Thursday, November 29, 2012
Magi
Bible Questions Answered:
“If astrology was under a curse, why
did God reveal the birth of Jesus to astrologers?”
Brenda/ Dryden, (Ontario) Canada
Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
Matthew 2:1,2 KJV
1 Now when Jesus was
born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold,
there came wise* men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is He
that is born King Of The Jews? for we have seen His star in the east,
and are come to worship Him.
*Wise (men): Greek Magos (Mag-os):
A Magian, i.e. Oriental scientist, by implication a magician. wise
man.
(Magi/ astrologers also verses 7/16.)
Matthew 2:1,2 NASB
1 Now after Jesus was
born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi* from
the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
2 “Where is He who
has been born King Of The Jews? For we saw His star in the east and
have come to worship Him.”
Magi- Greek - A caste of wise
men specializing in astronomy, and natural science.
Most believe that these were Persian
elders of Babylon. Taught in the trades of science, medicine, and
philosophy. (See Daniel 1:20; 2:2; 4:7; 5:7)
These Wise Men of the day, fell under
two different groups. One, were those who studied the stars, for
understanding, and two, those who were sorcerers, who cast spells and
practiced magic.
The Wise Men, were of those who studied
the stars for signs and wisdom.
The magi who were sorcerers, were
condemned by God.
Deuteronomy 4:19 NLT
And when you look up into the sky
and see the sun, moon, and stars—all the forces of heaven—don’t
be seduced into worshiping them. The Lord your God gave them to all
the peoples of the earth.
Isaiah 47:13-15 NLT
13 All the advice you receive has
made you tired. Where are all your astrologers, those stargazers who
make predictions each month? Let them stand up and save you from what
the future holds.
14 But they are like straw burning
in a fire; they cannot save themselves from the flame. You will get
no help from them at all; their hearth is no place to sit for warmth.
15 And all your friends, those with
whom you’ve done business since childhood, will go their own ways,
turning a deaf ear to your cries.
The difference between the two groups
of Magi, was the difference between astronomers and those who lived
by astrology and, sorcery.
God revealed the birth of His Son to
the Wise Men, who studied the stars for signs and for wisdom.
Matthew 2:2 KJV
Saying, Where is He
that is born King Of The Jews? for we have seen His star in the east,
and are come to worship Him.
Matthew 2:9-11 KJV
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Bible Lesson: Miracles Of The Old Testament: Korah And His Group Destroyed/ Plague Issued-Plague Stayed.
Bible Lesson: Miracles Of The Old
Testament: Korah And His Group Destroyed/ Plague Issued-Plague
Stayed.
Occasion: Punishment For
Rebellion/ Punishment For Their Murmurings.
Location: Hazeroth, Dessert.
Bible Text:
Numbers 16:1-50 NLT
1 One day Korah son of Izhar,
a descendant of Kohath son of Levi, conspired with Dathan and
Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, from the
tribe of Reuben.
2 They incited a rebellion against
Moses, along with 250 other leaders of the community, all
prominent members of the assembly.
3 They united against Moses and
Aaron and said, “You have gone too far! The whole community of
Israel has been set apart by the Lord, and He is with all of us. What
right do you have to act as though you are greater than the rest of
the Lord’s people?”
4 When Moses heard what they were
saying, he fell face down on the ground.
5 Then he said to Korah and his
followers, “Tomorrow morning the Lord will show us who belongs to
Him and who is holy. The Lord will allow only those whom He selects
to enter His own presence.
6 Korah, you and all your followers
must prepare your incense burners.
7 Light fires in them tomorrow, and
burn incense before the Lord. Then we will see whom the Lord chooses
as His holy one. You Levites are the ones who have gone too far!”
8 Then Moses spoke again to Korah:
“Now listen, you Levites!
9 Does it seem insignificant to you
that the God of Israel has chosen you from among all the community of
Israel to be near Him so you can serve in the Lord’s Tabernacle and
stand before the people to minister to them?
10 Korah, He has already given this
special ministry to you and your fellow Levites. Are you now
demanding the priesthood as well?
11 The Lord is the one you and your
followers are really revolting against! For who is Aaron that you are
complaining about him?”
12 Then Moses summoned Dathan and
Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they replied, “We refuse to come
before you!
13 Isn’t it enough that you
brought us out of Egypt, a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill
us here in this wilderness, and that you now treat us like your
subjects?
14 What’s more, you haven’t
brought us into another land flowing with milk and honey. You haven’t
given us a new homeland with fields and vineyards. Are you trying to
fool these men? We will not come.”
15 Then Moses became very angry and
said to the Lord, “Do not accept their grain offerings! I have not
taken so much as a donkey from them, and I have never hurt a single
one of them.”
