Thursday, March 31, 2016
Church Divisions
Bible Questions Answered:
“Our church has a division between
its membership. Traditionalists versus Contemporary believers, and
the division is sharp and separating and nothing is making it go
away, if the church leans towards the more traditional, then thee
opposing group makes a ruckus and the same if it moves towards the
more contemporary with the traditional members being upset and put
out...”
Arnold/ Fayetteville, North Carolina
U.S.A.
Bible Answer:
Bible Texts:
The Word Of God
has a thing or two to say concerning church divisions:
Divisions
Within The Church, Condemned:
I Corinthians
1:10-17 NLT
10 I appeal to
you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our
Lord Jesus
Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be
no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united
in thought and purpose.
11 For some
members of Chloe’s household have told me about your quarrels,
my dear brothers and sisters.
12 Some of you
are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I
follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,” or “I follow only
Christ.”
13 Has Christ
been divided into factions? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any
of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not!
14 I thank God
that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,
15 for now no
one can say they were baptized in my name.
16 (Oh yes, I
also baptized the household of Stephanas, but I don’t remember
baptizing anyone else.)
17 For Christ
didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News—and not
with clever speech, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its
power.
Carnal spirit:
I Corinthians
3:3 NLT
For you are
still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one
another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are
controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of
the world?
I Corinthians 11:18 NLT
18 First, I
hear that there are divisions among you when you meet as a church,
and to some extent I believe it.
22"...Do
you want me to praise you? Well, I certainly will not praise you for
this!
Unbecoming
a church of The Lord Jesus Christ:
I Corinthians
12:12-27 NLT
12 The human
body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it
is with the body of Christ.
13 Some of us
are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But
we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all
share the same Spirit.
14 Yes, the
body has many different parts, not just one part.
15 If the foot
says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that
does not make it any less a part of the body.
16 And if the
ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,”
would that make it any less a part of the body?
17 If the whole
body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an
ear, how would you smell anything?
18 But our
bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants
it.
19 How strange
a body would be if it had only one part!
20 Yes, there
are many parts, but only one body.
21 The eye can
never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say
to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
22 In fact,
some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are
actually the most necessary.
23 And the
parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the
greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be
seen,
24 while the
more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put
the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those
parts that have less dignity.
25 This makes
for harmony among the members, so that all the members care
for each other.
26 If one
part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is
honored, all the parts are glad.
27 All of
you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
Division Is In
Opposition To The Will Of The Lord Jesus:
John 17:21-23
KJV
21 That they
all may be one; as thou, Father, art in Me, and I in thee, that
they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou
hast sent Me.
22 And the
glory which thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be
one, even as we are one:
23 I in them,
and thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that
the world may know that thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as
thou hast loved Me.
Our Lord's Will,
Unity:
John 10:16 KJV
And other sheep
I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they
shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one
Shepherd.
I Corinthians
12:13 NLT
Some of us are
Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But
we have all been baptized into one body by one
Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
Avoid
those who cause divisions:
Romans 16:17 KJV
Now I beseech
you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary
to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Division and its
result:
Matthew 12:25
KJV
And Jesus knew
their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against
itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided
against itself shall not stand:
The Answer Is
The Word Of God:
Proverbs 29:18
NLT
When people do
not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law
is joyful.
Isaiah 8:20 KJV
To the law and
to the testimony: if they speak not according to this Word, it is
because there is no Light in them.
John 12:48 KJV
He that
rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My Words, hath one that judgeth him:
The Word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last
day.
I Thessalonians
2:13 NLT
Therefore, we
never stop thanking God that when you received His message from us,
you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted
what we said as the very Word Of God—which, of course, it is. And
this Word continues to work in you who believe.
God's Word, is
Sacred:
Deuteronomy 4:2
KJV
Ye shall not
add unto The Word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish
ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of The Lord your God
which I command you.
Deuteronomy
12:32 KJV
What thing
soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto,
nor diminish from it.
Proverbs 30:6
KJV
Add thou not
unto His Words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Ecclesiastes
3:14 NLT
And I know that
whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from
it. God’s purpose is that people should fear Him.
