Saturday, December 29, 2012
Calling And Election.
Bible Questions Answered:
“...so how is it made, our calling
and election?
Jerome/ Copenhagen, Denmark
Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
II Peter 1:10 KJV
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give
diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these
things, ye shall never fall:
II Peter 1:10 NLT
So, dear brothers and sisters, work
hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and
chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away.
First of all, it
must of necessity be said that “we are not,” saved by works,
religious or otherwise!
Romans 3:23-25
NLT
23 For everyone has sinned; we all
fall short of God’s glorious standard.
24 Yet God, with undeserved
kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ
Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins.
25 For God presented Jesus as the
sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe
that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood..."
Ephesians 2:8,9
KJV
8 For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is The Gift Of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should
boast.
Titus 3:4-8 NLT
4 But—“When God our Savior
revealed His kindness and love,
5 He saved us, not because of the
righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed
away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy
Spirit.
6 He generously poured out the
Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.
7 Because of His grace He declared
us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal
life.”
Here is the
complete context of II Peter 1:10 KJV:
II Peter 1:3-10
KJV
3 According as His divine power hath
given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,
through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and
virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us
exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be
partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the
corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all
diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and
to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly
kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and
abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful
in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things
is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was
purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren,
give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do
these things, ye shall never fall:
Virtues or
Fruits of the Spirit, all are Godly attributes, to be
found in the life of God's child.
Galatians
5:22-25 KJV
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against
such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have
crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us
also walk in the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:9
KJV
(For the fruit of the Spirit is in
all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Philippians
2:12,13 KJV
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have
always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my
absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in
you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
And what is God's
good pleasure in the life of a Christian?
Luke 1:74,75 KJV
74 That He would grant unto us, that
we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him
without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness
before Him, all the days of our life.
II Corinthians
7:1 KJV
Having therefore these promises,
dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the
flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
I Thessalonians
3:12,13 KJV
12 And the Lord make you to increase
and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we
do toward you:
13 To the end He may stablish your
hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
Hebrews
12:9,10,14 KJV
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of
our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we
not much rather be in subjection unto the Father Of Spirits, and
live?
10 For they verily for a few days
chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for our profit, that we
might be partakers of His holiness.
14 Follow peace with all men, and
holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
I Peter 1:16 KJV
Because it is written, Be ye holy;
for I am holy.
I Peter 2:9 KJV
But ye are a chosen generation, a
royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should
shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness
into His marvelous light;
II Peter 3:11
KJV
Seeing then that all these things
shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy
conversation and godliness,
Homily:
If you were taking out citizenship in another country, you would be
required to know their constitution and laws, so that you would live
by them.
Should it be any different for God's city?
Hebrews 11:13,16
NLT (Be sure to read the whole
chapter.)
13 All these
people (God's people of faith)
died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive
what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed
it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth.
16 But they
were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God
is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for
them.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Heaven-Who Goes There?
Bible Questions Answered:
“...who goes to heaven?”
Ben/ Frankfurt, Germany (Hessen)
Bible Answer:
The Old Testament:
Psalm 15:1-5 NLT A psalm of
David.
1 Who may worship in your sanctuary,
Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?
2 Those who lead blameless lives and
do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts.
3 Those who refuse to gossip or harm
their neighbors or speak evil of their friends.
4 Those who despise flagrant
sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their
promises even when it hurts.
5 Those who lend money without
charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the
innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.
Psalm 24:3-6 KJV
3 Who shall
ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in His holy
place?
4 He that hath
clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto
vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall
receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of
his salvation.
6 This is the
generation of them that seek Him..."
The New
Testament:
John 3:14-18,36
KJV
14 And as Moses
lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must The Son Of Man
be lifted up:
15 That
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so
loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent
not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world
through Him might be saved.
18 He that
believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is
condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of The
Only Begotten Son Of God.
36 He that
believeth on The Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not
The Son shall not see Life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 5:24 KJV
Verily, verily,
I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that
sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation;
but is passed from death unto life.
