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Monday, January 30, 2012

Beast Mark


Bible Questions Answered: 
“Pastor  how will one come by the”mark of the beast” ?”
Arnold/ Atlanta, Georgia

Bible Answer:

Many have speculated over the years as to just what the mark of the beast is, or just how it will be received.
Clues are found in the following scriptures.

Revelation 13:1-18 NLT
(The First Beast is none other than the Anti-Christ.)

1 Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God. 
2 This beast looked like a leopard, but it had the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion! And the dragon (Satan) gave the beast (Anti-Christ) his own power and throne and great authority.
3 I saw that one of the heads of the beast seemed wounded beyond recovery—but the fatal wound was healed! The whole world marveled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the beast. 
4 They worshiped the dragon for giving the beast such power, and they also worshiped the beast. “Who is as great as the beast?” they exclaimed. “Who is able to fight against him?”
5 Then the beast was allowed to speak great blasphemies against God. And he was given authority to do whatever he wanted for forty-two months. 
6 And he spoke terrible words of blasphemy against God, slandering His name and His dwelling—that is, those who dwell in heaven. 
7 And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation. 
8 And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life before the world was made—the Book that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered.
9 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand. 
10 Anyone who is destined for prison  will be taken to prison.  Anyone destined to die by the sword  will die by the sword.

(This Second Beast is a "Religious, worship-Leader, false-Prophet," for the Anti-Christ.

11 Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth. He had two horns like those of a lamb, but he spoke with the voice of a dragon. 
12 He exercised all the authority of the first beast. And he required all the earth and its people to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 
13 He did astounding miracles, even making fire flash down to earth from the sky while everyone was watching. 
14 And with all the miracles he was allowed to perform on behalf of the first beast, he deceived all the people who belong to this world. He ordered the people to make a great statue of the first beast, who was fatally wounded and then came back to life. 
15 He was then permitted to give life to this statue so that it could speak. Then the statue of the beast commanded that anyone refusing to worship it must die.
16 He required everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. 
17 And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name. 
18 Wisdom is needed here. Let the one with understanding solve the meaning of the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666.

The beast (Anti-Christ), will have a spiritual representative, a religious leader, who's soul position  will be to bring about worship of the New World Leader-The Beast-The Anti-Christ..

Revelation 13:12-15 KJV
12 He exercised all the authority of the first beast. And he required all the earth and its people 
to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 
13 He did astounding miracles, even making fire flash down to earth from the sky while everyone was watching. 
14 And with all the miracles he was allowed to perform on behalf of the first beast, he deceived all the people who belong to this world. He ordered the people to make a great statue of the first beast, who was fatally wounded and then came back to life. 
15 He was then permitted to give life to this statue so that it could speak. Then the statue of the beast commanded that anyone refusing to worship it must die.

To be apart of the Beast regime, one will be obliged to “worship the beast,” and that will be the charge of the horned beast, with dragon like voice (Revelation 13:11).

This religious cheerleader of the Anti-Christ...

Revelation 13:14,15 KJV
14... order(s) the people to make a great statue of the first beast, who was fatally wounded and then came back to life. 
15 He was then permitted to give life to this statue (Teraphim, see Zechariah 10:2 KJV- Forbidden Divination.) so that it could speak. 
Then the statue of the beast commanded that anyone refusing to worship it must die.

Worship of a statue.
Centralized worship of the New World Leader, will be man kinds paramount obligation!

Of what religious system, does this so called Spiritual Leader come from?
Of a religious system that has always maintained statues of worship, this will represent just one more of supreme importance.
All forbidden by God.

Exodus 20:1-6 KJV
1 And God spake all these words, saying,
2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
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.


Revelation 17 (Be sure to read the chapter.) tell us.

Revelation 17:9 NLT
“This calls for a mind with understanding: The seven heads of the beast (On which the Mystery Woman of  Babylon, rides) represent the seven hills where the woman rules..."

There is only one religious system that rules from seven hills and that is the Roman church.
How does one come by the “mark of the beast?”

From the 13th Century, this religious system, has boasted of worship with accompanying STIGMATA,  a result of that worship.

This pastor believes that this is how the mark will be received, it will be in essence a spiritual test of those who truly avow their hearts and souls to the new World Leader.

