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Friday, September 28, 2012

Talents


Bible Questions Answered:
“I am a Christian but I dont do any thing great. I work for a fast food place and I'm 22 years old. I don't see how I can ever do anything for God.”
Brenda/ Philadelphia, Pennsylvania U.S.A.

Bible Answer:

The question is not what can you do, but “What can't you do!”
The cross “ t ” makes all the difference!
Jesus gave His followers the parable of the talents.

Matthew 25:14-30 NLT
14 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone.
15 He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.
16 “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more.
17 The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more.
18 But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.
19 “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money.
20 The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’
21 “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
22 “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’
23 “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
24 “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate.
25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’
26 “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate,
27 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’
28 “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver.
29 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.
30 Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

The important thing to remember in this story is that the master trusted his servants to do wisely, and yes he believed in the servant who had only one talent.

And though others may have had more talents and earned more yet the master stated, 
that the very least servant could have...

Matthew 25:7 NLT
Why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’

So the servant, was without excuse.

God has given to everyman gifts and talents, without exception!

Romans 12:6-8 NLT
6 In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.
7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.
8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Even if you do not know what your gifts are, at the very least you could tithe of your income, and bless the Master that created and entrusted you with so very much!

And you can pray! Pray for anyone and everyone, and don't forget to pray that God, leads your life.
Be sure to be apart of a Christian church, where others may encourage you, and yes, you may encourage someone else!

You can witness of your Christian faith, to fellow workers or friends.

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

Luke 12:8 KJV
Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God:

Romans 10:9-11 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.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.

Philippians 2:11 KJV
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

I John 4:15 KJV
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

One can go to “ebay” and look for “gospel tracts,” and buy packs of them.
Be sure the publisher is a Christian Publisher such as American Bible Society, Chick Publications, or Pilgrim Track Society etc. This can be done at a very low cost.
Then, pray over each one, and leave them wherever you go, and God will give the increase.

Psalm 126:6 KJV
He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Pray that God, will reveal to you just what your gifts are, when you know them, prayerfully use them for the Lord!

Mark 9:41 KJV
For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in My name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

Hebrews 11:4 KJV
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

I Corinthians 15:58 KJV
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.



Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Christians In Northern Nigeria Under Attack


Prayer Request:

Christians in northern Nigeria, need our prayers:

Radical Islamists (Known as Boko Haram), have struck again, in Nigeria.
A suicide car bomber attacked a church while in service, in Bauchi Nigeria.

Two people were killed, 45 others were seriously wounded.

Deputy police commissioner t. Stevens stated that the bomber had been stopped at the church's gate, there he detonated the bomb packed inside his car.

Dear brethren, these are our sisters and brothers in Christ. Please daily remember these suffering believers, in your prayers.

Matthew 6:6 KJV
"... when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 7:7,8 KJV
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.


Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Bible Lesson- Miracles Of The Old Testament- Water From The Rock



Bible Lesson: Miracles Of The Old Testament: Water From The Rock.

Occasion: Miraculous Water Supplied For The Israelites.

Location: Horeb and Meribah.

Bible Text:
Exodus 17:1-7 NLT
Numbers 20:1-13 NLT

Exodus 17:1-7 NLT
1 At the Lord’s command, the whole community of Israel left the wilderness of Sin and moved from place to place. Eventually they camped at Rephidim, but there was no water there for the people to drink.
2 So once more the people complained against Moses. “Give us water to drink!” they demanded.“Quiet!” Moses replied. “Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the Lord?”
3 But tormented by thirst, they continued to argue with Moses. “Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Are you trying to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?”
4 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What should I do with these people? They are ready to stone me!”
5 The Lord said to Moses, “Walk out in front of the people. Take your staff, the one you used when you struck the water of the Nile, and call some of the elders of Israel to join you.
6 I will stand before you on The Rock at Mount Sinai. Strike The Rock, and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink.” So Moses struck The Rock as he was told, and water gushed out as the elders looked on.
7 Moses named the place Massah (which means “test”) and Meribah (which means “arguing”) because the people of Israel argued with Moses and tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord here with us or not?”