Matthew 5:17,18
KJV
17 Think not
that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to
destroy, but to fulfill.
18 For verily I
say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall
in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Luke 21:33 KJV
Heaven and
earth shall pass away: but My Words shall not pass away.
Galatians 1:8,9
KJV
8 But though
we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than
that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said
before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto
you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Revelation 22:19
KJV
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.
God's People Are
Called To “Search The Scriptures.”
John 5:39 KJV
Search the
scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they
are they which testify of Me.
Acts 17:10,11
KJV
10 And the
brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea:
who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were
more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received The
Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the
scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
II Timothy 2:15
KJV
Study to shew
thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing The Word Of Truth.
I John 5:3 KJV
For this is the
love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are
not grievous.
Psalm 119:165
KJV
Great peace
have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
Matthew 5:9 KJV
Blessed are the
peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Bible Lesson: Parables Of The Old Testament: The Boiling Pot.
Bible Lesson: Parables Of The Old
Testament: The Boiling Pot.
Spoken By: Ezekiel.
Location: Babylon.
Bible Text:
Ezekiel 24:1-5 NLT
1 On January 15, during the ninth
year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, this message came to me from
The Lord:
2 “Son of man, write down today’s
date, because on this very day the king of Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar)
is beginning his attack against Jerusalem.
3 Then give these rebels (The
rebellious house – KJV) an illustration with this message
from
The Sovereign Lord:
“Put a pot on the fire, and pour
in some water.
4 Fill it with choice pieces of
meat— the rump and the shoulder and all the most tender cuts.
5 Use only the best sheep from the
flock, and heap fuel on the fire beneath the pot.
Bring the pot to a boil, and cook
the bones along with the meat.
The Players:
Ezekiel:
The
(married) Prophet of The Lord.
The King of
Babylon:
King Nebuchadnezzar.
The Coals:
Chaldean Persecution And Death:
Vs 9 The fuel beneath her.
Vs 10 heap on the wood! Let the fire roar
Vs 11 the coals. Heat it red hot!
Vs 12 the fire.
Jerusalem:
Vs. 3 The rebellious house
Vs.
6 The bloody city; city of murderers; unclean cooking pot
Vs 9 City of murderers
Vs 12 The city of lies
Vs 13 The city of impurity, lewdness, corruption, and idolatry
(KJV & NLT)
The
Story:
Ezekiel 24:6-27
NLT
6 “Now this is what The Sovereign
Lord says: What sorrow awaits Jerusalem, the city of murderers!She is
a cooking pot whose corruption can’t be cleaned out. Take the meat
out in random order, for no piece is better than another.
7 For the blood of her murders is
splashed on the rocks. It isn’t even spilled on the ground, where
the dust could cover it!
8 So I will splash her blood on a
rock for all to see, an expression of My anger and vengeance against
her.
9 “This is what the Sovereign Lord
says: What sorrow awaits Jerusalem, the city of murderers! I Myself
will pile up the fuel beneath her.
10 Yes, heap on the wood! Let the
fire roar to make the pot boil. Cook the meat with many spices,
and afterward burn the bones.
11 Now set the empty pot on the
coals. Heat it red hot! Burn away the filth and corruption (froth,
scum).
12 But it’s hopeless; the
corruption can’t be cleaned out. So throw it into the fire.
13 Your impurity is your lewdness
and the corruption of your idolatry. I tried to cleanse you, but you
refused. So now you will remain in your filth until my fury against
you has been satisfied.
14 “I, the Lord, have spoken! The
time has come, and I won’t hold back. I will not change my mind,
and I will have no pity on you. You will be judged on the basis of
all your wicked actions, says the Sovereign Lord.”
(The Death of
Ezekiel’s Wife)
15 Then this message came to me from
The Lord:
16 “Son of man, with one blow I
will take away your dearest treasure. Yet you must not show any
sorrow at her death. Do not weep; let there be no tears.
17 Groan silently, but let there be
no wailing at her grave. Do not uncover your head or take off your
sandals. Do not perform the usual rituals of mourning or accept any
food brought to you by consoling friends.”
