- Salvation Prayer
Friday, November 29, 2013
Salt
Bible Questions Answered:
“...how are we to have salt, eat it,
what is it saying here ...”
Christine/ L'Arbresie, France
(Rhone-Alps)
Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
Mark 9:50 KJV
Salt is good: but if the salt have
lost his saltiness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in
yourselves, and have peace one with another.
In our Lord's day,
the refrigerator was unknown. Carl von Linde, a German engineer,
created the refrigeration process in 1876. The question is then, how
did people preserve their food?
The answer is they
preserved their food by the use of salt.
The use of salt as
a preservative had been used for thousands of years.
Salt is said to cur
meat and other foods, by drawing out any moisture from the food,
moisture which is essential for microbial growth. Pathogenic microbes
cannot grow in the presence of salt. Salt was the perfect
preservative, to keep foods safe.
Salt was commanded
to be placed on every offering …
Leviticus 2:13
KJ21
And every oblation of thy meat
offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou allow
the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy
meat offering. With all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.
Our Lord's prayer for His people.
John 17:14-19
KJV
14 I have given
them thy Word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of
the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not
that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou
shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not
of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify
them through thy Truth: thy Word is Truth.
18 As thou hast
sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
19 And for
their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified
through
The Truth.
The gospel, sanctifies, i.e. Sets God's people apart from the world,
consecrates, promotes purity, freedom from sin, just as salt gives
freedom from microbial pathogens.
I Thessalonians
5:23
And the very
God Of Peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole
spirit and soul and body
be preserved
blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
II Corinthians 6:14-18 NLT (God's Child the Temple of The
Living God.)
14 Don’t team
up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner
with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?
15 What harmony
can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a
partner with an unbeliever?
16 And what
union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the
temple of
The Living God.
As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be
their God, and they will be my people.
17 Therefore,
come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them,
says The Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome
you.
18 And I will
be your Father, and you will be My sons and daughters, says The Lord
Almighty.”
God's child, a spiritual preservative in the world.
Matthew 5:13,14
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.
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has
lost its flavor?"
Paraphrase:
"You are the spiritual preservative of the earth. But what good
is your preservation, if you have lost your preserving potency?"
We as God's children are a spiritual preservative, if we remain full
of God's Word, and His Spirit.
Colossians 4:6
KJV
Let your speech
be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye
ought to answer every man.
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Bible Lesson: Miracles Of The Old Testament: A Great Fish Swallows Jonah.
Bible Lesson: Miracles Of The Old
Testament: A Great Fish Swallows Jonah.
Occasion: Godly Punishment.
Location: Mediterranean Sea.
Bible Text: Jonah 1:1-17 NLT
Jonah 1:1-17 NLT (Jonah runs
from the Lord's call.)
1 The Lord gave this message to
Jonah son of Amittai:
2 “Get up and go to the great city
of Nineveh. Announce My judgment against it because I have seen how
wicked its people are.”
3 But Jonah got up and went in the
opposite direction to get away from The Lord. He went down to the
port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought
a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from The Lord by sailing
to Tarshish.
4 But The Lord hurled a powerful
wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break
the ship apart.
5 Fearing for their lives, the
desperate sailors shouted to their gods for help and threw the cargo
overboard to lighten the ship. But all this time Jonah was sound
asleep down in the hold.
6 So the captain went down after
him. “How can you sleep at a time like this?” he shouted. “Get
up and pray to your god! Maybe He will pay attention to us and spare
our lives.”
7 Then the crew cast lots to see
which of them had offended the gods and caused the terrible storm.
When they did this, the lots identified Jonah as the culprit.
8 “Why has this awful storm come
down on us?” they demanded. “Who are you? What is your line of
work? What country are you from? What is your nationality?”
9 Jonah answered, “I am a Hebrew,
and I worship The Lord, The God Of heaven, who made the sea and the
land.”
10 The sailors were terrified when
they heard this, for he had already told them he was running away
from The Lord. “Oh, why did you do it?” they groaned.
11 And since the storm was getting
worse all the time, they asked him, “What should we do to you to
stop this storm?”
12 “Throw me into the sea,”
Jonah said, “and it will become calm again. I know that this
terrible storm is all my fault.”
13 Instead, the sailors rowed even
harder to get the ship to the land. But the stormy sea was too
violent for them, and they couldn’t make it.
14 Then they cried out to The Lord,
Jonah’s God. “O Lord,” they pleaded, “don’t make us die for
this man’s sin. And don’t hold us responsible for his death. O
Lord, you have sent this storm upon him for your own good reasons.”
15 Then the sailors picked Jonah up
and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once!
16 The sailors were awestruck by The
Lord’s great power, and they offered Him a sacrifice and vowed to
serve Him.
17 Now The Lord had arranged for a
great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three
days and three nights.
Jonah 1:1,2 NLT
1 The Lord gave this message to
Jonah son of Amittai:
2 “Get up and go to the great
city of Nineveh. Announce My judgment against it because I have seen
how wicked its people are.”
Jonah was a prophet to Israel. One day
The Lord gave him a message of warning to be delivered to the people
of Nineveh.
God in His great love, warns the wicked
to turn from their sins, before judgment falls.
Psalm 19:7-11 KJV
7 The law of The Lord is perfect,
converting the soul: the testimony of The Lord is sure, making wise
the simple.
8 The statutes of The Lord are
right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of The Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of The Lord is clean,
enduring for ever: the judgments of The Lord are true and righteous
altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than
gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the
honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant
warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
Jonah had a message
of warning, and a call from The Lord to warn the Ninevites.
The message was,
God had seen only too well the sins of Nineveh, and that unless they
repented, judgment would soon be coming.
