Biblical - Truth Justice & The American Waytag:www.truthandtheamericanway.com,2009:/biblical/22009-12-24T04:46:25ZMovable Type 3.31THE RECORD OF CHRIST’S BIRTH (LUKE 2:1-20)tag:www.truthandtheamericanway.com,2009:/biblical//2.1742009-12-24T04:37:19Z2009-12-24T04:46:25ZThe only time that the shepherds did this was when it was warm enough. In the winter months they would take the herds out during the day and then bring them back in at night and put them in a pen. Therefore , the birth of Jesus could not have been on December 25th but earlier in the year when the shepherds were still letting the sheep stay in the fields over night.
Did you ever wonder why God chose shepherds? Of all the people that God could have Chosen why did He choose these shepherds? It is because they chose God! They were humble enough to BELIEVE that there was a messiah coming. No governor, no ruler, no religious leader was told because they didn’t believe.
The only time that the shepherds did this was when it was warm enough. In the winter months they would take the herds out during the day and then bring them back in at night and put them in a pen. Therefore , the birth of Jesus could not have been on December 25th but earlier in the year when the shepherds were still letting the sheep stay in the fields over night.
Did you ever wonder why God chose shepherds? Of all the people that God could have Chosen why did He choose these shepherds? It is because they chose God! They were humble enough to BELIEVE that there was a messiah coming. No governor, no ruler, no religious leader was told because they didn’t believe.
THE RECORD OF CHRIST’S BIRTH (LUKE 2:1-20)
2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
The tax or taxing was an enrollment or a census.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed (enrolled), every one into his own city.
“his own city” means the city that his family is from. It was the city of the family origin.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed (enrolled) with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
The term “first born” indicated that there were others that followed. Jesus Christ had half brothers and half sisters.
No room for them at the inn? It was God’s only begotten son! The savior of the World and they had no room for him. Nobody knew he was coming they were as ignorant of the truth of Christ’s first coming as they are of his second coming.
Matthew 13: 54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
The only time that the shepherds did this was when it was warm enough. In the winter months they would take the herds out during the day and then bring them back in at night and put them in a pen. Therefore , the birth of Jesus could not have been on December 25th but earlier in the year when the shepherds were still letting the sheep stay in the fields over night.
Did you ever wonder why God chose shepherds? Of all the people that God could have Chosen why did He choose these shepherds? It is because they chose God! They were humble enough to BELIEVE that there was a messiah coming. No governor, no ruler, no religious leader was told because they didn’t believe.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
The angel was Gabriel the messenger angel. The “glory of the Lord” was the Shekinah Glory of God. It was a brilliant light.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Jesus Christ was and is to all people but not all will or have believed him nor accepted him.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
There are two things that are done to a new born that was to rule, he would be swaddled and he would be salted. Salted is when salt is put on the baby or a solution of salt and water was put on the baby. When a baby is swaddled the parents take strips of cloth and bind the baby much like a mummy. This process would straighten out the baby. The maximun time alotted for this was five minutes.
Being salted meant that the child’s words would be true and honest. Being swaddled means that the babe would walk upright in all of his dealings.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Angels don’t sing only Saints sing. Angels speak, we can sing.
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
They cam ewith haste! We should do the same. If God tell’s us something then we should move with all haste! If they hadn’t moved they would never have seen the Christ child in swaddling clohes.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
I sure would rejoice, too, wouldn’t you? Even though we weren’t there we can still rejoice because we have so much more promised to and given to us by God than what the Jews have We have such a great opportunity to know the Word of God and to know His son that everyone should be rejoicing because Christ was born (came the first time), he made a way where anyone wanting and willing to get deliverance from the One True God could get it and he is seated in the heavenlies waiting for the appointed time to return for his brothers and sisters. We are going to heaven and nothing can stop us from going.
This is not the time of year of our Lord and Savior’s birth but any time of year is a good time to remember what God and His son Jesus Christ did for us.
THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GODtag:www.truthandtheamericanway.com,2009:/biblical//2.1722009-12-11T01:53:17Z2009-12-11T01:59:41ZMany people these days are stockpiling food and weapons and ammunition. They are going to classes to learn how to shoot quick and straight, how to do first aid and how to run a homestead. All of this is good BUT the one thing that people need most, the one class they need to take, the one form of survival training they need most is the one that they do not bother with. That one class is HOW to walk with God and HOW to listen and hear His voice.
Many people these days are stockpiling food and weapons and ammunition. They are going to classes to learn how to shoot quick and straight, how to do first aid and how to run a homestead. All of this is good BUT the one thing that people need most, the one class they need to take, the one form of survival training they need most is the one that they do not bother with. That one class is HOW to walk with God and HOW to listen and hear His voice.
THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD
Many people these days are stockpiling food and weapons and ammunition. They are going to classes to learn how to shoot quick and straight, how to do first aid and how to run a homestead. All of this is good BUT the one thing that people need most, the one class they need to take, the one form of survival training they need most is the one that they do not bother with. That one class is HOW to walk with God and HOW to listen and hear His voice.
Jesus Christ was and is the only begotten son of God and Jesus said of himself, “When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.” If anybody should be able to “do his own thing” it would be Jesus, wouldn’t it? Yet, Jesus said he did nothing of himself. He always did the will of the Father.
We should be the same way. If we did the will of the Father wouldn’t He protect us? If He didn’t we should get a new god. But, God will protect us
II Chronicles 16: 9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.
God will direct our every step. He will show us which way we should go and which way not to go.
II Kings 6: 8 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.
9 And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.
10 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.
11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?