18 So I proclaimed this to the
people the next morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next
morning I did everything I had been told to do.
19 Then the people asked, “What
does all this mean? What are you trying to tell us?”
20 So I said to them, “A message
came to me from The Lord,
21 and I was told to give this
message to the people of Israel. This is what The Sovereign Lord
says:
I will defile My Temple, the
source of your security and pride, the place your heart delights in.
Your sons and daughters whom you
left behind in Judah will be slaughtered by the sword.
22 Then you will do as Ezekiel has
done. You will not mourn in public or console yourselves by eating
the food brought by friends.
23 Your heads will remain covered,
and your sandals will not be taken off. You will not mourn or weep,
but you will waste away because of your sins. You will groan among
yourselves for all the evil you have done.
24 Ezekiel is an example for you;
you will do just as he has done. And when that time comes, you will
know that I am The Sovereign Lord.”
25 Then The Lord said to me, “Son
of man, on the day I take away their stronghold—their joy and
glory, their heart’s desire, their dearest treasure—I will also
take away their sons and daughters.
26 And on that day a survivor from
Jerusalem will come to you in Babylon and tell you what has happened.
27 And when he arrives, your voice
will suddenly return so you can talk to him, and you will be a symbol
for these people. Then they will know that I am The Lord.”
The ancients had a
saying "The mills of the gods grind slowly, but they grind
exceedingly fine,"
and how true it is.
Galatians 6:7
KJV
Be not deceived; God is not mocked:
for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Hebrews 10:30
KJV
For we know Him
that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto Me, I will recompense, saith
The Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people.
God's people, were
unfaithful to the one who had lead them out of 400 years of slavery
to freedom.
Judges 2:13,14
KJV
13 And they forsook The Lord, and
served Baal and Ashtaroth.
14 And the anger of The Lord was hot
against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of spoilers that
spoiled them, and He sold them into the hands of their enemies round
about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.
From the very
beginning God's people, were a rebellious lot.
Ezekiel warned,
this time there would be no deliverance.
Babylon's king
would kill and carry away into captivity, Jerusalem's people.
So many, even in
our day, think that God does not see or know what they do, but of
course they are dead wrong!
Psalm 11:4,5 NLT
4 But The Lord is in His holy
Temple; The Lord still rules from heaven. He watches everyone
closely, examining every person on earth.
5 The Lord examines both the
righteous and the wicked..."
Proverbs 5:21
KJV
For the ways of man are before the
eyes of The Lord, and He pondereth all his goings.
Proverbs 15:3
KJV
The eyes of The Lord are in every
place, beholding the evil and the good.
Proverbs 16:2
NLT
People may be pure in their own
eyes, but The Lord examines their motives.
Jeremiah 17:10
KJV
I The Lord search the heart, I try
the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and
according to the fruit of his doings.
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.
Jeremiah
32:18,19 KJV
18 Thou shewest loving kindness unto
thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the
bosom of their children after them: the Great,The Mighty God, The
Lord Of Hosts, is His name,
19 Great in counsel, and mighty in
work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men:
to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit
of his doings:
Israel had great
pride in the temple at Jerusalem.
Ezekiel 24:21
NLT
This is what The Sovereign Lord
says: I will defile My Temple, the source of your security and
pride,
The Chaldeans would
destroy the temple.
The Jews, had
great pride in their temple at Jerusalem, and yet they did not live
in faithfulness to the God of the temple!
Doesn't this sound
familiar, and it is the same in all generations.
Matthew 7:21-23
KJV Jesus Christ
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.
Faithful temple
workers, prophesying, performing exorcisms, and wonderful religious
works, called by Jesus Christ “workers of iniquity?” Yes!
Ephesians 2:8,9
KJV
8 For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is
The Gift Of God (Jesus
Christ):
9 Not of works (secular
or religious), lest any man should boast.
So why, oh why were
they called “workers of iniquity?”
They were called so
because of their pious airs, were leading countless people into lost
eternity.
Why were they lost,
they were lost because though they were steeped in religiosity, they
refused any obedient personal relationship with the God of the
temple!