Numbers 20:1-13 NLT
1 In the first month of the year, the whole community of Israel arrived in the wilderness of Zin and camped at Kadesh. While they were there, Miriam died and was buried.
2 There was no water for the people to drink at that place, so they rebelled against Moses and Aaron.
3 The people blamed Moses and said, “If only we had died in the Lord’s presence with our brothers!
4 Why have you brought the congregation of the Lord’s people into this wilderness to die, along with all our livestock?
5 Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us here to this terrible place? This land has no grain, no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates, and no water to drink!”
6 Moses and Aaron turned away from the people and went to the entrance of the Tabernacle, where they fell face down on the ground. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to them,
7 and the Lord said to Moses,
8 “You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to The Rock over there, and it will pour out its water. You will provide enough water from The Rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock.”
9 So Moses did as he was told. He took the staff from the place where it was kept before the Lord.
10 Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at The Rock. “Listen, you rebels!” he shouted. “Must we bring you water from this rock?”
11 Then Moses raised his hand and struck The Rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill.
12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust Me enough to demonstrate My holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!”
13 This place was known as the waters of Meribah (which means “arguing”) because there the people of Israel argued with the Lord, and there He demonstrated His holiness among them.

No, these two events, though looking identical, are not the same. They are separated by some 38 years.
A generation of people who refused to believe that their God, could and would take care of them, fell one by one in the desert, and their children, then had taken their place (Numbers 20).

But though a different generation, yet the heart of man, had not, changed!

Psalm 95:6,8,9-11 NLT
6 Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker,
7 for He is our God. We are the people He watches over, the flock under His care.
If only you would listen to His voice today!
8 The Lord says, “Don’t harden your hearts as Israel did at Meribah, as they did at Massah
(Exodus 17) in the wilderness.
9 For there your ancestors tested and tried My patience, even though they saw everything I did.
10 For forty years I was angry with them, and I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts turn away from Me. They refuse to do what I tell them.’
11 So in My anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter My place of rest.’

Psalm 106:32,33 NLT
32 At Meribah (Exodus 17), too, they angered the Lord, causing Moses serious trouble.
33 They made Moses angry, and he spoke foolishly.

I Corinthians 10:1-6 NLT
1 I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground.
2 In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses.
3 All of them ate the same spiritual food,
4 and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from The Spiritual Rock that traveled with them, and that Rock was Christ.
5 Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
6 These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did,

Hebrews 4:6-11 NLT
6 So God’s rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God.
7 So God set another time for entering His rest, and that time is today...
Today when you hear His voice, don’t harden your hearts.”
9 So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God.
10 For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world.
11 So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.

Unbelief:
John 3:18,36 KJV
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.
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 12:37 KJV
But though He had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on Him:

Hebrews 3:12 KJV
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

I John 5:10 KJV
He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son.

Why has Moses been banished from entering the promised land of Canaan?
Because of his words and actions.

Numbers 20:9-11 NLT
9 So Moses did as he was told. He took the staff from the place where it was kept before the Lord.
10 Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at The Rock. “Listen, you rebels!” he shouted. “Must we bring you water from this Rock?”
11 Then Moses raised his hand and struck The Rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill.

“Must we bring you water from this Rock?”
The Miracle water from The Rock, was not any work (miracle) of Moses, it was a miracle of God!

“Then Moses raised his hand and struck The Rock twice...”
Moses was not told to strike The Rock, more than once!
Moses did it in his anger.

The Rock, was a “type-of-Christ,” that is a pre-figuring of God's Son.
And He would not be struck twice, He would be struck “once and only once!”

I Corinthians 10:4 KJV
And all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from The Spiritual Rock that traveled with them, and that Rock was Christ.

Romans 6:10 KJV
For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Hebrews 7:27 KJV
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.

Hebrews 9:11,12,26-28 KJV
11 But Christ being come an High Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
26 For then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Hebrews 10:10 KJV
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Should we hold communion to once again sacrifice the Son of God?
The Word of God, plainly says for one and all...

I Peter 3:18 KJV
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

John 19:34 KJV (Calvary)
But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

Moses was wrong, seriously wrong, Jesus, the ROCK (Sorry Peter- a piece of the Rock, would not be born for many centuries!), would not be struck twice!

NOT TO BE STRUCK TWICE!

The wrong actions of Moses cost him, he would not be able to enter the promised land.