16 And Moses said to Korah, “You
and all your followers must come here tomorrow and present yourselves
before the Lord. Aaron will also be here.
17 You and each of your 250
followers must prepare an incense burner and put incense on it, so
you can all present them before the Lord. Aaron will also bring his
incense burner.”
18 So each of these men prepared an
incense burner, lit the fire, and placed incense on it. Then they all
stood at the entrance of the Tabernacle with Moses and Aaron.
19 Meanwhile, Korah had stirred up
the entire community against Moses and Aaron, and they all gathered
at the Tabernacle entrance. Then the glorious presence of the Lord
appeared to the whole community,
20 and the Lord said to Moses and
Aaron,
21 “Get away from all these people
so that I may instantly destroy them!”
22 But Moses and Aaron fell face
down on the ground. “O God,” they pleaded, “you are the God who
gives breath to all creatures. Must you be angry with all the people
when only one man sins?”
23 And the Lord said to Moses,
24 “Then tell all the people to
get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.”
25 So Moses got up and rushed over
to the tents of Dathan and Abiram, followed by the elders of Israel.
26 “Quick!” he told the people.
“Get away from the tents of these wicked men, and don’t touch
anything that belongs to them. If you do, you will be destroyed for
their sins.”
27 So all the people stood back
from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Then Dathan and Abiram
came out and stood at the entrances of their tents, together with
their wives and children and little ones.
28 And Moses said, “This is how
you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things that I
have done—for I have not done them on my own.
29 If these men die a natural death,
or if nothing unusual happens, then the Lord has not sent me.
30 But if the Lord does something
entirely new and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them and all
their belongings, and they go down alive into the grave, then you
will know that these men have shown contempt for the Lord.”
31 He had hardly finished speaking
the words when the ground suddenly split open beneath them.
32 The earth opened its mouth and
swallowed the men, along with their households and all their
followers who were standing with them, and everything they owned.
33 So they went down alive into the
grave, along with all their belongings. The earth closed over them,
and they all vanished from among the people of Israel.
34 All the people around them fled
when they heard their screams. “The earth will swallow us, too!”
they cried.
35 Then fire blazed forth from the
Lord and burned up the 250 men who were offering incense.
36 And the Lord said to Moses,
37 “Tell Eleazar son of Aaron the
priest to pull all the incense burners from the fire, for they are
holy. Also tell him to scatter the burning coals.
38 Take the incense burners of these
men who have sinned at the cost of their lives, and hammer the metal
into a thin sheet to overlay the altar. Since these burners were used
in the Lord’s presence, they have become holy. Let them serve as a
warning to the people of Israel.”
39 So Eleazar the priest collected
the 250 bronze incense burners that had been used by the men who died
in the fire, and he hammered them into a thin sheet to overlay the
altar.
40 This would warn the Israelites
that no unauthorized person—no one who was not a descendant of
Aaron—should ever enter the Lord’s presence to burn incense. If
anyone did, the same thing would happen to him as happened to Korah
and his followers. So the Lord’s instructions to Moses were
carried out.
41 But the very next morning the
whole community of Israel began muttering again against Moses and
Aaron, saying, “You have killed the Lord’s people!”
42 As the community gathered to
protest against Moses and Aaron, they turned toward the Tabernacle
and saw that the cloud had covered it, and the glorious presence of
the Lord appeared.
43 Moses and Aaron came and stood in
front of the Tabernacle,
44 and the Lord said to Moses,
45 “Get away from all these people
so that I can instantly destroy them!” But Moses and Aaron fell
face down on the ground.
46 And Moses said to Aaron, “Quick,
take an incense burner and place burning coals on it from the altar.
Lay incense on it, and carry it out among the people to purify them
and make them right with the Lord. The Lord’s anger is blazing
against them—the plague has already begun.”
47 Aaron did as Moses told him and
ran out among the people. The plague had already begun to strike down
the people, but Aaron burned the incense and purified the people.
48 He stood between the dead and the
living, and the plague stopped.
49 But 14,700 people died in that
plague, in addition to those who had died in the affair involving
Korah.
50 Then because the plague had
stopped, Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the Tabernacle.
Numbers 16:1-4 NLT
1 One day Korah son of Izhar,
a descendant of Kohath son of Levi, conspired with Dathan and
Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, from the
tribe of Reuben.
2 They incited a rebellion against
Moses, along with 250 other leaders of the community, all
prominent members of the assembly.
3 They united against Moses and
Aaron and said, “You have gone too far! The whole community of
Israel has been set apart by the Lord, and He is with all of us. What
right do you have to act as though you are greater than the rest of
the Lord’s people?”