Friends, we are living in the last moments before the secret catching away of the bride of Christ, the rapture of the blood bought church.

Are you ready to meet the Lord, or will you be left behind, that choice is yours.

Hebrews 4:7 KJV
"...To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts."

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

Salvation Prayer


Saturday, January 28, 2012

Sounds-Strange-In The Sky


Bible Questions Answered: 
“Pastor I know this isn't exactly a Bible question, have you heard about the reports of sky noises and does the Bible say anything about this?”
Melville/ Saskatoon, Saskatchewan  Canada

Bible Answer:
Some may be unaware of such stories if so Google (Strange Sky Sounds/ Strange Sky Noise-etc.).
Reports have come from every country. Rumblings, high pitch noises, thunderings (clear sky), etc. etc.
What can this be, and does the word of God have anything to say?

Matthew 24:24 KJV
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Mark 13:22 KJV
For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

Luke 21:11 KJV
And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and 
great signs shall there be from heaven.

Luke 21:25 KJV
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

Acts 2:16, 19-12 KJV
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

II Thessalonians 2:9-12 NLT
9 This man (Anti Christ) will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. 
10 He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the Truth that would save them. 
11 So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 
12 Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the Truth.

Ephesians 2:2 KJV
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to 
the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

What do we know about these strange sounds that have filled the skies in many countries?
As of January 1st....

Ireland, Canada, Russia, Europe, Central America, U.K., Czech Republic, U.S.A., China, South America, Romania, Costa Rica, Chile, Mexico, Hungary, Poland and many other locations.

They are loud and unknown, causing fear, in one case a lady told authorities that her house shook.

What we know:

1.) These sounds are certainly “unnatural.”
2.) These sounds cause fear.  
I John 4:18
"...fear hath torment..."
3.) These sounds verge on being harmful.
4.) These conditions certainly do not come from God!

Our God gives good gifts without fear.

Matthew 7:11 KJV
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?

I Corinthians 14:33 KJV
For God is not the author of confusion..."

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.

James 1:17 KJV
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Last Day Warning:

Luke 21:20-28 KJV
20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
24 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.
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Salvation Prayer


Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Angel Worship


Bible Questions Answered:
“Pastor what do you think about the worship of angels in the church?”
Glenda/ Venice, Italy

Bible Answer:

Angels are a part of Gods great creation, not eternal, created.

Colossians 1:15-17 NLT
15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
16 for through Him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through Him and for Him.
17 He existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together.

And although it is true, angels have more power than mere mortal man...

Hebrews 2:7 KJV (The Apostle speaking of man stated...)
"Thou madest him a little lower than the angels..."

Yet, they are not God, and “not,” to be prayed to or to be worshiped. Who said so, why the very angels of heaven have said so!

Revelation 19:9,10 NLT
9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.”
10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers and sisters who testify about their faith in Jesus. Worship only God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.

Revelation 22:8,9 NLT
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw all these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me.
9 But he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this book. Worship only God!”

Our God told Israel...

Exodus 20:3-5 KJV
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
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..."

Exodus 34:14 KJV
For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

Deuteronomy 4:24 KJV
For the LORD thy God is a Consuming Fire, even a jealous God.

Isaiah 48:11 KJV
"...I will not give My glory unto another."

No one, be he angel or saint, is to usurp the position of almighty God!
As the angels of heaven told the beloved John...

Revelation 19:10/ 22:9 “...“No, don’t worship me (Angels of heaven...Worship only God!”

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Pole Shift


Bible Questions Answered:
“Pastor there is so much talk today about something called a Polar Shift. A coming shift between the graphical north pole and the magnetic north pole. Does the Bible have anything to say about something like this?”
Elaine/ Berlin, Germany

Bible Answer:
It does mention many catastrophic last day events (Revelation) that are upcoming. Here are a couple of very interesting verses from the book of Isaiah.

Isaiah 2:19-22 NLT
19 When the LORD rises to shake the earth,  His enemies will crawl into holes in the ground (Bunkers /ed.). They will hide in caves in the rocks  from the terror of the LORD  and the glory of His majesty. 
20 On that day of judgment they will abandon the gold and silver idols  they made for themselves to worship.  They will leave their gods to the rodents and bats, 
21 while they crawl away into caverns  and hide among the jagged rocks in the cliffs.  They will try to escape the terror of the LORD  and the glory of His majesty  as He rises to shake the earth
22 Don’t put your trust in mere humans.  They are as frail as breath.  What good are they?

