Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Ezekiel 21:4
Bible Questions Answered:
“Ezekiel says that God will kill the
righteous and sinners alike! What kind of God is that?...”
Monty/ Oxford, England (United Kingdom)
Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
Ezekiel 21:4 NLT
Yes, I will cut off both the
righteous and the wicked! I will draw My sword against everyone in
the land from south to north.
You could think
that in light of …
Ezekiel 18:1-32
NLT (Always remember: Psalm 145:17 KJV The Lord is
righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works.)
1 Then another message came to me
from The Lord:
2 “Why do you quote this proverb
concerning the land of Israel: ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes,
but their children’s mouths pucker at the taste’?
3 As surely as I live, says The
Sovereign Lord, you will not quote this proverb anymore in Israel.
4 For all people are Mine to
judge—both parents and children alike. And this is My rule: The
person who sins is the one who will die.
5 “Suppose a certain man is
righteous and does what is just and right.
6 He does not feast in the mountains
before Israel’s idols or worship them. He does not commit adultery
or have intercourse with a woman during her menstrual period.
7 He is a merciful creditor, not
keeping the items given as security by poor debtors. He does not rob
the poor but instead gives food to the hungry and provides clothes
for the needy.
8 He grants loans without interest,
stays away from injustice, is honest and fair when judging others,
9 and faithfully obeys my decrees
and regulations. Anyone who does these things is just and will
surely live*, says The Sovereign Lord.
*Live-Hebrew:Chayah
(Khaw-yeh): To revive:-keep
(make) alive, give (promise) life, Preserve (alive), quicken,
recover, restore (to life), revive, (God save (alive, life), surely,
be whole.
10 “But suppose that man has a son
who grows up to be a robber or murderer and refuses to do what is
right.
11 And that son does all the evil
things his father would never do—he worships idols on the
mountains, commits adultery,
12 oppresses the poor and helpless,
steals from debtors by refusing to let them redeem their security,
worships idols, commits detestable sins,
13 and lends money at excessive
interest. Should such a sinful person live? No! He must die and must
take full blame.
14 “But suppose that sinful son,
in turn, has a son who sees his father’s wickedness and decides
against that kind of life.
15 This son refuses to worship idols
on the mountains and does not commit adultery.
16 He does not exploit the poor, but
instead is fair to debtors and does not rob them. He gives food to
the hungry and provides clothes for the needy.
17 He helps the poor, does not lend
money at interest, and obeys all my regulations and decrees. Such
a person will not die because of his father’s sins; he will surely
live.
18 But the father will die for his
many sins—for being cruel, robbing people, and doing what was
clearly wrong among his people.
19 “‘What?’ you ask. ‘Doesn’t
the child pay for the parent’s sins?’ No! For if the child
does what is just and right and keeps my decrees, that child will
surely live.
20 The person who sins is the one
who will die. The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins,
and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous
people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and
wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness.
21 But if wicked people turn away
from all their sins and begin to obey My decrees and do what is just
and right, they will surely live and not die.
22 All their past sins will be
forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they
have done.
23 “Do you think that I like to
see wicked people die? says The Sovereign Lord. Of course not! I want
them to turn from their wicked ways and live.
24 However, if righteous people turn
from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things and act
like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course
not! All their righteous acts will be forgotten, and they will die
for their sins.
25 “Yet you say, ‘The Lord isn’t
doing what’s right!’ Listen to Me, O people of Israel. Am I the
one not doing what’s right, or is it you?
26 When righteous people turn from
their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things, they will die
for it. Yes, they will die because of their sinful deeds.
27 And if wicked people turn from
their wickedness, obey the law, and do what is just and right, they
will save their lives.
28 They will live because they
thought it over and decided to turn from their sins. Such people
will not die.
29 And yet the people of Israel keep
saying, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right!’ O people of
Israel, it is you who are not doing what’s right, not I.
30 “Therefore, I will judge each
of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says
The Sovereign Lord. Repent, and
turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy you!
31 Put all your rebellion behind
you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should
you die, O people of Israel?
32 I don’t want you to die, says
The Sovereign Lord. Turn back and live!
Our
Lord, deals with everyone on an individual basis.
Who
is righteous?”
Ezekiel
21:5-9 NLT
5 “Suppose a certain man is
righteous and does what is just and right.
6 He does not feast in the
mountains before Israel’s idols or worship them.
He does
not commit adultery...”
7 He is a merciful creditor,
not keeping the items given as security by poor debtors.
He does not rob the poor but
instead gives food to the hungry and provides clothes for the
needy.
8 He
grants loans without interest,
stays away from injustice,
is honest and fair when
judging others,
9 and
faithfully obeys my
decrees and regulations.
Anyone
who does these things is just and will surely live, says The
Sovereign Lord.
Who
is unrighteous?
Ezekiel
21:4 NLT
“...The
person who sins is the one who will die.”
The person who does not live as described above (verses 5-9).
+
Now the writings of Ezekiel in chapter 18, are different than his
writings of Ezekiel chapter 21.
In Ezekiel chapter 18, The Lord's words to the prophet are dealing
with the individual, but in chapter 21, the words of The Lord, are
dealing with the nation of Israel.