II Timothy 3:1-5
KJV
1 This know also, that in the last
days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their
own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to
parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection,
trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of
those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, high minded,
lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness,
but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Our Living God,
Admonishes Us Today:
I Chronicles
28:9 KJV
"...know
thou the God of thy father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and
with a willing mind: for The Lord searcheth all hearts, and
understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek Him,
He will be found of thee; but if thou forsake Him, He will cast thee
off for ever.
Hebrews 12:1,2
KJV
1 Wherefore seeing we also are
compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside
every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us
run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus The Author And
Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him
endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right
hand of The Throne Of God.
Jeremiah
29:13,14 KJV
13 And ye shall seek Me, and find
Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.
14 And I will be found of you, saith
The Lord..."
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Jangling
Bible Questions Answered:
“What is jangling?...”
Rodney/ San Francisco, California
U.S.A.
Bible Answer:
Bible Texts:
Jangling: Vain, meaningless,
empty, worthless speech.
I Timothy 1:5,6 KJV
5 Now the end of the commandment is
charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith
unfeigned:
6 From which some having swerved
have turned aside unto vain jangling;
Jangling:
Psalm 5:9 KJV
For there is no faithfulness in
their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an
open sepulcher; they flatter with their tongue.
Psalm 10:7 KJV
His mouth is full of cursing and
deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
Psalm 36:3 KJV
The words of his mouth are iniquity
and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.
Psalm 55:21 KJV
The words of his mouth were smoother
than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than
oil, yet were they drawn swords.
Psalm 101:5 KJV
Whoso privily slandereth his
neighbor, him will I cut off..."
Proverbs 12:18 KJV
There is that speaketh like the
piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
Proverbs 24:2 KJV
For their heart studieth
destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
Proverbs 16:28
KJV
A froward man soweth strife: and a
whisperer separateth chief friends.
Proverbs 25:23
KJV
The north wind driveth away rain: so
doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
Matthew 12:34-37 KJV
34 O generation of vipers, how can
ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the
heart the mouth speaketh.
35 A good man out of the good
treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out
of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36 But I say unto you, That every
idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in
the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be
justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Romans 3:13,14 KJV
13 Their throat is an open
sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of
asps is under their lips:
14 Whose mouth is full of cursing
and bitterness:
II Corinthians
12:20 NLT
20 For I am afraid that when I come
I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am
afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness,
slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior.
21 Yes, I am afraid that when I come
again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved
because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not
repented of your impurity..."
Titus 1:10 NLT
For there are many rebellious people
who engage in useless talk and deceive others..."
Warnings
Against Jangling:
Psalm 34:13 KJV
Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy
lips from speaking guile.
Proverbs 13:3
KJV
He that keepeth his mouth keepeth
his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
Proverbs 21:23
KJV
Whoso keepeth his mouth and his
tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
Proverbs 26:20
KJV
Where no wood is, there the fire
goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
Ephesians 2:3
KJV
Among whom also we all had our
conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the
desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children
of wrath, even as others.
Ephesians 4:31
KJV
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and
anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all
malice:
Titus 1:10 KJV
For there are many unruly and vain
talkers and deceivers..."
Titus 3:1,2 KJV
1 Put them in mind to be subject to
principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every
good work,
2 To speak evil of no man, to be no
brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
James 1:26 KJV
If any man among you seem to be
religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart,
this man's religion is vain.
James 3:1-18 KJV
1 My brethren, be not many masters,
knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2 For in many things we offend all.
If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able
also to bridle the whole body.
3 Behold, we put bits in the horses'
mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
4 Behold also the ships, which
though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they
turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor
listeth.
5 Even so the tongue is a little
member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a
little fire kindleth!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world
of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the
whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set
on fire of hell.
7 For every kind of beasts, and of
birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath
been tamed of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it
is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the
Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the
similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth
blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the
same place sweet water and bitter?
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren,
bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both
yield salt water and fresh.
13 Who is a wise man and endued with
knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his
works with meekness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and
strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against The Truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from
above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is,
there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above
is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full
of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is
sown in peace of them that make peace.
