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Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Temperance


Bible Questions Answered:
“Pastor, I'm wondering just what your definition of temperance is. Thank you.”
Alex/ Long Beach, California U.S. A.

Bible Answer:

Temperate:
Moderate in indulging the appetites; not self-indulgent; abstemious, esp. in the use of alcoholic liquors. Moderate in one's actions, speech, etc..: self-restrained. Moderate or restrained .
(New World Dictionary)

Bible Texts:

I Corinthians 9:25 KJV
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate* in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

*Temperate-Greek: Egkrateuomai (Eng-krat-yoo'-om-ahee): To exercise self-restraint (in diet and chastity): be temperate.

(All Greek & Hebrew definitions: Abbingdon's Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible.)

Acts 24:24,25 KJV
24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance*, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

*Temperance-Greek: Egkrateia (Eng-krat-i-ah): Self-control.

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.

*Temperance-Egkrateia: Self-Control.

Titus 1:8 KJV
But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate*;

*Egkrates (Eng-krat-ace): Strong in a thing (masterful), i.e. self-controled (in appetite, etc.): temperate.

Titus 2:2 KJV
That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate*, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

*Temperate-Greek: Sophron (So-frone): Safe (sound) in mind, i.e. self-controlled (moderate as to opinion or passion): discreet, sober, temperate.

II Peter 1:5-8 KJV
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.

*Temperance-Greek: Egkrateia: Self-Control.

Temperate:
Moderate in indulging the appetites; not self-indulgent; abstemious (moderate), esp. in the use of alcoholic liquors. Moderate in one's actions, speech, etc..: self-restrained. Moderate or restrained .
(New World Dictionary)

The Temperance movement started in 1826, and grew in size and purpose. Basically it was the prohibition of alcohol and went on from the early 18th century to the early 19th century.

But Biblical prohibition, entails, much more that just alcohol.

Self-control, self restraint, pertains to every avenue of existence, be it what we drink, what we eat, what we say, what we do, etc. etc. etc. In all areas of life, self-control, i.e. temperance is needed.

Today our world is a hedonistic, immoderate, and immorally excessive in the things it does.

Hedonism: Pursuit of or devotion to pleasure, especially to the pleasures of the senses.

God's Word, warns...

James 4:4 KJV
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity* with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

*Enmity-Greek: Echthra (Ekh-thrath): Hostility, opposition: enmity, hatred.

Our Lord warns....

Luke 21:34-36 NLT
34 “Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware,
35 like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth.
36 Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors (see previous verses 5-33) and stand before The Son Of Man.”

I Peter 1:7 KJV
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

II Peter 3:13,14 KJV
13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

James 1:5 KJV
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

If true of wisdom, certainly true as well for self-control!
"ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before The Son Of Man.”

Seven Elements Of Christian Armor:

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 (the belt) 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;

The Word Of God:

Psalm 141:4 KJV
Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.

Proverbs 16:32 KJV
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Proverbs 20:1 KJV
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Proverbs 23:20,31,32 NLT
20 Do not carouse with drunkards or feast with gluttons,
31 Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down.
32 For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake; it stings like a viper.

Daniel 1:8 NLT
But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods.

Luke 1:15 KJV (John The Baptist)
For he shall be great in the sight of The Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with The Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

Romans 6:12 KJV
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

I Corinthians 3:16 KJV
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that The Spirit Of God dwelleth in you?

I Corinthians 6:18-20 KJV
18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of The Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

I Corinthians 9:24-27 NLT
24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!
25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.
26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.
27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

I Corinthians 10:31 KJV
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Galatians 2:20 KJV
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of The Son Of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 5:19-21 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.

Ephesians 5:18 KJV
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with The Spirit;

James 1:26 KJV
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

I Peter 4:3-5 NLT
3 You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.
4 Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you.
5 But remember that they will have to face God, who will Judge everyone, both the living and the dead.

II Peter 2:12-15 KJV
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..."

I John 3:24 KJV
And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him...