We cannot compare apples to oranges. Yes The Word Of The Lord,
promises to keep the righteous person. This fulfillment certainly
reaches its complete fulfillment in the next life, the eternal life
to come! The righteous will be kept alive, for rewards and eternal
joy.
Psalm 16:11 KJV
Thou wilt shew
me The Path Of Life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right
hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Now in dealing with chapter 21, The Lord is dealing with a sinful
nation which has turned it's back on God.
Ezekiel 21:1-17 NLT (The Lord's Judgment Of A Nation.)
1 Then this
message came to me from The Lord:
2 “Son of
man, turn and face Jerusalem and prophesy against Israel
and her sanctuaries.
3 Tell her,
‘This is what The Lord says: I am your enemy, O Israel, and
I am about to unsheath My sword to destroy your people—the
righteous and the wicked alike.
4 Yes, I
will cut off both the righteous and the wicked! I will draw My
sword against everyone in the land from south to north.
5 Everyone in
the world will know that I am the Lord. My sword is in My hand, and
it will not return to its sheath until its work is finished.’
6 “Son of
man, groan before the people! Groan before them with bitter anguish
and a broken heart.
7 When they ask
why you are groaning, tell them, ‘I groan because of the terrifying
news I have heard. When it comes true, the boldest heart will melt
with fear; all strength will disappear. Every spirit will faint;
strong knees will become as weak as water. And The Sovereign Lord
says: It is coming! It’s on its way!’”
8 Then The Lord
said to me,
9 “Son of
man, give the people this message from The Lord: “A sword, a sword
is being sharpened and polished.
10 It is
sharpened for terrible slaughter and polished to flash like
lightning! Now will you laugh?
Those far
stronger than you have fallen beneath its power!
11 Yes, the
sword is now being sharpened and polished; it is being prepared for
the executioner.
12 “Son of
man, cry out and wail; pound your thighs in anguish, for that sword
will slaughter My people and their leaders— everyone will die!
13 It will put
them all to the test. What chance do they have? says The Sovereign
Lord.
14 “Son of
man, prophesy to them and clap your hands. Then take the sword and
brandish it twice, even three times, to symbolize the great massacre,
O the great massacre facing them on every side.
15 Let their
hearts melt with terror, for the sword glitters at every gate. It
flashes like lightning and is polished for slaughter!
16 O sword,
slash to the right, then slash to the left, wherever you will,
wherever you want.
17 I, too, will
clap My hands, and I will satisfy My fury. I, The Lord, have spoken!”
Here we see the judgment of the nation of Israel.
Just as The Lord has a standard for righteousness and sin, for
individuals, so to He has a standard for nations, and they are the
same standards!
What is the criteria for a righteous nation?
Ezekiel
21:5-9 NLT
(Men or Nations.)
5 “Suppose a certain man is
righteous and does what is just and right.
6 He does not feast in the
mountains before Israel’s (no) idols or
worship them.
He does
not commit adultery...”
7 He is a merciful creditor,
not keeping the items given as security by poor debtors.
He does not rob the
poor but instead gives food to the hungry and
provides clothes for the needy.
8 He
grants loans
without interest,
stays away from
injustice,
is
honest and fair when
judging others,
9 and
faithfully obeys my
decrees and regulations.
Anyone
who does these things is just and will surely live, says The
Sovereign Lord.
Alright, and now what we know only too well, THERE ARE NO GODLY
NATIONS IN THE WORLD TODAY!
Israel, was “not,” a Godly nation, and what would it mean?
Judgment, the Chaldean hordes from the North, were coming, and
terrible judgment with it.
“But pastor, what about God keeping the righteous?”
When nations are judged, even the righteous suffer, yet their
suffering is only temporal, while the ungodly suffer here and yet to
come, in eternal punishment.
Is this why our Lord, called us to evangelism, to dissuade men of
their sinful madness?
"Retribution" Poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow:“
Though the
mills of God grind slowly;
Yet they grind
exceeding small;
Though with
patience He stands waiting,
With exactness
grinds He all.
Ecclesiastes
8:11 KJV
Because
sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the
heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
Hebrews 4:7 KJV
"...To day
if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts."
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.
Revelation
21:22-27 KJV
22 And I saw no
temple therein: for The Lord God Almighty and The Lamb are the temple
of it.
23 And the city
had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the
glory of God did lighten it, and The Lamb is the light thereof.
24 And the
nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and
the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it.
25 And the
gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no
night there.
26 And they
shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.
27 And there
shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither
whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are
written in The Lamb's book of life.
Monday, April 28, 2014
Prayer Request: Central United States - Tornado Outbreak
Prayer Request:
Many are pleading for prayer for the
Central U.S. As some 30 tornadoes has skipped through, Mississippi,
Alabama, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri.
Sunday April 27th, an F3 tornado ½ mile wide, with
wind speeds of 150 miles per hour, cut a 40 mile path, leaving towns
flattened, cars and trucks on interstate highways over turned. As of
this writing, Monday evening, 100's in local hospitals, with some 18
known dead.
Things Christian People Can Do.
- Pray, there are scores of people missing, and not all homes and businesses have been searched yet.
