Friday, January 31, 2014
Mustard Seed
Bible Questions Answered:
“What does the story of the mustard
seed say to us?”
Laurence/ Cardiff, England (United
Kingdom)
Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
Luke 13:18,19 NLT (Parable of
the Mustard Seed. See also Matthew 13:31,32/ Mark 4:30-32.)
18 Then Jesus said, “What is the
Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it?
19 It is like a tiny mustard seed
that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the
birds make nests in its branches.”
The Kingdom of God:
The Word of God in the heart of the
believer.
Evangelism with the life saving Word of
God.
Believers added to the church.
Jesus was using an example to
illustrate the growth of the kingdom of God.
The black mustard tree (most believe
this is the plant The Lord was referring to), can grow to 9 feet or
more. It's seed is very small, yet the tree can be tall and full, so
much so that the birds of the air, come and nest in its branches.
Zechariah 4:10 KJV
For who hath despised the day of
small things?..."
Small seeds, have a
way of growing.
Jesus began with a
small group of 12 men.
At the upper room
some 120 followers of Jesus met.
Acts 1:15 KJV
During this time, when about 120
believers were together in one place..."
120 disciples grew
to over 3,000 believers in one day.
Acts 2:41 NLT
Those who believed what Peter said
were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.
This number grew to
5,000.
Acts 4:4 NLT
But many of the people who heard
their message believed it, so the number of believers now totaled
about 5,000 men, not counting women and children.
Jerusalem's
believers multiplied.
Acts 6:7 NLT
So God’s message continued to
spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and
many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.
Gatherings of
believers in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria grew.
Acts 9:31 NLT
The church then had peace throughout
Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers
lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy
Spirit, it also grew in numbers.
Jerusalem,
believers grew to thousands.
Acts 21:20 NLT
After hearing this, they praised
God. And then they said, “You know, dear brother, how many
thousands of Jews have also believed, and they all follow the law of
Moses very seriously.
Today there are
estimates of between 2-3 billion Christians in the world.
In the parable,
Jesus is the sower, and His seed of believers, are growing into a great harvest.
Our Lord has told
us that our success will be measured by our faith. Nothing may stand
in the way of the growth of the kingdom of God, if we have faith!
Matthew 17:20
KJV
And Jesus said unto them...verily I
say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall
say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall
remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Luke 17:6 KJV
And The Lord said, If ye had faith
as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be
thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it
should obey you.
Matthew 28:18-20
NLT (Believers Great Commission.)
18 Jesus came and told His
disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.
19 Therefore, go and make disciples
of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of
The Father and The Son and The Holy
Spirit.
20 Teach these new disciples to obey
all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you
always, even to the end of the age.”
Revelation
5:11-14 NLT
11 Then I looked again, and I heard
the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and
of the living beings and the elders.
12 And they sang in a mighty chorus:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered— to receive power and
riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.”
13 And then I heard every creature
in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang:
“Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting
on the throne
and to The Lamb forever and ever.”
14 And the four living beings said,
“Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped The
Lamb.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Gates Of Hell Shall Not Prevail
Bible Questions Answered:
“...we were discussing the
verse in Matthew “I will build My church, and the forces of Hades
will not overpower it.” What is the point being made here?”
Roderick/ Bonn, Germany
(North Rhine-Westphalia)
Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
Matthew 16:18 KJV
“... I will build my
church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
The walk of a Christian is
not just walk of defense, but also of offense!
What does your faith, do in
offense?
Defense: The
resisting (Defending an) attack, from an enemy.
Offense: The action,
or actions of attacking an enemy, or enemies.
What did Jesus do?
His faith was not only in
word, but also in deeds.
He not only defended the
faith, by He also attacked the works of the enemy!
He cast out demons, threw
money changers out of the temple, told Sadducee's, and Pharisees they
were hypocrites, etc. etc.
Much of what Jesus did, was
in the offense, driving out evil, and setting captives free!
And we are to follow His
example!
I John 3:8 KJV (Offense)
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.
John 13:15 KJV
For I have given you an
example, that ye should do as I have done..."
I Peter 2:21 KJV
"... Christ also
suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow
His steps:
The Word:
Psalm 44:5 KJV (Offense)
Through thee will we push
down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under
that rise up against us.
Luke 10:19 KJV (Offense)
Behold, I give unto you
power...over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any
means hurt you.