4 When Moses heard what they were
saying, he fell face down on the ground.
The spirit of rebellion had taken its
abode among the children of Israel. In chapter 12 of Numbers we read
about Miriam and Aaron's rebellion against Moses, now Korah, Dathan
and Abiram.
Someone has said,
“History proves, that men do not, learn by history!”
I Samuel 15:23 KJV
For rebellion is as the sin of
witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because
thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, He hath also rejected
thee..."
Isaiah 14:13 KJV
(Lucifer)
For thou hast said in thine heart, I
will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of
God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides
of the north:
Korah, Dathan and Abiram, were Levites,
and as Levites their duties were that of, the care and keeping of the
tabernacle.
Numbers 3:27-32 NLT
27 The descendants of Kohath were
composed of the clans descended from Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and
Uzziel.
28 There were 8,600 males one month
old or older among these Kohathite clans. They were responsible for
the care of the sanctuary,
29 and they were assigned the area
south of the Tabernacle for their camp.
30 The leader of the Kohathite clans
was Elizaphan son of Uzziel.
31 These four clans were responsible
for the care of the Ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altars, the
various articles used in the sanctuary, the inner curtain, and all
the equipment related to their use.
32 Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest,
was the chief administrator over all the Levites, with special
responsibility for the oversight of the sanctuary.
Why would these
Levites dare to assume the office of Priesthood?
Exodus 19:5,6
KJV (Moses, spoke the Lord's words to Israel.)
5 Now therefore, if ye will obey My
voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar
treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine:
6 And ye shall be unto Me a kingdom
of priests, and an holy nation..."
Because all Israel had been called to be the priests of the Lord, they may very
well have thought to themselves, that no part of of priesthood was
unavailable.
But, Moses, and
Aaron had been hand picked by God, Himself!
(The Test)
Numbers 16:5-11
NLT
5 Then he said to Korah and his
followers, “Tomorrow morning the Lord will show us who belongs to
Him and who is holy. The Lord will allow only those whom He selects
to enter His own presence.
6 Korah, you and all your followers
must prepare your incense burners.
7 Light fires in them tomorrow, and
burn incense before the Lord. Then we will see whom the Lord chooses
as His holy one. You Levites are the ones who have gone too far!”
8 Then Moses spoke again to Korah:
“Now listen, you Levites!
9 Does it seem insignificant to you
that the God of Israel has chosen you from among all the community of
Israel to be near Him so you can serve in the Lord’s Tabernacle and
stand before the people to minister to them?
10 Korah, He has already given this
special ministry to you and your fellow Levites. Are you now
demanding the priesthood as well?
11 The Lord is the one you and your
followers are really revolting against! For who is Aaron that you are
complaining about him?”
Moses called the rebels to a test.
Korah and his resistance group, stated
that Moses had gone to far, in assuming control and leadership over
them, when in fact, Moses replied, that they themselves were the ones
who had gone to far.
This is a good place to speak
about the Church of the living God.
Are there rebels within the House of
God, sadly so.
It is not enough for some to use their
“gifts and callings,” to minister to others within the church,
no, they would like to assume the role and office of Pastor as well!
When only one man, has been “called
by Almighty God. Only one man, has been “screened both by the
deacon board, and the congregation, meeting their Biblical criteria to be their God appointed Pastor.”
And still there are “others,” that
would dare to usurp the God given position of pastor in the church of
the Lord Jesus Christ.
There can be only one thing that
awaits, as we will soon see in this story, and that is Judgment.
Homily:
This homily “will not be appreciated,
by all” but true never the less it is.
Once a pastor,while encountering some scriptural
difference in a class ….a dear brother rose to tell the class, in
opposition to the pastor, “no, that is not what this scriptures
means at all, here is what it means.....”
The pastor taking a deep but loving
breath, met fire with fire.
“You know,” he said, “any bum,
living under a bridge, can come into this church, and say, “this
is what this scripture means.”
“Almighty God, and this congregation
have called me to this church, because of my calling and theological
training to be the spiritual leader of this body. And today I tell
you lovingly the truth of the Word of God.”
Oppositionn was silenced.
Selah
II Peter 2:1-3 KJV
1 But there were false prophets also
among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you,
who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord
that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their
pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of Truth shall be evil
spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall
they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment
now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
Numbers 16:12-19
NLT
12 Then Moses summoned Dathan and
Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they replied, “We refuse to come
before you!
13 Isn’t it enough that you
brought us out of Egypt, a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill
us here in this wilderness, and that you now treat us like your
subjects?
14 What’s more, you haven’t
brought us into another land flowing with milk and honey. You haven’t
given us a new homeland with fields and vineyards. Are you trying to
fool these men? We will not come.”