12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
If we only believed God at His Word we would live a life that is more than abundant even in the hardest of times.
I Kings 17: 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
2 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
5 So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.
7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
8 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.
10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.
12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.
15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.
If we are to stand in this day and time, whether the days be plentious or whether they be hard times, God will show us the way and prosper us. When I say us I mean us as individuals. But to stand in this day and time we have to put on the whole armour of God.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
When we put away all of the things that we have been so attracted (TV, books, magazines, etc.) and start really studying God’s Word we will be able to stand and not knuckle under nor will we succumb to the circumstances with which we are surrounded but we will more than conquerors in each and every situation.
GOD WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOUtag:www.truthandtheamericanway.com,2009:/biblical//2.1702009-11-19T05:17:07Z2009-11-19T05:19:49Z
God is always with you but are you always with God? Are you aware that He is there? Do you call on His name? Do you trust Him? Are you leaning back into the everlasting arms of God? Perhaps it is time to realize some of these truths and start walking with the power, majesty and success that God has designed for the Christian.
Psalm 121: 2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
GOD WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU
Psalm 121: 2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
Psalm 34: 15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
Psalm 34: 17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
Psalm 86: 5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
Provervb 1: whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
I Peter 3: 10 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:
11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
Psalm 32: 8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
Psalm 16: 8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Deuteronomy 33: 27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
Psalm 138: 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
Psalm 46: 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
Psalm 27: 5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
Isaiah 41: 10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Psalm 23: 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
Joshua 1: 9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Romans 8: called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
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.
God is always with you but are you always with God? Are you aware that He is there? Do you call on His name? Do you trust Him? Are you leaning back into the everlasting arms of God? Perhaps it is time to realize some of these truths and start walking with the power, majesty and success that God has designed for the Christian.
THE TRUTH ABOUT SANCTIFICATIONtag:www.truthandtheamericanway.com,2009:/biblical//2.1692009-11-12T05:07:02Z2009-11-12T05:11:30ZThe other day I had a conversation with a good friend who happens to be a pastor. We got on the topic of Sanctification. Although, my friend had a basic understanding of what sanctification is he was still wrong. What he said was that, yes, God sanctifies you BUT you still have to sanctify yourself (which can only be by works).
The other day I had a conversation with a good friend who happens to be a pastor. We got on the topic of Sanctification. Although, my friend had a basic understanding of what sanctification is he was still wrong. What he said was that, yes, God sanctifies you BUT you still have to sanctify yourself (which can only be by works).
THE TRUTH ABOUT SANCTIFICATION
The other day I had a conversation with a good friend who happens to be a pastor. We got on the topic of Sanctification. Although, my friend had a basic understanding of what sanctification is he was still wrong. What he said was that, yes, God sanctifies you BUT you still have to sanctify yourself (which can only be by works).
The Christian Church has had no end of difficulty on this subject for two reasons. First they don’t and can’t reconcile the difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Secondly, they can’t figure out that when God says it is by grace and not of works that He means just that.
Grace is God’s unmerited, devine favor. An example of that is a gift with no strings attached. If I gave you a watch the watch now belongs to you. Did you work for it? No. It was free. That is why Christiandom can’t get a graps on this, nothing in the Old Testament is free and the leadership in the Churches today look at the Old Testament (the Old Testament includes the Gospels) and then brings that Old Testament doctrine of works into the new administration of the accomplished works of Jesus Christ.
Look at the difference between the good News (the Gospel) of what Jesus Christ accomplished,
Ephesians 2: 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
and the Old Testament Law
Exodus 13: 2 Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.
Exodus 19: 10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,
Exodus 19: 22 And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.
Exodus 28: 41 And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.
Leviticus 11: 44 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Who sanctified (set apart) the believers in the Old Testament? They sanctified themselves by works but who sanctifies the believers in the New Testament? It is Jesus Christ. Look at the scripture record of what Jesus Christ did for us regarding sanctification.
Romans 15: 16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
How do you get the holy ghost (holy spirit)? By being born again of God’s spirit, by confessing Jesus Christ as your lord and savior and believing in your heart that God raised him from the dead. Romans 10:9&10.
I Corinthians 1: 2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.
I Corinthians 6: 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Hebrews 2: 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; 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,
Hebrews 10: 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Jude 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
Hebrews 13: 9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Who does the sanctifying now? God by what Jesus Christ accomplished! Is there anything that you or I could do to make that sanctification better or more permanent? NO! Jesus Christ was the propitiation (payment) for our sins. Nothing that we can do makes it better or for that fact worse! Once you are born again you are sanctified, set apart for heaven.
Colossians 1: 5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
I Thessalonians 4: 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
If you have confessed Jesus as lord and believed that God raised him from the dead then rejoice because your are living in the accomplished works of Jesus Christ AND you are heaven bound and all hell can’t stop you from going.
HOW SURE ARE WE OF GOD AND HIS PROMISES (A Rest to God’s People)tag:www.truthandtheamericanway.com,2009:/biblical//2.1682009-11-05T15:35:43Z2009-11-05T15:46:31ZPsalm 3: 5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
This verse is easy to say,this verse is easy to claim, but how sure are you of this verse and of God Himself?
Psalm 3: 5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
This verse is easy to say,this verse is easy to claim, but how sure are you of this verse and of God Himself?
HOW SURE ARE WE OF GOD AND HIS PROMISES (A Rest to God’s People)
Psalm 3: 5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
This verse is easy to say,this verse is easy to claim, but how sure are you of this verse and of God Himself? Many times Christians proclaim that they know God and that they walk with and for God and, yet, they are still caught in a cauldron of worry anxiety and fear. God never wanted Christians to be so nervous about the future. On the contrary, God wants, no, God commands us to trust in Him. “Trust in the Lord” is a command. The problem with people is that they can’t let go. They still want to control the uncontrollable. So, they pray to God and they say the right things to others but deep down inside they are doubtful of God’s ability to deliver them from the traps and snares of life.