Sunday, April 28, 2013

Impartiality Of God


Bible Questions Answered:
“Pastor words in Ecclesiastes 9:11, “time and chains” what is this saying?”
Roshan/ Bangalore, India (Karnataka)

Bible Answer:
Bible Text:

Ecclesiastes 9:11,12 KJV
11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.

Ecclesiastes 9:11,12 GNT
11 I realized another thing, that in this world fast runners do not always win the races, and the brave do not always win the battles. The wise do not always earn a living, intelligent people do not always get rich, and capable people do not always rise to high positions. Bad luck happens to everyone.
12 You never know when your time is coming. Like birds suddenly caught in a trap, like fish caught in a net, we are trapped at some evil moment when we least expect it.

Ecclesiastes 9:11 MSG
11 I took another walk around the neighborhood and realized that on this earth as it is—
The race is not always to the swift,
Nor the battle to the strong,
Nor satisfaction to the wise,
Nor riches to the smart,
Nor grace to the learned.
Sooner or later bad luck hits us all.
12 No one can predict misfortune.
Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds in a trap,
So men and women are caught
By accidents evil and sudden.

Is this true?
Yes, this is true, Jesus said so!

Matthew 5:45 KJV
"...for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Matthew 5:45 NLT (Jesus)
"...your Father in heaven...He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.

John 16:33 KJV (Jesus)
These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Acts 14:21,22 NLT (Paul and Silas)
21 After preaching The Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia,
22 where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.

Ecclesiastes 7:14 NLT (Solomon also said...)
Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life.

Luke 13:1-5 NLT
1 About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple.
2 “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?” Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered?
3 Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God.
4 And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem?
5 No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”

Acts 10:34 NLT
Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism.

Romans 2:11 NLT
For God does not show favoritism.

Good times and hard times come to one and all, Jesus said so.
But the GOOD NEWS is that when one of God's children go through trials, they do “not,” go through them alone, for our God, is with us, to deliver us!

Wonderful Promises For The Child Of God!

Genesis 28:15 KJV
And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest..."

Exodus 33:14 KJV
And He said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

Deuteronomy 20:1 KJV
When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for The Lord thy God is with thee..."

Joshua 1:5 KJV
There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Psalm 30:5 KJV
For His anger endureth but a moment; in His favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Psalm 34:19 KJV
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but The Lord delivereth him out of them all.

Psalm 37:28 KJV
For The Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not His saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

Isaiah 43:1-3 KJV
1 But now thus saith The Lord that created thee...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..."

Isaiah 54:10 KJV
For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, saith The Lord that hath mercy on thee.

Matthew 28:19,20 KJV
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

John 13:1 KJV
Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end.

John 14:18 KJV
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Romans 8:28 KJV
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

II Corinthians 4:17 KJV
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

II Corinthians 12:9 KJV
And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

II Timothy 4:18 KJV
And The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13:5,6 KJV
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my Helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

I Peter 4:12,13,19 NLT
12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.
13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in His suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing His glory when it is revealed to all the world.
19 So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for He will never fail you.

Revelation 21:4 KJV
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.




Friday, April 26, 2013

Saltiness


Bible Questions Answered:
“What did the Lord mean by saying if you loose salty savor...”
Shelby/ Liverpool, England United Kingdom

Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
Matthew 5:13-16 NLT
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.
15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.
16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your Heavenly Father.

Our loving Creator, knew that many things on earth were needed to sustain life, and that salt, was one of those things!

This crystalline mineral of sodium chloride is absolutely essential for life.
And salt is an important method of food preservation, especially for meat. Used in canning and refrigeration.

Where and how is salt found?
Salt may be found in salt-laden spring water, where the water is boiled down until powdered salt remains.
Rock salt deposits, are mined.
Sea salt is obtained by evaporating sea water (warmed by sunlight) in shallow salt pans.

Can salt loose it's saltiness?
Yes! Many around the world have learned the lesson of salt storage. Salt in bags for instance, may not, be stored on the ground!