15 Then Moses became very angry and
said to the Lord, “Do not accept their grain offerings! I have not
taken so much as a donkey from them, and I have never hurt a single
one of them.”
16 And Moses said to Korah, “You
and all your followers must come here tomorrow and present yourselves
before the Lord. Aaron will also be here.
17 You and each of your 250
followers must prepare an incense burner and put incense on it, so
you can all present them before the Lord. Aaron will also bring his
incense burner.”
18
So each of these men prepared an incense burner, lit the fire, and
placed incense on it. Then they all
stood at the entrance of the
Tabernacle with Moses and Aaron.
19 Meanwhile,
Korah had stirred up the entire community against Moses and Aaron,
and they all gathered at the Tabernacle entrance....
Korah, Dathan and Abiram, were not, alone, they had gathered some 250
other Levites with them.
What was that old saying “Misery, loves company,” and so it was.
Deuteronomy
31:24-30 KJV (Moses last words
to the Levites.)
24 And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the
words of this law in a book, until they were finished,
25 That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the
covenant of the Lord, saying,
26 Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of
the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness
against thee.
27 For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck:
behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been
rebellious against the Lord; and how much more after my death?
28 Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers,
that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth
to record against them.
29 For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt
yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded
you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do
evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger through
the work of your hands.
30 And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the
words of this song, until they were ended.
Numbers 16:20-22
NLT
20 and the Lord said to Moses and
Aaron,
21 “Get away from all these people
so that I may instantly destroy them!”
22 But Moses and Aaron fell face
down on the ground. “O God,” they pleaded, “you are the God who
gives breath to all creatures. Must you be angry with all the people
when only one man sins?”
Moses and Aaron, made intercession for Israel. Moses had made
intercession for Miriam, and now Israel.
A picture of our great Intercessor, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 53:12 KJV
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 22:32 KJV (Jesus speaking to Peter.)
But I have
prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art
converted, strengthen thy brethren.
John 17:9 KJV (Prayer of Jesus.)
I pray for
them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given
Me; for they are thine.
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 7:25 KJV
Wherefore He
(He, not she, or they.) is able also to save them to the
uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever
liveth to make intercession for them.
Numbers 16:23-35
NLT
23 And the Lord said to Moses,
24 “Then tell all the people to
get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.”
25 So Moses got up and rushed over
to the tents of Dathan and Abiram, followed by the elders of Israel.
26 “Quick!” he told the people.
“Get away from the tents of these wicked men, and don’t
touch anything that belongs to them. If you do, you will be destroyed
for their sins.”
27 So all the people stood back
from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Then Dathan and
Abiram came out and stood at the entrances of their tents, together
with their wives and children and little ones.
28 And Moses said, “This is how
you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things that I
have done—for I have not done them on my own.
29 If these men die a natural death,
or if nothing unusual happens, then the Lord has not sent me.
30 But if the Lord does something
entirely new and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them and all
their belongings, and they go down alive into the grave, then you
will know that these men have shown contempt for the Lord.”
31 He had hardly finished speaking
the words when the ground suddenly split open beneath them.
32 The earth opened its mouth and
swallowed the men, along with their households and all their
followers who were standing with them, and everything they owned.
33 So they went down alive into the
grave, along with all their belongings. The earth closed over them,
and they all vanished from among the people of Israel.
34 All the people around them fled
when they heard their screams. “The earth will swallow us, too!”
they cried.
35 Then fire blazed forth from
the Lord and burned up the 250 men who were offering incense.
Poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow:
“
Though the mills of God grind slowly;
Yet they grind exceeding small;
Though with patience He stands waiting,
With exactness grinds He all.
Hebrews 10:31 KJV
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Numbers 16:36-40
NLT
36 And the Lord said to Moses,
37 “Tell Eleazar son of Aaron the
priest to pull all the incense burners from the fire, for they are
holy. Also tell him to scatter the burning coals.
38 Take the incense burners of these
men who have sinned at the cost of their lives, and hammer the metal
into a thin sheet to overlay the
altar. Since these burners were used in the Lord’s
presence, they have become holy. Let them serve as a warning to the
people of Israel.”
39 So Eleazar the priest collected
the 250 bronze incense burners that had been used by the men who died
in the fire, and he hammered them into a thin sheet to overlay the
altar.
40 This would warn the Israelites
that no unauthorized person—no one who was not a descendant of
Aaron—should ever enter the Lord’s presence to burn incense. If
anyone did, the same thing would happen to him as happened to Korah
and his followers. So the Lord’s instructions to Moses were
carried out.