Christians should not only have confidence in God but they should be able to lean back into the ever loving arms of God and relax. Does this mean that Christians don’t have to work? No, because Colossians chapter three says that we are to work heartily. Then what and how do we think and believe?
We allign our thoughts with His thoughts and we allow God to direct out paths. When God gives direction should we walk along that path hesitantly wondering if God really directed your path or not? No. We are to walk circumspectly (diligently) just as it says the kind and her young do and we are to walk confidently.
Habbakkuk 3: 19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.
The hind is a mother deer. She walks on mountain slopes and is sure footed. Her back feet go exactly where her front feet just came from and her front feet test for loose stones and gravel. This exact walking is life both to herself and to her young. God will do that for us but we have to trust in him. To trust in God we have to trust His Word, the Bible.
Over and over again people talk about the Bible being just another book. It is not just another book it is a living word. It is the one and only book that gives you the answers to life, it is truth and it is deliverance for the hungry soul.
Psalm 12: 6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
Psalm 138: 2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
Psalm 18: 30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
Psalm 33: 4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
God has a very high opinion of His Word,we should have the same opinion, shouldn’t we?
When we, as Christians, finally come to the place that we trust God we enter into His rest.
Matthew 11: 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.
Acts 2:25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
Hebrews 3: 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.
4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;
6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
To harden your heart is to turn away from God and His Word, to stop believing. Turning away from God will only result in frustration and heart ache. We should so trust in God that we have full confidence that God WILL take care of us and everything will be alright.
Psalm 37: 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
Matthew 6: 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Where are you at today? Are you content with your walk with God? Are you leaning back into the arms of God or are frustrated and full of fear? It is time to return to God and delight yourself in Him! When you do
A PERSPECTIVE OF THE END TIMES FOR CHRISTIANS (After the Hope)tag:www.truthandtheamericanway.com,2009:/biblical//2.1672009-10-29T16:21:04Z2009-10-29T16:29:18ZWhen Christians think of the “end times” what should they be thinking of? After all, some parts of the end times are horrific. The Anti-Christ, the wrath, the tribulation, the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Yes, these are all scary prospects but do the Christians have to be concerned about these things? Do they have to worry after going through all of that they have to go through hell and purgatory? The only place and when I say the only place I mean the ONLY PLACE to get the information that we need is the Bible. When I say the Bible I do not mean what a pastor says the Bible says. I don’t mean what a priest says the Bible says and I most certainly don’t mean what the main stream media says the Bible says. What I mean is WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THE END TIMES FOR CHRISTIANS.
When Christians think of the “end times” what should they be thinking of? After all, some parts of the end times are horrific. The Anti-Christ, the wrath, the tribulation, the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Yes, these are all scary prospects but do the Christians have to be concerned about these things? Do they have to worry after going through all of that they have to go through hell and purgatory? The only place and when I say the only place I mean the ONLY PLACE to get the information that we need is the Bible. When I say the Bible I do not mean what a pastor says the Bible says. I don’t mean what a priest says the Bible says and I most certainly don’t mean what the main stream media says the Bible says. What I mean is WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THE END TIMES FOR CHRISTIANS.
When Christians think of the “end times” what should they be thinking of? After all, some parts of the end times are horrific. The Anti-Christ, the wrath, the tribulation, the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Yes, these are all scary prospects but do the Christians have to be concerned about these things? Do they have to worry after going through all of that they have to go through hell and purgatory? The only place and when I say the only place I mean the ONLY PLACE to get the information that we need is the Bible. When I say the Bible I do not mean what a pastor says the Bible says. I don’t mean what a priest says the Bible says and I most certainly don’t mean what the main stream media says the Bible says. What I mean is WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THE END TIMES FOR CHRISTIANS.
In previous segments I have shown verse by verse what the Bible says and it says that Christians do not go through the wrath and we aren’t around when the Anti-Christ and his helpers show up on the scene and some Christians will not die but be change from mortal to immortal in a twinkling of an eye. But what do the Christians have to look forward to after the return of Jesus Christ for his church? Well I am going to show you some of the things in store for Christians after they are gathered together.
Some of the things that Christians have to look forward to are the workings of their new bodies. We will be able to do things that Jesus Christ did after his resurrection. Fun things like walking through walls, travelling to Heaven in moments time being able to eat food. We will not be just spirit but we will have a body that can do all of these things.
I Peter 3: 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Jesus Christ could get around really quick, one moment he is showing himself to the devil spirits that caused the flood during Noah’s time and the next moment he was in Heaven seated at the right hand of God.
Luke 24: 29 But they constrained him (Jesus Christ), saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
Jesus Christ vanished out of their sight. WOW! Poof, gone! How would you like to do that! Most people don’t have a clue about what we will be like or what we will be able to do. This is really fun stuff we are talking about.
Luke 24: 33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
40 And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet.
41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
43 And he took it, and did eat before them.
Jesus Christ could go through walls. One moment no Jesus the next minute Jesus Christ is in the midst of them, he could vanish into thin air and, one of my favorites, he could eat. I like to eat. I am happy to know that I will be able to eat after I go to Heaven, too.
