mean?” “I will show you,” the angel replied.
10 The rider standing among the myrtle trees then explained, “They are the ones the Lord has sent out to patrol the earth.”

(Angelic Patrolling Forces. Chariots, symbols of swiftness, brass speaks of judgment.)

I Kings 22:19 KJV
And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right hand and on His left.

Job 1:6,7 KJV (Job 2:1)
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD...
7 ....From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

Psalm 68:17 KJV
The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.

Psalm 104:4 KJV
Who maketh His angels spirits; His ministers a flaming fire:

Luke 1:19 KJV
And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God..."

Hebrews 1:14 KJV
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

11 Then the other riders reported to the angel of the Lord, who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have been patrolling the earth, and the whole earth is at peace.”
12 Upon hearing this, the angel of the Lord prayed this prayer: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, for seventy years now you have been angry with Jerusalem and the towns of Judah. How long until you again show mercy to them?”
13 And the Lord spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.
14 Then the angel said to me, “Shout this message for all to hear: ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: My love for Jerusalem and Mount Zion is passionate and strong.
15 But I am very angry with the other nations that are now enjoying peace and security. I was only a little angry with My people, but the nations inflicted harm on them far beyond My intentions.
16 “‘Therefore, this is what the Lord says: I have returned to show mercy to Jerusalem. My Temple will be rebuilt, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, and measurements will be taken for the reconstruction of Jerusalem.’
17 “Say this also: ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The towns of Israel will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem as His own.’”

Zechariah vision has a dual prophecy. This prophecy came true concerning Babylon and the end of its reign, having carried God's people away into some seventy years of captivity. The judgment being the Medes and the Persians. Cyrus the great conquered Babylon in 539 B.C. releasing God's people.
God's word is true, what He says He will do, He will do!

Angelic forces saw to the defeat of Babylon.

What was Zechariah's vision?
It was a vision of “Angelic Protecting Forces” guided by the Lord of Heavens Armies (The Lord Jesus Christ).

The four horses,
Black (Signifying Misfortune and death) to the north,
White (Signifying Triumph, Joy and Victory) to the west,
Grey (Signifying strong) to the south.
Grizzled-streaked or spotted by gray (Signifying prosperity yet with adversity) to the south, and
Red (by inference) (Signifying war and carnage) to the east.

These Angels had jurisdiction over the four corners of the earth, to mete judgment against those who dare raise their fists against God's Chosen People, the Jews.

The Angel of the black horse had complete success, for Babylon was overthrown.
Now these prophecies of warnings have yet a very important warning to our world today, and for any that would dare come against God's Chosen People.

Exodus 19:5 KJV
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:

Deuteronomy 14:2 KJV
For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto Himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.

Deuteronomy 26:15-19 KJV
15 Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
16 This day the LORD thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.
17 Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in His ways, and to keep His statutes, and His commandments, and His judgments, and to hearken unto His voice:
18 And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be His peculiar people, as He hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all His commandments;
19 And to make thee high above all nations which He hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honor; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as He hath spoken.

Zechariah 2:8 KJV
For thus saith the LORD of Hosts...for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye.

Hebrews 8:10-12 KJV
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people:
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

As God's people today, we have a spiritual obligation.

Genesis 12:3 KJV
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Psalm 122:6 KJV
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

Enemies of Israel to the north, enemies to the east, west and south,
the Lord of heavens armies....

Psalm 121:4 KJV
Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.


Friday, November 11, 2011

Bible Questions Answered: Spiritual Quest

Bible Questions Answered:
“In mark 10:17 the rich young ruler called Jesus good, what did he mean by that?”
Luay/ Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Bible Answer:

Mark 10:17-23 KJV (Matthew 19:16-22/ Luke 18:18-24 KJV)
17 And when He was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to Him, and asked Him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou Me Good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor thy father and mother.
20 And he answered and said unto Him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.
22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto His disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

(The 5 commandments the Lord asked.)

19 Do not commit adultery (Exodus 20:14 # 7)
Do not kill (Exodus 20:13 # 6)
Do not steal ….. Defraud (Cheat.) not (Exodus 20:15 # 8)
Do not bear false witness....(Exodus 20:16 # 9)
Honor thy father and mother. (Exodus 20:12 # 5)

Our Lord never asked thee other 5 commandments of the Rich Young Man, because He knew- that he was guilty of not doing them.
What obedience had “wealth,” blocked out of his life?