Now lastly, what may be said of God's people who fall pray to grumbling and complaining, and questioning God?

Murmuring:

I Corinthians 10:9-10 KJV
9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

Philippians 2:14 KJV
Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

Jude 14-16 KJV
14 Enoch, who lived in the seventh generation after Adam, prophesied about these people. He said, “Listen! The Lord is coming with countless thousands of His holy ones
15 to execute judgment on the people of the world. He will convict every person of all the ungodly things they have done and for all the insults that ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”
16 These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want.

Think you have the right to murmur and complain to God?

John 6:43 KJV
Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

Dear friend, we may choose to live a life in praise and worship, calling humbly upon the name of our Great and Wonderful God, or we may choose to live a life of grumbling and complaining, questioning God, and questioning even if He exists.

Let us choose to be the people of God, living our lives in faith and adoration, we shall not be sorry, when our Lord appears.



Monday, September 24, 2012

Prayer Request: Pakistan Christians Persecuted


Prayer Request:

Pakistan Christians Persecuted: 

In Mardan Pakistan, an Anglican Church and school has been attacked by Islamists (Sept. 21st).
A news release from the British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA), has said that a church school complex has been set on fire and looted. Everything thing from computers to furniture were taken.

BPCA stated that Holy Bibles and religious artifacts were desecrated and set on fire.

ASSIST News Service also states that the Bishop of Peshawar, Rev. Humphrey Peters condemned the attack and has appealed for help. “The damage has been very severe, and we will need to rebuild. We are asking for people around the world to keep us in your prayers.”

Moderator of the Church of Pakistan, Rev. Samuel Azariah Samuel said, “This news is very damaging to relations between the communities in Pakistan and around the world. The government and faith leaders in Pakistan have a role to play in education people that they have the right to protest, but to damage property and terrify people in this way is completely wrong. The government and faith leaders should provide the lead in preventing attacks.”

The Diocese of Peshawar, where the attack took place, provides education and health services to the local community, Muslim and Christian alike, and provided substantial support to victims of floods and a major earthquake in recent years, regardless of their religious affiliation.

Wilson Chowdhry of the BPCA stated in the news release “No Christian in Pakistan is safe. Any community whether in a city or in a more rural location can at any time become the target of similar aggression.
Please pray for all Christian brothers and sisters in Pakistan.”

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

Romans 8:16-18 KJV
16 The Spirit itself (Himself) beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

II Timothy 3:12 KJV
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Hebrews 11:1-40 KJV
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshiped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible.
28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; 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.


Sunday, September 23, 2012

Demonic Work Against Christians


Bible Questions Answered: 
““...how do demons affect Christians?”
Alex/ Manchester, United Kingdom  England

Bible Answer:

The Word, tells  us:

Ephesians 6:12 KJV
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.

Wrestle – Greek – Pale (Pal-ay): Wrestle, wrestling.

Principalities – Greek – Arche (Ar-khay): Magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule.

Powers – Greek – Exousia (Ex-oo-see-ah): Ability, force, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, authority, jurisdiction, power, right strength.

Rulers -  Greek – Kosmokrator (Kos-mok-rat-ore): A world-ruler, an epithet of Satan, ruler.

Wickedness – Greek – Poneria (Pon-ay-ree-ah): Depravity, malice, plots, sins: iniquity, wickedness.

In the unseen realm, Christians are constantly in “battle,” with real spiritual forces!

Revelation 6:2 KJV 
And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. ( A picture of the coming Anti-Christ, Satan's son.)

Ephesians 6:16 KJV
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Archer, Satan, and his minions, do all they can to destroy Christian faith.
Arrows of  deception, discouragement, doubt, opposition, temptations, unbelief, etc. etc.

That is why the apostle said we must have the armor of God on, to protect us.

Ephesians 6:10-18 KJV  (Heaven's 7 point protection plan.)
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;

Spiritual Warfare:

II Corinthians 10:4,5 KJV
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;

I Timothy 1:18,19 KJV (To all Christians.)
18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

I Timothy 6:11,12 KJV
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, Godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

II Timothy 2:3,4 KJV
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

I Peter 5:8,9 KJV
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..."