Isaiah 13:13 KJV
Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of Hosts, and in the day of His fierce anger.

Isaiah 24:1,19,20 KJV
1 Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.
19 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.
20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.

Signs that this event is coming, may well be the following.

Luke 21:11, 25 KJV
11And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

Great earthquakes with tidal waves. Magnetic poles and geographic poles shifting apart. The earth moving to a different location in the heavens.

Scientists now well about this polar shift. Pilots have to daily adjust their chart setting accordingly.
Friends if the Word of God has warned us of this upcoming day, isn't this a good day to get right with the Lord?

Luke 21:28 KJV
And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Salvation Prayer

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Bible Lesson: Miracles Of The Power Of The Holy Spirit: Saul Of Tarsus Conversion


Bible Lesson: Miracles Of The Power Of The Holy Spirit: Saul of Tarsus Conversion.


God's Messenger: Risen and Glorified Lord Jesus Christ.

Bible Location: Close to Damascus.

Bible Text: Acts 9:1-18 NLT  (see also Acts 22:1-16)
1 Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. 
2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of The Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.
3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 
4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”
5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 
6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! 
8 Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. 
9 He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.
10 Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!”
 “Yes, Lord!” he replied.
11 The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to Me right now. 
12 I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.”
13 “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! 
14 And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”
15 But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is My chosen instrument to take My message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. 
16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
17 So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 
18 Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. 

These few verses speak of the conversion of one Saul of Tarsus.
Perhaps it would be wise at this point to say a word about the sins of men, of which fall into one of three categories.

First of all let there be no doubt that “all, have sinned and come short, of the glory of God .
Romans 3:23 KJV.”

This is inherited sin from Adam.
Romans 3:10 KJV
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 5:12 KJV
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

Man stained with the curse of sin, he sins, and he does this in one of several ways, besides already being under the curse of sin.

One is by “Commission,” of sin in his life. This is what a person admittedly does, even knowing that it is wrong, in the site of God, and yet does it.

Another is by “Omission,” things that a person knows, he or she should do, to be a child of God, and yet does not, do them.

And the sin of “Ignorance (some say Innocence).” Committing sin, in innocence, i.e. not knowing that something is wrong, and does it.

Acts 9:1-2 NLT 
1 Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. 
2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of The Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains. (Approximately some 135 miles.)

Saul of Tarsus, was a Jew who was both adamant and, vigorous in his Jewish faith.
Christianity meant the corrupting of his faith. The very idea, that God would come to earth to upend all Jewish laws and customs, was preposterous.  Christianity at all costs, in the mind of Saul, had to be stopped.

Saul was a man, and thus a sinner. And Saul was laboring under the sin of “Ignorance,” as well.

Miracles in the life of Saul, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 9:3 NLT
As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 

May it come as no surprise to anyone, that this “miracle,” of God reaching out to some one, is what God has done since the very beginning of time, to lost humanity, and He calls yet today!

John 7:37-39 KJV
37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive..."

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

Revelation 3:20,22 KJV
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith..."

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

Acts 9:4,5 NLT
4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”
5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 

Miraculously, Saul heard the voice of the risen Saviour.
And the Lord had a message for Saul of Tarsus.
Saul had been sincere, but he had been sincerely wrong.

Jesus was God's son, now seated on the right hand of the Father in heaven, and He had seen and knew what Saul had done to His followers.
Saul had knowledge, but he did not have perfect knowledge.

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

Now it was Saul's life that was upside down.

Acts 9:6-9 NLT
6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! 
8 Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. 
9 He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.

Once a man full of determination and vigor, now, a blind man, in bewilderment, lead about by the hand of his fellow travelers.

What was it Jeremiah of old said...
Lamentations 3:22,23 KJV
22 It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Think how Almighty God, could stop anyone, and for that fact, judge them and send them off to hell.
But oh the Miraculous mercy of God, we are not consumed, we may yet hear His voice and do what He bids us to do!

Acts 9:10-12 NLT
10 Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!”
 “Yes, Lord!” he replied.
11 The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to Me right now. 
12 I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.”