Romans 8:35,37-39 KJV
(Offense)
35 Who shall separate us
from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
37 Nay, in all these
things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded,
that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor
powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth,
nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of
God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
II Corinthians 10:4 KJV
(For the weapons of our
warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down
of strong holds;)
Jude 1:22,23 NLT
(Offense)
22 And you must show
mercy to those whose faith is wavering.
23 Rescue others by
snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still
others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that
contaminate their lives.
I John 4:4 KJV (Offense)
Ye are of God, little
children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in
you, than he that is in the world.
1 John 5:4,5 KJV
(Offense)
4 For whatsoever is born
of God over cometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh
the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that over
cometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son Of God?
Revelation 15:2 KJV
(Offense)
And I saw as it were a
sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory
over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the
number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of
God.
The Apostle Paul gave the
church a 7 point victory plan for success.
Ephesians 6:10-18 NLT (I
Thessalonians 5:8 KJV)
10 A final word: Be
strong in The Lord and in His mighty power.
11 Put on all of God’s
armor (Defense) so that you will be able to stand firm
against all strategies of the devil.
12 For we are not
fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against
evil rulers and
authorities of the
unseen world, against
mighty powers in
this dark world, and against
evil spirits in
the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, put on
every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the
enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be
standing firm.
14 Stand your ground,
putting on the belt (Defense) of truth
and the body armor (Defense) of God’s righteousness.
15 For shoes
(Defense), put on the peace
that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.
16 In addition to all of
these, hold up the shield (Defense) of faith to
stop the fiery arrows of the devil.
17 Put on salvation
as your helmet (Defense), and take the sword of the
Spirit(Offense), which is
the word of God.
18 Pray
(Offense) in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.
Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers
everywhere.
The Apostle Paul mentions 7
items need by the Christian, 5 are for defense, and 2 are
for offense!
Using The Word Of God,
and Prayer, we may go against the works of the enemy!
II Corinthians 6:4,7 KJV
4 But in all things
approving ourselves as the ministers of God,in distresses..."
7 By The Word Of Truth,
by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand
and on the left,
II Timothy 2:3,4 KJV
3 Thou therefore endure
hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that warreth
entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please
Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Hebrews 4:12 KJV
For The Word Of God
(Sword Of The Spirit) is quick, and powerful, and sharper than
any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul
and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart.
Revelation 12:11 KJV
And they overcame him by
The Blood Of The Lamb, and by the word of their testimony..."
Luke 10:17-20 KJV
17 And the seventy
returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject
unto us through thy name.
18 And He said unto them,
I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
19 Behold, I give unto
you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the
power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20 Notwithstanding in
this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but
rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven
The gates (Powers) of hell
shall not prevail against the church, because true Christian people
defend the faith, and offensively, attack the enemy
with the power of God!
Isaiah 58:6-9 KJV
6 Is not this the fast
that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness,
to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the
oppressed go free, and that ye break
every yoke?
7 Is it not to deal thy
bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out
to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and
that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
8 Then shall thy light
break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth
speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of
The Lord shall be thy reward.
9 Then shalt thou call,
and The Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here I
am..."
Romans 13:12 KJV
The night is far spent,
the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness,
and let us put on the armor of light.
I Timothy 6:12 KJV
Fight the good fight of
faith..."
Laurel wreaths, in ancient
times, (from the Laurel, a Mediterranean tree, its leaves.), were
given as a crown of honor to heroes, poets, and winners in athletic
contests. It was the trophy of its day.
And now the idiom "Don't
rest upon your laurels."
Meaning, do not stop and
simply rest upon yesterdays victories....press on!
And the Church of Jesus
Christ, is "not," to be resting upon its laurels!
Now is our finest hour,
defend the faith, yes, but not to over look attacking as a good
soldier of Jesus Christ, the enemy, loosing the captives, driving out
the enemy in Jesus name.
Our Savior promised His
church ….
Hebrews 13:5 KJV
"...for He hath
said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
John 14:12-14 KJV
12 Verily, verily, I say
unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do
also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My
Father.
13 And whatsoever ye
shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be
glorified in The Son.
14 If ye shall ask any
thing in My name, I will do it.
Prayer Request: Pastor Harold E. Salem
Prayer Request:
Dear friends, we are sorry we have been
off several days do to Minnesota's blizzard like weather, and our
internet connections have been down. Also we have had several email
addresses for The Bible Prayer Line hacked, so if you haven't gotten
through for some time, that's why. We are going to try a new address
for your prayer requests JosephJReine@TheBiblePrayerLine.Com
we'll try this and see how it goes. A comment or two concerning our
Face Book account, this pastor has no idea, how to work face book, but
is trying to learn. Hold on with us if you can. Sixty Five Countries and counting, read The Bible Prayer Line, be sure to tell a friend, that you do to! Announcement: We have
had this new book out on a limited basis in 2013, and it will now be
coming out on Amazon's Kindle “SALVATION-we are not afraid.”