God's Over Coming People:

Psalm 44:5 KJV
Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.

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

Romans 8:35,37 KJV
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.

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

I John 5:4,5 KJV
4 For whatsoever is born of God over cometh the world: and this is the victory that over cometh the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that over cometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son 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.


Revelation 21:7 KJV
He that over cometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.

Salvation Prayer


Thursday, September 20, 2012

Husband Of One Wife


Bible Questions Answered:
“What is the interpretation of -the husband of one wife?”
Hailey/ Toronto, Canada  Ontario

Bible Answer:

Qualifications of Bishop or Pastor and that of Deacon, much the same.

I Timothy 3:1-13 KJV (Office of Bishop or Pastor.)
1 This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
(Pastors-”not,” called to celibacy, Peter was a married man, (Matthew 8:14).

3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

(Office of Deacon.)
8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
(Deacons-”not,” called to celibacy).

13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

The Apostle mentions Phoebe, a deaconess.

Romans 16:1 NLT (Deaconess)
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea. 
2 Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God’s people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me.

Titus 1:6-9 KJV (Bishop or Pastor.)
6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
(Pastors-”not,” called to celibacy, Peter was a married man, (Matthew 8:14).

7 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;
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayer

Paul the author, was referring to one, or “all,” of these possible conditions.

* A male single person, cannot be a Pastor or Deacon in a church. (Probably due to his lack of experience in a family way.)
* A deacon, cannot have anything to do with the evils of “polygamy!'
* A deacon, must, based on spiritual standards of morality, be faithful to his wife!
* A deacon, is someone who should be married only once, (Not given to bigamy.)

When a pastor or deacon is desired within the church, he must be blameless! That is of impeccable spiritual character.
I Timothy 3:10 KJV “... being found blameless.” Titus 1:6,7 KJV “be blameless,” be blameless.

Bishop or Pastor:
Preach or teach the Good News of the gospel.

Acts 6:1,2,4 KJV
1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

I Timothy 5:17 KJV
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.

Deacons:
Business affairs of the church, care of its members, including the poor.

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.

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;

Salvation Prayer



Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Masonry-Freemasonry


Bible Questions Answered:
“Some of my friends and me learned that our pastor is a mason, is this good?”
Arthur/ Bethesda, Maryland

Bible Answer:

No!
Masons teach that Jesus is but “one,” way to God.
The Word of God, but “one,” of many other holy books.

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

Acts 4:10-12 KJV
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11 This is the Stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the Head of the Corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

I Timothy 2:5 KJV
For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus;

II Timothy 3:16,17 KJV
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Masonry teaches a spiritual ascent by secret orders of works.

John 18:20 KJV
Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.

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.

Secret oaths, rituals, much of which is steeped in occultism, cannot be acceptable by the blood bought child of God.

Spiritual enlightenment, doesn't come from a secret lodge and its oaths and rituals, spiritual enlightenment comes from the Lord Jesus Christ, and Him alone.

John 8:12 KJV
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the Light Of The World: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light Of Life.

Salvation Prayer

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Bible Lesson: Miracles Of The Old Testament: Heaven Sent, Quails And Manna.


Bible Lesson: Miracles Of The Old Testament: Heaven Sent, Quails And Manna.

Occasion: Miraculous Food For The Israelites.

Location: The Wilderness.