John 8:24 KJV
I said
therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe
not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins.
John 10:9 KJV
I am the Door:
by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved..."
John 14:6 KJV
Jesus saith
unto him, I am The Way, The Truth, and The Life: no man cometh unto
the Father, but by Me.
Acts 4:10-12 KJV
10 Be it known
unto you all... that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye
crucified, whom God raised from the dead...
11 This is the
stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become The
Head Of The Corner.
12 Neither is
there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under
heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Acts 16:31 KJV
And they said,
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved..."
Romans 10:9,10
KJV
9 That if thou
shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in
thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved.
10 For with the
heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession
is made unto salvation.
I Corinthians
3:11 KJV
For other
Foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:18
NLT
Now all of us
can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what
Christ has done for us.
Ephesians 3:12
NLT
Because of
Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently
into God’s presence.
I Timothy 2:3-6
KJV
3 For this is
good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;
4 Who will have
all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is
one God, and one Mediator between God and men, The Man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave
Himself a ransom for all..."
I John 5:1,12
KJV
1 Everyone who
believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God...
12 Whoever has
the Son has Life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have
Life.
Revelation 22:17
KJV
And the Spirit
and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let
him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water
of life freely.
Acts 2:21 KJV
And it shall
come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall
be saved.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Christian Protection
Bible Questions Answered:
“How can we protect ourselves from
evil?”
Lucy/ London, England (United Kingdom)
Bible Answer:
A
Christian, may rebuke the enemy through God's Word, and the name and
blood of Christ!
God's
promises to His people:
Exodus 14:14
KJV
The Lord will
fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Deuteronomy
33:27 KJV
The Eternal God
is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and He shall
thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
II Chronicles
16:9 KJV
For the eyes of
the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself
strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him..."
II Chronicles
32:8 KKJV
"...with
us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles..."
Psalm 5:11,12
KJV
11 But let all
those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for
joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be
joyful in thee.
12 For thou,
Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favor wilt thou compass him as
with a shield.
Psalm 27:5 KJV
For in the time
of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His
tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a Rock (Christ).
Psalm 31:20 KJV
Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence..."
Psalm 32:7 KJV
Thou art my
Hiding Place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble..."
Psalm 33:20 KJV
Our soul
waiteth for the Lord: He is our help and our shield.
Psalm 34:7 KJV
The Angel Of
The Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth
them.
Psalm 44:5 KJV
Through thee
will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread
them under that rise up against us.
Psalm 46:1 KJV
God is our
Refuge and Strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 119:114
KJV
Thou art my
Hiding Place and my Shield: I hope in thy word.
Proverbs 14:26
KJV
In the fear of
the Lord is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of
refuge.
Proverbs 18:10
KJV
The name of
the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is
safe.
Proverbs 30:5
KJV
Every word of God is pure: He is a shield
unto them that put their trust in Him.
Isaiah 25:4 NLT
But you are a
tower of refuge to the poor, O Lord, a tower of refuge to the needy
in distress.
You are a
refuge from the storm and a shelter from the heat.
Matthew 26:28
NLT
for this is My blood, which confirms the covenant between God and
His people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of
many. (Christians, justified, by the blood of Christ.)
Luke 10:19 KJV
Behold, I give
unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over
all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt
you.
John 1:29 KJV
The next day
John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold The Lamb Of God,
which taketh away the sin of the world.
John 10:10 KJV
The thief
cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come
that they might have Life, and that they might have it more
abundantly.
Acts 20:28 KJV
"... the
church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood.
Romans 5:9 NLT
And since we
have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ,
He will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.
Romans 8:35,37
KJV
35 Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress,
or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
37 Nay, in all
these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.
Ephesians
6:10-18 KJV
10 Finally, my
brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His
might.
11 Put on the
whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the
wiles of the devil.