Psalm 19:9 KJV
The fear of The Lord is clean,
enduring for ever: the judgments of The Lord are true and righteous
altogether.
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.
Psalm 97:2 KJV
Clouds and darkness are round about
Him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of His throne.
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.
But all this made
the prophet mad!
Why?
All this made Jonah
mad, because he knew that if he went to Nineveh, and preached
judgment, judgment, judgment, he would end up looking like a fool.
Why?
Because he knew in
his heart that they would turn from their sins, and that there would
be no judgment, and he would end up looking like some false prophet.
Poor Jonah, but God
did not feel sorry for him at all!
(Skipping ahead in
our story....)
Jonah 4:1-11 NLT
(Oh the wonder of God's love and mercy!)
1 This change of plans greatly upset
Jonah, and he became very angry.
2 So he complained to The Lord about
it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this,
Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a
merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with
unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people.
3 Just kill me now, Lord! I’d
rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”
4 The Lord replied, “Is it right
for you to be angry about this?”
5 Then Jonah went out to the east
side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see
what would happen to the city.
6 And The Lord God arranged for a
leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over
Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort,
and Jonah was very grateful for the plant.
7 But God also arranged for a worm!
The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant
so that it withered away.
8 And as the sun grew hot, God
arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat
down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. “Death is
certainly better than living like this!” he exclaimed.
9 Then God said to Jonah, “Is it
right for you to be angry because the plant died?”
“Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even
angry enough to die!”
10 Then The Lord said, “You feel
sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It
came quickly and died quickly.
11 But Nineveh has more than 120,000
people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals.
Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?”
Jonah 1:3 NLT
But Jonah got up and went in the
opposite direction to get away from The Lord. He went down to the
port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought
a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from The Lord by sailing
to Tarshish.
Disgruntled Jonah, had a better idea, rather than being made a
laughing stock, he would merely run away and do his own thing.
But the God who sees and knows all, had even a better idea.
Psalm 139:1-12 KJV
1 O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my down sitting and mine uprising, thou
understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted
with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou
knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon
me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot
attain unto it.
7 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from
thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in
hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost
parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall
hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night
shall be light about me.
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth
as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
God would not only save Nineveh, he would save His prophet as
well!
Psalm 37:23,24
KJV
23 The steps of
a good man are ordered by The Lord: and He delighteth in his way.
24 Though he
fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for The Lord upholdeth him
with His hand.
Oh, how many religious brethern today, would be so glad to have been
shipmates on board the vessel to throw poor old Jonah into its
deathly waters! And how great they would shine as having done such a
work of righteousness.
But, alas, they could not be any further from knowing The True And
Living God!
Psalm 3:2-4 KJV
2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
3 But thou, O Lord, art a Shield for me; my Glory, and the Lifter up of mine head.
4 I cried unto The Lord with my voice, and He heard me out of His holy hill. Selah.
9 Don’t just
pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold
tightly to what is good.
10 Love each
other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each
other.
I Timothy 5:21
KJV
I solemnly
command you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the highest
angels to obey these instructions without taking sides or showing
favoritism to anyone.
How thankful, (without end), we should be for The Wonderful And Wise
Living God, we have!
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.
Jonah 1:4,5 NLT
4 But The Lord
hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that
threatened to break the ship apart.
5 Fearing for
their lives, the desperate sailors shouted to their gods for help and
threw the cargo overboard to lighten the ship...”
Does God, control the weather?
Yes! This is not to say that man cannot control it as well, with his
21st Century knowledge.
See
the blog posting ….. Weather
Oh, the mercy of The Living God, not only does He wish Nineveh saved
from judgment, and His prophet restored, but that Mediterranean
sailors would be set free from worshiping false, lifeless gods that
do not hear or help!
The
Sailors aboard the ship, did what any men would do when their very
lives are in jeopardy. They shouted out prayers to the god that they
were accustomed to worshiping, but there were no answers.
Jonah 1:5-10 NLT
“... But
all this time Jonah was sound asleep down in the hold.
6 So the captain went down after
him. “How can you sleep at a time like this?” he shouted. “Get
up and pray to your god! Maybe He will pay attention to us and spare
our lives.”
7 Then the crew cast lots to see
which of them had offended the gods and caused the terrible storm.
When they did this, the lots identified Jonah as the culprit.
8 “Why has this awful storm
come down on us?” they demanded. “Who are you? What is your line
of work? What country are you from? What is your nationality?”
9 Jonah answered, “I am a
Hebrew, and I worship The Lord, The God Of heaven, who made the sea
and the land.”
10 The sailors were terrified
when they heard this, for he had already told them he was running
away from The Lord. “Oh, why did you do it?” they groaned.
Christian out side the will of God, hear well the words of these
sailors!
“Oh,
why did you do it?”
May backslidden Godly people, bring the judgment of God on a sea,
a country and its people?
Ask Jonah!
Oh, if we but cry out to Him, He will hear us, He will restore us!
II Chronicles 7:14 KJV
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.
Psalm 23:3 KJV
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
for His name's sake.
Jeremiah 30:17 KJV (Not only true for Israel, but all people
of God, everywhere.)
For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy
wounds, saith The Lord..."
Joel 2:25-27 KJV
25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten,
the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, My great
army which I sent among you.
26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the
name of The Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and
My people shall never be ashamed.
27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst..."
Jonah 1:11-13 NLT
11 And since the storm was
getting worse all the time, they asked him, “What should we do to
you to stop this storm?”
12 “Throw me into the sea,”
Jonah said, “and it will become calm again. I know that this
terrible storm is all my fault.”
13 Instead, the sailors rowed
even harder to get the ship to the land. But the stormy sea was too
violent for them, and they couldn’t make it.
False gods, always reveal themselves for just who they are, no gods
at all!