Bible Text:
Exodus 16:1-36 NLT
1 Then the whole community of Israel set out from Elim and journeyed into the wilderness of Sin, between Elim and Mount Sinai. They arrived there on the fifteenth day of the second month, one month after leaving the land of Egypt.
2 There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron.
3 “If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.”
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow My instructions.
5 On the sixth day they will gather food, and when they prepare it, there will be twice as much as usual.”
6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, “By evening you will realize it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
7 In the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because He has heard your complaints, which are against Him, not against us. What have we done that you should complain about us?”
8 Then Moses added, “The Lord will give you meat to eat in the evening and bread to satisfy you in the morning, for He has heard all your complaints against Him. What have we done? Yes, your complaints are against the Lord, not against us.”
9 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Announce this to the entire community of Israel: ‘Present yourselves before the Lord, for He has heard your complaining.’”
10 And as Aaron spoke to the whole community of Israel, they looked out toward the wilderness. There they could see the awesome glory of the Lord in the cloud.
11 Then the Lord said to Moses,
12 “I have heard the Israelites’ complaints. Now tell them, ‘In the evening you will have meat to eat, and in the morning you will have all the bread you want. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’”
13 That evening vast numbers of quail flew in and covered the camp. And the next morning the area around the camp was wet with dew.
14 When the dew evaporated, a flaky substance as fine as frost blanketed the ground.
15 The Israelites were puzzled when they saw it. “What is it?” they asked each other. They had no idea what it was. And Moses told them, “It is the food the Lord has given you to eat.
16 These are the Lord’s instructions: Each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person in your tent.”
17 So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little.
18 But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed.
19 Then Moses told them, “Do not keep any of it until morning.”
20 But some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them.
21 After this the people gathered the food morning by morning, each family according to its need. And as the sun became hot, the flakes they had not picked up melted and disappeared.
22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much as usual—four quarts for each person instead of two. Then all the leaders of the community came and asked Moses for an explanation.
23 He told them, “This is what the Lord commanded: Tomorrow will be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath day set apart for the Lord. So bake or boil as much as you want today, and set aside what is left for tomorrow.”
24 So they put some aside until morning, just as Moses had commanded. And in the morning the leftover food was wholesome and good, without maggots or odor.
25 Moses said, “Eat this food today, for today is a Sabbath day dedicated to the Lord. There will be no food on the ground today.
26 You may gather the food for six days, but the seventh day is the Sabbath. There will be no food on the ground that day.”
27 Some of the people went out anyway on the seventh day, but they found no food.
28 The Lord asked Moses, “How long will these people refuse to obey My commands and instructions?
29 They must realize that the Sabbath is the Lord’s gift to you. That is why he gives you a two-day supply on the sixth day, so there will be enough for two days. On the Sabbath day you must each stay in your place. Do not go out to pick up food on the seventh day.”
30 So the people did not gather any food on the seventh day.
31 The Israelites called the food manna. It was white like coriander seed, and it tasted like honey wafers.
32 Then Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded: Fill a two-quart container with manna to preserve it for your descendants. Then later generations will be able to see the food I gave you in the wilderness when I set you free from Egypt.”
33 Moses said to Aaron, “Get a jar and fill it with two quarts of manna. Then put it in a sacred place before the Lord to preserve it for all future generations.”
34 Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded Moses. He eventually placed it in the Ark of the Covenant—in front of the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant.
35 So the people of Israel ate manna for forty years until they arrived at the land where they would settle. They ate manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan.
36 The container used to measure the manna was an omer, which was one-tenth of an ephah; it held about two quarts.

You would think that a people, who had just come from witnessing 10 miraculous plagues in Egypt, and the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, would have faith in their God, to provide for them!
But that was not, the case. Instead as they marched down from Elim to Mount Sinai, they murmered and complained.

Exodus 16:7-12 KJV
7 In the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because He has heard your complaints, which are against Him, not against us. What have we done that you should complain about us?”
8 Then Moses added, “The Lord will give you meat to eat in the evening and bread to satisfy you in the morning, for He has heard all your complaints against Him. What have we done? Yes, your complaints are against the Lord, not against us.”
9 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Announce this to the entire community of Israel: ‘Present yourselves before the Lord, for He has heard your complaining.’”
10 And as Aaron spoke to the whole community of Israel, they looked out toward the wilderness. There they could see the awesome glory of the Lord in the cloud.
11 Then the Lord said to Moses,
12 “I have heard the Israelites’ complaints. Now tell them, ‘In the evening you will have meat to eat, and in the morning you will have all the bread you want. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’”

God hears when we murmur and complain.
What does God's Word, say regarding murmering (complaining)?

John 6:43 KJV
Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

I Corinthians 10:10,11 KJV
10 And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death.
11 These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.

Philippians 2:14 NLT
Do everything without complaining and arguing,

I Thessalonians 5:18 KJV
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

The Israelites, could just as easily have prayed to the God, who was so close to them!

Exodus 16:10 KJV
10 ... the whole community of Israel, they looked out toward the wilderness. There they could see the awesome glory of the Lord in the cloud.

A lesson to the rest of us.
As Christian people may we always be a people of faith, and prayer.