Look for it in a week or two at most. This is almost 100 pages, and
covers a lot of territory.
Having said all of this, here is
today's prayer request:
Please pray for Dr. Harold E. Salem, a
wonderful, dedicated man of God, who has had a bad fall and broken a
femur bone (above the knee).
Pastor Salem is 92 years young, and has
been preaching for 70 years! He suffered a heart attack some time
back, but that hasn't stopped him, and now he has already been laid
up for some six weeks, with some four or five more to follow.
Hopefully he will be back in his pulpit on March 1st.
Pastor Salem's weekly “Christian
Worship Hour,” is listened to and viewed around the world.
Please pray for his recovery, God, will
hear your prayer (In case you don't think so, read the Amazon Kindle
book “Unlocking The Mystery Of Prayer.”) and He will answer, and
you will be rewarded one day for your concern.
When at the web page, check the
face book tab, where new updates are listed.
Matthew 10:42 KJV
And whosoever shall give to drink
unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of
a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his
reward.
Does God heal today, in answer to
prayer? Yes!
Who should pray for the sick?
Any Christian, who is looking for ways to serve the
Lord!
Isaiah 53:5 KJV
But He was wounded for our
transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement
of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.
Matthew 10:1 KJV
And when He had called unto Him His
twelve disciples, He gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast
them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of
disease.
Mark 3:14,15 KJV
14 And He ordained twelve, that they
should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach,
15 And to have power to heal
sicknesses, and to cast out devils:
Mark 6:7,13 KJV
7 And He called unto Him the twelve,
and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over
unclean spirits;
13 And they cast out many devils,
and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.
Mark 16:17,18 KJV
17 And these signs shall follow them
that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak
with new tongues;
18 ...They shall lay hands on the
sick, and they shall recover.
Luke 10:19 KJV
Behold, I give unto you power...over
all the power of the enemy..."
I John 3:8 KJV
...For this purpose The Son Of God
was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
Can our Lord, count on you to be the
person of faith and prayer?
Please pray for Pastor Salem.
Don't be afraid to go to the hospital
in your city, and pray for any and all that would appreciate your
prayers.
Don't be afraid to go to the nursing
home in your area, visit and offer prayers for those who need them.
In this late hour, it is time for
Christian people, to be bold in the name of The Lord!
God will go with you!
And one more important thing, God will
record your work, and openly reward you for your smallest of efforts
on His behalf!
Matthew 25:31-46 KJV
31 When The Son Of man shall come in
His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon
the throne of His glory:
32 And before Him shall be gathered
all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a
Shepherd divideth His sheep from the goats:
33 And He shall set the sheep on His
right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them
on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungered, and ye
gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink: I was a stranger,
and ye took Me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed Me: I was
sick, and ye visited Me: I was in prison, and ye came unto Me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer
Him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or
thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and
took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in
prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say
unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto
one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.
41 Then shall He say also unto them
on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire,
prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungered, and ye
gave Me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took Me
not in: naked, and ye clothed Me not: sick, and in prison, and ye
visited Me not.
44 Then shall they also answer Him,
saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a
stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto
thee?
45 Then shall He answer them,
saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of
the least of these, ye did it not to Me.
46 And these shall go away into
everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Third Heaven
Bible Questions Answered:
“What is pauls third heaven?...”
Paisley/ Surrey, Canada (British
Columbia)
Bible Text:
II Corinthians 11:16-33 KJV (Paul,
defends his faithfulness to the people of God. Be sure to read the
whole 11th & 12 chapters.)
16 I say again,
let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me,
that I may boast myself a little.
17 That which I
speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in
this confidence of boasting.
18 Seeing that
many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
19 For ye
suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.
20 For ye
suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a
man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the
face.
21 I speak as
concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit where in so
ever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
22 Are they
Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of
Abraham? so am I.
23 Are they
ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labors more
abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in
deaths oft.
24 Of the Jews
five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I
beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered
shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In
journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in
perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in
the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in
perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness
and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in
fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28 Beside those
things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of
all the churches.
29 Who is weak,
and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
30 If I must
needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine
infirmities.