Some times we the
people of God, as we go about our spiritual duties, in or out of the
church of the Lord Jesus Christ, we need reminders, of who we are,
and what our particular calling is! And not to assume anothers
calling.
It was so with
Israel, and is still true.
In the house of
God, the Pastor is the messenger of God!
Revelation 2:1
KJV (Revelation 3:1)
Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith
He that holdeth the seven stars* in His
right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks
(lampstands);
Revelation 1:20
KJV
The mystery of
the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven
golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels* of the
seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest
are the seven churches.
*Angels – Greek: Aggelos (Ang-el-os): A messenger; by
implication a pastor; angel, messenger.
Abingdon/Strong Concordance of the Bible.)
In the 1st Century, every church of believers had its
messenger:
Ephesus- Revelation 2:1
Smyrna- Revelation 2:8
Pergamos- Revelation 2:12
Thyatira- Revelation 2:18
Sardis- Revelation 3:1
Philadelphia- Revelation 3:7
Laodiceans- Revelation 3:14
Each church had its “messenger,” Pastor given by God!
Godly Pastors are the “gift,” of God to His church.
Ephesians
4:11-15 KJV
11 And He gave
some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers;
12 For the
perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all
come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the
fulness of Christ:
14 That we
henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about
with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning
craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking
the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the
head, even Christ:
Numbers 16:41-45
NLT
41 But the very next morning the
whole community of Israel began muttering again against Moses and
Aaron, saying, “You have killed the Lord’s people!”
42 As the community gathered to
protest against Moses and Aaron, they turned toward the Tabernacle
and saw that the cloud had covered it, and the glorious presence of
the Lord appeared.
43 Moses and Aaron came and stood in
front of the Tabernacle,
44 and the Lord said to Moses,
45 “Get away from all these people
so that I can instantly destroy them!” But Moses and Aaron fell
face down on the ground.
“Those who
cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
George
Santayana, The Life of Reason (1905)
Romans 1:20 KJV
"...they
are without excuse"
Numbers 16:46-50
NLT
46 And Moses said to Aaron, “Quick,
take an incense burner and place burning coals on it from the altar.
Lay incense on it, and carry it out among the people to purify them
and make them right with the Lord. The Lord’s anger is blazing
against them—the plague has already begun.”
47 Aaron did as Moses told him and
ran out among the people. The plague had already begun to strike down
the people, but Aaron burned the incense and purified the people.
48 He stood between the dead
and the living, and the plague stopped.
49 But 14,700 people died in that
plague, in addition to those who had died in the affair involving
Korah.
50 Then because the plague had
stopped, Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the Tabernacle.
What a word picture of our precious Savior, High Priest!
Today, His wish for you is to be “saved,” from judgment!
Hebrews 4:7 KJV
"...as it
is said, To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.
John 3:16-18 KJV
16 For God so
loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent
not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world
through Him might be saved.
18 He that
believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is
condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the
only begotten Son of God.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Wolves
Bible Questions Answered:
“How can we tell who the wolves are
in the church?”
Sheila/ San Diego, California
Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
Acts 20:28-31 NLT (Apostle
Paul's admonition to Ephesian Elders.)
28 “So guard yourselves and God’s
people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—His church, purchased with
His own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as
elders.
29 I know that false teachers,
like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not
sparing the flock.
30 Even some men from your own group
will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a
following.
31 Watch out!..."
We may know the wolves from the sheep, by
two characteristics:
* What they teach, and
*What fruit they bear.
The Apostle said they will “distort
the truth (verse 30)”
False Teachings:
(Just a few verses, certainly
not all!)
Proverbs 24:24 KJV
He that saith
unto the wicked, Thou are righteous; him shall the people curse,
nations shall abhor him:
Matthew
15:8,9,14 KJV
8 This people
draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoreth Me with their
lips; but their heart is far from Me.
9 But in vain
they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
14 ...they be
blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both
shall fall into the ditch.
Matthew 24:11
KJV
And many false
prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Romans 16:17,18
KJV
17 Now I
beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences
contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18 For they
that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly;
and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Colossians 2:8
KJV
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.
I Timothy 4:1-4
KJV
1 Now the Holy
Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away
from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings
that come from demons.
2 These people
are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.
3 They will say
it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God
created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who
know the truth.
4 Since
everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but
receive it with thanks.
5 For we know
it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.
I Timothy 6:3-5
KJV
3 Some people
may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of
the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a Godly life.
4 Anyone who
teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such
a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of
words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander,
and evil suspicions.
5 These people
always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned
their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way
to become wealthy.