12 For we
wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore
take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand
therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and
having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your
feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all,
taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able
to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the
helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is
the word of God:
18 Praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching
thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Hebrews 2:14 KJV
For as much
then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also
Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might
destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Hebrews 4:12 KJV
For the word
of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged
sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and
of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and
intents of the heart.
Hebrews 9:14 NLT
Just think how
much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from
sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power
of The Eternal Spirit, Christ offered Himself to God as a Perfect
Sacrifice for our sins.
James 4:7 KJV
Submit
yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will
flee from you.
I Peter 1:18,19
KJV
18 For as much
as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as
silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition
from your fathers;
19 But with the
precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and
without spot:
I Peter 5:8,9
KJV
8 Be sober, be
vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist
stedfast in the faith..."
I John 1:7 KJV
But if we walk
in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with
another, and
the blood of
Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.
I John 3:8 KJV
The one who
does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been
sinning from the beginning. The reason The Son Of God appeared was to
destroy the devil’s work.
I John 5:4 KJV
For whatsoever
is born of God over cometh the world: and this is the victory that
over cometh the world, even our faith.
Revelation 1:5
KJV
And from Jesus
Christ, who is The Faithful Witness, and The First Begotten Of The
Dead, and
The Prince Of
The Kings Of The Earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from
our sins
in His own
blood,
Revelation 7:14
KJV
And I said unto
him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came
out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them
white in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 12:11
KJV
And they
overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the
word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the
death.
See also the blog posting...... Protection-God's
Monday, December 24, 2012
Bible Lesson: Miracles Of The Old Testament: Judgment Of Fiery Serpents And Their Cure.
Bible Lesson: Miracles Of The Old
Testament: Judgment Of Fiery Serpents, And Their Cure.
Occasion: Ingratitude Brings
Judgment.
Location: Desert of Zin.
Bible Text:
Numbers 21:4-9 NLT
(Weary)
4 Then the people of Israel set out
from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land
of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey,
(Ingratitude, A Sin.)
5 and they began to speak against
God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in
the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here
and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!”
(Judgment)
6 So the Lord sent poisonous snakes
among the people, and many were bitten and died.
(Conscience and confession.)
(Confession)
7 Then the people came to Moses and
cried out, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against
you. Pray that the Lord will take away the snakes.” So Moses prayed
for the people.
(Remedy)
8 Then the Lord told him, “Make a
replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are
bitten will live if they simply look at it!”
9 So Moses made a snake out of
bronze (Bronze speaks of judgment.) and attached it to a pole. Then
anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and
be healed!
Numbers 21:4-9
KJV
4 And they
journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the
land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because
of the way.
5 And the
people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye
brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no
bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light
bread.
6 And the Lord
sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and
much people of Israel died.
7 Therefore the
people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken
against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take
away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
8 And the Lord
said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole:
and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he
looketh upon it, shall live.
9 And Moses
made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass,
that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of
brass, he lived.
(Weary)
Numbers 21:4 NLT
“...the people grew impatient
(discouraged)
with the long journey,”
John Bunyan, was
right, it is a pilgrims progress. The journey, may indeed be long,
and the way uneasy, cluttered with snares, laid by the enemy.
Yet, the Apostle
maintains...
Philippians 3:14
KJV
I press toward the mark for the
prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Strength Promised The Child Of God:
Psalm 28:8 KJV
The Lord is
their strength, and He is the saving strength of His anointed.
Psalm 46:1 KJV
God is our
refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 73:26 KJV
My flesh and my
heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion
for ever.
Isaiah 40:28-31
KJV
28 Hast thou
not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator Of the Ends Of The Earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?
there is no searching of His understanding.
29 He giveth
power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth
strength.
30 Even the
youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly
fall:
31 But they
that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount
up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they
shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 41:10 KJV
Fear thou not;
for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will
strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with
the right hand of My righteousness.
Daniel 11:32 KJV
"...but
the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits."
Ephesians 3:16
KJV
That He would
grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened
with might by His Spirit in the inner man;
(Ingratitude, A Sin.)