James 4:11 KJV
Speak not evil one of another,
brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his
brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou
judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
I Peter 2:1 KJV
Wherefore laying aside all malice,
and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
I Peter 3:10 KJV
For he that will love life, and see
good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that
they speak no guile:
Dear Christian,
someone is listening to our conversation, that someone is The Lord.
Psalm 50:23 KJV
Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me:
and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the
salvation of God.
Philippians 1:27
KJV
Only let your conversation be as it
becometh the gospel of Christ...”
Philippians 3:20
KJV
For our conversation is in heaven;
from whence also we look for the Savior, The Lord Jesus Christ:
I Timothy 4:12
KJV
Let no man despise
thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in
conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Hebrews 13:5 KJV
Let your conversation be without
covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have:
I Peter 1:15 KJV
But as He which hath called you is
holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
I Peter 3:16 KJV
Having a good conscience; that,
whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed
that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
II Peter 3:11
KJV
Seeing then that all these things
shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy
conversation and Godliness,
Matthew 12:36
KJV (Jesus)
But I say unto you, That every
idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in
the day of judgment.
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Growth - Spiritual
Bible Questions Answered:
“...I am a Christian, but I do not
understand...”
Karen/ Samara (Kuybyshev), Russia
Bible Answer:
Bible Texts:
Proverbs 4:18 KJV
But the path of the just is as the
shining Light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
Colossians 1:9 KJV
"...that ye might be filled
with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual
understanding;
II Peter 1:5,6
KJV
5 And beside this, giving all
diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and
to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
II Peter 3:18 KJV
"... grow in grace, and in
the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be
glory both now and for ever. Amen.
The answer of course is, the more we
spiritually grow , the more we understand. That is not to say, we
will surely one day, come to the place where we will understand all
things, in this world we will not.
Psalm 111:10 KJV
The fear of The Lord is the
beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His
commandments: His praise endureth for ever.
Homily:
The seed is taken
and planted into the ground. A tender root shoots forth, then a stem,
then a branch, leaves and last of all the flower or fruit.
The order here may
not be reversed in any way, and if it is the fruit of knowledge we
seek, then we must be content to spiritually grow in grace till that fruit is within our grasp.
Proverbs 9:10 KJV
The fear of The Lord is the
beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Ephesians 1:18 KJV
The eyes of your understanding being
enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and
what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
Dear friends as Christians, we are
called to “grow,” in The Lord.
I Peter 2:1-3 KJV
1 Wherefore laying aside all malice,
and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the
sincere milk of The Word, that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that The
Lord is gracious.
Hebrews 5:11-14 KJV
11 Of whom we have many things to
say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
12 For when for the time ye ought to
be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first
principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of
milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk
is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them
that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their
senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Milk Of The
Word:
God's love
Salvation
Good Works
Heaven
Meat Of The
Word:
Inspiration of the
scriptures
One Sovereign God –
The Trinity
Jesus Christ and
His divinity
Fall of man
Salvation
Church Ordinances
Sanctification
The Church
Ministry
Rapture of
believers and the Second Coming.
Millennium
Great White Throne
Judgment
New heaven and new
earth
These are doctrines
or the meat of The Word.
Jesus our example:
Luke 2:40,52
KJV
40 And The Child grew, and waxed strong in Spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon Him.
40 And The Child grew, and waxed strong in Spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon Him.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and
stature, and in favor with God and man.
Psalm
42:1,2 NLT
1 As the deer longs for streams of
water, so I long for you, O God.
2 I thirst for God, The living God.
When can I go and stand before Him?
Psalm 63:1 KJV
O God, thou art my God; early will I
seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a
dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
The more we long
for The Word Of The Lord, and make it apart of our lives...
Psalm 119:130 KJV
The entrance of thy Words giveth
Light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
Isaiah 44:3 KJV
For I will pour water upon him that
is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour My Spirit
upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
I Corinthians 2:9-16 KJV
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not
seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the
things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto
us by His Spirit: for The Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep
things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things
of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things
of God knoweth no man, but The Spirit Of God.