II Timothy 4:3,4
KJV
3 For a time is
coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome
teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for
teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
4 They will
reject the truth and chase after myths.
Titus 1:10,11
KJV
10 For there
are many rebellious people who engage in useless talk and deceive
others...
11 They must be
silenced, because they are turning whole families away from the truth
by their false teaching. And they do it only for money.
II Peter 2:1-22
KJV
1 But there
were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be
false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable
heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon
themselves swift destruction.
2 And many
shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of
truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through
covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you:
whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation
slumbereth not.
4 For if God
spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and
delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
5 And spared
not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of
righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
6 And turning
the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an
overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live
ungodly;
7 And delivered
just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
8 (For that
righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his
righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
9 The Lord
knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve
the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
10 But chiefly
them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and
despise government. Presumptuous are they, self willed, they are not
afraid to speak evil of dignities.
11 Whereas
angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing
accusation against them before the Lord.
12 But these,
as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil
of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in
their own corruption;
13 And shall
receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure
to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting
themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
14 Having eyes
full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable
souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed
children:
15 Which have
forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of
Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
16 But was
rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice
forbad the madness of the prophet.
17 These are
wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom
the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
18 For when
they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the
lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean
escaped from them who live in error.
19 While they
promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption:
for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
20 For if after
they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge
of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled
therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the
beginning.
21 For it had
been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness,
than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment
delivered unto them.
22 But it is
happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned
to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing
in the mire.
I John 2:22,23
KJV
22 Who is a
liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist,
that denieth the Father and the Son.
23 Whosoever
denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father..."
I John 3:7-10
KJV
7 Little
children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is
righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 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.
9 Whosoever is
born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and
he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the
children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil:
whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that
loveth not his brother.
I John 4:1-3 KJV
1 Beloved,
believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of
God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know
ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ
is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every
spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is
not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have
heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
II John 1:7 KJV
For many
deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus
Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
Jude 4-22 KJV
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.
20 But ye,
beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in
the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep
yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord
Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And of some
have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others
save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment
spotted by the flesh.
24 Now unto Him
that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless
before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
25 To the only
wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both
now and ever. Amen.
False Fruits:
Matthew 7:15-23
KJV
15 Beware of
false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly
they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall
know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or
figs of thistles?
17 Even so
every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree
bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree
cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth
good fruit.
19 Every tree
that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the
fire.
20 Wherefore
by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every
one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
(False Religion, False Fruit.)
22 Many will
say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in
thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy
name done many wonderful works?
23 And then
will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that
work iniquity.
21 Not every
one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven;
but he that
doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Proverbs 15:8
KJV
The sacrifice
of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord..."
James 1:22 KJV
But be ye doers
of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Matthew 3:10 KJV
And now also
the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree
which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the
fire.
Matthew 7:17 KJV
"... a
corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.'
Galatians
5:19-24 NLT
19 When you
follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear:
sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,
20 idolatry,
sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish
ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties,
and other sins like these.
Let me tell you again, as I
have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit
the Kingdom of God.
22 But the Holy
Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness,
and self-control. There is no law against these things!
24 Those who
belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their
sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there.
Hebrews 6:8 KJV
But that which
beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing;
whose end is to be burned.
I Peter 5:8-11
NLT
8 Stay alert!
Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a
roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
9 Stand firm
against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your
Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through
the same kind of suffering you are.
10 In his
kindness God called you to share in His eternal glory by means of
Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, He will
restore, support, and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm
foundation. 11 All power to Him forever! Amen.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
I
Chronicles 16:8,9,34 KJV
8
Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon His name, make known His deeds
among the people.
9
Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him, talk ye of all His wondrous
works.
34
O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good; for His mercy endureth
for ever.
Nehemiah
12:40 KJV
So
stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God,
and I, and the half of the rulers with me:
Psalm
26:6,7 NLT
6
"...I come to your altar, O Lord,
7
singing a song of thanksgiving and telling of all your wonders.
Psalm
30:12 NLT
That
I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will
give you thanks forever!
Psalm
35:18 KJV
I
will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee
among much people.
Psalm
50:14 KJV
Offer
unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
Psalm
69:30 KJV
I
will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with
thanksgiving.
Psalm
75:1 NLT
We
thank you, O God! We give thanks because you are near. People
everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds.
Psalm
92:1 KJV
It
is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises
unto thy name, O Most High:
Psalm
95:1-3 KJV
1
O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the
Rock of our salvation.
2
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful
noise unto Him with psalms.
3
For the Lord is a Great God, and a Great King above all gods.
Psalm
100:4,5 KJV
4
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with
praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.