- Give to the American Red Cross ( http://www.redcross.org.com )
- Have your prayer group, or circle, pray for the suffering people of this terrible outbreak of tornadoes in these Southern States.
Isaiah 65:24 KJV
And it shall come to pass, that
before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I
will hear.
Joel 2:32 KJV
And it shall come to pass, that
whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered..."
Matthew 6:6 KJV
But thou, when thou prayest, enter
into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father
which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward
thee openly.
Matthew 7:7,8 KJV
7 Ask, and it shall be given you;
seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh
receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it
shall be opened.
Matthew 18:18-20 KJV
18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever
ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye
shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19 Again I say unto you, That if two
of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall
ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven.
20 For where two or three are
gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.
John 15:7 KJV
If ye abide in Me, and My words
abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto
you.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Wedding Garment
Bible Questions Answered:
“I am wondering just what is a
wedding garment Matthew is talking about, and how do we get one?”
Curran/ Dublin, Ireland
Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
Matthew 22:1-14 NLT
1 Jesus also told them other
parables. He said,
2 “The Kingdom of Heaven can be
illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast
for his son.
3 When the banquet was ready, he
sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all
refused to come!
4 “So he sent other servants to
tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened
cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the
banquet!’
5 But the guests he had invited
ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his
business.
6 Others seized his messengers and
insulted them and killed them.
7 “The king was furious, and he
sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town.
8 And he said to his servants, ‘The
wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of
the honor.
9 Now go out to the street corners
and invite everyone you see.’
10 So the servants brought in
everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall
was filled with guests.
11 “But when the king came in
to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper
clothes for a wedding.
12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how
is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had
no reply.
13 Then the king said to his
aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer
darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
14 “For many are called, but
few are chosen.”
In harmony with this parable, is Lord's parable of the great feast.
Luke 14:15-24
NLT
15 Hearing this, a man sitting at
the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to
attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!”
16 Jesus replied with this story: “A
man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations.
17 When the banquet was ready, he
sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’
18 But they all began making
excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it.
Please excuse me.’
19 Another said, ‘I have just
bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse
me.’
20 Another said, ‘I now have a
wife, so I can’t come.’
21 “The servant returned and told
his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go
quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor,
the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’
22 After the servant had done this,
he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’
23 So his master said, ‘Go out
into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find
to come, so that the house will be full.
24 For none of those I first
invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’”
The first invited,
had better things to do, and so they missed the banquet. When the
outcasts were called, they gladly came. But one came in without a
Wedding Garment.
What does the
Wedding Garment represent?
The Wedding
Garment, represents our life before The Lord.
God's people:
Hebrews 12:14
KJV
Follow peace
with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see The Lord:
Revelation
19:7,8 KJV
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and
give honor to Him: for the marriage of The Lamb is come, and His wife
hath made herself ready.
8 And to her was granted that she
should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine
linen is the righteousness of saints.
Not to have the
Wedding Garment on, is to be arrayed in one's own garments
(Self-Righteousness).
Psalm 51:5 KJV
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity;
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Ecclesiastes
7:20 KJV
For there is not a just man upon
earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Isaiah 64:6 KJV
But we are all as an unclean thing,
and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we
all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken
us away.
Romans 3:10,23
KJV
10 As it is written, There is none
righteous, no, not one:
23 For all have sinned, and come
short of the glory of God;
I John 1:8 KJV
If we say that we have no sin, we
deceive ourselves, and The Truth is not in us.
All the
“self-righteousness,” in the world will not save anyone!
Matthew 7:21-23
KJV
21 Not every one that saith unto Me,
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will of
My Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day,
Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have
cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto
them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.
I Samuel
15:22,23 NLT (Samuel speaks to King Saul.)
22...“What is more pleasing to The
Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to His
voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is
better than offering the fat of rams.
23 Rebellion is as sinful as
witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because
you have rejected the command of The Lord, He has rejected you...”
II Peter 3:10-14
NLT
10 But the day of The Lord will come
as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a
terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in
fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve
judgment.
11 Since everything around us is
going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you
should live,
12 looking forward to the day of God
and hurrying it along. On that day, He will set the heavens on fire,
and the elements will melt away in the flames.
13 But we are looking forward to the
new heavens and new earth He has promised,
a world filled with God’s
righteousness.
14 And so, dear friends, while you
are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found
living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in His
sight.
Friday, April 25, 2014
Satanic Works.
Bible Questions Answered:
“A couple of my friends say that the
magicians of Moses day could perform miracles, and that someone does
not have to be godly to do such things... how do I answer that?”
Basil/ Croydon, England (United
Kingdom)
Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
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.
*Works-Greek: Ergon
(Er-gon): (To work); Toil (As an effort or occupation.) An act:-deed,
labor, work.
The evil one, is
and always has been busy, let this come as no surprise. Christians
may not be, but he is!
The workings of
the devil are manifold:
Tempts individuals
to disobedience and sin.
Genesis 3:4,5
KJV
4 And the serpent said unto the
woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day
ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as
gods, knowing good and evil.
Slanders God's
people.
Job 1:9-11 KJV
9 Then Satan answered The Lord, and
said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
10 Hast not thou made an hedge about
him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?
thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is
increased in the land.