I Corinthians 13: 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
When is “then”? it is when Christ returns for the body of believers, the Christians. It is at the sound of the trump(et) of God in I Thessalonians 4:16. Now we have an old man nature but when we are gathered together we will not have to renew our minds because we will have new perfectly renewed minds
One of the hopes for the Christian is to see those that troubled the Christians get punished! Look at II Thessalonians chapter one.
II Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
We will share the inheritance of God with Jesus Christ.
Romans 8: 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
We are joint heirs with Christ. Everything he has we share fully with him. Do you get that? We don’t just get some of God’s blessings in Heaven the Christian shares EVERYTHING with Jesus Christ that God has given him and Jesus Christ will share fully everything with the Christians that God has given the Christians.
When Jesus Christ returns to the earth with his saints the saints (Christians) are riding white horses. I want to ride a white horse. I especially want to ride a horse knowing with utmost confidence that I am not going to fall off. HA!
Revelation 19: 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
There are different types of crowns given to the Christians, at the time of the bema (rewards stand after being gathered together) the crown of righteousness, the crown of life, a crown of glory.
II Timothy 4: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
James 1: 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
I Peter 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Isn’t exciting to know that Christians will not go through the wrath and the tribulation nor will they have to go through purgatory and hell but, that a loving heavenly father is waiting to gather them into his arms and continue to bless them. Look at all the things a Christian will be able to do and look at all the things they will have. What an exciting time to look forward to.
A PERSPECTIVE OF THE END TIMES FOR CHRISTIANS (Part 3)tag:www.truthandtheamericanway.com,2009:/biblical//2.1662009-10-22T04:56:12Z2009-10-22T05:00:14Z
There has been no end to the confusion on whether Christians go through the great tribulation or the wrath there are even some that say that Christians have to go through the resurrection. They don’t understand, first, our position as sons of God, second, the difference between the resurection of Israel and all unbelievers and the rising of the Christians. One of the verses that has cause such confusion is II Thessalonians 2:3.
There has been no end to the confusion on whether Christians go through the great tribulation or the wrath there are even some that say that Christians have to go through the resurrection. They don’t understand, first, our position as sons of God, second, the difference between the resurrection of Israel and all unbelievers and the rising of the Christians. One of the verses that has cause such confusion is II Thessalonians 2:3.
A PERSPECTIVE OF THE END TIMES FOR CHRISTIANS (Part 3)
AN UNDERSTANDING OF II THESSALONIANS 2:1-3
There has been no end to the confusion on whether Christians go through the great tribulation or the wrath there are even some that say that Christians have to go through the resurrection. They don’t understand, first, our position as sons of God, second, the difference between the resurrection of Israel and all unbelievers and the rising of the Christians. One of the verses that has cause such confusion is II Thessalonians 2:3.
Ii Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
What theologians have taught is that there has to be “a falling away” from Christendom as told in chapter 3. However, that does not fit with the context of verses one and two. Verse one talks about “our gathering unto him”. Verse two says that we shouldn’t “be shaken in mind or be troubled by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter from us (the apostles), as that day of Christ is at hand.” In other words that Christ is coming to gather us together. Then verse three is on the same subject in talking about a “falling away”. It is not a falling away! It is a gathering together! Bibles that pre-date the King James version have this section translated “a gathering together”. Those bibles being the Geneva Bible, the Cranmer Bible printed in 1537 and the Tyndale Bible of 1539.
This truth is substantiated by I Corinthians chapter 15 and I Thessalonians chapter 4.
I Corinthians 15: 51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
I Thessalonians 4: 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Both records, I Thessalonians 4:17 and I Corinthians 15:54 record the same event happening and put it into different terms for easier understanding. Mortals putting on immortality in I Corinthians 15:54 is the same as I Thessalonians 4:17 being “caught up together in the clouds to meet the lord in the air.”
The difference between the resurrection of the just and the unjust and the rising of the Christians is that ALL people that were living have to die to have a resurrection, whereas, in the rising of the Church of Christ not all are dead! Some of us change from mortal to immortal.
We are not here when the antichrist arrives on the scene because we are already gathered together with Christ.
A PERSPECTIVE OF THE END TIMES FOR CHRISTIANS ( PART II)tag:www.truthandtheamericanway.com,2009:/biblical//2.1652009-10-15T05:27:50Z2009-10-15T05:32:32ZIn this segment I will show you that God’s view point and mans view point are very different. It is the spiritual view point verses the natural or carnal view point that matters most. Man, without the spiritual perspective can only grasp what the outcome is without the understanding of why. I Samuel shows us what Saul, King of Israel, did but that is all it shows us. It shows us what the eyes can see. It shows us the consequences without showing us why it happened.
In this segment I will show you that God’s view point and mans view point are very different. It is the spiritual view point verses the natural or carnal view point that matters most. Man, without the spiritual perspective can only grasp what the outcome is without the understanding of why. I Samuel shows us what Saul, King of Israel, did but that is all it shows us. It shows us what the eyes can see. It shows us the consequences without showing us why it happened.
A PERSPECTIVE OF THE END TIMES FOR CHRISTIANS ( PART II)
In this segment I will show you that God’s view point and mans view point are very different. It is the spiritual view point verses the natural or carnal view point that matters most. Man, without the spiritual perspective can only grasp what the outcome is without the understanding of why. I Samuel shows us what Saul, King of Israel, did but that is all it shows us. It shows us what the eyes can see. It shows us the consequences without showing us why it happened. At the end of Saul’s life the Bible describes what happened to Saul but in II Chronicles it, also, gives the spiritual perspective of why Saul died.
It wasn’t because of the arrow the got him or the sword he fell on but it was, as shown in II Chronicles, his disobedience to God. That is why he died.