12 Now we have received, not the
spirit of the world, but The Spirit which is of God; that we might
know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not
in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which
The Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing
spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not
the things of The Spirit Of God: for they are foolishness unto him:
neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth
all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of
The Lord, that he may instruct Him? but we have the mind of Christ.
Hebrews 6:1 KJV
Therefore leaving the principles of
the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying
again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith
toward God,
II Corinthians 3:18 KJV
But we all, with open face beholding
as in a glass the glory of The Lord, are changed into the same image
from glory to glory, even as by The Spirit Of The Lord.
Psalm 84:11 KJV
For The Lord God is a Sun and
Shield: The Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he
withhold from them that walk uprightly.
Ephesians 4:13-15 KJV
13 Till we all come in the unity of
the faith, and of the knowledge of
The Son Of God, unto a perfect man,
unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more
children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they
lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking The Truth in love,
may grow up into Him in all things, which is
The Head, even Christ:
Monday, March 21, 2016
Bible Lesson: Parables Of The Old Testament: The Wasted Vine
Bible Lesson: Parables Of The Old
Testament: The Wasted Vine
Spoken By: Ezekiel
Location: Babylon
Bible Text:
Ezekiel 19:10-14 KJV
10 Thy mother
is like a vine in thy blood, planted by the waters: she was
fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.
11 And she had
strong rods for the sceptres of them that bare rule, and her stature
was exalted among the thick branches, and she appeared in her height
with the multitude of her branches.
12 But she was
plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground, and the east
wind dried up her fruit: her strong rods were broken and withered;
the fire consumed them.
13 And now she
is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground.
14 And fire is
gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit, so
that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a
lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.
The Players:
The Mother like
a Vine (Metaphor):
Both Israel and Jerusalem.
The East Wind
and Fire: Babylon.
The Scepter:
God's royal people, who were once safe and strong in their obedience
to The Lord.
Furious East Wind
and fire: Babylon.
When Israel obeyed
the voice of The Lord, she was like a luxuriously strong and healthy
Vine, growing in the land of milk and honey, Canaan (Vs.10 &11).
Psalm 80:7,8 KJV
7 Turn us again, O God Of Hosts, and
cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
8 Thou hast brought a vine out
of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.
But something
happened, “and her stature was
exalted among the thick branches,
and she appeared in her height with the multitude of her branches.”
Vs 11.
She
became exalted among all other nations.
Judah's
King Zedekiah, formed alliances with Egypt and others, breaking any
commitment to Babylon, meaning complete destruction by the Chaldeans.
II Kings 24:20
KJV
For
through the anger of The Lord it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah,
until He had cast them out from His presence, that Zedekiah rebelled
against the king of Babylon.
What was the result
of her sinful rebelion and pride?
Ezekiel 17:18-21
KJV
18 Seeing he despised the oath by
breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done
all these things, he shall not escape.
19 Therefore thus saith The Lord
God; As I live, surely Mine oath that he hath despised, and My
covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own
head.
20 And I will spread My net upon
him, and he shall be taken in My snare, and I will bring him to
Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath
trespassed against Me.
21 And all his fugitives with all
his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be
scattered toward all winds: and ye shall know that I The Lord have
spoken it.
Ezekiel 19:12-14 KJV
12
But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground, and
the east wind dried up her fruit: her
strong rods were broken and withered; the fire consumed them.
13 And now she
is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground
(Babylon).
14 And fire
is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit,
so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule.
II KIngs
24:14-16 KJV
14 And he (Nebuchadnezzar) carried
away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of
valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths:
none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.
15 And he carried away Jehoiachin to
Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his
officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity
from Jerusalem to Babylon.
16 And all the men of might, even
seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were
strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive
to Babylon.
Judah was in
captivity, and all her royal leaders, there would be no more noble
kings to lead her.
Psalm 110:1,2
AMP
1 The Lord (Father) says to my Lord
(The Messiah, His Son),
“Sit at My right hand Until I make
Your enemies a footstool for Your feet [subjugating them into
complete submission].”