31 The God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore,
knoweth that I lie not.
32 In Damascus
the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the damascenes
with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
33 And through
a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his
hands.
It was against the nature of the Apostle to brag about himself, so in
II Corinthians 12:1-4, he speaks of himself in the third person. If
anyone had been a true teacher, it was the beloved Apostle Paul, who
had suffered and bled, in his great love for the Corinthian
believers.
It was at Lystra, that the Apostle was stoned. Many believe, as did
the Jews, that Paul was dead.
It was more than likely that, it was here, that the Apostle had his
heavenly visitation, described in the next verses. Yet God in His
mercy and love, sent Paul back to finish the work he was called to
do.
II Corinthians 12:1-4 KJV
1 It is not expedient for me
doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of
The Lord.
2 I knew a man in Christ above
fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether
out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up
to the third heaven.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in
the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4 How that he was caught up into
paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a
man to utter.
The
Third Heaven:
I Kings 8:27 KJV
(Solomon)
But will God indeed dwell on the
earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee;
how much less this house that I have builded?
II Chronicles
2:6 KJV (Solomon)
But who is able to build Him an
house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain Him?
who am I then, that I should build Him an house, save only to burn
sacrifice before Him?
II Chronicles
6:18 KJV (Solomon)
But will God in very deed dwell with
men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot
contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!
Nehemiah 9:6 KJV
Thou, even thou, art Lord alone;
thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host,
the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is
therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven
worshipeth thee.
Psalm 148:4 KJV
Praise Him, ye heavens of heavens,
and ye waters that be above the heavens.
Although there were
various views about the heavens, the one early believers settled on
was that, the atmosphere around the earth, was the first heaven. The
starry universe, with all its marvels, was the second heaven. And the
Third Heaven, was beyond the universe, and it was God's residence,
described in Revelation chapters 21 & 22.
(Some of you dear
friends ask that all scripture, please be listed, because you may not
have a Bible, so we will!)
Revelation
21:1-27 KJV
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new
earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and
there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new
Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride
adorned for her Husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of
heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will
dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall
be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears
from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow,
nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former
things are passed away.
5 And He that sat upon the throne
said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for
these words are true and faithful.
6 And He said unto me, It is done. I
am Alpha and Omega, The Beginning and The End. I will give unto him
that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit
all things; and I will be His God, and he shall be My son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving,
and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers,
and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which
burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
9 And there came unto me one of the
seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last
plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee
the bride, The Lamb's wife.
10 And he carried me away in the
spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city,
the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 Having the glory of God: and her
light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone,
clear as crystal;
12 And had a wall great and high,
and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names
written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the
children of Israel:
13 On the east three gates; on the
north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three
gates.
14 And the wall of the city had
twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of
the Lamb.
15 And he that talked with me had a
golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall
thereof.
16 And the city lieth foursquare,
and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city
with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth
and the height of it are equal.
17 And he measured the wall thereof,
an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a
man, that is, of the angel.
18 And the building of the wall of
it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
19 And the foundations of the wall
of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The
first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a
chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth,
sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a
topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the
twelfth, an amethyst.
21 And the twelve gates were twelve
pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the
city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
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 honour 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 honour 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.
Revelation
22:1-21 KJV
1 And he shewed me a pure river of
water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God
and of The Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it,
and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which
bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and
the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse:
but the throne of God and of The Lamb shall be in it; and His
servants shall serve Him:
4 And they shall see His face; and
His name shall be in their foreheads.
5 And there shall be no night there;
and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for The Lord God
giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
6 And he said unto me, These sayings
are faithful and true: and The Lord God of the holy prophets sent His
angel to shew unto His servants the things which must shortly be
done.
7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is
he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
8 And I John saw these things, and
heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship
before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do
it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets,
and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
10 And he saith unto me, Seal not
the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
11 He that is unjust, let him be
unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he
that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy,
let him be holy still.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and
My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall
be.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, The
Beginning and The End, The First and The Last.
14 Blessed are they that do his
commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may
enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and
sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and
whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
16 I Jesus have sent Mine angel to
testify unto you these things in the churches. I am The Root And The
Offspring Of David, and The Bright And Morning Star.
17 And The Spirit and the bride say,
Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst
come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
18 For I testify unto every man that
heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add
unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are
written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away
from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his
part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the
things which are written in this book.
20 He which testifieth these things
saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ be with you all. Amen.
Paradise, today is
in the third heaven (a subject in itself).