Miraculous Commission To Ananias.
God always has someone in every city who is serving him, that oncecame as a shock to Elijah, but tis still true today!

I Kings 19:18 KJV
Yet I have left Me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. 

God had a man in Damascus, that would not be dragged to Jerusalem, his name was Ananias.

It will do well, to say that in our last posting (  Weapons-Christians And  ) the wonderful promises of the “protection of God,” for His people was covered. If you missed reading it go back and read them.
God, our God, knows how to protect His people!
God, our God, knows how to protect His people!

That is what would have happened to Ananias, but God, had another idea.

Acts 22:12 KJV (Paul's own testimony of Ananias-some think him a bishop of Damascus.)
And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,

Ananias received a vision from the risen Lord who said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas.” God knows your address, in fact He knows more about you, than you know yourself.

Romans 11:33 KJV
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!

For three days and nights blind Saul had been fasting and praying. A Jew, praying to Jesus, Jesus the risen Messiah.

Godly Ananias had his doubts.

Acts 9:13,14 NLT
13 “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! 
14 And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”

If Saul's inclusion had been left up to believers......it never would have happened.
But thank God, it wasn't up to them.

Acts 9:15,16 NLT
15 But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is My chosen instrument to take My message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. 
16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

God saw the repentance in the life of Saul, after his vision on the Damascus road. Saul was to become a chosen instrument in the hand of God for taking the gospel to the Gentiles.

And the Lord would show Saul how much he must suffer for the sake of the Lord.
All the disciples were martyred except beloved John, and for what sin, for the sin of preaching the word of God.

Revelation 12:11 KJV
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Miraculous healing and infilling.
Acts 9:17,18 NLT
17 So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 
18 Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. 

Where is that poor soul, that says the Great Commission with signs following was only for the disciples?

Ananias hardly was a disciple, a devote man, yes, but certainly “not,” a disciple, and yet, he was following the directives of the Lord for believers.

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

Ananias prayed, and Saul was set free from blindness, physically and spiritually, Saul became Paul.
Miraculously a Born again baptized Jew, filled, and baptized in the Spirit of God. And not only that but called and commissioned by the Lord.

Acts 9:18 NLT
“...Then he got up and was baptized.”

It is a call, yes the very duty of every Christian to witness of his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:9,10 KJV
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

I Peter 3:15 KJV
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

This is called witnessing, and just as the Great Commission has “not,” been rescinded, neither too has the call to witness of and for the Lord of glory, come to end.

Paul, would go on to write 14 of the epistles of our New Testament. And what of suffering for the Lord? Paul's sufferings are enumerated in ...

II Corinthians 11:22-28 KJV
22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

Matthew 9:37,38 KJV
37 Then saith he unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few;
38 Pray ye therefore The Lord Of The Harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest.

John 4:34-37 KJV
34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent Me, and to finish His work.
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.


Salvation Prayer





Thursday, January 19, 2012

Weapons-Christians And


Bible Questions Answered:
“My friends all have bought guns and say that everyone should have them because even Jesus said to have a weapon. Because of the world situation and all, the economy being down no one knows whats next. What do you think?”
Gert/ Austin, Texas U.S.A.

Bible Answer:

Bible Text:

Luke 22:35-38 NLT
35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out to preach the Good News and you did not have money, a traveler’s bag, or an extra pair of sandals, did you need anything?” “No,” they replied.
36 “But now,” He said, “take your money and a traveler’s bag. And if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one! 
37 For the time has come for this prophecy about Me to be fulfilled: ‘He was counted among the rebels.’ Yes, everything written about Me by the prophets will come true.”
38 “Look, Lord,” they replied, “we have two swords among us.” “That’s enough,” He said.

Oh, how terribly careful, a man of God must be in interpreting the Word of God!

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

James 3:1 NLT
Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 

James 3:3 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
Many teachers become not, my brethren, having known that greater judgment we shall receive,

Granted, many may not fear this word today, but today of itself, does not necessarily speak of the terror of  tomorrow.

Those is favor of having weapons, albeit for defense or offense, often site Luke 22:36, and they do so in serious error.

Friend one has only to realize the nature and character of the Saviour, to know that with this kind of thinking, something is wrong.