I Chronicles
16:26 KJV
For all the
gods of the people are idols: but The Lord made the heavens.
Jeremiah 2:11-13
NLT
11
Has any nation ever traded its gods for new ones, even though they
are not gods at all? Yet My people
have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols!
12 The heavens
are shocked at such a thing and shrink back in horror and dismay,”
says
The Lord.
13 “For My
people have done two evil things: They have abandoned Me— The
Fountain Of Living Water. And they have dug for themselves cracked
cisterns that can hold no water at all!
Jeremiah 11:12
KJV
Then shall the
cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the
gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at
all in the time of their trouble.
Jeremiah
16:19-21 NLT
19 Lord, you
are my Strength and Fortress, my Refuge in the day of trouble!
Nations from around the world will come to you and say, “Our
ancestors left us a foolish heritage, for they worshiped worthless
idols.
20 Can people
make their own gods? These are not real gods at all!”
21 The Lord
says, “Now I will show them My power; now I will show them My
might. At last they will know and understand that I am The Lord.
(Continued)
14 Then they cried out to The
Lord, Jonah’s God. “O Lord,” they pleaded, “don’t make us
die for this man’s sin. And don’t hold us responsible for his
death. O Lord, you have sent this storm upon him for your own good
reasons.”
15 Then the sailors picked Jonah
up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once!
16 The sailors were awestruck
by The Lord’s great power, and they offered Him a sacrifice and
vowed to serve Him.
God always uses evil for good!
Genesis 50:19,20 KJV (Joseph in Egypt, before his brothers.)
19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of
God?
20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it
unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people
alive.
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.
(Jonah continued)
17 Now The
Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was
inside the fish for three days and three nights.
Luke
11:29-32 NLT (Sign of Jonah)
29 As the crowd pressed in on Jesus, He said, “This evil
generation keeps asking Me to show them a miraculous sign. But the
only sign I will give them is the sign of Jonah.
30 What happened to him was a sign to the people of Nineveh that
God had sent him.
What happens to The Son Of Man will be a sign to these people that
He was sent by God.
31 “The queen of Sheba will stand up against this generation on
judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear
the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but
you refuse to listen.
32 The people of Nineveh will also stand up against this
generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their
sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is
here—but you refuse to repent.
Dear friend, do you know this wonderful God of love and mercy? God's
Son, Jesus has come to make a way of salvation and blessing open for
you.
Lamentations 3:22,23 KJV
22 It is of The Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because
His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
II Corinthians 5:21 NLT
For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our
sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
Acts 4:12 KJV
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other
name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
John 1:12 KJV
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:
Acts 2:21 KJV
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name
of The Lord shall be saved.
Revelation 3:20 NLT
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear My voice and
open the door, I will come in..."
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Lifelessness-Spiritual
Bible Questions Answered:
“I've tried to witnessing to my
friend, and nothing. I have said John 3:16 and Revelation 3:20, and
she does not respond. There is no victory in this so what then?...”
Lee Ann/ Taipei City, Taiwan
Bible Answer:
Our Savior gave three reasons, why
many remain spiritually lifeless.
Matthew 13:3-9 ,18-23KJV
3 And He spake many things unto them
in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell
by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
5 Some fell upon stony places, where
they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they
had no deepness of earth:
6 And when the sun was up, they were
scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns; and
the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
8 But other fell into good ground,
and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixty fold, some
thirty fold.
9 Who hath ears to hear, let him
hear.
18 Hear ye therefore the parable of
the sower.
19 When any one heareth the word of
the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one,
and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which
received seed by the way side.
20 But he that received the seed
into stony places, the same is he that heareth The Word, and anon
with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself,
but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth
because of The Word, by and by he is offended.
22 He also that received seed among
the thorns is he that heareth The Word; and the care of this world,
and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh
unfruitful.
23 But he that received seed into
the good ground is he that heareth The Word, and understandeth it;
which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold,
some sixty, some thirty.
(First-The Way Side.)
Matthew 13:4,19 KJV
4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell
by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
19 When any one heareth the
word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then
cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his
heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
Mark 4:15 KJV
And these are they by the way side,
where The Word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh
immediately, and taketh away The Word that was sown in their hearts.
Luke 8:12 KJV
Those by the way side are they
that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away The Word out of
their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
(Second-Stony Places.)
Matthew 13:5,6,20,21 KJV
5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6 And when the sun was up, they were
scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
20 But he that received the seed
into stony places, the same is he that heareth The Word, and
anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in
himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution
ariseth because of The Word, by and by he is offended.
Mark 4:16,17 KJV
16 And these are they likewise which
are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard The Word,
immediately receive it with gladness;
17 And have no root in
themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction
or persecution ariseth for The Word's sake, immediately they are
offended.
Luke 8:13 KJV
They on the rock are they, which,
when they hear, receive The Word with joy; and these have no
root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
(Third-The Thorns.)
Matthew 13:7,22 KJV
7 And some fell among thorns; and
the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
22 He also that received seed among
the thorns is he that heareth The Word; and the care of this
world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he
becometh unfruitful.
Mark 4:18,19 KJV
18 And these are they which are sown
among thorns; such as hear The Word,
19 And the cares of this
world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things
entering in, choke The Word, and it becometh unfruitful.
Luke 8:14 KJV
And that which
fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go
forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this
life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
OK, to recap what our Lord has said in the gospels we see...
Many Are
Spiritually Lifeless Because They:
1) Lack understanding of The Word.
2) Receive The Word, with joy, but when Problems, afflictions
or persecution comes because of God's Word, they fall away.
3) They hear The Word, but the cares of this world, such as
the decitfulness of riches, or the pleasures of life, choke out The
Word.