In today’s societies we look at the World through carnal eyes, with no spiritual understanding. We suffer the consequences and, yet, don’t understand why and most people blame it on God when, in fact, it is we who have turned away and, much like Saul, have suffered the consequences of walking away from God.
This understanding is paramount to understanding all that God has for the Christian and all that He planned for the God rejectors.
I Samuel 31:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.
2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchishua, Saul's sons.
3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.
4 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.
II Chronicles 10:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.
2 And the Philistines followed hard after Saul, and after his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.
3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded of the archers.
4 Then said Saul to his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise on the sword, and died.
6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house died together.
7 And when all the men of Israel that were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, then they forsook their cities, and fled: and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
8 And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen in mount Gilboa.
9 And when they had stripped him, they took his head, and his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry tidings unto their idols, and to the people.
10 And they put his armour in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon.
11 And when all Jabeshgilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,
12 They arose, all the valiant men, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
13 So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it;
14 And inquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.
A PERSPECTIVE OF THE END TIMES FOR CHRISTIANS (PART 1)tag:www.truthandtheamericanway.com,2009:/biblical//2.1642009-10-08T17:29:27Z2009-10-08T17:34:05ZIn the next few years there will be a lot of talk about the end of the World by different means, whether by nuclear holocaust, magnetic pole shift, by Planet “X” or by other means and many will use the Bible to support their claims quoting from Revelations or Daniel or other books of the Bible regarding the end times. I see this as an effort to cause Christians to fear in their lives and in their hearts. Because of this I have decided to write about what I know of the end times both biblically and scientifically. I pray this blesses you and settles your mind on this matter.
In the next few years there will be a lot of talk about the end of the World by different means, whether by nuclear holocaust, magnetic pole shift, by Planet “X” or by other means and many will use the Bible to support their claims quoting from Revelations or Daniel or other books of the Bible regarding the end times. I see this as an effort to cause Christians to fear in their lives and in their hearts. Because of this I have decided to write about what I know of the end times both biblically and scientifically. I pray this blesses you and settles your mind on this matter.
A PERSPECTIVE OF THE END TIMES FOR CHRISTIANS (PART 1)
In the next few years there will be a lot of talk about the end of the World by different means, whether by nuclear holocaust, magnetic pole shift, by Planet “X” or by other means and many will use the Bible to support their claims quoting from Revelations or Daniel or other books of the Bible regarding the end times. I see this as an effort to cause Christians to fear in their lives and in their hearts. Because of this I have decided to write about what I know of the end times both biblically and scientifically. I pray this blesses you and settles your mind on this matter.
To begin our study we must understand some basic scripture.
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
The words “without form and void” in verse two are the Hebrew words “ tohuw tohuw bohuw”.
These words form a figure of speech called “paronomasia” where two or more words, which are similar in sound, have a different meaning or “sense”. The reason for a figure of speech is to call attention to what is written or said. God is calling our attention to this “without form and void” section.
To go a little further in understanding verse two we must understand that there is no verb “to be” in the Hebrew language and we must, also, know that in the King James Version of the Bible the translators would italicize a word that they added in translation to allow the reader to know what was added by man. So, in verse two there are two words “was”,the first is not in italics and the second is in italics. That second was added by the translators but the first, not in italics, shows that a word was there possibly in an older translation of the Bible. But what could that word be?
In Isaiah chapter forty five the words “tohuw bohuw” are used again:
Isaiah 45: 18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
God did not create the Earth “tohuw bohuw”. He did not create it without form and void. He created it with form and ready for habitation. Therefore, the first “was” in Genesis chapter two should be translated “became”. The Earth became without form and it was void, it was not ready for habitation. The rest of chapter two describes God’s workings to bring the Earth back to the point that it was once again ready for habitation. If God didn’t create the Earth “tohuw bohuw” then what happened to it that it became “tohuw bohuw”?
Isaiah 14:12 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.
16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;
17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?
18 All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house.
19 But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet.
Revelation 12: 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Whether the Devil (Lucifer) turned the World into a wilderness or whether the Earth became formless and void due to the war in Heaven when Lucifer and his angels were kicked out of Heaven the truth is that God did not create it that way. When God rebuilt the Earth it was because the Devil (Lucifer) had a hand in destroying it.
In II Corinthians Paul states that he knew a man caught up to the “Third Heaven”. The words “caught up is the Greek word “harpazo” which means to be caught away. It is not that there is a Third Heaven now it is a Third Heaven because the First Heaven and Earth became without form and it was void. The second one we live in, now. The Third Heaven is coming at some point in the future.
Revelation 21:1 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.
The words “first” in front of heaven and earth are the Greek words “protos” and should be translated “former”. The former Heaven and Earth are done away with and a new Heaven and a new Earth are formed by God.
Hebrews 1: 10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
The heavens may change and the Earth may change but God is the same yesterday, today and forever. We are to put our trust in Him because is the deliverer of all them that believe and He never changes!
