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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.

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.