2 The Lord will send the scepter of
Your strength from Zion, saying,
“Rule in the midst of Your
enemies.”
This elegy shows
the sorrow of the prophet Ezekiel.
Pride and self-will
has not only been the downfall of men, but of nations, as history
shows.
Pride:
Psalm 59:12 KJV
For the sin of their mouth and the
words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for
cursing and lying which they speak.
Psalm 138:6 NLT
Though The Lord is great, He cares
for the humble, but He keeps His distance from the proud.
Proverbs 8:13
KJV
The fear of The Lord is to hate
evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth,
do I hate.
Proverbs 11:2
KJV
When pride cometh, then cometh
shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
Proverbs
16:18,19 KJV
18 Pride goeth before destruction,
and an haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better it is to be of an humble
spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Proverbs 22:4
KJV
By humility and the fear of the Lord
are riches, and honor, and life.
Proverbs 29:23
KJV
A man's pride shall bring him low:
but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.
Isaiah 2:11,12
KJV
11 The lofty looks of man shall be
humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and
The Lord alone shall be exalted in
that day.
12 For the day of The Lord Of Hosts
shall be upon every one that is proud and
Isaiah 57:15 KJV
For thus saith The High And Lofty
One That Inhabiteth Eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high
and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble
spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart
of the contrite ones.
Micah 6:8 KJV
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is
good; and what doth The Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and
to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Zechariah 9:9
NLT
Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in
triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your King is coming to you.
He is righteous and victorious, yet
He is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt.
Malachi 4:1 KJV
For, behold, the day cometh, that
shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do
wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them
up, saith The Lord Of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root
nor branch.
Matthew 11:29,30
KJV
29 Take My yoke upon you, and learn
of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto
your souls.
30 For My yoke is easy, and My
burden is light.
Matthew 16:24
KJV
Then said Jesus unto His disciples,
If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross, and follow Me.
Matthew 18:4 KJV
Whosoever therefore shall humble
himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of
heaven.
Luke 1:51,52 NLT
51 His mighty arm has done
tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
52 He has brought down princes from
their thrones and exalted the humble.
Luke 14:10 KJV
But when thou art bidden, go and sit
down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may
say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in
the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
Luke 18:9-14 KJV
9 And He spake this parable unto
certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and
despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple
to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed
thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are,
extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give
tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar
off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote
upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to
his house justified rather than the other: for every one that
exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall
be exalted.
Luke 22:24-27
NLT
24 Then they began to argue among
themselves about who would be the greatest among them.
25 Jesus told them, “In this world
the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are
called ‘friends of the people.’
26 But among you it will be
different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the
lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.
27 Who is more important, the one
who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the
table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.
John 13:5,15 KJV
5 After that He poureth water into a
bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with
the towel wherewith He was girded.
15 For I have given you an example,
that ye should do as I have done to you.
Romans 12:3,16
KJV
3 For I say, through the grace given
unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more
highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God
hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
16 Be of the same mind one toward
another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate.
Be not wise in your own conceits.
Philippians 2:8
KJV
And being found in fashion as A Man,
He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of
the cross.
James 4:6,10 KJV
6 But He giveth more grace.
Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto
the humble.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of
The Lord, and He shall lift you up.
I Peter 2:21 KJV
For even hereunto were ye called:
because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye
should follow His steps:
I Peter 5:5 KJV
Likewise, ye younger, submit
yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another,
and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth
grace to the humble.
I John 2:16 KJV
For all that is in the world, the
lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,
is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Lucifer's Pride:
Isaiah 14:12-14
KJV
12 How art thou fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground,
which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine
heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the
stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in
the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the
heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to
hell, to the sides of the pit.
Ezekiel 28:12-19
KJV
12 "...Thou sealest up the sum,
full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden
of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz,
and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire,
the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy
tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou
wast created.
14 Thou art the anointed cherub that
covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of
God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways
from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
16 By the multitude of thy
merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and
thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the
mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the
midst of the stones of fire.
17 Thine heart was lifted up
because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of
thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee
before kings, that they may behold thee.