Jeremiah 33:3 KJV
Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Isaiah 65:24 KJV (Can God?)
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

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

Our Lord once asked an old man of some 99 years....
Genesis 18:14 KJV
Is any thing too hard for the Lord?

The answer was, no, for a year later Abraham (100), and Sarah (90) his wife, became a father and mother.

Luke 18:1 KJV
And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

For forty years God provided for the Israelites.

Deuteronomy 2:7 KJV
For the Lord thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: He knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the Lord thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.

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

Luke 12:30-31 NLT
29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things.
30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. 31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and He will give you everything you need.

Philippians 4:19 KJV
But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Brothers and sisters as we march forward, may we be a people of thanksgiving, always having faith, always praying and believing, that the faithful, loving God who we serve will meet our needs above all we ask or think!

Ephesians 3:20,21 KJV (Apostle Paul)
20 Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.




Friday, September 14, 2012

Faith On The Earth?


Bible Questions Answered:
“Did Jesus say there wouldn't be faith on the earth when he comes?”
Brigitte/ Rhone-Alpes, France

Bible Answer:

Bible Text:
Luke 18:1-8 NLT
1 One day Jesus told His disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” He said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people.
3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’
4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people,
5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”
6 Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge.
7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to His chosen people who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off?
8 I tell you, He will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will He find on the earth who have faith?”

Jesus did not say that there would be “no,” faith on earth when He comes, but will He find faith on the earth when He returns.
The first is a statement, the second a question.

God's answers to prayer always have been....
Wait, keep praying because the answer will come, at the right time.
Yes, and the answer comes immediately.
No, and God will “not, “ do as you ask, because it is “not,” the right thing to do.

Knowing these possibilities to prayer, when we “pray according to the Word of the Lord,” and nothing seems to happen, Jesus taught us to keep prevailing in prayer.

We live in a world of instant, gratification, people want their answers now!
But things don't always happen that way.
At one time Godly Daniel, waited 21 days for an answer to his prayer.

Daniel 10:11-13 NLT (Read the whole chapter.)
11 And the Man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When He said this to me, I stood up, still trembling.
12 Then He said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.
13 But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked My way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help Me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.

Patience is a “fruit of the Holy Spirit,” but an ungodly world is not filled with the spirit.

II Timothy 3:1-9 NLT
1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.
2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.
3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good.
4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.
5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
6 They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires.
7 (Such women are forever following new teachings, but they are never able to understand the truth.)
8 These teachers oppose the truth just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. They have depraved minds and a counterfeit faith.
9 But they won’t get away with this for long. Someday everyone will recognize what fools they are, just as with Jannes and Jambres.

II Timothy 4:3,4 KJV
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

II Peter 3:3,4 KJV
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

Jude 1-19 KJV
1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, He hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints,
15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.
16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

Jesus told us...
Matthew 7:13,14 KJV
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

I Corinthians 1:18 KJV
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

I John 2:15-17 KJV
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.





Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Esau Hated


Bible Questions Answered:  
“It seems unfair that God loved Jacob but hated Esau.”
Cindy/ Bethesda, Maryland U.S.A.

Bible Answer:

Bible Text:
Romans 9:13 KJV
As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated*.

*Hated- Greek- Miseo (Mis-eh-o): To detest, to love less: hate.

Malachi 1:1-3 KJV
1 The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.
2 I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob,
3 And I hated* Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

*Hated-Hebrew- Sane (Saw-nay): To hate, enemy, foe, odious X utterly.
“...Sane signifies “being set against”something.
(Vines Complete Expository Dictionary-W.E.Vine)

The New Living Translation:
Romans 9:13 NLT
In the words of the Scriptures, “I loved Jacob, but I rejected Esau.”

How could a holy God, love one child and reject the other?

The answer is God does not throw dice as to who He loves and who He rejects!
How then the rejection of Esau?

Homily: (Foreknowledge.)
If you and your friends were outside at a park on a summer day, a day with clouds, but nice. All of a sudden off in the distance you and your friends saw a mighty flash of lightning hit the ground. Knowing all too well that a few miles away it must already be raining and that the rain was soon headed your way, you took shelter fast.