When this is done, moisture enters the salt, and it becomes worthless granules. When this happens and it has, one may not throw it out into his fields, because if he does, nothing will grow there! The only place to throw it is out into the street, because it is worthless!

Our Savior was warning His followers, if we loose our devotion to Him, we are of no value to ourselves or to a lost world!

Again our Lord, used another story this time of light. When someone lights a lamp, he doesn't light it to hide it under a basket, what sense would that make? He lights a lamp to light up his whole house.

Christians, you were not “saved,” to become a closet believer!
You were saved by the precious death of our faithful Lord, who life was spent in witnessing to the lost.

Mark 16:15,16 KJV
15 And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Mark 8:34-38 KJV
34 And when He had called the people unto Him with His disciples also, He said unto them, Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall The Son Of Man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.

Mark 5:16 KJV
In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your Heavenly Father.

How's your saltiness?


Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Double-Mindedness


Bible Questions Answered:
“...then what is double-mindedness?”
Kelly/ Portland, Maine U.S.A.

Bible Answer:

Bible Text:
James 1:5-8 KJV
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of The Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

What is being double minded? He lives a life that is unstable, and unreliable, as the waves of the sea, up and down.
Having faith one minute, and then doubt the next; and living for God one moment, and then reverting back to the world the next. In the warfare of the flesh and the Spirit, this person, surrenders to the flesh, and the world.

Spirit battling the flesh.
A double-minded person never has a complete decision, to take up his cross and follow Christ at all costs, and so he never has a victory.

Galatians 5:16-25 KJV
16 This I say then, Walk in The Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against The Spirit, and The Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of The Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
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.

Galatians 6:7,8 KJV
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

What is the answer?

Romans 13:14 KJV
But put ye on The Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.

II Corinthians 6:14-18 KJV
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of The Living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith The Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith The Lord Almighty.

II Corinthians 7:1 NLT
Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

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


God's people are called to “walk not after the flesh, but after The Spirit.”

Romans 8:1-13 KJV
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after The Spirit.
2 For the law of The Spirit Of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after The Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after The Spirit the things of The Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in The Spirit, if so be that The Spirit Of God dwell in you.
Now if any man have not The Spirit Of Christ, he is none of His.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but The Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if The Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through The Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Galatians 2:20 KJV
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of The Son Of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.

Ephesians 2:1-9 KJV
1 And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
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.

James 4:7,8 KJV
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.


Sunday, April 21, 2013

Bible Lesson: Miracles Of The Old Testament: Meal And Oil Multiplied For The Widow Of Zarephath.


Bible Lesson: Miracles Of The Old Testament: Meal And Oil Multiplied For The Widow Of Zarephath.

Occasion: Miracle Of Provision For The Prophet, The Widow And Her Son.

Location: Zarephath.

Bible Text: I Kings 17:8-16 NLT

I Kings 16:32,33 NLT (King Ahab, guided Jezebel, his idolatrous wife.)
32 First Ahab built a temple and an altar for Baal in Samaria.
33 Then he set up an Asherah pole. He did more to provoke the anger of The Lord, the God of Israel, than any of the other kings of Israel before him.

I Kings 17:1-6 NLT (Ravens obedient servants of The Living God, Israel's 7th King, disobedient.)
1 Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as The Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!”
2 Then The Lord said to Elijah,
3 “Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River.
4 Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.”
5 So Elijah did as The Lord told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan.
6 The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook.
7 But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land.

Deuteronomy 11:16,17 KJV (Moses had warned the people of God.)
16 Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;
17 And then The Lord's wrath be kindled against you, and He shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which The Lord giveth you.

Main Text:
I Kings 17:8-16 NLT (The Widow of Zarephath, meets Elijah.)
8 Then The Lord said to Elijah,
9 “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.”
10 So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?”
11 As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.”
12 But she said, “I swear by The Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.”
13 But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son.
14 For this is what The Lord, The God Of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when The Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!”
15 So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days.
16 There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as The Lord had promised through Elijah.

After 3 ½ years of drought, Kerith Brook, itself had dried up.