Luke
23:43 KJV (Jesus,
promised the repentant thief on the cross.)
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I
say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise.
(But, they didn't stay there.)
Ephesians 4:8-10
KJV
8 Wherefore He saith, When He
ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto
men.
9 (Now that He ascended, what is it
but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same
also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all
things.)
Ephesians 4:8-10
NLT
8 That is why the Scriptures say,
“When He ascended to the heights, He led a crowd of captives
and gave gifts to His people.”
9 Notice that it says “He
ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our
lowly world.
10 And the same one who descended is
the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that He might
fill the entire universe with Himself.
Paradise (Luke
16:19-31), was caught up to the third heaven. (This is further
explained in my soon to be released book on Amazon Kindle called....
“SALVATION-we are not afraid!”)
In heaven is the
tree of life, and the river of life.
Revelation 2:7
KJV
"...To him that overcometh will
I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the
paradise of God. And also
Revelation 22:1-5 KJV.
Dear friend, have
you received The Savior? Will your eternal home be heaven?
John 14:1-6 KJV
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye
believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 In My Father's house are many
mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a
place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place
for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I
am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the
way ye know.
5 Thomas saith unto Him, Lord, we
know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto Him, I am The
Way, The Truth, and The Life: no man cometh unto The Father, but by
Me.
II Corinthians
5:1 KJV
For we know that if our earthly
house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God,
an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Philippians 3:20
KJV
For our conversation is in heaven;
from whence also we look for The Savior, The Lord Jesus Christ:
I Peter 1:3,4
KJV
3 Blessed be the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath
begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible,
and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
Revelation 22:14
KJV
Blessed are they that do His
commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may
enter in through the gates into the city.
Acts 2:21 KJV
And it shall come to pass, that
whosoever shall call on the name of The Lord shall be saved.
Friday, January 24, 2014
Bible Lesson: Parables-Our Lord's: Unclean Spirits.
Bible Lesson: Parables-Our Lord's:
Unclean Spirits.
Occasion: The Scribes And
Pharisees Demand A Sign From Jesus.
Lesson: Binding Power Of
Unbelief.
Bible Text: Matthew 12:38,39:43-45
KJV/Mark 3:22-30/ Luke 11:24-26 KJV
Matthew 12:22-24;38,39;43-45 KJV
22 Then was
brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and He
healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
23 And all the
people were amazed, and said, Is not this The son Of David?
24 But when the
Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils,
but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
(Jesus replied
saying...)
38 One day some teachers of
religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we
want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority.”
39 But Jesus replied, “Only an
evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign..."
43 When the unclean spirit is
gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and
findeth none.
44 Then he saith, I will return
into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth
it empty, swept, and garnished.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with
himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter
in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the
first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
Mark 3:22-30 KJV
22 And the scribes which came down
from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the
devils casteth He out devils.
23 And He called them unto Him, and
said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
24 And if a kingdom be divided
against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25 And if a house be divided against
itself, that house cannot stand.
26 And if Satan rise up against
himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
27 No man can enter into a strong
man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the
strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
28 Verily I say unto you, All sins
shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith
soever they shall blaspheme:
29 But he that shall blaspheme
against The Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of
eternal damnation.
30 Because they said, He hath an
unclean spirit.
Luke 11:14-16;24-26 KJV (Scribes
& Pharisees-Unpardonable Sin.)
14 And He was casting out a devil,
and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out,
the dumb spake; and the people wondered.
15 But some of them said, He casteth
out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. (See also
Matthew 12:24)
16 And others, tempting Him, sought
of Him a sign from heaven.
(And He replied, saying...)
24 When the unclean spirit is
gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and
finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came
out.
25 And when he cometh, he findeth
it swept and garnished.
26 Then goeth he, and taketh to
him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in,
and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the
first.
Matthew 12:38,39 KJV
38 One day some teachers of
religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we
want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority.”
39 But Jesus replied, “Only an
evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign..."
Luke 11:14-16;24-26 KJV (Scribes
& Pharisees-And Their Unpardonable Sin.)
14 And He was casting out a devil,
and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out,
the dumb spake; and the people wondered.
15 But some of them said, He casteth
out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.
16 And others, tempting Him, sought
of Him a sign from heaven.
Jesus warned
them....
Matthew
12:31,32 KJV
31 Wherefore I
say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto
men: but the blasphemy against
The Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
The Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
32 And
whosoever speaketh a word against The Son Of man, it shall be
forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against The Holy Ghost, it shall
not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to
come.