Often, individuals introduced to The Lord, fall away because of these
3 reasons.
1) It is our responsibility as Christians, not only to
give The Word, but to carefully, lovingly “explain,” The Word,
otherwise, of what use is it to them?
Luke 24:45 KJV
Then opened He
their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
2) It is our responsibility as Christians, to again,
explain that being a Christian is like being in the army, for we are
in the army of righteousness for our Lord! In the army, one learns
one must be prepared to expect and endure afflictions and ,
persecution.
II Timothy 2:3 KJV (See also Ephesians 6:10-18 KJV)
Thou therefore
endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
3) It is our responsibility as Christians, to explain
that the Christian life is one of self-sacrifice, and Cross bearing.
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.
Now concerning “victory,” in witnessing to the lost:
First of all:
Witnessing is the charge of God's people:
The Lord warned the Prophet Ezekiel...
Ezekiel 3:16-21 NLT (Instruction For God's Watchmen.)
16 After seven
days The Lord gave me a message. He said,
17 “Son of
man, I have appointed you as a watchman for Israel. Whenever you
receive a message from Me, warn people immediately.
18 If I warn
the wicked, saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death,’ but you
fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will
hold you responsible for their deaths.
19 If you warn
them and they refuse to repent and keep on sinning, they will die in
their sins. But you will have saved yourself because you obeyed Me.
20 “If
righteous people turn away from their righteous behavior and ignore
the obstacles I put in their way, they will die. And if you do not
warn them, they will die in their sins. None of their righteous acts
will be remembered, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths.
21 But if you
warn righteous people not to sin and they listen to you and do not
sin, they will live, and you will have saved yourself, too.”
Secondly:
Witnessing leads to life:
Ecclesiastes 11:1 KJV (Solomon)
Cast thy bread
upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
This verse not only speaks of benevolence, but the timely art of
planting rice, wherein the seed is literally thrown upon the water,
and after many days the plant grows and rice is harvested.
True in Christian witnessing, we give forth The Word, but the
miraculous spiritual act of germination and growth, are God's work.
The Apostle
Paul.
I Corinthians
3:6-9 KJV
6 I have
planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7 So then
neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but
God that giveth the increase.
8 Now he that
planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive
his own reward according to his own labor.
9 For we are
laborers together with God..."
One witness may plant the seed, but another may water it, and still a
different one may harvest the planting.
We may give forth The Word of salvation, but not always will we see
results. Yet another may come and water that seed, (speaking
figuratively), and not till then will the plant take root, grow and
one day be harvested for the kingdom of God.
And before we give that seed (God's Word) and after having given it,
we must be a people of faith and prayer!
Hebrews 11:6 KJV
But without
faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must
believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently
seek Him.
Thankfully, if faithful, we will see much seed fall into the good
ground, and bring honor and glory to God.
(The Good Ground)
Matthew 13;8,21 KJV
8 But other
fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundred fold,
some sixty fold, some thirty fold.
23 But he that
received seed into the good ground is he that heareth The Word,
and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth,
some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Mark 4:8, KJV
8 And other
fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and
increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some
an hundred.
20 And
these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear The Word,
and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirty fold, some sixty,
and some an hundred.
Luke 8:8,15 KJV
8 And other
fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold.
And when He had said these things, He cried, He that hath ears to
hear, let him hear.
15 But
that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart,
having heard The Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Enoch
Bible Questions Answered:
“What happened to Enoch?”
Shelby/ San Diego, California U.S.A.
Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
Genesis 5:21-24 KJV
21 And Enoch
lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:
22 And Enoch walked with God after
he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and
daughters:
23 And all the days of Enoch were
three hundred sixty and five years:
24 And Enoch walked with God:
and he was not; for God took* him.
*Took-Hebrew:
Laqach (Law-kakh): To take, carry away, receive, seize, take
away.
This was said of
only two people:
Genesis 6:9 KJV
These are the generations of Noah:
Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations,
and Noah walked with God.
Hebrews 11:5 KJV
By faith Enoch was translated that
he should not see death; and was not found, because God had
translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony,
that he pleased God.
Jude 1:14 KJV
And Enoch also, the seventh from
Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, The Lord cometh with ten
thousands of His saints,
Some labor under the delusion that the
Old Testament says nothing of the after life and or its rewards, bu
that is “not,” the case at all!
Old Testament beliefs, concerning
resurrection and eternal life after death.
Job 19:25-27 KJV
(Resurrection-Reward.)
25 For I know that my Redeemer
liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26 And though after my skin worms
destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
27 Whom I shall see for myself, and
mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins (Kidneys,
heart) be consumed within me.
Psalm 49:1-28 NLT (For the choir
director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.)
1 Listen to this, all you people!
Pay attention, everyone in the world!
2 High and low, rich and
poor—listen!
3 For my words are wise, and my
thoughts are filled with insight.
4 I listen carefully to many
proverbs and solve riddles with inspiration from a harp.
5 Why should I fear when trouble
comes, when enemies surround me?
6 They trust in their wealth and
boast of great riches.
7 Yet they cannot redeem themselves
from death by paying a ransom to God.
8 Redemption does not come so
easily, for no one can ever pay enough
9 to live forever and never see the
grave.
10 Those who are wise must finally
die, just like the foolish and senseless, leaving all their wealth
behind.
11 The grave is their eternal home,
where they will stay forever. They may name their estates after
themselves,
12 but their fame will not last.
They will die, just like animals.
13 This is the fate of fools, though
they are remembered as being wise. Interlude
14 Like sheep, they are led to the
grave, where death will be their shepherd.
In the morning the godly will rule
over them. Their bodies will rot in the grave, far from their grand
estates.