THE MAN BORN BLINDtag:www.truthandtheamericanway.com,2009:/biblical//2.1632009-10-01T04:37:25Z2009-10-01T04:53:22ZJesus Christ healed many people of many infirmities, diseases, he cast out devils and yet there was one thing, one act, that would prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was the Son of God and that was to heal a man that was blind from his mothers womb, a man born blind. Have you ever thought through the process of healing someone that was blind? Not only do the eyes have to be repaired but the brain has to be programmed to understand what the eyes are seeing
Jesus Christ healed many people of many infirmities and diseases. He cast out devils and yet there was one thing, one act, that would prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was the Son of God and that was to heal a man that was blind from his mothers womb, a man born blind. Have you ever thought through the process of healing someone that was blind? Not only do the eyes have to be repaired but the brain has to be programmed to understand what the eyes are seeing
THE MAN BORN BLIND
Jesus Christ healed many people of many infirmities and diseases. He cast out devils and yet there was one thing, one act, that would prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was the Son of God and that was to heal a man that was blind from his mothers womb, a man born blind. Have you ever thought through the process of healing someone that was blind? Not only do the eyes have to be repaired but the brain has to be programmed to understand what the eyes are seeing For example, a few years ago a man that received his sight after an operation could not see the front of the bus that he had been riding thise many years that he was blind. His mind wouldn’t register it. Cats raised in an environment of all verticals during an experiment, when let out into a normal environment couldn’t see things that were horizontal. Their minds were programmed as kittens to see only vertical lines and objects..
There is a record in Mark that shows Jesus healing a blind man and then having to heal his mind.
Mark 8: 23 And he (Jesus) took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.
24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.
25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.
In the biblical times that we are dealing with the people thought there was special healing powers in a holy man’s spittle. Now, look at what the man said when Jesus asked him what he saw. He saw “men as trees, walking.” That’s not normal. The eyes were healed but the brain was still having a problem processing the information. Then Jesus went back and healed the man’s brain so that it understood the information. Without a basis of having seen before it would be impossible for the brain to understand what was being sent to it by the eyes.
JOHN 9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
Here the doctrine of reincarnation was being brought up by the disciples. There is no reincarnation, when you are dead you are dead and stay that way until the return of Jesus Christ for His Church, if you are a Christian, or until the end of the World when the Books of the Just and the Unjust are open.
Verse three should literally read: "Jesus answered , neither hath this man sinned nor his parents."
The Man couldn’t have sinned because he could not sin in the womb.
4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
8 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.
10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?
11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.
12 Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.
This is a great testimony of Jesus. In the churches today if someone was healed of anything the leadership would have that person paraded around until the cows came home. But not Jesus! The man didn’t even know who it was that healed him!
13 They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.
14 And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.
Uh-oh! The religious leaders are about to get involved AND Jesus healed the man on a sabbath. It wasn’t lawful to work on the sabbath and the religious leaders would rather the law be followed than to see a man delivered from blindness.
15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.
16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
17 They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.
18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.
The religious leaders are trying to get out of the situation. They know that the only person that would be able to heal a man born blind would be the Messiah the Savior and they didn’t want Jesus to be the Messiah.
19 And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?
20 His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:
21 But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.
22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.
If the parents were put out of the synagogue then they couldn’t be a part of that community, people wouldn’t talk to them or sell them food or supplies.
23 Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.
24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.
They were liars! Jesus Christ lived a sinless life.
25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
26 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?
27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?
28 Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.
29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.
30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.
31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.
34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
Why would they want to discredit Jesus Christ and why wouldn’t they believe? Because they wanted to rule the people and Jesus Christ threatened their positions of power.
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
Wasn’t that wonderful! Jesus sought for the man and found him. God will do the same for you if you just look for him.
36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
Lord I believe! Lord I Believe! LORD I BELIEVE! If only people would say and mean that today! It would be a new day for that man, woman or child. It would be a new day in our nation!
39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
A man who was blind his whole life, he didn’t even know who Jesus was and, yet, that day, he received both his sight and salvation. The Pharisees knew who Jesus was and, yet, hardened their hearts against him just so they could keep their positions of power. What do you choose , eternal life or your position in this life? Will you turn away from Jesus Christ when you are given the chance? And you so called Christian leaders, will you continue to use your position of power to benefit yourselves or will you get honest with yourselves and come back to God’s wonderful matchless Word and teach IT rather than your own ideas?
MORE ABOUT BELIEVINGtag:www.truthandtheamericanway.com,2009:/biblical//2.1622009-09-24T16:55:56Z2009-09-24T16:59:23ZIn the Bible there are a few themes that run from Genesis to Revelation, one theme is Jesus Christ and another theme is believing. It is imperative to believe God. Not to believe that there is a God but to believe God, to believe the Words that were given to holy men (II Peter 1:21). Without believing you will live in the realm of the five senses where circumstances control your life and where you are tossed about with every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14). With believing you will rise up above the circumstances where you are protected by God and all things that you need are provided.
In the Bible there are a few themes that run from Genesis to Revelation, one theme is Jesus Christ and another theme is believing. It is imperative to believe God. Not to believe that there is a God but to believe God, to believe the Words that were given to holy men (II Peter 1:21). Without believing you will live in the realm of the five senses where circumstances control your life and where you are tossed about with every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14). With believing you will rise up above the circumstances where you are protected by God and all things that you need are provided.
MORE ABOUT BELIEVING
In the Bible there are a few themes that run from Genesis to Revelation, one theme is Jesus Christ and another theme is believing. It is imperative to believe God. Not to believe that there is a God but to believe God, to believe the Words that were given to holy men (II Peter 1:21). Without believing you will live in the realm of the five senses where circumstances control your life and where you are tossed about with every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14). With believing you will rise up above the circumstances where you are protected by God and all things that you need are provided.
Psalm 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
Psalm 36: 7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
Phillipians 4: 19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
People think that God should do special things for them and when he doesn’t then they get discouraged and start thinking that God doesn’t love them or that they have sinned to the point where God can’t help them or that God doesn’t care. Let me assure you that God does care and that God knows every hair on your head (Matthew 10:29) and that God longs to help His people.
II Chronicles 16: 9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.
God can only work within the limits that He has set. Those limits are set in the Bible, the Word of God. God moved in Christ Jesus by allowing Christ to die for us and then raising him from the dead, thus, ushering in an era of a new people, Christians, taken out of both Jew and Gentile.