Numbers 21:5 NLT
5 and they began to speak against
God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in
the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here
and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!”
What a dark and
hideous sin, that of ingratitude.
And what a
commentary on not only ancient Israel, but our people today!
Deuteronomy
32:3-6 NLT (Moses)
3 I will proclaim the name of the
Lord; how glorious is our God!
4 He is The Rock; His deeds are
perfect. Everything He does is just and fair. He is a faithful God
who does no wrong; how just and upright He is!
5 “But they have acted corruptly
toward Him; when they act so perversely, are they really His
children? They are a deceitful and twisted generation.
6 Is this the way you repay the
Lord, you foolish and senseless people? Isn’t He your Father who
created you? Has He not made you and established you?
Nehemiah 9:26
NLT (The Levites.)
“But despite
all this, they were disobedient and rebelled against you. They turned
their backs on your Law, they killed your prophets who warned them to
return to you, and they committed terrible blasphemies.
Ezekiel 16:17-19
NLT
17 You took the very jewels and gold
and silver ornaments I had given you and made statues of men and
worshiped them. This is adultery against me!
18 You used the beautifully
embroidered clothes I gave you to dress your idols. Then you used my
special oil and my incense to worship them.
19 Imagine it! You set before them
as a sacrifice the choice flour, olive oil, and honey I had given
you, says the Sovereign Lord.
Luke 17:17,18
KJV
17 And Jesus answering said, Were
there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
18 There are not found that returned
to give glory to God, save this stranger.
Romans 1:21,22
KJV
21 Because that, when they knew God,
they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but
became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was
darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise,
they became fools,
II Timothy 3:1-5
KJV
1 This know also, that in the
last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their
own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to
parents, unthankful,
unholy,
3 Without natural affection, truce
breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those
that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, high minded,
lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but
denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
(Judgment)
Numbers 21:6 NLT
6 So the Lord sent poisonous
snakes (fiery
serpents) among the people, and many were bitten
and died.
Sin is a fiery burning venom unto spiritual death.
I Samuel 15:23
KJV
For rebellion
is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and
idolatry..."
Proverbs 11:19
KJV
As
righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it
to his own death.
Ezekiel 18:4 KJV
Behold, all
souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the
son is mine:
the soul that
sinneth, it shall die.
Can God, send
destruction, to individuals or to nations, in answer to sinnful
rebellion?
Answer, yes, and He
lovingly does it to stop sinners, before it is too late!
Psalm 119:67 KJV
Before I was afflicted I went
astray: but now have I kept thy word.
Psalm 119:67 NLT
I used to wander off until you
disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word.
Hebrews 5:12-14
KJV
5 And ye have forgotten the
exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise
not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked
of Him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth He
chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God
dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father
chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement,
whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of
our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we
not much rather be in subjection unto The Father Of spirits, and
live?
10 For they verily for a few days
chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for our profit, that we
might be partakers of His holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present
seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it
yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are
exercised thereby.
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which
hang down, and the feeble knees;
13 And make straight paths for your
feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it
rather be healed.
14 Follow peace with all men, and
holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
(Conscience and confession.)
Numbers 21:7 NLT
7 Then the people came to Moses
and cried out, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and
against you. Pray that the Lord will take away the snakes.” So
Moses prayed for the people.
Ezra 10:11 KJV
Now therefore
make confession unto the Lord God of your fathers, and do His
pleasure..."
Psalm 66:18 KJV
If I regard
iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
Proverbs 28:13
KJV
He that
covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and
forsaketh them shall have mercy.
I John 1:9-10
KJV
8 If we say
that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in
us.
9 If we confess
our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say
that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in
us.
(Remedy)
Numbers 21:8,9
NLT
8 Then the Lord told him, “Make
a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are
bitten will live if they simply look at it!”
9 So Moses made a snake out of
bronze (Bronze speaks of judgment.) and attached it to a pole. Then
anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and
be healed!