11 But put forth thine hand now, and
touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
Strikes individuals
with disease.
Job 2:7 KJV
So went Satan forth from the
presence of The Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of
his foot unto his crown.
Brings opposition
and hostility against God's people.
Zechariah 3:1
KJV
And he shewed me Joshua the high
priest standing before The Angel Of The Lord, and Satan standing at
his right hand to resist Him.
Steals away the
good seed.
Matthew 13:19
KJV
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.
Sows tares to choke
out The Word.
Matthew 13:38
KJV
The field is the world; the good
seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children
of the wicked one;
Binds Soul, mind
and, body.
Luke 9:38-42 KJV
38 And, behold, a man of the company
cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he
is mine only child.
39 And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and
he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and
bruising him hardly departeth from him.
40 And I besought thy disciples to
cast him out; and they could not.
41 And Jesus answering said, O
faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and
suffer you? Bring thy son hither.
42 And as he was yet a coming, the
devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean
spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.
Luke 13:16 KJV
And ought not this woman, being a
daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years,
be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
Murderer and Liar.
John 8:44 KJV
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.
Causes men to sin.
John 13:2 KJV
And supper being ended, the devil
having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to
betray Him;
Blinds unbelievers
II Corinthians
4:3,4 KJV
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is
hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath
blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest The Light of the
glorious gospel of Christ, who is The Image Of God, should shine unto
them.
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.
Performs lying
wonders
II Thessalonians
2:8-12 KJV
8 And then shall that Wicked be
revealed, whom The Lord shall consume with The Spirit Of His Mouth,
and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after
the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of
unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the
love of The Truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send
them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who
believed not The Truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Preys upon, hunts
to devour.
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:
In the book of
Exodus, we read of the ten plagues, God put upon Pharaoh and the
Egyptians.
Exodus:
7:14-21 Water into blood.
8:5-6 Frogs
8:16-17 Dust to lice.
8:20-24 Flies
9:3-6 Cattle death by murrain (infectious disease.)
9:8-10 Boils on man and beast.
9:18-26 Hail storm of death, for man and beast.
10:4-15 Locusts, ruined crops, fruit, trees, etc.
10:20-23 Darkness.
12:12,29,30 Death of the 1st born, of men and animals.
Exodus:
7:14-21 Water into blood.
8:5-6 Frogs
8:16-17 Dust to lice.
8:20-24 Flies
9:3-6 Cattle death by murrain (infectious disease.)
9:8-10 Boils on man and beast.
9:18-26 Hail storm of death, for man and beast.
10:4-15 Locusts, ruined crops, fruit, trees, etc.
10:20-23 Darkness.
12:12,29,30 Death of the 1st born, of men and animals.
Pharaoh's magicians
could only perform the first two plagues, water into blood, and
frogs, and then when The Lord cursed them with lice we read.....
Exodus 8:18,19
KJV
18 And the magicians did so with
their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there
were lice upon man, and upon beast.
19 Then the magicians said unto
Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened,
and he hearkened not unto them; as The Lord had said.
Pharaoh's
magicians, were done, they had to quit, they didn't have the power.
Yes the devil has
some demonic power, but he is “not,” God, he and his power is
limited.
He is “not,”
Omnipresent, Omnipotent, nor Omniscient, only God is.
Does Satan have
power to perform miracles, oh yes, but only to subjugate the mind and
souls of unbelieving men and women.
II Thessalonians
2:1-12 NLT
1 Now, dear brothers and sisters,
let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
and how we will be gathered to meet Him.
2 Don’t be so easily shaken or
alarmed by those who say that the day of The Lord has already begun.
Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual
vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us.
3 Don’t be fooled by what they
say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion
against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who
brings destruction.
4 He will exalt himself and defy
everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will
even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.
5 Don’t you remember that I told
you about all this when I was with you?
6 And you know what is holding him
back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes.
7 For this lawlessness is already at
work secretly, and it will remain secret until The One who is holding
it back steps out of the way.
8 Then the man of lawlessness will
be revealed, but The Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of His
mouth and destroy him by the splendor of His coming.
9 This man will come to do the work
of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles.
10 He will use every kind of evil
deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they
refuse to love and accept The Truth that would save them.
11 So God will cause them to be
greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies.
12 Then they will be condemned for
enjoying evil rather than believing The Truth.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Bible Lesson: Parables-Our Lord's: Making Peace With One's Adversaries.
Bible Lesson: Parables-Our Lord's:
Making Peace With One's Adversaries.
Occasion: Putting Beliefs Into
Actions.
Lesson: Being At Peace With All.
Bible Text: Mathew 5:25 KJV/ Luke
12:58 KJV
Matthew 5:21-26 NLT (Anger)
21 “You have heard that our
ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder,
you are subject to judgment.’
22 But I say, if you are even angry
with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an
idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if
you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.
23 “So if you are presenting a
sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that
someone has something against you,
24 leave your sacrifice there at the
altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your
sacrifice to God.
25 “When you are on the way to
court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly.
Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand
you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison.
26 And if that happens, you
surely won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.
Luke 12:49-59 NLT (Time
of division.)
49 “I have come to set the world
on fire, and I wish it were already burning!