I Peter 1: 17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
God moved, now it is our turn to move! We must believe! Believe what? Believe what the Bible says about us, that we are sons of God, that we are more than Conquerors through Jesus Christ and that God will take care of us. We must come before God in prayer and demand that which He has promised.
Hebrews 4: 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
There are many examples of and teachings of how to believe. The whole Bible is full of them. Following are a couple examples out of the Gospels.
Matthew 21:18 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.
19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!
21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Mark 11:11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.
12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
19 And when even was come, he went out of the city.
20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Matthew 17: 14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is a lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for 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: 5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
6 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.
A mustard seed is the smallest of herb seeds but grows into the largest of herbs. It grows into a tree where even birds can rest in its branches. Our believing is to grow like that. The roots of our believing have to be deep in the soil of God’s Word and they must take nourishment from the rich truth of God’s wonderful matchless Word.
GODLY WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDINGtag:www.truthandtheamericanway.com,2009:/biblical//2.1612009-09-17T04:26:11Z2009-09-17T04:34:46ZI was reading Psalm 119 a couple of weeks ago and came across and astounding bit of scripture that I have been thinking about ever since. Psalm 119 is very unique in that each verse refers to the word or words of God. Whether it be “precepts” or”judgments” or “commandments” or “statutes” it always about God’s Word. Psalm 119 is, also, the longest Psalm in the Bible.
So, what were the verses that caught my attention so profoundly?
I was reading Psalm 119 a couple of weeks ago and came across and astounding bit of scripture that I have been thinking about ever since. Psalm 119 is very unique in that each verse refers to the word or words of God. Whether it be “precepts” or”judgments” or “commandments” or “statutes” it always about God’s Word. Psalm 119 is, also, the longest Psalm in the Bible.
So, what were the verses that caught my attention so profoundly?
GODLY WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING
I was reading Psalm 119 a couple of weeks ago and came across and astounding bit of scripture that I have been thinking about ever since. Psalm 119 is very unique in that each verse refers to the word or words of God. Whether it be “precepts” or”judgments” or “commandments” or “statutes” it always about God’s Word. Psalm 119 is, also, the longest Psalm in the Bible.
So, what were the verses that caught my attention so profoundly?
Psalm 119 97 MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.
103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
What was it then? Verse starts it! Oh how I love thy law! It is my meditation all day long. What do we meditate on? How much time do you think about the things of God let alone meditate on them all day long? Because of this he was wiser than his enemies. He had more understanding (more intelligence) than his teachers and he had more understanding than the ancients (elders)
In today's world it is a badge of intellect and intelligence to turn the back on God’s Word. No one holds it dear and meditates on it all day long. They would prefer the books of Harry Potter more than THE WORD OF GOD. Why is this? Why has a nation that was founded on by Christian men and women come to this sorry state of affairs? God though His Word offesr so much. God doesn’t say it only here but look at some of the verses dealing with wisdom and knowledge.
We can have the peace that passes all understanding
Philippians 4: 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Psalm 37: 30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
Psalm 111: 10 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.
Proverb 1: 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverb 1: 20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:
21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,
22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
Psalm 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
There is only one way and one way only to get that kind of knowledge and understanding and that is by meditating on God's Word.
Poverb 3: 13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
I Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
Ephesians 1: 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Colossians 2:1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 3: 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
James 1: 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
James 3: 13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show 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 entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Godly wisdom, knowledge and understanding are from God! The only way any of us will ever have these attributes is by meditating on God’s wonderful matchless Word.
SOME SCRIPTURE TO MEDITATE ON THIS WEEKtag:www.truthandtheamericanway.com,2009:/biblical//2.1602009-09-10T05:12:59Z2009-09-10T05:15:41ZJohn 3: 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3: 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
SOME SCRIPTURE TO MEDITATE ON THIS WEEK
John 3: 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Romans 8: 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
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.
Ephesians 2: 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE LORD!tag:www.truthandtheamericanway.com,2009:/biblical//2.1592009-09-03T04:52:30Z2009-09-03T05:02:32ZDid you notice that the Bible says that Peter “began” to sink? How many times when you get out of a boat do you “begin” to sink? Every time I get out of a boat I go straight down! There’s no beginning about it.
Why did Peter “begin” to sink? Because he took his eyes off Jesus AND began to look at the wind blowing and menacing and in Peter’s mind the wind had more importance and authority than Jesus Christ did. That is where most of Christendom is today.
There is a story in the Bible that epitomizes how we should walk and act as Christians today and what happens when we loose focus. The record is in Matthew chapter fourteen.
KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE LORD!
There is a story in the Bible that epitomizes how we should walk and act as Christians today and what happens when we loose focus. The record is in Matthew chapter fourteen.
Matthew 14: 23 And when he (Jesus Chirst) had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
Wow, was Peter bold!
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
Did you notice that the Bible says that Peter “began” to sink? How many times when you get out of a boat do you “begin” to sink? Every time I get out of a boat I go straight down! There’s no beginning about it.
Why did Peter “begin” to sink? Because he took his eyes off Jesus AND began to look at the wind blowing and menacing and in Peter’s mind the wind had more importance and authority than Jesus Christ did. That is where most of Christendom is today. The world is bigger, stronger and is more in control than God is and the things that God and Jesus Christ accomplished hold little relevance today. The circumstances are bigger than God and His son just like they were to Peter.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith (believing), wherefore didst thou doubt?
32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
Where is your believing? Do you believe that the circumstances are bigger than God? Are you looking at the boisterous wind or are you looking at Jesus Christ and what you have in Christ?