The Israelites were to look at the serpent of bronze, and live.
Now, this was “more,” than just looking and living! This meant
that by looking in Faith, to
The Promise given, then they would be healed of their deadly
wounds.
What was the promise?
Numbers 21:8,9
KJV
8 And the Lord
said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole:
and it shall
come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh
upon it, shall live.
9 And Moses
made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass,
that if a
serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of
brass, he lived.
One had to look in
Faith, believing The Promise, to live!
By
looking, one was believing in The Promise for deliverance!
These actions were
but a prefiguring, a type of the ultimate remedy for sin, the
Lord Jesus Christ.
I Corinthians
10:9-13 NLT
9 Nor should we put Christ to the
test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites.
10 And don’t grumble as some of
them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death.
11 These things happened to them as
examples for us. They were written down to warn us who
live at the end of the age.
12 If you think you are standing
strong, be careful not to fall.
13 The temptations in your life are
no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He
will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you
are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.
(Look and live!)
John 3:14-18 KJV
14 And as Moses lifted up the
serpent in the wilderness, even so must The Son Of Man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in
(Looketh on) Him (The
Promise) 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 (Looketh
on) 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 (Looketh) on
Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already,
because he hath not believed (Had
Faith) in the name of The Only Begotten Son Of God.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Washing - Of The Word
Bible Questions Answered:
“...so I do not understand this
washing, to make clean...”
Waheed/ Bangalore, India (Tamil Nadu)
Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
Ephesians 5:25-27 KJV
25 ...Christ also loved the church,
and gave Himself for it;
26 That He might sanctify and
cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That He might present it to
Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such
thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
One may wash in a river or sea, and it
will not help make one clean, spiritually.
Paul's writings to the Ephesian
believers states that, “Christ also loved the church, and gave
Himself for it;”
Romans 3:23-25 NLT (Apostle
Paul)
23 For everyone
has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
24 Yet God,
with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this
through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty
for our sins.
25 For God
presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right
with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding
His blood..."
Romans 5:1 NLT
Therefore, since we have been made
right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God
because of what Jesus Christ our
Lord has done for us.
We are “justified,” through faith
in the finished work of our Savior Jesus Christ.
This is “not,” anything we could
ever do, but that only God's Son could do for us!
Romans 5:18,19 NLT
18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings
condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness
brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.
19 Because one person disobeyed God,
many became sinners. But because One other person obeyed God, many
will be made righteous.
Now, being
justified, we are to live a life of righteousness.
Homily:
Wouldn't it be
foolish for a doctor to remove a tumor, caused by the bad habit of
smoking, only to tell his patient, OK, now you can resume your
smoking.
How foolish that
would be, for that is what almost killed him.
Our precious Savior
has saved us from sin and death, and now calls us to live a holy
life.
Romans 8:2 KJV
For the law of the Spirit of life in
Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Leviticus 20:7
KJV
Sanctify yourselves therefore, and
be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.
I Peter 1:15 KJV
But as He which hath called you is
holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
I Peter 1:16 KJV
Because it is written, Be ye holy;
for I am holy.
Well, how may one
keep pure before his Savior?
Ephesians
5:26,27 KJV
26 That He
(Christ) might sanctify and cleanse it (His
Church) with the washing of water by the word,
27 That He might present it to
Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such
thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Psalm 119:9 KJV
Wherewithal shall a young man
cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
Psalm 119:11 KJV
Thy word have I hid in mine
heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Psalm 119:105
KJV
Thy word is a lamp unto my
feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:130
KJV
The entrance of thy words giveth
light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
Psalm 119:133
KJV
Order my steps in thy word:
and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
Psalm 119:160
KJV
Thy word is true from the
beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for
ever.
Psalm 119:172
KJV
My tongue shall speak of thy
word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.
John 17:17 KJV
Sanctify them through thy Truth:
thy Word is Truth.
We are
kept clean, by “the washing of water by the word,”
When we read the
holy Word of God, and apply it to our lives, we are kept
clean.