15 But as for me, God will redeem
my life. He will snatch me from the power of the grave. Interlude
16 So don’t be dismayed when the
wicked grow rich and their homes become ever more splendid.
17 For when they die, they take
nothing with them. Their wealth will not follow them into the grave.
18 In this life they consider
themselves fortunate and are applauded for their success.
19 But they will die like all before
them and never again see the light of day.
20 People who boast of their wealth
don’t understand; they will die, just like animals.
Psalm 73:23-28 NLT (Death
does not end all.)
23 "...I...belong to you; you
hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
leading me to a glorious destiny.
25 Whom have I in heaven but
you? I desire you more than anything on earth.
26 My health may fail, and my spirit
may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is
mine forever.
27 Those who desert Him will perish,
for you destroy those who abandon you.
28 But as for me, how good it is to
be near God! I have made The Sovereign Lord my Shelter, and I will
tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.
Ecclesiastes
3:17 NLT (Solomon: Life after death, judgment and reward.)
I said to myself, “In due season
God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds.”
Isaiah 26:19 NLT
But those who die in The Lord will
live; their bodies will rise again! Those who sleep in the earth will
rise up and sing for joy! For your life-giving light will fall like
dew on your people in the place of the dead!
Daniel 12:1-3 NLT (The Lord
reveals to Daniel, end time events.)
(Book of Life-Revelation 3:5/
20:12,15 KJV)
1 “At that time Michael, the
archangel who stands guard over your nation, will arise. Then there
will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came
into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose name
is written in the book will be rescued.
(Resurrection of the dead.- I
Corinthians 15:51-58/I Thessalonians 4:13-18 KJV
2 Many of those whose bodies lie
dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to
shame and everlasting disgrace.
(Eternal Rewards.- I Corinthians
3:11-15/ Revelation 11:18/ 22:12 KJV)
3 Those who are wise will shine as
bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will
shine like the stars forever.
Two men in heaven
have never died, but are there by the power of God. These two men are
Enoch and Elijah.
II Kings 2:11
KJV (Elijah and Elisha.)
And it came to pass, as they still
went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire,
and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up
by a whirlwind into heaven.
What happened to faithful husband, father and Patriarch Enoch, he went to heaven, translated to ever be with The Living God,
and Elijah the same.
What happens after
death?
Hebrews 9:27 KJV
And as it is appointed unto men once
to die, but after this the judgment:
Hebrews 9:27 NLT
And just as each person is destined
to die once and after that comes judgment,
Hebrews 9:27
NASB
And inasmuch as it is appointed for
men to die once and after this comes judgment,
Hebrews 9:27 YLT
and as it is laid up to men once to
die, and after this -- judgment,
Hebrews 9:27 MSG
Everyone has to die once, then face
the consequences.
Judgment after
death!
Jesus told the
story....
Luke 16:19-24
MSG (Read the whole story verses 19-31.)
19-21 “There
once was a rich man, expensively dressed in the latest fashions,
wasting his days in conspicuous consumption. A poor man named
Lazarus, covered with sores, had been dumped on his doorstep. All he
lived for was to get a meal from scraps off the rich man’s table.
His best friends were the dogs who came and licked his sores.
22-24 “Then he died, this poor
man, and was taken up by the angels to the lap of Abraham (Paradise).
The rich man also died and was
buried. In hell and in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham in the
distance and Lazarus in his lap.
Again Jesus told
us.....
Matthew 25:1-13
KJV
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven
be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth
to meet
The Bridegroom
(Isaiah 61:10 KJV).
2 And five of them were wise, and
five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their
lamps, and took no oil with them (Oil
a type of God The Holy spirit/ Exodus
29:7/ Luke
4:18 KJV)
4 But the wise took oil in their
vessels with their lamps.
5 While The Bridegroom tarried, they
all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry
made, Behold, The Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and
trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the
wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not
so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them
that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the
bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the
marriage (The Marriage Supper Of
The Lamb: Revelation
19:5-9 KJV) and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other
virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But He answered and said, Verily
I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know
neither the day nor the hour wherein The Son Of Man cometh.
Friend, are you
living for The Lord, near The Lord?
Will The Son Of
Man, take you away to heaven?
Friday, November 22, 2013
Prayer Request: Midwest - Tornado Destruction
Prayer Request: Midwest Tornado
Destruction.
Sunday 17th, a late fall
storm raced through the Midwest States. Illinois, Indiana, Missouri,
Kentucky, and Ohio.
Eight people dead, scores of people
injured, hundreds of homes and farms flattened. Estimated $ 1 Billion
dollars in destruction.
Sunday night NOAA storm prediction
center estimated that there were in the large storm area, no less
than some 81 tornadoes active, and for 12 hours they ravaged
Midwestern states.
To view the destruction go to one of the following....
and type in "Midwest Tornadoes."
Here's how you can help.....
Pray, God hears and answers prayer.
Many are in hospitals, in recovery, families are preparing for
funerals. Pray that The Living God, will comfort, help and heal the
sorrowing. Pray that The Living God will make a way where there
doesn't seem to be a way.
Be generous in your thanksgiving for
what God has given you, and share to help others, now so desperately
in need!
Job 17:9 NLT
The righteous keep moving forward,
and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger.
Psalm 9:9 KJV
The LORD also
will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
Psalm 119:50 KJV
This is my comfort in my affliction:
for thy word hath quickened me.
Psalm 126:5 KJV
They that sow in tears shall reap in
joy.
Isaiah 40:31 KJV
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.
Isaiah 43:1-5 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, the
Holy One of Israel, thy Savior..."
4 Since thou wast precious in My
sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee..."
5 Fear not: for I am with thee..."
Isaiah 46:4 NLT
I will be your God throughout your
lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will
care for you. I will carry you along and save you.