There is another record that I want you to look at in II Kings. This record is of God’s great deliverance in a situation where only one man believed.
II Kings 6: 24 And it came to pass after this, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria.
25 And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver.
26 And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.
27 And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress?
28 And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow.
29 So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son.
30 And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.
31 Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.
32 But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king sent a man from before him: but ere the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door: is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?
33 And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD; what should I wait for the LORD any longer?
Who did the messenger say the evil was from? The Lord. But was it from the Lord? No! God is going to help these people and, yet, the king is blaming this on God. It is the same damnable thing today. People walk away from God open the door for negative things to happen and then blame it on God.
7:1 Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
2 Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
3 And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
4 If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.
5 And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.
6 For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.
God fights for His people and we are his people! I don’t care what the fashionable thing is with the denominational churches when they say everybody has a little bit of God in them nor do I care what is politically correct when we aren’t even suppose to talk about God. Both are wrong. I care what the Bible says.
7 Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.
8 And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.
9 Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household.
10 So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were.
11 And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house within.
12 And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we be hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city.
13 And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed:) and let us send and see.
14 They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.
15 And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.
16 And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.
17 And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.
18 And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria:
19 And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
20 And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died.
One man believing God and saved a nation and one man doubting God died because of his unbelief. God is always there for us, all we have to do is keep focused on Him and see God's great deliverance..
NO NEED FOR WATER BAPTISMtag:www.truthandtheamericanway.com,2009:/biblical//2.1582009-08-27T05:43:28Z2009-08-27T05:52:18ZDo you know how many forms of water baptism there are? Some dunk, some sprinkle and some sit there and think about it (dry cleaning). But to really know the truth about baptism you have to go back to the Word of Truth, the Bible and let that Word speak.
Do you know how many forms of water baptism there are? Some dunk, some sprinkle and some sit there and think about it (dry cleaning). But to really know the truth about baptism you have to go back to the Word of Truth, the Bible and let that Word speak.
NO NEED FOR WATER BAPTISM
Do you know how many forms of water baptism there are? Some dunk, some sprinkle and some sit there and think about it (dry cleaning). But to really know the truth about baptism you have to go back to the Word of Truth, the Bible and let that Word speak.
Matthew 3: 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
10 And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Mark 1: 4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.
6 And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;
7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
Luke 3: 16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
John 11:9 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.
21 And they asked (John) him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.
25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?
26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;
27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
Who baptized with water? John the Baptist! Who was going to baptize with something better ie. holy spirit? Jesus Christ!
John the Baptist was sent to who? He was sent to the Jews, Israel.
Paul said:
I Corinthians 1: 17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
If he was not sent to baptize then why are the Christian Churches today baptizing with water? What was Paul sent to do? He was to preach the gospel! Why? Because, when the gospel of Christ is preached people can believe and when they believe they will be born again of God’s spirit, which is to be baptized in the holy spirit (ghost).
Acts 2: 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
This is the first record of the outpouring of holy spirit on people. What happened on the Day of Pentecost was the result of what Jesus Christ accomplished. He was full and complete payment for us.
I John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation (payment) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Baptism of the hoy spirit was not available before the Day of Pentecost! They could have been dunked for a month and they wouldn’t have been baptized with holy spirit.
By the way, would it hurt someone to be baptized with water? No. If someone really believed that they had to be baptized with water to be able to be baptized with holy spirit would it make a difference to God? No. But is it a requirement? No. This is what happened in Acts chapter eight.
Acts 8: 26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
If water baptism were a requirement for being born again of God’s spirit then it would of necessity come before the outpouring of holy spirit. But in Acts chapter ten that is not the case!
Acts 10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,
18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
40 Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly;
41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Look at the timing of this. 1) Peter taught them about Jesus Christ 2) Then! Then, then, then Cornelius and his household had the holy spirit created within them and they spoke with tongues.. Well, the only way a person can speak in tongues is if they are born again of God’s spirit, baptized in holy spirit. Then what happened? After they heard Cornelius and his household speak in tongues, after they are born again, Peter commands them to be baptized with water. They, Cornelius and his house, did not need water they needed to be taught and to confess Jesus as lord and BELIEVE that God raised him from the dead (Rom. 10:9&10).
What you have to understand is that this was the first time gentiles, people outside of Israel, received the holy spirit. Peter was still trying to comprehend that and so, he thought he would help God out a little. God didn’t need his help because the job was already done. Look, Peter realizes God didn’t need his help.
Acts 11:1 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,
5 I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:
6 Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
7 And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.
8 But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.
9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
10 And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.
11 And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.
12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:
13 And he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
When did God grant Cornelius and his house repentance unto life? Before or after water baptism? Before! Let’s take a closer look at verses fourteen through sixteen.
Acts 11: 14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
How are they going to be saved? By water? No! By Peter teaching them words that they could believe.
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
There it is! Peter spoke they listened and believed and they were saved ( the Greek word is “sozo” which means to be made whole).
16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
But in verse sixteen sets in contrast that which precedes with that which follows. In this case John’s baptism, which was only for Israel and was a water baptism, is set in contrast with baptism with the holy spirit. Again, when did Cornelius and his house receive the holy spirit? After being taught enough of the Word to believe and before water.
Nowhere after John does God talk about men or women having to be baptized with water. What it does say is that from the Day of Pentecost, when the Apostles first believed, until Christ comes for his church, the body of believers, taken out of both Jews and Gentiles, we are to be taught the gospel of Christ, we are to believe what we hear and when we do we receive the holy spirit, we are born again once and for all, we are saved!