(The 5 commandments our Lord did not ask him.)

Commandment #1 Exodus 20:3 KJV
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Commandment #2 Exodus 20:4-6 KJV
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me;
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments.

Commandment #3 Exodus 20:7 KJV
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.

Commandment #4 Exodus 20:8-11 KJV
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Commandment #10 Exodus 20:17 KJV
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's.

Now although this rich young ruler (Luke 18:18 KJV), had everything, yet still there was something which he yearned for.

Mark 10:17 KJV
“...there came one running, and kneeled to Him, and asked Him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

This young man, was on a Spiritual Quest, he came running, and knelt to Jesus. Oh that everyone was that eager, that spiritually hungry, to come to the Lord!

"Our Hearts are Restless Until They Rest in You"
From the Confessions
Saint Augustine of Hippo

This young rulers' self righteousness, had left him flat, and he knew it. Surely, there must be something more, and he desperately need and wanted it. Oh that self-righteous men everywhere would come to the same conclusion.

Addressing the Lord, he said, “Good Master*” (Mark 10:17 KJV).
Master-Greek-Didaskalos (Did-as-kal-os): An instructor: doctor, master, teacher.

Master or teacher was a title reserved for a Jewish Rabbi.
By adding “Good,” he was saying in effect, that Jesus was more, much more honorable than a Rabbi.

Mark 10:17 KJV
“...what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

Mark 10:18 KJV
And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou Me Good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

What was Jesus saying here?
Jesus did not “reject,” the reference to His being called good. In effect, the young man was referring to Jesus as God, for truly only God, can be said to be good.
This Jesus did not refuse.

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...
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.

Mark 10:19,20 KJV
19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor thy father and mother.
20 And he answered and said unto Him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

Pick and choose religion, did “not,” originate in our day, as hard as that may be to believe, for the young ruler was a prime example of his living, what suited him.

Our Lords task was to unmask his sin of greed, and in so doing, turn him to the living bread, who both knew everything about him, and who loved him, this He did.

And what then was the young man's response?
Was it amazement mixed with wonder, that “yes this was God, and He has shown me how I have been living, and how I must change! Then and only then, will my soul be satisfied.”

No......perhaps unrealized before by him, the young ruler was actually looking for a God, who would bless his selfish ways, while meeting his spiritual hunger. This he did “not,” find.

Instead, he found the Living God, who knew him through and through, who had come to lovingly correct and save him. This he did not want, for even though his spiritual hunger would be quelled, yet it would be at the expense of his very rich and pleasing way of life, a custom that he could “not,” live without.

Luke 15:16-24 KJV (The Prodigal Son.)
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

Is it hard to believe, that many though in dire spiritual hunger, “will not,” leave the pig pen of fleshly desires and return to the father? Whether hard to conceive or not, how oft it is true.

Mark 10:21-23 KJV
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.
22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto His disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

“Pastor, if God thought I was doing wrong, and not fit for heaven, He would let me know, He would not let me be lost!”

Listen, listen........................do you hear it?
Do you hear it?
God is speaking, He is speaking through His word.
To hear Him, read His word.
He is warning many, but they are “not,” listening, or if they do hear, they reject His word.

The rich young ruler, had come away, with his encounter with Jesus with much, much, much more than he had hoped for.

He had come for recognition and blessing with hopes of spiritual fulfillment.
But, he left with his conscience ablaze, and his darkened way forever self determined.

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.

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.

Our living God, wants to “speak to you.”
And He will if you open up His word, to hear what He has to say.

Isaiah 30:21 KJV
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

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

James 1:22-25 NLT
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.
24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.
25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.


Thursday, November 10, 2011

Bible Questions Answered: Worship

Bible Questions Answered:
“My friend took me to her church last Sunday, seemed like everybody was clapping or something, boy was it noisy-what do you think?'
Helen/ Manila, Philippines

Bible Answer:

In the House of the Lord, we need to be respectful, full of reverence, that is all true, but hardly means we are to be lifeless and numb.

The house of the Lord should have its time of:

Reverence:
Psalm 89:7 KJV
God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Him.

Silence:
Habakkuk 2:20 KJV
But the LORD is in His holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before Him.