5
For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth
endureth to all generations.
Psalm
105:1 KJV
O
give thanks unto the Lord; call upon His name: make known His deeds
among the people.
Psalm
107:21,22 KJV
21
Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His
wonderful works to the children of men!
22
And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare
His works with rejoicing.
Psalm
116:17 KJV
I
will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon
the name of the Lord.
Psalm
136:1-3 KJV
1
O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth
for ever.
2
O give thanks unto the God of gods: for His mercy endureth for ever.
3
O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for His mercy endureth for ever.
Psalm
147:7 KJV
Sing
unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our
God:
Isaiah
51:3 KJV
"...
the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein,
thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
Daniel
6:10 KJV
Now
when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house;
and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he
kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks
before his God, as he did aforetime.
Jonah
2:9 KJV
But
I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay
that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.
I
Corinthians 15:57 KJV
But
thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ.
II Corinthians 2:14 NLT
But
thank God! He has made us His captives and continues to lead us along
in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now He uses us to spread the
knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.
II
Corinthians 9:15 NLT
15
Thank God for this Gift too wonderful for words!
Ephesians
5:20 KJV
Giving
thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ;
Philippians
4:6 KJV
Be
careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Colossians
1:11-14 NLT
11
We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious
power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May
you be filled with joy,
12
always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the
inheritance that belongs to His people, who live in the light.
13
For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us
into the Kingdom of His dear Son,
14
who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
Colossians
3:17 NLT
And
whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Colossians
4:2 NLT
Devote
yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
I
Thessalonians 1:2 KJV
We
give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our
prayers;
I
Thessalonians 5:18 KJV
In
every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
concerning you.
I
Timothy 2:1 KJV
I
exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
I
Timothy 4:6 NLT
"...But
God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people
who know the truth."
Hebrews
12:28 NLT
Since
we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and
please God by worshiping Him with holy fear and awe.
Hebrews
13:15 KJV
By
Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God
continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His
name.
Revelation
7:9-12 KJV
9
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could
number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood
before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and
palms in their hands;
10
And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which
sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
11
And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders
and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and
worshipped God,
12
Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and
honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever.
Amen.
Revelation
11:16,17 KJV
16
And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats,
fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
17
Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and
wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great
power, and hast reigned.
Be sure to see the blogs: ....
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Omnipresence And Onmiscience Of God
Bible Questions Answered:
“...robert is helping me write this
to you about how can god hear a thousand praying at once?”
Tod/ Rosenberg, Texas U.S.A.
Bible Answer:
Genesis 1:26 KJV
“And God said, Let us make
man in our image, after our likeness:...”
Notice the plural “us,” in
that verse! From the very beginning the trinity is spoken of. But
that is not our subject here.
The point of this scripture is to show
that, we are made in the image of God, and “not,” vice versa!
God is greater than us! True we are in
the similitude of God, but He will forever remain greater than what
we will “ever,” be able to fathom.
Although we cannot hear more than one
person at a time, not so with Almighty God, our Creator, He can, and
does! No matter the language, no matter the distance, all are known
to Him, with whom we have to do.
Jeremiah 23:23-25 NLT
23 Am I a God who is only close at
hand?” says the Lord. “No, I am far away at the same time.
24 Can anyone hide from Me in a
secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?”
says the Lord.
25 “I have heard..."
God, can and does hear what we say, or
pray, because He, is everywhere, both seeing and knowing all things.
God's Omniscience (All Knowing.)
and His Omnipresence (Everywhere existence.)
Deuteronomy 4:39 KJV
(Omnipresence.)
Know therefore this day, and
consider it in thine heart, that the Lord He is God in heaven above,
and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
Job 26:6 KJV (Omniscience.)
Hell is naked before Him, and
destruction hath no covering.
Job 31:4 KJV
(Omniscience/Omnipresence.)
Doth not He see my ways, and count
all my steps?
Job 34:21 KJV (Omniscience/
Omnipresence.)
For His eyes are upon the ways of
man, and He seeth all His goings.
Psalm 147:5 KJV (Omniscience.)
Great is our Lord, and of great
power: His understanding is infinite.
Proverbs 15:3 KJV (Omniscience/
Omnipresence.)
The eyes of the Lord are in every
place, beholding the evil and the good.
Isaiah 46:9,10 KJV
(Omnipresence/Omniscience.)
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 66:1 KJV (Omnipresence.)
Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is
My throne, and the earth is My footstool: where is the house that ye
build unto Me? and where is the place of My rest?
John 2:24,25 KJV (Omniscience.)
24 But Jesus did not commit Himself
unto them, because He knew all men,
25 And needed not that any should
testify of man: for He knew what was in man.