I Kings 17:8-11 KJV
8 Then The Lord said to Elijah,
9 “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.”
10 So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?”
11 As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.”

God's prophet was both hungry and thirsty. Elijah had no doubt surmised, that a woman looking for sticks to make a meal, with a son, with no husband to care for her, must be the widow of Zarepath, that God had told Elijah of.

Take heart, God knows who and where His people are, and we are “not,” alone!

I Kings 19:14,18 KJV
Elijah's lament:
14 And he said, I have been very jealous for The Lord God Of Hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

The Lord's reply:
18 Yet I have left Me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

I Kings 17:12 NLT
But she said, “I swear by The Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.”

The widow of Zarephath, was a follower of The Living God, for she swore and oath in His name.
And she spoke the truth, for she fully expected her and her son to starve to death after a last meal.

I Kings 17:13,14 NLT
13 But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son.
14 For this is what The Lord, The God Of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when The Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!”

Certainly the threshold of miracles, must be faith!

Matthew 8:26 KJV
And He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

Matthew 9:29 KJV
"...According to your faith be it unto you.

Matthew 17:20 KJV
And Jesus said unto them...verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Mark 9:23 KJV
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Mark 11:22 KJV
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

Luke 17:5 KJV
And the apostles said unto The Lord, Increase our faith.

Romans 10:17 KJV
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by The Word Of God.

Jesus referred to this Old Testament story:
Luke 4:24-26 NLT
24 But I tell you The Truth, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown.
25 “Certainly there were many needy widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the heavens were closed for three and a half years, and a severe famine devastated the land.
26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them. He was sent instead to a foreigner—a widow of Zarephath in the land of Sidon.


Don't be afraid, have faith!
Elijah had a message for the widow, obey the voice of The Lord, and He will bless you beyond measure!

For this is what The Lord, The God Of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when The Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!”

I Kings 17:15,16 NLT
15 So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days.
16 There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as The Lord had promised through Elijah.

Through the faith and obedience of the widow of Zarephath, not only her and her son, but all her family had miraculous food to spare!

I Samuel 15:22 KJV
And Samuel said, Hath The Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of The Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

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.

John 14:21 KJV
He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.

Our Lord once asked Abraham...

Genesis 18:14 KJV
Is any thing too hard for The Lord?

And of course the answer was, and is, no!
If we have faith, and are obedient to The Word Of God, we too will see miracles happen!
Have faith in God!

Psalm 37:3-5 KJV
3 Trust in The Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in The Lord: and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto The Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.

Psalm 118:8,9 KJV
8 It is better to trust in The Lord than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in The Lord than to put confidence in princes.

Proverbs 3:5,6 KJV
5 Trust in The Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

Isaiah 26:4 KJV
Trust ye in The Lord for ever: for in The Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:






Saturday, April 20, 2013

Merchandising The House Of God


Bible Questions Answered:
“Is it possible for a church to be a place of merchandise today?”
Nathan, Chesapeake, Virginia U.S.A.

Bible Answer:

Bible Text:
Matthew 21:11-13 KJV
11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus The Prophet Of Nazareth Of Galilee.
12 And Jesus went into The Temple Of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called The House Of Prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Mark 11:15-18 KJV
15 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
16 And would not suffer (permit) that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
17 And He taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My House shall be called of all nations The House Of Prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy Him: for they feared Him, because all the people was astonished at His doctrine.

Luke 19:45,46 KJV
45 And He went into The Temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought;
46 Saying unto them, It is written, My House is the House Of Prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.

John 2:13-16 KJV
13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
14 And found in The Temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
15 And when He had made a scourge of small cords, He drove them all out of The Temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not My Father's House an house of merchandise.

In our Lord's last few days, He traveled from Bethany, the home of His friends, to Jerusalem.
And to the temple He went, but what He saw deeply upset Him.

Levitical purity standards for animals would change from time to time.
When a family arrived at the temple, they oft found the quality of their animal offerings, unacceptable, by Levitical standards. This meant they must buy the proper animals at the temple gates and courts, bullocks, sheep, goats, and doves, which the priests just happened to have on hand.