50 I have a terrible baptism of
suffering ahead of Me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is
accomplished.
51 Do you think I have come to bring
peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each
other!
52 From now on families will be
split apart, three in favor of Me, and two against—or two in favor
and three against.
53 ‘Father will be divided against
son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter
against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and
daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’”
54 Then Jesus turned to the crowd
and said, “When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you
say, ‘Here comes a shower.’ And you are right.
55 When the south wind blows, you
say, ‘Today will be a scorcher.’ And it is.
56 You fools! You know how to
interpret the weather signs of the earth and sky, but you don’t
know how to interpret the present times.
57 “Why can’t you decide for
yourselves what is right?
58 When you are on the way to court
with your accuser, try to settle the matter before you get there.
Otherwise, your accuser may drag you before the judge, who will hand
you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison.
59 And if that happens, you won’t
be free again until you have paid the very last penny.”
Followers Of The
Lord Jesus Christ:
Job 22:21 KJV
Acquaint now
thyself with Him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.
Proverbs 16:7
KJV
When a man's
ways please The Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with
him.
Luke 6:29 KJV
And unto him
that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that
taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.
Luke 17:3,4 KJV
3 Take heed to
yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if
he repent, forgive him.
4 And if he
trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day
turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
Galatians
5:22,23 KJV
22 But the
fruit of The Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith,
23 Meekness,
temperance: against such there is no law.
Ephesians
4:1,2,32 KJV
1 I therefore,
the prisoner of The Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the
vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all
lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in
love;
32 And be ye
kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Philippians 2:3
KJV
Let nothing be
done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each
esteem other better than themselves.
Colossians
3;12,13 NLT
12 Since God
chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves
with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and
patience.
13 Make
allowance for each others faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.
Remember, The Lord forgave you,
so you must forgive others.
Warning: As the Apostle has said, “no-one,” will be admitted
to heaven, with unforgiveness in their heart!
Mark 11:25 NLT
But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are
holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive
your sins, too.”
I Peter 3:8-12
NLT
8 Finally, all
of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each
other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble
attitude.
9 Don’t repay
evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you.
Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called
you to do, and He will bless you for it.
10 For the
Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days,
keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.
11 Turn away
from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
12 The eyes of
The Lord watch over those who do right, and His ears are open to
their prayers. But
The Lord turns
His face against those who do evil.”
If there should be anyone who is willing to forgive others, it
certainly should be the Christian, because of all our dear Lord, has
forgiven us of!
Matthew 5:9,39
KJV
9 Blessed are
the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
39 But I say
unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on
thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Matthew 6:9-13
KJV
9 After this
manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be
thy name.
10 Thy kingdom
come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this
day our daily bread.
12 And forgive
us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us
not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Monday, April 21, 2014
Original Sin
Bible Questions Answered:
“How could David sin in his mothers
womb?”
Cheryl/ Canterbury, England (United
Kingdom)
Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
Psalm 51:5 KJV
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity;
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Original Sin:
Genesis 3:6 KJV
And when the
woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant
to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of
the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with
her; and he did eat.
Romans 5:12-21 NLT (The Apostle Paul compares Adam and
Christ.)
12 When Adam
sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death
spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.
13 Yes, people
sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin
because there was not yet any law to break.
14 Still,
everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even
those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam
did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to
come.
15 But there is
a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s Gracious Gift.
For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even
greater is God’s wonderful grace and His Gift Of Forgiveness to
many through this other Man, Jesus Christ.
16 And the
result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of
that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s
free Gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are
guilty of many sins.
17 For the sin
of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even
greater is God’s wonderful grace and His Gift Of Righteousness, for
all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through
this one Man, Jesus Christ.
18 Yes, Adam’s
one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of
righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for
everyone.
19 Because one
person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other
Person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.
20 God’s law
was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as
people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more
abundant.
21 So just as
sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s
wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and
resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Psalm 51,
was David's confession of murder and adultery. But in this verse (5)
he is saying that even before he was born, he was under the curse of
sin. This is called “original sin.”
Isaiah 64:6 KJV
But we are all as an unclean thing,
and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as
a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Matthew 15:19
KJV
For out of the
heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications,
thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
James 4:1 KJV
From whence
come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your
lusts that war in your members?
Romans 3:23 KJV
For all have sinned, and come short
of the glory of God;
I call heaven and earth to record
this day against you, that I have set before you Life and death,
Blessing and cursing: therefore choose Life, that both thou and thy
seed may live:
I Corinthians
15:22 KJV
For as in Adam all die, even so in
Christ shall all be made alive.
John 3:14-18 KJV
14 And as Moses lifted up the
serpent in the wilderness, even so must The Son Of Man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in Him
should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that
He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should
not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not His Son into the
world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be
saved.
18 He that believeth on Him is not
condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he
hath not believed in the name of The Only Begotten Son Of God.
John 8:24 KJV
I said therefore unto you, that ye
shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall
die in your sins.
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Rejoicing In The Lord
Bible Questions Answered:
“How may someone be happy go lucky
when everything in their life has gone to ….? What kind of sense is
this, it is sure nonsense.....”
Roland/ South Holland, Netherlands
Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
Habakkuk 3:16-19 NLT
(Be sure to read the whole chapter.)