Matthew 7:21 KJV
Not every one that saith unto Me,
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will of
My Father which is in heaven.
Our Lord prayed for
His church saying...)
John 17:14-17
NLT
14 I have given
them your word. And the world hates them because they do not
belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.
15 I’m not asking
you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the
evil one.
16 They do not
belong to this world any more than I do.
17 Make them holy
by your Truth; teach them your word, which is Truth.
If there is one thing our enemy hates, it is the Word of God. Three
times the enemy, tried to tempt the Savior, and three times He quoted
the Word of God, to refute him (Matthew 4:1-11).
Keep reading the wonderful word of God!
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Faith-Found On The Earth?
Bible Questions Answered:
“Just how are we to understand Christ's words “nevertheless, when the Son of man commeth, shall he find faith on the earth?”
“Just how are we to understand Christ's words “nevertheless, when the Son of man commeth, shall he find faith on the earth?”
Ashley/ Manilia, Philippines
Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
Luke 18:1-8 NLT
1 One day Jesus told His disciples a
story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
2 “There was a judge in a certain
city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people.
3 A widow of that city came to him
repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my
enemy.’
4 The judge ignored her for a while,
but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about
people,
5 but this woman is driving me
crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is
wearing me out with her constant requests!’”
6 Then the Lord said, “Learn a
lesson from this unjust judge.
7 Even he rendered a just decision
in the end.
So don’t you think God will surely
give justice to His chosen people who cry out to Him day and night?
Will He keep putting them off?
8 I tell you, He will grant
justice to them quickly! But when The Son Of Man returns, how many
will He find on the earth who have faith?”
Luke 18:1-8 KJV
1 And He spake
a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and
not to faint;
2 Saying, There
was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3 And there was
a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of
mine adversary.
4 And he would
not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear
not God, nor regard man;
5 Yet because
this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual
coming she weary me.
6 And the Lord
said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7 And shall not
God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He
bear long with them?
8 I tell you that He will avenge
them speedily. Nevertheless when The Son Of Man cometh, shall He find
faith on the earth?
For
full comment on this parable, see the blog posting.... Parables-Our
Lord's: The Unjust Judge
View
a listing of subjects:
Trials
And Temptations End
Times Signs Falling
Away-The Great (See View A
List Of Subjects....5 listings under “Last Days.”)
Suffering-Christian
Bible Lessons: Calamity,
Catastrophe And Disaster
But to say a word about
Luke 18:7,8 NLT
7...So don’t you think God will
surely give justice to His chosen people who cry out to Him day and
night? Will He keep putting them off?
8 I tell you, He will grant
justice to them quickly! But when The Son Of Man returns, how many
will He find on the earth who have faith?”
Our Lord's words here, in now way, state or imply that God's child,
will not under go trials, and tribulations!
Isaiah 43:1-3
KJV (Promises for Israel, and
God's children today.)
1 But now thus
saith the Lord that created thee..., and He that formed thee..., Fear
not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou
art Mine.
2 When thou
passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and
through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou
walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither
shall the flame kindle upon thee.
3 For I am the
Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior..."
Matthew 5:45 KJV
That ye may be
the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun
to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and
on the unjust.
Hardships happen to one and all.
Does God hear prayer, and will He answer? Yes!
Prayer
Answered See “View A List Of Subjects”
(9 different categories of “prayer answered.”)
Yes, our God answers prayer for His people, but, do not necessarily
deduce that He will answer always in the affirmative, for His answer
may be no, or to wait for the answer later.
And any and all of these answers are to the betterment of the
spiritual success of His child.
“But pastor in
verse 8, doesn't it say God will answer them “speedily?”
Luke
18:7,8 KJV
7
And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto
Him, though He bear long with them?
8
I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless
when The Son Of Man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?
Yes, it certainly
does, but let us fully understand, the context in which it does.