Matthew 5:38-48 KJV
38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 7:12 KJV
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Luke 6:27-36 KJV
27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.
30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Romans 12:9,10,14,17-21 KJV
9 Let love be without dissimulation (deceit). Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Hebrews 7:26 KJV
For such an High Priest became us, who is Holy, Harmless, Undefiled, Separate from sinners, and made Higher than the heavens;


Luke 22:35 NLT
Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out to preach the Good News and you did not have money, a traveler’s bag, or an extra pair of sandals, did you need anything?” “No,” they replied.

Here Jesus refers to (Luke 9:1-6/ 10:1-24), sending them out to do the Lord's work.

Luke 9:1-6 KJV (The Twelve)
1 Then He called His twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
2 And He sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
3 And He said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.
4 And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.
5 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.
6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.

Luke 10:1-24 KJV (The Seventy.)
1 After these things the LORD appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before His face into every city and place, whither He Himself would come.
2 Therefore said He unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth laborers into His harvest.
3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.
6 And if the Son of Peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.
7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:
9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
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.
16 He that heareth you heareth Me; and he that despiseth you despiseth Me; and he that despiseth Me despiseth Him that sent Me.
17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
18 And He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in Spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
22 All things are delivered to Me of My Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal Him.
23 And He turned Him unto His disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:
24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Jesus sent His disciples on evangelistic outings, and they were victorious in His name.
He told them …
Luke 9:3 KJV
“...Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.”

And why was that? It was because, He would provide for them through generous people who would receive them, town after town.

But at the time of the last supper, the scene had changed!
Luke 22:1,2 KJV
1 The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is also called Passover, was approaching. 
2 The leading priests and teachers of religious law were plotting how to kill Jesus..."
Public opinion was now turned against Jesus and His men. And Jesus knew that they would soon have to fend for themselves.


Luke 22:36,37 KJV
36 “But now,” He said, “take your money and a traveler’s bag. And if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one! 
37 For the time has come for this prophecy about Me to be fulfilled (Isaiah 53:12): ‘He was counted among the rebels.’ Yes, everything written about Me by the prophets will come true.”

Not longer after the crucifixion of Jesus, many followers of the Lord would be running for their very own lives.

Yes, they would need their cloak, traveler's bag and sword. A sword not to kill others, but to stave off wild animals or to take them for food, for now they would have to provide for themselves.
The Passover supper over, Jesus and His men went to the Mount of Olives, He told them to pray, but they fell asleep.

Matthew 26:47-54 NLT
47 And even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests and elders of the people. 
48 The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet Him with a kiss.” 
49 So Judas came straight to Jesus. “Greetings, Rabbi!” he exclaimed and gave Him the kiss.
50 Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.” Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested Him. 
51 But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear.
52 “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword. 
53 Don’t you realize that I could ask My Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and He would send them instantly? 
54 But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”

Did Jesus want to be defended by swords?
Absolutely not!
Jesus healed the servant of the high priest, restoring his severed ear.
And he had something to say to His sword carrying disciple....

Matthew 26:52 NLT
52 “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword.

As Christian people, our defense is the Lord!

DIVINE PROTECTION:

Genesis 15:1 KJV
"...Fear not... I am thy Shield, and thy exceeding great Reward."

Exodus 14:14 KJV (God told His people.)
The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

Deuteronomy 33:27 KJV
The eternal God is thy Refuge, and underneath are the Everlasting Arms: and He shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

II Samuel 22:2 KJV (David)
And he said, The LORD is my Rock, and my Fortress, and my Deliverer;

II Chronicles 16:9 KJV
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him..."

II Chronicles 32:8 KJV
"...with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles..."

Psalm 5:11,12 KJV
11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favor wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

Psalm 18:1-3 KJV
1 I will love thee, O LORD, my Strength.
2 The LORD is my Rock, and my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my Buckler, and the Horn of my salvation, and my High Tower.
3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

Psalm 27:5 KJV
For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a Rock.

Psalm 32:6-8 KJV
6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
7 Thou art my Hiding Place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye.

Psalm 33:20-22 KJV
20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: He is our Help and our Shield.
21 For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name.
22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

Psalm 34:7 KJV
The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.

Psalm 46:1-3 KJV
1 God is our Refuge and Strength, a very present Help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

Psalm 71:3 KJV
Be thou my strong Habitation, where unto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my Rock and my Fortress.