Isaiah 61:3 KJV
To appoint unto them that mourn in
Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for
mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that
they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the
LORD, that He might be glorified.
Isaiah 66:13 KJV
As one whom his mother comforteth,
so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted..."
John 14:18 KJV
I will not leave you comfortless: I
will come to you.
II Corinthians 1:3 NLT
All praise to God, the Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all
comfort.
II Corinthians 12:9,10 NLT
9 Each time He said, “My grace is
all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to
boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work
through me.
10 That’s why I take pleasure in
my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and
troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am
strong.
II Thessalonians 2:16,17 NLT
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ
Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us
eternal comfort and a wonderful hope,
17 comfort you and strengthen you in
every good thing you do and say.
II Timothy 2:10-12 NLT
10 So I am willing to endure
anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus
to those God has chosen.
11 This is a trustworthy saying: If
we die with Him, we will also live with Him.
12 If we endure hardship, we will
reign with Him..."
Hebrews 13:5 KJV
"... He hath said, I will never
leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Discipleship-The Cost Of
Bible Questions Answered:
“In Luke 9 why would Jesus be
indifferent to a man's wishing to bury his father or saying goodbye
to his loved ones?”
Barry/ Melbourne, Australia (Victoria)
Bible Answer:
These three
examples given us, hardly are inconsiderate actions by our Lord, but
examples of the cost of following Him.
Bible Text:
Matthew 8:18-22 NLT
18 When Jesus saw the crowd around
Him, He instructed His disciples to cross to the other side of the
lake.
19 Then one of the teachers of
religious law said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you
go.”
20 But Jesus replied, “Foxes have
dens to live in, and birds have nests, but The Son Of Man has no
place even to lay His head.”
21 Another of His disciples said,
“Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”
22 But Jesus told him, “Follow Me
now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead.”
Luke 9:57-62 NLT
57 As they were walking along,
someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
58 But Jesus replied, “Foxes have
dens to live in, and birds have nests, but The Son Of Man has no
place even to lay His head.”
59 He said to another person, “Come,
follow Me.”
The man agreed, but he said, “Lord,
first let me return home and bury my father.”
60 But Jesus told him, “Let the
spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach
about the Kingdom of God.”
61 Another said, “Yes, Lord, I
will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”
62 But Jesus told him, “Anyone who
puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the
Kingdom of God.”
(First
Individual:)
Luke 9:57,58 NLT
57 As they were
walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever
you go.”
58 But Jesus
replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but The
Son Of Man has no place even to lay His head.”
It may seem at first that our Lord, did not address the petitioner,
but to the contrary, that is exactly what He did.
Our Lord, spoke to the eagerness of the individual, as to one who had not “counted-the-cost” of discipleship, and so Jesus spoke of His own
sacrifices in doing God's service.
Foxes have dens
to live in, and birds have nests, but The Son Of Man has no place
even to lay His head.”
In his exuberance, he was reminded that there is a “cost,”
in serving The Living God!
Luke 14:25-35 NLT (Cost of discipleship.)
25 A large
crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them,
26 “If you
want to be My disciple, you must hate everyone else by
comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers
and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be My
disciple.
27 And if you
do not carry your own cross and follow Me, you cannot be My
disciple.
28 “But don’t
begin until you count the cost. For who would begin
construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see
if there is enough money to finish it?
29 Otherwise,
you might complete only the foundation before running out of money,
and then everyone would laugh at you.
30 They would
say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t
afford to finish it!’
31 “Or what
king would go to war against another king without first sitting down
with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could
defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him?
32 And if he
can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while
the enemy is still far away.
33 So you
cannot become My disciple without giving up everything you own.
34 “Salt is
good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it
salty again?
35 Flavorless
salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is
thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!”
Are you a disciple of The Lord Jesus, and if so "at what cost?"
Wealth (i.e.that is never willing to give it up.), popularity, social
position, friends (i.e. not at the expense of loosing them.), life
(i.e. not willing to do so at the cost of your own life?)
Revelation 12:11
NLT
And they
have defeated him (Verse 9 "the Devil...Satan")
by The Blood Of The Lamb and by
their
testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they
were afraid to die.
This is the three fold defeat of Satan:
Christians who know and believe their victory is through The Blood Of
The Lamb
Christians who have and who profess a Godly testimony. (In their
life, and what they profess.)
Christians who are willing to lay down their lives in service to The
Lord Jesus Christ.
The cost of serving The Lord Jesus Christ is , Self-Denial, Cross
bearing, and Willingness to forsake everything for the cause of
Christ, even life itself.
(Second
Individual:)
Luke 9:59,60 NLT
59 He said to another person, “Come,
follow Me.”
The man agreed, but he said, “Lord,
first let me return home and bury my father.”
60 But Jesus
told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty
is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”
Christ and His call were, Second Place in the life of this
individual.
God, and His call in our lives must always, be first place!
There would be others to bury a dead father, but Christ's call spoke
of spiritual urgency!
Time and time again The Word warns of urgency!
Psalm 32:6 NLT
Therefore, let
all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they
may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.
Psalm 95:7,8 KJV
7 For He is our
God; and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.
Today if ye will hear His voice,
8 Harden not
your heart..."
II Corinthians
6:2 KJV
(For He saith,
I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation
have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.)
Hebrews 3:7,15
KJV
7 Wherefore (as
the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear His voice,
88 Harden not
your hearts..."
15 While it is
said, Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your
hearts..."
Hebrew 4:7 KJV
"...Today
if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.
(Third
Individual:)
Luke 9:61,62 NLT
61 Another said, “Yes, Lord, I
will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my
family.”
62 But Jesus
told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back
is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”
Again, Christ was to this person, second rate.
True following The Lord Jesus Christ, speaks of Sacrifice, and
Self-Denial.