Thus temple commerce commenced. Money changing banks for such commerce were formed, not far from the holy place.

All was merchandising in The House Of God.

“Add to this the fact that the priests were often deriving benefit from this arrangement by drawing down a nice percentage for the concession.” Martin Luther.

In politics when we smell a rat, we have a saying, “just follow the money!”
How true it is!

How many religious television programs would be on the air, if it were not for the selling and collection and begging for money?
How many religious leaders, pleading, pitching this new book, this new cd, etc. etc. would be around, if all the sales pitches stopped, and they trusted God for their finances?

Many of them, multi millionaires, religious leaders, religious organization heads raking in the money.
Is the church of Jesus Christ Merchandized today? Absolutely!!!

“Oh, pastor, get over it, what you don't understand is that they've worked for it!”
What this person doesn't understand is that they have disobeyed our Lord's Command, that of “Self-Denial.”

Matthew 10:38 KJV
And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me.

Matthew 16:24 KJV
Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Mark 8:34 KJV
And when He had called the people unto Him with His disciples also, He said unto them, Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

We live in an age where men will not deny themselves anything, after all they deserve it!
Where, oh where are the open-transparent leaders, blessed of the Lord?

Jeremiah 7:11 KJV
Is this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith The Lord.

This has been so many times on this blog, yet let it be said again!
If you can't know you pastor's salary. If you can't know the salary of your district leader. If you can't know the salary of your Superintendent of your religious organization. Then it's time to move along!

I Timothy 6:10 KJV
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Here is a word you don't hear everyday!

Sacrilege: Violation or misuse of what is regarded as sacred.
The misuse or desecration of anything regarded as sacred or as worthy of extreme respect
The violation or profanation of anything sacred or held sacred.

These Priests and money changers were guilty of sacrilege. Jesus told them, “My House is the House Of Prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

If someone is “really,” a servant of The Lord, then hoarding of money is the last thing on their mind. Not only that, they are “open-and honest-transparent” about their finances!
“Follow the money.”

Looking for a pastor, or a new church? Check and see how open and honest they are with their finances!

Matthew 10:8 KJV
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Who ever said that? Jesus, that's who!

Merchandising:
The promotion of merchandise sales, by coordinating production and marketing and developing advertising, display, and sales strategies.
Goods bought and sold in business; commercial wares.

Our Lord told us that His House was to be called a “House of prayer.”

OK, in absolute honesty, what percentage of time did you spend in prayer, last time you went to your Christian worship service?

Friends, something must be wrong, some place!
Read the word, study the word, of course, but what place does prayer have? Barely a passing mention?

Used to be, in the churches of America, and I am sure, in other countries as well, when its adherents, knelt and prayed! Spending much time in prayer for their family, their church, their leaders, their own souls.

Well, that is the way it used to be, so now what's the result?
A book shelf full of “Rev's so and so's” cd's, new books, and tapes, etc. etc. etc..

Our homes are broken, our country doesn't know how to pray, Christian people, refuse even to pray over their food in public, and some at home, or have prayer times at home with their family.
The results, our children are rebellious, 50% of our marriages are ending in divorce, millions are on anti-depressants, and we wonder, “just what is going on?”

Time to throw the money gathering out of the Church of The Lord Jesus Christ!
Time for full accountability, as far a finances in the church.
Time to get back to prayer!

II Chronicles 7:14-16 KJV
14 If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
15 Now Mine eyes shall be open, and Mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this House, that My name may be there for ever: and Mine eyes and Mine heart shall be there perpetually.

Isaiah 56:7 KJV
Even them will I bring to My Holy Mountain, and make them joyful in My House Of Prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon Mine altar; for Mine House shall be called an House Of Prayer for all people.