Psalm 84:10-12 KJV
10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the LORD God is a Sun and Shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.
12 O LORD of Hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

Psalm 91:1-16 KJV
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my Refuge and my Fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.
3 Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my Refuge, even the Most High, thy Habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set His love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him My salvation.

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

Psalm 125:1,2 KJV
1 They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
2 As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about His people from henceforth even for ever.

Proverbs 18:10 KJV
The name of the LORD is a Strong Tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Proverbs 30:5 KJV
Every word of God is pure: He is a Shield unto them that put their trust in Him.

Isaiah 25:4 KJV
For thou hast been a Strength to the poor, a Strength to the needy in his distress, a Refuge from the storm, a Shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

Isaiah 54:17 KJV
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of Me, saith the LORD.

Nahum 1:7 KJV
The LORD is good, a Strong Hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him.

Luke 21:18 KJV
But there shall not an hair of your head perish.


THE WEAPONS AND ARMOR OF THE CHRISTIAN:

I Samuel 17:45 KJV
Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

Nehemiah 8:10 KJV
"... the joy of the LORD is your strength.

Matthew 4:10,11 (also previous verses 4 & 7.)
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil leaveth him,

Matthew 18:19-20 KJV (Philippians 2:9)
19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.

Mark 16:17,18 KJV
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them;
(See the blog...   Kept By The Power Of God  )
 they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.



II Chronicles 20:15-22 KJV (Power in Praising the Lord.)
15 And he (Jahaziel) said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.
16 To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.
18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.
19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.
20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper.
21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for His mercy endureth for ever.
22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.



Acts 16:25,26 KJV (Praise to the Lord./ Ephesians 5:19,20)
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

Romans 12:21 KJV
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 13:12 KJV
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

I Corinthians 2:16 KJV
"...we have the mind of Christ.

II Corinthians 6:7 NLT
We faithfully preach the Truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. 

II Corinthians 10:3-5 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;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Ephesians 6:10-18 KJV
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with Truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Colossians 2:13-15 NLT
13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for He forgave all our sins. 
14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 
15 In this way, He disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by His victory over them on the cross.

I Thessalonians 5:8 KJV
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

Hebrews 4:12 KJV
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

I Peter 5:7-9 KJV
7 Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith..."

I John 3:8 KJV
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

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

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.

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



Monday, January 16, 2012

Prayer- Who To Pray To


Bible Questions Answered:
“...I pray to St. Christopher for his safety and protection....and I know these prayers will keep us...”
Anna/ Santa Rosa, California

Bible Answer:
Here is a great spiritual rule, and “who,” is there that would dare disagree with it?

Oh God:
If Jesus taught us to do so, thank you for your strength to do it!
If Jesus taught us not to do so, thank you for your strength not to do it!
Whatever we do or not do, may it all be according to your word alone!
Amen

Please print this simple three line prayer out, and place it in your Sunday School room, and church sanctuary.

Believing this as every Christian “must,” let us then see what the Word of God says regarding the subject of prayer.

Who should we pray to?  That is according to the Word of God, and Jesus Christ, God's Son.

Matthew 6:9-13 KJV (Jesus Christ)
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Who did Jesus Christ, God's Son, tell us to pray to?
To “our Father,” which art in heaven.

Not to saints, not to angels, nor anyone else! Well, just where does this teaching come from? It does “not,” come from the Word of God, it comes from something called “The Traditions* of Men.”

The Traditions of men:
*Tradition: Handed down, oral beliefs, customs from generation to generation.
(New World Dictionary)

 Mark 7:8 KJV Jesus Christ
For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men..."

Colossians 2:8 KJV Apostle Paul
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Matthew 15:9 KJV
But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Mark 7:7 KJV
Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.


If we as Christian people are truly following the Lord Jesus Christ with all our hearts, than the time must come when we face the question, “Will I follow, Thus Saith The Lord,” or will I hold to the unbiblical “Traditions of men?”

 Isaiah 48:11 KJV God told Israel (Read the whole chapter.)
"... I will not give My glory unto another."

Exodus 20:1-6 KJV
1 And God spake all these words, saying,
2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
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.

Homily:
Some time ago, someone gave me a recording from a religious college, where the professor got up to address the students, and when he did he said these words. “Students you must realize that 80% of what you will be taught here are the traditions of our fathers.”