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.
Luke 9:23 KJV
And He said to
them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and
then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.
The plowman, in order to dig straight and true furrows, must of
necessity, look to the distant goal.
And the same is true for God's servant, we must look to the distant
goal.
Hebrews 12:1-4
NLT
1 Therefore,
since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life
of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down,
especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with
endurance the race God has set before us.
2 We do this by
keeping our eyes on Jesus,The Champion who initiates
and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured
the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of
honor beside God’s throne.
3 Think of all
the hostility He endured from sinful people; then you won’t become
weary and give up.
4 After all,
you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
Personal sacrifice, self-denial, counting the cost, and knowing the
urgency of God's work, this is the call of the servant of God!
Any work of self-interests, disallowal and fortuitous service, are
not accepted by The Savior, who gave His all for us.
Philippians 2:5,7,8 KJV
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
7 "...made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Genesis 19:23-26
NLT
23 Lot reached
the village just as the sun was rising over the horizon.
24 Then the
Lord rained down fire and burning sulfur from the sky on Sodom and
Gomorrah.
25 He utterly
destroyed them, along with the other cities and villages of the
plain, wiping out all the people and every bit of vegetation.
26 But Lot’s
wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into
a pillar of salt.
To love the things of this world, to long for and to look back at,
earthly things, means being lost, to the things of Christ.
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.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Bible Lesson: Miracle Of The Old Testament: Daniel Rescued From The Lions.
Bible Lesson: Miracle Of The Old
Testament: Daniel Rescued From The Lions.
Occasion: Mouths Of The Lions Shut.
Location: Babylon.
Bible Text: Daniel 6:1-28 NLT
Daniel 6:1-28 NLT
1 Darius the
Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he
appointed a high officer to rule over each province.
2 The king also
chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high
officers and protect the king’s interests.
3 Daniel soon
proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and
high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made
plans to place him over the entire empire.
4 Then the
other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault
in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t
find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always
responsible, and completely trustworthy.
5 So they
concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel
will be in connection with the rules of his religion.”
6 So the
administrators and high officers went to the king and said, “Long
live King Darius!
7 We are all in
agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers,
and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly
enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who
prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will
be thrown into the den of lions.
8 And now, Your
Majesty, issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, an official
law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.”
9 So King
Darius signed the law.
10 But when
Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt
down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward
Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done,
giving thanks to his God.
11 Then the
officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and
asking for God’s help.
12 So they went
straight to the king and reminded him about his law. “Did you not
sign a law that for the next thirty days any person who prays to
anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be
thrown into the den of lions?” “Yes,” the king replied, “that
decision stands; it is an official law of the Medes and Persians that
cannot be revoked.”
13 Then they
told the king, “That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is
ignoring you and your law. He still prays to his God three times a
day.”
14 Hearing
this, the king was deeply troubled, and he tried to think of a way to
save Daniel. He spent the rest of the day looking for a way to get
Daniel out of this predicament.
15 In the
evening the men went together to the king and said, “Your Majesty,
you know that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, no
law that the king signs can be changed.”
16 So at last
the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the
den of lions. The king said to him, “May your God, whom you serve
so faithfully, rescue you.”
17 A stone was
brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the
stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no
one could rescue Daniel.
18 Then the
king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused
his usual entertainment and couldn’t sleep at all that night.
19 Very early
the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions’
den.
20 When he got
there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of The Living
God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you
from the lions?”
21 Daniel
answered, “Long live the king!
22 My God sent
His angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me,
for I have been found innocent in His sight. And I have not wronged
you, Your Majesty.”
23 The king was
overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a
scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God.
24 Then the
king gave orders to arrest the men who had maliciously accused
Daniel. He had them thrown into the lions’ den, along with their
wives and children. The lions leaped on them and tore them apart
before they even hit the floor of the den.
25 Then King
Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and
language throughout the world:
“Peace and
prosperity to you!
26 “I decree
that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before
the God of Daniel. For He is The Living God, and He will endure
forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His rule will never
end.
27 He rescues
and saves His people; He performs miraculous signs and wonders in the
heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the
lions.”
28 So Daniel
prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the
Persian.
Over the kingdom of Darius, were 120 princes, and the kingdom divided
into three parts each with a president, and over these one of higher
rank, Daniel, and they all answered to him.
King Belshazszar had said of Daniel.
Daniel 5:12 KJV
Forasmuch as an
excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of
dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were
found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar..."
Among princes and presidents, a sinister seed of jealousy began to
grow. They tried their best to find some deficiency in his work, but
they could not! Daniel was both faithful to his God, and to his King.
Oh, that we could but today, find such leaders for our country!
Having found no discredit in his work, they went on to find default
in his religious worship.
Again finding nothing, they schemed how to make sure there was one.
Daniel 6:5-9 NLT
5 So they
concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel
will be in connection with the rules of his religion.”
6 So the
administrators and high officers went to the king and said, “Long
live King Darius!
7 We are all in
agreement (so, they said.)—we
administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and
governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly
enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who
prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will
be thrown into the den of lions.
8 And now, Your
Majesty, issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, an official
law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.”
9 So King
Darius signed the law.
Flattery
corrupts both the receiver and the giver.
Edmund Burke
Psalm 5:9-12 KJV
9 For there is
no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness;
their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.
10 Destroy thou
them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in
the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against
thee.
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.
Dear friend, if there was a law in our country tomorrow, that
worshiping God, was illegal, and punishable by death, what would you
do?
Psalm 55:16,17 KJV (A psalm of David-Jewish Code.)
16 As for me, I
will call upon God; and The Lord shall save me.
17 Evening, and
morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear
my voice.