Thursday, April 18, 2013

Deception




Bible Questions:
“What do you do when you feel like you've been used. My friends and I were into occult things, and I and another or two have seen many lives destroyed by what some call the dark side.........?”
Melissa/ Belfast, Northern Ireland (United Kingdom)

Bible Answer:
That is the nature of the evil one, to destroy.
He hates mankind! Why? Because every time he looks at man, he sees God, and he hates God!

Genesis 1:27 KJV
So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.

Satan, Lucifer, the Devil, etc. is a liar!
John 8:42-45 KJV
42 Jesus said unto them (the scribes and Pharisees verse 3), If God were your Father, ye would love Me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of Myself, but He sent Me.
43 Why do ye not understand My speech? even because ye cannot hear My word.
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in The Truth, because there is no Truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
45 And because I tell you The Truth, ye believe me not.

Psalm 17:4 KJV
"...by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer."

Stop here and read other blog postings concerning Satan:

Satan will lie and say “you need to channel for my guides to help you, and teach you great things!”
A lie, Satan's guides are his demons from hell.
No one, has seen their channeling guide, for if they could, they would run for their lives.

Channeling, is noting new, but something old!

Leviticus 19:31 KJV
Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards (mediums NLT), to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 20:6 KJV
And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set My face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 KJV
10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.
11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations The Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

I Peter 5:8 KJV
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Bondage:
Matthew 12:43-45 KJV
43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

Mark 5:8,9 KJV
8 For He (Jesus) said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
9 And He asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
(Roman soldiers-a legion was 6,000 soldiers.)

Mark 16:9 KJV
Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils.

The enemy will tell you that a spirit guide will guide you through a ouija board.
But here are the spirits you will really be communicating with!

Ephesians 6:10-13 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..."

Revelation 16:13,14 KJV
13 And I saw three unclean spirits...
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles...

Oh What A Great Deceiver!

II Corinthians 11:13-15 KJV
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Victory for the people of God:

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

James 4:7,8 KJV
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you..."

1 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
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.

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

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

Revelation 12:11,12 KJV
11 And they overcame him by The Blood Of The Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

Revelation 20:1-3,10 KJV
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

I Corinthians 10:12 KJV
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

I Corinthians 16:13 NLT
Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong...

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 armour 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 armour 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;



Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Born Of Water And Of The Spirit


Bible Questions Answered:
“Pastor we are wondering if you would explain about “except a man be born of water and of the spirit” the meaning here.”
Mandisa/ Johannesburg, South Africa

Bible Answer:
(Confession and spiritual birth.)

Bible Text:
Acts 16:16-34 NLT (Paul and Silas imprisoned.)
16 One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters.
17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of The Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.”
18 This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And instantly it left her.
19 Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace.
20 “The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!” they shouted to the city officials.
21 “They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.”
22 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods.
23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape.
24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.
25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.
26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!
27 The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself.
28 But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!”
29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.
30 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in The Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”
32 And they shared the word of The Lord with him and with all who lived in his household.
33 Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized.
34 He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.

Notice the order here! How does one become saved?
Paul and Silas told the Philippian jailer, …
31 Believe in The Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”
(Notice Paul didn't say baptism!)

How does one come by faith to believe?
Romans 10:17 KJV
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

So, what did Paul and Silas do?
32 And they shared the word of The Lord with him and with all who lived in his household.

And they believed, and as a result of their belief....they were baptized.
Baptism, is a Public Confession, that you believe in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ God's Son, the Savior.

Another example:

Acts 8:26-40 NLT (Philip in Ethiopia.)
26 As for Philip, an Angel Of The Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.”
27 So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake (Candace KJV), the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship,
28 and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
29 The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.”
30 Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
31 The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.
32 The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this: “He was led like a Sheep to the slaughter. And as a Lamb is silent before the shearers, He did not open His mouth.
33 He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of His descendants? For His life was taken from the earth.”
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?”
35 So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus.
36 As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?”
38 He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
39 When they came up out of the water, The Spirit Of The Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing.
40 Meanwhile, Philip found himself farther north at the town of Azotus. He preached the Good News there and in every town along the way until he came to Caesarea.