18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries
by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy
traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee,
it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth
in the sight of all them that behold thee.
19 All they that know thee among the
people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never
shalt thou be any more."...
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Life After Death And Old Testament Saints
Bible Questions Answered:
“Did Old Testament saints believe in
life after death?”
Russel/ Northern Ireland United
Kingdom
Bible Answer:
Yes!
Bible Texts:
Genesis 15:15 KJV (Abraham)
And thou shalt go to thy
fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.
These words, do not just refer to death, but to a blessed reward in
the next life.
Now there is a
silly accusation saying that the phrase "thou shalt go to
thy fathers," concerning Abraham, that he was to be burried
with his ancesters.
Rediculous, for he
was burried at the cave of Machpelah.
Genesis 25:9,10
KJV
9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael
buried him (Abraham)
in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the
Hittite, which is before Mamre;
10 The field which Abraham purchased
of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.
When Abraham's body
was laid to rest, thee only other body in the cave of Machpelah was
that of Abraham's wife, Sarah. (There were no other ancesters there.)
Genesis 25:8, 17 KJV (Same
phrase but worded a little differently.) (Abraham and Ishmael)
8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost,
and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and
was gathered to his people.
17 And these are the years of the
life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave
up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.
Genesis 49:29,33 KJV
(Jacob)
29 And he charged them, and said
unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my
fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,
33 And when Jacob had made an end of
commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and
yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.
Deuteronomy 32:50 KJV (Moses)
And die in the mount whither thou
goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy
brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people:
II Kings 22:20 KJV (King
Josiah)
Behold
therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and
thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall
not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they
brought the king word again.
Old
Testament Scriptures Signifying Belief In Life After Death:
Genesis 5:23,24
KJV
23 And all the
days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
24 And Enoch
walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Deuteronomy 18:9-14 NLT (Moses warnings not to contact the
dead, proves their belief in a hereafter of departed spirits.)
9 “When you
enter the land The Lord your God is giving you, be very careful not
to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there.
10 For example,
never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not
let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or
interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft,
11 or cast
spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits
of the dead.
12 Anyone who
does these things is detestable to The Lord. It is because the other
nations have done these detestable things that The Lord your God will
drive them out ahead of you.
13 But you must
be blameless before The Lord your God.
14 The nations
you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but
The Lord your God forbids you to do such things.”
II Samuel 12:23 KJV (The death of King Davids son. See David's
23rd Psalm.)
But now he is
dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go
to him, but he shall not return to me.
II Kings 2:9-12
KJV
9 And it came
to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask
what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And
Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon
me.
10 And he said,
Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am
taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not
be so.
11 And it came
to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there
appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both
asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12 And Elisha
saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel,
and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of
his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
Job 19:23-27 KJV
23 Oh that my
words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!
24 That they
were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!
25 For I know
that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day
upon the earth:
26 And though
after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see
God:
27 Whom I shall
see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though
my reins be consumed within me.
Psalm 23:1-6 KJV
1 The Lord is
my Shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me
to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth
my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's
sake.
4 Yea, though I
walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou
preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou
anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely
goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I
will dwell in the house of The Lord for ever.
Daniel 12:1,2
NLT
1 “At that
time Michael, the archangel who stands guard over your nation, will
arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since
nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of your
people whose name is written in the book will be rescued.
2 Many of those
whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting
life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace.
Hebrews 11:5,10,13-16 NLT (The Apostle Paul) speaks of O.T.
Saints.) (Be sure to read the whole chapter.)
5 It was by
faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he
disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he
was known as a person who pleased God.
10 Abraham
was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal
foundations, a city designed and built by God.
13 All these
people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not
receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and
welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on
earth.
14 Obviously
people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can
call their own.
15 If they had
longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back.
16 But they
were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God
is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for
them.
35 "...They
placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection.
Through our
Lord's teachings we learn about a place called 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.
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 over
cometh 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 (1,400 miles). 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 (216 feet thick),
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 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.
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 fellow servant, 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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)