Daniel, continued in his worship of The Living God.
But when Daniel
learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as
usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem.
He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving
thanks to his God.
If the real truth be known today, all of humanity is in the presence of
the lion!
I Peter 5:7-9
KJV
7 Casting all
your care upon Him; for He careth for you.
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 Corinthians
15:57 KJV
But thanks be
to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
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.
Daniel 6:11-13
NLT (Daniel did not hid his worship of The Living God.)
11 Then the
officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and
asking for God’s help.
12 So they went
straight to the king and reminded him about his law. “Did you not
sign a law that for the next thirty days any person who prays to
anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be
thrown into the den of lions?” “Yes,” the king replied, “that
decision stands; it is an official law of the Medes and Persians that
cannot be revoked.”
13 Then they
told the king, “That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is
ignoring you and your law. He still prays to his God three times a
day.”
God's children;
II Timothy 1:7
KJV
For God hath
not given (His people) the spirit of fear; but of power, and
of love, and of a sound mind.
Revelation
12:10,11 NLT
10 Then I heard
a loud voice shouting across the heavens,
“..the
accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth—the
one who accuses them before our God day and night.
11 And they
have defeated him by The Blood Of The Lamb and by their testimony.
And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to
die.
Daniel 6:13,14
NLT
13 Then they
told the king, “That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is
ignoring you and your law. He still prays to his God three times a
day.”
14 Hearing
this, the king was deeply troubled, and he tried to think
of a way to save Daniel.
He spent the
rest of the day looking for a way to get Daniel out of this
predicament.
King Darius, loved Daniel, and had the greatest respect for his God,
but he had been tricked by means of his own conceit.
Proverbs 3:7 KJV
Be not wise in
thine own eyes: fear The LORD, and depart from evil.
Proverbs 28:26
KJV
He that
trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he
shall be delivered.
Daniel 6:15-17 NLT
15 In the
evening the men went together to the king and said, “Your Majesty,
you know that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians,
no law that the king signs can be changed.”
16 So at last
the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the
den of lions.
The king said
to him, “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue
you.”
17 A stone was
brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the
stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no
one could rescue Daniel.
Friends, it is so good to have various versions of The Bible, and one
reason here is the ease of reading Daniel's story, ( as we have here in the New Living Translation), but
“never-ever,” let your King James Bible, be far away! Never!
Verse 16 (In the KJV) is translated from the original Hebrew, much
differently than how the NLT translates it.
Daniel 6:16,17
KJV
16Then the king
commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of
lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou
servest continually, He will deliver thee.
17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The
king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his
nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel.
Compare the verses above.
In our KJV, we see the King who so greatly loved Daniel,
and who so greatly tried his best to save him from the lions den said
in faith, “Thy God whom thou servest continually, He
will deliver thee.”
Not, May your God, whom you serve so faithfully,
rescue you.”but “He will deliver thee.”
King Darius had faith that the great God, that Daniel served, WOULD
SAVE HIM!
(Whenever using any other version than the King James Version,
compare the other verses to it (KJV) and see what- it says!)
God always honors righteousness, and faith!
Hebrews 11:6 KJV
But without
faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must
believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently
seek Him.
I John 5:14,15
KJV
14 And this is
the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing
according to His will (The Word
Of God), He heareth us:
15 And if we
know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the
petitions that we desired of Him.
Daniel 6:18 NLT
Then the king
returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He
refused his usual entertainment and couldn’t sleep at all that
night.
Daniel, a Godly man made no protest in his arrest and sentence.
Daniel's faith was in his God.
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.
Daniel 6:19,20
NLT
19 Very early
the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions’
den.
20 When he got
there, he called out in anguish ((a lamentable voice - KJV), “Daniel,
servant of The Living God! Was your God, whom you serve so
faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?”
Matthew 22:32
KJV
I am the God of
Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the
God of the dead, but of the living.
Mark 12:27 KJV
He is not the
God of the dead, but The God Of The Living..."
Daniel 6:21-28
NLT
21 Daniel
answered, “Long live the king!
22 My God sent
His angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me,
for I have been found innocent in His sight. And I have not wronged
you, Your Majesty.”
23 The king was
overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a
scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God.
24 Then the
king gave orders to arrest the men who had maliciously accused
Daniel. He had them thrown into the lions’ den, along with their
wives and children. The lions leaped on them and tore them apart
before they even hit the floor of the den.
Daniel 6:24 KJV
And the king
commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and
they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their
wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all
their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
(The lions broke all their bones, before the hit the bottom of the
pit.)
25 Then King
Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and
language throughout the world:
“Peace and
prosperity to you!
26 “I decree
that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before
the God of Daniel. For He is The Living God, and He will endure
forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His rule will never
end.
27 He rescues
and saves His people; He performs miraculous signs and wonders in the
heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the
lions.”
28 So Daniel
prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the
Persian.
The Lord Our
Deliverer:
II Samuel 22:2 KJV (King David)
And he said, The Lord is my Rock, and my Fortress,
and my Deliverer;
I Chronicles 29:11 KJV (King David)
Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and
the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in
the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art
exalted as head above all.
Psalm 18:1-3 NLT
1 I love you, Lord; you are my Strength.
2 The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Savior;
my God is my Rock, in whom I find protection. He is my Shield, the
power that saves me, and my place of safety.
3 I called on The Lord, who is worthy of praise, and He saved me
from my enemies.
Psalm 40:17 KJV
But I am poor and needy; yet The Lord thinketh upon me: thou art
my Help and my Deliverer..."
Psalm 144:2 KJV
My Goodness, and my Fortress; my High Tower, and my Deliverer; my
Shield, and He in whom I trust..."
Do you know this great Savior, the one who can deliver you from the
lions?
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