16 I trembled inside when I heard
this; my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me, and I
shook in terror. I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster
will strike the people who invade us.
17 Even though the fig trees have no
blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive
crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the
flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I
will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
19 The Sovereign Lord is my
strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the
heights.
The prophet
Habakkuk, was speaking of pending judgment. The Chaldeans (Chaldea or
Babylonia), were about to invade them, If that were not enough, in
judgment, once fruitful fields now lay bear, the grain was gone, and
so to the livestock it once fed. Barns that use to be full, now were
empty.
Psalm 27:1-14
NLT (A psalm of David.)
1 The Lord is my Light and my
Salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my Fortress,
protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?
2 When evil people come to devour
me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.
3 Though a mighty army surrounds me,
my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain
confident.
4 The one thing I ask of The Lord—
the thing I seek most—is to live in The House Of The Lord all the
days of my life, delighting in The Lord’s perfections and
meditating in His Temple.
5 For He will conceal me there when
troubles come; He will hide me in His sanctuary. He will place me out
of reach on a High Rock.
6 Then I will hold my head high
above my enemies who surround me. At His sanctuary I will offer
sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising The Lord with
music.
7 Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be
merciful and answer me!
8 My heart has heard you say, “Come
and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”
9 Do not turn your back on me. Do
not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my Helper.
Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my Salvation!
10 Even if my father and mother
abandon me, The Lord will hold me close.
11 Teach me how to live, O Lord.
Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me.
12 Do not let me fall into their
hands. For they accuse me of things I’ve never done; with every
breath they threaten me with violence.
13 Yet I am confident I will see The
Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.
14 Wait patiently for The Lord. Be
brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for The Lord.
How could these men
have had such faith? They could because it was “not,” in men they
trusted, but in
the faithful,
despite calamities, Living God!
Our God Is
Faithful:
Deuteronomy 7:9
NLT
Understand, therefore, that The Lord
your God is indeed God. He is The Faithful God who keeps His covenant
for a thousand generations and lavishes His unfailing love on those
who love Him and obey His commands.
I Kings 8:56 NLT
“Praise The Lord who has given
rest to His people Israel, just as He promised. Not one word has
failed of all the wonderful promises He gave through His servant
Moses.
Psalm 36:5 NLT
Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as
vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.
Psalm 89:1 KJV
I will sing of the Mercies of The
Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy Faithfulness to
all generations.
I Corinthians
1:9 KJV
God is Faithful, by whom ye were
called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Hebrews 6:18 NLT
So God has given both His promise
and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is
impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for
Refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies
before us.
I Peter 4:19 NLT
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.
II Thessalonians
3:3 NLT
But The Lord is Faithful; He will
strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.
II Timothy 2:13
NLT
If we are unfaithful, He remains
faithful, for He cannot deny who He is.
Hebrews 2:17 NLT
Therefore, it was necessary for Him
to be made in every respect like us, His brothers and sisters, so
that He could be our Merciful And Faithful High Priest before God.
Then He could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the
people.
Hebrews 10:23
KJV
Let us hold fast the profession of
our faith without wavering; (for He is Faithful that promised;)
Revelation 19:11
KJV
And I saw heaven opened, and behold
a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True,
and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.
The Apostle Paul
reminds us...
I Thessalonians
5:18 KJV
In every thing give thanks: for this
is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
How can one do
this, one can do and even rejoice in time of adversity, because …
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.
Acts 5:41 KJV
And they departed from the presence
of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer
shame for His name.
Acts 16:23-25
KJV
23 And when they had laid many
stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to
keep them safely:
24 Who, having received such a
charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast
in the stocks.
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas
prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
II Corinthians
6:4-10 KJV
4 But in all things approving
ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions,
in necessities, in distresses,
5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in
tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;
6 By pureness, by knowledge, by long
suffering, by kindness, by The Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
7 By The Word Of Truth, by The Power
Of God, by The Armour Of Righteousness on the right hand and on the
left,
8 By honor and dishonor, by evil
report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
9 As unknown, and yet well known; as
dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
10 As sorrowful, yet alway
rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet
possessing all things.
Hebrews 10:32-39
NLT
32 Think back on those early days
when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained
faithful even though it meant terrible suffering.
33 Sometimes you were exposed to
public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who
were suffering the same things.
34 You suffered along with those who
were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you
accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for
you that will last forever.
35 So do not throw away this
confident trust in The Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!
36 Patient endurance is what you
need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will
receive all that He has promised.
37 “For in just a little while,
The Coming One will come and not delay.
38 And my righteous ones will live
by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”
39 But we are not like those who
turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful
ones, whose souls will be saved.
I Peter 4:12-14
KJV
12 Beloved, think it not strange
concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some
strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are
partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be
revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name
of Christ, happy are ye; for The Spirit Of Glory And Of God resteth
upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is
glorified.
II Corinthians
4:15-18 KJV
15 For all things are for your
sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many
redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but
though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by
day.
17 For our light affliction, which
is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things
which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things
which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are
eternal.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Perfect-Make The Author Of Salvation
Bible Questions Answered:
“If Jesus had been perfect, he
wouldn't have to be made perfect.....”