In Matthew
12:39 KJV...Jesus stated that ““Only an evil,
adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign..."
When the Scribes
and Pharisees attributed the works of Jesus to Satan, The Lord warned
them, of committing the unpardonable sin, of sinning against God The
Holy Spirit.
John 3:5 KJV
Jesus answered,
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of
The Spirit, he
cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Jesus then went on
to give this parable:
Matthew 12:43-45
KJV
43 When the unclean spirit is
gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and
findeth none.
44 Then he saith, I will return
into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth
it empty, swept, and garnished.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with
himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter
in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the
first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
Matthew
12:43 KJV
“When the unclean spirit is
gone out of a man,”
This only happens, by the “power of God.” Jesus cast out demonic
spirits.
They do not wish to
leave their host willingly, they must be “cast-out.”
Luke 8:26-30 KJV
(Jesus and His disciples arrive at Gadara.)
26 And they arrived at the country
of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.
27 And when He went forth to land,
there met Him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long
time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the
tombs.
Matthew 8:28 KJV
"exceeding fierce, so that no
man might pass by that way."
Mark 5:3-5 KJV
3 Who had his dwelling among the
tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
4 Because that he had been often
bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked
asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any
man tame him.
5 And always, night and day, he was
in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with
stones.
Luke 8:28-30 KJV
28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out,
and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to
do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee,
torment me not.
29 (For he had commanded the unclean
spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and
he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands,
and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What
is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered
into him.
Marks Of The
Possessed:
verse 27 Wore no
clothes.
verse 27 lived
among the tombs.
Matt. 8:28
Exceeding Fierce
Mark 5:4 Could
not be bound with chains.
Mark 5:4 Could
not be tamed.
Mark 5:5 Night
and day, crying and cutting himself.
verse 29
Possessed with unclean spirits.
verse 29 driven
by the devil, into the wilderness.
verse 30
Possessed with legion, not one unclean spirit, but with many hundreds of
spirits.
verse 33 Seek to Possess.
Verse 33 Bring death.
Luke
8:31-33 KJV
31 And they besought Him that he
would not command them to go out into the deep (hell).
32 And there was there an herd of
many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought Him that He
would suffer (permit) them to enter into them. And He suffered them.
33 Then went the devils out of the
man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a
steep place into the lake, and were choked.
Matthew
12:43 KJV
“he walketh through dry places,
seeking rest, and findeth none.
Closest thing to
hell, would be a scorching desert, the home of unclean spirits, but
they find no rest.
Isaiah 48:22 KJV
There is no peace, saith The Lord,
unto the wicked.
Revelation 14:11
KJV
And the smoke of their torment
ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night,
who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark
of his name.
Matthew
12:44 KJV
“Then he saith, I will return
into my house from whence I came out; and when
he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and
garnished.”
I Corinthians
6:19 KJV
What? know ye not that your body is
the temple of The Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of
God, and ye are not your own?
A temple, is made
to “house,” someone! Who is in your temple?
God created man to
be “The Temple Of The Holy Spirit.”
But if a person is
not God's child, his temple is empty, just waiting to be filled. And
unclean spirits look for just such a house!
Matthew 12:45
KJV
Then goeth he, and taketh with
himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter
in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the
first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
Unclean spirits,
can think, can rationalize, can recruit!
They know that they
can be cast out, so they call other evil spirits, more evil
and powerful than themselves, to “join them,” in inhabiting the
house, so that they may “never-again,” be cast out!
And our Lord
says....
“and the
last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be
also unto this wicked generation.”
Why is our Lord
telling the Scribes and Pharisees this parable?
Because if once
they were in innocence, they certainly no longer are! They have
committed the unpardonable sin, by blaspheming God's Spirit.
“and the
last state of that man is worse than the first.”
Now our Lord,
ends this parable with a very interesting observation....
“Even so shall it be also unto
this wicked generation.”
As it is with
men, so to it is with nations!
Question:
May nations
themselves go beyond the forgiveness of Almighty God?
Answer:
Yes!
Psalm 9:17 KJV
The wicked shall be turned into
hell, and all the nations that forget God..."
Proverbs 14:34
KJV
Righteousness exalteth a nation: but
sin is a reproach to any people.
Mankind has had it's days of innocence and its Dark Ages, where
backwardness, death and decline was the rule of the day. And also its
time of Renaissance, a time of rebirth and life.
Men and nations must choose.