And just as you had thought, a downpour of rain hit your area.
------------------------------

Well someone might say, you didn't hear any thunder, why did you run?
You ran, because lightning is seen at a speed of 186,200 mph, where as sound only travels at 1100 ft per sec. some time later the thunder surely would follow!

If  you had waited to hear the thunder, you would have gotten wet.

This is a poor illustration at best to discuss the Omniscience of Almighty God.

God's Omniscience:

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

Job 31:4 KJV
Doth not He see my ways, and count all my steps?

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

Psalm 147:5 KJV
Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite.

John 2:24 KJV
But Jesus did not commit Himself unto them, because He knew all men,

John 16:30 KJV
Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.

John 21:17 KJV
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me? Peter was grieved because He said unto him the third time, Lovest thou Me? And he said unto Him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed My sheep.

Acts 1:24 KJV
And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

Hebrews 4:13 KJV
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

I John 3:20 KJV
For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

Not only Jacob, but all of God's people, were chosen before the foundation of the world!

Ephesians 1:4 KJV
According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:

Well how can God, choose some and reject others?

What a good question!
And the answer is not by blind choice, not by chance but by something called The Foreknowledge of God.

God,'s knowledge is “perfect,” knowledge, He knew from eternity past who would choose Him, and
who would reject Him, and He planed, He choose to bless (From ancient past) those who would turn to Him.

Isaiah 46:9,10 KJV
9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure:

Isaiah 55:8,9 KJV
8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Romans 11:33,34 NLT
33 Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and His ways!
34 For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give Him advice?

In eternity past, long before the world was ever created, God saw something, He saw that Esau, would hold no value to something as precious as his first son birthright. He rejected for a pot of stew, being God's leader of Israel.

Genesis 25:29-34 NLT
29 One day when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau arrived home from the wilderness exhausted and hungry. 
30 Esau said to Jacob, “I’m starved! Give me some of that red stew!” (This is how Esau got his other name, Edom, which means “red.”)
31 “All right,” Jacob replied, “but trade me your rights as the firstborn son.”
32 “Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?”
33 But Jacob said, “First you must swear that your birthright is mine.” So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob.
34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. 
He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn.

God's Foreknowledge:

Romans 8:28 NLT
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. 
29 For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 
30 And having chosen them, He called them to come to Him. And having called them, He gave them right standing with Himself. And having given them right standing, He gave them His glory.

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

Eternity past, God saw something, God saw that Jacob, would hold dear the sacred position of first born, and its responsibility to lead the people of God! And so, God, blessed Jacob, yes, even before his birth.

From eternity past God saw those who would turn to him!

Ephesians 1:4-6 NLT
4 Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.
5 God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure.
6 So we praise God for the glorious grace He has poured out on us who belong to His dear Son.

Romans 8:28-30 KJV
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
29 For whom He did foreknow*, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified.

*Foreknow- Greek- Proginosko (Prog-in-oce-ko): To know beforehand, i.e. foresee, foreknow, know before.

Dear friend, what has God seen regarding your life? It was God's intention, always that all men would be saved!

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

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


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


(Be sure to read the blog posting....  Predestination  and    Predestination-Election -Part II  )

Salvation Prayer







Sunday, September 9, 2012

Washing-Daily


Bible Questions Answered:
“What was Jesus saying by -”he that is washed needeth not save to wash  his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all ?”
Sheila/ Sydney (New South Wales), Australia

Bible Answer:

Bible Text:
John 13:10 KJV
Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

John 13:10 NLT
Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” (Reference to Judas.)

A picture of salvation.  At a public bath, people would wash their whole body. But as they traveled, their feet would become dirty, yet their body was clean, so once at their destination, they would wash only their feet.

When we come to the Lord Jesus, we are washed by Him, and we are clean from every sin. But we are not yet fully sanctified, and we error from time to time, we sin, and so we need to daily be cleansed from it.

I John 3:2 KJV (Complete Sanctification-not yet.)
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.

Psalm 51:1-4 KJV
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

I John 1:8-10 KJV
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Matthew 6:9-13 KJV
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: 
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts  (sins), as we forgive our debtors (Those who sin against us.).
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.

Hebrews 12:1 KJV
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, 
let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Salvation Prayer