John 16:30 KJV (Omniscience.)
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 (Omniscience.)
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 (Omniscience.)
And they prayed, and said, Thou,
Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two
thou hast chosen,
Acts 17:27 KJV (Omnipresence.)
That they should seek the Lord, if
haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far
from every one of us:
Hebrews 4:13 KJV
(Omnipresence/Omniscience.)
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 (Omniscience.)
For if our heart condemn us, God is
greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
Friend, this Great
God, who sees and who knows you, also loves you!
His wish is that we
be “one,” with Him, but this cannot happen unless we have been
cleansed of our sins, through the precious blood of His Son, the Lord
Jesus Christ.
Habakkuk 1:13
KJV
"Thou art of purer eyes than to
behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity:..."
God made a
way.
II Corinthians
5:20,21 KJV
20 ...we pray you in Christ's stead,
be ye reconciled to God.
21 For He (God
the Father.) hath made Him (The
Lord Jesus Christ, His Son.) to be sin for us, who knew no
sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
John 3:15-18 KJV
15 ...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.
Psalm 139:1-24
KJV (Omnipresence/
Omniscience.)
1 O lord, thou hast searched me, and
known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and
mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my path and my
lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my
tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and
before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful
for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7 Whither shall I go from thy
Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou
art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the
morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead
me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness
shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from
thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light
are both alike to thee.
13 For thou hast possessed my reins:
thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise thee; for I am
fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my
soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from
thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest
parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance,
yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written,
which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of
them.
17 How precious also are thy
thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are
more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked,
O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
20 For they speak against thee
wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
21 Do not I hate them, O Lord, that
hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred:
I count them mine enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my
heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked
way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Praying In The Spirit.
Bible Questions Answered:
“...how does one then pray in the
spirit?”
Jaclyn/ Archamps, France (Rhone Alpes)
Bible Answer:
Bible Texts:
Ephesians 6:18 KJV
Praying always with all prayer
and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all
perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Jude 20
But ye, beloved, building up
yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
I Corinthians 14:15 KJV
What is it then? I will pray
with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also:
I will sing with the spirit (In
worship), and I will sing with the understanding
also.
Praying in the
Spirit, is to pray according to God's Word, and His Will!
Praying in the
Spirit, as did the early church, a Pentecostal Church, involved also
praying in the Spirit, in an heavenly language, such as did the
Apostle did.
I Corinthians
12:7,10 NLT
7 the manifestation of the Spirit is
given to every man to profit withal.
10 "... another person is given
the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the
ability to interpret what is being said.
11 It is the one and only Spirit who
distributes all these gifts..."
The Apostle Paul,
prayed devotionally, in the Spirit. And in the congregation if there
was one to be able to interpret a heavenly message.
I Corinthians
13:1 KJV (An Apostle of love, Paul, who wrote no less than 14
books of our New Testament said...)
"...I speak with the tongues of
men and of angels..."
I Corinthians
14:18 KJV
I thank my God, I speak with
tongues more than ye all:
This was the early
Pentecostal Church!
Oh, as been said
before here, how some men would love to pen knife the words of I
Corinthians 14:18 right out of their Bible!
“Pastor why would
that be?”
It would be due to
the dispositions of men!
Scores of
denominations, and religious beliefs, all with their earned
theological doctorate degrees, and everyone of them teaching
something different. Just how, in the name of common sense can that
be?
It can be, due to
the “dispositions of men.”
This pastor grew up
in a church, where if you said Amen, during the pastor's sermon, it
would not be very long before one of the deacon board members had a
word with you! That sort of thing was “not,” to be tolerated in
the church! God help us!
(Dear friends, to
be announced before the end of the year, a new book which will cover
this subject and a whole lot more, be looking for it.)
“Dear preacher,
don't you realize that “tongues shall cease!”
Let's read that verse.
I Corinthians 13:8
KJV
Charity
never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall
fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether
there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
Apparently, for
some, “knowledge,” has already passed away!
The day, Knowledge,
and all prophecy, has passed away, so will speaking in a heavenly
language, but of course, that day has not yet come!
I Corinthians 13:10
KJV
But when that which
is perfect is come (Jesus Christ), then that which is in part shall be done away.
I John 3:2 KJV
Beloved, now are we
the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we
know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him;
for we shall see Him as He is.
Until that day,
dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, keep praying in the Spirit.
Jude 20,21 NET
20 But you,
dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith,
by praying in the Holy Spirit,
21 maintain
yourselves in the love of God, while anticipating the mercy of our
Lord Jesus Christ that brings eternal life.
Amen.
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