No doubt this revelation was to ward off any inquisitiveness later.
Questions such as, “is this in the Bible?”

Oh, how important it is to read and to know the Word of God!
Read it daily and memorize it.

Psalm 119:11 KJV
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.


Psalm 19:14 KJV
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.


Friends, if you and I do not read and know the Word of God, for ourselves, we will end up sinning against God, that is for sure!

We cannot abrogate our personal responsibility to another.
To do so, means we do not wish to be bothered with the spiritual safety of our eternal souls.
“Let someone else worry about that.”
If this our motto be, surely we shall reap a “careless” eternal reward.

Our Saviour taught that the Word of God was to be our spiritual daily nourishment.

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.

Luke 4:4 KJV
And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

John 6:35,48,63 KJV
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the Bread of Life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.
48 I am that Bread of Life.
63 It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are Life.

Why do we pray to our Father, and not to anything or anyone else?
We do because at His right hand (not hanging dead on a cross) is the resurrected Lord of glory, the one who intercedes for the people of God.

Romans 8:34 NLT
Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and He is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

Hebrews 7:24-27 KJV
24 But this Man (Son of Man, Jesus Christ), because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable Priesthood.
25 Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26 For such an High Priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this He did once, when He offered up Himself.

And when we pray to the Father, we always ask in Jesus name, ...because He told us to.

John 14:13,14 KJV
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it.

John 16:23, 24 KJV
23 And in that day ye shall ask Me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you.
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Ephesians 2:18 KJV
For through Him (Jesus Christ) we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Ephesians 5:20 KJV
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

God hears and always answers prayer, may we always spend time in His word, and in conversation with Him.

Be sure to read the other blog postings regarding the subject of prayer.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Guidance


Bible Questions Answered:
“How can we know the way of God.”
Rumbaoa/ Manila, Philippines

Bible Answer: 
We can know the perfect will of God, by following His holy word. When we are His children, redeemed by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, He has promised us that we will be infilled and lead by His Spirit.

Our God's Guidance:

Psalm 19:8-11 KJV
8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

Psalm 25:4,5,8-10 KJV
4 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
5 Lead me in thy Truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will He teach sinners in the way.
9 The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way.
10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.

Psalm 32:8 KJV
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye.

Psalm 37:23 KJV
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He delighteth in his way.

Psalm 48:14 KJV
For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death.

Psalm 73:24 KJV
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

Psalm 119:105,130 KJV
105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

Psalm 143:10 KJV
Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

Proverbs 6:23 KJV
For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

Proverbs 16:9 KJV
A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

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.

Isaiah 42:16 KJV
And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

Luke 1:79 KJV
To give Light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

John 16:13-15 KJV
13 Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15 All things that the Father hath are Mine: therefore said I, that He shall take of Mine, and shall shew it unto you.

II Corinthians 4:6 KJV
For God, who commanded the Light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:17-19 KJV
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give unto you the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of Him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power,

II Peter 1:19 KJV
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; where unto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the Day Star arise in your hearts:

God our creator, will guide us through His word and by His Spirit, if we but remain His faithful children.

Psalm 18:30-32 KJV
30 As for God, His way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: He is a buckler (Shield) to all those that trust in Him.
31 For who is God save the LORD? or who is a Rock save our God?
32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

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.

Salvation Prayer

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Christ-Only Saviour


Bible Questions Answered:
“...so according to you, people who do not believe Christ are lost?”
Netanel/ Tel Aviv, Israel

Bible Answer:
John 3:14-18,35,36 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.
35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand.
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

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 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 4:12 KJV
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Genesis 22:1-18 NLT
Abraham’s Faith Tested  (Isaac a type of Christ)
1 Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.”
2 “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”
3 The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about. 
4 On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 
5 “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.” (Abraham's faith seen! ed.)
6 So Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac’s shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them walked on together, 
7 Isaac turned to Abraham and said, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “We have the fire and the wood,” the boy said, “but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?”
8 “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham answered. And they both walked on together. (Abraham's faith seen! ed.)
9 When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. 
10 And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. 
11 At that moment the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Yes,” Abraham replied. “Here I am!”
12 “Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.
13 Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 
14 Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the LORD will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”
15 Then the angel of the LORD called again to Abraham from heaven. 
16 “This is what the LORD says: Because you have obeyed Me and have not withheld even 
your son, your only son, I swear by My own name that 
17 I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies. 
18 And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed Me.”