May there indeed be
a waiting involved in answer to prayer? Yes, one would only need to
read the story of Godly Daniel to see that, or that of the Apostle
Paul (Daniel 10:13/II Corinthians 12:7-10).
And notice if you
will, in this verse our Lord's open honesty on answered prayer.
Verse 7 “
His own elect, which cry day and night unto
Him,” (Certainly, a period of time, though not specified.)
Verse 7 “
though He bear* long* with them?”
*Bear, Greek:
Makrothumeo (Mak-roth-oo-meh-o): To be long-spirited, forbearing
or patient: bear (suffer) long, be long suffering, have (long)
patience, be patient, patiently endure.
*Long, Greek:
(Same as Makrothumeo.)
So, in proper
exegetical interpretation, it is not, "the answer” (in prayer),
that is instant (speedily-quickly), for we have just seen that that
may not be the case at all!
What God does
“speedily-quickly,” is that when the time comes
(determined by Him, and Him alone.), for His action, it will be more
than swift!
We must “not,”
confuse the two!
A poem by Friedrich
von Logau written in 1694, stated...."God's mill grinds slow
but sure."
Yes, it may seem at
times that God's answers are “slow.”
But let us never,
ever mistake that with blatant stoicism!
For our living God,
sees, knows and yes, feels our pain!
Hebrews
4:14-16 NLT
14
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven,
Jesus the Son Of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.
15
This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses (infirmities),
for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin.
16
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we
will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we
need it most.
God's delays are,
God's business.
Being that as it
may, be pleased to understand this.
Philippians
2:12 KJV
Wherefore,
my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but
now much more in my absence, work
out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
The misunderstood
answer, regarding prayer.
Oh, how many are mad
a God, when they should be down on their knees in unending praise.
God in His infinite
wisdom, something which may not be measured or ever fully understood
by man, is doing something (Psalm 145:17/Isaiah 55:8,9/ Romans
11:33,34)! He is helping and guiding (through His precious Spirit),
to mold us according to our yieldedness, into His glorious image.
II
Corinthians 3:18 KJV
But
we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord,
are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by The
Spirit Of The Lord.
No, it is “not,”
always best for us to have our prayers answered instantly!
For this, God, is
often maligned by His own people, a people, who have been called to
live in and by their faith.
Romans
1:17 KJV
For
therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as
it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Hebrews
10:36 KJV
For
ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God,
ye might receive the promise.
This dear saints,
should not, be so.
II
Peter 3:9 KJV
The
Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count
slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
God hears the
prayers of His people, and will answer, in this rest assured.
And if we be yielded
and faithful...
I
Corinthians 15:49 KJV
And as we have borne
the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the
heavenly.
But knowing all of
this, will our returning Savior, “find faith on the earth?”
The question, brings
with it, the hint of pessimism.
In an age of
instant, this and instant that, we as God's people, had better be
more careful and redeem the precious time that we have.
Ephesians
5:15,16 AMP
15
Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and
accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible,
intelligent people),
16
Making the very most of (Redeem) the time [buying up each
opportunity], because the days are evil.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Jesus-His Name -2
Bible Questions Answered:
“...why was Mary's baby called
Jesus?”
Debbie/ Charlotte, North Carolina
U.S.A.
Bible Answer:
Bible Texts:
Jesus:
Matthew 1:21,22 KJV
20 But while he thought on these
things, behold, the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream,
saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary
thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a Son,
and thou shalt call His name Jesus*: for He shall save His
people from their sins.
Luke 1:30,31 KJV
30 And the angel (Gabriel) said unto
her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive
in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name Jesus*.
*Jesus, Greek: Iesous
(Ee-ay;-sooce): Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord..
Christ/ Lord:
Matthew 1:16 KJV
And Jacob begat Joseph the husband
of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ*.
Luke 2:11 KJV
For unto you is born this day in the
city of David a Savior, which is Christ* the Lord*.
*Christ, Greek: Christos
(Khris-tos): The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus: Christ.