The Ethiopian eunuch, read the scriptures of Isaiah, but did not understand them. Philip lead by
The Spirit Of God, explained them to him. Scriptures that prophetically spoke of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Once again, understanding had to come before faith could be found. Once the Ethiopian, had faith, he, himself remarked “and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?”
And the answer was, no reason, and so Philip baptized a believing Christian that day.

First Order: Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, through the Word of God.
Second: Public Confession that you do so believe, and we call that Baptism.

No where in the Word of God, are we ever told the opposite to these truths!

Homily:
How absolute silly it would look to see coming down the street, a horse pushing a cart in front of him.
Yet this is exactly what some people would like to do!

Saying that baptism saves, and they do, because by saying so, they would not have to go to the precious Lord Jesus in repentance (for their sins), and faith!

No, the horse comes first and then the cart!

“Pastor what about I Peter 3:21?”
Yes, indeed!

I Peter 3:20-22 (Young's Literal Translation- YLT)
20 ...once the long-suffering of God did wait, in days of Noah -- an ark being preparing -- in which few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water;
21 also to which an antitype doth now save us -- baptism, (not a putting away of the filth of flesh, but the question of a good conscience in regard to God,) through the rising again of Jesus Christ,
22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone on to heaven -- messengers, and authorities, and powers, having been subjected to him.

Antitype: A person or thing that represents the opposite of someone or something else.

The same water that “slayed” all of wicked humanity in Noah's day, also “saved,” Noah and his family!
Noah's being “saved,” by water, was a demonstration of his, and his' families faith in God!

Genesis 6:8,9 KJV
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of The Lord.
9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

Genesis 7:1 KJV
And The Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before Me in this generation.

Noah a righteous man, listened and obeyed, before the flood!

Hebrews 11:7 NLT
It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.

The waters of baptism today, that separate Christian believers from a sinful lost world, are a open demonstration as in Noah's day of our faith and obedience to The Living God.

Was it the waters, by themselves that saved Noah? God saved obedient and faithful, Noah and his family.
Is it Baptism that saves people today? It is God who saves obedient men and women of faith.
Baptism is the (Spiritual Ship) demonstrating that we as Christian people, obey and, have faith in the loving Savior of the world!

Oh the inventions of men, so that they will “not,” have to bow their knees in repentance and faith in The Living God!

Putting the cart in front of the horse, making baptism the saving element, and thus negating repentance, obedience and, faith in The Living God.

Isaiah 45:22-25 KJV
22 Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
23 I have sworn by Myself, the word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
24 Surely, shall one say, in The Lord have I righteousness and strength: even to Him shall men come; and all that are incensed against Him shall be ashamed.
25 In The Lord shall all... be justified, and shall glory.

Psalm 62:1,2 KJV
1 Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from Him cometh my salvation.
2 He only is my Rock and my salvation..."

John 1:12,13 KJV
12 But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man,
but of God.

Romans 5:1 KJV
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
St. Paul, you mean it is not by:
Baptism
Church membership
Dedication
Confirmation
Consecration
etc. etc. etc.?
Romans 5:1 KJV
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

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 (religious works included), lest any man should boast.

Titus 3:4,5 KJV
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of The Holy Ghost;

Much more could be said.

Born Of The Spirit:

Ezekiel 11:19-20 NLT
19 And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new Spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart,
20 so they will obey My decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be My people, and I will be their God.

John 3:6-8 KJV
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of The Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of The Spirit.

Romans 8:5-9 KJV
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after The Spirit the things of The Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in The Spirit, if so be that The Spirit Of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not The Spirit Of Christ, he is none of His.

II Corinthians 5:17 KJV
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Galatians 5:16-25 NLT
16 So I say, let The Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what The Spirit wants. And The Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires (flesh and the Spirit). These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
18 But when you are directed by The Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
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.
25 Since we are living by The Spirit, let us follow The Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

Ephesians 4:21-24 NLT
21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned The Truth that comes from Him,
22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.
23 Instead, let The Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.
24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Be sure to read the blog posting: Bible Lesson:   Baptism Formula