Stuart/ Los Angeles, California U.S.A.
Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
Hebrews 2:9,10 KJV
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a
little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with
glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for
every man.
10 For it became Him, for whom are
all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto
glory, to make The Captain of their salvation perfect through
sufferings.
It is plain to see, the subject of this verse is not, “morality,”
but Leadership, of the people of God!
The Morality Of
Jesus Christ:
Isaiah 53:9 KJV
And He made His
grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death; because He had
done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth.
Luke 23:39-41
KJV
39 And one of
the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him, saying, If thou be
Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the
other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing
thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we
indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this
Man hath done nothing amiss.
John 8:46 KJV
Which of you
convinceth Me of sin? And if I say The Truth, why do ye not believe
Me?
II Corinthians
5:21 KJV
For He hath
made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the
righteousness of God in Him.
Hebrews 4:15 KJV
For we have not
an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet
without sin.
Hebrews 7:26 KJV
For such an
High Priest became us, who is Holy, Harmless, Undefiled, Separate
from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
Hebrews 9:14 KJV
How much more
shall The Blood Of Christ, who through The Eternal Spirit offered
Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to
serve The Living God?
I Peter 1:19 KJV
But with The
Precious Blood Of Christ, as of A Lamb without blemish and without
spot:
I Peter 2:21,22
KJV
21 For even
hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving
us an example, that ye should follow His steps:
22 Who did no
sin, neither was guile found in His mouth:
I John 3:5 KJV
And ye know
that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin.
Jesus Christ is the sinless Son Of God.
What then is verse 10 telling us?
Hebrews 2:10 KJV
For it became
Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing
many sons unto glory, to make The Captain of their salvation
perfect through sufferings.
“Perfect
through sufferings,” has
to do with the leadership role of our Savior!
Jesus The Man:
Hebrews 2:5-18
NLT
5 And
furthermore, it is not angels who will control the future world we
are talking about.
6 For in one
place the Scriptures say, “What are mere mortals that you should
think about them, or a Son Of Man that you should care for Him?
7 Yet you made
them only a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory
and honor.
8 You gave them
authority over all things.” Now when it says “all things,” it
means nothing is left out. But we have not yet seen all things put
under their authority.
9 What we do
see is Jesus, who was given a position “a little lower than the
angels”; and because He suffered death for us, He is now “crowned
with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death
for everyone.
10 God, for
whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many
children into glory. And it was only right that He should
make Jesus, through His suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring
them into their salvation.
11 So now Jesus
and the ones He makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is
not ashamed to call them His brothers and sisters.
12 For He said
to God, “I will proclaim your name to My brothers and sisters. I
will praise you among your assembled people.”
13 He also
said, “I will put My trust in Him,” that is, “I and the
children God has given Me.”
14 Because
God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—The Son
also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could He die,
and only by dying could He break the power of the devil, who had the
power of death.
15 Only in this
way could He set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the
fear of dying.
16 We also know
that The Son did not come to help angels; He came to help the
descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore, it was necessary for Him to be
made in every respect like us, His brothers and sisters,so that He
could be our Merciful and Faithful High Priest before God. Then He
could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people.
18 Since He
Himself has gone through suffering and testing, He is able to help us
when we are being tested.
Jesus,
The Captian of our faith, sinless and '”a perfect
leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.”
Philippians
2:5-11 NLT
5 You must have
the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6 Though He was
God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.
7 Instead, He
gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form,
8 He humbled
Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
9 Therefore,
God elevated Him to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name
above all other names,
10 that at the
name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under
the earth,
11 and every
tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God The
Father.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Lawlessness-Holding It Back
Bible Questions Answered:
“What is it in Thessalonians that
holds back lawlessness?”
Hyacinth/ Rome Italy
Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
II Thessalonians 2:1-12 NLT
1 Now, dear
brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet Him.
2 Don’t be so
easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of The Lord
has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have
had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us.
3 Don’t be
fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a
great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is
revealed—the one who brings destruction.
4 He will exalt
himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of
worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he
himself is God.
5 Don’t you
remember that I told you about all this when I was with you?
6 And you know
what (Who)
is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes.
7 For this
lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret
until The One who is holding it back steps out of the
way.
8 Then the man
of lawlessness will be revealed, but The Lord Jesus will kill him
with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of His
coming.
9 This man will
come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and
miracles.
10 He will use
every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to
destruction, because they refuse to love and accept The Truth that
would save them.
11 So God will
cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies.
12 Then they
will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing The Truth.
II Thessalonians 2:1-12 KJV
1 Now we
beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by
our gathering together unto Him,
2 That ye be
not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by
word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man
deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there
come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son
of perdition;
4 Who opposeth
and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is
worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing
himself that he is God.
5 Remember ye
not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye
know what (Who)
with holdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the
mystery of iniquity doth already work: only He who now
letteth will let, until He be taken out of the way.
8 And then
shall that Wicked be revealed, whom The Lord shall consume with The
Spirit Of His Mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His
coming:
9 Even him,
whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs
and lying wonders,
10 And with all
deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they
received not the love of The Truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this
cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a
lie:
12 That they
all might be damned who believed not The Truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness.