*Lord, Greek: Kurios (Koo-ree-os):
Supreme in authority, i.e. controller; (as a respectful title): God,
Lord, Master.
The Anointed:
Luke 4:18,19 KJV
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon
Me, because He hath anointed* Me to preach the gospel to the
poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach
deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to
set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of
the Lord.
*Anointed;Greek, Chrio (Khree-o): To
smear or rub with oil, i.e. to consecrate to an office or religious
service: Anoint.
Jesus is our King, Prophet,
and Priest, The Anointed One.
The “seed of the woman:”
Genesis 3:15 KJV
And I will put enmity between thee
and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall
bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.
Abraham's Seed:
Genesis 22:18 KJV (The Angel of
the Lord, promise to Abraham.)
And in thy seed shall all the
nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Great Prophet:
Luke 7:16 KJV
And there came a fear on all: and
they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up
among us; and, That God hath visited his people.
Priest:
Psalm 110:4 KJV
The LORD hath sworn, and will not
repent, Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of
Melchizedek.
The Branch:
Isaiah 11:1,2,10
1 And there
shall come forth a rod (a
twig) out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch
shall grow out of his roots:
2 And the
spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him,
10 And in that
day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an
ensign (A banner-standard)
of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and His rest shall
be glorious.
Jeremiah 33:15
KJV
In those days,
and at that time, will I cause The Branch Of Righteousness to
grow up unto David; and He shall execute judgment and righteousness
in the land.
Immanuel:
Isaiah 7:14 KJV
Therefore the
Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive,
and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel*.
*Immanuel,
Hebrew: Immanuwel (Im-maw-noo-ale): God is with us.
Emmanuel:
Matthew 1:23 KJV
Behold, a
virgin shall be with Child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they
shall call His name Emmanuel*, which being interpreted is, God
with us.
*Emmanuel,
Greek: Emmanuel (em-man-oo-ale): God with us. Name of
Christ: Emmanuel.
The Messenger:
Malachi 3:1 KJV
Behold, I will
send My Messenger, and He shall prepare the way before Me: and
the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even The
Messenger (Angel) Of
The Covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith
The LORD Of Hosts.
Lord Of The
Temple:
Psalm 11:4 KJV
The LORD is in
His holy temple..."
Isaiah 9:6 KJV
For unto us a
Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be
upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful,
Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father,
The Prince Of Peace.
I Timothy 3:16
KJV
And without
controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in
the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto
the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Swaddling
Bible Questions Answered:
“What is swaddled?”
Corrie/ Auckland, New Zealand
Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
Luke 2:6,7,10-12 KJV
6 And so it was, that, while they
were there (Bethlehem), the days were accomplished that she should be
delivered.
7 And she brought forth her
Firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling* clothes, and laid
Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
10 And the angel said unto them,
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which
shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in
the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto
you; Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,
lying in a manger.
*Swaddling –
Greek: Sparganoo (Spar-gan-o-o): A strip; to strap or wrap with
strips; to swathe (an infant) : wrap in swaddling clothes.
It was not a new
custom:
Ezekiel 16:4 KJV
(A metaphor, concerning Jerusalem.)
“...thou wast
not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.”
What did it mean for a baby to be swaddled?
Swaddling consisted of rubbing a baby with salt, this was thought to
make the child strong.
And the baby was bound, arms and legs with tightly wound cloth, this
was thought to make the child grow straight. A child was
swaddled not less than 40 days, and yes, this was true of the Lord
Jesus.
And in case you were wondering, yes, swaddling is still practiced in
many countries yet today!
Child of God, have you asked the heavenly Father, to swaddle, and
equipped you, to be straight and strong in the Lord?
Ephesians
6:10-18 KJV (Divine Protection)
10 Finally, my
brethren, be
strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the
whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of
the devil.
12 For we
wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore
take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand
therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having
on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your
feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all,
taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to
quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the
helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the
word of God:
18 Praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and
watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all
saints;
Seven guides, to keep you straight and strong in the Lord. Make them
apart of your life!
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