Hebrews 2:1-18
KJV
1 Therefore
we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have
heard, lest at any time we should let them
slip.
2 For if the
word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and
disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
3 How
shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at
the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us
by them that heard Him;
4 God also
bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers
miracles, and gifts of The Holy Ghost, according to His own will?
5 For unto the
angels hath He not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we
speak.
6 But one in a
certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful
of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him?
7 Thou madest
him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and
honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
8 Thou hast put
all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in
subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But
now we see not yet all things put under him.
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.
11 For both He
that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for
which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
12 Saying, I
will declare thy name unto My brethren, in the midst of the church
will I sing praise unto thee.
13 And again, I
will put My trust in Him. And again, Behold I and the children which
God hath given Me.
14 For as much
then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also
Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might
destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver
them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to
bondage.
16 For verily
He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed
of Abraham.
17 Wherefore in
all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He
might be a Merciful and Faithful High Priest in things pertaining to
God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that
He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour (help)
them that are tempted.
Men or nations:
Genesis 4:7 NLT
(God speaking to Cain.)
You will be accepted if you do what
is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin
is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue
it and be its master.
James 5:9 KJV
"...behold, the judge standeth
before the door.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Sixth Commandment-Exodus 20:13
Bible Questions Answered:
“If God commands no killing, how then
christian people be at war?...”
Wasana/ Khan Kaen, Thailand
Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
Exodus 20:13 KJV
Thou shalt not kill*.
The answer is in
the word “kill*.”
Kill-Hebrew:
Ratsach (Raw-tsakh): To dash to pieces, i.e. kill (a human
being), murder:-to put to death, kill (man slay) murder.
(Abingdon Strong's
-Concordance.)
Murder:
The unlawful and
malicious* or premeditated killing of one human being
by another;"
To Kill (a person)
unlawfully and with malice.
(New World
Dictionary)
*Malice:
Desire to harm
another. (Hate)
(New World
Dictionary)
Murder:
Murder committed
with malice aforethought, characterized by deliberation or
premeditation or occurring during the commission of another serious
crime, as robbery or arson (first-degree murder)
(Dictionary.Com)
Exodus 20:13 NLT
You must not murder.
This was not to
kill in war, because even God had His people, conquer
“heathen-nations,” through war. It must be well remembered
though, God had dealt with these heathen nations time after time,
but they would not repent of their evil deeds.
New Living
Translation, renders this verse as murder, and that is what the
Hebrew word “ Ratsach,” is.
Murder is with
hate, and premeditation.
Murder is such a
heinous crime, that God warned Moses saying....
Numbers
35:1,30-34 NLT (Capital Punishment.)
1 While Israel was
camped beside the Jordan on the plains of Moab across from Jericho,
The Lord said to Moses,
30 “All murderers
must be put to death, but only if evidence is presented by more than
one witness. No one may be put to death on the testimony of only one
witness.
31 Also, you must
never accept a ransom payment for the life of someone judged guilty
of murder and subject to execution; murderers must always be put to
death.
32 And never accept
a ransom payment from someone who has fled to a city of refuge,
allowing a slayer to return to his property before the death of the
high priest.
33 This will ensure
that the land where you live will not be polluted, for murder
pollutes the land. And no sacrifice except the execution of the
murderer can purify the land from murder.
34 You must not
defile the land where you live, for I live there myself. I am The
Lord, who lives among the people of Israel.”
Premeditation:
Numbers 35:16-21
NLT
16 “But if someone strikes and
kills another person with a piece of iron, it is murder, and the
murderer must be executed.
17 Or if someone with a stone in his
hand strikes and kills another person, it is murder, and the murderer
must be put to death.
18 Or if someone strikes and kills
another person with a wooden object, it is murder, and the murderer
must be put to death.
19 The victim’s nearest relative
is responsible for putting the murderer to death. When they meet, the
avenger must put the murderer to death.
20 So if someone hates another
person and pushes him or throws a dangerous object at him and he
dies, it is murder.
21 Or if someone hates another
person and hits him with a fist and he dies, it is murder. In such
cases, the avenger must put the murderer to death when they meet.
God Knows Our
Heart:
Job 42:1,2 KJV
1 Then Job answered The Lord, and
said,
2 I know that thou canst do every
thing, and that no thought can be with holden from thee.
Psalm 94:11 KJV
The Lord knoweth the thoughts of
man..."
Proverbs 23:7
KJV
For as he thinketh in his heart, so
is he..."