Kneeling and prayer:
Psalm 95:6 KJV
O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

Matthew 21:13 KJV
And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer..."

Hearing the Word of God:
Matthew 4:4 KJV
But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

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

And yet, this is not the end of the matter, for although all this is called for and that well, yet there is another side to the worship of our Lord, else we would not read of it in His word!
Remember well, praises, clapping of hands, singing and playing music, shouts of joy in the Lord, are “not,” irreverent to Him, as to the traditions of men, that is another matter.
Make the Word of God, you're bond.

The Word of the Lord: (Israel, the early church, and scenes from heaven itself.)

Judges 5:1,3 KJV
1 Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,
3 Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.

I Chronicles 9:33 NLT
The musicians, all prominent Levites, lived at the Temple. They were exempt from other responsibilities since they were on duty at all hours.

I Chronicles 15:16-22,27,28 NLT
16 David also ordered the Levite leaders to appoint a choir of Levites who were singers and musicians to sing joyful songs to the accompaniment of harps, lyres, and cymbals.
17 So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel along with his fellow Levites: Asaph son of Berekiah, and Ethan son of Kushaiah from the clan of Merari.
18 The following men were chosen as their assistants: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers—Obed-edom and Jeiel.
19 The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were chosen to sound the bronze cymbals.
20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were chosen to play the harps.
21 Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were chosen to play the lyres.
22 Kenaniah, the head Levite, was chosen as the choir leader because of his skill.
27 David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who carried the Ark, and also the singers, and Kenaniah the choir leader. David was also wearing a priestly garment.
28 So all Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant with shouts of joy, the blowing of rams’ horns and trumpets, the crashing of cymbals, and loud playing on harps and lyres.

I Chronicles 25:6-8 NLT
6 All these men were under the direction of their fathers as they made music at the house of the Lord. Their responsibilities included the playing of cymbals, harps, and lyres at the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman reported directly to the king.
7 They and their families were all trained in making music before the Lord, and each of them—288 in all—was an accomplished musician.
8 The musicians were appointed to their term of service by means of sacred lots, without regard to whether they were young or old, teacher or student.

II Chronicles 20:18,19,21 NLT
18 Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the Lord.
19 Then the Levites from the clans of Kohath and Korah stood to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud shout.
21 After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising Him for His holy splendor. This is what they sang: “Give thanks to the Lord; His faithful love endures forever!”

Ezra 3:11 KJV
And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because He is good, for His mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD..."

Psalm 29:1,2 KJV
1 Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Psalm 33:1-3 KJV
1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto Him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
3 Sing unto Him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

Psalm 47:1 KJV
O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

Psalm 63:1-4 KJV
1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
3 Because thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

Psalm 68:24-26 KJV
24 They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King,
in the sanctuary.
25 The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.
26 Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.

Psalm 81:1 KJV
Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

Psalm 95:1,2 KJV
1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms.

Psalm 103:1 KJV
Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name.

Psalm 134:1-3 KJV
1 Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand
in the house of the LORD.
2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.
3 The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.

Psalm 150:1-6 KJV
1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in His sanctuary: praise Him in the firmament of His power.
2 Praise Him for His mighty acts: praise Him according to His excellent greatness.
3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet: praise Him with the psaltery and harp.
4 Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: praise Him with stringed instruments and organs.
5 Praise Him upon the loud cymbals: praise Him upon the high sounding cymbals.
6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

Isaiah 30:29 NLT
But the people of God will sing a song of joy, like the songs at the holy festivals. You will be filled with joy, as when a flutist leads a group of pilgrims to Jerusalem, the mountain of the Lord— to the Rock of Israel.

Luke 24:52,53 KJV
52 And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

Acts 4:24 KJV
And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:

Ephesians 5:18-20 KJV
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Colossians 3:16 KJV
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

I Timothy 2:8 KJV
I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

I Peter 2:9 KJV
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Revelation 5:8-10 NLT
8 And when He took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.
9 And they sang a new song..."

Revelation 7:9-12 NLT
9 After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands.
10 And they were shouting with a mighty shout, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!”
11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God.
12 They sang, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Revelation 14:2,3 KJV
2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne..."

Revelation 15:2,3 KJV
2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

Revelation 19:1,6 KJV
1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God:
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 honor to Him..."

Psalm 66:2 KJV
Sing forth the honor of His name: make His praise glorious.