Some have thought it Civil Authority
(In Paul's day, Rome)/ some have thought it to be The Word, or the
gospel, and to be sure it is through The Word, that we may make combat
with they enemy!
Civil governments, come and go, but The
Word, is everlasting.
The Word:
Joshua 1:8 KJV (Spiritual
Victory.)
This book of the law shall not
depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and
night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is
written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and
then thou shalt have good success.
Psalm 19:9-11 KJV (Reward)
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.
Jeremiah 5:14 KJV (Flame of
fire.)
Wherefore thus saith The Lord God Of
Hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make My words in
thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.
Jeremiah 23:29 KJV (Hammer)
Is not My Word like as a fire? saith
The Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
Ezekiel 37:7 KJV (Word of Life)
So I prophesied as I was commanded:
and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the
bones came together, bone to his bone.
Matthew 7:24 KJV (Success)
Therefore whosoever heareth these
sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man,
which built his house upon a Rock:
Luke 11:28 KJV (Blessed)
But He said, Yea rather, blessed are
they that hear The Word Of God, and keep it.
John 5:24 KJV (Blessed hearers
of The Word.)
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He
that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath
everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed
from death unto life.
John 8:31 KJV (True
Discipleship.)
Then said Jesus to those Jews which
believed on Him, If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples
indeed;
Romans 1:16 KJV (Saving Word)
For I am not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one
that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Revelation 1:3 KJV (Faithful
Watchers.)
Blessed is he that readeth, and they
that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are
written therein: for the time is at hand.
Is it The Word, that is holding back
the evil spirit of lawlessness (iniquity)?
Yes, But it is God The Holy Spirit,
who is wielding it!
Ephesians 6:17 KJV (Weapon of
defense.)
And take the helmet of salvation,
and The Sword Of The Spirit, which is The Word Of
God:
Hebrews 4:12 KJV (Sword)
For The Word Of God is quick,
and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even
to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and
marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
II Thessalonians
2:6,7 NLT
6 And you know
what (Who)
is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes.
7 For this
lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret
until The One who is holding it back steps out of the
way.
II Thessalonians
2:6,7 KJV
6 And now ye
know what (Who)
withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the
mystery of iniquity doth already work: only He who now
letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
The Word, here tells us that it is “someone,” who is holding back
lawlessness, and that is
God The Holy Spirit!
God The Holy Spirit, is omnipresent (Everywhere existent.).
Psalm 139:8 KJV
If I ascend up
into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou
art there.
Our God created the universe, and there is no place where He is not!
Deuteronomy 4:35
KJV
Know therefore
this day, and consider it in thine heart, that The Lord he is God in
heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
Jeremiah 23:24
KJV
Can any hide
himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith The Lord. Do
not I fill heaven and earth? saith The Lord.
“But pastor,
it says the Holy Spirit will be taken away.”
II Thessalonians
2:7 KJV
For the
mystery of iniquity doth already work: only He who now
letteth will let, until He be taken out of the way.
Better rendering:
II Thessalonians
2:7 NLT
For this
lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret
until The One who is holding it back steps out of
the way.
The Holy Spirit is God, therefore there is no where, where He is not,
knowing this, we come to understand as the New Living Translation has
translated this verse.
God The Holy Spirit, “steps out of the way, “ of being a
“restrainer,” against evil, (Changing of office.)
Today, God's Holy Spirit is blocking the full extent of evil!
“Oh pastor, you don't know what you are saying, look how evil our
world is!”
Yes, it is tremendously evil, and yet, this world has only seen the
tip of the iceberg of evil.
There soon is coming a day, God's people having been removed, when
Satan and his son (the anti-christ) will rule this fallen world....
Genesis 6:5 KJV
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and
that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil
continually.
The day that is coming will make the sins of Sodom and Gomorah look
like a Sunday School picnic.
God The Holy Spirit, during this time known as The Day Of Jacobs
Trouble, or The Tribulation, will cease His restraining sin
(blocking, holding it back.) But yes many will be saved in the
tribulation, a work of God The Holy Spirit.
Revelation 6:11 KJV (Tribulation Martyrs.)
And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said
unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their
fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they
were, should be fulfilled.
The dregs of sin will be drunken to its fullest, darkest evil, will be reality.
Any lie, no matter how great, will be held to.
II Thessalonians 2:11,12 KJV
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that
they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not The Truth, but
had pleasure in unrighteousness.
“So pastor, knowing all this, whats our game plan today?”
Dear saints of The Living God, listen to the Apostle Paul, he tells
us!
Ephesians 5:18 KJV
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled
with The Spirit;
Allow God The Holy Spirit, to have every access to your life, fill
your life with God The Holy spirit and with The Word Of God, and be a
part of the offence team, chasing out evil, as long as we the
church of The Lord Jesus Christ are here.
Leviticus 26:7,8 KJV (The Christian's Sword, The Word Of God.)
7 And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you
by The Sword.
8 And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you
shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before
you by The Sword.
Joshua 23:10 KJV
One man of you shall chase a thousand: for The Lord your God, He
it is that fighteth for you, as He hath promised you.
Matthew 28:18-20 KJV
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given
unto Me in heaven and in earth.
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.
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