Isaiah 53:1-12 KJV (Who is this suffering Messiah?- It is the Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son.)
1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.
4 Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter, and as a Sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare His generation? for He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was He stricken.
9 And He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death; because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.
11 He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My Righteous Servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He hath poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.


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


Here is a partial list of other Old Testament Prophecies concerning Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah.

Genesis
3:15/ 12:3/49:10
Exodus
12:6,46
Deuteronomy
18:15
Psalms
16:10/22:1-31/24:7-10/31:5/34:20/38:11/41:9/45:2/68:18/69:3,8,19-21/78:2/109:24,25/110:1/118:22/132:11/
Isaiah
2:4/ 7:14/ 9:1,2,7/ 11:1,10/22:/25:8/28:16/40:11/42:1/49:4-6/50:6/52:14/53:1-12/55:4/59:16/61:1-3/62:11/63:1
Jeremiah
23:5
Ezekiel
17:22
Daniel
2:34,44/7:13/9:25,26
Hosea
6:2/11:1
Amos
8:9
Micah
5:1,2
Haggai
2:7
Zechariah 
3:8/ 6:12,13/ 9:9/11:12,13/12:10/13:7
Malachi
3:1

Salvation Prayer

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Bible Lesson- Miracles Of The Power Of The Holy Spirit- Philip Miraculously Transported To Azotus (Ashdod)


Bible Lesson: Miracles Of The Power Of The Holy Spirit: Philip Miraculously Transported To Azotus (Ashdod).

God's Messenger: Philip.

Bible Location: Near Gaza.

Bible Text: Acts 8:26-40 KJV
26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a Sheep to the slaughter; and like a Lamb dumb before His shearer, so opened He not His mouth:
33 In His humiliation His judgment was taken away: and who shall declare His generation? for His life is taken from the earth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

Philip, obedient to the voice of the Lord, traveled from Jerusalem onto the desert road that lead to Gaza, there he met the Ethiopian Treasurer. Ridding in his chariot on his way to Gaza, he read aloud from the book of Isaiah.

Philip walking beside his chariot heard him reading and asked the question, “ Understandest thou what thou readest? Acts 8:30 KJV.

Philip lovingly showed him that Isaiah had written about the Messiah.
Acts 8:36 KJV
And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

After the eunuch's testimony of faith in Jesus Christ they, “...went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him" (Acts 8:38 KJV-Immersion).

Acts 8:39,40 KJV
39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

The Spirit of God miraculously carried Philip miles away to Azotus, where Philip “preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.”

OLD TESTAMENT EXAMPLES OF MIRACULOUS TELEPORTATION:


I Kings 18:7-15 KJV
7 And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?
8 And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
9 And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?
10 As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.
11 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
12 And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.
13 Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD's prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?
14 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me.
15 And Elijah said, As the LORD of Hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.

II Kings 2:11-25 KJV
11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.
15 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
16 And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.
17 And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.
18 And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?
19 And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren.
20 And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.
21 And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.
22 So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.
23 And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.
24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.
25 And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.

The people knew that the Elijah the prophet was many times “caught up,” by the Spirit of the Lord, and transported somewhere else.  The children mocking Elisha, knew that he too had the ability to be teleported somewhere else, that is why they chanted “go up/ go up II Kings 2:23.

Acts 8:39,40 KJV
39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught* away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

*Caught-Greek-Harpazo (Har-pad-zo): To seize: catch (away-up), pluck, pull, take (by force).

Interesting indeed, is the fact that this very same word is used by the Apostle Paul in the following references.

II Corinthians 12:1-4 (Verses 2,4) KJV
1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

I Thessalonians 4:16-18 (Verse 17) KJV
16 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:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

What is the end of the matter?
Genesis 18:14 KJV
Is any thing too hard for the LORD? 

Answer: the God who could teleport Elijah, Elisha, and Philip, will one day, teleport millions, and millions of people in God's next, great coming event called “the rapture of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.” The “catching-away,” of the bride of Christ, which could happen at any moment!

Do you know the Lord, are you ready to meet Him?

Salvation Prayer

I Corinthians 15:51-58 KJV
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (die), 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.