Jeremiah 17:9
KJV
The heart is deceitful above all
things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Proverbs 20:27
MSG
God is in charge of human life,
watching and examining us inside and out.
How careful we must
be of our thoughts, our desires!
Ephesians
4:26,27 KJV
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not
the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
The severity of
judgment upon murder, speaks volumes of God's view of the sanctity of
life!
Mankind was forever created in the “image of God.”
And be it of men or babies, murder is murder, and murders will one
day answer to Almighty God.
Oh, how wonderful, beyond earthly understanding, are those all
forgiving words....
I John 1:9 KJV
If we confess
our sins, He is Faithful and Just to forgive us our sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Yes, true for murders, and all other sinners.
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Abram And Hagar
Bible Questions Answered:
“Was it right that Abraham slept with
Hagar?”
Shelby/ Brisbane, Australia,
(Queensland)
Bible Answer:
No, it was not right.
Genesis 16:1-5 KJV
1 Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no
children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold
now, The Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in
unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And
Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
3 And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar
her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of
Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.
4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she
conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was
despised in her eyes.
5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My
wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she
saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the Lord
judge between me and thee.
Abram had, before been promised by
God...
Genesis 15:1-6 KJV
1 After these things the word of
the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am
thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
2 And Abram said, Lord God, what
wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house
is this Eliezer of Damascus?
3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou
hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
4 And, behold, the word of The Lord
came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he
that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
5 And he brought him forth abroad,
and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able
to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
6 And he believed in The Lord; and
He counted it to him for righteousness.
Just as Adam had
listened to the voice of his wife, and eaten of the forbidden fruit,
Abram, listen to his wife. No doubt Abram and Sarai, reasoned because
of their age, certainly God must have had something else in mind.
Sarai, reasoned that she and Abram, could have children through her
handmaid Hagar. In their day, Eastern Codes suggest this may have
been the custom of some ( such as the Hammurabi Code.)
Abraham knew this
was not right, i.e. having a child by means of polygamy. For since
the beginning whereupon God instituted the institution of marriage,
one man and one wife was God's plan!
Genesis 2:23,24
KJV
23 And Adam said, This is now bone
of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman,
because she was taken out of Man.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his
father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall
be one flesh.
Matthew 19:4-6
KJV (Jesus)
4 And He answered and said unto
them, Have ye not read, that He which made them at the beginning made
them male and female,
5 And said, For this cause shall a
man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they
twain shall be one flesh?
6 Wherefore they are no more twain,
but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man
put asunder.
(Having a Christian
Wedding in the near future? Be sure your Public Announcement reads
that it is a
GENESIS WEDDING!
One man, and one
woman, God's plan for marriage, no other group can claim to
have a
GENESIS
WEDDING.)
In Genesis,
marriage is defined by God as being heterosexual monogamy, this has
always been His plan!
Proverbs 5:15-23
NLT
15 Drink water from
your own well—share your love only with your wife.
16 Why spill the
water of your springs in the streets, having sex with just anyone?
17 You should
reserve it for yourselves. Never share it with strangers.
18 Let your wife
be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your
youth.
19 She is a loving
deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you
always be captivated by her love.
20 Why be
captivated, my son, by an immoral woman, or fondle the breasts of a
promiscuous woman?
21 For The Lord
sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes.
22 An evil man is
held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him.
23 He will die for
lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his great
foolishness.
Hebrews 13:4 NLT
Give honor to marriage, and remain
faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who
are immoral and those who commit adultery.
Genesis
18:10-14 NLT (Theophany
-
The Pr-Incarnate Lord Jesus.)
10 Then one of them said, “I will
return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will
have a son!” Sarah was listening to this conversation from the
tent.
11 Abraham and Sarah were both very
old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children.
12 So she laughed silently to
herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such
pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?”
13 Then The Lord said to Abraham,
“Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me
have a baby?’
14 Is anything too hard for
The Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah
will have a son.”
Genesis 21:1-3,5
NLT
1 The Lord kept His word and did for
Sarah exactly what He had promised.
2 She became pregnant, and she gave
birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the
time God had said it would.
3 And Abraham named their son Isaac.
5 Abraham was 100 years old when
Isaac was born. (Sarah, herself
was some 90 years young.)
When we do
things God's way, there are blessings, and eternal rewards!
Hebrews 11:8-12
KJV
8 By faith Abraham, when he was
called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an
inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land
of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with
Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which
hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 Through faith also Sara herself
received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when
she was past age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore sprang there even of
one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in
multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
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